Cat swallowed hard, wondering if she was making a good decision, or if she was butting into something that was none of her business. But after speaking with Anders, she felt that she should at least try to convince Carver to stay in Kirkwall during the expedition.

How she would go about that… well that was an entirely different problem. It wasn't like she and Carver were close, or even friends really. In the very beginning he had started acting strangely, and she avoided him ever since. He was a nice enough guy, but too hot headed and rash for her to want to deal with.

She continued to stare at the door in front of her, thinking that she should either knock or walk away, or someone would wonder what she was doing. They had all been through the neighborhood enough to have Hawke's uncle's house pointed out, so she was at least certain she was in the right place.

Remembering her words to Anders, she told herself that if she was Hawke's friend, she would try to save his brother too. Nodding resolutely, she knocked on the door.

The door opened, and a grumpy looking man stood there, eyeing her suspiciously. Has to be Gamlen, she thought. "What is it?" he asked gruffly.

"Hello sir," she answered politely. "I am looking for Carver? Carver Hawke?" she asked.

The door shut in her face, and as she wondered what had happened, and if she should leave, it opened again, a older woman who was obviously Garrett and Carver's mother standing there now.

"Hello dear, how can I help you?" she asked kindly, her eyes twinkling.

"Hello, Lady Hawke, I'm actually looking for Carver."

"I'm so sorry, he isn't home right now," she said. "Would you like to come in and wait?" she asked Cat.

"Uh…" Cat faltered. This hadn't been part of the plan! "I probably shouldn't," she replied. "It's getting rather late… unless he's expected soon?" she asked.

"Oh those boys," Leandra sighed. "Always out and about, trying to make money to support the family, and Maker knows when they'll be back because I don't," she said. "Perhaps I can pass on a message?" she asked.

"That would be great. I'm Cat," Cat said with a smile. "I'm usually in the group following Garrett around," she said, and Leandra's face lit up.

"Then I'm very pleased to meet you, Cat" she said with a smile. "I keep telling those boys to bring their friends home so I can meet them."

Cat kept her smile, but inside she was sinking. If Hawke had been asked to bring them to meet his mother, and he hadn't… he probably would be angry that she had come. "Well, it's our fault mostly," she said. "Always busy, busy! Uh, anyway, could you tell Carver that I came by to speak with him?" she asked. "I was hoping to convince him to stay here in Kirkwall while the others go on the expedition."

"Of course dear!" Leandra said excitedly, her smile growing wide. "It would be my pleasure. If anything could convince him, I'm sure you could! I'm so glad that Carver has met such a polite and pretty girl here in the city."

"Oh… oh, it's not like… that," Cat fumbled her words as she tried to correct the conclusion made, or least keep from insulting Carver to his own mother.

"My mistake," Leandra said, but she continued to grin, and Cat sighed.

"Thank you, and goodnight," she said, and with a small wave, turned to leave.

"Any time! Come back soon!" Leandra called before she stepped back inside and shut the door. Cat argued with herself as she walked, wishing that she had never gone.

Cat entered the Hanged Man, assuming that at least she'd find Isabela here. It was still early in Isabela's mind after all. Her smile returned, as she found Varric, Fenris, Isabela and Merrill sitting at a table, playing cards. She walked over, and flopped onto the bench next to Merrill.

"Kitty," Isabela said with a smirk. "What have you been up to?" she asked.

"Nothing good," Cat replied, an answer that was sure to make Isabela smile, which it did.

"Oh, I'm sorry you're having a bad day Cat," Merrill said, and she was met with either rolling eyes, or shaking heads by her companions.

"It's been okay, as far as days go," Cat replied. "But I said that to imply to Issy that I've been naughty," she explained.

"Oh!" Merrill said, embarrassed and yet intrigued. "So what did you do that was naughty?" she asked and Cat laughed.

"Nothing, sorry to disappoint."

"Oh, well…" she replied. "It's good to see you anyway."

"You too," Cat said. "I heard from Anders that you two were signed on to the expedition," she said, and Merrill nodded.

"He told us about the dangers, but Isabela was talking about wanting to get out of Kirkwall for a bit, and I agreed," Merrill said.

"Besides, Hawke will need all the eyes and ears he can get," Isabela added.

"I still feel like I owe Hawke for all his help," Merrill said. "So that was part of it too."

