Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"This is supportive," he grumbles, taking a deep breath. "Sorry. I-- my mouth is getting ahead of my head again. I just..." 

Another deep breath. "I thought this might be coming," he admits. "I figured you're so smart and clever and, and you really have your life together. I thought maybe she'll talk him into it, it won't be like that. I figured you'd talk before anything like this happened. But, but I forgot about accidents. And... it's how they think, you know. All relationships are temporary. Like it's easier to throw someone away than to fix it if there's something wrong. And you love Don, so I ... but if you let him see you that way he will. Men are like that, Beth."

[Bethany]

Ignoring Varric's faux cough, Bethany shakes her head. "Carver, no. It's not about that, about seeing mates as disposable. It's just their way. Cadmus and Mriy are mates in all but paperwork. They have multiple children together and have been together since before Miki was born. They love each other," she finishes softly.

[Carver Amell]

"They're the exception," he points out. "Beth..."

He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, willing himself to lose the last of his righteous anger. For now. It'll come back. I'll have it when I need it. Let it go. Let fury fade and let wisdom be my shield, let my tongue be my blade.

"There are differences between men and-- no, don't, I don't mean healer things. It's just.. complicated. People are complicated. So please trust me when I say there are things the other Bandannas don't say in front of you and Ari."

[Bethany]

"And there are things Ari and I never said around any of you," Bethany replies gently. "And I know they're... rare, but... Don is his father's son. If anyone in Cattown would follow that pattern..." She shakes her head. "No. I want him in my life, in my- our- children's lives, but I won't have it by force or guilt. If... if he works out whatever it was that... caused our fight... then..."

[Varric]

"I think I might be able to help with that part of things," Varric says quietly. "The why of him pulling away." Beth twists around, the question vivid on her face. "Baby trap. Doubt he honestly, really think's you're pulling one but..."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "He's been, uh, well part of why we're not friends so much anymore is he's been dealing with a lot of... You see, word's gotten around that humans count both parents when dealing with succession, and Don doesn't have any kids, so... I didn't want to listen to him plotting to abandon kits when I knew he'd do the same to you. And he kept saying you were really understanding of his culture and all and I didn't think... well. I decided to let you two work it out."

[Bethany]

Bethany takes a deep breath. "That... that's part of... I do want him to be their father as well as being their mother myself," she admits. "I'll sign and register an agreement with whoever he wants that my children won't be able to inherit the Lighthood, so it stays in Cattown. But I want him to be a parent with me. I was going to talk about that with him but..." She shrugs helplessly. "I'd... heard a few whispers about softskins chasing around him... has it really been that bad? And what do you mean by 'baby trap' exactly?"

[Varric]

"People showing up claiming that their child is the offspring of some with rank or money. Or both," Varric supplies. "Annoyingly common, especially for people with new rank or power. Hells, I've gotten a few people popping up claiming to have carried my child. Adonis must get them monthly. Weekly when he first got his title, I bet." 

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Doesn't help he's had heats before, but he was careful about them. He uh--" and here Carver reddens. "well neither you nor I want much of the details I'm sure, Dad, but, I guess on the scale of drunken blackout to a bit tipsy, he's more on the tipsy side of things. So he can be careful." Not as careful as Miki, mind, but he's not as bad as Niko and damn if I wanted to think about any of them that way. 

"I thought you'd convince him or realize the problem before you got this way, Beth, I swear, or else I'd have brought this up sooner. I figured if he was going to do wrong by you, I'd beat him up to make you feel better."

[Bethany]

"It wasn't his fault Carver," Bethany says tiredly. "I was the one that... He didn't think he had to be careful because he trusted me. I fucked up and r-ruined ev-verth-thing."

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah, you fucked up," he sighs. "But you didn't ruin everything. You still have me. Even if... even if Don doesn't... I'll still be here. I'll just have to do double duty, teach your son the things Don's meant to be teaching him. That's all."

[Bethany]

"You're definitely godfather," she assures Carver softly, kissing his cheek.

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he says, with a sigh. "I just... i'm sorry. I feel like I fucked this up. I wish I'd done a better job of protecting you, somehow."

[Bethany]

"This is not at all even close to your fault ma'win," she says firmly, kissing his cheek again before resting her forehead against his. "I'm a healer and it was my body. Even Don is almost completely blameless. I took a one-in-a-hundred gamble and got the one. That's my doing."

[Carver Amell]

"You shouldn't have taken the gamble," he grumbles. "Maybe you wouldn't have if I'd vented to you instead of just to Aveline and Cass."