Fenris paced his room debating what to do about the whole mess. All this time he'd thought she cared about him, had been teasing him, and she had thought he was gay. She had only gotten so close to him because she felt safe around him. He scoffed at that thought. How anyone could feel safe around him was a mystery to him. He was a weapon. It's all he'd ever be. He glanced up as Varric cleared his throat in the doorway.

"I don't want to hear it. I told her I needed time to calm down. I am not in the mood to be poked at."

"I thought I should check on you. And to tell you there was more to it." Varric said and moved to take a seat at the desk in his room.

"I know that Isabela gave her the idea."

"Isabela and Anders had a bet going. They didn't mean for it to get so out of hand. They didn't want to hurt either of you. They want to apologize, but I thought it might be better if I came first. I didn't want you to kill them."

"Why did they do this? I get the abomination, but Isabela?" Fenris shook his head.

"It was supposed to be a bit of a joke, but it got carried away." Varric said. Fenris looked at him sharply. "I'm not saying what they did was right, or that you shouldn't be angry, but they really weren't trying to hurt either of you."

"Yet here we are. What else could possibly have come from this game?" Fenris snapped.

"Well, in their defense, Hawke took something Isabela said to heart. Isabela was talking out of being rejected and Hawke took it as the truth. Hawke's not used to this whole thing. Her family kept to themselves. She's had a serious crush on you since she first laid eyes on you. You confused her. I'm not defending her either. I mean, even Merrill has picked up on the fact that you like Hawke. I'm just trying to explain." Varric assured him when Fenris gave him an angry look. "If you haven't noticed yet, if it's not fighting or protecting someone Hawke's kinda lost."

"She didn't have a crush on me. She thought I was gay." Fenris said turning to stare out the window.

Varric sighed. "If you don't believe that she cares about you, you're blind. I couldn't understand why she was putting you in the friend-zone, but I get it now. I had wondered if it just wasn't that she wasn't sure what to do so she was trying to drive you nuts until you made the move. But she thought you weren't ever going to be more, so you became her best friend." Varric shook his head as he realized he wasn't getting anywhere with the moody elf. "Do what you want, but is it really worth throwing away her friendship?"

"I'm not throwing away her friendship. I told her I needed time to calm down."

"She thinks you'll never forgive her." Varric headed for the door. "Do me a favor, when Isabela and Anders show up tomorrow, don't kill them."

"No promises." Fenris said without turning around. He needed to go to Hawke, but he wasn't going to give the dwarf the satisfaction of being right. Fenris was still upset, but Hawke hadn't really done anything wrong. She'd tried to make a friend happy. Part of her charm was her willingness to believe in anyone.

-0-

Hawke hadn't been able to stay home. She just couldn't stand the thought of Fenris being angry and alone. She'd rather he yell at her. She walked into the house and met Varric in the foyer.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I came to make sure he was alright. And make sure when the boneheads came to apologize, he wouldn't kill them."

"What do you think my odds of survival are?" Hawke asked glancing at the darkened main hall.

"I'd say pretty good. His pride's been hit, Hawke. A man doesn't like to be asked that, especially from the woman he's crazy about."

"But he's never let on! I mean he's always just been like a buddy. He helped me with how I wore my hair, he's slept beside me many a time, we've bathed…Son of a bitch!" She shouted as it all sunk in. If Fenris wasn't gay, then he should have questioned why she was getting undressed around him.

"He doesn't know how to go about this stuff any better than you do." Varric laughed as Hawke turned red. "Poor bastard probably thought you were tormenting him."

"Don't you poor bastard him! He's seen me naked! He should have said something!"

"He was probably too distracted with seeing you naked to think clearly." Varric laughed and started for the door. "Hey, Hawke?" He called turning to look at her as he opened the door. "Next time you think someone's gay, you might want to think again. Your ability to sense gay or straight is apparently really off. Sebastian's not either."

"He's not?" She asked.

Varric shook his head. "Not with the way he watches your ass. Why do you think the two of them like to walk behind you?"

"Great. Now I'm going to be paranoid when someone is walking behind me."

