**Disclaimer** All the characters, plots and events belong to BioWare. I just mold them to my liking.

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Leliana walked over to Amelia, a silk robe in her hands. A smile played on her youthful face as she said, "here, I'd like you to have this."

Amelia looked up, surprise written in the way her lip curled, "What is it?"

"I found it in Marjolaine's apartment after we…" she drifted off as her throat closed, "it's what nobles wear here. I know you miss the fine things, just as I do. And while we're at camp, what is the harm of looking pretty and comfortable?"

Her will –already weak- faltered, "I'll try it on, just for a second."

*

Dressed in a gown and glowing with happiness, Amelia stood at the center of the camp, twirling around while Leliana gushed with compliments. Alistair felt rooted to the spot, realizing that it was the first time she had really let down her shield. He loved watching her smile and laugh, obviously having fun. He put the wood he had found in the forest down, and walked towards her slowly.

He heard her, even when he was still far. She has the ears of a hound, he thought. "You look beautiful."

Amelia tugged at the dressed a bit, feeling naked in a dress that had no armor. "Thank you, Alistair."

Alistair saw Leliana slip away, sending him a smile. He approached her, sighing when she took a step back. "It's a dress, Amelia. And it's not going to kill you to be happy that you look stunning in it still."

"It could kill me if darkspawn decided to attack right now and they grabbed me and stabbed me. With my armor at least, I'd have some protection. How stupid of me, this was a horrible idea-"

He laughed as she turned red, trying to lift up her skirt so she could run quicker to her tent. Grabbing her wrist, he shot her a smile when she glared at him.

It was he who initiated the kiss this time, she marveled. It brought her a certain pleasure that she would be childish to deny. She sunk into him, melting against the feeling of freedom.

Alistair noticed the change in her. Felt the surrender of someone who couldn't hold up their shield any longer. He let go of her and in her eyes, saw a vulnerable woman unsure of what to do next. "That wasn't too soon, was it?" He asked softly.

Amelia smiled at him, tucking a lock of brown hair behind her ear, "we've kissed before, Alistair."

"Yes but I have taken the lead? I think not. You, my dear lady, ambushed me with that kiss. I, being the perfect gentleman, would have waited until now to have moved forward."

She laughed, burying her face in his chest when she heard Wynne chuckle behind her. "You know, I never thought I'd be dating a gentleman."

"Dating?" Alistair raised his eyebrows.

Eyes narrowed, she said quickly, "you heard me. I'm not going to be like that poor woman you courted and never progressed to anything. You and me, we're a duo now."

His heart warmed at the words, looking down at her and seeing the determination written in her face. "You know," he murmured, "I rather like the sound of that."

* ** *

Laughter floated through the campground. They all sat in a circle, sharing stories and songs. Morrigan, as usual, had taken her bowl of smuck and walked to her tent. Leliana sent Amelia a glance, which the rogue replied with a simple shrug that said, "let her be, she's happier that way." She couldn't understand how Morrigan could stay far away from them when even Sten sat with them. They didn't reek of blood and dirt; Amelia made them wash up as much as possible whenever the opportunity presented itself. She'd even gone to the great length of heating up water in a kettle by the fire so that they could have warm water to wash their faces. Leliana had been grateful at the little luxury Amelia had provided.

"Alistair, can I speak to you?"

He turned to Wynne, smiling sweetly, "Anything for my favorest mage ever!"

Wynne tucked her tongue to her cheek, and continued, "now that you and our fearless leader are all but joined at the hip, I think it's time you knew where babies really come from."

Alistair frowned at her, his food forgotten in his bowl, "What?"

"I know that the Chantry teaches that you dream about a baby and the good Fade spirits take them out of the Fade and leave them in your arms. But that's not true. Actually, what happens is when a girl and a boy really love each other-"

"Andraste's flaming sword, I know where babies come from!" Alistair cried out, glaring at her indignantly.

"Do you?" Wynne asked him, her voice full of concern, "do you really?"

"I certainly hope so!" He sent Amelia a pleading look, blushing furiously.

Wynne reached over to smooth his hair, "Oh, all right then. Aww, look: you're all red and mottled. How cute."

Amelia burst out laughing as Alistair pulled away from Wynne, "you did that on purpose!"

"Now now Alistair. Why would I do something like that?"

He sniffed indignantly, "because you're wicked. That frail old lady act? I'm SO not fooled by it."

"Oh, I don't think I can pair up frail and Wynne in the same sentence," Amelia chuckled, biting into her meat.

"How about you, Amelia?" Leliana grinned, "do you know where babies come from?"

Alistair rolled his eyes as the younger women laughed. Wynne joined in, setting her gaze on Alistair, "you're far too young to be thinking about babies, dear."

Amelia's eyes light up, "Of course I'm not! I've lived through twenty summers, Wynne. I'm at the perfect birthing stage."

"You want children?" Leliana smiled fondly at her friend.

"More than anything."

"And you think Alistair is good family making material?" Wynne asked.

