"What are we celebrating?" Cat asked as she took a seat at the table.
Isabela poured her a drink, turning to give her a smirk. "Apparently, Varric's gotten some good news," she answered. "And he wouldn't even give us a hint until everyone was here."
"Well, I'm sorry it took me so long," Cat apologized. "But I was spending time with Nyssa and Fenris."
"Is she doing all right?" Charade asked.
"Two months along," Cat replied with a nod. "She kept making me feel her belly because she is sure that it is starting to show."
"Is it?" Isabela asked, her face wrinkling up.
"Not that I could see," Cat shrugged. "But I told her I could. She looked so miserable otherwise. Apparently, her morning sickness has been at night, so she hasn't been sleeping well… so Fenris hasn't either." She gave them all a grin. "He's trying so hard, it's adorable."
"Speaking of Fenris, why didn't you just bring him with you?" Aveline questioned. "If we're still waiting for him, it will take even longer."
"In a hurry, Aveline?" Cat teased. "Must mean that Donnic has the night off, huh?"
Aveline flushed, though only for a moment. She was slowly getting used to her private life being a topic for the others to use against her in jest. If it wasn't so annoying, she'd probably think it endearing.
"Maker forbid I actually spend some time with my husband," Aveline shot back, her smile easing the gruffness of her voice. Feeling awkward, she turned to Charade. "Who are we still waiting for?" she asked, changing the subject.
Charade smiled back, knowing full well how private Aveline was, but pleased that she was trying to acclimate to her friends' more open style. "Well, Garrett and Anders are in with Varric talking about something that we," she lowered her voice to imitate her cousin, "don't need to know."
She huffed a little but wasn't too upset about it. She did like to be in the know, however. Isabela wasn't wrong when she called her nosy. "So basically, Sebastian and Fenris?"
"Hawke said Sebastian isn't coming," Merrill spoke up, and the other women turned to her with questioning looks. She returned them with a shrug. "That's what he told Varric, and then I guess Varric ripped something… because Hawke said he was torn up." She paused, looking confused at their laughs.
They couldn't help but chuckle, as seemed to happen whenever Merrill tried to understand human slang. "He didn't rip anything Merrill," Cat explained with a smile. "Torn up refers to being upset. As if, your heart was torn I suppose."
"Oh…" Merrill smiled, glad to understand, before her face changed to panic. "And Varric's heart is torn?! But that's bad!"
"Not actually Merrill," Aveline sighed. "Hawke was being sarcastic."
"Sarcasm," Merrill huffed. "The sworn enemy of trying to understand humans."
"I'd say just assume Hawke is always sarcastic, but then he'll ask you to do something, and you'll think he's joking," Isabela drawled. "You'll get the hang of it eventually," she comforted the elf.
"I suppose," Merrill replied, still pouting.
They continued to drink and talk until Fenris arrived, and Hawke came out to usher them all into Varric's room for some privacy.
"So, what's all the secrecy for?" Isabela complained. "We're members of this crew too, you know, not hired blades."
"Of course you are," Hawke replied as he pulled Cat over to sit next to him. Isabela's eyes narrowed at his flippant tone.
"Not to sound like a hired blade, but do we have a job?" Charade asked, shrugging at Isabela's withering look. "Sorry, but not all of us are independently wealthy, or willing to pick the pockets of those that are."
"We do have a few things," Hawke replied with a nod. "But the secrecy had to do with getting some opinions about a personal matter, not anything to do with the group."
"Hey, we're friends, aren't we?" Isabela smirked as she looked between Varric and Anders. "If you needed opinions, you only had to ask!"
"I'm thinking they wanted Hawke's opinion," Cat replied dryly. "Especially since you'll give yours even if you aren't asked for it."
"But you never have to wonder how I feel about something, do you?" Isabela shot back with a grin. "Life would be simpler if people didn't worry about other's feelings, and just said what they were thinking."
"Simpler maybe, but a lot more fighting," Charade retorted.
"See?" Isabela crowed, giving Charade's shoulder a light push. "You get it."
Charade merely shook her head, though she was smiling as well.
"So, what's this about good news?" Aveline interrupted, wanting to get the meeting over with so she could return home. As much as she enjoyed the group, a night off with Donnic was rare.
