#serahlene

Her hands curve over Selene’s ears, glancing over the tips. Selene makes a soft sound and Serahlin repeats the motion. And then repeats it again before sinking her hands back into her hair, massaging her scalp. 

“You hair is like moonlight, bright and soft,” Serahlin sighs. Selene’s head ducks in a bit lower, completely obscuring her face from view. 

Serahlin chuckles as she can almost feel the blush coming off of her. 

“And there is this little cowlick, right here,” she says, plying at the curl resting on Selene’s forehead, “and it is so adorable.” 

She trails her fingers lightly down to Selene’s jaw, and guides her face to look back up at Serahlin. She smiles down at Selene and leans forward, gently kissing Selene’s forehead. 

“And you know, your eyes are spectacular as well. Like emeralds.” Serahlin kisses each eyebrow and Selene’s face flushes.

“And oh, your nose,” she kisses the tip of her nose, “it is precious.” Serahlin takes Selene by surprise and manages to flip them so that Serahlin is straddling Selene. She kisses her cheek.

“Your blush is so endearing.” She kisses the other cheek before hovering over her lips.

“And your lips,” she leans into Selene, kissing her in a languid pace, slowly parting her lips to taste her mouth and tongue. Selene’s hands moves to Serahlin’s face. 

She closes the gaps between their bodies, aligning them so that she is laying atop of Selene. She is warm, always so warm, and there is a little rush every time she lets Serahlin in like this. Even after being together for years now, it is just...there are moments where she is unconvinced that her wife is not a goddess in some form. All fiery and gorgeous, loving and stalwart, loyal and protective. 

The kiss is long and slow, spreading heat down into their bodies, pooling in their bellies. Serahlin angles herself against Selene, making the other woman shudder. 

The day has been long and trying but this...this is easy and good. 

Serahlin pulls back with happy sigh and smooths Selene’s hair from her face. There is a warmth in her that has little to do with their current physicality, but everything to do with Selene and their marriage and the little girl sleeping just down the hall.

“You make my days brighter,” she murmurs and Selene blushes again.

“Serahlin!”

“Selene?”

“This is different,” Selene ventures after a moment. Serahlin blinks and shifts off of Selene.

“I can be affectionate when the mood strikes. Don’t act so surprised, how long have we been together?” Serahlin teases. Though it is a little odd, her mood. She’s long past the idea that she is cold, Darris was an idiot who wouldn’t know warmth in the middle of a heat wave, but she knows that she isn’t particularly effusive with her affections. And she knows that Selene understands, though being forward and making the effort to be warm is good, she thinks, and it’s not like Selene makes it difficult.

“You’re always affectionate,” Selene counters.

“I’m the lawyer in this relationship, love, I’m the one who bullshits,” Serahin counters.

“Well, I object!”

Serahlin rolls her eyes as Selene giggles at her own pun.

“That was terrible.” She leans down and kisses Selene’s nose, “but you’re lovely, so I’ll forgive you.”

“How magnanimous of you.”

They shove her over to the waiting room and she sits in one of the plush chairs, idly holding up the pieces and trying to figure out how precisely some of these clasps are supposed to work.

But then Serahlin walks out in a hot pink half-cup with gold lace overlay, a matching (but tasteful) thong, a garter belt with pink lace panty hose and completed with a golden lace up heel.

“We're getting that.” Selene immediately announces.

Serahlin rolls her eyes “You haven't even seen the back yet.”

“Ok. Ok, sorry, I'll wait to decide. Spin for me, please.”

Serahlin turns, and Selene notes that the underwear is tied up on the sides, and that a flimsy knot is the only thing keeping them on.

Serahlin stops and stares at Selene with a self-satisfied grin, and waits.

“Now?” Selene asks.

“Yes, now.”

“We're getting that.” Selene declares triumphantly. “Do you think they'd let you wear it out? I think we still have a trench in the trunk.”

“These are not street shoes Selene.”

“Ok, so I'll carry you.” She shrugs, wrapping her arms around her waist, and playing idly with the ties.

Serahlins cheeks dust a light pink, and oh, Selene is looking forward to making her dark enough to match her outfit later in private.

But, they're still technically in public, and she knows Serahlin really likes this boutique. Better not to make a scene.

