Always Open

Writers: Avery, Dana
Date Posted: 23rd September 2006

Characters: Traelyn, L'pin
Description: The two wake up together the next morning, and Traelyn tries to deal with things that she doesn't want to think about the usual way
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 14 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows "A Different Route".

It was shortly after dawn when L'pin woke. He didn't know what woke him up at first- usually it was the soft light of the morning, or Chaneth's prodding. This time, it was him naturally being roused from sleep. Things seemed different, somehow; his mind was fuzzier then it was when he usually awoke, and his body didn't seem to want to get up no matter how much he tried. He moved his head slightly, wondering what had caused this- had he drunk too much last night? Immediately he rejected that theory, for it wasn't the painful clouding of alcohol he felt in his brain. Had Chaneth won yet another flight? That was strange, he'd never let them spend the night before- no one had, since Runard had died. Turning his head the rest of the way, what he saw made his heart still for a brief moment.

**Traelyn.** She looked smaller in sleep, somehow, but infinitely more beautiful. Peaceful, contented, gentle... She was absolutely gorgeous. He wouldn't have thought, even yesterday, that he would have wound up in bed with the Weyrwoman, and certainly not have her stay the night, but yet there she was. He couldn't help but admire her again, and settle down into the bed slightly. No need to get up at this exact moment, was there? He didn't know when he'd wake up with someone again. Best to enjoy it, and wait until she awoke. Who knew when he would again share a bed in the morning?

Subconciously feeling the warmth next to her shift, she moved closer, eyes fluttering a little as she began to wake--reluctantly. Most times the night was just too short... Sighing sleepily, Traelyn stretched--then paused as her foot hit someone else's. A slight smile curved her lips as the memory of last night suddenly came back to her--a delightful distraction--and she slid her foot over his, turning her head to look at the bluerider.

L'pin smiled as he felt Traelyn's movements. "Good morning, beautiful." he whispered, voice muzzy with sleep. "Sleep well?" He knew it had been the best he'd had in...maybe even Turns. Shards, the comfort from someone next to him...

"Mmmmm...mmm-hmm...." She yawned, shifting until she was curled against his side. "And you?" Shards...it was so nice to just...relax... To not have the need to sneak away...to not have to prepare herself for another battle of snide remarks and curses like she would have to if she'd been waking up in B'ram's bed instead of L'pin's.

She felt so relaxed, in fact, that the languid feeling was almost enough to help her forget her uncertainties with N'vanik, and her terrible fight with U'kaiah.

Wincing slightly at that, she buried her face against L'pin's arm.
Shards...she _still_ couldn't get it off her mind.

"Best in Turns." he answered softly, reaching an arm over to pull the furs up a bit more to cover them, then gently stroking down her back. "Last night was... amazing."

"Mmmmm..." She brushed her lips against his chest, trying to shove those memories of the fight out of her mind. "That's certainly one way to describe it," she grinned impishly, deciding to lose herself to banter as she raised her head to look down at him.

He shivered slightly, liking the way she'd done that. "And how would you describe it?" he teased.

"I'd call it very sexy."

"And that it was." he replied, stretching out and letting his hand caress her sides and chest. "I would have to call it the best night since I arrived." And it was true, he realized; not just because there was sex, not just because there was non-flight sex, but because it was new, and novel, and enticing, and being with _someone_, not just being alone. "You're an amazing woman in many ways."

She made a sound halfway between a moan and a chuckle. Shards...he could keep on caressing her like that for as long as he wanted. "Oh?"

He smirked slightly. "Indeed." He rolled over and kissed his way down her neck. Shards, but she made him want strongly. "I could always prove to you how amazing you make people feel." he offered with a gleam in his eye.

A teasing brow rose as she ran her fingers through his hair. "I think that would acceptable. And just _how_ are you going to prove it to me, hmm?"

"I can think of several ways, but I'm afraid that might take the entire day, which I doubt we have. I suppose I'll just have to show you one and save the rest." L'pin allowed his other hand to join in the wandering and began to thoroughly caress her face and body with hands and lips.

"You're awfully....convincing..." she murmured, closing her eyes.
Faranth, that was nice... Sliding a hand down his back, she let herself float on the waves of sensation.

"I can be even more." he promised, and decided to prove it.

And prove it he did--and quite well too, Traelyn thought with a slight smile when she found herself resting against him again.

L'pin cuddled her gently, rather than caressed her sensually, worn out for the time being. He let himself relax beside her and be content for the first time in a long while. "You know," he said, "if you ever want to come by again, not just for this, but if you want company, or even to stay the night...my door is always open."

Her dark eyes flickered to his. "You mean that, don't you?" she asked softly. He hadn't been the first to offer her this, and again she hid a wince by pressing her brow to his arm as the look on U'kaiah's face when she'd hurled those barbed insults at him came rushing back to her. He'd offered her the same thing to her over and over again... She could remember the times when he had, and the soft expression on his face and those soft touches... Her jaw tightened slightly, regret filling her.
**I'm such a sharding fool.**

"Harper's honor." he pledged. "Why wouldn't it be open to you? We're friends, and if a friend needs a place to stay, she'll have one." A simple philosophy, maybe, but one L'pin had always held.

Traelyn's gentle smile was more forced than she would have liked it to be, and again she tried to push her memories away before leaning over to kiss him gently in response.

Last updated on the September 26th 2006

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