"Ah, of course," Varric spoke up, and the others fell silent. "I especially wanted you here Aveline, because of all the assistance you've given me."
"Uh… I have?" she questioned, feeling a little uneasy. She didn't recall doing anything- at least anything she was aware of- that would earn the dwarf's gratitude.
"I've gotten a letter from my publisher," Varric said with a wry smile. "Hard in Hightown is officially last year's best seller!"
Amid the chorus of laughs and congratulations, calls for cheers and several of them drinking to his name, Varric saw the look of pure joy on Cat's face. He eased closer as she leaned towards him, obviously wanting to say something, and wanting him to be able to hear it.
"Congrats Varric," her voice rose to be heard above the din in the room. Isabela and Aveline were arguing about her "help" on Varric's story, with Anders and Fenris seemingly locked in a drinking contest- both sides cheered on by Hawke. "I'm very happy for you, but I do have a request."
"And what's that?" he asked, their faces now very close together. He thought for a moment that he could understand why Hawke always seemed to wear a goofy grin lately.
"When you write about Hawke, will you change my name and the way I look?" she asked, whispering the request in his ear conspiratorially.
"And why would you want that?" he asked, genuinely surprised. "Most people would love to be immortalized in an epic tale."
"I don't mind that part, I just don't want to be recognized in later years, people hounding me for my personal feelings about everything," she tried to explain without truly doing so.
"Won't they know who you are by being with Hawke?" he asked knowingly.
She laughed richly and leaned into him again. "And how much fun would it be when everyone demands of Hawke why he isn't with his princess?" she asked, enjoying when Varric joined in her laughter.
"Poor Hawke," Varric replied quietly with a smile. "But now it's irresistible. Princess is the nickname you want to go with?" he asked.
"It was one of your original choices," she reminded him. "We'll all know who she really is, but the public won't."
"Am I supposed to make your personality different too?" he grunted, not liking the sudden feeling of being told how to do what he did best.
She smiled at him and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "I'm not going to tell you how to write it," she said, understanding his sudden mood change. "I'm just asking that people not be able to recognize me on sight."
"Only for you, Princess," he replied softly, patting her cheek.
"What's going on over here?" Hawke asked, as he turned back to them. "Secrets don't make friends, you know."
"Good thing we're already friends then, eh Hawke?" Varric replied, smiling to Hawke frown.
"Aveline is itching to leave, Hawke," Cat told him, and he turned to see his friend practically squirming in her seat and looking to the door.
"All right everyone, we'll cut this short for those that need to go but know that you are all welcome to stay and celebrate with us." He paused as Aveline jumped up quickly. "And!" he declared, having everyone pause. "Get some extra rest in the morning. We're hunting some street gangs tomorrow night!"
He smiled at the grateful look Aveline sent him before she hurried out of the room. Then he turned back to his rowdy group of friends as the rest of them started telling stories and reminiscing over the past year.
"Feynriel?"
Feynriel stood, putting down the letter he had been reading, and went out the door, following the voice of his employer.
"Yes master?" he asked. He knew he was an employee, not a slave, yet he continued to use the title to appease the magister.
"Come, I want to hear of your dreams," Magister Farian declared, turning not looking back as the young elf fell in step behind him. Feynriel was aware that the magister had ulterior motives for training him, however they were both aware that he could travel through the fade if necessary to escape.
So, Farian had done what was best for both of them, training him to control his powers, and only asking for information about his rivals in return. He didn't demand anything that would make the boy want to leave- knowing how important keeping him out of the clutches of others was.
"There wasn't much to learn, I am sorry," Feynriel replied. "I was only able to learn of the sale of some slaves," he said, his eyes downcast.
"Between?" Farian asked. Any information could be important after all, and he didn't trust the lad to know the difference between what was useful and what was not.
"Magister Erasthanes sold two slaves to Magister Nenealeus," Feynriel replied, as he read from the note he carried. He didn't always remember everything he learned while dreaming and had gotten into the habit of writing it down.
"Only two?" Farian asked, musing as to the purpose. "Did you see them?"
"Yes master," Feynriel replied, nodding as he looked up. "Two large human men," he answered. "They looked like they could be warriors, but seemed a little weak? Physically."
"Hmm," Farian hummed as he gave it thought. "Anything else about them?" he asked.