Selene leans down and places a gentle kiss to the nape of Serahlins neck instead, and takes pride in the small squeak she lets out before stepping back.

“Ok. Ok, go change or I'm going to start getting indecent, ma belle.”

“Well, hold on, let me see what they picked for you,” Serahlin insists, as she digs through the pile of things they gave her. She quickly tosses the items into two separate piles, muttering things under her breath like 'not this color, they know better' and 'ugh this material always chafes' and an occasional  'oh that might be nice', and hands the smaller pile of about 3 outfits back to Selene, who is caught off guard because she was too busy admiring the view of her girlfriend bent over in that outfit.

“Go try those on,” She commands.

Selene nods, and does as she's told.

She comes back out wearing a deep blue corset with white patterns,  and a golden trim. There's no garter, but the boy shorts and thigh highs are more her comfort level anyways.

Serahlin walks out in a long chiffon lace...babydoll, Selene thinks is the term, but it's easily long enough to be a sheer gown. There's just a simple black panty being worn underneath.

“We're getting that too.” Selene immediately says.

“You're going to say that about all of them aren't you?”

“Mm. Probably. You can wear this one around the house when you want to murder someone. It can be your murder dress.”

“Who would I murder?”

“Oh, you don't have to do it. I'd do it for you to get you to wear that, probably.”

Serahlin laughs then, which causes Selene to grin.

“Alright, I'll get these two then. We're not getting you that though, the boning is going to keep you from moving comfortably.”

Selene just shrugs and accepts Serahlins judgment; she usually knows better about these things.

They do end up getting the next two Selene tries on, one white lace and one black mesh before checking out and heading home.

--

Selene is humming to herself and loading the new purchases into the wash when an arm snakes around her waist. She grins, and turns around, gently kissing Serahlin. It's barely a tease, and their lips are hardly even touching, but it's enough to get them both going. Serahlin gives in first, and pushes back against Selene, who wraps her arms under her behind and lifts. Serahlins grip around Selene tightens, and she tries to be less satisfied about it.

It doesn't work very well, in all honesty, but neither is complaining while Selene carries Serahlin to their bedroom.

Carefully, Selene lays her down on the bed, and climbs over her, her thighs on either side. Serahlin lets out a quiet sigh when Selene leaves a trail of kisses down her neck, her hands sliding her shirt up from her hips, as she continues kissing her way down. Selene unbuttons the blouse, careful not to get too impatient and break one (again), and moves her hands up Serahlins stomach, pushing the shirt open and to either side. She pulls back for a moment just to enjoy the view, and grins when she sees the familiar hot pink and gold.

“They let you wear it out after all, hm?”

Serahlin blushes deeply, then. “I told you it was the shoes that were inappropriate.”

Selene just gives a smug “Mm-hm” in response, and kisses the small bow where it sits between the other womans breasts. She continues her path along the skin where the cups outline her beautifully, before carefully pulling one down with her teeth and giving a long lick to the newly exposed nipple. Serahlin arches, and lets out another squeak, and Selene uses one of her hands to give a reassuring squeeze on her hip. She pulls it between her teeth, just barely, and summons just enough mana to make her breath cold, blowing it back out.

Serahlin moans then, when Selene pulls it back into the natural warmth of her mouth and swirls her tongue.

“Magic is cheating.” Serahlin mutters.

Selene stops, and looks up at her “You want me not to?”

Serahlin is quiet for a moment “I didn't say that.”

Selene grins, and moves to kiss her mouth again, fully, and delves her tongue into the other womans mouth, one hand gently kneading the still covered breast, the other trailing careful patterns down her side, and drifting teasingly over the top of her pants. She pops open the button, and pulls the zipper down, before pulling back with a slight nip on Serahlins lower lip to help her shimmy out of her pants.

She does, beautifully Selene thinks as she admires the way Serahlin moves and makes a mental note to take her out dancing again before she sees her reminder of those blasted ties.

Oh yes.

Serahlin didn't keep the garter and stockings on, but Selene's hardly disappointed, and she places a soft kiss to the diamond tattoo on Serahlins hip. Serahlin moves her hand gently over Selenes head, and she looks up.

