Hawke's POV

Tuesday

I'd like to say that I knew what was going on; that I wasn't blissfully ignorant of the change in the tide. But… truth is, I had no idea.

Almost a week after Valentine's Day, I got a call from Isabela. She really was getting that renovation done and I really couldn't come over. Again, the idea of a hotel room came up and she shut me down once more. She had a chemistry project to work on and I had a paper to write. It was unfortunate, but it was out of my control. So, for the first time in months, I spent that Friday night in my dorm room half-heartedly watching Mary Poppins with Daisy, pretending I wasn't in a shit mood. The rest of the weekend came and went ordinarily. Sunday brunch was casual enough, although Isabela seemed distant. I barely got one dirty joke out of her the whole afternoon. I tried to ask what was wrong, but was brushed off. I just figured she was busy with her TA stuff and hadn't slept well.

It was the little things that changed in the following month. Our weekends resumed, but without a certain dwarf in attendance. Varric had more clients now, and a second business to keep track of. The man was busy, even after hours. Aveline and Merrill made time where they could, but it was mostly just my girlfriend and I. Dinner, movies, sex. Dinner, movies, sex. There was still a bit of cuddling afterwards, but Isabela began to just roll over and fall asleep. It was… unusual, to say the least. I chalked it up to exhaustion. She had a heavy workload, after all.

It was a week before Spring Break and I had settled into the new normal. My team had just finished rugby practice. I had gotten out of the shower to change into something that wasn't covered in mud and grass. That's when Aveline approached me in the locker room as the rest of the girls were leaving. She sat on the bench beside me as I put on my socks, rubbing her hands together nervously. Naïve as I was, I knew this would be trouble. I watched from my peripherals and waited.

"Hawke. I need… a favor I could only trust to you." I could see sweat around her hairline, along with an unnatural blush on her cheeks.

"This should be good." I grinned at her, wiggling my feet into my tennis shoes. Ave huffed and stood, then began pacing. She made it all the way to her locker (a row over) and back again.

"It's a small matter, but I worry." She continued to pace as I watched awkwardly. Finally, she stopped at her locker, unlocked it, and pulled something out. The redhead approached me quickly and handed me a box. "I need you to give this to Merrill."

I looked at the box. Then back at her. Then back at the box. It wasn't much bigger than an envelope and not very deep. It weighed almost nothing, which was suspicious. "Can't you do this yourself? It's not too heavy for you, is it?"

Man Hands rolled her eyes at me while muttering something under her breath. She crossed her arms and took a half-step back. "Just, please do this for me." She pleaded.

Ave doesn't beg. And she certainly doesn't avoid confrontation. I'm no detective, but I'd say this is highly suspect. "No." I looked back up at Aveline and tried to hand the box back to her.

"No?" Her face contorted in surprise and a hint of disappointment.

"Great acoustics in here. Could have sworn I heard an echo," I said sarcastically. I stood and held the mystery item against her chest.

She took possession of the box as I stepped back, tilting her head to me. "Hawke…" I cut her off with a wave of the hand.

"Look, Ave, I'm not getting between you two. If you want to buy your girlfriend lingerie or cushion a breakup with chocolate, that's your business." I sat back down, pointing to her chest. "But whatever's in this box deserves to be hand-delivered by you. Or have you forgotten that little mishap a few weeks back?"

Of course she hadn't forgotten. Her cheeks reddened a shade. I waited patiently while she contemplated the situation. A few moments passed and she flopped down beside me, setting the box gently aside. "Do people really buy chocolates before they break up? That's barbaric." I rolled my eyes at her and she sighed, burying her face in her oversized hands. "I'm an idiot."

"I agree." I admitted calmly. The redhead peeked from the corner of one eye to give me a nasty look. "What?" I shrugged. The truth hurts sometimes.

Aveline sighed again. "Merrill and I have been together for nearly six months."