"Magister Nenealeus gave them new names," Feynriel answered, reading from his note. "He claimed that they would be his perr- uh, perr-epate?" he struggled around the unfamiliar word.
"Perrepatae?" Farian asked, sitting up, his eyebrow raising in surprise.
"Yes master?" Feynriel appreciated knowing how to pronounce the word now, though he still didn't know what it meant. "They were his perrepatae, so they needed new names to go with their new lives."
"Perrepatae is a specialized warrior trained to kill mages," Farian said dryly, seeing the confusion on the boy's face.
"A mage killer?" Feynriel asked, his eyes going wide. "A weapon against his enemies?" he asked in trepidation.
"Perhaps," Farian replied, nodding. "Very good." He looked over at the boy, glad that he had seen the potential the lad could bring to him. "Did you learn anything else?" he asked.
Feynriel hesitated, but eventually nodded. "Yes master, though not from the dreams," he replied. "I received a letter from the people that saved me from myself, back in the Free Marches?" the magister didn't reply, so he continued quickly. "They told me that Magister Danarius is dead."
Farian kept still, his eyes narrowing. "Truly?" he asked, though he was already aware of the death, he had paid handsomely for the information, just a few days before. "How do they know?" he asked tightly.
Feynriel didn't notice the difference in his employer's voice, and he smiled as he was able to share more. "She saw it happen," he replied. "Apparently Magister Danarius was there to collect a runaway slave, but the slave killed him." Feynriel knew much more of the story then that, but he was afraid to share too much about one of the people that had helped save him.
"You are keeping correspondence with these people?" Farian asked, intrigued. "Good," he said after the boy's nod. "Continue to do so and inform me of anything having to do with Tevinter."
"Yes, master," Feynriel responded dutifully.
"You are dismissed," Farian said, thinking over the things he had learned that day. Nenealeus is already one of the most powerful perrepatae in all of Tevinter… he thought, frowning. Why is he sharing his own gifts with slaves?
Bloomingtide 9:37 Dragon
Dear Cat-
I am sorry that I do not have better news for you, but know that I am doing all in power to find the information you are looking for. I have shared only slightly with my master, however he does not seem to know of any way to create such a warrior. He said it was "impossible". Little does he know…
I let you know if I hear about anything, both in regards to your friends, and also the altus you spoke to me about. So far, the only news that I have to share, is that there was a magister and his family that were attacked while traveling. From what I have learned, the wife was killed, and the son has become very ill. The magister has been hiring all sorts of healers and physicians to try to treat him, to no avail.
Be well,
Feynriel
"Kitty? What is it?"
"Cat? Are you alright?"
Cat looked up, her hand still covering her mouth, as she looked at her friends. "It's nothing," she replied. "Feynriel is still trying to find out who is taking over Danarius' research," she said. "His own magister says it is impossible."
"That is not what made you gasp," Fenris accused, looking over to Nyssa and Isabela.
"Is everything all right?" Nyssa asked, adjusting her growing body to try to get comfortable.
"It doesn't involve anyone you know," Cat answered, rubbing her eyes. "Someone that I know was attacked by darkspawn, and he has blight sickness."
"Oh no, that's horrible!" Nyssa exclaimed.
"Sounds like justice to me," Fenris replied, giving Nyssa a worried look. Cat and Isabela exchanged smiles, at his constant worry for Nyssa's condition. He was under the impression that any movement would cause the baby harm.
"How can you say that?!" Nyssa turned on him, and he held up his hands to ward off her anger.
"I assumed that such news from Feynriel would be about a magister," he defended his callousness. "I apologize if that is not correct."
"Technically, he is an altus," Cat said, rolling her eyes at the sneer Fenris gave her.
"Close enough," Fenris muttered.
"I wasn't aware you had friends in Tevinter," Isabela drawled as she continued to sprawl over a wing-backed chair. "Besides Feynriel, and now Fenris' sister."
"He's not a friend, just someone I know," Cat murmured as she glanced at the letter again. "And it sounds like Danarius was keeping his secrets within his own household. There is no sign of him having a partner."
"Which means his spawn will inherit his holdings, including his research," Fenris growled. "They are just as bad as he is," he snarled. "They will try to make more if we do not stop them."
