Kindness is Enough

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 11th August 2006

Characters: Jio, Miryene
Description: Jio and Miryene take the next step in their marriage
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 13, day 16 of Turn 3

Jio lay stretched out on the sofa, his hands gently resting on the back of the baby sleeping on his chest. He felt so peaceful just lying like that, feeling the rising and falling of little Mio's each breath under his hands.
His little lungs filled quickly, so even in his sleep his breaths seemed fast. Not for the first time since the little boy was born, Jio marveled at the perfection of him. How is it that all those tiny parts were formed so perfectly? Jio had enough experience to know in even the most complicated of machines _something_ usually went wrong. And yet, here was the human body in miniature. Every little hair was growing, every finger and toe nail, and he couldn't even imagine all the little inner workings that could go wrong and yet seemed to be working together perfectly. What an amazing little creature he was.

Miryene paused in the doorway, a smile curving her lips at the sight of her husband and her son. It was at times like this that Miryene could feel the stirring of some deeper emotion when she watched Jio. Maybe it was love--not the romantic, passionate kind, but love all the same. It was a start, at least. Women married men they didn't love every day--she was lucky that the one she'd married not only loved her, but loved her child as if it was his own.

"How long has he been asleep?" she asked quietly as she moved into the room, bringing her damp hair over her shoulder as she sat down and reaching for the comb on the nearby table. "About a quarter candlemark," he whispered. "Did you enjoy your bath?"

"Oh, yes. It was wonderful." And the first leisurely bath she'd taken in longer than she cared to think about. "Thank you for getting him to sleep."

"It wasn't very hard. Smiling and holding his head up took a lot out of him," Jio grinned lovingly, gently caressing his thumb along the little boy's soft head of hair.

The gesture made Miryene smile again. "I'm glad he has you, Jio. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"And I can't imagine life without the little guy," he beamed. His smiled softened as he turned his head to look at her. "I really can't remember when I felt this happy, Miryene."

Miryene set her comb aside, gathering up the strands of her hair to plait.
Even though she knew that she wanted to say her next words, they still came out sounding far too nervous. "Why don't you put Mio in his crib, and we can... we can go to bed."

Her slight apprehension hadn't escaped his notice and his heart thumped at his chest as he thought about all the possible meaning those words could contain. "All right," he finally said, trying not to let the hope show on his face as he carefully sat up. "Why don't you go ahead and I'll be there in a moment or two?"

Resisting the urge to fortify her nerves with a healthy sip of wine, Miryene bound off her braid and rose to her feet. The hope in Jio's voice made her feel guilty. Almost four months they'd been married, and the slightest hint of affection from her was enough to surprise and please him. She really was luckier than she deserved. Still, it didn't make her any less nervous as she pulled back the quilt on their bed. Not because she was nervous about what would happen, but because she was terrified of making Jio feel unwanted by his wife. Jio laid Mio carefully down in his crib. He wondered just what he should do. Shards, it sure sounded like an invitation, but he didn't want to push her. When they were married he promised he wouldn't. But it had been so hard to just lay next to her for so long! There was a flicker of hope that maybe tonight would be different, but if he just assumed... He could scare her further away, and he would have done anything to just draw her closer.
Jio decided to just go about their regular routine, to just ready himself for bed in the way they always had since they were married and then... Well, they would see where that lead. Bending down he kissed Mio's head softly.
"Wish me luck, little man," he whispered.

When they were finally stretched out next to each other in the dark, Miryene let out a soft sigh and turned her head in Jio's direction. "It's going to be awkward no matter what we do," she said quietly. "But if you want to try..." Jio felt his heart flip in his chest. It was such a relief that she spoke first. "We can take it slow if you like," though that might create it's own kind of frustration, it would only get better from there.

"That might be best." The silence stretched out for a few moments before she added, "I think the longer we sit here, the worse it's going to be, though."

Jio knew she had two wedding nights before, but this was as close as he had ever come. It was only natural to be nervous, he reassured himself. The first step into intimacy between them would be the hardest. He rolled over on his side, propping himself up on his elbow as he rested his hand on her stomach. "Let me know if I go too fast for you." He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers lightly, but even that soft touch made his breath quicken. Faranth, how many nights had he lain next to her and dreamed of doing just that?

It was sweet and innocent, and for the first time Miryene realized that she was the one with the experience. It made her feel strangely tender as she slid her hand into his hair and shifted her head to return his kiss. Maybe it wasn't the excitement she'd hoped for, but it was gentle and kind. And in the end, that was all she could ask for.

Last updated on the August 14th 2006

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Kindness is Enough