Making the Best of What We Can

Writers: Kaysea
Date Posted: 26th May 2007

Characters: Kaldyn, Karei
Description: Late at night Kaldyn and Karei discuss their move and growing family
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 4, day 4 of Turn 4

"So, what do you think now? Will we settle in here, do you think?" Kaldyn slipped
under the blankets, and settled himself down next to his wife.

"You will, definitely." she laughed. "Me, it'll take a little longer, but yes, I
think we'll all settle in. It's not home - yet; but it will become our home
eventually."

"You miss your family, love. I know." he slipped his arm beneath her shoulders and
tugged her close. "But soon, you won't have time to think on what we left behind.
You'll have Minall's little one here. You know you love having babies around,
and this one, you won't be sharing much at all. Minall is the least maternal of
my family members, I can't see her visiting the poor wee thing much."

"Oh Kaldyn, surely she will. Surely she can't just bring the child, and abandon
her here with us without a second glance?" Karei's nature wouldn't allow her to do
that, and she couldn't see how anyone else would be able to as well.

"Well I haven't seen my sister in few turns now; but I remember what she was like
when we were younger..." he sighed, "She had a short attention span for most
things, but I can't remember it diminishing as she matured."

"Yes, but you never saw her with a child of her own.." Karei prompted.

"You're right, I didn't." he nodded in agreement, "But dear, once this baby
arrives, you will have a new daughter. Not just until she is old enough to return
to the Weyr and occasionally see her mother around the place." he held up his hand
as Karei started to interject. "No, listen to me Karei."

She leaned back, refusing to believe what he was telling her.

"If she had really wanted to keep her child close, don't you think she would have
been able to find a milk-mother, or even foster mother closer to her home?"

"Maybe, but, and it's a big but - you just said it yourself, she kept the baby
with her to feed her, when she could have gone out and found a milk-mother." Karei
clung to the hope there was some maternal instinct inside her husbands sister, but
from memory of the girl when they were all much younger, she feared Kaldyn was right.

"Well we don't know that she hasn't, do we?" he asked. "I mean, Rettana said she
was really pleased that Allini, had stuck all through the pregnancy. It must mean
she wanted to keep her."

"Or risk losing Al'rin?"

"She couldn't..." Karei shook her head.

"Something makes me think we will see more of Al'rin than of Minall over the
coming turns." Kaldyn sighed. "I hate saying that about my own sister, but I
know Minall. Have know her since the day she was born-"

"And haven't seen her in turns as you well know." Karei retorted. "She could have
changed! Maybe she just wants to make sure that even if she has to give her child
away, she can still make sure she is with family.."

"May be.." Kaldyn smiled softly. His wife never wanted to believe the worst of
anyone, least of all family - especially since she had lost the majority of her
own family in the earthquake, she had become more protective of his family.

"Look Karei, I didn't mean for this conversation to become heated, I just wanted
to make sure you were feeling more comfortable here, and thought having little
Allini here may make this old place feel even more like home." he turned to face
her, slipping his hand under the covers and onto her hip. "I want you to be happy
here, I don't want you constantly thinking of what we lost, and what _you_ lost in
the 'quake."

"I'm sorry Kaldyn, I ... I guess I just can't believe any woman could have no
maternal instinct whatsoever. Especially looking in to a babies eyes, a baby you
helped create." her eyes gazed into his, and he could see the doubt in them, the
doubt about his sister; but also the pain that was buried even deeper, before she
dropped her gaze.

"I know you miss your family, love." he lifted her chin with his finger, and his
eyes met hers again, "And I wish with all my heart I could bring them back, but I
can't, and neither can you. We just have to make the best of what we can from
here on in." he smiled and kissed her lips softly, "I know, little Allini isn't a
replacement for your sisters child, but she may be able to take away some of the
pain you're feeling over your loss."

Karei gave a small nod of agreement. "I know, Kaldyn, but at times... At times I
wish we could go back. I can't understand why it happened, why some were wiped
out, and why some of us survived." Her eyes closed, and a small tear escaped the
corner of her eye, and slowly slid down her cheek into the pillow.

"None of us ever will understand, but Karei, we can remember them." he kissed her
again, "By remembering them, we ensure they live on, here," he tapped her chest
where he imagined her heart to be, "here with us always."

She slipped one arm around his shoulder and the other around his waist and cuddled
him to her, feeling his heartbeat against her own. "I knew there was a reason I
kept you around," she said quietly, "I love you."

Last updated on the May 27th 2007

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Making the Best of What We Can