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Regan read her email for what felt like the hundredth time and sighed. She couldn’t put it off any longer. It was time to talk to Alistair. But how would he take the news? There would be so much to do. Would he argue about it; try to convince her not to? What if he flat out refused to listen? But the fact remained – this talk needed to happen soon. She glanced over at the calendar on her desk; he was working a double today and wouldn’t be home until late. But he was off tomorrow.
RCOUSLAND: Hey Fergus; mind if I take tomorrow off?
FCOUSLAND: I think we can manage. What’s up?
RCOUSLAND: I … need to have a serious discussion with Alistair.
FCOUSLAND: Oh yeah; you mentioned that last time you were here.
FCOUSLAND: You still haven’t done that? Slacker.
RCOUSLAND: Hush you. It’s not that easy to just … bring up.
RCOUSLAND: But thanks. He’s working til super late today, so I’m gonna talk to him about it tomorrow.
RCOUSLAND: I don’t know how he’s going to take it, especially if he finds out you knew before him.
RCOUSLAND: I mean, I have a guess, but …
FCOUSLAND: Things’ll work out, sis.
FCOUSLAND: Now, go to lunch. We have a meeting in a couple hours.
She rolled her eyes and shoved away from her desk. Might as well take her brother’s suggestion. A quick glance at the clock made her decision easy. A quick jaunt to the mall to see Alistair and grab something from the food court would let Jasper stretch his legs a bit. She hadn’t had a real chance to go see him at work for a while, so it hopefully would be a nice surprise.
“Let’s go for a ride, Jas.”
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“She’s been … weird the last few days, Zevran.” Alistair leaned against the customer service counter with a sigh. “The last couple weeks, even.” He had a few minutes left on his break and he was in no rush to get back out on the floor. One of the major clothing stores was having some sort of sale, and it had been a madhouse all day. Plus, his girlfriend had been acting … off … for a while. It was nothing he could really explain, but little things just seemed off. She hadn’t even come out to see him at work in a week.
Zevran nodded quietly, reaching out to pat his friend’s arm. “I am sure it is nothing, my friend. Did she not say this is one of their busier times with her job?” He seemed to recall her grumbling about the loss of free time that was approaching the last time the pair came to karaoke. And they’d seemed fine then, laughing and snuggling and singing together. Could Alistair just be imagining things?
“That is true,” Alistair started, glancing down the hallway as the last of his break ticked away. “I hope that’s all i-“
Suddenly, a pair of arms slipped under his and wrapped around his chest, warm breath tickled his ear, and a very familiar wet nose prodded at his hand, all at once. He was barely able to choke back a yelp before a familiar perfume filled his nose and he sagged against the new arrival. “Maker’s breath, woman. Your timing could use some work.” Why couldn’t she have shown up a few minutes earlier? Would Duncan care that he didn’t go back out right on time, this once? Was it worth the risk? He shifted enough to be able to just barely kiss her nose; one of the few downsides to dating someone almost as tall as he was. “But I am so glad to see you.”
“Sorry, love,” she whispered, shifting to stand in front of him, still snuggled close with Jasper somehow managing to lean against them both. “Hey Zev,” Regan called over her shoulder with a faint laugh. She turned her attention back to Alistair and nuzzled just under his chin, enjoying the gentle scratch of the stubble there. “I just managed to get off a call, and I have to be back for another by 1, so it’s the best I could do,” she explained softly. “I mean, I could just go visit Sten or Duncan if you’d rather.” She started to push away, laughing as he pulled her back against him with a whine.
“Nooooooooooo, don’t go.” Alistair laughed and kissed the top of her head, running his fingers along her spine. “I do have to get back to work, but I really am glad you came out.” He felt her fingers dig into his shoulders, her body squirm against his for the briefest of moments, well aware of how visible they were. “You haven’t been up to see me at work for a while; I’ve missed this.” Maybe Zevran was right; maybe he had just been imagining things. “Think you’ll be awake when I get home?”
A quick kiss accompanied her answer in the affirmative. Since she’d taken the next day off work, Regan was confident she would be able to stay awake to wait for him. She had caffeine, video games … and the thought of that conversation looming over her, to keep her occupied until he arrived. And she just knew that if nothing else kept her up, worrying about that would. “Mind bringing home some sort of dessert thing? I’m craving something chocolate.”
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“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Regan started pacing as it drew closer to the time Alistair was due home. Jasper had gotten tired of pacing with her after about two minutes, and yet she was still going. Why was she so nervous? It wasn’t like what she needed to tell him was bad, really. Was it? Maker’s breath, she shouldn’t be this nervous. Why wasn’t he home yet? “It’s gonna be OK, right? He’ll be ok with the idea, won’t he, Jas?” Why was she so hungry? Shouldn’t she be too nervous to eat?
The sound of his key in the lock grabbed her attention and sent her scrambling to the sofa, tripping over one of Jasper’s toys in the process. She fell over the arm of the couch just as the door swung open and Alistair could only stand there and watch as she face-planted on the couch with a whimper. Maybe she could just … stay like this? Have the conversation while completely muffled with her ass in the air so she can’t see his face?
“Regan! Are you OK?” Alistair barely stopped himself from tossing the bag of snacks he’d picked up aside, setting it down just off to the side before darting to try and assist. “Did you forget how to walk again?” He tried to keep his tone light, listening to her grumble and groan as he helped her up. “Seriously, love; are you alright?”
Was she alright? Not entirely? Maybe? Her pride was certainly hurt at this point. “I was ass-over-tea kettle on the couch arm; why wouldn’t I be alright?” She laughed faintly, leaning against him. This was not how she pictured this evening going. Of course, the longer they laughed and joked about it, the longer she could put off that conversation. But really, why was she so nervous about it? It wasn’t a bad thing, really.
He kissed the top of her head and wrapped her in a warm hug, enjoying the feel of … wait; why were there no arms around him? Alistair pulled back a bit and looked down at her. She looked … distracted. Distant. “Regan?” he murmured, running a hand along her spine. “Love? What’s up?”
“Alistair, I … we need to talk.”