“Is this alright for you?” Serahlin asks

Selene raises an eyebrow “Are you really asking me if dressing in lingerie and letting me ravish you is ok? Because the answer is yes. An enthusiastic, giddy, please-ma'am-may-i-have-another yes.”

Serahlin laughs and Selene takes one of the ties on her underwear in between her teeth and pulls it loose while maintaining eye contact.

Serahlin turns bright pink, and Selene grins. There it is, she thinks.

Her hand moves gently over Serahlins thighs, enjoying the smooth skin as she hooks one of her legs over her shoulder. She places a kiss over top of the fabric still covering her belle while her other hand unties the last knot holding it up. She nudges it carefully out of the way, and places another kiss to the newly bared skin. Serahlins breaths have picked up significantly, but Selene just keeps kissing around the area she knows must be aching by now. She gives a soft bite to the inside of one of Serahlins thighs, and kisses over the red mark after, enjoying the moan it elicits before licking a long line over the other womans parts.

Both of Serahlins legs are wrapped around Selenes shoulders now, and so she moves one hand to hold her close from her backside and uses the other to help ground her, rubbing slow soft circles over her hip bone. Selene delves into it then, eagerly devouring the other woman. She is careful not to overwhelm her at first, and enjoys the moans and Orlesian curses trailing out of the other womans perfectly painted lips.

Selene is going to get the best of that long last lipstick one of these days. It's a personal goal.

Once Serahlin is comfortably settled and prepped, Selene casts a spell to warm her hand, just slightly since she already runs warm, and slips a finger inside the other woman. Serahlin moans loudly and almost immediately bites down on her lip to try to quiet herself, but she arches almost entirely off of the bed. Selene takes a moment to enjoy the sight from her position before moving down to gently lick at Serahlins nub, simultaneously slipping a second finger inside, and curling them until she finds just that spot. Serahlin squeaks when she does, so Selene makes sure to rub it each time her hand twists inside her, gently, and pulls the other womans clit more fully into her mouth and swirls her tongue around it.

Serahlin's thighs are shaking around her, and Selene knows she's close as she carefully slips in a third finger, and sends the slightest bolt of electricity between them.

It pushes her over the edge, and Serahlin moans out Selene's name in satisfaction when she comes. Selene keeps at it for a few moments more, helping to ease her down before pulling her fingers out and placing a loving kiss to the inside of her other thigh.

Serahlin is panting, and Selene is grinning.

“I told you magic is cheating.”

Selene hums in acknowledgment and speaks in between kissing her way back up Serahlins body “You did. You also said you didn't want me to stop, in my own defense. Would you like me to pay penance anyways, ma belle? How many?”

She is grinning, and Serahlin is slightly tousled, and Selene would be lying if she said she didn't take pride in being the only person to see her like this.

Serahlin purses her lips, and trails a hand up Selenes leg “How many outfits did we get today?”

“Four, I think?”

Serahlin nods “Four seems like a good place to start, then.”

Selene places a gentle kiss on her cheek before sliding back between the other womans legs.

It takes them several months to fall into a true pattern of life, living in an apartment that Serahlin is…not completely satisfied with, but it has enough room for the time being, and the year lease is very easy to work with while they look for a better, more permanent home.

It is in the late months of summer, only a few weeks before the university begins its classes again, when the door to their little apartment bangs and clatters.

Odd, Serahlin thinks, as she sets her case file down and goes to answer the door. They’re not knocks precisely, more like inconsistent thuds and…Selene’s voice?

Serahlin opens the door slowly and carefully, slowly revealing her wife’s tall form and…

“Creators, tell me that is not a baby.” Serahlin says and Selene shrugs, the baby shifting slightly in her arms.

“Uuh, it’s…not a baby?” And then she makes her awful ‘I know I shouldn’t be doing this but I am anyways’ face that always makes Serahlin sigh and relax. Honestly, her wife is entirely too good at getting her way, Serahlin wonders if she’s aware of the effect she has.

Serahlin sighs and ushers Selene into the apartment and promptly takes the baby from her arms. She has had more experience with infants, after all and this one looks…a little small, considering they’re looking around in a way that would make Serahlin guess they’re about three months old.

Not that she’s read up on babies or anything.

“Exactly how did you come across this baby?”

