Telling Leandra was awful. She cursed at Garrett as she fell to the floor crying. Jennifer knelt beside her and Leandra gripped her tightly as she cried on Jennifer's shoulder. Jennifer stroked her hair softly, rocking slightly and murmuring in Leandra's ear.
Garrett frowned and left the hovel quickly, Jennifer looked at the slammed door sympathetically. She them smiled softly and pulled back from Leandra looking at her tear reddened eyes. "How about I make us some tea?" Leandra merely nodded and moved to sit in the rickety chair at the rickety table. Leandra sat quietly, watching Jennifer maneuver around the small kitchenette, boiling the water over the roaring fire in the cast iron tea kettle before moving to the infuser and pouring the steaming water into the chipped teacups.
Jennifer set the cup before Leandra and patted her shoulder, let me change and then I'll join you. She left the room and rubbed her chest with a closed fist closing her eyes. I'm so sorry, Leandra. Forgive us all…
-ooo-
Weeks went by, and when Garrett showed Leandra all the gold and trinkets they had retrieved from the expedition, her depression subsided and she returned to the Viscounts estate with renewed vigor, the extra coin lining their pockets aided Leandra and before Jennifer realized they were moving their meager belongings to the old Amell estate.
Needless to say, Jennifer was flabbergasted. Never had she seen such a grandiose manor. She spun about in in the carpeted entryway, Rascal, now up to her knees, bounding about her feet. When she tripped over his large paw and fell to the floor she squealed with delight. Rascal licked her face with wanton abandon and yipped happily as she made her way to her feet.
Leandra stepped into the main room and sighed, "It's been so long, but it's as if I never left." She turned sharply towards Garrett and Jennifer and clapped her hands. "Alright, you two! We've got work to do!" she pushed her sleeves to her elbows and threw to meager logs into the fire and set to warming the estate against the clouded morning.
Jennifer skipped to a worn chest and rummaged through its contents before retrieving a feather duster and setting to work.
Hours passed as the small family laughed their way through their chores, Jennifer sneezed for the seventh time in a row as she shook out a rug, when a knock sounded at the main doors, "I'll get it!" She called back as she raced down the stairs, dust powdering her nose and cheeks and dirt packed on her knees. When she opened the door she blinked at the snowy white hair and the deeply tanned skin before beaming brightly and lunging forward. "Fenris!"
Fenris blinked at Jennifer's state before stumbling back as she collided with him. "Jennifer, why are you dirty?"
Jennifer looked at him, her smile widening till her eyes shut. "I've been cleaning with Garrett and Leandra." She looked down at her clothing before looking at Fenris'. "Oops. I'm sorry." She began brushing his jerkin and breastplate before Fenris stilled her hands with his.
"It doesn't matter. Though, I see you've returned from the Deep Roads. I see the expedition was a success." And Jennifer's frown, he pushed her at arm's length and looked down at her. "What happened?"
"Bethany didn't make it." Tears welled in her eyes and she covered her eyes with the heel of her hands and sniffed. "She was tainted, if it weren't for Anders, she would have died, but he knew where other Wardens were, so I hope… I hope she made it." She looked at Fenris with watery eyes and a water smily before wiping at her eyes with her forearm causing dust to smear further.
Leandra walked out into the foyer and blinked. "Oh Fenris, I didn't know you were here. Is everything alright?"
Jennifer smiled brightly at Leandra and nodded. "Yep! Fenris just heard we were moving into Hightown and came to say 'Hello'."
Fenris bowed fluidly, "Good afternoon, Lady Amell."
Leandra smiled softly and bowed her head. "It's been too long since that title held value. Come in, and I'll make us something to eat."
Fenris held up his hands, "I'm afraid I must decline. I only came by to offer my best wishes, I have something I must see to."
Leandra nodded and Jennifer looked at Fenris questioningly. "Will you be by later? I'm thinking about having everyone over to celebrate. It's not everyday you get a mansion." She smiled.
Fenris nodded before turning on his head and stepping away.
