Isabela's POV

The only thing to look forward to after Christmas was Hawke's return to Kirkwall. New Year's wasn't the least bit exciting. I went downstairs to the bar, got wicked trashed, and tried to convince Kitten to do body shots. Big Girl stepped in before that could happen. Prude. Oh, and I sucked face with Teague. Platonically, of course. Kissing as the ball drops in Times Square is a well known American tradition, and I felt it my duty to uphold it. It was also my duty to hand Merrill off to her girlfriend the day I picked up Cassandra from the airport. And it was most certainly my duty to ensure we had copious amounts of sex. In the living room, in the bedroom, in the shower, and then again in the bedroom. It was somewhere near dinnertime when we finally took a rest, lying as a mess of tangled limbs, just basking in the afterglow. I wasn't going to be able to walk around for at least another half-hour. It was glorious.

Hawke stretched her arms over her head, cracking her neck. "Damn, 'Bela. If I didn't know better, I'd think you missed me." I was still halfway on top of her, my face pressed up against her collarbone.

"I think that last orgasm made you delusional." I joked, nipping at a nearby piece of skin. The woman hardly even winced, wrapping an arm around my shoulders instead.

"It's entirely possible." She sighed, kissing me on the forehead. "How was New Year's? I'll bet it was extravagant and exciting! With people swinging from chandeliers and jumping into pools of expensive champagne!"

I chuckled, swatting at her playfully. "Didn't you get all of my drunken voicemails?" My winger squeezed me tighter, laughing quietly.

"Of course I did. But all I could decipher was something about my tongue, 'Miguel', and then I think you started singing Big Balls. Oh, and you told me that Aveline 'Kitten-blocked' you." She looked down toward me, raising an eyebrow. "Were you trying to corrupt my roommate again?" She mused, smirking.

I reached up to pinch her nipple. "That's what I do best." I purred, running my tongue over her pulse.

Cassandra lightly groaned. "Are there no virgins spared from your wily, wily ways? Or was I simply the first casualty in your new war against chastity?" She half-joked. There seemed to be a serious question in there somewhere. I discontinued my attentions, sitting up to look down at her face. She stared up at me, her cheeks coloring a bit. "I was… That was rhetorical."

"If there's something you want to say, I'm curious enough to want to hear it." I waited, somewhat impatiently, while the woman pushed back her hair, cursing herself under her breath.

"Never mind. I'm getting ahead of myself." She admitted, squirming beneath me. I watched her intently. Hawke was flushed, her skin prickled from the cold. She looked gloriously fucked, a small collection of hickeys and bites leaving evidence to the fact. But her face… She looked as nervous as the first time I brought her back to my apartment. She wrapped her arms around my waist, gently pulling me back down to her. She held me tightly, burying her nose in my hair. "I've missed you."

I nearly pulled away. I had joked about missing her presence a few times, mostly in reference to sex. She'd said it before, but that was right after the weekend we met and subsequently fucked. I didn't take it seriously. But this, with the hugging and the whispering of confessions into my ear… She wasn't talking about sex, or my looks, or even my infamous quick wit. She was referring to me, or at least the person she perceived me to be, and she definitely wasn't joking. "I-" I began to stutter, only to realize I had no idea what to say.

Hawke kissed my forehead again, then began to sit up. A knife twisted somewhere in my gut. I rolled over unto my side, watching as she reached for her suitcase, presumably to get dressed. But she stopped and turned back to me. "Did you make any resolutions for the year?" She asked curiously.

"Why would I? I'm perfect." I laughed. Her admission from earlier left me feeling… exposed, so I wrapped the comforter around myself. My rugby player just smiled.

"I tend to agree." She bent forward, rummaging through her bag. She twisted swiftly, tucking something behind her back. "I… saw this in a shop back home and thought of you." I watched as she brought forth a small wooden ship. A small wooden pirate ship; complete with sails, cannons, helm, rudder, rigging, and anchor. It was obviously handcrafted by someone with intimate knowledge of ships.

I blinked up at her, dozens of thoughts buzzing in my head. "Hawke… You shouldn't have." Even to me, that sounded a bit insensitive. I winced.

"I, um, know we agreed not to do the whole traditional present exchange thing, but… I don't know. I just thought you'd like it." Cassandra's head bowed and she stretched out her arms, offering me the ship. You'd think I just kicked the pup by the look on her face. I fidgeted, finally accepting the gift. It really was a sweet gesture, even misplaced as it was. She gave me a weak smile as I ran my finger over the small pirate flag.

"I didn't get you anything." I admitted, setting the ship aside.

My girlfriend crawled back toward me on the bed and slipped beneath the covers. "That's alright." She pulled me into her arms and I sighed. It's not the least bit alright and we both know it. I tried to think about that for a moment, but didn't get anywhere. "I made a resolution this year." She mumbled quietly.

I waited to see if she would continue, but the silence stretched out for a few seconds. Then curiosity got the best of me again. "And…?"

