Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Beth, you... you're scaring me," he whispers. 

[Bethany]

She flinches, looking away. "Damit," she whispers. "Sorry, that was the last thing- gods." She takes a deep breath, then grips his hands tightly. "I'm still a little... my head's going in every direction at once. Making it hard to... words." She looks at him, mustering a faint smile. "I... I'm going to be a mother."

[Varric]

That's... where I thought this was going. Well then. How is Carver going to handle this..?

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah, and a great one," says Carver, nodding. "Are you.. and Don deciding to.. you know?"

[Bethany]

"Umm. Now," she says softly, gaze lowering again. "Well. In twelve months or so," she mumbles.

[Varric]

Grandkids. Legacy. Damn. That's... something. Damn. "Good health and all our riches," he murmurs in dwarven.

[Carver Amell]

Carver frowns for another second before his eyes widen. "You're pregnant! Already! Congratulations! That's, that's, wow, that's, that's wonderful, Beth!"

[Bethany]

His twins eye snap up to his, searching for any lie in his expression. She sees the confusion, the slight wariness he often displays when he's unsure of what he should do or how to react to something but... no anger, no disgust, no blame. "R-really? You're not- I was worried you would-" She launches herself into his arms, trembling and sobbing.

[Varric]

Rising from his seat, Varric comes around to stand next to them both. "Hey, hey... it's alright," he says gently, rubbing her back. 'Relieved tears' he mouths at Carver over her shoulder.

[Carver Amell]

Carver embraces Beth automatically, without hesitation. The face he flashes Varric is a particular strain of confused misery common to his life experience. I don't understand any of this. Why didn't she tell us when she decided to get pregnant? Why out of nowhere and why is she so worried about how we'll react? Is.. did Don...?

"How'd Don react?" He asks, remembering his training: ask questions, don't make guesses.

[Bethany]

Bethany whimpers and burrows closer. 

[Varric]

"Beth... was this... planned?" Varric asks gently. Almost certain it wasn't...

[Bethany]

"No," Beth whispers. "N-next heat," she manages to add. "Wanted- twenty first."

[Carver Amell]

"O-oh," he says gently, rubbing her back. Okay, I understand why she was worried now. Just focus on not saying dumb things. "Wh-what do you need?"

[Bethany]

"...please don't be ashamed of m-me?" she asks, voice small and fragile.