"Just enjoy it. I don't like humans, but you do have a nice ass." He grinned as she growled at him. "Play nice with the elf."

-0-

She made her way into the hall and ran smack into Fenris. "What are you doing here?" He asked shocked to see her. He knew the one thing that hurt her most was when he walked away. He'd been sure he'd have to grovel long and hard to get her to forgive him this time.

"I'd rather you yell at me then wonder if I'm going to see you again." She said frowning at him.

"Hawke, you know that I'm going to come back. I always do."

"Until one day you don't." She sighed. "Look, I know that I've made you mad, but…"

"You didn't make me mad. I was shocked. I'm still upset because all this time I thought…well, it doesn't matter. But you didn't really do anything wrong."

"So does this mean I'm forgiven?"

"If you will forgive me for walking off."

"Always." She promised and smiled at him. She then punched his shoulder.

"What was that for?" He asked rubbing his shoulder.

"You giant jerk! You should have said something!" She said putting her hands on her hips. "You've seen me naked!"

He smirked at her. "Many times."

"Didn't you once think, maybe I should tell her not to do that?" She asked as he took a step towards her. She shifted moving back. He used his powers to get behind her, forcing her to turn and back up towards his stairs.

"I thought you were trying to drive me insane."

"What? Why would you think that?" She asked and nearly tripped as her heels hit the stairs. Fenris steadied her and continued to press closer, forcing her up the stairs.

"I thought you realized how I felt about you. I often wondered how you could be so sweet and so cruel all at the same time. I started to wonder if you were testing me."

"Testing you?" She asked, her heart was pounded as Fenris continued to stalk her, backing her into his room. There was no where to flee to now. She wasn't so sure she wanted to flee, but having the option removed made her jittery. Not entirely in a bad way either.

"The limits of my patience. The limits of my discipline. I thought maybe you wanted me to shove you against a wall and take you." He said dropping his voice and watching her with hungry eyes. She shivered in response.

"I…Fenris…" She stammered as the bed hit the back of her knees. She would have fallen if he hadn't have wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tight against him. She swallowed hard and looked up at him.

"Tell me this isn't what you want and I'll let you leave, Ashlyn." He whispered pressing closer to her, his eyes lingering on her lips before looking back into her eyes. She looked at him surprised as he whispered her name. He'd never called her by her first name before. She smiled at him, her eyes shining with all the love she had for this amazing man before her.

"You're all I've ever wanted." She admitted quietly. The corners of his mouth twisted up in that brief smile she had come to treasure so much before he kissed her.

His hands moved to unbuckle her armor as he whispered against her ear. "My eyes and mind know your body as well as my own. It's time for my mouth and hands to as well, wouldn't you agree?"

She nodded unable to speak as it took all her willpower to stay upright and not melt into a puddle at his feet. She'd dreamed of this for so long, but had never thought it would actually happen. Now that it was, she didn't want to waste any time. She reached to undo his armor as he worked on hers.

They didn't speak again as they hurriedly undressed each other, touching, kissing, exploring. His skin a marvel to her as she finally was able to see and touch it. She'd always tried to keep her eyes off of him when they'd bathed, but now she could happily look her fill.

Divested of all clothing they tumbled into the bed. Each seeking to get enough of the other, each wondering if it would ever be possible. Kisses and touches grew hungrier and more insistent as feelings long held at bay took over. Fenris twisted them so he was on top and plunged into her, kissing her to smother her startled cry.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked worriedly. She shook her head and shifted to take him in farther. He groaned in the unspeakable pleasure that took over his brain, leaving him unable to think anything but more. They thrashed against each other, fighting for control before finding a rhythm that worked for them both.

Whispered pleas, panted groans, names cried filled the air. Fenris was overwhelmed and felt like he would drown in all of the sensations and emotions. He clung to her like a lifeline as her release crashed over them, forcing him to his as well.

He collapsed against her, allowing her to cradle him close as they tried to regain their breathing. "Am I crushing you?" He panted out after a moment. He didn't want to move. He never wanted to leave this spot. He wanted to do that over and over again until she couldn't see or think of anything but him.

"Maybe a little, but I don't want you to move." She answered as she nuzzled along his neck. He twisted, staying in her just reversing their positions.