"I know." Of course I knew. Their anniversary wasn't far behind mine. Not that Isabela celebrates that kind of thing. But Aveline would. And Merrill would. It would be important to the both of them, which explained why the brute was having a meltdown. I placed a hand on her shoulder. "I assume that's an anniversary present."

"Yes… Well, sort of." She sat up, placing the item on her lap. "It's hard to explain," she mumbled, staring down at the gift.

"Try me."

I was only mildly insulted by the look of surprise on Ave's face caused by my friendly supportiveness. She hesitated, but only for a moment. "It's… the acceptance letter for an internship with the Kirkwall Botanical Gardens." I blinked, confused. "I may have filled out an application. On Merrill's behalf." The latter part came out as no more than a whisper.

I just watched her for a moment, stupefied. "Why?"

"It's a great opportunity. And it pays." She knew she sounded like she was full of shit. You could hear it in her voice. The justification was too neat. She paused, then shrugged her shoulders. Her body sagged a bit in defeat and her voice lowered. "It would also mean she would remain here for the summer, if she said yes."

I considered that for a moment. I'd never known my teammate to be less than saintly. Never in a hundred years would I imagine her skirting the edges of forgery and perjury for a woman, especially Merrill. I think I like this daring side of her. "Aveline Vallen: rugby player, guardswoman… and a pretty sly fox." I punched her arm playfully.

She sat straight up, her eyes flying open and a hand going up. Her stance was defensive. "My intent isn't manipulation. I just want her to have-"

"A reason to stay in Kirkwall with you?" I interrupted, grinning.

"- A chance to better her portfolio." Level with me, Ave. The smell of bullshit is practically seeping out of you. I crossed my arms. The redhead mirrored the move; pouting. "And yes, the other thing, too," she practically groaned.

I stood before her in accusation. "So, what was the plan? I deliver the letter to Daisy and then what? She's a bit scatterbrained, but she'll know she didn't apply for any internship."

She sighed, fiddling with the little box in her lap. "I was hoping she would be so excited that she wouldn't give it a second thought. She's obviously qualified for the position. The acceptance letter was slipped into her mailbox not even a week later. Luckily, I'm the only one who ever thinks to check the mail, mine or otherwise."

"You really are an idiot," I huffed. I scratched at the hairs on the back of my neck, then shook my finger at her. "'Integrity isn't just about being honest. It's about telling the truth without ever being asked.' And I'm pretty sure hiding something like this is considered dishonest."

If the woman were a turtle, she'd of been inside her shell at that point. She looked up at me, breathing deeply and gripping the tops of her knees. "You didn't have to quote me to prove your point."

"What can I say? I'm a master debater." I smirked, leaning back against a locker. She rolled her eyes at me, the tension broken. I waited for her posture to loosen up a bit more before getting back to business. "But seriously, Ave, how do you want to handle this?"

Big Girl ran a hand over her hair, adjusting her loose ponytail. "You're the expert on relationships and… well, social conventions. What do you suggest?" I wanted to laugh. If I were such a love expert, I wouldn't feel so in the dark with Isabela. But that's not what my teammate needed to hear right now. She needed a game plan. And, after a few moments of careful consideration, I realized that was exactly what I could give her.

"When is your next day off?"

The redhead eyed me warily. "Sunday. But they want a reply by Monday. That's cutting it close."

I was quick with another idea. "How about Saturday?"

"I've got work from two until eight," she advised me.

"Any chance your patrol includes the gardens?" I raised my eyebrows. Her body language was still cautious, at best. She waited for me to explain. I cleared my throat. "Because I heard there are all sorts of illegal things going on over there." I glanced around, shrugging noncommittally.

Aveline mulled the thought over for a few moments. Her lips slowly curved upwards at the edges. She stood, tucking the box into the pocket of her sweatpants. "I think it's my duty, then… as an enforcer of the law, to check it out." She nodded at me, donning a serious look. I gave a lazy grin, glad for a job well done. The redhead turned to leave, a little extra pep in her step. This may actually work. I grabbed the last of my things from my locker, surprised when the woman reappeared beside me. She placed a hand on my shoulder. "Though, I may require some… unaffiliated individuals to help me in my endeavor."

