One of life's greatest mysteries, Cat decided, was how being happy could take the place of sleep. She had perhaps gotten a few hours, and normally, that would mean everyone should duck and cover. Today, however, all she felt was… happy.

The door in front of her opened, and she grinned. "Good morning, Leandra," she greeted her, and she was gestured in with a nod and a smile.

"Cat, it's so good to see you again. I have been meaning to speak with you on a few things." Cat's eyebrows rose, wondering what she meant.

"Uh, okay," Cat replied.

"Don't worry dear, it is nothing to worry about," Leandra teased her. "Can you spare a few minutes? I can have Orana make tea?"

"Certainly," she answered. "I came to meet up with Garrett, but we never decided on a specific time, so I'm flexible."

"Wonderful! Come with me, then." Leandra pulled her along into the kitchen. "Orana, will you make tea for two please?" she asked the elf that was tidying up from breakfast.

"Of course mistress," Orana replied happily. "It's nice to see you again Lady Cat," she greeting her.

"Orana," Cat rolled her eyes. "Just Cat, not lady, remember?"

"Of course," Orana replied as she always did, and Cat smiled.

I'll out-stubborn you on this one Orana… she thought.

Sitting at the table with Leandra, Cat got herself comfortable, and waited for Leandra to speak.

"I just want to say," Leandra began with a smile, "it was quite obvious to me that something happened, since Garrett couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear this morning." She held up her hand before Cat could say anything. "I'm not asking for details dear, unless you want to share, I simply wanted to thank you, and make sure that you knew that I approved."

Cat flushed, hoping she was misunderstanding what Leandra was referring to. I can't believe she is thanking me for sleeping with her son, and of course since we didn't… What does she think happened? We're not like engaged now, are we?!

Cat knew she was panicking, but told herself to breathe normally. Don't freak out, don't freak out… she's gotten the wrong idea before… don't freak out…

"Are… are you all right?" Leandra asked, concerned at how rapidly Cat was losing color.

"Uh, yes, of course!" Cat squeaked out.

"Good…" Leandra replied, still uncertain. "Ah, here's the tea, that should help soothe you."

Cat grabbed the cup like a lifeline, grateful for a distraction. "Thank you Orana," she said as she took a few sips. "It's delicious." The elf gave her a small curtsy, and went back to her chores.

"Well the reason I asked to speak with you," Leandra stated, and Cat froze as she wondered what else she would ask. "Is that the banquet is rapidly approaching, and I'd like to have your dress made, instead of borrowing one of mine."

"Uh… what?" Cat asked, confused.

"I know it's a little out of the ordinary, but I would love to do it, if you'll let me."

"You want to buy me a dress?" Cat asked, still not understanding.

"Well, technically, yes," Leandra replied. "We would go to the seamstress, choose the fabric and the style and have you measured. We'd have to return back for a fitting or two, but then yes, you would have a dress." She smiled so genuinely, that Cat couldn't have refused if she wanted to. Which, she wanted to, desperately.

"Well, all right, that sounds fine…" Cat replied. "You said it is for a banquet?" she asked.

Leandra looked at her, perplexed. "Surely you've heard? The Champion of Kirkwall banquet? The city has invited nobles from all around to honor Garrett, even from Orlais!"

"Really?" Cat asked in horror. "And you want me to go?"

"Well, to be honest, I'm assuming that Garrett will want you to go with him," she mused. "He hasn't mentioned it?"

"Uh, no… not that I can recall."

"Oh, that boy… what am I going to do with him?" Leandra grumbled, causing Cat to chuckle.

"Perhaps he was being nice," Cat offered. "I don't really enjoy large crowds…"

Leandra gave her a look. "Birds of a feather then, you two." She gave a sigh, then smiled as she looked back to Cat, who instantly became wary. "Well dear, it's up to you then, I suppose. Though Garrett will have to attend, and I'd hate to leave him all alone. Those nobles can practically eat you alive when they want something, you know."

"I supposed that's true…" Cat replied, noncommittally.