“You know the Hot-As-Hell walkway outside of the Physics Building? There is a pass under it that is apparently a small road that leads into the alienage and these guys were huddled around this little box saying the worst stuff about elves, calling this tiny baby a knife ear and rabbit and other sh- things that I am not repeating. So I…got them to leave and I tried to find the parents but no one was around and it was over a hundred degrees today! I couldn’t just leave them out there to die and you know what to do with kids and babies so I came home.”

Serahlin blinks at her wife. On one hand, Selene saved this child’s life twice over – from those people and then from the heat. But on the other hand…baby-napping is baby-napping is baby-napping.

“You…did the best you could in that situation. But we’re going to have to call the police and see if there are any missing children reports that fit this little one’s description, and you’ll have to probably give a statement…we should call our lawyer…” Serahlin’s voice trails off as she begins to contemplate all the things that they now have to do to ensure everyone’s continued safety.

Selene stares at the baby and reaches out to touch a cheek.

“I couldn’t just…let them die, Serahlin.”

“Oh honey, of course not!” She kisses her wife quickly, reassuring her.

“You were wonderful, we just need to continue to be wonderful.” She kisses her again for good measure before whipping out her cell phone and beginning the process.

“Hello, Sargent Kylon, It’s Serahlin Mercier...I have an infant with me who appears to be three months old, the parents are nowhere to be found.”

“Of course, well, bring’em in, we’ll see if we can figure out who the little rug rat is.” Kylon sounds exhausted but it’s late and cases like these, she knows, are never quick matters.

“Alright, we’ll come in.” She ends the call and the baby begins to fuss a bit – probably hungry. They should stop by the store to get formula, she thinks, no matter whose baby it is, they shouldn’t go hungry.

“We’re going to the police, Sargent Kylon is looking up missing infants and complaints now.” Serahlin rocks the child against her, stroking their light brown hair. She runs a finger against a long ear and the babe coos happily.

Selene takes a deep breath but nods.

“They’re not going to arrest you, they’ll…talk a little loudly for a while, but you saved this baby. We can call a defense attorney, though, if you are still concerned.”

“No, no, I’m fine, I just…who leaves a baby out like that?” Selene asks, stepping closer to touch the babe. Serahlin sighs and shakes her head.

“I ask that question every day, and the answer is never good.”

Selene goes quiet for a moment before motioning for the baby back. They cling a bit to Selene, making a soft noise as she brings them to her bosom.

“So how exactly are we getting to the police station? It’s not like we have a baby carrier – Oh. When did you get that?” Selene asks as Serahlin produces a baby carrier from the front closet. Serahlin blinks at her.

“Selene, darling, my job. Always prepared.” And with that Selene nods and follows Serahlin out to the car. They load the little baby and the carrier into the car, fussing over how exactly the thing is supposed to fit in the car. It takes them twenty minutes before Serahlin slides into the front and Selene somehow folds herself into the back of the compact car to sit with the baby.

They stop by a small corner store to pick up formula that Serahlin makes in the back where the workers take their breaks. One of them is a mother and knows how to keep it warm and good for the babe. She thanks the woman and heads back out, handing the bottle to Selene to try and feed the little one.

Soon little sucking noises fill the car as they drive the ten minutes to the police station. The bottle isn’t done but it has to be removed for them to remove the baby from the car. They promptly begin to cry and fuss, wanting their bottle back. Serahlin is quick to reunite them and the bottle, silencing the cries as they walk into the station. She heads directly for Kylon’s office located in the far back, waving at the staff who know her. Selene follows her awkwardly, waving occasionally while maintaining eyes on the child at all times.

He's sitting at his desk, staring intently at his computer when Serahlin enters.

“Have you found anything?” She asks immediately, shifting the baby in her arms.

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, “Yeah, and it’s not good. I was hoping they were one of the missing babies, but looking at them now… I’m pretty sure they are related to one of the recent attacks in the Alienage.”

Serahlin’s blood goes cold while a light ignites at the corner of her vision. When she turns to look at her wife, Selene’s hands are on fire, the whites of hers bleeding over her irises, lips in a hard line in her face as she slowly begins to engulf herself in flames.

“Selene, darling, it’s okay. The babe is okay, see? Look at me, darling.”

