Well this chapter ran away from me a little bit there. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 21

Catherine wandered around looking for her shoe. 'Amelie, have you seen my other boot?' She asks as she looks inside the shoe box near the front door. Amelie walks past with a piece of toast in her mouth and kneels down by the large chair that Catherine normally sits at, she pulls out the missing boot then lobbed it at her friend, knocking her on the head. 'Ow, shit, you could have just said that you found it, you bitch,' she said in good humour as she shoves her shoe onto her foot. 'Are you planning on going out this evening?' Catherine asks as she grabs her bag and checks inside for her keys.

'I don't think it's a good idea if I do,' she says biting into her toast. 'I mean, I tend to attract trouble and although it's been quiet the last few months, I'm not really feeling up to it,' she shrugs. 'I'll just stay home and read tonight I think,' she slumps into one of the arm chairs. 'I think I'm going to study some of the poetry I found last week,' Amelie finishes her toast, draping her legs over the arm.

Catherine pauses by the door, 'are you sure you don't want to come to the pub with me?' She asks. She was a little concerned by how her friend was isolating herself. 'I mean it's just going to be me, Garrett, Varric and Isabela. We're gonna play cards and have a quiet drink,' she explains. Amelie looks over her shoulder and shakes her head.

'You might not be the only ones there,' she said quietly.

Catherine sighs. 'You're going to have to talk to him at some point Ami-'

'Please,' Amelie said quietly, 'he doesn't want to see me,' she murmurs as she curls up in the chair, cuddling the pillow. 'I'll be fine, Kitty Cat, don't worry about me,' she reassured. Catherine nodded and crossed the room to kiss her friend on top of the head, giving her a quick hug.

'You know where to find me,' the Smith says softly, feeling Amelie nod. Confident that should Amelie need her she would indeed join them at the Hanged man, Catherine made her way out their home. Amelie sat for a while simply listening to the fire crackle, the house sinking into a silence. She sighed and rubbed her eyes, it was true, she would have to meet him at some point but she would avoid that for as long as possible.

-x-

'There's someone at the door,' Garrett said as he wrapped his dressing gown tighter around him, hearing the knocking as he came out the bathroom. 'Who the hell is calling at this time of night?' He asked Catherine who walked across the foyer to answer it. Hawke rested his hand on his sword that leant against the staircase, just in case the caller wasn't friendly.

'I have no idea,' she admits as she carefully opens the door. 'Oh, Fenris,' she said in pure surprise. 'Is there something wrong? Are you okay?' Cat asks as she lets him in. Garrett walks over to his friend and they wait for his answer. He looked dishevelled and haggard, like he hadn't slept in days. 'We've not seen you for a while, you should have said something we would have met you at the mansion,' she says a little concerned as she had no idea if Amelie was awake or not. Things were tense between them, as far as Catherine knew they hadn't spoken since that day.

'I am sorry to disturb you... but is she here?' He asks quietly. Catherine looked at Garrett, she wasn't sure on what to say. Hawke looked over the elf, he wasn't dressed in his usual armour and he didn't even have his sword. Instead he wore a light tunic top and a plain pair of leggings, it was disarming to see him in so little seeing as he would have had to cross the city to get here. 'I need to speak to her,' he adds. 'Please.'

Garrett gave Catherine a look, making it clear that it was up to her to decide what was to be done. Catherine sighed and held up a hand as if to say for them to wait. She climbed the stairs and crossed the hallway until she reached Amelie's door. She knocked lightly and paused. Deep down she was hoping that Amelie was asleep but her hopes were crushed as she heard her friend speak allowing her to come in. Swearing under her breath Catherine opened the door. 'Ami... there's someone here to see you,' she said softly. Amelie was sitting in her chair by her own hearth a book in her hands.

'Oh? This late?' She asked a little confused.

Catherine bit her lip as she hovered in the doorway. 'Um yeah, it's um, well... it's... Fenris,' she mumbled. Amelie went quiet and almost dropped the book she was holding.

'Uh, oh... um...'

'I can tell him to leave... if you'd rather not deal with him tonight,' Catherine says as she watches Amelie scramble for the book's cover, gripping it by the pages and yanking it back onto her lap. She could tell just by looking at her that she was flustered and uncomfortable.

Amelie rubbed her eyes and shook her head. 'No. No. It's okay, he can come up,' she says quietly. Catherine nods and makes her way downstairs. The two men had been quietly talking and going by Garrett's body language he was concerned, but not in an aggressive way. Cat made up her mind, she was sure that Amelie would want some form of privacy. She reached the bottom of the stairs and caught Fenris' eye. The Smith nodded and watched as the elf walked past, she then reached past Garrett and grabbed their cloaks. Hawke sighed and bent down and pulled on his boots, looked like they were going to be staying at his house tonight.