"He'll just suffer through it, until he can leave, and he'll swear to never go to another, just like last time. Of course he's forgetting that he'll have to dance, and speak to everyone… my poor boy…" she looked downright sad, and Cat felt herself caving.

"I mean, if he wants me to go, I would be happy to…." Cat said, trying to emphasize the part about Hawke making the decision.

"Oh my dear, that's so kind of you!" Leandra practically squealed. "I just know he will be so happy to have you there by his side!"

"Uh…" Cat said, but Leandra just swept over her. "Of course, we'll need to hurry… are you free this afternoon? I can make an appointment with the seamstress!"

Cat just looked at Leandra, her face so eager and practically begging, so she smiled. Having a dress doesn't mean I have to go after all. Something, anything, could turn up… even if I have to make something up. "Of course, this afternoon would be fine."

"Wonderful!" Leandra cheered, then dropped her voice. "Be sure not to mention it to Garrett. About me getting you a dress, I mean."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Cat replied dejectedly.

She finished her tea and listened to Leandra speak of the nobles in the city that she was becoming friends with. She reminded herself that Hawke could have been doing all this without his mother, and she became much more involved in the conversation.

She asked questions, and ended up getting pieces of gossip that she had no idea when she would use, but figured they had to come in handy at some point. Then, she heard the door to the kitchen open, and Hafter came straight for her and put his head in her lap.

She grinned and rubbed his head, then climbed down to kneel so she could hug him and scratch behind his ears. "How's my handsome boy?" she cooed at him, getting a bark in reply.

"I'm doing fine," Hawke replied with a smirk, as he walked into the room. "And Hafter is good too." He gave her a wink, and came over, giving his mother's shoulder a squeeze and her cheek a kiss. "And here I thought Hafter wanted a treat, not that we had company."

"I'm sorry dearest," Leandra said with a smile. "Cat is such a refreshing visitor, I simply had to take advantage."

Cat flushed slightly, but continued to give Hafter a rub down.

Hawke moved over in front of Hafter, looking down at his dog, and back to his mother. "I know we all love her, but can I have a turn please?" he asked, giving Hafter a pointed look.

Hafter barked in reply, and backed away from Cat, causing her to frown. "Of course dear," Leandra replied with a giggle. "I'm going to take Orana, and do some shopping." Hawke reached over, grabbed Cat's hand and pulled her up to stand.

"I wasn't done spoiling your mabari," Cat stated, even as she smiled at him.

"As much as I hate to stop your fun," he replied. "I don't like feeling jealous of my dog."

"Pfft," she muttered, and rolled her eyes. "Like that's possible." She went to give him a playful slap on the arm, and he caught her hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss.

"A fact, my lady," he smirked at her. "He hasn't had to work nearly as hard for your affections."

"That's because he gives his own so freely," she quipped back. "Just a little scratch," she said, reaching up and rubbing lightly behind his earlobe, "and I get all the love I need."

Hawke grinned, snaking a hand at her waist and pulling her closer. "From what I can tell, that gets you licked, darling. Is that what you are trying to get from me?"

"Don't you dare," she warned.

His eyes lit at the challenge. Just a few moments with her and he was heated, and meant to do the same to her. But now… in an instant, his mood changed to playful.

He growled softly as he pulled her close and licked her cheek, grinning as she cursed him. He moved with her as she squirmed to get away from him, holding her against the table so she couldn't escape, and he licked her face, laughing as he got her again and again.

The moment changed again as she moved and he missed his target, licking up the side of her neck, and he heard her breath catch. He let her go, pulling himself away before he lifted her up on the table as he truly wanted to.

He stepped back, taking deep breaths, watching as she struggled to calm herself as well. Glad that he wasn't the only one affected, for that was the only way this could have been worse, in his mind. He never thought of himself as a glutton for torture, but he already wanted to go to her again, even for a moment.

So he smiled, and pushed the thought from his brain. "So darling," he said, "can you help me with the rest of the letters?"

"Sure," she replied, wondering how he could be so calm, while her heart was racing like a hamster on its wheel. "Uh, lead the way."

