Growing up!

Writers: Stacey
Date Posted: 26th August 2006

Characters: Jessalyn
Description: Mother and son have a chat about what Jehen plans to do with himself.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 6 of Turn 3

**Ky? You awake dearheart?** Jessalyn inquired reaching out and prodding her drowsing lifemate.

Jessalyn had spent her day filling in as a substitue teacher for one of her dragonhealer colleagues, she was absently watching as the last of the apprentices scurried out of the classroom.

}:Well i would be now, wouldn't i?:{ Kyreth replied her tone drowsy and amused, Jessalyn could feel her stretching lazily up on the heights where she was curled comfortably between two browns.

**Sorry to disturb you Ky, but i need you to contact Vinny for me and tell you where he is.**
Jessalyn asked, her thoughts on what she thought her son wanted to talk about.

}: Alright, doing it now.:{ Kyreth replied, her mind voice going distant for a moment as she spoke to Jehen's brown flit.

}:The little one indicated that his person is waiting for you in our weyr and is filled with many conflicting emotions.:{ Kyreth reported dutifully.

**Thank you Ky. Are M'hen and Briaceth not back yet?** Jessalyn said as she headed in the direction of her weyr.

}:Your welcome. No, our mates are still off doing sweep and won't be back for a while yet. So you will have the time you want.:{ The green dragon replied candidly.

Jessalyn nodded **Perceptive as always Ky.** Jessalyn said teasingly as she came to her weyr and walked inside seeing her son sitting on a chair waiting patiently. Jessalyn felt in her mind the draconic equivilent to a smug grin as she felt her dragon's interest return to her companions. Jessalyn was momentarily grateful that M'hen had somehow been granted a double sized weyr as it accomadated them both, their dragons, plus the comings and goings of the children.

"Jesy!" He greeted her happily as he got to his feet and came forward to hug her warmly. Jessalyn always happy to see her children returned his hug and kissed his cheek feeling as if she had to stretch a little further to do it.

"It is good to see you Jehen." Jessalyn said, pulling back so she could look at her son, proud of him and saw her own smiling brown eyes looking back. He was getting taller and filling out a little from the small, skinny child he'd been.

"Are you hungry and thirsty? I knew you were teaching a class today so i brought something to drink and eat with me." Jehen asked as he stepped back and went over to a small wooden table. Jessalyn could see that a chilled pitcher and a tray containing warm rolls buttered rolls, biscuits and fresh fruit. Vinny her son's brown flit was also sitting on the table nibbling daintily on a piece of fruit. Her son's touching concern made her frown, something was up.

"Now that i can see food and a cold drink i find that i am." Jessalyn answered frankly as she followed him, deciding that her son's odd behaviour would be explained soon enough. Her stomach grumbled loudly to back her up and she heard Jehen giggle.

"Well you'd better eat then if your that hungry." Jehen joked, grinning mischeviously. For a moment Jessalyn was reminded of Jehen's father in the clean features of her son's face and in that cheeky grin but she pushed aside the memory.

Seating herself in a chair she filled two cups on the table with the chilled fruit juice and sipped at it gratefully. Sitting across from her Jehen took the other cup and sipped at it. Reaching across Jessalyn gently scratched Vinny's eyeridge with a finger and was rewarded with a soft croon of pleasure.

"How's Tessi doing sweetie?" Jessayln asked as she picked up a piece of fruit and bit into it.

"Tessi's good, tired and wants cheese or fruit juce all the time.
She's stopped weeping all the time too thank the first egg!" The boy replied in exasperation.

Jessalyn held back a chuckle and frowned warningly. "Be nice to your aunt, she can't help it." She admonished him, Tessi was four months pregnant with her fourth child and Jessalyn sympathised with what her sister was going through.

"I can't help it! I never want to get pregnant!" Jehen declared fiercely.

This time Jessalyn grinned at her son's tone. "Well lucky for you sweetie, you won't have to."

"Well obviously not, i didn't mean it like that." Jehen defended himself, but his lips twitched, he was not able to stay serious for long.

As Jessalyn ate the rest of her fruit she noticed that her son was being uncharacteristically quiet when he was usually a chatterbox.
"What's on your mind Jehen?" She asked quietly.

Jehen regarded his mother seriously for a moment, frowning. "I'm 12 now."
He blurted out, flushing a little.

Jessalyn restrained a smile at this outburst, much more like her son.
"Yes, so you are." Was all she said, her tone as bland and encouraging as she could make it.

"I'm 12 now and want to Stand." Jehen said, trying again, his tone firmer this time.

Jessalyn regarded her son seriously, not surprised that this was behind his request that they talk. "Are you sure about that?" Jessalyn asked in concern.

Jehen regarded his mother just as seriously. "Yes, i'm sure and sharding serious. You can't tell me no, because you stood. M'hen, Risa and Tisala did too and you all got dragons." Jehen shot back just as frankly.

Jessalyn nodded, frowning at her son. "Don'd use that word. That's true sweetie, but you know not everybody Impresses no matter how many times they stand,"

"Sorry Jesy, it slipped out! and i know that! I'm not dumb okay? But i still want to try and you know it's always been my dream to Impress. I want to try as soon as i can, so i have the most chances at Impressing." He said, his brown eyes dreamy as he thought about what he wanted to do and what he'd always wanted.

Jessalyn sighed. "You know i don't have any problems with you standing and wish you the best of luck. I'm sure M'hen and Tessi will be supportive too when we tell them that that's what you want to do."
Jessalyn commented reassuringly, reaching across the table to squeeze her son's hand to show her support.

Jehen squeezed back and grinned, happy to have his mother's support and encouragement, not even sure why he was worried to begin with. "I knew you wouldn't mind Jesy!" He commented happily.

"But Jehen, i do have one condition on this that i want you to consider carefully." Jessayln warned.

"What?" Jehen asked cautiously, some of his happiness fading at the serious look on Jessalyn's face and at the tone of her voice.

"I want you to consider apprenticing to a craft. I know your determined to stand and i won't push or force you. But i really want you to consider it because you need a back up. Every child on Pern has the dream of Impressing but not everybody does and in case you don't Impress you need to have something else." Jessalyn answered firmly.

Jehen brighted at this. "Well that's okay. I already thought about that too and was thinking of either the beastcrafters or healers.
That way if i Impress i can train further and go into dragonhealing like you did. I really want to be like you Jesy, you get not only a dragon but to work with more of them."

Jessalyn stared at her son for a moment or two flattered and a little surprised. Here was the first real sign that her son was growing up and that he admired her that much lightened her heart.

"Healing or the beastcraft are good choice if you want to go into that.
Although you beasthealing is a specality at journeyman level in both."
Jessayln cautioned.

Jehen grinned at his mother's reaction and squeezed her hand again.
"Yes, yes i know! But see? I did think about it the whole way through before making my decison as you've taught me." He joked cheekily.

Jessalyn fought to keep her expression stern but in the face of her son's cheeky expression her lips twitched. "Alright, alright i see that you have. I think those two crafts would suit you fine sweetie."
She said encouragingly. "But i will admit i hope you'll pick the healers." She added with a wink, squeezing back before she pulled her hand back and picked up a buttered roll.

Jehen laughed.

Last updated on the August 27th 2006

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Growing up!