Kylon is up and looking for a fire extinguisher while Serahlin draws Selene’s gaze to the small babe. White eyes focus on the small child and slowly the flames die down and her eyes return to normal.

“Sorry, I –

“I know, but we’re all okay.” Serahlin leans over and kisses her wife briefly before returning to her seat.

“Kylon, we’re fine.”

“She just caught fire –

“Perfectly normal. Now, this child, who do you think they are?” The Sargent sits back down and eyes Selene before handing Serahlin a heavy file.

“I think she is Nessa Tabris, daughter of Cyrion and Adaia Tabris.”

Nausea rolls through Serahlin. She knows those names; she knows this baby in a way too. The report of the missing child had wound up on her desk that morning – a baby missing after parents were…dismembered in the Alienage. No living relatives, cousins already separated and in the foster system. And this baby was likely either dead or sold.

She looks over to her wife and tears prick at the back of her eyes, Selene…she saved this babe from more than those men and –

“Those men…Selene, you need to go speak with one of the officers immediately about the men you saw with the babe. Kylon, we need to make sure it is Nessa and not someone else’s missing child, can we run DNA, get in contact with the other families?”

Kylon nods and Serahlin hands him the now empty bottle covered in baby saliva.

The next several hours are slow but intense as Selene is interviewed multiple times, giving descriptions of the men as best she can, all the while watching the baby from the corner of her eye. At one point, Serahlin just puts the babe in her arms and that seems to calm her significantly.

The parents of the children begin to arrive – twenty families, and they all say the same thing.

“That isn’t our baby.”

With each family it becomes more and more evident that this is indeed little Nessa Tabris, lost and found and rescued by one of Ferelden’s most feared persons – an elven mage.

And elven mage who is making faces at a tiny baby who clutches at her chest as she slowly falls asleep. Serahlin’s heart clenches and something inside of her clicks at the sight. Attachment, adoration, desire.

Love.

She fiddles with the ring on her finger and begins to make her phone calls.

**

After twelve hours it is declared that little Nessa Tabris has been found and saved. Selene is hailed a hero and Nessa is officially an orphan and taken to the hospital for an examination. She wears a little ankle band with all her information, with ORPHAN in big bold letters where the names of her parents should be.

Serahlin and Selene both call out of work and spend as much time with Nessa as possible, fussing over her tests, clucking their tongues at her anemia and the disturbing news of a congenital heart defect.

A defect that isn’t emergent, so the government won’t pay for it.

This time Serahlin does give into her nausea and promptly vomits in a nearby restroom. That poor child, her poor parents, who were so poor they couldn’t get their daughter’s heart murmur fixed. So poor and elven that they ended up brutally murdered.

She makes another phone call, a bit more desperate and demanding this time.

She returns to Nessa’s room to find Selene curled up in a chair, holding Nessa close, rocking her and soothing her. Nessa reaches up and grabs ahold of a lock of Selene’s hair before smiling.

The world seems to stop as she smiles, fixing itself into place as it pauses to marvel at the baby.

Serahlin crosses the room and stands behind Selene, smiling down at Nessa.

They end up spending the night at the hospital, sleeping in one of the on-call rooms and waking up every so often to check on Nessa even though they can’t even hear her crying. Selene seems particularly wont to just stay awake and walk the halls to make sure that Nessa is fine – she has the heart defect after all.

The next day dawns early and bright and Serahlin feels vaguely gross and unfit to be seen, but then she hears it – the wails of a tiny child and a lot of medical beeping.

She quickly slips her heels off and jogs down the hall, her heart hammering with worry. What happened? What’s going on? Is Nessa alright? Did those men somehow find her? She arrives at the room just in time to see Selene pushed out of the way as doctors and nurses begin rolling Nessa’s bed down the hall, shouting and in a near panicked rush.

“We need to fix it now,” one of them shouts. Selene is rushing after them.

“I’m a healer! A mage, I can help, please let me help! I can do something!” She shouts.

“No, we have this, you need to stay back, ma’am.” One of the nurses says before jumping into the elevator with the rest of the doctors. The doors close as Selene reaches them.

“No, no, no, I could have done something, I could –

“Selene, Selene – stop! There was nothing you could do, Selene, look at me, look at me.” She grabs ahold of Selene only to jerk her hand back at the static suddenly shooting down her arm.

