CHAPTER 20: A TINY CASE OF WHOOPSIE

Three days ago I had taken to keeping a small basin in my room beside my bed. I got food poisoning after eating what little food I scarfed down before getting chased half way across Kirkwall. I slept fine during the night, but as soon as I woke up I was sick.

Leandra came in during one of my bouts of sickness to wake me up, but found me instead holding the metal basin emptying my stomach out into it. I felt horrible, but a little while after it was like nothing was wrong.

She brought me a bowl of soup up and some kind of juice.

"Thanks." I took the cup from her and downed the entire thing at once. Trying to get that nasty aftertaste out of my mouth as soon as possible. What I wouldn't give for a toothbrush and some toothpaste. She sat beside me rubbing my back for a few minutes before she left to do what ever it is she does during the day when 'us children' are out.

She left the door open, and in Feng came.

"Hey buddy!" I called and he jumped up on the bed. I sat my bowl and cup on the nightstand beside the bed so he didn't knock them over. His nubby tail wagged, which only made it look like he was shaking his rear. He leaned up licking my cheek and gave a bark. It was to bad I couldn't understand him anymore. At least though he seemed to know what I said. "Want to go out for a bit?" He jumped over me and off the bed. Feng barked hunkering down, his tail still wagging uncontrollably. I threw on my clothes quickly and Feng pranced around me all the way down the hall.

Garrett hadn't been taking him out lately, and the big dog needed his exercise. On the way out I grabbed a basket hooking it around my elbow. I took Feng out to the market, it wasn't crowded this early, but there were still a lot of people.

One good thing about having a giant Mabari war hound walking with you, no one messed with you. The venders didn't even think about ripping you off either. So for the most of the morning Feng walked with me from stall to stall picking out food and supplies.

Leandra hadn't asked me per-say to do it, but I'm a grown woman I can take the incentive to do it. I don't need to be asked.

My stomach growled sounding very upset. "Oh hush." I looked down talking to myself, my stomach responded by fluttering around. I rolled my eyes, I've clearly gone insane. Feng gave a little whine tilting his head to the side, and bumped it into my hip. Those big brown eyes of his looking concerned.

I dug through my basket blindly and pulled out a carrot. Ugh, nasty. So I ate it.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a woman in a blue bandana, and skimpy outfit. "What cha needin' tush?" I stuck the end of the carrot in my mouth like a cigar trying not to smile. Feng gave a bark of his own greeting as the woman approached us.

"Darling, it's nothing you can give." She winked making me roll my eyes, even Feng beside me tilted his head giving another whine. "I heard you were still sick?" She asked as we walked away from the market back up toward the Estate.

"Garrett's just exaggerating." I shrugged my shoulders. Ever since he let me move in with his mother he began to change slowly. He still had a temper, but it was better under control. I guess after losing his brother like that he decided it was a good idea to rethink his lifestyle.

"You look like the walking dead." She stated bluntly. She stopped us just inside the Estate taking the basket from me. "Are you sure you're alright."

Sure I've been tired a lot more lately, but that was all thanks to having Isabela running me all over Kirkwall several times over. She gave me an incredulous glare sitting the basket on the table beside Bodhan's things.

"What about your appetite? You hate vegetables..." So what I ate one carrot, I was starving I didn't finish my soup. Not that would have held over for to long. And it's mostly boiled vegetables that I can't stand, to mushy and slimy for my liking.

"Tastes change." I shrugged. What's up with her questioning all of a sudden... Kind of rude, not to mention annoying.

"You're... not depressed are you?" She watched me through narrow eyes, and I could only sigh.

I've been through this a million times with the woman already. "I told you, I'm fine. I'm not sick and I'm certainly not depressed."

She placed a hand on her hip jutting it out giving me 'that look'. She poked at my stomach. "Well what about this, you've gotten something flabby." I slapped her hand away. How dare she! "We're going to see Anders." So what if I've gained a little weight! We can't all be running around chasing bad guys everyday like her to stay fit.

"For what? I'm not bothering him because I'm a little tired." She wouldn't have it, and all but drug me out of the house. Feng followed behind us unsure if he should do anything other than follow. People stared at us as we passed by all the way down to Dark Town. The soft glow of the lantern beside Anders' clinic came into view in the dim fog, the doors closed physically but were always open to those in need.

There were people who needed attention over me. People who's lives were hanging in the balance.

"Anders, come here I need you to check something out." She called throwing the door open, nearly scaring the life from an elf who had been sitting near the door. She blatantly ignored him as she pulled me along inside. I only had time to flash him a 'sorry' look, while he glared after us patting his chest.