"I can't believe we got through them all," he stated, wadding up the last of the trash letters and tossing it behind him.

"Yes, but now we have to pick all these up," she replied, standing and taking the small metal can they were using for trash. She bent over and began picking them up.

"All part of my master plan," he said with a smirk, and she looked over, seeing him staring openly at her and her eyes narrowed.

"You know, you should be cleaning this, you made all the mess. And then I would be sitting there ogling you."

Hawke laughed, and moved over to take the can from her. "Your wish is my command," he said, gesturing to the chair. He then proceeded to bend over dramatically, ensuring that he was giving her quite the view.

Cat couldn't help but chuckle, he could be such an idiot. He put the can down, and opened the top buttons on his shirt, bending at the waist to ensure she had a view of his chest, and she laughed out loud.

Picking up the last of the garbage, he placed it in the can, putting it back by the desk, and pulling her to her feet. "How was the ogling?" he asked with a large smirk. "I feel so degraded."

"As you should," she said, still laughing. "I ogled you so hard!"

He laughed with her, before pulling her with him towards the front door.

"Where are we going?" she asked, as he opened the door and took her outside to the streets.

"I wanted to make a plan, for a day away," he replied, slowing his pace, but keeping her hand in his. "But we were sitting for too long, and we needed a break."

"Garrett Hawke? Taking a break?" she asked in mock shock. "He's obviously possessed by something. Perhaps the spirit of moderation?"

"Cute," he replied. "But if you're going to joke like that, you should probably not do it out on the street."

Cat looked around. They were getting some odd looks, all right. "All right" she conceded, getting back on topic. "So what did you have in mind for your day away?" she asked.

"A day with no responsibilities," he said instantly. "No one asking for anything, no one calling me Champion. Just me and my friends for the day, and at the end, maybe walking a pretty lady home, and if I'm lucky, stealing a kiss or two."

"I think I could probably arrange that," she replied with a smile. "Though it's up to the lady whether you get a kiss."

He glanced at her, "that's why I said stealing," he replied with a smirk.

She smiled, but her mind was on the logistics of his request. "If you are truly wanting a day where no one calls you Champion… we'd probably need to go outside of the city."

"That sounds even better," he said honestly.

"We could take food with us… maybe find a place along the coast, go swimming?" she mused aloud. "A lazy day at the water, with a picnic?"

"Hmm," he grumbled.

"No?" she asked. "It's just an idea, I can think of something else."

"Swimming, I don't mind. But from what I hear, you swim naked, and while that sounds amazing!" he said with a grin and a wiggle of his eyebrows. "It's not something to share with everyone."

"Where in the world did you possibly hear that?" she said, her eyes wide. "Issy only said something yesterday, and she was said that I was swimming in my small clothes!"

"Are you sure?" he asked skeptically. "I'm well informed, you know."

"Or in other words, Varric has a big mouth," she grumbled. "I know what I swim in, and believe me, on a ship full of men and Issy, I made sure I had all the important parts covered!"

"That's one rumor I wouldn't mind making true," he said with a grin, then frowned. "It's the other men that I worry about, even in just your small clothes."

"If we're doing this with just your friends, the only men there would be Fenris, Anders and Sebastian. Two of which have seen worse, and one who made vows of chastity. And besides, Issy will probably swim naked and grab all the attention."

"Hmph," he grumbled, but nodded. "Wait, what?!" he whipped his head around as he realized what she said.

She rolled her eyes, thinking, men are so predictable, but Hawke yelled, "Seen worse?! What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Maker's balls, keep your voice down," she hissed at him, pulling him away from the people that were looking at them curiously. "Nothing like whatever it is you're thinking."

"Oh?" he asked stubbornly. "And what am I thinking?"

She narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "Knowing you? Probably that I strip naked and dance around for them every chance I get."

He scowled at her. "You wouldn't do that."

"No, I wouldn't. Good to see you know that much." She rolled her eyes again. "It's nothing. Anders is my healer, and sometimes I've had to remove clothing so he can see the wounds. That's all."

He nodded, but looked at her shrewdly. "And Fenris?" he asked, not at all pleased when she flushed.