"I doubt Hawke will like the idea of going to Tevinter to assassinate Danarius' bloodline," Isabela said, shrugging at Fenris' glare. "Just saying."
"It wouldn't be smart to take a large mercenary group anyway," Cat said, thinking. "We'd have all of the Imperium trying to kill us after that."
"I can do it alone," Fenris declared quietly. He looked to Cat, giving her a questioning look, and she pointedly looked at Nyssa. "I will think on it," he added, knowing she was correct, and now was not the time to discuss what she may or may not know.
"Who is this Feynriel, anyway?" Nyssa asked, frowning. "It sounds so familiar."
"Do you remember Arianni?" Cat asked. "She lived in Merrill's house before her?"
"Oh! Her son!" Nyssa exclaimed. "He was a mage, right?" Her eyes went wide. "And now he's in Tevinter?!"
"He has a pretty rare form of magic," Cat explained. "He wasn't able to get the help controlling it here from the Keeper."
"Really?" she asked. "That must be really rare then!"
"Something about walking through dreams, or some such thing," Isabela replied, sounding bored. "We helped keep him from getting possessed."
"Wow!"
"So, how are you feeling, Nyssa?" Cat asked, changing the subject. "Are you ready to move to Hightown yet?"
Nyssa's nose scrunched up at the thought. "I do want to live with you, Cat, but Hightown?"
"Well if you don't hurry, you'll miss your chance," Cat replied with a smile. "And you'll lose even more privacy than before."
Nyssa's face broke into a grin. "Does that mean what I think it does?!" she gasped. "Did you finally agree?"
Cat nodded, and Nyssa squealed, and Fenris gave her a small smile, while Isabela sat up, looking at Cat in confusion. "Agreed to what?" she asked.
"Moving in with Hawke!" Nyssa exclaimed happily.
"Well, technically, I haven't told him yet," Cat told them. "And I'll need time to go through everything, decide what to take, what to give away, and such."
"Why not just take what you need for now, and leave the rest as it is? You know, in case you end up not liking it. It's always good to have a backup plan." She gave a nonchalant shrug at their looks but defended herself all the same. "You never know," she said vaguely. "You may have a fight or something, and not want to see his face for a bit. Then what are you going to do?" she asked.
"Come to your place?" Cat suggested with a smirk.
"Well, sure, but I'm just saying-"
"Whatever, it will be perfect!" Nyssa rode over her objections. "They're perfect for each other, and everyone knows it!" She stared off with a soft smile. "And he'll figure it out, and propose, and they'll live happily ever after."
"Ugh," Isabela made a vomiting sound, letting them all know how she felt about Nyssa's fairy tale ending. She gave a mock shiver. "That's so disgusting, it's frightening."
Nyssa gave her a glare and turned to Cat. "Better warn Charade not to try any romance," she said dryly.
"She's aware," Cat replied, as Isabela got up in a huff.
"I have nothing against romance," she insisted. "It leads to all the fun," she gave them a lecherous grin. "But all this happily ever after, is just crap, and we both know it." She pointed at Nyssa. "This is real life, not some serial that Varric writes. People fight, people change, and nothing lasts forever, especially not love."
"What about my love for you?" Cat asked Isabela, getting up and grabbing her in a hug.
"Not even that," Isabela answered, though she was laughing now. "Eventually we'll go our separate ways, and these feelings will fade. Sure, there will always be fondness, but it won't be the same."
Cat let her go, giving her a sad smile. "That's true," she agreed, and Isabela frowned, not expecting an agreement. "But you can let it fade, or you can work on getting it to grow," she said. "If you both work at it, you can grow it into something you never thought you could have."
"Maybe you can," Isabela said, waving her off. The talk was getting much too serious for her to feel comfortable. "I'll decline, thanks."
"Rather not try, then fail huh?" Cat asked in a singsong voice, making Nyssa giggle. "I can't blame you for being scared."
Isabela gave her a deadpan look and started walking towards the door. "Well, this has been, something," she declared. "But I'm off to find some fun!"
"See you later!" Cat called after her, getting a wave in return.
"Is she mad?" Nyssa asked.
"Nah, she just has to get out once the talk turns serious, otherwise she'll have to actually think about the future, and she doesn't want to do that," Cat answered with a smile.
"What's wrong Fenris?" Cat asked as they walked home later that night.
