A/N: Sorry for the late update guys. I've been sick; still am. Ugh. But I did my best on this chapter. It was requested by one of my readers, and I obliged. Sorry for the poor quality (in my opinion). Hope ya'll like it!

Warning: This chapter has sexual content. This is why it's rated M.

Mina stretched out on top of her bed, tired but unable to sleep. Ceras' wolf slept in the corner on some blankets she'd found for him. Her floor was normally really cold, and she didn't want him to get sick or anything. She loved animals, and felt a weird connection to wolves since seeing Fen'Harel. She heard someone push her door open and looked to see Garrett sneaking through the door. The wolf growled instinctively.

"It's ok, Keter. He's friendly," Mina said. Hawke's face was comical. His eyes were wide, his mouth agape, and he was frozen in place. It looked like he was seconds from peeing himself. Hearing Mina's voice, the wolf dismissed the strange human and laid his head back down.

"You have a wolf?" Garrett asked, sitting on her bed beside her.

"Yes. And you need to learn how to knock," she teased him. He made a face and poked her nose.

"I came to claim that kiss," he replied. She scooted up, leaning on her pillows. As much as she wanted to kiss him, there was a nagging voice at the back of her head. It said that she shouldn't and that it was wrong. Images of Anders flashed through her mind; memories of them helping so many people. They'd grown close while caring for the citizens of Kirkwall. They'd mostly been Ferelden refugees. They were the poor that the rest of Kirkwall refused to help. That made it so much more important to her. It was a good memory among the recent bad ones. Garrett saw the worry etched in her face and put an arm around her carefully.

"Hey, I was teasing you. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, cutie. I promise, I won't push for anything," he said, trying to comfort her.

She smiled at him and leaned her head on his chest, "That's not it at all. I'm just thinking about Anders. I feel guilty about..." she paused and looked at him, "Well, about this. We only just broke up, what? Two days ago. Where I'm from, someone usually waits a while."

Garrett frowned and kissed her forehead, "If you want to wait a while, I'll promise to try to be patient. And what do you mean 'this'?"

She blushed for the second time that night and looked away. "That's why I feel guilty. I don't really want to wait. I'm not sure what to call us," she mumbled shyly. He turned her face back to his and brushed some wayward strands of hair out of her eyes.

"You can call us whatever you'd like. I'd like to think that I'm your lover," he said with a wicked grin. She could feel her face growing more and more red. His voice had gotten huskier and he was centimeters from her face. Her heart was almost pounding out of her chest. Mina wanted nothing more than to claim his lips with her own and feel his arms around her. The way he said 'lover' made her shiver. 'No. No, no, no, no! Calm down girl. You cannot do anything in the state you're in. Plus, there's friggin Anders,' she thought to herself. It was pointless to try and reason with herself at that moment. Her mouth seemed to disagree.

"I-I can't. I can't stop thinking about how sad Anders was... Plus, he was my first kiss," her mouth said. She mentally groaned at how stupid she sounded. It was pathetic. That seemed to just spurr Garrett on. He leaned in and trailed his lips down her neck gently.

"I'll make you forget Anders even laid a finger on you," he whispered seductively.

Mina bit her lip and tried to calm her breathing. She didn't quite know what to do. She liked the kissing part, but wasn't sure if she wanted to do anything else. She wasn't sure she could. To prove a point, her stitches decided to sting at that moment.

She gasped in pain and jerked away from him. He paused and moved away from her. Keter's head shot up, ready to jump to her rescue.

"What's wrong Mina? Do I need to go get your father?" he asked automatically out of his flirting mode.

"No. Ow. Owowowowow! I'm fine. It's just my stitches. They hurt really bad," she groaned. He looked worried and left her alone so she could adjust. Mina mentally yelled at herself for messing up a perfect opportunity with Garrett. As soon as she started scolding herself, a devious thought popped into her head. It surprised her, but she was happy she'd thought of it. If it worked. She lowered her eyes and looked up at him through her thick lashes. She tried her best to do a 'sexy' low voice.

"Garrett... you could always distract me from the pain," she suggested playfully.

He took the bait. With a devilish grin he replied, "Hmm... However would I do that? I'm loathe to take away your innocence." He looked thoughtful a moment and kissed her softly on the lips. She smiled because that's exactly what she'd wanted. His kisses were amazing. He looked at her seriously then.

"Mina, I want you to promise me that if I do something you don't like or that you're uncomfortable with, you'll tell me to stop. I'm dead serious, ok?"

Mina furrowed her brows, confused and nodded, "Of course I will. But, what do you mean?"

He smiled and walked over to the door and locked it with the wooden bar.

Garrett grinned at the woman before him. She was so beautiful. The way her hair fell around her face. He'd loved it long, but it was still cute short. His heart beat fast in his chest. He'd made love to one woman, and had sex with many more. But, Mina was special to him. He wouldn't take her just yet. Even if she hadn't been hurt, it wasn't the right time. At that moment, he just wanted her to stop thinking about Anders. It hurt him to know that he was on her mind so constantly. It hurt him even more when he thought about how she'd chosen the mage over him. He was sure that she hadn't known about his affection even though he blatantly flirted with her and tried to make her jealous. Namely with Ceras.

She stared at him with those big red innocent eyes. He lay beside her and kissed her stomach gently; making a line down to the edge of her pants. He looked up at her for permission. She looked at him in wonder, still unsure. He found it absolutely adorable. He smiled and tugged at her pants, wordlessly trying to make her understand what he wanted to do. It dawned on her, finally. He held back a laugh as her blush deepened and she nodded slowly. It was clear as day that no one had ever done anything intimate with her. No one had caressed her the way he did or held her by the hips the way he did. For a small woman, she definitely had curves. He thought to himself that she had to have bigger breasts than Isabela. A feat in its own. And, how he wanted to hold them and kiss them.

