Almost Perfect

Writers: Mirren, Paula
Date Posted: 22nd August 2015

Characters: Sh'lua, Elona, Elonus
Description: Sh'lua and Elona share a moment with their son.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 13 of Turn 8

"He looks more like you every turn."

Elona sat on a chair in her small quarters, her feet tucked up under her skirt, watching Elonus play with a toy dragon. He was dressed in his pyjamas, his hair still damp from a bath, oblivious to the grownups talking.

"Do you really think so?" Sh'lua asked and inspected the boy. "I see you in him," he continued.

"His hair is the same colour as mine, and just as unruly," she replied. "But he has your nose. And chin."

"If you say so," Sh'lua said and peered the boy. "He's cute little fella in either way," he grinned bit proudly.

"Yes, he certainly is. Especially when he's playing or asleep," Elona replied.

"And rest of the time he's like hurricane?" Sh'lua suggested. If the boy came to his bloodline at all, he was probably a handful. They all tended to be active and inventive...at least when it came to mischief.

"That would be pretty accurate, yes." She smiled. "He's very energetic, but when he falls, he falls hard." Which he was about to do, by the heavy look of his eyelids.

"Sounds familiar, yep, he's mine," Sh'lua grinned. Not that he ever had any doupts. If Elona said he was his, so be it. He never second guessed a mother. They knew. Elonus had been a bit of surprise for him, but considering his way of life, not unexpected one. A child or two of his could still pop out of somewhere.

"Yes and he's going to need tucking in. Do you have time?" She never assumed anything. One never knew when his dragon might need him.

"I have right now," Sh'lua said. "Galerith has a pretty green to flirt with so he's occupied."

"Like dragon, like rider," she said dryly.

"Yes, sometimes that is _so_ true," Sh'lua said. He never hid what he was or pretended to be anything else he was.

Elona smiled and uncurled her legs from under her. She stretched and then rise to scoop Elonus up from the floor. "Can you get his dragon please?" she asked as she started toward Elonus' bed.

"Sure," Sh'lua replied. After standing up he strode to pick the toy up. He turned it around in his hands.

"It's been well loved," Elona said as she lowered the boy onto his bed and pulled the blanket over him. "It's his favourite."

"It certainly looks so," Sh'lua placed it with the rest of the toys. "My pa's a woodsmith and sometimes he carves toys too. I could check if he has anything done. Do you think Elonus would like that?"

"I'm sure he'd love it," she replied.

Elonus was nodding vigorously. "Can he make a dragon?"

"I'm sure he can, a wooden, carved one," Sh'lua replied.

The little boy's eyes were huge. "Really? Can he make it brown? Or blue, like yours?"

"Brown is easier, it's pretty hard to get a blue paint," Sh'lua replied.

"Brown is my favourite," Elonus replied.

"All right, it's sleep time." Elona stepped back as Elonus raised his arms to his father for a cuddle.

"Brown's a good colour, now, sleep well," Sh'lua gave him the cuddle and a kiss for good night.

"I will g'night Da." Elonus nestled down into his blanket and closed his eyes.

"Good night," Sh'lua replied and just watched his face for a moment.

"He's sweet, isn't he?" Elona asked softly. She'd thought she'd known what love was, until her son was born.

"He is. They all are in that age. They just grow up so fast," Sh'lua spoke quietly so not to disturb the boy. Shamany his second youngest child was already 6. "You're fortunate that you could spend these early Turns with him."

"I know. It makes me question whether or not I should even stand. I'd be missing this. Missing him."

"There also may be a dragon who is missing you," Sh'lua replied. Of course, if that dragon Hatched in Dragonsfall Weyr, she would find Elona even from stands.

She drew the curtain between Elonus' sleep area and hers and gestured Sh'lua back to the sitting area. She lowered herself back into her chair and tucked her legs under her again. "That's why I keep standing," she said eventually. "If there's no dragon for me then I just won't impress."

Sh'lua nodded. "Once you're too old to be candidate, you can still pick a craft. or become a fostermother, Weyr never has enough of those, or become a headwoman's assistant."

"I think I'd like to work with the kids," Elona replied. "Maybe have more some day." She blushed.

"Anytime you need a donor, don't hesitate to give me a call," Sh'lua gave a cheeky grin. "I come from fertile family." As Elona had found out.

Her blush deepened. "Thank you," she muttered. "I think maybe I'd like someone who only wants me." His way of life was all very well for him, but it wasn't her ideal.

"As you wish," Sh'lua gave her a gentle smile. He had tried that option too. Perhaps one day he would find someone more permanent again. Right now he free to roam.

"I'm glad we can be friends," she said. "I think that can only help Elonus. I've seen kids whose parents couldn't stand each other and -" She shrugged. "He likes having us both around." Even if Sh'lua was busy much of the time.

"Having both parents is kind of important for kids," Sh'lua agreed. "I've managed to stay in good terms with all of the mothers of my children." Which required some effort and explained why he was so busy. He had children in two Weyrs and he liked to see them all now and then.

"I, for one, appreciate that." She was probably the youngest one as well. Not that it had ever bothered her. The fact that there were so many factored more heavily in her mind. She'd learn a lot since then, like to be more discerning.

Sh'lua just nodded again. "You're doing wonderful work with him," he nodded towards the boy's bed.

"He makes it easy. Well most of the time," she added ruefully. "No one's perfect, right?"

"That's a fact."

"He's pretty close," she added.

Last updated on the September 1st 2015

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Almost Perfect