Hawke chuckled against my forehead. "I'm not sure I should tell you. But it doesn't seem to be going well thus far." She admitted, exhaling deeply.

"It clearly doesn't involve sex, then." I quipped, rubbing my foot over the back of her calf. "That's a shame. I think 'have more sex' is a New Year's resolution worth making." I commented sarcastically, walking my fingers up from her navel, heading for her chest. Despite having already spent most of the day rolling around and pulling hair, I was more than willing to go again.

I felt Cassandra's throat rumble and she grabbed my hand, placing it on her cheek. "I could help with that, you know." Her bright blue eyes glinted mischievously as she pressed us closer together. And this is why I don't need a gym membership.

"I'm counting on it."

It was only after our sixth or seventh dalliance of the day that Hawke thought to ask an obvious question. Or, at least, what I thought was an obvious question. Her head lifted suddenly from between my breasts like a perplexed meerkat. "Wait, where's Merrill? Hasn't she been staying with you over the break?"

I chuckled, flattening her completely sexed-up hair. "She's spending the day with Big Girl so we can have some private time. She should be back around-" The sound of my door crashing open seemed a fitting climax to that sentence.

"Isabela! I'm back! And I've got-" Kitten ran straight back to the bedroom, carrying a small box, but when she saw the position my lover and I were in, she almost dropped it. "Is that Red?" She asked, pointing to the patch of short black hair covering one of my breasts. She was partially covering some of my more private regions, but it was hard to know exactly what my friend could and couldn't see from her angle. Hawke didn't move her head. She just lifted her arm and waved backwards at her roommate. I could feel her cheeks heating up the longer the awkward exchange went on, and Merrill was beet red from the neck up.

"Planning on watching us, sweetness? I dare say you've missed the best parts. But we could go again, if you want." I joked, winking at the young woman. She made a noise, a squeak, then quickly walked backwards out of the room.

Cassandra waited for the sound of the television turning on before climbing off of me and shuffling around to find some clothes. I simply tossed on my robe, smacking her still-bare ass as I left the room. The sun had already gone down.

"I've so sorry, Isabela. I should have knocked." Kitten began to sputter, hugging a throw pillow to her chest. I chuckled, sitting beside her on the couch. She avoided eye-contact, staring instead at the TV and another re-run of Star Trek TNG. I eyed the container on the coffee table.

"You've seen my box, do you mind if I ask what's in yours?" I wrapped an arm around the girl, squeezing her against my side. She didn't say anything, so I had to take more drastic measures. "Playing hard to get? What fun!" I immediately attacked, reaching up to tickle her ribs. She tried not to response at first, but the more I wiggled my fingertips, the more she flailed and giggled. And the more she flailed and giggled, the more I tickled her. Finally, when she was almost crying from laughing so hard, she called for mercy.

She wrapped her arms around her chest, panting. "It's a cheesecake. Aveline and I went out to dinner after building snowmen, and we went to this diner, and we were talking about Hawke, and this waitress came up and said she knew you and her. I think her name was Ashley. She said you two went to the diner for lunch on your first date, but that she hadn't seen you since, because she asked for Hawke's number. Anyway, she said you like cheesecake, and she gave us one to bring back to you. And she said she's sorry, but she didn't realize it was serious, and that she's hoping to party with you again soon. Also, she misses your pretty face." She rambled on so quickly I barely had time to make out what she was saying.

I looked at the box, then back at Kitten. "Ashley gave me a cheesecake as an apology?" She nodded, finally forcing herself to sit up. I ran my fingers through my hair, chuckling at the silliness of it all. Well, it's hard to say no to free food. I opened the box, pulled out the cheesecake, and burst out laughing. On the top, in icing, were Ashley's phone number and the words 'You and/or your girl better text me! ' Hawke wandered in then, wearing sweatpants and a hoodie.

"The sheets are in the washer." She informed me, then saw the dessert on the table. "Why is there a number on that cheesecake? And whose is it?" She asked, swiping a sports drink from the fridge.

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it. Just grab forks."

We ate and watched Star Trek until we could barely keep our eyes open. My winger remade the bed at some point. That's when we realized there was a mathematical problem that needed solving. There were three of us, but only one bed. First, Kitten volunteered to sleep on the couch. I wouldn't have that. Then Hawke tried to take the couch. But there was no way she could lay on it comfortably. She was far too tall. I, of course, had the perfect solution.

"We're all adults, here. If Man-Hands can squeeze into my bed with Kitten and I, then-"

Hawke rubbed her eyes, looking utterly confused. "What? When was that?"

"Small details, Hawke." I ruffled her hair, leaning back on the loveseat. "The point is, we can all fit on my bed. The two of you have been sharing a room for over a year now. I don't really see the difference." I shrugged.

"Does my seeing the both of you naked make it weird?" Kitten asked, glancing between us from her perch on the armchair.

I snorted, then raised an eyebrow. "Has walking in on us changed you, instilling a desire to abandon Aveline and join us in a life of sinful indulgence?" I asked, my words dripping in derision.