"It is… difficult," he said, frowning.
"Making decisions?" she guessed, and he nodded as he glanced at her. "Yeah, I agree. Deciding between something good and something bad is hard enough, but between two good things? Almost impossible."
"And here I thought you would give me good advice," he said dryly. "Thank you."
"Hey, I'm not going to be responsible for you having regrets later," she told him. "Because no matter what you do, you'll question if it was right."
"Yes, I am seeing that."
"However, you still need to do something, or your inaction will become your choice," she said. "Sorry, I know that's not really helping."
"I feel as if I should go," he told her. "There are many atrocities that will happen if they try to create more lyrium warriors, and if they are not stopped, I will never forgive myself."
"Agreed."
"And yet, if I do, I will miss the birth of our child," he said. "That is something I feel I could not forgive myself for."
"Yeah," she answered, knowing what he was feeling.
"What can you tell me?" he asked, not liking the hopeless feeling.
"Not much, I'm afraid," she answered. "I wish I could remember everything that I read, but it's been so long now," she commiserated. "I know that eventually someone will try to duplicate the process, but I can't remember who or when, or even how!" She gave a deep sigh. "I'm sorry."
"It is not your fault," he told her, grasping her shoulder in a sort of one-armed hug as they walked. "You have done all you can, and I can ask no more than that."
"If it helps," she offered. "I know you don't want to hear it, but Nyssa is extremely independent. And she won't be alone, even if you are not here."
"Yes, I know," he replied. "But it is not the same."
"No, no it isn't," she answered.
The silence fell between them, both aware of the difficulty they were facing.
"What of the city?" Fenris asked suddenly. "you said there would be a war between the templars and mages, and all of us would be needed to prevent it. How can I leave knowing that is coming here?"
"I'm… not sure," she admitted.
"What?" he asked, looking at her in surprise.
"Well, you know that Meredith wasn't supposed to be killed so soon, but most of the problems with the mages were because of her methods to control them, and most of that was because of the red lyrium." She threw her hands up. "I have no idea when it will happen now, because she is dead, and the red lyrium is destroyed."
"Are you sure it will happen?" he asked.
"Positively? No," she answered. "But between Anders and what's left of the mage underground, as well as the templars that will be doing whatever they want regardless of the new commander…. it seems, likely."
She looked up at him. "Most of those mages want freedom," she told him. "And some of those are willing to do whatever they must to get it."
"So, we either help them or stop them?" he asked.
"From what I remember, both sides insist that Hawke side with them," she said quietly. "And it's up to each of us to decide if we side with Hawke or not."
"But it has been months since anything has happened with the mages," he pointed out. "The city is practically calm."
"And yet, we still don't have a viscount," she argued. "We don't have the stability that we need. It is still a powder keg, just waiting for a spark."
"Hmm," he agreed, not liking it. "What can we do?" he asked.
She didn't answer as they continued to walk. She knew he wasn't expecting her to.
As much as everyone claimed that Commander Baxter was different than his predecessor, Hawke could only feel that things seemed all too much the same.
True, he wasn't preventing the city from filling the viscount seat, but every single noble that he chose to support, were mage hating scumbags. He couldn't in good conscience put his city in their hands.
Even if he were willing to leave, his mother was still living here. Eventually, they would extend their harassment to those seen as mage sympathizers- and now everyone in the city knew his mother had given birth to a mage that was not under the templars' control.
So now, he and those that were sympathetic to mages were the ones preventing a viscount from taking the seat, if only to prevent future suffering. Of course, their own candidates were dismissed easily by the templars, and therefore the chantry.
Neutral, my ass… he grumbled to himself, thinking of Elthina's continued protests that she wouldn't side with either of them.
He prowled through the streets of Hightown, trying to walk off the frustration that he was feeling. And it wasn't just the city's problems that were a constant source of annoyance, there was also Cat.
He moved his head from side to side, hearing the satisfying cracking sound as he tried to loosen his body up from its rigidness. Cat… he thought, the frustration melting into disappointment and misery.
No matter how hard he tried, he could feel her slipping away from him. She was dragging her heels on giving him an answer about moving in, preferring to spend time helping Nyssa, Anders, or anyone else that appeared to need it.
Can't she see that I need her too? he thought. And how else can I say it, before she understands?