He pulled her pants off, careful not to hurt her torso and then slid her underwear off as well. Her legs were glorious. She was pale, which he loved, and her skin was so smooth. He let his hands glide up and down them as he kissed her thighs. Mina sighed in contentment, making Garrett more eager to please her. He looked up at her, seeing that her eyes were closed and smiled.

"Remember... tell me to stop," he gently reminded.

"Mmmmmhm," she mumbled.

He gently pushed her legs apart and kissed her inner thighs, slowly making his way closer and closer. He could feel her tense each time he kissed. It was time to stop teasing her so much. He slid his tongue inside her, feeling how wet she was already. He moaned, feeling his own pants grow tighter. Trying to ignore it, he wiggled his tongue slowly back and forth, then teased her clit. She let out a moan. He heard her legs move and felt her toes curl, her feet now on his back. Once again he plunged his tongue inside and pulled it back out again, teasing her.

Her moans beckoned him on, telling him he was doing something right. He pulled his mouth away for a moment and inserted a finger, drawing a rather loud cry of pleasure from her. Garrett looked up at her wide eyed face and smiled. Her mouth was open and he noticed her back was starting to arch. He licked his lips and went back to work with his mouth.

Only minutes later did he hear her calling his name softly; almost shyly. He moaned again, wanting her badly, but refusing to do that to her. Her thighs locked around his head, squeezing. He knew she was almost done. He moved his face back and began using his finger again, stroking, pushing and guiding her to release. Each time he stroked a certain way, he was gratified with her gasping "Hawke!" He began stroking faster, rewarded with her arching her back and clawing at the sheets. And she came with a loud, "AH! Garrett!" and a squeeze of her legs.

She relaxed and unwound her legs from him, panting and exhausted. He helped her get her clothes back on and kissed her passionately. He was only too aware of his own arousal. The sounds she made were beautiful and tantalizing.

He pulled her into his arms and smiled. She looked lost for words.

"You liked it then?" he asked amused.

She nodded and smiled sheepishly, "Yes... You are talented with your mouth. I've never done anything like that."

He kissed her nose and her lips, "I'd said you've never done anything with anyone before."

She pouted and glared at him. He chuckled and kept kissing her soft lips. She was too cute. And so sexy even when she tried to be mad at him. He had half a mind to do it again. He knew she was too tired to do so.

"What about you?" she asked shyly, rubbing her leg against his crotch.

He bit his lip and closed his eyes. He wanted to. Maker, he wanted to, but he couldn't. He wouldn't let her do anything.

With a shaky breath, he answered, "I'm fine. I won't let you do that, Mina. You need to sleep."

She smiled and kissed him more, sliding her tongue across his lips. He obliged her happily. Their tongues danced together until they were breathless. Garrett pulled away from her and put a hand on her cheek. She was grinning from ear to ear. He loved making her smile.

"You're still that cute little Elf I saved from the Qunari," he mused.

Mina traced his jawline with her fingertip. "Just cute?" she asked absently.

He rested his head back on her pillows and sighed happily, "No, not just cute. You're so, very beautiful, my love."

Mina looked at him amazed, he red eyes lit up at the pet name. He'd only called her 'cutie' for the longest time. She snuggled into his chest and closed her eyes.

"Last night, I swear you said something as I fell asleep," she mumbled.

Thankful that her eyes were closed, he covered his face with one hand. He was blushing because he was sure she hadn't heard that.

"Hmm? No, I didn't say anything. You must've just been tired. Go to sleep, Mina."

"Mmmkay. Jus' stay wif me," she said sleepily.

"Of course I will."

That night, Hawke didn't dream of his mother or brother dying. He didn't dream of Bethany getting sent to the circle. He didn't dream of any of the failures that haunted him with every waking breath and every terrible night. He simply didn't dream. It was a restful, deep sleep he hadn't had since his mother was killed. He'd hidden it away as best as he could, but he couldn't escape his night terrors. Not alone. Countless times had he woke up screaming. Countless times had he sat in his room bawling and begging the Maker to give them back. He'd given up asking for his father back, but the fresh memories burned into his mind brought back all of those old feelings. So, that night as Mina slept in his arms, he was granted one good night's sleep.

Mina on the other hand did dream. She dreamt of Fen'Harel and the Raven. She dreamt of walking beside a little river surrounded by trees on either side. In the dream she walked beside her wolf and watched the bird fly watchfully above. They talked of magic and love; about the past and present, and of other worlds. He told her of other spirits that roamed close by. She met a spirit of Courage and a spirit of Hope who talked to her happily. Fen'Harel pressed his muzzle gently against her stomach and told her that it should hurt less that following day.

That morning when she awoke, she found that what her friend said was true as she stretched. But, she found that her bed was empty. She got up with a sad sigh and began to get dressed, attempting to put a loose shirt on. She turned to her nightstand to grab a piece of cloth to tie her hair back when she saw a note.

Mina,

I went to take care of something on the Wounded Coast.

The mages took something and I want it back. I'll tell you

what happened later. Aveline, Isabela, and Merrill are with me.

I'll be back tonight. Be careful and stay with Varric.

Hawke

Mina frowned at the note. She knew he pretty much supported the mages, but occasionally talked with Meredith. Why would they take something from him? And what was it? She folded the note and set it back down on her nightstand, eager for her lover to be back.

She whistled for Ceras' wolf and made her way out to the streets of Kirkwall. She was going to go see if Fenris was home. She missed him and she wanted to go to their favorite spot in the woods.