"Makes sense," Cat replied with a smile. "It won't be a picnic, but since the blight wasn't too long ago, there should be less darkspawn."

"Don't you have that backwards, Kitty?" Isabela asked, as she continued to play. "With the blight over, they all retreat back to the Deep Roads."

"True, but there are far less now, and they go back to searching for their next archdemon or whatever, digging new tunnels and such. Right at the beginning, there aren't many found in the established tunnels, though you may still run into some."

"You still not going then, Little Dove?" Varric asked, which had Isabela wide eyed and whipping her head to Cat, then to Varric, and back to Cat again.

"No, I'm not."

"Seems you aren't the only one," he replied, both of them ignoring Isabela's look. "Aveline is in the middle of taking over the guard, and asked to stay as well, and Hawke told Blondie he could stay to watch over you."

"I'll be sure to spend time with Aveline then," Cat said, with a smile. "I think I talked Anders into going, and I'm hoping to get Carver to stay as well, though I may need help with that."

"Junior? Why?" Varric asked.

"Just a bad feeling," she answered, noting that both Fenris and Isabela had looked to her when she said it. "In fact, I tried to speak to him before coming here, but he wasn't home."

"Hawke took him to deliver a few misplaced items that we found yesterday," Varric told her. "Last minute coin and such, since they gave pretty much everything to Bartrand to fund this thing."

"So everything is ready then?" Cat asked, surprised.

"Ready?" Fenris asked, giving her an odd look. He turned to Isabela in consternation, "You didn't tell her?" he asked.

"I haven't seen her until now," Isabela answered. She looked over at Cat and said, "We leave in the morning, Kitty."

"What?" Cat asked, shocked. "That soon?" she asked, looking around at the four of them. "But… but…" she stopped, as she didn't actually have anything to say. "When?" she asked sadly.

"Sun up," Varric answered, as Isabela won the hand, and they all threw their cards on the table. "Which means, we should probably get some sleep."

Fenris seemed ready to leave, as he stood and clasped a hand on Cat's shoulder, gave a nod to the others and left.

Isabela looked at Cat pleading, and Cat smiled. "Sure, one more," she replied to the unspoken question, and Isabela happily jumped up to go to the bar.

"Well ladies, good night," Varric said as he collected the cards and pocketed them.

"Goodnight," Cat and Merrill both replied, though neither stood. As Varric walked to his room, Merrill reached over and put her arm around Cat's shoulders.

"I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't know that you didn't know."

"It's all right," Cat said. "It just took me by surprise I suppose. I didn't even get to apologize to Hawke yet for avoiding him."

"You've been avoiding him?" Merrill asked.

"You didn't notice?" Cat asked with a smile. "That's good, maybe he didn't either then."

"Hmm," Merrill mused as she brought her arm back to herself, and put her chin in her hand, her elbow on the table. "I don't know, Hawke is pretty observant. I mean, he's always pointing out things that I miss."

"Hmph," Cat said with a frown. "Guess I'll have to talk to him in the morning then."

"What's that?" Merrill asked, looking at Cat's neck.

"My scar?" Cat asked, looking down.

"No silly, the jewelry? Around your neck?" she asked.

"Oh," Cat said, pulling the necklace out and showing off the charm, which depicted a sun with a carved smile. "Something I got back home," she offered it to Merrill, and she leaned forward as Merrill took the small sun in her fingers, turning it each way to see it from every angle.

"Is it metal?" Merrill asked. "It's beautiful," she said quietly. "And so happy."

"Yeah, that's why I got it," Cat said, as she leaned back once Merrill had let go. "My husband had forgotten my birthday, and I was feeling down. I decided that day that I could only depend on myself to be happy, and bought this to help me remember that."

"Oh, but that's a sad story," Merrill said, frowning. "And you can always count on your friends to help you be happy."

Cat smiled softly at her. "I wish that was true Merrill, but even friends can make each other unhappy sometimes."

"Well, but…"

"Hey, it's okay," Cat said quickly. "I don't need to depend on anyone, I can be happy all by myself," Cat said as she stood up. "I should get Issy home, or she'll oversleep tomorrow."

"Uh, okay Cat," Merrill answered, still frowning at her.

"Goodnight," Cat said, heading over to Isabela at the bar.

