disclaimer No, I do not own Dragon Age 2 or its characters.

No….This can't be happening…We were so careful! How could this be happening?! I stare wide-eyed into nothingness, my mind still reeling with the recent news. Kind brown eyes are looking at me with genuine sympathy, but I cannot even trust myself to speak. My entire world is turning upside down and there is nothing I could do to stop it. Dear Maker…..

"I'm sure he won't be too upset…." Anders ventures, laying a calming hand on my shoulder as he tries to break through my own emotional hurricane. For one irrational moment, I am angry with him. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be in this mess. If it wasn't for him I would still be at the Amell estate, and I wouldn't have to worry about anything. Damn you Anders…damn you…. I curse silently as my fists tighten noticeably. It takes all of my self-restraint not to hurl a fireball at his face. He must have sensed my aggravation for he shifts slightly away from me. He leans back against the stone walls of Vigil's Keep, calmly waiting for my response.

"Oh, of course not. This is just the same man who almost killed his own sister….He wouldn't be upset in the slightest by this." I reply though my tone lacks its usual joviality. I bury my head into my hands, trying and failing to keep my raging emotions under control. Despite the relative privacy of the room, I can hear the Wardens of Vigil's Keep moving about. The creak of their armor and loud chatter echoing through the stone walls remind me somewhat of the Gallows…..

It seemed just like yesterday that I stood up against Knight-Commander Meredith, defending the mages against Chantry injustice. The battle was intense, but with my friends there to stand by me, we were able to overcome her insane vendetta and creepy statues. Our travels along Thedas were so relaxing, with the Templars and the Chantry to make things just the perfect amount of exciting. Even when my companions departed, one by one, we still stayed in contact. Everything was as great as life could get for an outlaw….Until now, of course. Things were just so clear then…..and now…..what in the Maker's name am I supposed to do?

"Perhaps if I speak to him…..?" Anders asks tentatively, still not moving from his position against the wall. A humorless chuckle escapes my lips at the mere suggestion.

"Oh yes….I'm sure that will make everything just peachy. Perhaps, you should tell my brother too? He'll be just thrilled by the news. Might even bring Knight-Captain Cullen for the big day." The blonde mange frowns, before taking a seat across from me. The wooden chair creaks under his weight, cutting through the continuous echo of the Keep. He runs a hand through his stubble as he tries to think of a way to calm me down. Several long seconds pass before the Healer attempts to break the silence once more.

"He was quite worried about you, you know….." A strange combination of guilt and relief flows through me at his words. "You never know…..he might be happy…." I cannot help but look up in disbelief at the mere suggestion. Fenris….happy? About this? It seemed too fantastic to be true….. Anders seemed just as doubtful as I felt despite his words to the contrary.

" …...Oh I don't know Anders…I …" I never got the chance to finish my statement. The tears that I so desperately wanted to cry found a way to clog my throat. I stood there trying to gasp for breath and at the same time force myself not to bawl like some child. A quiet cough and the slight squeak of the door opening caught both of our attentions. I quickly turn around to face the newcomer, though I shouldn't have bothered. "Fenris…." The name escapes my lips as a breathless whisper. He smiles, green eyes twinkling with coyness and worry. Without even acknowledging Anders, Fenris moves towards me. He kneels beside my cot, his hand lightly grasping mine.

"Hawke." His deep voice drowns out my recent worries and insecurities, like a verbal safety blanket. "Nice to see you're finally up."

"She was just tired." Anders interrupts bringing me back down to the reality of the moment. Fenris frowns slightly, as though trying to figure out how being tired accounted for all the recent aliments I was complaining of during the past weeks.

"Life as an outlaw you know? No rest for the wicked…" I remark, trying my best to keep the truth hidden for just a while longer. Of course he sees through my little act. Something in my expression or tone must have set him off. He stands up, tall and strong with his hands crossed across his toned chest.

"What's wrong?" Despite how level and calm his tone is I can sense the undercurrent of worry beneath his words. He turns his attention from me to Anders, and back again. "What aren't you telling me?" A mixture of fear and shame keeps me from looking him in the eye, while Anders seems uncertain if he should be the one to break the news. "Hawke? Mage?" Fenris asks again, his tone leaving no room for argument. Almost against my will I can feel the words slipping out, like a ball suddenly thrown with no way to get it back.

"I….I'm with child…" The words are soft, almost drowned out by the continuing sounds echoing throughout Vigil's Keep. Fenris' eyes widen and he stumbles back into the wall, as though I dealt him a physical blow. Anders grasps hold of his shoulder, and to my dismay, Fenris allows himself to be seated in the wooden chair Anders occupied only moments before.

'How? What? When?' His wild green eyes seem to ask, as he silently sits there blankly looking at nothing. Anders uses the lull in conversation to launch into his Healer's diagnoses.

"Hawke is healthy, as is the child. I expect-"

"Leave us." Fenris interrupts, not quite a demand but obviously not a request either. His voice is calm once more, leaving no insight to his thoughts. A slight shiver runs through me at my sudden inability to read him.

"Very well." He sighs, running a hand through his long blonde hair. "But try to be a little understanding." Anders remarks towards Fenris as he opens the door. Before he steps out completely, he turns once more and locks his gaze with mine. "I'll be in the room next door if you need anything." I smile and nod gratefully for his offer. The door shuts loudly behind the Healer, with a note of finality that scares me. Was this the right decision? Was everything between us going to end? My heart thrums wildly in my chest at the sudden thought. The silence echoes between us, like some sort of invisible chasm. Oh where is a crazy Templar when you need one?

"Are you certain?" His voice suddenly breaks through the quiet, making me jump in my seat much to my chagrin.

