A/N: A bit uneventful, but poor Hawke and Olivia need some time to rest because it's all about to hit the fan. ^.^

This story will be wrapping up in the next few chapters, but never fear! My new story, "Why the Hero of Ferelden Owes Me Lunch" is up, so feel free to check it out!

Thank you so much for reading and following! Feel free to leave a review :)

"Hello again, Varric." Feeling much more comfortable in the dwarf's suite—as opposed to the noisy, crowded tavern—Olivia settled into a chair away from the fire.

Varric, seated at the head of the table, grinned. "Hello yourself, Hotshot. I'm guessing Aveline declined our invitation?"

"She was not so pleased with the idea of drinking with an assassin," Zevran admitted coyly. "And I was not going to argue. What can I say, I enjoy living." He gave an innocent little shrug, bringing a snicker from Varric.

With a small smile, Olivia pulled off her gauntlets and set them next to her chair. "Is anyone else coming?"

"I thought so," Varric chuckled. "I offered to buy drinks. Usually that gets everyone in here before you can say nug shit."

Zevran seemed to be studying Varric closely. Raising an eyebrow, he remarked, "You are quite different than the other dwarves I have met. There is one in particular," the assassin continued, leaning forward on the table. "Perhaps you know the stories of him."

"Maker, Zevran," Olivia groaned in mock dismay. "I hardly think Oghren is a shining example of what a dwarf ought to be."

"I know the stories, sure." With precise, practiced strokes, Varric began cleaning Bianca. "But most of them come from Blondie."

"The mage?"

Varric nodded.

The assassin contemplated this for a moment. "I considered killing him, once. At Vigil's Keep."

Olivia let her head drop into her hands. Not this story again.

But Varric let out a loud laugh. "You, my friend, would have saved us a load of trouble."

Zevran sighed. "Alas, the Warden-Commander would not allow me to assassinate her soldiers." He flashed Olivia one of his signature smiles, then stood, announcing he would be back soon with some drinks.

The dwarf leaned back in his chair, still holding Bianca protectively. "I bet you had a hell of a time back in Ferelden. Forget the doom-and-gloom stories," he scoffed, "you were running around having a blast, weren't you?"

"Not quite." Olivia suppressed a laugh and continued, "It was exciting, no doubt. But fun? I'm not sure that's the word I would use."

Varric began to say something, but was cut off by the door to his suite being slammed open. Anders strode in and sat, completely silent. After a moment, he calmly noted, "I hope you're still planning on buying drinks, Varric, because tonight, I'm going to get very, very drunk."

"And why's that, Blondie?"

"There are some things you should not do in public. Or even say you're going to do." He glanced back at the door, a grin slowly forming. "Isabela's out there. You should have seen her face when that elf walked in."

"That elf has a name," Zevran called cheekily, appearing in the doorway. Isabela followed, her arms crossed and her eyes hard.

Inspecting Isabela, Anders grinned, "So, I'm guessing that elf said no?"

The pirate glared at Anders, then at Zevran. "That elf better make up for this later."

From her seat in the back of the room, Olivia asked incredulously, "Zevran said no?"

"Oh, not quite," Zevran chuckled, taking a seat. "I said later. There are things I wish to know first." As the rest of the group settled into their own conversations, he began hounding Olivia about their former companions.

As the two friends caught up, Olivia became painfully aware of her growing homesickness. It wasn't a feeling she was used to; even while traversing Ferelden, she'd never longed for the Circle. Not this badly, at least. "So, Zevran, why exactly did you leave?" she asked after a while.

He shrugged. "You saw I was being hunted by the Crows."

"That's never bothered you before. We could've just gathered a group and gone with you." Confusion and a hint of worry tainted her voice. "What was different about this time?"

"Hmm, let's see," Zevran mused, his eyes focusing on the ceiling. "It started with a small group of Crows. You remember them—there were three of them, in a little camp outside the Keep."

Olivia nodded.

"I did not tell you then, but I had found a letter that led me to the main camp. Over the next few weeks, I began killing them. It was slow, and boring," he sighed. "I had to poison them, and wait." A grin curled on his lips, and he admitted, "There were dozens of them. An entire guild, and the guildmaster. All dead."

"So they tried to enlist the Champion of Kirkwall?"

Zevran nodded. "After I killed them, I left. I knew they would be after me soon, and I did not want the Keep or the Wardens becoming too wrapped up with the Crows. So I came to Kirkwall—"

"—leaving only a note," Olivia finished, letting hard edge slip into her light-hearted tone.

"Ah, and here is where I avoid the conversation." With another grin, Zevran left Olivia and went straight to Isabela, whispering something in her ear.

