Complicated

Anders wanted to stay with Marian and Elizabeth more than anything, but he had other patients waiting for him at the clinic. The people who had volunteered to keep watch over them while he was gone had only the simplest of training. If he had known it was going to be his daughter born today he might've found a way to get them to another healer, but all he had been told by the runner was there was a refugee in Lowtown who was in labor and losing lots of blood.

"Marian... I'm so sorry love, but I have to leave." He said remorsefully.

"You're a healer now, I'm sure I'm not the only damsel in distress who needs your rescuing." She smiled softly, but there was a tinge of sadness in her eyes.

"I promise I'll come visit as much as I can. I swear it." She smiled more sincerely at this, giving him a nod of understanding.

Anders forced himself to stand and drag himself to the door. Every step further away from his new family hurt, but there was work to be done. Always work to be done in Kirkwall, he sighed as he left the small home. The rain had started to come down hard and frigid, reflecting his dour mood perfectly. As he started down the steps he heard a drunken man shout to him.

"Hey! What're you doing in my house? I got nothing worth stealing..." The man stumbled closer.

"Your house? Ser, the Hawke family lives here. I don't know who you are, but you are not a Hawke."

"You're damned right I'm not! I'm an Amell! My stupid sister ran off and married that Hawke guy, and then came craaaaawling back to her brother when things got too hard."

"I see. Well, then I'm sure you'll be happy to know that you now have a great-niece."

"Oh bloody great, because I wanted some crying brat in my house tonight..." He came up onto the stairs and attempted to shove past Anders, but found himself blocked. "Hey, what's this then? Not gonna let me in my own house? Who do you think you are?"

"I'm the father of that baby, and I'm not going to let you in unless I know you're not a threat."

"A threat? I'm not gonna hurt a newborn, you ass. What of you, ey? If you wanna protect her so bad why not take her home with you? And that blasted niece of mine, if you're so sure that's your bastard, why don't you take them both home! Maker knows I'm sick of her."

"Choose your next words carefully, drunkard." Anders tensed, clenching his teeth.

"Hey, I don't know who she's whored around with, but if you want to claim the baby then you should man up and claim the Mother too!"

And that's when Anders punched him in the face, causing him to fall down the few stairs he had climbed, landing hard on pavement below. He felt the crackle of Justice under his skin and in his eyes. He forced his anger down, pushing Justice away. Instead he went down to where the old drunk was.

"I live in Darktown, they are safer here. If I ever hear you talk that way about them again, I'll have your head."

"U-uh... Yes. You've made a good point. I think I'd like to just go to bed now." The man stuttered, fear in his eyes.

Anders nodded and walked away, heading back to his clinic.

*

Everyone looked to the door when it opened. Leandra immediately rushed to Gamlen's side, fussing over him.

"Your face! Did you get in a bar fight? You're too old for that nonsense!"

"No, baby's father did this to me! I asked him why he was coming out of MY house, and why he didn't take Marian and the baby home with him, and then his eyes glowed blue and he punched me!"

"I really doubt Anders would do such a thing, Gamlen. He's a very kind young man and a healer."

"Blond git, a little scruffy, wearing a stupid coat with feather shoulders?"

"Sounds like him to me." Carver huffed.

"Well maybe he did punch you then, but I'm certain I have no idea what this eyes glowing nonsense is." Leandra said firmly. "Now you are going to go to bed, and so help me if you complain about my granddaughter I will punch you myself."

Carver and Marian exchanged smirks at that, silently agreeing that they'd rather like to see that. Once Gamlen was off to bed and Elizabeth had been soothed to sleep, Marian finally allowed herself time to think about Anders.

He had punched Gamlen for asking why they weren't living together, and he had looked at her so tenderly. Did he have feelings for her? They hadn't known one another long, and their relationship had mostly been about taking their fun where they could in a world that hated them. She didn't love him, she was fairly certain. She cared for his well-being, and she had definitely enjoyed his company before, but they truly did not know one another well enough to call it love and rush to the Chantry to get married. They were simply friendly acquaintances. Acquaintances who now had a child together.

*

Anders sighed as he put out the lantern outside of his clinic, closing down for the night so he could get some rest. His thoughts were still preoccupied with Marian and Elizabeth. He was only here in Kirkwall to save Karl. He had planned that once they were free they would leave this wretched city. The templars here deserved punishment, the mages deserved justice, but living within the city was a risk he didn't want to take any longer than necessary. Now he had a reason to stay in Kirkwall. He had even more reason to focus on freeing mages and stopping templars as well. But what would he tell Karl? What would he tell Marian? He couldn't flee Kirkwall with Karl and leave his girls behind, but taking them with would put them in great danger.

He wanted to tear his hair out, there was no good solution here. Focusing on helping the mages would help Marian, and most likely Elizabeth as well given all the magic in her bloodline. But if the templars ever caught him and made him tranquil, then Marian and Elizabeth would be next. If he focused solely on his new family, the mages of Kirkwall would suffer, and Justice could not ignore nor allow that. But, at least the templars would have no reason to be trying to sniff them out, and they could live in relative peace and safety.

He did not pray often, but this was one of the few times where he needed that comfort. Maybe he'd be lucky enough to get it.