They had hardly seen much of each other since that night several months ago when she finally told him where she had come from.
Wait, was that it? he wondered. I was just so happy to finally understand, and then trying to wrap my mind around it all… he finally realized that they hadn't really spoken about any of it, he had just gone back to telling her to move in.
But obviously, that means that I don't care about any of that stuff… he thought, confused. Right?
Realizing that he may be the cause for his own misfortune, he changed directions and started walking swiftly towards her home. We'll talk about this once and for all, he determined.
"Welcome home Messere."
Hawke looked around, not really listening until he had seen the empty room for himself. "Good evening," he replied finally. Perhaps Fenris was wrong, and she didn't come here… he thought.
"Mistress Lewis chose to wait for you upstairs," the man said, his eyebrow raising as the master of the house brushed past him quickly as soon as he had spoken. "I'll see that you aren't disturbed," he added, a small smile emerging as he walked back towards the kitchen to inform the cook.
Hawke took the stairs two at a time, wondering where he should look first. Cat enjoyed using his bath, saying that his tub was much more spacious than her own. Remembering that, he turned sharply in the hall, stomping towards the bathroom.
Peering inside and seeing nothing, he turned back, heading for his bedroom. He stopped suddenly, seeing her sitting on his bed, but surprised that she had her legs tucked underneath her and her eyes closed.
He wasn't sure exactly what she was doing… it didn't look like she was sleeping. He stood at the doorway, just watching as she breathed in and out deeply. He heard a soft chuffing and saw Hafter sit up from where he was laying on the floor underneath her.
He thought his heart would slow now that he had found her, but it just continued its pounding as he watched her, not moving until Hafter passed him, and gave him a push forward.
He looked over his shoulder and gave the mabari a smile. "Thanks, buddy," he replied softly.
He stepped closer, closing the door behind him, and approached her. He stopped in front of her as she tilted her head up and opened her eyes, giving him a smile.
"Hello Garrett," she said sweetly.
"Hi," he practically sighed. Suddenly, everything was right.
She untangled her legs, but instead of rising, she hooked her heels behind his legs and pulled him closer as she tilted her head back to look up at him. "Been busy?" she asked.
"No busier than you," he answered. "I finally had enough, and went groveling to your house," he admitted.
"Great minds think alike," she said with a chuckle. "I practically begged Everton to let me in when he said you weren't here."
"Everton?" Hawke asked in confusion.
"Your housekeeper?" she asked, wondering if he had even met the man.
"Oh, is that his name?" Hawke asked, running his hands through his hair in embarrassment. "I thought it was Clifton."
"Clifton is your gardener," she replied with a smile.
"Damn, now I feel horrible," he said, turning red.
She gave a hearty laugh. "You haven't called Everton Clifton, have you?" she asked merrily.
"I… don't think so?" he retorted uneasily. "At least I hope not."
She laughed again, reaching up and grasping his forearms, tugging slightly to get him to help her up. She stretched onto her tip toes to give him a kiss. "He'll forgive you, as long as you get it right from now on," she told him.
"I'm not likely to forget now," he said, looking down at her. He stepped back as she reached for him again.
"Hawke?" she asked, concerned.
"I have to tell you something," he said seriously, wanting to get it out before he was too focused on her to remember anything else.
"Oh, I have something to tell you too," she answered, but gestured to him. "Go ahead."
"Well, I realized that we really hadn't spoken of, well… what you told me, about yourself." He said, feeling slightly uncomfortable as she just stared back at him. "And I wanted to tell you that I'm really glad that you trust me like Anders and Fenris to tell me."
"Like Anders and Fenris?" she asked uncertainly.
"Well, yes, because they are the other ones that know," he explained, wondering why he needed to.
"Oh…" she said, looking away.
"They… aren't the only ones that know," he deduced, sounding discouraged.
"Well, no," she admitted, coming closer to grab his arm. "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to give you that idea."
"Who else?" he asked with a sigh.
"Uh, well Issy of course, though she doesn't like to think about it, so she pretends she doesn't. And Merrill," she added. "Oh, and Duran and my friends from Ferelden."
"Zevran?" he asked, and she nodded. "Leliana too?" he asked, and she gave him a small smile as she nodded again.
"So basically everyone," he pouted.
