I'm going to miss you.

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 31st March 2012
Series: It takes Time to Love

Characters: U'kaiah, Tavia
Description: The night before he has to leave to go back home
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 3 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Kaiafel, Aileyan

Follows "Meet the Parents"

Tavia

It was the wee hours of the morning and Tavia had gotten up with the
baby to nurse him. He was just a sweet little boy she thought as her
fingers stroked through the dark mass of curls. Tiny slurping noises
were all that could be heard besides the normal rustlings and ambient
sounds of the Weyr. Her mind worked against her some times and she
knew it. She'd been able to keep the inevitable at bay for so long
that when it finally hit her she was almost overwhelmed.

U'kaiah had to leave and go back to Dragonsfall tomorrow. They're
idyllic few days alone with their new baby were almost done. Tavia
found that she didn't want it to be over. It seemed like it was too
soon. Kaiavin was done with his midnight snack and she had lifted him
to pat his back when she heard stirring in the sleeping area.

The bronzerider hadn't stirred when Tavia had left the bed, but
somewhere in the back of his mind he knew she was missing. While he
could not initially will his body out of it's much needed rest, in the
end the feeling finally called him to wake and look for her. "Tavia?"
he called groggily, but softly.

She got up still patting the sleeping infant. "I'm here," she said
whispered and lay the tiny bundle carefully back in his cradle. Then
she slipped back in the warm bed. "Your son needed to nurse." She
cuddled up to U'kaiah's back with a satisfied sigh and kissed his
shoulder.

"That's my boy," he croaked softly, carefully moving onto his back.
U'kaiah lifted an arm in both a move to stretch and to pillow Tavia's
head. "He's just practicing for later in life."

She chuckled and put an arm across his chest. Hugging closer to him.
She knew Kaiavin was taking up most of her attention but she'd been
very happy with the way U'kaiah had bonded with him as well. "I'm
sure you'll have a few things to teach him."

"Nah, I'm lazy," he said, finding her hand and bringing it up to his
lips. "I'll just give him the book Kaiafel has. It seems to work well
enough."

She chuckled softly. "Kaiafel should come meet his brother in a couple
of weeks. Do you think he'd like that?"

"Are you kidding? He'll be chewing my leg from the moment I get back
asking when he'll get to come." Kaiafel was rather excited about the
idea of having another little brother, since it seemed he had adopted
Ravyan as well. "And I'd like Aileyan to come some time, if she can. I
think it would be good for her to see the baby, and meet you. Maybe it
would put her mind at ease a bit."

She laughed at the thought knowing how badly she'd wanted a baby
brother or sister and had never had one. She was very glad her son
would have such an extended family. "Do you think she'd like to, and
maybe bring Ravyan as well?" She hadn't missed the way U'kaiah had
spoken of her young son. His affection for the boy was evident in the
way he talked about him.

"I don't know. Maybe it's just my hope talking." If it were a perfect
world, Aileyan and Tavia could be friends, and their children could grow
up and play together like true brothers. "I really don't know how she's
taking all of this, to tell the truth. I've been wondering the last few
days how she was doing. But Faranth knows she wouldn't freely tell me
what she's truly thinking."

Tavia had no knowledge of U'kaiah's other relationships other than
rumors of what had happened here at Dolphin Cove but then again they'd
never been silly enough to try and promise what both of them knew was
impossible. She knew the other woman was young, not yet 20 turns and
that could make for some awkward ideas. Tavia was more realistic about
things especially since her failed attempt to weyrmate with L'rak.
There was no doubt that if the big bronzerider cared for Aileyan then
she would be an influence in Kaiavin's life.

"Well she's welcome if she wants to come meet us." She smiled softly
and gave him a kiss.

"Thank you," he said, leaning in to give her one more. "You make it so
easy on me sometimes." U'kaiah knew that a lot of the burden fell on
her. She would be taking care of their son, she would be waiting for
him, she would be left behind while he went back to his own Weyr. And
yet, she never complained or asked for more than he could give.

"I like things easy and uncomplicated. Our lives are on the line every
Fall. Why make the good parts hard?" She hugged him. "I care a lot
about you U'kaiah. More than I thought I would. I'm going to miss
you."

"Me too," he said softly. As much as he genuinely cared for Aileyan and
wanted to keep her close, he couldn't help how his feelings for Tavia
just grew deeper and deeper as time passed. "I wish I could take you
both home with me. It's going to be hard leaving you."

Her heart warmed at the sentiment and she hugged him even harder.
"Thank you for that. It will help keep me warm at night when you
aren't here heating up my bed like a furnace."

"I'll be back on the restday," he assured her, rubbing her back as she
cuddle closer. "That's not so long to wait." Though they both knew the
next wait would be even longer. He would come as often as he could, but
he had other commitments as well. "Soon you'll be able to go /between/
again, and then things will be easier."

"Yes it will," she agreed softly. "I can't wait to get myself back in
shape."

"We'll make this work," U'kaiah said with a hint of determination in his
voice. He had learned from his relationship with Traelyn just how hard
the separation could be. But he had also come to understand that
jealousy, pride, and a lack of honesty had killed their relationship
faster than all the dragonlengths that lay between them ever did. The
lesson had been painful, but unforgettable.

"You've done so much already U'kaiah." She lay there for a moment just
listening to the steady beat of his heart. Whatever the future held
for them, right here and now she was happier than she'd ever been
since that glorious moment when Sawauth had found her on the sands.
"We'll make it work."

Last updated on the April 2nd 2012

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I'm going to miss you.