AriaSkysong2: Thankyou, I am hoping to have more time to work on this story as I love it.

Chapter 19

Catherine walked over to the table, swatting away Garrett as he tried to help her. 'I ain't in need of any help, I can sit down on my own,' she scolds in good humour, though Hawke had treated her like a porcelain doll for the last couple days. She plonks herself down gently, she was healed but still tender in certain areas. 'So... how is he?' Catherine asked, looking around at the table. Varric and Aveline shared a look, Garrett desperately tried to find some interest in his beer.

'He's... been quiet,' Aveline said, ever the peacemaker. 'I've let Leto stay in the barracks, I've seen Ami there. Is she not staying with Fenris any more?' She sips her beer and shrugs a shoulder.

Varric snorted. 'Not that I know of, so Ami isn't helping the situation, we've not seen her in at least four days. She's been with Leto this entire time,' he says with a bitter tone. 'Last I heard they were at the stables together and that was this morning,' he adds. Catherine sighs heavily and rubs her eyes. 'I mean, we're not stupid, we know there was something going on between them. Amelie and Fenris and this Leto as well,' the dwarf snipped the end off a cigar and lit a match. 'Something heavy went on and now she's flittered off with Let-'

'That's a little out of order,' Cat cut in, putting down her glass firmly. 'She didn't flit off anywhere. Leto has been a friend for almost ten years and he thought that she was dead, turn out they're in an alternate reality? So, yeah they take a few days to clear everything up. If Fenris wants to see her, he should just go see her,' Catherine's sentence dwindled as she spoke, their faces were almost frozen as they glared at her. 'Ach, shite,' she muttered as she twisted around in her seat to see Fenris, the very person she had been talking about, standing in the doorway.

He raised a brow, Catherine looked him over, he looked a little rough, and clearly hadn't slept well in the last few days. 'Hey friend,' Garrett said standing up to greet him. 'Haven't seen you in a couple of days-'

'So I should just go see her?' Fenris states simply ignoring Garrett. Hawke took it in good grace and sat back down in his seat as if nothing happened. 'She does not care. So why should I?' He says with a scowl. A rather unnatural silence crossed over the companions, Varric trying to smoke as quietly as possible. Tension was rising in the room, and Aveline was concerned there would be blood if her expression was anything to go by. 'It is not that simple,' Fenris states rubbing his eyes. He was trying to control his temper, but their looks were grinding on his nerves.

The Smith stood up and nodded, not afraid of the elf with a rather menacing look on his face. 'Uh actually yeah, it is that simple. Look, whatever happened between you and Amelie is between you two, I won't pry,' she states getting closer to him and not caring that his stance changed with the mention of intimacy between himself and the mage. 'But, you gotta buck your shit up, if you actually give a damn, go fucking tell her,' Catherine poked him in the chest plate.

Fenris grabbed her by the wrist. 'I would not assume things that you do not understand,' he snarled pushing her away from his personal boundaries. Garrett stood up sharply, the expression on his features made it clear that he wasn't going to tolerate any more of this. He placed his hand on Catherine's shoulder and held her back from the elf who was still scowling.

'Don't understand? Fuck you, you're the one that doesn't understand. I actually went up to see them both, yeah that's right, I made the fucking effort. Because I fucking care. And guess what?' Catherine said bluntly and firmly, Fenris scoffed and turned on his heel taking a step back the way he came. 'Nolo tibi perdere!' Cat shouted at him. Fenris froze, surprised to hear his native tongue from her mouth. Then the translation registered in his mind, and he swiftly came back determined to find out why she had said that.

'Hold- Hold on... That's … that's what Amelie said to you when you... you had walked off. She said it in reply to what you said,' Garrett said getting between them and directing his sentence towards Fenris.

'She told you?' He directed at Catherine ignoring Garrett. His heart jumped as the thought of what Amelie might have said about him.

'Yes, she told me. Because I'm her best friend and I asked. I made the effort,' she said softly. 'I don't know what it means, Fenris. Do you?' She asked him watching him. Varric and Aveline were sitting closer together and hoping that the conversation had taken a turn for the better.

He looked at the floor, his chest tight and the lump in his throat feeling larger by the moment. 'Nolo tibi perdere,' he whispered, the surprise that she even knew his language let alone say something like that. He ached to have her in his arms again, the smell of her hair and how she seemed to fit against his body perfectly. 'Where... Where is she?' He asked simply and bluntly.

'Last I heard, she was at the stables,' Varric said. Fenris nodded and began to quickly walk back down the corridor, but Garrett could hear him start to run as he got to the stairs.'Should we follow him?' Varric asked.

