Blood from Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"Cindy's hurt herself. She needs to focus on getting, just like you. Can't say I'm perfect or anything, but I'm doing pretty good. So's dad, tuiste, even Merrill and Carver are doing well." Bethany leans in and kisses Liz on the forehead, a part of her noting with pale sorrow that she doesn't have to stretch up at all for it. They're nearly the same height now. "If you stumble or even fall, we'll catch you. And after you rest, we'll try again."

[Marian Hawke]

"What if you leave?" she asks, her voice small, meek.

[Bethany]

"What if I don't?" Beth replies. "But that's not the point really. You shouldn't depend on just one person. That's why we're a family. We'll all help, not just me or just dad. All of us."

[Marian Hawke]

"I lost everyone before," she whispers. "Everyone can go away in no time, just, everything was fine and then you were all gone."

[Bethany]

Gods. Liz... "I..." Deep breath. "We came back. You... you found us and we're back together. Life can't be predicted. But we can try. We can... Force life to keep our family together."

[Marian Hawke]

She gives a bitter laugh -- but she also takes a few deep breaths herself. "Sorry," she says, after a moment. "I know that's not fair. I know. The odds of that happening again... happening at all... but I don't sleep much anymore, so I have a lot of time to picture it."

[Bethany]

"Merrill and I can spell you to sleep each night for a few days," Beth says in a pained voice.

[Marian Hawke]

She nods. "I usually take a tonic," she begins, then flinches. "But maybe it's best to, to go with spells, for now."

[Bethany]

I think I need to follow up on that... But later. "Come on, let's get your stuff put in my room and get washed up for dinner. Food will help, a little."

[Marian Hawke]

Liz nods, taking another deep breath. "Don't tell Carver? I don't want him worried about me," she adds.

[Bethany]

"...about what, specifically? Carver hates secrets and lies between family more than anything," Beth warns Liz. "If it's about the details of your recovery, that's healer stuff. But..."

[Marian Hawke]

"No, no, not secrets, just.." She gives another bitter laugh. "just that I broke down crying like this. Just that I was going on about what happened. I want him to think I'm getting better."

[Bethany]

Bethany purses her lips. "I'll tell him we talked and cried a little. That's normal enough for someone that just... had a fight with someone they love. He doesn't need details," she allows. "Now come on. Merrill went all out on dinner tonight to keep the boys distracted. Carver is surprisingly good at being a cook's helper these days."

[Marian Hawke]

"Thanks," says Liz, with a small, sad smile. "You're the best."

[Helene Dakesh]

Dinner goes well, surprisingly. Liz seems to be cried out, mostly; she's caught daydreaming a few times, clearly a bit tired and off her game, but she engages well enough when prodded, and the conversation flows around her. The scene feels almost normal. Beth even sits Jass in Cindy's seat, to make sure it's not sitting there, a gaping wound for them to dance around.

Afterward, they gather in the parlor for the weekly Bickering About What To Do After Dinner. Carver puts forth a board game; Varric counters with a storybook, and Merrill offers that she'd like to work on her latest sewing project so maybe something less hands-on than a game?

Helene usually doesn't offer much of a suggestion, not once it was made clear to them that the types of intellectual puzzles they and Varric enjoy aren't much good for a broader audience. However, tonight they have one: "This one has been working on a survey for a research project this one is undertaking. Perhaps the assembled could test it, providing sample responses to ascertain if the questions are worded correctly? It won't take long."