It Was Just a Kiss

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 23rd March 2014

Characters: T'nom, Meledei
Description: The pair heads to a gather and T'nom admits what happened during Pierka's last checkup
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 4 of Turn 7
Notes: Follows "You Don't Have the Right"
Mentioned: Pierka

T'nom

"Morning, Dei," T'nom said as he pushed open the door. He knew she
would be expecting him. They had made plans to visit a neighboring
gather today. T'nom was eager to be on the way. It would be nice to
get away for awhile, just the two of them. He wanted to talk to her,
but he also wanted to be away from the stress of the Weyr and the
choices he was forced to make each and every day anymore. It hadn't
been easy for him, but he'd stuck it out. He cared so deeply for
Meledei that he didn't want to give up on their relationship. They had
talked, but often skirted the problems that seemed to crop up at times
to avoid more fights between them. He hoped that today, being away,
would allow them time to reconnect after what had turned into a busy
set of sevendays.

"You ready to go?" He asked, waiting by her doorway until she invited
him in further.

"Ready and willing!" Meledei's response was cheerful as she pulled
her jacket over her arms. "Why are you standing there silly?" She
untucked the collar, then began to lace it up. "Do you have the
location in mind? If so, would you ask Taldeth to go ahead and pass
it along?"

"No problem," he replied relaying the message to Taldeth who would
make sure Elleth knew it as well. He pushed off the door frame and

entered. Moving up to her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and
then slid them down her arms.

"Good morning," he murmured, leaning in to give her his customary
greeting kiss. Just the gentlest of kisses by way of greeting, but it
was something he looked forward to each time he saw her.

"Good morning to you too." Meledei slipped her arms about T'nom's
waist and drew him into a firm embrace. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I would say so. You?" He asked. He'd been doing better actually
as things between Meledei and himself seemed to settle into a better
routine. He still had alot of stress, guilt and other feelings over
Pierka and the babe, but he also knew from their last encounter that
there_was_ now a line between them. One he'd crossed by accident, but

Pierka had made it clear he should not cross it again.

"I'm excited to go to the gather. We haven't been to one in ages. I've
a few things I'd like to pick up myself. What about you?" He asked,
tucking her arm in his as he started to lead them out to meet the
waiting dragons.

"I love Gathers. I'd probably go at least once a month if I could."

It was feasibly possible with the amount of holds there were and the
weather difference between the Southern Continent and the North. That
didn't mean it was practical, however. "I just want to spend some
time with you and enjoy myself."

"Alright then, let's go!" T'nom replied with a grin.

~*~

It didn't take them long to get saddled up and take to the skies. In a
matter of moments they popped into the air above the already bustling
gather.

Taldeth landed in a large field that had been designated for arriving
dragons. Sliding off the bronze's back, T'nom moved out of the way to
wait for Meledei as Taldeth took to the skies to find a better waiting
place.

Meledei was close behind and she joined the young man as Elleth went
to join her bronze companion. "So where to first?" She queried as
she clasped his hand in her own.

"Well, I'm looking for some particular pieces of wood and a new tool,
but other than that, I'd love to just explore what's available." He
replied, "Anything in particular you'd like to check out first?"

"I want something to eat." Meledei grinned broadly. "I waited to get
here before I ate just because I enjoy the variety a Gather seems to
bring out. Why don't we grab something and then you choose the first
event?"

"Sounds like a plan," he replied. "Lead the way, my dear." He smiled
at her as he gestured for her to take the lead.

Meledei clasped T'nom's hand and made a beeline for a stall that sold
various kinds of meet. Of course she got her usual - steak on a
stick. There was just something about Gather food that it just tasted
better. A pile of batter-fried tubers complimented the meat and the
two settled down at a table to share the greasy root vegetables.
"Whatever we do next, we'd better make sure it doesn't require a lot
of movement."

He followed and soon found himself with his own plate of tubers and
meat. Sitting down beside her he dug into the tasty treats. Once he
satiated some of his intense hunger, he pushed the plate away a bit
and leaned on the small table, looking at her.

"I have something we need to talk about," he told her, knowing it was
something they_had_ to discuss.

"Oh?" Meledei's expression turned a little more severe. The tone in
T'nom's voice was no laughing matter and so she focused her attention
upon him. "What's wrong?"

He looked at her and wondered how to say what he needed to say and
then decided it was best just to get it out. "I kissed Pierka. I
wanted you to know before you heard from some other source."

"You...kissed Pierka?" Meledei was taken aback - it was an admittance
she hadn't expected. "Why did you kiss her?"

He gave his shoulders a little shrug even as he explained. "I got a
little excited when I felt the baby, and I honestly wasn't really
_thinking_. I was just so happy, that I reacted, and I kissed her." He
wasn't sure what else he could say to explain what happened.

"You kissed her." Excited about a baby. So what did that have to do
with kissing? And why in the world would T'nom kiss her? It didn't
make any sense to Meledei at all.

"Yes," he replied, repeating himself again, "I kissed her in the
excitement of the moment." He waited to see how else she would react.
So far she didn't seem to be reacting at all to his statement.

Meledei lowered her gaze and stared at the ground. In her chest, she
felt a strange fullness. He'd kissed Pierka, and obviously it was
more than a peck on a cheek from the seriousness of his confession.
She shifted, uncertain. "Would you have kissed someone else in the
excitement of the moment? It had been another woman that wasn't
Pierka or me?"

He furrowed his brow at her question, trying to figure out how to
answer. "Well, I've never been in that situation before with any other
woman. I mean, its not like a have a bunch of weyrbrats running
around. This is new to me, and I just got overwhelmed with the
feelings of being a father. I_honestly_ didn't think. I just acted."

Yeah, that was part of the problem. He didn't think. What would
happen the next time he didn't think? Meledei swallowed that question
and asked a different one. "Would you rather be with her than me?"

He sighed, trying not to get frustrated. He knew he'd been in the
wrong here and had hurt them both in the process. "You, of course, or
I wouldn't_be_ with you now. I've chosen you, Meledei. I've chosen to
stay with you."

Had he? Had he really chosen her? If that was the case, why did he
kiss Pierka? But wasn't he with her there? Right then? She managed
a smile and reached out to take his hand. She'd have to forgive him
and hope that he'd have more self control in the future. "Come on.
We've eaten, what do you want to do next?"

He smiled then, pleased that she seemed to have taken the news well.
T'nom, himself, felt much better knowing he had told her what had
happened.

"Well, let's just go explore and enjoy the day shall we?" He grinned,
taking her hand as they headed back out among the booths of the
gather.

Last updated on the March 25th 2014

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It Was Just a Kiss