"Not everyone," she exclaimed, coming closer. "Aveline doesn't know, or Sebastian, or… Varric!"
He sighed again but nodded. It wasn't up to him who she confided in after all. He gave her a smile, wanting her to know that he was fine. "I just wanted to thank you," he said, and she tilted her head in question.
"For trusting me," he explained. "For telling me, even when you weren't sure how I would react. And," he paused, tilting her head back to look at him when she looked away. "I want you to know, that I will do anything you need. If you want, I'll find a way to get you back to your home."
Moved, she put her hands on his face, drawing him to her, and kissing him gently. She pulled back looking deep into his eyes. "Garrett," she said softly. "I am home."
He smiled, before his eyes went wide. "Does…? He questioned, "Does that mean what I think it does?" he asked, seeing her grin at him. "Don't play with me Cat, I don't think I can take it," he told her seriously.
"That offer to move in still stand?" she asked happily. She giggled when he grabbed her around the waist and turned them in circles before setting her back down and kissing her deeply.
"Of course," he said excitedly. "Let's go get your things!"
"It's late Garrett," she said, tugging on his arm. He turned back, seeing her eyes full of mirth. "I'll start packing tomorrow."
Her face fell, serious as she looked at him. "But, remember I come with Nyssa," she reminded him. "Are you still okay with that?" she asked.
He softened. "I would take you even if you came with one hundred others," he said soberly. "But yes, it is still fine. I'll actually be glad that she is nearby." He gave her a questioning look. "Does that mean Fenris is leaving?" he asked dejectedly.
"Not yet," she answered, glad when he went back to smiling. "He just doesn't trust himself to care for her properly. Even though we both tell him she can care for herself just fine." She gave a shrug. "But if this helps him rest easier, then it's a small price to pay."
"She is getting quite large," he commented, and she gave his arm a playful slap.
"Don't you ever say that where she can hear you," she told him. "She'll just start crying."
"Why?" he asked. "I thought she was loving it?"
"Well sure, but that doesn't mean you don't look at yourself every now and then and feel as big as a bronto." She gave a snort, trying to keep her laughter in. "She's still growing too."
"What?" he asked, shocked.
"She's just under six months along," she told him, laughing at the look on his face.
"But… babies are only like," he held his hands apart about five inches and Cat snorted again.
"Try like this," she said, adjusting his hands about ten inches, and he goggled at her.
"No! Really?" he asked. He held his hands closer to her crotch, and his eyes grew wide. "I'm starting to think I should buy my mother something," he said, looking dazed.
"Always a good idea," she told him, tilting up and kissing the end of his nose.
He was quiet as he continued to look at her stomach. She searched his face, seeing the fear that was there.
"I hope you're not thinking you want one," she said lightly, hoping to get rid of that look. "Because you'll be disappointed," she said, hoping he wouldn't ask questions. She didn't feel like explaining all the tests and doctors. She had made her peace long ago.
His gaze whipped up to hers, searching. He put his hand to her cheek, and she could see the relief.
"I'm sorry," he told her, thinking that he was denying her something she wouldn't even admit to herself that she wanted. He hated that he was basically forcing her to sacrifice having children just to be with him.
He wasn't sure why he felt disappointed, and he shooed the feeling away as he leaned down to meet her.
"I only want you," he told her, kissing her passionately. "Every day, every night, always."
She bit his lip as he pulled away, and he gave her a considering look. "Show me," she demanded.
He put her hands on his forearms and grabbed at her waist to lift her in front of him as he walked around the side of the bed. He smirked as he felt her gripping his arms as his muscles flexed and bunched.
He laid he down, looking down at her as she licked her lips.
"My pleasure," he replied. "Though it may take awhile."
He didn't wait for a reply, as he moved over her, determined to do as she had requested.
Author's Note:
For those that missed it, there was some time passage in this chapter, as indicated by the letter, and by Nyssa's belly growth. There will be more of this going forward, as there are about 3 years in between the end of DA2 and the conclave.
For those that haven't read any of these, no worries! I'll make sure that people are introduced and things that happen are explained. That being said, I'm not going to put every little bit into here, as it is from a certain person's perspective. If you have questions, please feel free to ask! I won't give away things that will happen in my story, but know that if you are planning to read the stories... there will be spoilers!
Love you guys! Thanks for hanging in with me!