I shut my locker with an easy 'click', smiling from ear to ear. "I thought you'd never ask."

Saturday

Of all the debates and persuasive arguments I've ever engaged in, the most difficult was trying to convince Isabela to help me with Aveline's situation. Her Kitten in town all summer long? I figured she would jump at the chance to make that happen. Needless to say, I was wrong. I told her my plan over the phone Tuesday night. She was understandably skeptical. If I hadn't thought it up myself, I would have laughed it off, too. But I had spent months living with Merrill, and I knew plenty regarding her ideas about romance. Long walks, pretty flowers, lots of smiles and kisses. In other words, a leisurely walk through the gardens with Ms. Vallen, then maybe a nice dinner. It wasn't rocket science.

That is, until I talked to Varric on Wednesday. There was a snowstorm coming in. We would get up to 6 inches on Friday. I was devastated, as was Aveline. I hadn't told her the entire plan, but she knew about the gardens. With snow like that, they would surely be closed. Even if they weren't, they wouldn't be much to look at. The arrogant idiot that I was, I told her not to worry. I immediately called Isabela for advice. She began by chastising me for being an arrogant idiot, but she stopped when she heard me sniffling. After some indiscernible grumbling on her part, she agreed to enlist some help.

"Don't worry, Hawke."

I was sitting at my desk, rubbing furiously at the back of my neck. "I'm already worried, babe. Aveline is counting on me. I'd never forgive myself if this fell apart."

"You do realize that we wouldn't be in this mess if that battle axe wasn't such an emotionally stunted pain in the ass."

I didn't laugh or scold or sigh. I dropped my arm into my lap, my hand holding my knee. "Merrill loves her," I reminded her. There was silence on the line. "She deserves to know that Aveline cares. No one should go a single day without knowing that they're loved by those they love most."

"Hawke…"

Her voice was hesitant and I stopped her before she could speak further. "Just promise me that you'll be there, too." I needed her support in this, more than anything. And if it did come crashing down, I would need her comforting me.

"Okay," She sighed. "Talk more about it Friday night?"

I leaned back in my chair. "Of course. Sweet dreams, gorgeous."

The day had finally come and the weather was slightly more forgiving than we expected. Myself, Isabela, and Varric showed up at the side entrance to the gardens around two. Everything was covered in at least three inches of fluffy snow. To be honest, we got lucky. As promised, my girlfriend had made some sort of arrangement with a third party and the landscaping shed was left unlocked. We found everything we needed easily enough.

"I'm starting to wonder who has the harder job in this; us or Aveline," Varric mumbled under his breath as he clutched his arms to his chest. In this bitter cold, he opted for a heavy fur-lined coat, but he still shivered visibly.

"The redhead, hands down." Isabela retorted, grabbing hold of a leaf-blower. Was it the most practical tool for the job at hand? Probably not, but neither was her outfit. Sure, her black knee-length dress was thick; as were her wool leggings, but jeans would have been a better choice for manual labor. "We're moving snow. Have you seen Big Girl try to flirt?" She chuckled throatily. "That woman will be moving mountains today."

I rolled my eyes, grabbing a snow shovel and zipping my Carhartt jacket up an extra inch around my neck. "You two worry too much. Have a little faith. If not in Aveline, at least in my plan." There was still a bit of grumbling as Varric hopped into a Bobcat plow, then realized he couldn't reach the pedals. He tossed me the keys and took the snow shovel from my hands. It wasn't until we had maneuvered over to the front entrance of the gardens to begin laying out our path that the dwarf thought to ask for any details.

"So, I totally get the plan. We blaze a trail for the firecrotch, she gets her romantic walk with Daisy, everybody wins. It's simple enough." He bit his lip nervously, speaking just above the sound of the plow's engine. He stood to my left, barely squeezed between the seat and the back window. Isabela was perched on my lap, her legs forced open to accommodate my access to the right joystick. It was a tight squeeze, but it was temporary, and I don't think my lover minded her current position one bit. "Now, just out of curiosity… how will we know if everything worked out?"