"Better?" He asked as he ran his hands along her body. Mine, he chanted in his head. And now she was. His alone. She hmmed and snuggled close to him, placing kisses on his markings along his throat and collarbone.

"So, um…you wanna prove to me once again that you aren't gay?" She asked smiling up at him mischievously.

"The second I can. And for the rest of our lives." He vowed. "There's just one thing, Ashlyn." She lifted her head to look at him in question. "When I wake in the morning, you better still be here." He said arching a brow at her as she smiled quickly.

"I think I can live with that."

-0-

Anders and Isabela made their way into Fenris' house the next morning. Well, closer to lunch as neither were much of a morning person. They had stopped by Hawke's house, but her mother had said she'd never come home that night. Anders had a sinking feeling that even if he'd sort of won the bet, he'd lost in the long run.

"Shouldn't he have already appeared?" Anders asked slightly nervously. He didn't like Fenris and he really didn't want to be apologizing, but he would. For Hawke's sake if nothing else.

"Unless he's had a really late night." Isabela smirked at Anders. She almost felt bad for him. He had it bad for their fearless leader. He couldn't seem to see that the girl only had eyes for Fenris.

"You are not funny. What's that noise?" He asked freezing on the stairs. They paused and listened. Quiet voices could be heard, followed by laughter. Someone strummed a lute, plucking a quick little tune. Bright and happy sounds coming from the last place either of them would have expected to hear it. Fenris' bedroom.

They crept to the doorway and peeked in. Fenris had on a pair of pants but no shirt. Hawke was wearing one of his tunics sitting between his legs on the bed. His arms were wrapped around her as she held the lute. He moved her hands, trying to teach her to play.

"Like this?" She asked and tried to pluck the same strings he had done, but he distracted her by kissing her neck. She giggled and turned to capture his lips with hers.

"You're a terrible student." He teased her as she shoved aside the lute and twisted in his arms.

"And you are a terrible teacher." She laughed back. "So let's do something we're both good at instead?" She suggested and wiggled her eyebrows at him. He shifted forward, pinning her to the bed.

"I can do that." He said and leaned forward to kiss her.

Isabela and Anders quickly backed away. "Well, I think we should apologize some other time." Isabela said as they hurried to leave the house.

"I don't know if we even need to now." Anders sighed heavily. He had always known that deep down she would end up with the elf. He'd just thought that maybe he could at least compete for her. He glanced over at Isabela. She was beautiful and fun. She didn't want any strings. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to give it a try. "You know…I do sort of owe you for the bet."

"Sort of nothing. I won fair and square. He kissed her before she said he was gay." Isabela smirked at him.

"Yes, but she did send him on a date with Sebastian." Anders countered with a laugh. He'd have given anything to see the looks on the guys faces when they realized it.

"I know. Can you imagine the look on Choir Boy's face? I bet he went all scarlet. I'm going to tease them all ruthlessly about it for months." Isabela laughed. She glanced at Anders and sighed. "You don't have to pay up, Anders. I know that you liked her."

"Well, I never go back on a bet. And it's obvious that she's with him." He then gave her a charming smile. "Besides one time you mentioned something about whip cream."

"Handcuffs and always be on top." She said raising a brow at him. "My place or yours?"

"Well, I don't have handcuffs or whip cream. We could get whip cream in the market."

"And I have a pair of handcuffs with me."

"You carry handcuffs with you?" Anders asked turning to look at her. She smiled.

"Always be prepared. That's my motto."

"Your place is closer." He said. They took off in a run, laughing as they raced. They flew past Merrill and Varric, neither noticing the pair.

"Where do you think they're off to?" Merrill asked as they watched the two disappear down the stairs.

Varric sighed and shook his head. "Seems springs in the air, Daisy." Varric answered. They had just spoken with Aveline and Donnic a few minutes ago. It had been a nauseating experience as the two could barely keep their eyes off the other now that they had finally realized they liked each other.

"But it's fall, Varric." Merrill said cocking her head at him in puzzlement.

"The season may be fall, Daisy, but for our friends, it's definitely spring."