"No." She deadpanned.

"Are you disgusted?" Hawke asked politely.

Her roommate shook her head, covering her mouth as she yawned. "I was surprised. But I'm fine now."

I held up my palms. "I rest my case."

"I surrender! I'm too tired to argue." Cassandra continued to yawn while she talked. "Let's just go to sleep." So that's exactly what we did. I threw on undergarments and one of Hawke's oversized rugby shirts, flopping down in the center of my four post bed. Kitten quickly followed suit, snuggling shamelessly with her face against my chest. But my winger… well, she was having trouble with the whole 'slumber party' thing. I got the distinct feeling she didn't go to very many of those growing up. For some reason, sleeping in the same bed with Merrill versus sleeping three feet away in a separate bed meant a different wardrobe policy. First, she tried to go to bed in a full set of sweats. I reminded her that with three of us and a down comforter, that wasn't necessary. In fact, it would probably make her absolutely miserable. Second, she removed the hoodie. Still too much clothing; even her roommate said so. Third, her sweatpants turned into shorts. Doable, but I could definitely do with more skin. If I couldn't have sex with her for the rest of the night, at least I could feel her up. Finally, I got her down to running shorts and a sports bra. It was totally worth listening to her mumble obscenities.

Kitten was curled around my front, Hawke was wrapped around my back, and I was feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. "This is comfy." I sighed. I could feel my friend giggle into my breasts.

"If Varric asks, I'm sleeping on the couch." My rugby player grumbled against my hair. "Dammit. Why do I always have to pee the second I lay down?" She cursed, extracting herself and heading straight to the bathroom.

Merrill also began to squirm. "Can I ask a question, Isabela?" Her voice was muffled, but that made it sound more adorable.

"Of course, Kitten."

"When I came in, were you two…?" She cleared her throat.

"We'd just finished a round. Why?" I mused.

The young woman tightened her hold on me and her face grew warm. "I always knew you liked to snuggle after. Aveline used to say you'd get your giggles and then leave Hawke. That you only cared about sex and you had no heart. But I knew that wasn't true. It's right here." She turned her head, putting her ear against my sternum. She got quiet for a moment. "Hawke and I know that, even if no one else does."

I considered why I hadn't abandoned my 'girlfriend agreement' yet. There were a number of reasons, of course. The sex was still great. I could watch TV and play video games as much as I pleased without judgment. It gave me a ginger to antagonize freely and a dainty little elf to spoil rotten. It was hardly a legally binding agreement, so unlike my previous marriage, I could leave at any time. Unless one of those things changed, it made no sense to leave. But there was no point in explaining this to my new friend, either. Mostly because she was already nodding off. I pushed back her hair and planted a kiss to her forehead, whispering "Good night, Kitten."

The bed dipped behind me. I wasn't sure how long Cassandra been standing there in the dark while Merrill and I talked, but I got the impression that it had been a minute. She propped herself on one elbow, looking at her roommate from over my shoulder, her face buried in my chest with a few pillows tucked around her head. Most of the pillows, actually. But Hawke and I could share. "She always sleeps like this?" The winger asked curiously against my ear. I tilted my head, sending her a sideways glance.

"Jealous?"

"No." She shook her head. She watched on for a few more seconds, then whispered "She's so happy."

"Maybe it's my magic tits… Maybe it's Aveline." I thought out loud.

Cassandra chuckled, curling tighter against my back and placing a hand on my hip, just beneath her shirt. Part of me expected her to start getting frisky, but she didn't. She just pressed herself against me and kissed the back of my neck. "I missed you."

She didn't say the words so much as breathe them. I shivered. I knew what I was supposed to say in return. What she clearly wanted to hear. But I couldn't afford to let her get overly attached, no matter how many chances she gave me. If any part of our situation changed, it would all come crashing down. It would be entirely unfair to give her some sort of false hope about a future together.

That's when I realized her heartbeat had evened out and her breath was shallow. "Hawke? Are you asleep?" She mumbled something unintelligible that almost could have been my name. I sighed. She loved to cuddle and hug and kiss and hold hands and do all the touchy-feely things. I'd catch her grinning goofily at me while talking to someone else. She wore the jacket I gave her almost every day. My picture was the wallpaper of her phone and I was speed-dial one. She was the first person (other than Varric) to see my apartment since it was remodeled, over 18 months ago. The only photo in my home was of our little social group. My phone was loaded with pictures of her, most of which were clothed. I pretended not to recognize the significance of any of those things. But she was asleep and I was too tired to pretend.

"I missed you too."

Author's Note: I think you may be able to recognize there is a storm brewing.

I will be switching back and forth between Hawke's and Isabela's POV within subsequent chapters. There may be a few Varric POV's, as well. And the whole cast of characters will pop in to help things develop. Anders, Sebastian, and Fenris will make some appearances coming up. And soon, a whole other group will arise. But I can't reveal too much about that yet.

There are still quite a few chapters left in my master plan for this story. I hope it stays interesting.