Late, Late

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 21st November 2020

Characters: D'hol, Timassa, Kielya
Description: Timassa is sick and D'hol finds out why
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 6, day 3 of Turn 10

D'hol

Timassa

Kielya

D'hol was deep asleep, head buried in the pillow and trying to ignore
the nudges to his shoulder. He brushed at the hand with a sleepy
grumble. "Not now. Early. Sleep." He rolled over, tucking the blanket
further around him.

"Papa, wake up!" Kielya shoved D'hol's shoulder more urgently, then
literally climbed over him to pull at his pillow. "You gotta get up!"

D'hol felt the pillow jerked out from under his head. "Wha?" He
blinked groggily and frowned, reaching for his pillow. "Kielya, what
in Faranth's name are you doing? It's too early."

She held the pillow away from him. "Get up. Auntie Timassa's sick and
throwing up in the privy. She woke me up and won't stop sicking up."

D'hol frowned, rubbing his eyes, then heard the faint sound of
wretching. Worried, he sat up and nodded, rubbing his face. The woman
hadn't been sick the entire time he knew her, so if she was this sick,
something was wrong. "Okay I"m up. Go get some water for her, okay?"
Clad only in his sleep pants, he padded towards the privy. The door
was open just a crack and he tapped it open. "Timassa?"

"Go away," she croaked at him before retching again though nothing
came up. She sat on the floor next to the privy with her head in her
hands and just shook her head. "Not.... happening," she groaned.

He pushed open the door to peek, then grimaced. "Looks like something
is." He slipped in and knelt, gently pushing Timassa's hair back and
holding it gently at the nape of her neck. "Bad food last night or too
much wine?" He didn't remember her coming in last night, so figured
she might have gone to bed in her rooms far later than he had.

Kielya stuck her head in and then held out the glass of water. "Here,
Papa. Are you okay, Auntie Timassa?"

"Thanks sweet." D'hol took the glass and offered it to Timassa. "Here.
Sounds like you need this."

"Thank you," she tried to smile sweetly at Kielya. "And thanks for
bringing your papa. That was pretty smart." She took the glass and
tested her stomach with a tiny sip and then another. Nothing came up
for a moment. And then she was back over the privy bringing up bile.

Kielya wrinkled her nose while D'hol sighed softly and kept her hair
back, his hands gentle. "Faranth. I'll get a drudge to get you some
gingerroot tea. It might help more than water." His mind began
working; had something in the dining hall gone bad? Or perhaps it was
an illness going around that he'd have to call in a Healer for. "Come
on, Timassa. I'll get you to the infirmary. You need to get checked
out."

"Want me to get a drudge, Papa?" Kielya held back, looking worried.
"Or that tea? I can get it, if you want."

D'hol looked up. "I think I might actually still have some. Kitchen
area, second shelf on the right. It's in a little green bag. It smells
spicy."

"Okay, Papa. I'll make some."

Timassa looked up too, "Thank you sweetie," she said to Kielya. Then
she looked at D'hol and flared her eyes slightly. "I'm late."

"It's still early," Kielya chirpped trying to be helpful. "And Papa's
your wingleader so I'm sure he'll understand if you're to sick for
your duties today." She darted away to go find the tea.

"Late for wha..." Her meaning sunk in past his still groggy brain. His
brows shot up, eyes widening as his mouth parted. "OH...as in, late,
late?" He gestured towards her abdomen. "That kind of late?"

"Yeah, late, late" she took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
"But don't worry, I'll take care of it."

D'hol fell silent for a long moment, studying his friend and
companion. He spoke quietly, keeping his voice down for Kielya's sake.
"Timassa, could it be mine?" He spent plenty of time in the furs with
her and he knew it was a possibility the moment he asked. He turned,
grabbing a soft washing cloth, tipped some of the water from the glass
on to it and lightly dabbed at her brow and temples. "It's up to you,
of course. But, if you wanted to keep it," He stroked her cheek with
his thumb, "I'd make sure you had everything you needed or wanted. I'd
be there completely. I wouldn't mind sharing or raising a child with
you."

She looked up into his eyes searchingly for a moment. "Thank you," she
said. "Yes, it _is_ yours D'hol," she added just as softly. "I haven't
been with anyone else for the last month. You've had us all working
too hard." She half smiled and reached up to squeeze his arm. "You're
my friend more than anything else, you know that. But I've never
wanted one before and always termed." She closed her eyes and just let
herself lean into the cloth for a moment. "For what it's worth I know
how you feel about your kids. You're a good da." Her hand reached up
to cover his as she fought tears. "Can I think about it?"

D'hol laid his hand flat on her cheek as she covered it with his own,
but he gently swept his thumb under her eye to wipe st the growing
moisture. His smile was very gentle and he leaned forward to press
his lips softly against her brow. "Of course. It's up to you. I'll
understand either way and support whatever you decide. It's a big
decision, but if you do decide you want the baby, I'd be proud to
have a child with you. You'd be an amazing mother. "

"Tea's almost ready!" Kielya called out, then moments later, brought
in the cup, holding it carefully. "I think I did it right. "

Timassa held out her hands for the cup. "Thank you," she said with a
slightly teary smile. She held it in her hands for just a moment,
inhaling the fragrant tea and when her stomach didn't rebel, she took
a sip. "You did it just right," she smiled at both of them.

"I hope you feel better soon." Kielya smiled.

"Thank you, sweet. Go get dressed, okay? Let's leave Timassa alone for
a little bit and if she needs more tea, we can make her some." D'hol
rose from his crouch, pressing his lips against Timassa's brow again
briefly as he stood. "Don't rush anything. Take your time. I'll handle
your duties for today."

"Thanks," she whispered and nodded. She sat there a bit longer
listening to them getting ready to start their day and drinking her
tea. When the place was finally quiet again she crossed her ankles and
pushed to her feet. She took her cup back to the kitchen then grabbed
a throw from the couch and pulled it around her shoulders as she
headed out to the ledge and her lifemate. Leaning against Saryolth
and gazing at the sunrise, she began to think about a future that just
might include a child.

Last updated on the November 23rd 2020

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Late, Late