"Isabela, not this again. I have patents who need healing." He motioned to the three men behind him. They looked like they had been through hell with all the blood on their clothes.

Isabela just smacked her lips. "Not for me sweet-thing. For Valerie." She pushed me in front of her resting her arm on my shoulder.

It caught Anders' attention at once. "Don't worry, I'm fine she's just being an obnoxious prick." I growled out into her ear, but it apparently had spontaneously gone deaf at that moment.

Anders' forehead crinkled up as his eyebrows drew together. He couldn't be sure what to think on what was going on. Isabela left my side to go to Anders, and when she leaned forward to whisper something in his ear he blanched.

"You can't be serious." He looked like he wanted to knock her silly, sorry I call first dibs on that one.

"Look for yourself. It is what you do for a living." She shrugged her arms widely and swept them toward me. I started to retort to both of them, whatever they're doing is pointless. Nothing's wrong why be making such a big fuss.

"Here sit down." He was gentle leading me to an empty cot making me sit. He knelt at my knees, placed his hands on my temples and closed his eyes. I was blinded by a blue glow from his hands and as they traveled over my body I could only watch his face contort in concentration.

Suddenly he jerked his hands away and stood up backing away.

"Anders?" What was wrong with him? I've seen him handle people with injuries that could make any normal person faint. What would cause him...

He pulled at his robe like he had suddenly gotten to warm and cleared his throat. He pulled up a stool placing his hands over my own. "Valerie, why do you think you've been feeling strange lately?" He whispered so only I could hear.

I shrugged. "Food poisoning?" He shook his head muttering a 'think harder'. I rubbed at my stomach again, that stupid fluttering had returned. Then I realized what I was doing, my eyes snapped up to his.

Why I was so tired all of the time, my increased appetite and mood swings. I'm...

" pregnant..." I muttered and Anders barely gave a nod of his head as confirmation.

Anders stood from the stool only to sit beside me pulling me in close. My heart jumped into my throat, it couldn't be happening but it was. Isabela bit her lip giving me a look like even she didn't know what to do. He leaned down practically hiding the world from my view. "Do you know who the father is?"

Sadly, yes I do. "Mhm..." I bit down on my lip. Leave it to that ass, even if he wasn't there he found a way to piss me off.

"Who?" Anders whispered even quieter than before.

"Doesn't matter, he's not here anymore." I can't be sure if I want to be mad or sad. He was right there, but had made it obvious he didn't want to continue. Forcing a kid on him wouldn't make things any better. Why couldn't I have fallen for someone like Anders, harmless and sweet. Who would never leave me alone.

Why did I have to let my heart get swept away by a man from another world. Someone who wasn't even human. I should have never let myself be taken by him. Look where it's gotten me. What a mess.

Anders and I stood up he pulled me into a tight hug. "If you ever need me, I'll be there." He whispered kissing my hair line. I felt the stubble of his beard scratch along my forehead as he looked to Isabela behind us. She gave a heavy sigh as he clutched closer at me.

His strength gave me enough courage to face my situation. At least for the moment. Until it could truly sink in at a later time. When I would wake up and realize, I'm going to be a mother. Ready or not.

Isabela walked me silently back to the Estate, and I made her promise not to say anything to anyone right now. The only way I could actually get her to swear on it was to tell her the name of the father. She looked at me like she knew already, and she cracked her knuckles.

"Isabela..." I groaned.

"Oh buck up, I won't kill him. Severely injure maybe..." She sat down beside me on the bed. "I won't say anything. For now at least, but you can't hide this forever."

I know that.

x-x-x-x-x-x

Once Isabela left she headed straight for the elf's mansion. None to keen to make her deal not to kill, but just severely injure the elf in mind. He was there as he had been for the last few years.

He looked up from his book only to end up with with a fist in his face. He and the chair toppled over backwards into the floor. Fenris jumped up from the turned over chair reaching for his sword. He knew it wouldn't be long before someone in the group tried to kill him. He was a bit surprised it wasn't going to be one of the mages.

"I warn you now," Isabela growled. "hurt her again, I swear I will kill you."

Great, it was more of her protectors coming to harp on him for what he had done. He wiped the blood from his chin glaring at her from under his bangs. Varric had been stern only in voice, but Isabela was ready to carry out her promise. Just how many more of her friends did she plan on telling he'd beded her and then left.

Isabela left the crumbling building as quickly as she had came. And left Fenris to stew in a whole new pot of shit he had worked up. This one he had no true idea what the unprovoked attack was behind.