"Are you sure you won't just come with us?" Isabela asked as she and Cat headed into Hightown.

"I'm sure," Cat said. "I've got to continue my job while you're gone, and besides, I just don't want to."

Isabela rolled her eyes at that, no matter what argument she came up with, Cat had been adamant from the beginning that she wouldn't be going on the expedition. "Worth a try," she said.

"Hey, there's Anders!" Cat said, hurrying forward to greet the mage, and Isabela kept her same pace, coming up moments later.

"So, you gave in then?" Isabela asked with a smirk, interrupting whatever they had been saying.

"Gave in?" Anders asked.

"To Kitty," Isabela clarified, but he still looked confused.

"I told them that I asked you to go," Cat explained, and Anders gave Isabela a dry look.

"I didn't give in, I decided to do a favor for a friend," Anders said

"Same thing," Isabela smirked, and turned to leave.

"Like you wouldn't have!" Anders called after her, and Cat grabbed his arm, pulling him in the opposite direction.

"Don't let her get to you," Cat said. "You know she just likes it when you're all riled up."

"Why?!" Anders asked, already exasperated.

"She's testing your limits," Cat said patiently. "She wants to know what it would take to get Justice to come out, or so she says."

"Wha-?" Anders asked flabbergasted. "WHY?!"

Cat shrugged. "Why does Isabela do anything?" she asked. "Because she feels like it. Besides, she's in a mood today, because Varric started using a new nickname for me, and I won't talk about it."

Anders just rolled his eyes. "All right then, this will be a fun trip. I'd better go see what needs to be done," he said. "Don't leave without saying goodbye," he told her, and walked off.

Cat looked around, noting that everyone was here, though they were still a little disorganized. She spotted a pair of dwarves she recognized, and walked over to them with a smile.

"Hello Bodahn, Sandal," she said as she faced them. "Can I help with the loading?"

The elder dwarf turned and with wide eyes, and dropped jaw, came forward. "Miss Cat? Is that you?" he asked. "By my ancestors! I never would have thought we'd see you again!"

"What a surprise!" she replied happily, clapping his shoulder in greeting. "What are you doing here?"

"Well Sandal and me, we've been travelling around, selling our wares as always, ain't that right me boy?"

"Enchantment!" Sandal said happily, and Cat ruffled his hair.

"Heard about this expedition from a friend of a friend, we'll say, and knew a good opportunity when we saw one."

"Seems it was fated then, as my friends are part of the expedition as well," Cat said with a smile, and pointed several of them out. "They'll take good care of you and Sandal, and keep you both safe."

"Enchantment!"

"Right you are,"Bodahn said to Sandal. "It eases our minds to know we will have skilled people along," he said to Cat. "Does this mean you'll be accompanying us as well?"

"Unfortunately, no," she replied. "I've got a job here that I can't leave."

"Though I wouldn't call them easier times, I do miss traveling with the Warden," he said. "Do you ever feel that way?" he asked her.

"Yes," she replied. "But I'm glad that I wasn't a hindrance to their goal," she said. It had been a constant topic for them in the wagon, as the others had placed her there several times to keep her safe, and she had ended up sharing many conversations with Bodahn and Sandal.

"I'm sure this will be another grand adventure," she said, smiling again. "I hope to see you when you return."

"We will plan on it, Miss," Bodahn said with a grin. "Won't we Sandal?"

"Enchantment!"

Cat gave them both a wave, and they continued to pack up their supplies as she headed over to the main group. They looked a little more put together, and were all listening to Bartrand speaking.

"- fresh virgin thaig, ready for spoiling!" he said, and while several men cheered, others were laughing or shaking their heads.

"Now there's an image," Varric added dryly.

"Now then," Bartrand started again. "Wait. Who invited the old woman?" he asked snidely, and Cat immediately disliked him.

"I'm sorry ser dwarf, but I need to speak to my children," Leandra Hawke said, as she walked closer to Garrett and Carver.

Cat wasn't sure what the outcome would be,so she took the time to walk to her other friends and give her goodbyes.

She had just finished speaking to Merrill and Isabela, and giving them hugs when Hawke grabbed her roughly by the arm and carted her off away from the others.

"Ouch! Will you let go of me!" she hissed at him, and he released her, turning to face her, in his most intimidating pose- arms crossed over his chest, and looking down his nose at her. She noted that his beard was filling out nicely, and cursed herself, thinking now was not the time for that.