"I… uh, fell one night, getting out of the bath."

"So?" he asked, bewildered as to why she would bring that up.

She put her hand over her face, and her next words came out muffled.

"Excuse me?" he asked with a smirk, beginning to enjoy her embarrassment. If she was this embarrassed, she must have sworn Fenris to secrecy, and never told anyone. Which meant… she is telling me so I won't be upset, because she cares.

She moved her hand, rubbing the spot at the bridge of her nose. "I said, I tripped on the edge of the tub getting out." She gave a weary sigh. "I broke my foot, and twisted my knee. It hurt so badly that I couldn't even stand up. Fenris had to come in and rescue me. He helped me get dressed and carried me to Anders even though it was late."

"Wait, so Fenris and Anders knew about this? How did we not find out?" he said with a chuckle.

"Uh… you did. But as far as Anders and everyone else knows, Fenris and I were attacked in Lowtown, and I broke my foot when one of the thugs attacked me."

Hawke burst out laughing. "Oh Maker, I remember now! We all went searching for those men! Fenris kept us out for hours hunting them!"

Cat grinned back at him. "Well, he's a very good friend, that would hate to see me embarrassed. Plus he knew you all would never let it go."

"That's true," Hawke replied, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "I can't believe you just handed over a weapon like that!"

"Well," she said with a smirk, giving him pause. "It's only fair, after everything your mother told me this morning." And she burst out laughing at the dismay on his face.

Cat followed Leandra into the shop, wondering what she had gotten herself into. Wearing a dress to a wedding was one thing. But a banquet? Honestly, its not the dress I'm worried about. It's getting eaten alive by all the nobility that will be there.

Leandra made introductions, and the seamstress prodded her over to a curtained off area. "Strip down," she ordered, and Cat frowned, but did as she was told. She had hardly gotten her shirt off, before the seamstress came back, followed by Leandra.

The woman tried to get her to remove her smalls also, but she utterly refused, so the woman measured anyway, pulling tightly her measuring string each time, then snipping it about 2 inches short of the mark she made.

Cat stayed quiet, figuring the woman knew her business, but Leandra spoke up. "Delilah, you can't short her like that, the dress won't fit."

Delilah, the seamstress gave a shrug. "It won't hurt her to miss a few meals," she said, and Cat was so appalled, her mouth fell open.

Leandra chuckled, and shook her head. "Cat here isn't like the noble ladies you are used to," she stressed. "She is part of the Champion's crew, and is constantly out fighting with him. Missing meals would make her weak, and she could be hurt."

Cat smiled, grateful that Leandra understood, but she was still unhappy. She didn't give a fig what shape her body was in, starving oneself wasn't any way to treat her body, and she hated that the woman said it so casually.

Delilah put her hands on her hips, and explained the basic look of the dress. "This style of dress will look simply awful with such wide hips," she said bluntly. "It is meant to flow like water, not be lumpy like rocks."

"Well let's change the style then," Cat reasoned, looking at the woman like she was crazy.

Delilah turned to look at Cat the same way. "Do you want to be shunned by the others?" she asked. "This is the style that is current in Orlais! If we do a different one, we will be the laughing stock of all of Thedas!"

Cat rolled her eyes, as Leandra tried to calm the woman down, saying that they would of course defer to her wisdom on the matter, and Cat was faced with having to say something.

"Uh, Leandra? May I have a private word with you for a moment?" she asked pleasantly.

"Oh, of course," she replied, patting Delilah's hand. "I put a few choices of fabric on the table, will you see what you think?" she asked the seamstress, and she nodded and moved away.

"I'm sorry about this Cat, I didn't think there would be such dramatics," she said with a smile, and tilted her head in question, seeing Cat putting her clothes back on. "Dear, we're not quite done," she added.

"I'm very sorry," Cat said quietly. "But I feel that this is not going to work."

"Pardon?" Leandra asked. "What won't?"

Cat looked up, worried about what would happen, but not willing to suffer a dress she would later have to refuse to wear, or more likely, that wouldn't fit her.