"We're staying to watch," Isabela admitted nonchalantly, and I nodded in agreement.

"It's going to take them at least an hour for them to make it through the three mile path we're laying out! We'll freeze!" Varric leaned closer to my ear, as if I couldn't hear his whining loud enough.

I pushed forward regardless, lowering the plow and beginning our slow push through the winter weather. "This cabin is heated and Shelly has a battery operated heater in her trunk for when we're done." I waited for a rebuttal, or at least more nattering. "Any more complaints?" I looked back at the dwarf, then bounced my knee as signal for Isabela to add her two cents if she wanted to. She shrugged. "No? Good. Let's get to it." I griped back at him, picking up speed as the fresh snow offered little resistance.

It took about 45 minutes to clear the path initially. The fun part (sarcasm very much intended) would be uncovering the various flower beds and shrubberies throughout. The flower beds themselves had removable glass cases that were put on during the winter months, like miniature greenhouses. Isabela used her leaf-blower to uncover the bushes and glass, I took the covers apart and brought them back to the landscaping shed, and Varric shoveled the disheveled snow out of the way. Our intention was to be done by four, when Aveline arrived with Merrill, but that simply wasn't possible. We were only about two miles in, so I improvised. While my girlfriend and the dwarf took a quick breather, I shot Man Hands a text to keep her pace slow so that we can stay ahead.

Luckily, she took the advice. We were able to just barely get everything done, return all the equipment, and quietly circle back when they were about a third in. Have you ever tried to be stealthy in broad, snowy, daylight? Not an easy task. The three of us cowered behind bush after bush and tree after tree to keep out of sight. We got a short break crouching behind a snow-covered bench as Merrill got utterly entranced by a small collection of roses of various colors. There were barely even a few buds now, with it being the dead of winter. She was surprisingly dressed appropriately for the weather in brown jeans and a thick green sweater, complete with matching gloves and scarf. They were only about fifteen feet away, so we could hear them just fine.

"The gardens are pretty today. And quiet. They're peaceful, you know?"

"Yes, and it's … a really nice night for an evening." The redhead stuttered out awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck. Varric groaned so hard that I had to cover his mouth so that we wouldn't be caught.

Daisy looked around a bit, glancing up at the sky. The sun was starting to weaken already. "It's not quite evening yet, is it? I suppose it is. It's hard to tell sometimes, it gets dark so early in winter." She turned from the flowers to eye her girlfriend with a tilted head. "Are you chilly, Aveline? You're chapped redder than those roses."

"I… Uh." The woman choked back, stuffing her hands in her pockets. She was blushing from her ears down to her neck. I couldn't help but palm my face. She's really not making this easy on herself.

"Lord, she's bad at this… But somehow it's working." Isabela grumbled, then pried my hand from my face so that I could see what was happening.

Merrill wrapped Big Girl up in a tight hug, her arms circling her neck. You could see the redhead visibly sigh through her puffy campus-issued Security coat. She pulled the smaller woman closer to her and kept her there for a few seconds. Daisy was the first to pull back, but not before slowly kissing her girlfriend. "There. Now the rest of you should be as warm as your cheeks." Aveline muttered some level of thanks and chuckled like a socially-awkward teenage boy.

My own girlfriend groaned at their romantic moment and rolled her eyes. We waited until the two continued moving before darting for the tree-line so that we could spy on them again closer to the end of the path.

"If it isn't done right, you can easily pull something. Stretching your muscles is a vital step that can make or break a workout." The redhead demonstrated my stretching her arms across her chest and behind her neck as they walked as a snail's pace through the gardens. Merrill was inspecting some morning glories with a glazed expression. "An exercise for every muscle. What do you think? About physical fitness?"

The brunette visibly shook her head and glanced momentarily toward her companion. "I'm sorry. I drifted off. I was imagining you playing rugby." Aveline blinked slowly in response.

