A Big Decision

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 22nd November 2020

Characters: Timassa, D'hol
Description: Timassa tells D'hol her decision
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 6, day 18 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, Jeyme

Timassa

D'hol

D'hol sat on the couch, legs outstretched as he flipped through the
small book and drank a cup of klah. It was quiet in the weyr, but
it was a peaceful quiet and one that suited him. He felt a weight fall
on his lap and didn't look up, instead dropping one hand to lightly
rub at the instep of the bare foot that rested lightly on his thigh.

"Oh," she signed in pleasure. "that feels good." She closed her own
book and blew out a soft breath. "D'hol? Can we talk for a moment?"

His lip lifted in response as he continued to rub her instep, but
paused when she spoke again. Looking up from his book, he looked over
at her. "Sure." Noticing that she'd put her book aside, he did the
same.

"I've been thinking about things and though I've never been one to
want a child like some women." She'd actually spent all her time
thinking about it this pregnancy like she'd never done with any of the
previous ones. "I find that I want this one." It was probably her last
chance and beyond that she liked D'hol enough not to want to strangle
him every other day.

He exhaled slowly, then a wide smile broke his face. "I didn't want to
pressure you or push you." He squeezed her foot gently. "But
I'm...honored that you want my child. Our child." D'hol felt a tension
ease in his shoulders that had settled there since she agreed to think
about it. "What do you need from me to make this easier on you?" He
wouldn't make the mistake of making demands; he'd learned the hard way
that a strong willed woman would never accept that.

"I do," she said simply. "Our child," she tasted the words and smiled
back at him. Then she thought about his question. "I'm not sure
actually. I've never been the motherly sort. Maybe I should talk to
someone but I don't even know where to begin." She chuckled. "You
probably know more than I do."

He began rubbing her instep again as he thought. "I wasn't with
Cyradis or Ma'din's mother when they were pregnant and I didn't meet
them until much later in their lives." His brow knit. "Jeyme and I
lost the first babe she carried, but I was with her for Dheymin until
they left. He wasn't even a turn old." He had missed so much of his
children's lives, especially in their formative years. "Wylra's first
pregnancy was hard on her, but she was carrying twins." They had died
at the birth. "The second was completely normal." His daughter had
died only a month after her birth and the memory still made his heart
hurt. "I would say the first thing that should be done is to go to the
dolphins and then the Healers to make sure it's a healthy pregnancy.
We can go from there." He took a breath. "With the losses that I've
been through, would you mind sharing my bed during the pregnancy?
You'd keep your room of course, but I'd feel better having you close,
to be honest."

She looked at him for a long moment, "I'm sorry D'hol," she said
slowly. "I didn't know all of that." She could understand why he might
be concerned. Especially with all the weight of the Weyr on his
shoulders. "Alright," she nodded. "But on one condition."

"Not many do. I don't speak of it often," he admitted as he moved his
hands to her other foot. His thumbs kneaded her instep as his fingers
stroked and massaged the top of her feet. "What's the condition?"

She smiled at him. "This, " she nodded toward where his hands massaged
and manipulated her feet. "Every night."

He blinked, then began to laugh softly, his shoulders shaking with
mirth. "Agreed." He tugged at her feet. "Come here."

She chuckled and slid closer until she was right next to him. She took
hold of his arm and put her head on his shoulder. "This is a big
decision. Thanks for giving me the time."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, bending
to press his lips against her temple. "It is and you're welcome. I'll
have some more of that ginger root tea brought up for you. " He
reached with his other hand and lightly laid his hand on her belly,
fingers splayed wide. The look in his eyes was soft and proud. "Our
babe."

"Thank you," she said leaning into the kiss. She'd never been one to
coddle herself or those around her but this adventure seemed just a
tiny bit scary. Having D'hol's support was something she'd never
thought to need. Maybe that was one of the reasons she'd never even
considered having a baby when she was younger. Any sort of
relationship she'd tried had never been stable.

She let her head rest against his neck and closed her eyes for a
moment. This was comfortable, neither of them trying to own the other.
She wasn't 'in love' with D'hol and never had been but what they had
was trust and mutual respect. She smiled, and he was good in the furs.
"So," she said. "When will we go to the dolphins?"

"Let's go in the morning before the drills." He rubbed his thumb over
the flat of her stomach and chuckled. "Of which as your wingleader,
I'm excusing you from until the babe is born. You'll just have the
hidework." He wouldn't show her favoritism in the wing and she'd still
have duties just like any other position of rank, but he wouldn't
allow any risk to the tiny life that nestled beneath his palm. "And
then to the Healers. They need to be aware and you can ask them any
questions you need to about what you need to do."

"Alright," she said and unwrapped her legs from his lap. "Then we'll
need to get some sleep and if I'm staying in your room I'll need to
grab a few things."

"If you're up for it, we might entertain ourselves for a while before
we sleep." D'hol nuzzled her ear, then patted her hip. "Get whatever
you need. I've got the room."

She chuckled and stroked the side of his face. "Yes, I'd like that,"
she turned her head and kissed the end of his nose. "I'll be right
back." She rose and trotted up the steps to her room. She gathered
only what she'd need for the night and then came back down. "Bath or
bed," she asked as she walked toward his bedroom.

He watched her as she came back down, having already risen from the
couch. "How about a bath, then you get a nice, slow massage?" D'hol's
eyes gleamed at the prospect of her naked and fresh on his bed, body
lightly sheened with oil.

"Lovely," she said approvingly and dropped her few things on the
bedside table and began removing her leathers.

Two candlemarks later, D'hol pressed his lips gently against Timassa's
brow as she lay bare next to him. His hand stroked the soft skin of
her back slowly from shoulder to hip as he tucked her close under the
furs."Feel better?"

"Oh yes," she sighed. Maybe she could luxuriate just a little in this
kind of treatment occasionally, she thought as she began to drift in
a fog of relaxation. She snuggled into his side thinking it wouldn't
be too much of an imposition to sleep here nights. His bed was so much
more comfortable than her own. "This is good," she murmured before her
breathing deepened and consciousness faded.

Last updated on the December 1st 2020

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A Big Decision