"I'm afraid that I not only have no interest in starving myself to fit a dress, but the style that she has explained will not be a flattering look for me," Cat explained. "If she is only willing to make a dress in that single style, then I will need to find another seamstress."

"Oh," Leandra said, looking back to Delilah, then back to Cat. "Are you certain dear? Delilah is the best in the city, and if we leave now, we will not be able to come back."

Cat twisted her fingers around each other. "I don't want to cause that for you, Leandra," she said. "If you want to continue using Delilah, then I will stay and have her make the dress. But it seems that perhaps it will not fit when the time comes to wear it," she said with a small smile, relieved to see Leandra smile back.

"I…" she said, looking back to the woman at the front of the shop again. "I think we can get you out and still save face," she said with a wink. "Now bend over and groan a little."

"What?" Cat asked, shocked.

"You're too sick to continue, dear. Though I will warn you, there will be talk after this…"

"Anything to get out of here," Cat muttered, and immediately hung her head between her knees, giving a soft groan. She listened in amusement as Leandra explained her unexpected illness, how it was odd that it would show up so suddenly. Cat worried slightly at the gleam in the seamstress' eyes at the news, and she smiled and waved to them as they left her shop.

"Well dear, that wasn't too bad, she was disappointed to be sure, but she is already making my dress, so she will not suffer from losing the notoriety." She turned to look at Cat. "We can check with one or two other seamstresses here in Hightown, see if they can handle the extra work?" she offered.

"Actually," Cat replied, a grin forming on her face. "I think I have just the place."

Leandra is such a good sport, Cat thought, as she lead her through Lowtown and towards the Alienage. While she is most definitely a noble, she has also lived as a regular person, and knows how to not be judgemental or ridiculous.

She made her way toward the dress shop, coming upon Nyssa, who worked as an assistant there. "Hello Nyssa," she said as they walked up.

"Cat, how nice to see you again," she replied with a nod. "What can I do for you today? You haven't brought us many garments to fix recently."

Cat laughed. "It seems I've gotten better at keeping them from getting holes, haven't I?" she answered with a shrug. "Besides, I think Fenris has been taking any slightly damaged clothing to the refugees here and in Darktown, now that we can afford to replace them."

"What a wonderful man he is," Nyssa said with a smile. "Always looking out for others."

"That he does," Cat replied, then turning to Leandra, she made introductions. "Nyssa, this is Leandra, the Champion's mother."

Nyssa's eyes grew wide, and she gave a curtsy. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance mistress," she said, and Leandra smiled.

"For me as well, Nyssa," she said.

Cat continued, "Nyssa works for Serine, one of the most talented seamstresses I've met. They make most of my everyday clothing." Leandra's eyes lit up, as she understood now why they were here.

"Nyssa," Cat said, turning her attention. "It seems the city is throwing a banquet to honor the Champion, and I've been invited. Can you and Serine work a miracle and have me in a dress for the occasion?"

Nyssa's eyes went wide in anticipation. "You're not playing with me, are you?" she asked first, and getting a head shake in return, she clapped her hands in delight. "We've been hoping to make some other items for you, Cat, but a banquet gown?! Serine will be beside herself!"

Cat grinned back, "It seems all the dress makers in Hightown are trying to copy an Orlesian style, and all I ask is that we not do the same."

Nyssa's nose scrunched up as she frowned. "Why would everyone want to look the same?" she asked.

"I honestly have no idea," Cat stated.

"Since Cat will be with the Champion, we definitely want her to stand out," Leandra added, and Nyssa clapped her hands again.

"We'll make you look so beautiful!" she said, and went to fetch her string. "Now, I know that we've measured you before, but that was for everyday attire. We will want to accent your features, so I'll measure you again."

"Can I trust you to pick out the fabric as well?" Cat asked, stepping into a curtained off area, with Nyssa and Leandra waiting for her to call that she was ready.

"If that's what you'd like," Nyssa said with a nod.

"If it helps," Leandra spoke up again, though quiet enough so that her voice didn't carry, "the Champion will be wearing a deep blue colored tunic, with black pants and a black vest."