Olivia groaned and turned to Varric. "If you don't mind, I think I'll be heading back to the estate." Not only was she tired, but she knew how Anders got after his third drink. It wasn't pretty. She grabbed her gauntlets and headed for the door, trying not to look reproachful as Anders took another long swig from his mug.

"And this is what I call the spicy shimmy!"

"Bodahn," Olivia sighed, "just call me Olivia. Or Warden-Commander. There's no need for such formality."

"Ah, well…" The dwarf looked away, wringing his hands. "Serah Hawke is in the study. Um, Warden-Commander."

"Thank you," Olivia offered sincerely. Leaving her weapons in the front room, she made her way to the study. She pushed the door open, but froze when she saw Fenris. The elf was sitting by the fire with a book in his lap, leaning slightly into Hawke as her finger trailed the words on the page.

Fenris stiffened as Olivia opened the door, scowling first at Hawke, then at Olivia. He slammed the book shut and tossed it to the floor. "I'm leaving."

"Fenris, no." Hawke scrambled to her feet.

Olivia just did her best to get out of the way, mumbling apologies as she shrank back into the front room with the dwarves.

"Fenris, please stay," Hawke pleaded. He kept walking for the door, and her tone turned harsh. "Is it always going to be this way? Are you always going to leave?"

At this, the elf froze, his muscles tensing. When Olivia looked at Hawke, she was surprised to see the shimmer of tears in the mage's eyes. She had a sudden, overwhelming sensation that she was intruding on something very personal, but didn't dare move from her perch by the writing desk. Instead, she awkwardly inspected the papers on the desk and pretended to take no notice.

"If it is your wish," Fenris finally spoke, his voice heavy, "then I will stay."

"Thank you." Hawke's voice held no trace of pain or anger. "Olivia, perhaps you'd like to join us in the study? I can have some food brought up for us." With that, the red-head spun back into the study. Slowly, Olivia followed, and then Fenris. They settled into the study, an uneasy silence falling over the room.

Finally, Hawke spoke. "I hope Varric doesn't mind that we declined his invitation. Lately, Fenris and I have been spending our free evenings doing a bit of reading." She motioned to where the book still sat. "It's calming, don't you think, Fenris? A nice change from all the killing we do?"

He grunted in response.

"Well," Olivia began slowly, hoping she could smooth over whatever quarrel she had accidently started, "if you'd like to go back to your reading, I think I'll turn in for the night."

"As will I." Avoiding Hawke's steely gaze, Fenris quietly added, "It's late, and we undoubtedly have things planned in the morning. Rest will do us all well."

Hawke didn't argue. "Well, you're a boring bunch," she teased. "I'll walk you out."

As she and Fenris left the room, Olivia leaned her head back. Her neck was stiff from being thrown by the varterral, something she hadn't anticipated when she'd gone to Anders for healing earlier that evening. Carefully, she rubbed her neck, letting her healing magic soothe the ache. It didn't help much, but it was something.

"Oh! Here, let me see."

Olivia opened her eyes and shook her head. "It's not a big deal, Hawke. Just a bit of soreness."

"Alright." She shrugged, sitting across from the Commander. Biting her lip, she added quietly, "Sorry about Fenris. He's… he doesn't like people to know about…"

"It's fine," Olivia assured her. "It isn't like I'm going to tell all of Kirkwall."

"Oh, good," Hawke breathed a dramatic sigh of relief. "At least out Warden-Commander isn't a gossip." She laughed lightly, but it was empty. Her eyes turned to the fire and her smile faded. "What's it like?" she asked suddenly, her voice unusually timid. "Having a… stable relationship?"

Raising an eyebrow, Olivia glanced towards the front door. "A stable relationship?"

Hawke ducked her head, rubbing her temples. "Emphasis on stable." She sighed. "Fenris has been hurt, and he's never had anyone to heal him. He needs someone—and he knows it—but he doesn't know how to accept my help."

Olivia thought immediately of Morrigan. She had needed a friend—a sister—and it had taken a Blight for her to admit it. "It takes time, and perseverance, and a willingness to offer space when they need it," she advised.

Groaning, Hawke sprung from her chair and began pacing, a whisp of flame escaping her clenched fists. "I've waited three years. I've done everything I can to help when he asks. I've given him space. I—" She let loose a string of grumbled curses. "I've lost my entire family," she muttered, her shoulders slumping. "Surely the Maker could allow me this?"

Tapping her fingers on the arm of the chair, Olivia let the word Amell float around in her mind for a moment. "No, Hawke," she decided finally. "You haven't lost your entire family." The Commander took a deep breath, making the same vow she had promised Morrigan as she disappeared into the mirror.

"You have a sister in me, no matter what. I swear I will be here for you, if you have need of me."