"Would you care to explain why my mother believes you are asking Carver to stay in Kirkwall so that he can court you?" he asked icily.

"Uh… yeah, okay." She took a breath, and let it out. "I did go to your home yesterday, looking for Carver, and when he wasn't home, and your mother asked to give him a message, I said that I was trying to convince him not to go. The courting thing is all on her," she replied, putting her hands up in a surrender gesture.

"And why the sudden interest in what Carver does?" he asked, not giving her an inch. "You made it pretty clear you were done with us Hawkes."

"I just… I have a bad feeling about it, okay?" she said, looking away, and biting her lip. She wanted to comment on avoiding them, but couldn't think of the right thing to say.

"And that's why you asked Anders to come?"

"Yeah," she admitted. "I didn't think I'd actually convince Carver."

"Well in that you were right," he said, and walked off.

Cat looked up in surprise, and ran after him, pulling him back around with a tug on his arm. "What the hell? Didn't your mother teach you any manners?" she asked, then slapped her own forehead. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that."

"Oh? I'm getting the feeling that you did, in fact."

"Don't be a jerk," she said through gritted teeth. "I'm trying to apologize here."

"Worst. Apology. Ever."

Cat glared at him, "Maker's balls, you're such an ass."

"Yeah, that makes it better," he said sarcastically.

"Argh!" She yelled her frustration, and threw up her hands. This time, she was the one who walked away, over to where Varric was standing.

"Little Dove?" he asked tentatively. "You all right?"

"Yeah, wouldn't be a good day without Hawke pissing me off, would it?" she complained. "Promise me you'll never walk off when we're talking. okay?" she asked. "I really hate it."

"You got it," he said. "Uh, you take care now," he said with a pat on her arm.

"Varric, really?" she asked with a smirk. "You must know I want hugs."

"You do know where your hugs put my face, don't you?" he asked with a smirk in return.

"Don't care," she answered, and grabbed him.

"Best. Hugs. Ever." he said with a wink, once they stepped back, and she giggled, thinking he must have heard Hawke's complaint.

"Be safe, okay?" she asked, and headed to Fenris once he nodded.

"Don't hug the dwarf anymore," Fenris growled at her, as she walked up. "Did you even notice where his face was?"

Cat started laughing again, and threw her arms around Fenris' middle. "Sorry, you had your chance," she teased him, and he grumbled. "Be safe, and watch over the others, okay?"

"We will be all right?" he asked again.

"I told you what I could," she answered. "But be ready for anything." He nodded, letting her go, with a bit of a nudge. Still not ready for PDAs, she thought.

She turned again, seeing Anders was beside her. "Darling, are you sure about this?" he asked.

"Absolutely, and don't call me that," she said. "I only let you yesterday because you were sad."

"But I'm always sad," he said, grinning at her.

"Uh-huh, I can tell," she said, smiling back. He threw his arms around her, rocking them back and forth in a long hug, and had her chuckling.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine," she comforted him with a pat on the back.

"You'd better hope so, or sad Anders is definitely coming back instead of me," he said. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, and she rolled her eyes at him. "What?" he asked in mock surprise. "There may be crazed suitors here, you don't know. From what I hear, Carver is trying to court you."

"Hurry up and leave, so I can miss you," she said, rolling her eyes and pushing him away. She went back over to Isabela one more time, and gave her another hug. "I'll miss you most Issy," she said quietly and Isabela laughed.

"We'll be back before you know it, Kitty."

"And I want all the details!" Cat said, and Isabela looked at her in question, before speaking.

"You stay safe, Kitty."

Bartrand started yelling, and the group began leaving. Cat stood there, waving as her friends picked up their packs and headed out with the group. She noticed that Carver and Hawke were having a hard time getting their mother to let go, as she was always wanting one more hug.

She continued to wave even though she watched the Hawke family. Carver suddenly strode off, leaving Garrett to deal with things. She smiled as Garrett took the time to calm his mother down, and kissed her cheek in farewell. Okay, so he wasn't always an ass, at least to his mom, she thought. She watched as he sent her off home, not wanting her to watch them leave.