She spared her fellow Grey Warden a glance, "what makes you think I'm thinking of settleing down with him?" At the laughter and teasing of Wynne and Leliana, Amelia laughed heartily, "Yes. I think he would make a great father to our children."

** ** ** ** **

Leliana waited until sleep settled over the camp before walking out her tent. Quietly, she slipped into Alistair's tent and glared down at him until he began to stir.

"Maker!" he yelped as he realized that she was in his tent, "Leliana what in the Maker's name are you doing!?"

"Children."

"WHAT!?"

She sighed, exasperated, "When Amelia said you would make a great father – Maker knows why- you looked mighty guilty of something. What are you hiding from her, Alistair?"

He squirmed uncomfortably, "I can't tell you."

Hissing, she flew at him angrily. He blocked her, pinning her to the ground. "Stop!" He commanded when Leliana continued to wither against his hold.

Leliana froze, glaring up at him, "Let me up, you idiot. I have no intention of hurting you. She needs you to end the Blight. I wouldn't doom us just because I can't stand you at the moment."

He hesistated, allowing her to sit up. "I wish I could tell you."

She shrugged, "You can't tell me, that I understand. But I am assuming this has to do with being a Grey Warden, yes?" At his nod, she continued, "Is it that there will always be a threat of a Blight so you can't dedicate yourself to a family?"

"While that should be a reason for a Grey Warden to not have children, no. It's not the reason. Even if you guess it –which you won't – I won't say if you're correct or not. I can't."

"Fair enough. I am not a Grey Warden, nor do I wish to be one. I am content to just follow you along. What is not fair is the fact that Amelia is a Grey Warden and she has it set in her mind that once this is all over, she will settle down with you and start a family. Can you imagine her disappointment when you make love to her, night after night, and yet no child is produced? She will declare herself barren –but for all the wrong reasons."

"I can't… I can't break her heart like that."

Leliana looked away, a flash of sadness in her eyes, "You don't understand how lucky you are to have her."

He understood the wistfulness in her voice. "You love her."

A statement, not a question. "Very much so. But she loves you. Which is why it is your duty to tell her."

"I can't."

Her eyes narrowed, "Let me make this clear. If you don't, then I will."

Alistair rolled his eyes, "Please, do you honestly think you can threaten me and- Leliana!" he scrambled out of his tent, eyes widening as she made her way quietly to Amelia's tent.

"Leliana… wha-"

Alistair grabbed Leliana by the elbow, pulling her away from Amelia. He poked his head into her tent, feeling his face grow hot as he realized she wore only her undergarments. Sleep was written all over her face, "I'll be right back, love." He pushed Leliana away, glaring at her angrily.

"I know you think I'm crazy, what with my vision and what have you. But I am also loyal," she spat. She turned around and without saying anything further, hurried back to her tent.

"Alistair?"

He closed his eyes for a second, praying to the Maker for guidance. To him, having children had been a wishful thing. For Amelia, he knew it was a need. "Love… we need to talk. Let's take a walk?"

She nodded slowly, recognizing the tone in his words. As if she was a small child, and he was trying to break a fall. She slipped into her armor, frowning when he laughed as she reached for her weapons, "Are they not needed?" Amelia asked politely. When he shook his head, she only sighed and left them.

"We… need to talk."

Amelia raised an eyebrow, "you've stated that. What's going on, Alistair."

"I don't know how to say this… today, at supper, you told Wynne that you thought I'd make a good father-"

She grinned, "Oh Alistair. I love you."

"What?"

"You're worried that we're moving too fast. We haven't even slept together and I'm already talking about us forming a family. How stupid of me. I don't want to have children, Alistair."

He blinked, confused. "Really?"

"Yes, really! We have the Archdemon to think about. The blight. A civil war. Rebuilding the Grey Wardens. I get it. We're going to be busy."

"Oh thank the Maker-"

"You silly person. All of that family making fun can wait until later if we're still together. We don't have to worry about all that now. We can worry about our four children later."

"Four children!" He cried then shook his head, "Amelia, I don't think we're going to have one at all."

She smile warmly, "You're being pessimistic. You said it yourself awhile back; we'll have time to settle down and live peacefully after this is all done."

Alistair groaned, "Oh love… I'm so sorry. Truly."

Amelia stopped smiling, looking at him wearily and seeing the regret in his eyes, "Alistair?"

"We'll be able to settle down somewhere. But Amelia… having children might not be in the cards for us."

She began to hyperventilate, "This is going to end someday. We're not always going to be Grey Wardens. Someday, we'll become Amelia and Alistair again."

"You're right."

"So?"

He moved towards her, sighing when she backed away, "when we go through the Ritual, we take in the taint. The Grey Wardens I knew that had children had them before they Joined. I've never met a Warden who had a child after the Joining. As far as I know, it's possible. But two Grey Wardens trying to conceive…"

When she began fall forward, he caught her. Sobs ripped through her body, leaving her breathless. Alistair shut her eyes, drawing her close. She let out a scream so raw it sounded animalistic. The sound of a woman who had given up another part of her soul without having a say in the matter.