Bad Timing

Writers: AL, Eimi, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 2nd September 2013
Series: It takes Time to Love

Characters: Tavia, D'hol, U'kaiah, Irabel
Description: Tavia thinks she may be pregnant.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: D'ale

Tavia

D'hol

She knew the symptoms, they were familiar from the last time and as
much as she wanted to deny it she couldn't. Unfortunately there were
two possibilities for the father this time and no matter how she
figured it, she would have gotten pregnant on the day of her flight.

So, she sat down at her desk and wrote a note to send with Glory to
U'kaiah. Then she waited for the little gold to return. Her next note
was to D'hol and simply said: "Going to the dolphins in one hour, be
there if you want to know the results. You may be a father."

The note had surprised him, especially considering who he figured it
was from. He and Tavia had not parted on the best of terms after her
flight, but a kernel of hope flickered in his belly despite the notes
'may be'. So in the appointed hour, he was waiting where she had
indicated, hands clasped firmly behind his back and face set.

Tavia rose from the shadow of a rock near the water where she'd been
waiting. She'd hoped U'kaiah would be the first to arrive but it
hadn't happened, 'though Sawauth assured her Kalamath was on his way.
"Good evening D'hol," she said.

His head turned as she appeared and he approached with quick steps.
"Tavia." He took a moment before speaking and then spoke in a far less
formal tone. "Are you well?"

"I am. Thank you for asking," she said with a small nod. "Just feeling
the symptoms and came to have the dolphins check me out."

"And your plans on if you are indeed with child?" D'hol watched her
carefully, his face a neutral mask.

She wasn't a part of his wing so had little or no reason to know
anything about her beyond gossip. She could also claim the same about
him so she simply tilted her head. "My son's father may also be the
father of this child," she said. "I wouldn't have said anything to
either of you if I didn't intend to keep it."

He pursed his lower lip slightly in thought, but his shoulders visibly
relaxed at her words. "Very well. If you are, no matter who may be the
father, whatever you need, I will get you."

She nodded in simple acknowledgement and a half smile then her eyes
turned to the skies hoping for a glimpse of Kalamath.

It was not long before the glittering bronze popped in high above them
and began a tight circular descent, both to show off for Sawauth, and
because he could feel his rider's impatience to land. U'kaiah had
rushed through his meeting with D'ale once he had received word.
Luckily his Second had been more than understanding of his haste. But
he was afraid that even so, he may have come too late.

"Did I miss it?" he asked, breathing deeply after running across the
sand from the spot they landed to where she and the stranger stood.
U'kaiah couldn't help but take the measure of the man standing beside
her with a look as warm as /between/. **So, this is the bastard who
can't be civil after a Flight...**

D'hol met the look with a slight mocking curl of his lips and arched a
brow. He didn't introduce himself to the other rider; he wasn't here
for the man, but for the possibility of the child. Instead, he turned
to Tavia and inclined his head, waiting.

Tavia felt her tension melt away at the sight of Kalamath and greeted
U'kaiah with a warm smile. "Not yet."

The Dragonsfall rider curled an arm around her. "Well, then, shall we
head down?" He could feel his heart pounding even harder at the thought
that she could potentially be pregnant again. Though who the father
might be was anyone's guess.

It wasn't unusual for dragonriders to visit the dolphin hall.
Greenriders were the most common, of course, so that in itself wasn't
unusual. It was unusual for them to come in pairs, for usually the
father wasn't with the female rider - at least, that Irabel had seen.
What struck her as particularly odd was the trio of riders that had
arrived at the hall. Now that was a new experience.

"Hello." The greeting was genial ad she coupled it with a polite nod.

"May I help you with something?"

"Yes," Tavia turned to the Dolphineer with another smile. "I may be
pregnant and I was hoping the dolphins could tell us."

D'hol moved to stand at Tavia's other side, but held back more than
U'kaiah did. His presence was known, but not intrusive. He simply
watched, but there was a hint of impatience in his posture.

U'kaiah's arm around her tightened slightly, though not in reaction to
the other bronzerider. He was equally impatient to know the results.
Truly, he hoped to have more children with Tavia. Lots of them. He
loved their son and couldn't wait for another to come into their lives.
But this was definitely not the right time. Would she risk the trips
between to move to Dragonsfall if she was with child? Would she want to
know who the father was before making the move? What if it wasn't
U'kaiah's? Would she want her child to grow up close to his father and
her family? Would she change her mind? It just raised to many doubts
in his mind.

The tension was palpable and it didn't take a genius to figure out why
both men were there. "All right. Unfortunately those with specific
medical training are occupied, but my Kerchek knows a baby when he
sees one. He'll be able to tell you if you're pregnant." Just not
anything else, but it seemed that wouldn't be an issue if she read the
situation correctly.

Irabel motioned for the trio to follow before she made her way down to
the water. She slipped into the sea up to her calves, then extended a
hand to Tavia.

Tavia nodded at D'hol and smiled gratefully up at U'kaiah before she
stepped forward. Having come in shorts with no shoes she stepped into
the sea reaching out for the hand Irabel offered. It wasn't that she
was uncomfortable in the water. Far from it. She just wanted to allow
the dolphineer to guide her in the process.

Though it did not show in his appearance, D'hol was nervous. His hands
clasped behind his back as he resisted the urge to tap his foot with
impatience. His eyes kept on the dolphineer and Tavia as he pondered
what the results could mean to him. Riders had children all of the
time, it was true, but he also was firm about his responsibilities.

U'kaiah had not time to get swimming gear, but he did kick off his
boots, roll of up his pants as far as he could and wade into the water,
hovering as close behind her as he could without getting soaked. But he
could not go so far. It was frustrating as he stood knee deep, watching
as a potentially course changing even unfolded before them, and he could
only be a bystander. For a man of action, it was excruciating, and the
way his brow furrowed and his arms crossed over his chest gave away his
nervous uncertainty. **Please, not now...**

"Here we go." Irabel helped buffet Tavia against the waves that
pushed at the two of them. When they got deep enough, Kerchek
approached. The conversation with the shipfish was succinct and a
moment later, Irabel turned to say something to Tavia before the two
of them began their return back to the shore.

"Thank you Irabel," Tavia squeezed the dolphineer's hand as they
walked through the water back to the two men. Truthfully she was
relieved with the result so she smiled at U'kaiah and gave a tiny
shake of her head. "Sorry to bring you all this way," she said as she
got to him. Then she looked at D'hol and shook her head again. "Sorry.
False alarm."

"Oh, thank the Egg," U'kaiah breathed as he pulled her into his arms,
relief washing over him.

D'hol inclined his head. "It's quite alright. I appreciate you letting
me know." He nodded to them both and spun on his heel towards Yumath.

The departure was rather abrupt, but from the looks of things, Irabel
guessed the man was not romantically involved with the greenrider.
The possessiveness of the other bronzerider, however, indicated that
he was.

"No problem." Irabel smiled and lifted a hand in farewell. "Feel
free to return if you need to."

"Thanks," Tavia called after the dolphineer but her eyes stayed on
U'kaiah. She understood his feelings since they matched her own so
closely. She dropped her forehead against his chest and sighed deeply.
This had scared her far more than she'd let on to the others. "I'm so
glad you came."

"How could I _not_ come?" he asked rhetorically, laying his cheek
against the top of her head. "I will always come when you need me."
Though hopefully, next time would be a much shorter trip.

She smiled and just held onto him.

Last updated on the September 13th 2013

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Bad Timing