When his mother had finally left the square, he turned to follow the group. With all the supplies and animals, as well as people, they hadn't made much headway yet. He started after them, feeling somewhat guilty for letting Carver come, but if he hadn't… Carver would hate him even more.

There wasn't much he could do to repair the relationship with his remaining sibling, though he continued to try. He just hoped his mother would understand someday.

He stopped as he felt a pull on his arm, and suddenly had his arms full of Cat, who was hugging him. He had tried not to watch as she went to each of his crew and gave them hugs, feeling even worse then the ass she had accused him of being.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, and he felt even lower, though he still put his arms around her to hug her back. "I'm sorry for avoiding you."

"No," he replied. "I'm sorry for making you feel like you needed to. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable…"

"It wasn't that," she said, clearly uncomfortable, and he gave her a look that said he didn't believe her.

"Really… I… I just…" she licked her lips, and he groaned inwardly. "I just didn't want to ruin…"

She trailed off again, and he stood there, perplexed, trying to read her face and understand what she was saying. Ruin what? he thought. The group dynamic? Our friendship?

"Not important," she said suddenly, and stepping back out of his arms, she patted his arm forcefully a few times, her face bright red.

"Uh, be safe," she said, and turning, ran away from him.

Hawke stood there, gaping after her. What in the Maker's…? he thought. She was acting so odd, and he started walking again, looking back several times, wanting to see her again, as if that would shed some light on her behavior.

Cat ran several blocks before she stopped to catch her breath, wondering where she had even been going. She leaned back against a wall, putting her face in her hands, feeling the heat trying to escape through her cheeks.

Again! She thought. Again, she acted like a complete idiot, just because she was around Hawke. She had hoped that kissing Fenris or even Anders would have gotten rid of this feeling, but just giving Hawk a hug had her remembering the last time she was in his arms.

"Crap, crap, crap!" she said under her breath. Issy didn't deserve this, friends didn't poach on someone the other was interested in. Cat wallowed another moment before she determined her new course of action. She had over two weeks at least, to get rid of… whatever this was.

"My lady? Are you all right?" A voice asked, causing Cat to look up through her fingers. "I couldn't stand by, while a beautiful woman was so upset."

Cat stared, unsure why this was happening. Why had she run here, of all places?!

"My name is Sebastian Vael, and it would be my pleasure to assist you in any way," the man said with a gentle smile, holding out his hand to her. Cat slowly placed her hand in his, still wary, and he pulled her up straight, and kissed her hand. "And you, my lady?"

"Catarina, or Cat to my friends," she replied, deciding she may as well be friendly.

"A beautiful name, befitting it's owner," he said smoothly. "Though I confess that I would prefer to use the shorter version so that I may be counted among your friends."

"I suppose if that is what you want," she said. "I believe you have already met some of them. Hawke told me your name as someone whose request he fulfilled from the chanter's board."

"Ah!" his face lit, as he smiled at her. "A good man, Hawke. He was so sincere in his desire to help, that I told him, once I gathered more information, I would gladly have his assistance. It seems we are indeed connected then, Lady Cat."

"Not a lady, I'm afraid," she said with a smile. "Just Cat."

"I'll respect your wishes, though you'll never be able to convince me otherwise," he told her.

"Flattery huh?" she teased. "Sorry, but I'm immune."

"Then I'll have to use other weapons in my arsenal," he teased back, and she chuckled.

"Well Sebastian, if anything, I am grateful you came along, to help me out of my mood."

"I live to serve," he replied gallantly, and Cat wondered if he was able to act normal, or if this was normal for him, from being raised as a prince.

"I'd better be heading back," she said. "Perhaps we'll meet again sometime."

She declined him accompanying her home, and walked through the streets of Hightown and Lowtown in deep thought.

It was strange, and perhaps it was just because the story had followed Hawke, and she never saw what the others had been doing when they weren't with Hawke, but she seemed to be running into people that she recognized everywhere. She wondered how much she was actually changing things, by interacting with them. She suddenly remembered her encounter with Flemeth.

Flemeth told me, she thought. In so many words, to not look back, but live looking forward. I can't do that if I'm always worrying about changing things. It's inevitable, if I live my life here, that things will be different, especially if I continue in Hawke's crew.

And if I'm going to live my life here, I want friends, I want a home… a real home. And I want to help my friends have the best outcome they can. Having thought that, she smiled to herself and headed home, determined to start right away.