The Good News?

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 22nd March 2011

Characters: U'kaiah, Aileyan
Description: U'kaiah breaks the good news to Aileyan
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 25 of Turn 5

U'kaiah couldn't be sure how Aileyan would feel at the news that he
would be a father. She was a hard girl to judge much of the time. He
figured it would be better to hear it from his own mouth than to find
out through rumor. The bronzerider had warned her that there was
something he wanted to talk to her about.

"Is now a good time?" he asked, peeking his head around her door.

"Sure, come in," she replied. She was curious of what he wanted to talk
about.

"I'm not pulling you away from anything, am I?" he asked, making his way
over to the sofa.

"Just mending straps," Aileyan said and lifted the coil of hidestraps
out of her lap. "It's a never ending task."

"I hear you." He sat down, turning so he could look her full in the
face. "I'm sure you're wondering why I wanted to talk to you." U'kaiah
studied her face, trying to gauge what her reaction would be. "I don't
want you to hear this through rumor, and I want to tell you because
you're my friend and it's good news. I'm going to be a father."

"Oh!" She looked first curious and then just surprised. "That's nice, "
she said after a long pause with cautious tone.

"Thanks, I'm excited," he said, not able to help the small grin.
"Unfortunately the mother is at Dolphin Cove, but, still, it's
exciting."

"Yes, it is. Congratulations," her topmost feeling was jealousy. The
lucky greenrider would have his baby. She would liked to have more
children and especially U'kaiah's, but she had been told not to by
healers. She was just too narrow for safe birth. Ravyan had been born
with surgery
and the healers doupted her body couldn't handle another one. Whenever
she
saw pregnant women, she envied them.

U'kaiah could tell there was something about the news that bothered her.
He knew she couldn't have more children, but desperately wanted some.
He knew, too, that she had ended their relationship because of her
jealousy of him being with another woman. He knew, but there was
nothing he could say or do to make it any easier for her. "Anyway, I
wanted to tell you."

"Thank's. It's better hear it from you than from someone else," she said
and managed a little smile. It was rather sad smile.

He placed a hand gently on her knee. "I'm sorry if this upsets you."

She shook her head. "Not upset, just longing for something I can't
have."

U'kaiah opened his arms, inviting her in for the only comfort he could
provide to her. "Come here, Aileyan."

She went to his arms. "I know you'll be great father," she murmured.
"Did you tell it Kaiafel? How did he take it?"

He folded her into his arms. "I haven't told him yet. I know it's
early yet, and... well, things can happen. I want to be sure before I
say anything to him."

"Probably wise," she leaned her head against his shoulder. She kept
wondering how a child of hers and U'kaiah would like.

He leaned his cheek against her head, liking the way she felt in his
arms. "It's going to be hard, though, having a baby in a whole other
Weyr. I really want to help Tavia as much as I can, but
realistically..."

"Yes, I know. Ravyan's father transferred to another weyr and I haven't
seen or heard of him since. I know he sent Ravyan birthday present but
that's
all," she said.

Shards, _he_ had been more of a father to Ravyan than that. And he
would continue to be, as long as Aileyan wanted him. "But I'm
determined to be a part of their lives. I swore to myself I would do it
right this time."

"I hope everything goes well," she said.

"Wouldn't it be fun, though? You and me and the kids some rest day?
When when the new little one gets big enough, he could be a little
playmate for Ravyan." Closer in age than Kaiafel was now, though he was
rather proud of the way his son looked after the little tyke and
entertained him when they spent the day together.

"Yes, it would be," her voice was filled with longing.

"We'll do it, then," he said, rubbing her shoulder. U'kaiah wanted her,
and her son, to be a part of his little family's lives. There was such
a loneliness in her sometimes. She had never had the loving family that
she deserved. He wanted to fill that void in her life, if she would let
him. But it was her choice. "We'll do lots of things together, all of
us. You'll see."

"It's still long way off," she mumbled, her face buried against his arm.
She wondered if he was going to involve Tavia to his extended family too
and
how she would take it.

He snorted softly, rubbing his cheek against the top of her head. That
was such a Aileyan thing to say. Always practical, always realistic.
"It will go by faster than you think." But there was another reason he
had felt he should tell her his news, and he really wasn't sure how she
would feel about this one. "Listen, there's something else about Tavia.
The Harper Hall is at Dolphin Cove and... well, it would be a little
rude of me to be in the same Weyr as her and not say anything to her. I
know I'm your escort for the evening, and I fully intend to be by your
side, but, I think I should duck away for a few minutes at least and say
hello to her, you know?"

"I suppose you should. I can catch up with my sister and father
meanwhile," Aileyan replied.

"Oh." He was a little disappointed. U'kaiah actually had wanted to ask
Aileyan to come with him to meet Tavia. In his heart of hearts, he
hoped they could meet and become friends. Maybe it was a silly dream,
but he wanted there to be no jealousy, no uncomfortable feelings between
them. Perhaps it was too much ask at this point. And like Aileyan had
pointed off, they still had a long time before the baby came anyway.
"All right. I guess that would work."

"Yeah," Aileyan said curtly.

Last updated on the April 26th 2011

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