-ooo-
Jennifer bit into an apple slice and crunched it between her teeth, the larger bits stored in her cheek. She looked out the window at the withered garden with its brown stalks and dry leaves. When she heard a soft knock at the door she didn't bother looking around and bid them enter with another bite of apple.
"It's very improper for a lady to speak with her mouth full." Came a deep sing-song brogue.
Jennifer spun quickly in the newly dusted barstool, the uneven legs causing her balance to slip, sending her into the metal and leather clad arms of Sebastian. She gasped and bits of apple choked her. She coughed and spit the remaining apple bits on the floor.,
"Spitting is also very unladylike." Sebastian chuckled.
Jennifer playfully glared at Sebastian, wiping her mouth. "Well if people wouldn't scare someone with a mouth full of food then I wouldn't have to spit to prevent choking to death." She rubbed her chest with a closed fist before smirking at Sebastian.
He laughed, a sound that glided from him in melody. Jennifer shivered and firmly told her girly bits to get lost. He straightened Jennifer settling her back onto the stool, before taking his place opposite of her and folding his arms on the table top. "I'm glad to see you returned to us safely. I came to offer my deepest sympathies about Bethany, I know the two of you were close."
Jennifer smiled sadly. "Thank you. I hope to hear from her soon to know if she passed the Joining."
"Bethany is a strong person, she will survive." Sebastian smiled comfortingly, his bright white teeth a stark contrast to his honey gold skin.
"I know. But I would still rather know for certain." She smiled back before gasping and patting Sebastian's hand. "Cockleshells!" She darted out of the kitchen and into the garden, brushing to the overgrown dried plants. Curious, Sebastian followed Jennifer into the garden as she murmured to herself and pointed to different beds. "And ivy over there crawling up the trellis. Ooh and maybe some honeysuckle for fragrance!"
"You like planting, do you?" Sebastian smirked as he stood beside Jennifer.
She nodded and looked at him. "I sure do! They are one of the few things I'm good at. Herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. My mother said I have a green thumb." She sat back on her haunches and brushed the dried deadened leaves with her fingers. "Just wait till I get the garden flourishing. It was really a beautiful garden when it was tended." She smiled softly. She snapped her fingers before standing up abruptly and turned towards Sebastian.
He blinked at her curious behavior, quirking a brow. "You have to come later in the week, I'm inviting everyone here to celebrate Leandra and Garrett getting the estate back." She smiled rocking back on her heels.
He looked at her with a frown. "Are you not going to be staying with them?"
Jennifer was looking back down at the flower bed, her fingers twining around one another. "I need to stand on my own, find something I can do to earn my keep and support myself. I don't want to be an extra mouth to feed. And with Bethany gone… me living on my own is for the best, you know?" She smiled at Sebastian, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
Sebastian caught Jennifer's hand in his and pulled her to him, pressing her to his chest as he hugged her tightly, her eyes widened as he carded his fingers through her hair and whispered against the crown of her head. "You are no one's burden. You are loved and wanted. Don't ever think anything different." Jennifer's cheeks blushed furiously as she stammered.
"Th-thank you." She curled her fingers over the his breastplate, the well-polished metal sliding easily along her skin.
When she heard Garrett clear his throat, Sebastian pulled away, a slight blush on his cheeks. Oh NOW you're embarrassed. When she looked towards Garrett however, her eyes found something in the amber brown that looked back at her with the caution she thought had dissipated after seeing Anders' worst within the Deep Roads.
Jennifer frowned at Garrett and rested her hands on her hips. "Don't you know how to knock?!" She grumbled.
Garrett only chuckled. "You're in the garden."
"So, Sebastian knocked before coming into the kitchen!" She pouted, looking off.
"My apologies." He chuckled. Jennifer scooped a clod of dirt into her hands and chunked it, hitting Hawke square in the chest.
"Don't mock me!" Turd…
AN: Okay! So... moment of truth is coming up, who will the OC end up with. Place your votes now! Sebastian, Anders, Fenris, or even... Dum daduh dum! HAWKE!