Fenris paused outside Amelie's room feeling sick to his stomach but he opened the door regardless. He wasn't prepared to see her sat in an armchair a book closed across her knees. He didn't know what to say though he had planned a thousand things and rehearsed a thousand more. Amelie sat still, watching him. 'A... Amelie,' he said, hearing the slight crack in his voice and hating himself for it. 'Please... just let me speak,' he murmurs not looking at her. Curiously she wondered what he would say so she did as he asked. She didn't think she would be able to speak without crying anyway. 'I have come to apologise,' he says. 'I did not mean to treat you... like property, it was not my intention. It would never be my intention. I would not... could not...' he looks over at her and sees that she's not looking at him. Instead she was staring intently at the book in her hands, he couldn't tell if she was angry or upset. Amelie grit her teeth and screamed at herself, she must not cry. She was still angry, though it was merely an ember at most. She didn't expect what happened next, before she knew it Fenris had crossed the room and knelt in front of her, burying his head in her hands. Amelie froze as she felt his weight against her knees. 'I am not a good man, I am cruel and petty and I have a poison deep inside me. I am not like him. I do not think I ever will be,' he admits. 'I know that you have seen him, and I honestly do not think I will ever like him. That does not matter, I just want you to be happy,' he mumbles. Amelie's heart pangs, she can feel his hair brush over her wrists and arms and she wants nothing more than to hold him. The warmth of his hands enclosed over hers as he grips her fingers tightly.

'Fenris...' she said unable to keep quiet.

'Please,' he said squeezing her hands, 'please, Amelie. It has been four months. You leave the room when I enter, you will not speak to me, you avoid me at every moment... I dream about you. I can still smell your perfume no matter how many times I wash the sheets. I cannot sleep, you haunt me,' he moans unable to stop himself from talking. 'I tried to hate you, but I cannot. Tried telling myself that you are just another Mage, but it is not true. You are Amelie. My Amelie.' He felt her tears drop onto his cheek, hearing her sniff as he looked up at her. He sat up and rested his head in the crook of her neck, wrapping his arms around her waist. 'Please, let this punishment be over. I cannot take it any more,' he whispers. 'Please,' his voice trembles, he can smell her hair and feel the soft curls on his skin. Amelie's pulse beats quickly and she's sure he can feel it. He held her tightly, convinced that she would push him away at any moment. 'My Amelie,' he closes his eyes tightly, Amelie gasped as she felt a tear run down her collarbone. It wasn't one of hers. 'Please.'

The wall around her heart began to crumble. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, 'I wasn't punishing you, Fenris. It just hurt too much to see you and I thought that maybe you didn't want to see me. That you needed time and space,' she said trying not to cry as she gripped him. 'Forgive me, I didn't know you thought I was doing it on purpose,' Amelie felt her voice betray her as she sobbed. Leaning her weight into him they both slipped from the armchair onto the rug, he held her as she cried into his shoulder. He was right, it had been four very long months. She had missed him, more than she ever realised. Gently he turned onto his side so that she was closer to the fire, it was a chill evening and he was worried she would be cold in her nightgown. He smiled for the first time since he could remember as he looked at her slightly reddened eyes and the freckles that covered her cheeks.

He brushed her hair from her face and pulled her closer. 'Amelie,' he said softly. She smiled as she looked up at him. 'May I kiss you?' He asks, going a little red as he asked. She giggled and nodded. A smile caught his lips as he caught hers, she expected heat and overwhelming passion. Yet, it was like nothing that they had ever shared before, instead it was slow and sweet causing a rise to flush from her chest to bloom across her face. 'Oh, I missed you,' he admits as he strokes her hair.

'I have missed you as well,' she agrees.

'Do you see him often?' Fenris asks curiously.

Amelie pushed down the wave of annoyance that threatened to surface at the turn of the conversation subject. 'Yes, he came to the house after we moved in and apologised, and he'll come over every couple of days. He's helping Aveline and sometimes goes out with Garrett. I don't like the idea of him still fighting, I thought we were past those days, but he needs to keep himself busy,' she sighs as she nuzzles into Fenris. 'I'm terrified I'll have Garrett or Aveline turn up at my door telling me that he's been killed. Now I know how Catherine feels,' Amelie grips Fenris' tunic tightly. Then she realised that she had rambled on, 'sorry, you probably don't want to know about all that,' she apologised. It's one thing not to choose between them, didn't mean that she had to talk his ear off about the other.

Fenris continued to stroke her curls, 'I would rather you tell me about what is worrying you than keep it bottled for fear that I might not like what you say,' he reassures. 'When are you going to see him next?'

Amelie sits up and looks at him. 'Why?' She asked simply. Concerned that Fenris could become a little controlling she wanted to knock that on the head as soon as possible.

Fenris sat up and took her hand, kissing the back of her fingers. 'I simply wished to see him as well.' He registered the look of worry on Amelie's face and clarified himself. 'I need to apologise, it is the least I can do,' he murmured looking a little embarrassed. Amelie smiled and kissed his cheek gently.

