Keeping in Touch

Writers: Emma, Erin Smith
Date Posted: 28th August 2006

Characters: Milroy, Royah
Description: Milroy takes Abrigi to see Royah and Tenia.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 13, day 13 of Turn 3

Milroy had just finished his duties, and arrived back to his room to find Abrigi fidgeting idly with a piece of embroidery. He eyed his spouse curiously. "Abrigi, I didn't know you embroidered."

Abrigi sighed. "Since I've been taken off all of my duties by the Healers, I really have nothing else better to do." After a recent labor scare, Abrigi wasn't allowed to lift anything heavier than a dinner plate, was required to sit whenever possible, and spent most of her free hours in the bathing chamber, where her stomach wasn't so cumbersome. She was rather large for being pregnant with a single child, but the Healers had never suggested anything about another babe.

"Why don't you spent some time with some of the other pregnant women around the Hold? Perhaps you could knit and gossip?" Milroy suggested. He didn't honestly have the first clue what women did when they were visiting one another.

"I don't really know anyone here." Abrigi replied. She was a shy woman, who didn't readily introduce herself to others. She went about her daily business, which primarily consisted of helping with mending, and with the care of some of the younger children in the family.

Milroy paused a second. "Come on. Royah's spouse is pregnant as well, and perhaps she could use some company. Besides, it's been too long since Royah and I have spoken. You ladies can do whatever it is you do, while we talk."

Milroy and Abrigi headed down to Royah's quarters, knocking on the door. "Brother? It's Milroy." Milroy called from outside.

The sound of a children's game could be heard down the corridor.
Roten and Yatia were watching Niaroy chase around after a ball, whilst he yelled at it.

"Pipe down!" called out Royah. There was love in his voice though and no surprise that they were being noisy. Tenia had made it past the danger period in her pregnancy and it seemed that she would manage to carry this child to term, so they had told the children.

"Roten, can you get that please," said Tenia. "Your Uncle is here."

Milroy smiled at his nephew. "Hello Roten!" He entered the room, careful not to step on any children or toys. "And Hello Yatia and Niaroy." He couldn't wait until his own child was playing about the Hold. "Royah, Tenia, Hello, and Congratulations! I've heard the good news about your pregnancy." Abrigi entered the room behind Milroy, quiet and with her eyes averted. Milroy turned to look over his shoulder at her. "Come on Abrigi. We've been espoused 2 turns now.
You have to get comfortable with my family." He stated, his voice low.

Abrigi raised her chin, smiling. "Hello! How are you." She took a deep breath. **Come on Abi. These people are your family.**

Tenia smiled at the girl, "Come and sit down over here, Royah will get those little hellions of ours to calm down a bit."

Abrigi complied, maneuvering her belly into a chair. "I feel so huge." She complained, but her tone was joking. Her first pregnancy was decidedly awkward for her.

Milroy grinned broadly. "Well, that's a good thing. Abrigi just found out she's carrying twins!" Milroy was still pleased as can be about his children. True, it added to the anxiety he felt towards being a father, but after his father's reassurances, he felt as if he could take anything fatherhood had to throw at them.

"Twins?" Royah was surprised to hear that, still Abrigi was big, big for just the one babe. "Have you room for them in your apartments?"

Milroy chuckled. "You know, I hadn't even *thought* about that yet!
We've moved in the one crib already, but I don't have space for two in our room. Redecorating will definitely be needed."

"And moving all of the fragile objects." Abrigi noted. "I just hope I can *have* twins. The healer has told me of all the risks of them being born early, or too small. And then he tells me that worrying will only make it worse. How am I supposed to not worry?" She smiled.
"I'll just be glad when it's over! So what are you guys hoping for this time, boy or girl?"

"Girl," said Tenia.

Royah nodded, "Things would be even then, two of each. Not that you'd notice sometimes the way Yatia can be."

"We're hoping to end up even as well." Abrigi replied with a smile.

Milroy looked at Royah. "How about the ladies can stay here and get better acquainted, and you and I can go take a walk, and have a bit of a chat." Personally, Milroy was worried about his father's advancing age, and recent medical issues. He wondered if his older sibling felt the same.

Royah glanced back at his wife, who seemed to be deep in conversation already with Abrigi. "It would be a shame to disturb them, wouldn't it."

Milroy smiled. "It would." As they walked away from their spouses, Milroy commented to Royah, "I'm glad they seem to have hit it off.
Abrigi has been so stir crazy recently..." He shook his head, and his train of thought shifted. "So, brother, what do you think of father's condition? He hasn't said that anything was out of the ordinary, and I don't believe he's seen a Healer... but something seems off about him recently."

"You know what he's like. Our father has a mind of his own, and he won't be made to do anything," replied Royah. "I'd likely know if he had made an appointment to see them, or for them to come to him."

Milroy nodded. "It's been such a crazy turn as well. Perhaps all of the stress is just getting to him. But enough of that. How are you doing? We have so little time to talk nowadays." What Milroy didn't note is that he rarely had time with his older sibling, but this was something he was trying to amend.

"I'm concerted about Tenia, you know she lost babes in the past, and after the one that was stillborn... I worry that it will happen again."

Milroy smiled comfortingly at his brother. "I worry about the same things. I didn't really tell anyone, but Abrigi has miscarried twice since we've been espoused. They've both been really early term, but with twins..." He trailed off. "But you and Tenia have three healthy babes, I'm sure you'll have another."

"I hope so, I really do. And I'm sure that you and Abrigi will have many more after these two."

"Me too. When our little ones get a little bigger they can play together." Milroy smiled at his brother. "Let's get together more often. With the disaster I've really realized how important family is."

"We should definitely do that," replied his older brother.

Last updated on the August 30th 2006

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