"Of course not." I reply sarcastically, making sure to roll my eyes at his pointless question. Why bother ordering Anders out of the room if he is going to ask such mundane questions? Fenris does not seem to hear my response, however. I watch him, sitting silently across from me with his chin resting upon his hand. His green orbs are glazed. A sigh escapes my lips at his unwillingness to speak. "Fenris….I know how you feel about mages…..but, I can't and I won't give up on our child….." He continues to remain silent at my statement.

I watch him sitting quietly. His green orbs are now closed and his head is resting on his hands as though praying. Unbidden tears sting my own aqua eyes. Stubbornly I rub them aside; I knew the risks before I entered into this relationship. Nonetheless, I can't help the apprehension and fear that builds up inside of me while I await his response. Will he forsake our love? Our child? Would he condemn me as a harlot? And what if our child is born a mage? Will he doom our child to his harsh prejudices? The thoughts make my heart clench painfully.

"….our child….." He softly repeats his gaze suddenly tender. He looks at me, a clash of emotion evident in his soulful green eyes. My heart skips a beat at the vulnerable expression, and just for a moment I allow myself to hope that maybe, just maybe my darkest fears won't come to pass.

"Yes….our child….we created life together…." The awe and adoration that enters his eyes leaves me speechless- a feat that I thought impossible until now. Wordlessly, he gets up and moves towards me. A soft hand brushes against my cheek as he continues to gaze at me. His other hand snakes its way across my back and pulls me to his muscular chest. A sigh of relief escapes my lips at the comforting motion.

"It will not be easy…raising a child on the run…." His chest rumbles with the vibrations of his words. Despite his statement, the undercurrent of warmth and affection still lingers in his voice. I cannot help but smile.

"Nothing I'm involved in ever is." I remark nonchalantly. Fenris chuckles lightly, as the hand around my back worms its way to my hair. His callused fingers lovingly massage my temple, eliciting a pleasured moan from me. Before I get too distracted with his tenderness, I force myself back to the task at hand. Reluctantly I grasp both his hands and gently push him back so that I may see his face. The countless fears lap at me once more, yet I force myself to take deep even breaths. Fenris cocks an eyebrow in confusion at my uncharacteristic somberness. "Fenris….there's a large chance that this child, our child will be a mage. Will you-" A deep sigh escapes his lips and his eyes close as he finally realizes the true reason for my worries.

"Hawke…..I love you….Maker knows why, but I do….. Despite the fact that you are the most soft-hearted, stubborn mage I've ever met…." He growls the last part almost vehemently. I cannot help but chuckle at his statement. Typical Fenris. As suddenly as the harshness enters his voice it is gone. His hands gently clasp hold of mine, fingers drumming rhythmically whilst he tries to put his thoughts into words. Finally, after several long minutes of waiting, his voice breaks the silence once more. "And….it'll be hard… You know how I despise magic and mages." I nod, refusing to lower my gaze when his eyes meet mine. All this is old territory. I won't apologize for being a mage and his old hatreds still cling to him like a garment.

We remain silent, watching each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. With a sigh, Fenris continues with his statement. "But let me remind you. For you, I went against the Templars. Against everything I thought was right." His grip tightens noticeably at the memory. His left hand lets go of our hold and runs up my arm to my shoulder and rests at my cheek. "I'm sure next to that, having mage children will be a walk in the park." He remarks dryly, green eyes sparkling affectionately.

Silent tears of relief pour down my cheeks at his words. Wordlessly, he wraps me in his arms and his warm lips press against my temple. "I'll love our children no matter what they are." I hear him whisper gently against my ear. It takes all my self control and will power not to start bawling at his admission. I suddenly feel lighter, as though a huge weight is lifted off my chest. I tighten my hold on him, trying to show my gratitude and relief without actual words. We stay like that for a long time; just holding each other, basking in the other's presence. It reminds me of that night so long ago when I found out the fate of my mother…..but this time we cling together, not out of guilt and grief, but rather love and relief. Though we see the world through opposite eyes …..he is is my rock, the one constant that will always remain by my side and I am thankful beyond words. It won't be easy. There will be a lot of hardships along the way. But that's nothing new. Besides, we'll face them together just like we've always done.

"I will always remain at your side…."

"And….. I'll ….make sure to keep our lives exciting." He chuckles lightly, before helping me to my feet. "Well, let's get Anders and grab something to eat. I'm starving." I smile brightly at him. He shakes his head at my statement in either amusement or exasperation.

"Right behind you, Hawke." He states as he follows me through the door. I smile gratefully in response, and gently take hold of his left hand. I press the palm towards my lips in a soft, chaste kiss before leading him towards Anders' room. Then together, all three of us, walk through the corridors, straight to the mess hall. Fenris and I are still hand in hand while Anders rambles on about something about cats or Healing magic. Yes, I can't help but think once more,…..we'll do this together….just like we've always done.

END

A/N- First off, I don't read a lot of Dragon Age 2 fanfiction, so I don't know if this plot point has already been done before. I was inspired by a cute little comic I saw on deviant art. I can't remember the name of the artist or find it at the moment, but it was super cute and funny. I recommend looking for it if you have the time. It has something along the lines of 'a mage did it.' Also, Fenris is a little (or maybe a lot) OOC. I know and I am sorry about that. It's been a long time since I played the game. Also, I'm not too familiar how an event such as this would play out in real life, but I feel that men are typically shown to be angry, negative or such, and I wanted to do something that shows a more compassionate view-point. Maybe it's too fluffy or unrealistic, in regards to their reactions, but oh well. As always, I am sorry for any grammar mistakes) and I hope you enjoyed the oneshot. (Also, a huge thank you to Krie for reviewing this oneshot despite being so busy)