'Do you wish to stay here tonight?' She asked softly as she stood up and lifted her book from the rug, smoothing the pages before closing the covers. 'I don't mind and to be honest, I missed sleeping next to someone. It used to be my Mabari and then it was you...' she was half speaking to herself more than him. 'I don't want you to be uncomfortable though, I don't want your markings to get irritated,' she mused as she began to fuss with the bedding. 'I can always make up the spare bedroom if you like,' Amelie added. It was strange, though they had been apart for four months it was like nothing had changed, though she could tell that she was talking too much out of nervousness. Fenris smiled to himself and stood up, walking towards her he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.

'I wish to be with you,' he said softly. Amelie felt her face flush, she was feeling hot and her heart rate was rising. Butterflies swarmed in her stomach, there was the feeling of his breath on her skin that made her mind go blank. Would it be too soon to think of... doing that? Amelie bit her lip and her blush deepened. Fenris chuckled, his deep voice vibrating across her body making her mentally writhe.

'What are you thinking about?' He asks as he raises a brow.

'Nothing!' Amelie squeaked a little too high pitched and obvious. 'Nothing at all!' She repeated, moving away from him to clear her head. He laughs again, feeling a weight lift from him as he watches her go pink, the stress and tension he'd been feeling for months seemed to simply melt away.

Sneakily he moved over to her once more and wrapped his arms around her again, 'something tells me that you were thinking of something in particular,' he teases lightly. 'If you blush any more you might set yourself on fire,' he smirks. Amelie covered her face with her hands as she moaned in embarrassment. 'My Amelie, what are you thinking about?' He asks once more as he gently kisses her neck. 'Does it have something to do with us being close to one another tonight?' Fenris whispers as he softly caresses her skin with light kisses. He could feel her tense up as he spoke, and he was thoroughly enjoying himself, so he continued to tease her. 'Something about us in your bed maybe?' He chuckled.

'Andraste save me,' Amelie half giggled as she shook her head. 'Nothing so intimate,' she lied, batting his head away playfully.

'You do not wish to be intimate with me?' Fenris said, twisting her words as he sat on the edge of the bed, a half smile dancing on his lips.

Amelie gasped and grabbed a pillow, cheekily flumping him about the head as she climbed onto the bed next to him. 'Uh! So rude!' She accused. 'How dare you,' she added with fake haughtiness. 'The audacity to twist my words,' she laughed as she hit hit again, only to have the pillow pulled out her grip and then gently but firmly become pinned against the mattress. 'Bastard, that's cheating,' she laughs as she attempts to break free with no avail. Fenris laughed lightly as he held himself above her making sure he wasn't holding her wrists too tightly. A light static charge danced over his skin making him pause for a moment in surprise. 'Ah! I'm sorry! I wasn't concentrating and it can happen when I have strong emotions,' Amelie apologised quickly.

Fenris raised a brow. 'And what strong emotion are you feeling at this moment, Amelie Hawke?' He asked with an almost gloating tease on his features.

'Oooh, you really are a bastard, aren't you,' Amelie pouted as she went red. 'Are you happy with yourself?' She retorted.

'Immensely,' he replied as he began to kiss her neck once more. 'I will ask you again for the final time, my actions will depend on your answer so I suggest you not lie,' he says as he looks her in the eyes, their lips a breath away from each other. He could feel her chest rising rapidly against his own as he slowly lowered his body against hers. Gently he moves his hands so that their fingers were entwined. Her perfume sang lightly on her skin and he wanted nothing more than to taste her again. 'My Amelie,' he whispered, watching the firelight dance golden in her eyes as she waited for him to speak. 'What are you thinking about?'

She could feel her heart pound in her chest and the tightening ache in her core screamed at her senses. Fear rode the wave of her need and want but as she him gazing at her, the safety and control he offered her in this moment, her anxiety and fear became swallowed by the rising tide. Tilting her head up she kissed him ever so lightly, just for a moment not allowing him to return it. 'I was thinking about us,' she said softly. Her confidence wavered for a moment, she had not spoken in this way before but she closed her eyes and after a brief second where she bit her lip, she continued to speak. 'Together. Intimately,' she whispered, keeping her eyes closed tightly as she didn't want to see how embarrassed she looked.

She felt him move and her heart dropped, Fenris grabbed her hand and pulled her up into his lap, forcing her to open her eyes as he gripped her tightly around the waist. Amelie wrapped her legs around his hips to keep balance and refused to look him in the eyes. Fenris used his thumb and index finger to lightly grasp her chin and encourage her to meet his gaze. 'I wish to indulge in the beauty of your body and hear your soul sing and dance with mine,' he spoke softly, scared of rushing her.

Amelie smiled as he stroked her cheek, the flush returning once more. She no longer felt embarrassed or shy but comfortable and relaxed. 'Fenris, dance with me,' she whispered in reply. His smile spoke of a thousand words but none need be said as he kissed her, his want engulfing her body.

I officially love writing a teasing Fenris.

Hope you didn't feel like this was too rushed. I mean it has been 21 chapters.

Next chapter is full of the naughty stuff.

If there's anything in particular you would like to read in -said naughty chapter- just drop me a line, PM or review, and as long as it's within character I'll happily include it for you.

Thanks for reading.