Irreplaceable

Writers: Paula, Eimi
Date Posted: 14th May 2013

Characters: Aileyan, U'kaiah
Description: U'kaiah tries to prove to Aileyan that Tavia could never replace her...
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 21 of Turn 6

"They're gone now," U'kaiah said, walking back in from the ledge with a
tired, and cautious, smile. Now came the real moment of truth. What
did Aileyan think of his Dolphin Cove family? Could she possibly agree
to their coming to Dragonsfall? Was now the right time to ask her, or
was it better to give her a couple days to think about it? A thousand
questions swirled in his head, but only one came out. "Do you want a
drink?"

"I could use juice, thank's," Aileyan said. She was sittin her legs
curled under her, hugging a pillow against her chest. Tired of day's
visit, Ravyan had already been tugged to bed and asleep.

He poured them both a glass and settled down next to her, unconsciously
curling an arm around the back of the sofa behind her after she took
the offered glass. "Do you like my son?"

"He's a darling," Aileyan answered with a small smile and sipped the
juice. "Was Kaiafel like him as a baby?"

U'kaiah shrugged a shoulder slightly. "I don't actually know." And he
was definitely not proud of that. Especially after all the time he had
spent with Ravyan and Kaiavin. "I was about as involved in his life as
Ravyan's father is until Kaiafel got to Harper's classes. And then,
well, he was a little hard to ignore."

"Oh," Aileyan had actually forgotten that.

Her clipped response told him all he needed to know about her opinion
of that. "It wasn't my finest moment. I'm certainly not proud, though
Felka never asked anything of me. But that is why I swore to myself,
and to Tavia, that I would do better this time."

Aileyan couldn't understand how anybody could ignore a child of his. At
least Ravyan had plenty of surrogate-fathers in his life, like U'kaiah
and his fostermother's mate. "I'm grateful of the attention you're
giving to Ravyan. You're more father to him than his sire," she said
and smiled.

"I love Ravyan. I always think that I have _three_ beautiful sons. It
doesn't matter who sired him." And no matter what happened between him
and Aileyan, he never intended to stop thinking that way. "Do you know
what I love most about him? I love that when I look at him, I see
_you_." He kissed her softly, hoping that she understood that even
after Tavia and his natural born son had shared their space this day,
that his feelings for Aileyan and Ravyan had not changed at all.

"Funny, I just see my father in him," Aileyan smiled.

"I take it you don't mean the one I met." The boy bore no resemblance
whatsoever to Eilomar.

"No, he's actually step father," Aileyan replied. Being result of her
mother's extra-marrital activities, she barely knew her biological
father.

"I remember," he assured her. U'kaiah had meant it to tease her, but
it obviously fell flat, like so many of his jokes did with her. And
yet that was one of the reasons he loved her. He would just have to
make sure Ravyan grew up to understand his brand of humor.

U'kaiah also knew that any talk of her family would inevitably lead to
a deep sadness in her eyes that made his heart ache. He didn't want
that. They had enough problems to deal with tonight. Perhaps it was
time to take her mind off of everything for a while. Their talk could
wait.

"I don't know much about your father," he said, leaning in to nuzzle
her neck just where he knew would get the best reaction out of her,
"but he sure made one amazing daughter."

"I'm glad you approve," Aileyan murmured. He made pleasant chill go
down her spine.

"And would he approve of me, do you think?" he asked, pulling at the
top tie of her tunic. "Am I taking good enough care of his daughter?"
[cleardot.gif]
"I think he would," Aileyan replied.

U'kaiah turned to kneel down in front of her, took her face in his
hands and kissed her soundly. Locking his eyes on hers, he wanted to
make sure she understand that his next question was being asked in all
seriousness. "And do _you_ think I take good care of you, Aileyan?

"Yes, you do," she kissed him back.

"Good," he murmured against her lips, working on her ties with a bit
more earnest now. "Because I intend to take care of you for a long,
long time yet." U'kaiah needed her to understand this. He could live
close to Tavia, he could even be in love with Tavia, but it did not
change the deep feelings he had for Aileyan. She was different from
any woman he had ever known. None could take her place.
[cleardot.gif]
"I would like that," Aileyan said, leaning closer to him.

Last updated on the June 4th 2013

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Irreplaceable