Who's Your Daddy

Writers: Suzee, Eimi
Date Posted: 15th February 2011
Series: It takes Time to Love

Characters: U'kaiah, Tavia
Description: Tavia has some news for U'kaiah, though she's not sure how he'll take it
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 24 of Turn 5

Tavia

The last week had been horrifically painful for everyone in the Weyr.
The news had devastated them and Tavia was no different than the rest.
Traelyn had been her wingleader and while they hadn't been
exceptionally close, what had happened was unthinkable. It boggled the
mind.

Rumors flew wild and crazy around her yet at her core, she still held
a secret. Her friend knew. But she had yet to tell the father. She
wrote a note and sent it off not knowing if he would be upset that she
asked him to come to her this restday.

U'kaiah was only a little surprised by the summons. He knew that Tavia
had been part of the Queens wing. He thought surely it must have
something to do with Trae. Either Tavia had news to tell him, or knew
that he had some answers, or she was in need, like he was, of some
distraction. It seemed that everything on Pern revolved around her
disappearance, or perhaps it was just his own biased perception. After
all, she had not been far from his thoughts a moment since it happened.
The possibility that she might want to see him for any other reason
hadn't even occurred to him.

His eyes automatically were locked on the weyr once occupied by Trae,
and his eyes scanned the heights for Nyith's golden hide, though he knew
it was an impossible hope. U'kaiah had been to Tavia's weyr once
before, and it, like everything else about this place, conjured up
memories of their lost Weyrwoman. The soon her got inside the better,
he decided. "Tavia?" he called as he slid off Kalamath's neck.

}:Kalamath's comes:{ she heard from Sawauth just before she heard his
voice.

There wasn't a great deal of extra room with the giant bronze there
but she saw U'kaiah and wordlessly walked into his arms. Hugging him
hard for a moment she finally pulled back and turned to lead him back
into her rooms. "Would you like a drink?" she said hospitably and
poured a splash of a nice whisky into a waiting glass for him. She
picked up her fruit juice and took a seat at her table.

"Thanks," he said with a small smile as he took the seat across from
her. The whiskey slid down his throat nice and smooth and he nodded
appreciatively. She had good tastes. "I needed that."

She smiled and sipped her fruit juice. "It hasn't been easy. I know
you two were close." her eyes were full of concern for him.

"Once." U'kaiah hadn't spoken to her in nearly a full Turn, though she
had often been in his thoughts. He chuckled, softly, though there was
no humor in it. "A lot of good I did."

"Hey," she said and reached out to touch his hand. "This wasn't your
fault. Remember that, whatever else happens, it was none of it your
fault."

The bronzerider turned his hand over and took hers to give it a gentle,
thankful squeeze. "I know," he said, smiling reassuringly, though it
didn't quite reach his eyes. The truth was he would have had an effect
on the situation had he been around, though just how grate of an effect
they would never know. And the possibility that he could have made the
difference would always haunt him, he was sure. "At least they're both
safe now

Gossip in the Weyr traveled fast and while she still held her news
close to her chest she knew it was only a matter of time before it got
out. Someone would notice the small swelling and she wouldn't be able
to avoid questions any longer.

"Yes," she smiled "They're safe." He was being kind to her by
answering her call but truthfully she didn't know how her news would
affect him with this tragedy looming over it. She poured another
splash into his glass. "U'kaiah, I know this isn't the best timing
but," she paused and looked into his eyes. "You're going to be a
father."

"I'm sorry?" His mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of Trae and
Nyith, it took him a few moments to realize the topic had changed. He
honestly had not heard her. At least not correctly, he was sure.

She took a deep breath and shifted in her seat. "I'm pregnant
U'kaiah," she said. "And you're the father." It was hard enough to say
it the first time so she didn't even try to look at him. Instead she
looked at her own finger as it circled the rim of her glass.

"Oh." Well, that was unexpected. She pregnant? With his child?
Didn't she take precautions? Of course she did, he thought with a shake
of his head. Or she didn't for reasons of her own. That really wasn't
his business. What really mattered was, what happened now. "What will
you do?"

"I'm open. If not I could have just taken the trip between." She
didn't add that she'd done it before. "After I saw how you were with
your son, I figured you deserved to know at least." She smiled.

Well, if she was just going to go /between/, he would rather not know.
But it was completely up to her. "When will you decide?"

She looked at him for a moment. "What do _you_ want?" she asked. "You
_do_ get a vote or I wouldn't have told you."

He was taking this badly in her eyes, he could tell. It certainly
wasn't his intention. At least reassuring her gave him something to do
other than just sit there and look dumbstruck. "Come here," he said,
pushing his chair back and tapping his leg.

She couldn't help the prickling behind her eyes but she stood and went
to him. With a heavy sigh she sat on his knee. "Bad timing,I know."

"No," he said emphatically, putting his arms around her. "There is
nothing about this that is bad. I'm just... a little overwhelmed is
all."

She leaned her head against his neck. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," he said gently, rubbing her back. "But I don't know
what I want. You know I live in the moment. I don't think of the
future much, and a trying to picture my life with another child in it...
I just can't imagine it. I can't make a choice. I don't know what I
want. If you don't want the child, I will support you. And if you tell
me I am going to be a father, I promise I will do everything in my power
for you and our child. And I am sure I would love it as much as I love
my son now."

She had had much more time to think about it than he had. "Well I
think I want it." she said. "I can't say I'm thrilled but I like you.
Thats a better start than most and it means a lot to a weyrbrat to
know who their parents are."

He reached down to gently lay a hand over her belly, still not quite
able to comprehend the reality as it still felt strong and smooth, just
as he remembered it. "This is good news, Tavia. Truly."

She looked into his eyes and smiled. "I like you U'kaiah," she said.
She put her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I live in the moment
too," she pulled back to look into his eyes again. "So, make love to
me."

Last updated on the January 28th 2012

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Who's Your Daddy