'I don't think so. Actually... Aveline you might wanna. I can't see him being happy to see Leto and vice versa,' Garrett said as he got up. 'This might get a little messy.'

-x-

Amelie sat on the fence, her head resting on Leto's shoulder. 'It's so peaceful here,' said Amelie as she watched her favourite stallion trot around the yard paddock happily. 'Andraste, it's been such a rough couple of weeks. I mean, the conflict alone-'

'Do you wish to go back to our world?' Leto said over the top of her, unable to hold the question in any longer. Amelie sat up and tilted her head, with a sigh she got down off the fence and clicked her tongue to call the horse back.

She rubbed his nose as he came for his sugarcube. 'I don't know Leto, I don't even know if I can get back. Plus, I mean, what is left for me there? If I've been declared dead, then Orana, Bohdan and Sandal would have been taken care of by my will. My mother is gone. My siblings have been dead for years... Anders... is gone... and you... well, you're here now,' she mumbled.

Leto moved closer and placed his hands on her shoulders. 'I am here now,' he says turning her to face him and taking her hands. 'There was something I wished to tell you, I did not think I was going to get the chance,' he sighed. Amelie tilted her head, there was clearly something on his mind, but she didn't rush him. The familiarity of his scent and touch was a salve to an aching heart. 'I am sorry, for everything. I should not have pushed you away and it was the biggest mistake I have ever made,' he whispers.

'Oh, Leto,' she replied. 'There is no need to apologise,' she smiles.

He stroked her cheek as he copied her expression. 'Amelie, I love you,' he adds, a light blush crossing his cheeks. She pulled away from him in shock.

'What?'

Leto rubs the back on his neck embarrassed, 'I know, I am more inclined to men than women, but there is just something about you. I mean, I think I have loved you for years, and although it is not perfect, if you wanted, we could be there for each other and if you wanted children-' he said trying to get it all out before she reacted. 'Amelie I know this is a shock,' he adds. 'But I have never felt like this towards someone and when I thought you dead, I just... I could not live with myself.'

'Leto, leto, you gotta stop talking for a moment,' she said raising a hand to cut him off. 'I am not even thinking of children, let alone who with.' She refused to look at him, her heart pounding in her throat. To distract herself she grabbed the Courser's halter and lead him to the stable to his stall. Amelie went into automatic and took care of the horse, brushing him down was when she heard the stable door open. 'I don't think I am mentally ready to talk about this Leto, I am just gonna need a minute,' she said not even looking back at him.

'I am not Leto,' came the reply. Amelie stood up straight and turned around to face him.

'Fenris?' She said surprised. She was even more surprised to see him out of breath and panting. 'What's the matter? Where have you come from?' She squeezed out from the stall, locking it behind her. She looked over his shoulder but saw nobody else behind him. 'Is Catherine okay?' She added concerned.

'Nolo tibi perdere,' he said moving closer. 'That is what you said, no?' Amelie's face fell and she blushed heavily. She stepped back from him until she hit the wall.

And here I am again, she thought. Trapped between a wall and an elf that I can't seem to read, is he angry? I've not seen him in a few days, I thought I'd give him some space until he wanted to see me, she mentally sighed. 'Fenris... I... a lot has happened in the last half hour, I would love to talk to you but not right now, I can't do this right now,' she said softly.

He slammed his hand against the wall, making her flinch. 'I... I am sorry,' he said for his outburst. 'I just... I need to know,' he says desperately. 'Please,' he said. Seeing her for the first time in days and his heart ached, her scent swamped over him, but he could also smell Leto on her skin and it left a bad taste in his mouth. He backed up a step and cupped her face his hands. 'Please,' he said softly.

Amelie smiled softly and breathed in deeply, she had missed him. Looking at him in the eye she nodded. 'Yes, yes, I said that,' she nodded again. 'But.. but you said it too,' she added. 'And when I said it you had already gone, I didn't think you were gonna hear it, I mean I didn't know what you were going to think.' She was babbling. Fenris allowed a smile cross across his face, the hate towards her distance for the last few days began to dwindle.

'Amelie,' he said softly. She stopped talking and tilted her head in response. 'My Amelie?' He whispered moving a little closer.

'Yes,' she murmured, nodding a little. Fenris pulled her close and slowly kissed her, allowing time for her to refuse his advances before he deepened the kiss, tasting her against him. He felt her tears run down her cheeks, catching the corner of her lips. He could tell by her smile that they weren't a bad thing.

'I have missed you,' he admits as he kisses her again. She giggles a little but happily kisses him back as she agrees with him. The moment was ruined by another who came into the stable and roughly pulled Fenris away from Amelie.

'Back off,' Leto said.

I'm not happy with the ending of this one, let me know what you think.