“AH!”

Selene’s eyes widen and she wraps arms around herself, shutting her eyes tight, trying to focus. Serahlin’s breathing is labored as she slumps against the wall, whimpering in pain as the magic shoots through her.

“You’re alright, Selene, I’m alright, Nessa is going to be fine. It’s a septal wall defect, she has a thin spot in her heart, they just need to take care of that – that is the best treatment, we know that.” Serahlin somehow grits out through the pain.

“No, no, no,” Selene babbles as she rushes over to Serahlin. Her jacket is removed and her arm thoroughly inspected as warmer, softer magic begins to settle into her skin. Serahlin sighs and slumps forward, wrapping her good arm around Selene before she can jump off and run.

“Stay, darling, please. I’m okay, please, just…stay?”

Selene wavers, but Serahlin presses a kiss to her cheek and then ear, telling her that she isn’t mad at her. She isn’t upset. She understands, and it’s okay. Eventually Serahlin is able to lead Selene away into the on-call room where Selene promptly keeps herself as far away from Serahlin as possible.

It takes another hour for Selene to calm down enough for Serahlin to be able to wrap her in a tight hug. They’re going to get through this, they’re going to get through this.

Another hour passes and a doctor comes out to inform them that the procedure went well and that Nessa is going to be fine. Selene slumps against Serahlin, burying her face into Serahlin’s shoulder.

They can’t see Nessa, though, because they technically aren’t her parents and she is in a family only area.

Another hour passes and the lawyers arrive.

Selene’s eyes widen and she looks at Serahlin in bewilderment. Serahlin smiles and kisses her cheek.

“She’s our baby now, isn’t she? Let’s make her legally ours, so no one can take her away from us or tell us we can’t see her again.” Serahlin whispers and Selene nods emphatically before wrapping Serahlin in a tight hug.

“Thank you, ma belle, thank you.”

The process of adoption is not quick, even when all the case workers, social workers, and lawyers know Serahlin by this point, either personally or by reputation. Their home is inspected, declared suitable for the time being but they should look into upgrading as soon as they are able. Their financials are examined, their marriage documents and Dalish statuses are drudged up. Criminal records, finger printing – the works.

It takes two weeks of visiting the hospital, buying baby products to just show they really want this, taking crash courses to be approved, before a small dwarven woman knocks on their door.

Selene is cooking dinner while Serahlin is finishing an email when the sound echoes through the space. Serahlin stands and moves quickly to answer it, opening to find the small dwarven woman she had seen at the agency’s offices…with a baby carrier in her hands.

She smiles at Serahlin and hands her the baby carrier containing the most beautiful baby girl Serahlin has ever seen.

“The court crunched out a miracle for you. Congratulations, Serahlin and Selene Mercier, you have been granted temporary custody of Nessa Tabris. If after the month, there are no issues and you wish to continue to pursue full custody, it will most likely be awarded.” Serahlin’s eyes widen and she glances down at Nessa, with her great big turquoise eyes and copper brown curls.

“Oh.”

“Congratulations,” the woman repeats, handing her a diaper bag and points to several pouches, “all of my information is in there. Please call if you have any questions.”

The woman walks away, leaving Serahlin standing the doorframe with a tiny baby and as a new mother.

A mother.

Creators.

She shuts the door and sets the diaper bag down before walking into the kitchen where Selene is sautéing…something, Serahlin can’t remember.

“Darling…”

Selene turns around, “Wha – at?” She stares at the baby carrier and quickly wipes her hands on a towel before stepping quickly to the counter where Serahlin sets the carrier down.

“I would like you to meet our daughter, Nessa.” Serahlin whispers as Selene unfastens the straps and takes the baby into her arms. She slumps toward the child and presses a gentle kiss to her temple.

“Oh, Gods.”

Serahlin smiles as tears prick at the back of her eyes again, but this time from unrestrained joy. A family of their own, a daughter that her wife had saved from death or worse, and a hope so vibrant blooming her chest that she can’t stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks.

Never has she ever seen something so beautiful, so perfect as Selene holding their daughter, cradling the infant’s head and smiling down at her.

“Hi, Nessa, I’m your Mamae. And that beautiful woman over there? She’s your Memae, that’s right – you have parents again, yes you do.”