Nyssa smiled widely at Leandra. "If you'd prefer, I can deliver samples of the fabric choices for your approval," she offered, and Leandra was the one to clasp her hands together in delight.

"Since I already have the fabric for his clothing, I'll simply send you samples instead," she said with a grin. "I have no doubt they will be the talk of the banquet," she said quietly.

"Now this, is a fabulous idea," Anders said happily. "Who knew the Wounded Coast had such places?"

Isabela and Cat looked at each other with a smirk. "We did," they replied.

"Remember, we crashed out here," Cat said. "And had to find the way to town. That meant passing by all sorts of places. In fact, that cave over there, is where I spent my first night here in Kirkwall."

"I went further inland," Isabela offered. "There was a dreadnought full of Qunari hot on my trail after all."

Cat looked around, smiling. She had taken Isabela and Anders on a search for the right place for Hawke's vacation day, and it had seemed that Isabela was right. Cat had worried that it wasn't secluded enough, but she hadn't really paid attention the last time she was here.

"So, this will work then?" she asked them, getting nods back in return.

"With the warm days here now, the water will feel wonderful," Anders replied. "And the idea of having an entire day with no demands of us? It feels almost too good to be true."

"That's what you get for being generous all the time," Isabela smirked at him. "People will always be asking for more."

"And I'm happy to do so," Anders replied, his face tilted up to the sun and his eyes closed as he breathed in the fresh air. "But as a healer, I know how important time for yourself is."

"I think you need more than you are getting," Cat mused, and Anders ignored her.

"So Kitty," Isabela started with a smirk. "It's just me and Anders…"

"Yeah?" Cat asked, with a roll of her eyes.

"Don't you think it's time to share?" she demanded, her hands on her hips, and staring at Cat.

"She means…" Anders interrupted pointedly, "that you've been curiously quiet since the other night."

"Hey, I mean what I say," Isabela argued back.

"I know, and I'm sorry," Cat replied, sitting down in the sand, still gazing out at the water. "It's still new, and… well there really isn't much to tell."

"Are you kidding me?!" Isabela grumbled. "Look Kitty, you can't be positively sure on these types of things. Sometimes you have to just take a leap! And you should definitely leap on Hawke every chance you get!"

Cat chuckled, as Anders and Isabela started arguing over her lack of tact. "Actually," she said, causing them to look over at her. "Hawke is the one that decided to take things slow."

"What?!" They said in unison, and Cat grinned.

"Something about making sure there were no skeletons from old relationships around. He got the feeling that I was comparing him to Steven," she replied.

They came over and sat on either side of her. "And… were you?" Anders asked.

She shrugged. "Probably. It's not that I am choosing to do so, I just don't have a lot of experience to fall back on… just Steven."

"I think you're missing the point here Kitty," Isabela said, and Cat looked over.

"I am?" she asked, confused. "He was pretty specific, Issy."

Isabela rolled her eyes. "The point is, he doesn't want you comparing anything at all."

Cat frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He has never been with you before either," Isabela continued. "No matter what experience you bring to the table, this is new, and you should treat it like such. Both of you."

"It's new and exciting, and it sounds like he wants you both to muddle through things together, not thinking what will work and won't work based on other people you've been with," Anders added thoughtfully.

"Hmm," Cat mused. "I guess I didn't think of it that way." She glanced on either side of her. "But I wasn't thinking of any of that when I asked him to stay with me, and he said he wanted to wait."

Isabela merely smirked, as Anders choked on something and started coughing. "He really did?" he finally got out.

"Yes," Cat replied, frowning again. "He said we're going to take things slow, which I can appreciate, but…"

"Well Kitty," Isabela said, grabbing her hand and squeezing it. "The only advice I'll give is… don't let other people decide what is right for you. If he wants to take things slow because that's what he wants, fine. If he's doing it because he thinks that's best for you?" She looked over with a fierce grin. "You set him straight. You decide what's best for you."

Cat smiled in return, remaining quiet as they looked out at the water. She had a lot to think about.