Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"I would have," Varric assures her. "I... I'd already gotten the paperwork. Before... before we came to Nyra. That's why I got it done so fast- I'd already figured out the procedure."

[Marian Hawke]

"and you still... feel that way... toward me?" she whispers, scarcely daring to hope. 

[Varric]

"Yes," Varric says simply. "Just... let me know if you want to change anything on it. Names or... anything."

[Marian Hawke]

She nods, sniffling. "There were times when..."

But she can't. So she shakes her head, wiping at her eyes. "I never thought of Leandra or Malcolm. But you, yes. I missed you."

[Varric]

"Then... alright. Then you're mine," Varric says softly. "My... one of my kids."

[Marian Hawke]

Now she breaks down in earnest, sobbing silently into her hands. "Thank you," she whispers, between sobs. "Thank you for bringing me home."

[Varric]

"Always," Varric swears. "I won't ever give up on you, any of you, again. Not ever."

[Marian Hawke]

By the time she calms herself again, the soup is warmed; with food in her stomach and the assurance of her place here, her family's safety, Marian finds herself drifting back to sleep. 

As she climbs into bed with Cindy, she murmurs to Varric, her voice thick with exhaustion, "You'll be here in the morning? I'm not dreaming this?" 

[Varric]

"No dream," he assures her, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. "Do you want me to make sure the twins are both here for dinner tomorrow?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I... I don't know. I don't know if I'm ready. I just... I need to rest, a while," she murmurs, draping a protective arm over Cindy's prone form, resting her head on the half-elf's shoulder.

[Varric]

"I'll ask in the morning then," he replies, hestitaing. Finally, he gives in a little and gently kisses their temple. "Sleep well, I'll keep watch."

And he does ask in the morning, but it's clear with just her reaction to the idea of seeing Beth alone in the kitchen that she's not at all up to that. Varric can't help but note how she also quickly darts a glance at Cindy, as if checking for permission each time Varric asks for his daughter's opinion. All in all, he simply quietly tells them he'll bring them breakfast shortly, to rest for now and that he'll be taking lunch with the twins to let talk to them about the pair of them waking up. 

Later that day, he grabs Beth (and Hunter) and heads for Aveline's to grab Carver and take them all to lunch.

[Carver Amell]

It has to be about Cindy and Marian, he reasons. It has to. Otherwise this is about Merrill and it's too soon for Merrill to wake up and that means it'd be bad news and-- it has to be about Cindy and Marian.

Still, Carver grips Hunter's fur the whole time he's waiting for Varric to open conversation.

[Bethany]

Bethany is... also pretty nervous, though she at least knows that Marian and Cindy are awake. On the other hand, she knows her sister is awake but she wasn't allowed to talk to her yet. So. There's that. Shifting nervously in the private room Varric had rented for their lunch, she reaches over to grip Carver's free hand.

[Varric]

"One, no-one is hurt or in danger," Varric repeats softly. "Cindy and your sib woke up this morning. Well, Cindy this morning, Hawke woke last night for a little while. I want to talk, the three of us, about how we're going to handle this. They're still in a real fragile place, Delve or no Delve."

[Carver Amell]

Carver lets out a long breath, letting go of Hunter at last as he grips Beth's hand. "Okay. Okay."