Sebastian sat by the fire, slowly drinking his tea. Yesterday had been interesting enough but it had left them with more questions than answers. The keeper had never heard of a non-mage falling prey to a demon as Lea had, nor did she know anything of who this master might be.

Anders had retired to the kitchen in search of more wine while he had gone to up to the master bedroom to speak with the women. He had planned to see Lea when he had finished with the Keeper but he knew Isabela would not leave them alone for a moment until she knew what had happened. But much to his surprise, he walked into the room to find them both fast asleep.

He had tried to follow their examples. Finding an additional chair across the room from Isabela, he fell asleep watching Lea…

But his rest was anything but peaceful.

He had been up for quite some time, his mind still racing from the things that had happened within the Fade.

He had given in, even if only for a moment, he let himself fall prey to the temptation of Hawke…

And he did not regret it.

He had left Lea in some of her greatest times of need, all because he feared his own feelings. There had always been a part of him that felt the need to act on them. Like Anders said, Lea was unlike any woman he had met before. It wasn't like with the other women he had chased, wanting them only for what any man would want them for. With Lea, he actually felt something.

But then there was the part of him that feared she felt nothing for him.

What was he compared to her anyway? An exiled prince who broke his vows to seek revenge?

But the Fade had showed him he was not the only one who struggled with this.

He thought back to the portraits he had seen within the house, images of he and Lea smiling and laughing. He remembered the look in her eyes when she had woken to find him there. The softness of her body, the passion behind her kiss…

But even with this slight reassurance, one thought still kept running through his mind.

All evidence pointed to Anders being correct. Even the Keeper had agreed the dream had been based on Lea's want for a normal life.

He had almost no knowledge of this world that Lea had created. The people within, the things that happened between her and 'Damien', he knew nothing of them.

Who was Damien? How did he fit into this dream of a perfect life? What was his connection to Sebastian outside of being his twin? Were they alike in other ways? If so how?

He scrubbed his face with his hands, sighing deeply. Dropping them to the arms of the chair, he looked at Lea's sleeping form for the hundredth time when it dawned on him. Maybe he was asking the wrong questions. Maybe all he needed to do was make her want to be here, in this world, in this life with him.

"Sebastian?" Lea's voice jolted him out of his thoughts. He turned from the fire to see her, sitting up in bed, confused. "What are you-?" He brought his fingers to his lips and pointed to Bela still asleep in her chair. Rising from his chair, he beckoned her to follow him out the room.

Being as quiet as possible, Lea removed her covers and followed Sebastian a he carefully opened the door.

"Worst rogues ever…" They couldn't help the smiles that spread across their faces as the pirate's sleepy words reached their ears before closing the door behind them.

They walked down the stairs in silence. Sebastian could feel the anxiety building up within him as they turned into the library. The room had always impressed him. Books filled every shelf from top to bottom, statues stood tall surrounded by paintings and portraits from the past.

Lea walked up to a shelf and let her eyes skim the spines of the tomes. He watched her as she walked along the wall, not saying a word. Sebastian felt his heart in his throat. Swallowing, he found the courage to speak.

"How are you feeling?" His words broke the silence, causing her to stop in her tracks. She stood there for a moment, looking at him, before moving to stand in front of the fire.

"I…. don't know honestly," she said as she wrapped her arms around herself and stared into the flames.

The silence came again, both of them at a loss for what to say.

"Thank you," Lea finally turned to him and looked him in the eye. "You didn't have to come get me. You shouldn't have." Sebastian couldn't keep the shock from his voice, his eyes widening ever so slightly.

"I shouldn't have?" He felt his heart clench. Had she wanted to stay in the fade? Is it me that is the problem? "Lea, I…"

"You should have left me there to rot," she continued, pacing back and forth in front of the book shelves, running her hands through her hair roughly. "Let my body wither away and leave me trapped, unable to hurt anyone ever again."

"Lea, How could you-"

She turned on him. "My brother died following me out of Lothering! My sister has been blighted by a curse because I chose to take her to the bloody deep roads rather than risking losing her to the Templars. " Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I couldn't even save my own mother. They are all gone, gone because of my choices." She started to sob. Without even thinking, Sebastian took her into his arms.

"All I do is hurt people."

Sebastian leaned back to look at her, brushing her tear-soaked hair gently away from her face.

"That is not true, Chori." He took his hand and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. "What about all the people you have helped?" He dropped his hand from her chin and wiped a tear from her face. "You protect people. Time and time again you have put yourself in the face of danger on behalf of another. How can you not see how important you are to this city?"

Sebastian swallowed, unsure if what he wanted to say next would help her or hurt her. He thought back to the fade, the feel of her skin, the velvet of her lips on his. But it wasn't just her touch, not the intimacy of the moment.

It was what he felt behind it. Her fire, her passion was what pushed him to the edge. He realized he wanted to say it, had to say it, but not just for his own selfish reasons…

She needed to hear it.

"Chori, you are important to me."

He held his breath and waited, staring readily into her eyes. The soft blue orbs were glistening with tears, tears that he wanted to make go away. He wanted to do that for her, it was the very least he could do after everything she had already done for him.

Without thinking, he leaned forward and took her lips in his. It was nothing like the one they shared in the fade, but this kiss meant so much more.

There were no illusions, no false representations of who they thought the other person was. There was only Lea and Sebastian, in the real world, holding each other, their lips connecting them as their hearts desired.

He pulled away slowly, resting his forehead on hers as he looked into her eyes.

"I love you."

He'd spoken the words on impulse, a barely noticeable intake of breath was the only hint. Not picking up on it, she looked up at him, tears still falling down her face but nothing like they were only moments ago.

"I don't deserve your love."

Relaxing slightly, he smiled at her. Reaching up, he cupped her face in his hand.

"No one deserves it more." Tears began to form in her eyes once more and Sebastian feared he had only angered her more.

"I love you, too." She tilted her chin up, closing the distance between them.

Sebastian felt his heart race as the kiss deepened, both of them giving into desires they thought forbidden. Lea pressed her body against him, her hips pushing into his in an attempt to get closer. A small moan from the back of Sebastian's throat signaled her that he was well aware of her proximity.

"Ahem."

The noise startled them apart. Looking to the door, Sebastian saw Anders standing in the doorway, pain clear on his face. Sebastian couldn't help the guilt he felt.

"I had come to check on how you were doing." His eyes shifted between them. "I see now that I am not needed."

He turned to leave.

"Anders!" Lea called to the man as he walked out of the room. Leaving Sebastian in the library she ran out after him, catching him in the foyer.

"You seemed a little busy, Hawke." He looked at her fully now. "Have you been crying?" She ignored his concern.

"I wanted to say thank you." The mage diverted his gaze but she kept talking. "I know what you did was not easy. "

"You don't have to thank me, Hawke. " He turned to leave again but Lea grabbed his arm.

Before she could think about it, she stepped up and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Anders."

Dropping her hand, she walked back out of the foyer.

A/N Sooooo Sorry for the delay! life man, life. anyway, much thanx again To Kora Kendalls for all the help. One more chapter me thinks.

R& R lovelies!