"You were?"

Daisy shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly before moving forward to another flowerbed. "You don't stink when you're all roughed up and sweaty after a match."

"I don't?" Man Hands followed behind, tucking her gloved hands into her coat pockets again. That must be her nervous behavior. How did I not notice it before?

"Not in the slightest." Merrill continued to focus on the flora and not on the stuttering disbelief of her girlfriend.

"Um. Okay. Noted." The smaller woman just reached back and linked her arm through Aveline's elbow and continued their journey through the cold.

Varric shook his head beside me as we hid behind the hedges. "Ugh. Painful. She's lucky Daisy is so easily distracted." We all chuckled at that before moving swiftly from our covert position to the entrance of the gardens and the end of the path laid out for the couple. Luckily, we didn't have to wait too long for the two to arrive.

The redhead had one hand on Daisy's lower back as they approached. "Well, Merrill, that was a lovely walk, we should-" She caught sight of us as they turned a corner. Her arm dropped immediately to her side. "Hawke? What a surprise. What are you doing here?"

"Hawke! Isabela! Varric!" Merrill ran up to us and hugged us all in turn before stepping back to re-join her girlfriend.

"Ave, we don't have all night, you know." I blurted out. It's not that I was impatient, but this particular plan was on a deadline. Merrill would only have two days to decide if she was going to take the internship. And, the truth was, I didn't want her going back to Wales for the summer, either.

"All night for what?" The elfish brunette glanced to each of us, blinking quizzically.

Varric was the first to answer, chuckling throatily. "Let me draw you a map of where she wants you to be this summer." Isabela got a good giggle out of that.

Daisy was completely lost, of course. She looked concernedly at her companion. "Aveline?"

The redhead cleared her throat, tucking her hands into her pockets for the third time that day. "I – Would prefer not to have an audience." She tilted her head toward her girlfriend. "Do you mind if we go back toward the car?" Merrill nodded, following her quietly to the patrol vehicle.

We all flopped down onto a nearby bench while we watched and waited. Man Hands was doing all the talking. Her hands kept adjusting her braid and scratching her neck as she spoke, while Daisy just stood still and listened.

"Wait for it…" Varric mumbled from beside me on the bench. "Not yet…" Finally, Big Girl pulled the box out of the inside of her coat. She handed it over silently and took half a step back.

You could see the almost intense look on our friend's face as she opened up the gift and read the contents of the enclosed letter. She must have read it over several times in the following minute. We watched closely as the woman reached back into the box once more and pulled something else out. She held the item in front of her face, inspecting it closely.

I had to squint to see it clearly. "Is that a key?"

"How stereotypical," Isabela groaned, palming her face. I let out an amused snort and nudged her with my shoulder before we glanced up at the couple once more. "At least she'll get some tonight for all her trouble."

We stared awkwardly as Merrill grabbed Ave by the collar and kissed her with an intensity none of us knew she had. Our resident redhead may have been a bit slow to react at first, but she now had the brunette pinned against the door of her patrol vehicle, her hands disappearing underneath a green sweater. Daisy was a tad less subtle. She gripped her girlfriend's ass, despite having an audience.

"Can we just pretend they're both completely asexual?" I mumbled, mostly to myself. It was like a train wreck; no matter how much I wanted to look away, I couldn't force my head to turn.

Varric patted me on the knee sympathetically. "At this point? No. But don't worry. I'll spare us all from any 'friend-fiction'."

Author's Note:

Let me start by saying it has been TOO long. I'm sorry I haven't touched this in months. This chapter was quite literally half-written and just waiting to be finished. My world has been turned upside down and sideways in more ways than I can count. Things seem to be stabilizing for the moment, so I'm going to try to get back on task. Though, with my work schedule and aptitude for getting distracted and starting new projects, don't expect weekly updates. I'll try to squeeze in a chapter every two to three weeks if I can. I have been recently inspired to start a Once Upon a Time fic as well, so keep an eye out for that.

It's good to be back.