Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

As you were. Carver's throat closes; it's all he can do to focus on making tea, his hands shaking. Father was right. And it's over and it's done and I never have to think about it again. I can stuff it away in the lockbox in my mind. 

"I got a letter from Father recently," he adds, once he can speak again. "He sent his best wishes."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

His mother snorts, starting to stay something (probably biting) but instead starts coughing roughly.

[Carver Amell]

"Mother?" He turns from the tea, moving toward her, wishing he'd brought a handkerchief. "Are you alright? Here, let me get you some water while I brew the tea..."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

She's hunched over, hacking away, the sound filled with wet congestion. She nods a little at the offer of water- at least, it looks like she does, it's hard to tell with her body shaking as she coughs. When he comes back with a small glass of water, she takes it with a grateful look. "Thank you Carver," she rasps after a few swallows. 

[Carver Amell]

"How long have you been coughing like that?" he demands, fear making his voice a bit sterner than it ought to be. "If they're not taking good care of you here, Mother, I can, I can have you moved or, change out your nurses... they should be caring for your health."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Bah, last thing I need is more syrups and pastes for my chest," she says waspishly. "And don't you go telling them anything, I'm fine. Just a little cold."

[Carver Amell]

"Mother, you're ill," he says, frowning, as he moves to put a hand to her forehead. "I don't want you to get hurt."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"I'm not ill, just a bit under the weather. It's age and grief I suffer from, Carver, and there's no tincture for that," she says, voice softening. "Tea and my boy is all I can ask for." Voice lowering to a whisper, she adds, "all I have so..." Or... or deserve... No, more than I...  Leandra frowns slightly, sips her water, then forces herself to focus on Carver. 

"How is that nice Aveline woman doing? You mustered up the nerve to court her yet?" she asks, a common question- she refuses to let go her idea that he should marry the woman he speaks about the most.

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head, refusing to accept the subject change. "Mother, you know you could... Bethany could visit, sometimes. If she, if she thought you'd have her. If she thought it was safe. And, and Dad's got a cousin, Garrett, you'd get on with him and his girl Cindy. You just have to... you just have to be okay."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"...your father was an only child," she says, ignoring the comment about his twin as she always does. "Unless he lied about that too."

[Carver Amell]

"Not Father, Dad," he corrects. "Varric."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Oh. Him." She scowls at the fire for a moment, then seems to sag a little. "He... he's treating you well?" she asks in a whisper, carefully not looking at Carver.

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah, Mom," he says quietly. "He's been real good for me. I... I was in a bad way, when we first moved here, after Marian... After. He got my head straightened out. Helped make sure I didn't... end up rejoining her too soon."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

Leandra's shoulders hunch a little. "That's... that's good. I'm glad you're doing well." She sips her water, then mumbles, "all of you."

[Carver Amell]

All? Not both? Does she-- does she know? No, he decides. She must have meant Dad too. Which is sweet. He smiles, reaching up to tuck some hair behind her ear like he would for Beth. "We could be a family again," he whispers. "All of us. If you'd just... if you just..."