What is Right in Front of Him

Writers: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 4th March 2006

Characters: Demalia, Birigundi's Ma
Description: Demalia talkes to Ma about Biri's need to grow up
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 1 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows "Tell Me Your News, Biri"

"Ma! Wait!" called the greenrider as she chased after Birigundi's mother.

The older woman turned around and gave the greenrider a small smile.
"It's cold out here, Demalia. Don't you need your jacket?"

"I'll be fine," she replied. "I came to see how you were. It must have been a shock, me bringing him here with this news."

"It was a shock, but, to be honest," Ma turned to look Demalia with a sad smile, "I think I was more surprised it wasn't _you_."

"He, he doesn't look at me that way," said Demalia with a sigh. She looked away for a moment, wondering how to explain herself. "I like him, I really do. He's good looking, kind, funny, a wonderful friend...
Maybe that's the problem."

Ma's eyes were soft and sympathetic. "What's the problem, dear?"

"He just thinks of me as a friend, and I don't want to lose that."

The older woman shook her head thoughtfully. "My son has a long way to go before he becomes a man."

"He could be such a good man, and I think he will be," Demalia smiled slightly. "I'd like to be there when it happens."

"I hope you will be too," Ma said with a wistful smile. "But it sounds as if he is not ready to give up his boyish ways. I thought I knew him so well. But this? I just don't understand him."

"It's life at the weyr, there are so many temptations there. Some people seem to think that they have to try everything on offer." **And everyone,** she thought, then castigated her self for doing so, she didn't know Nialyn, but she did know Biri and whatever had happened between them she was sure it was totally something that they had both wanted.

"But he didn't even _know_ her. _You_ I would understand. You he knows." She sighed as she looked off into the distance. "I just hope he will take responsibility for what he's done. Its hard raising a child alone."

"He told me that he would, and I believe him."

"Yes. I'm sure he will do his best," his mother nodded. "But what if he Impresses? I know enough about weyrlings to know that you can't be a father to a baby and a dragonet at the same time."

"It will be sometime before there is another hatching," said Demalia.
"Months possibly." That much was true, with the recent death of the Weyrwoman and a junior weyrling who might be a turn away from her first flight.

"I wish he would just give it up, pack up Nialyn and the baby, and come home." Ma looked at the greenrider apologetically. "I know its just wishful thinking. But if he hasn't Impressed yet..."

"He might still yet, I don't think he'll give up on that until he really is too old."

Ma nodded. "He's like his father. Determined to a fault. And I know he still may Impress... But sometimes I wonder of I was right letting him go. His heart breaks everytime he's left on the sands."

"I know," she said. "I so wanted him to impress last time..." The unspoken thought being that had he impressed, well this situation would never have arisen, the junior weyrlings still prohibited from having relationships of a sexual nature.

"So did I..." Ma said thoughtfully. "But," she shrugged, "I guess if he had, I would not be a grandmother now. And despite the fact that I don't really like the way it came about, I am happy at the thought. Birigundi a father... Can you imagine?"

"I don't know that I can," she replied.

"His father was wonderful with him." His mother's lips curled into a nostalgic smile as she remembered a very tiny Birigundi in his father's arms.

"Biri was very young when he died, wasn't he?"

Ma nodded. "Yes, he was. Still a baby, really."

"Then he never knew him at all."

"No, not really. But I made sure to tell him everything I could remember about him." She smiled fondly at a short lifetime of memories.
"But Biri's father loved him so much. That child was the most important thing in his life."

"And this child will be to Biri now."

"I sure hope so." Ma sighed and crossed her arms across her chest. "Well, I suppose I should go talk to him."

"I'll wait with Tapheth, perhaps you should do this alone."

"Thank you, Demalia." Ma, grabbed the young girl's arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You are being a good friend to Biri. I hope, truly, that someday he will see what is right in front of him."

"I do too," she said.

Last updated on the March 5th 2006

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What is Right in Front of Him