I'm Thinking of You...

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 7th May 2008

Characters: Larken, Ojisan
Description: Larken broaches the subject of her husband going to visit his son again...
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 4
Notes: Follows "Just Once"

Faranth, it felt wonderful to have his fingers running through her long hair like that. Sighing, she shifted closer against her husband, silently encouraging him to keep touching her. And if she hadn't had a job to do tonight, she would have allowed his soothing caresses to lull her to sleep. Larken just couldn't get the look M'tone had given her out of her head--the accusing, disappointed look. It still made her fingers tighten reflexively--she hated to have anyone angry with her, or disappointed. She didn't know which one was worse. She allowed her eyes to flicker open so Ojisan would see that she was awake, although she didn't say anything, not yet. How could she lead up to discussing his son again?

His fingers stilled. "I'm sorry, am I keeping you awake?"

She shook her head, nestling closer. "It's soothing."

"Then I'll keep doing it," he murmured softly, his fingers gently messaging her scalp and neck the way he knew she liked.

Larken felt herself go limp with relaxed pleasure. Faranth, she remembered that this was the first way he'd ever intimately touched her, husband to wife. Smiling at the warm memory, she curled a hand against his arm. "What's keeping you awake so late?" she asked quietly.

"Nothing in particular. Just can't sleep I guess."

"Mmmm." She rubbed her cheek against him. "You know, I've thinking....."

"Yes?" he asked encouragingly, his callused fingers kneading her shoulder.

She closed her eyes. "I've been thinking more about your visit to see Terrisan. It...shards, love, it bothers me how you seem to be so trapped in your work that you can't go as soon as you'd like."

His fingers stilled for a brief moment, surprised at her statement. "I don't know if I'm _trapped_..."

"Mmm. Perhaps it was a wrong word choice." Her fingers trailed across his hand. "I know you love what you do, Ojisan, but I do think that you sometimes work too hard."

He pondered that silently while he began massaging the back of her neck. Larken let the silence stretch between them, wondering what he was thinking...and if he agreed with what she said. "You're not angry with me?" she asked softly, knowing perfectly well that he wasn't, but how else was she going to get him to talk to her?

"No. Of course not. I'm touched that you worry about me," he assured her. "But surly I'm not neglecting you, Larken. Am I? Do you feel that I am ignoring you?"

Her heart leapt in her throat. Shards, that was a step backwards. "Of course not." Swallowing her anxiety, she propped herself up slightly so she could look into his eyes, giving him a reassuring smile. And yet she noticed that he was working too much. He couldn't help but remember the depression she had fallen into at the beginning of the turn. The harper couldn't help but feel that he had been partially to blame, working as hard as he had been around Turns End and spending relatively little time with her. "If I were, I want you to tell me, Larken. I don't want you to feel homesick again."

"Honest, Ojisan, you're not...you're not neglecting me. I'm thinking of you, love. I think you deserve some time away from your duties to see your son."

He kissed her softly, relieved that she was not feeling as though he did not care for her needs. "I will go. I told you I will go in the Spring. Don't worry about me, my love." "But you'll be practicing for the Turn's End celebration in the Spring."
She gazed up at him. "And you know you won't have time to go anywhere."

His brow creased thoughtfully. "I hadn't thought of that."

"There will always be something else you have to do before you go." Gently she touched his cheek. "Don't be trapped."

"You may be right," Ojisan nodded. He should have thought about Turns End. They'd have to start working on pieces soon for it. Maybe it was better to go sooner rather than later. "I will talk to my ensemble members about it."

She smiled at him. At last.

Last updated on the May 18th 2008

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I'm Thinking of You...