Surprise (2)

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 2nd November 2007

Characters: Swift, Kateena, Aneya
Description: Swift finally meets Kateena's mother, Aneya, and is in for a big surprise!
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 6, day 11 of Turn 4

"Kateena failed to mention how large your dragon is," Swift said to the weyrwoman. "It's a pleasure to meet you - and her - at last."

Aneya had eyed the man quickly up and down, very obviously as if measuring his worth, before a smile creased her face. "I'm pleased to meet you as well Swift - finally." She slid a glance across to her daughter.

"You're a little older than I was expecting - but I can see in my daughter's eyes, just how much you mean to her." She reached forward and took Kateena into an embrace, kissing her cheek before releasing her.
"And you'll notice she omits things here and there, if she doesn't think you'll handle the added information well."

"That's not it at all, mother!" Kateena replied, with a small smile, "I don't think of Swift as being so much older than me, that's the only reason why."

"She's quite good at seeing things her own way," Swift agreed. "I've tried telling her that I'm too old for her, but she won't agree. Even having my son and granddaughter here hasn't swayed her."

"Once she gets something into her head, it proves hard to dissuade her.
Her father and I found that out a long time ago." Aneya replied, looking from one to the other. "Let's walk, I want to know what you have organised for the wedding. And just so you both know, K'ten will be here."

"Dad - he's coming?" Kateena stopped in her tracks, stunned by the news.
She gripped tightly to her mothers arm, "I..I didn't think he would -
because of..."

"He wouldn't miss his own daughters wedding. And he's getting better about - the scars." Aneya nodded slowly, "Tarinya has helped too. She's been good for him."

"Tarinya?"

"His new weyrmate," Aneya answered, a small but genuine smile on her face. "She was injured in the same Fall as your father, lost her hand and forearm. But, she has a brighter outlook than K'ten - for both of them. And - she's young too." Her eyes sparkled with mischief, as she looked from one to the other.

"Which won't be a problem for you, will it," Swift teased, "since age isn't important?"

Realising they were both having a dig at her, Kateena stood her ground, "As long as she makes dad happy - I can't complain, can I?" she asked the grinning pair. "Besides, I should thank her, if it weren't for her, dad wouldn't be coming to the wedding. How can I object about that?"
she gave a determined nod to them both, "See, age really isn't important," she added with a grin of her own.

Swift squeezed her hand and smiled down at her. "At least you have the courage of your convictions on that one." He looked up at Kateena's mother, his expression apologetic. "Kateena hasn't told me your name -
or that of your lifemate. Probably trying not to spoil the surprise."

"Oh shards!" Kateena clapped her hand to her mouth.

"I'm Aneya and that great floating barge out there, is Aramyth." she replied with a smile. "Kateena, you need to remember that common courtesy dictates that you at least perform introductions." she cautioned with a softly teasing grin. "So tell me Swift, you mentioned a son and granddaughter. How did they react to your news? Your granddaughter would be closer in age to Kateena, yes?"

"Yara's younger than Kateena, though some of her sisters are a similar age. My family are happy for me, tempered with more or less caution, depending on their personality. But the two that have met Kateena both like her so I don't think there will ever be any problems from that point of view."

"I'd hope not." Aneya smiled, "And really its not as if she were a child, Kat's almost into her fourth decade, now. So there's not really that much difference," she said with a shrug. "But of course, she is still young enough to produce. If you plan on more children?" she asked baldly.

"Mother! I am here, in front of you." Kateena didn't know whether to laugh or be offended at her mother's casual question.

"I'm well aware of that dear," Aneya replied, "But I want to know whether I am to be a grandmother. Swift is older than I am, he may not want any more children, but I am sure you would like to have at least one child - wouldn't you?"

"That's something we haven't discussed, yet," Kateena replied, more than a little flustered.

"I'm sure we'll be pleased if it happens and accepting if it doesn't,"
Swift said. "Wouldn't that be best?"

Aneya pulled a face for a moment, considering Swift's words, "I suppose I'll just have to accept that, won't I?" she asked, looking from one to the other, then smiling. "Just count yourselves lucky I live up North so will have less opportunity to hound you," she continued with a laugh.

"I've heard dragonriders say that nowhere's far away with a dragon," the kitchen hand teased gently. "Though perhaps it's different with a gold."

"Well not so much, now I'm more retired than active. I still fly Thread, but Aramyth and I have more free time to ourselves these days.
Not being Weyrwoman has its advantages. But I promise not to make a nuisance of myself."

Swift glanced at Kateena to see what his betrothed though of that promise. While being worried about the age gap between him and Kateena for her sake he hadn't considered that she would provide him with parents-by-marriage that were his contemporaries. For that matter, he hadn't ever guessed that she would provide him with any sort of connection to dragonriders, but she had done that.

"If and when it happens mother, you'll be among the first to know. I'm sorry you've had to wait so long," she said quietly, never had it occurred to her before now that her mother wished to be a grandmother, this was a revelation she wasn't prepared for. Though being her mother's only child, she should have expected something, may be?

"Oh hush! Kat, you know I love you and want only the best for you, as does your father," Aneya stopped and pulled Kateena into an embrace, "we're just happy you have finally found someone that makes you - " she paused for a moment, trying to think of another word, but found the one she had been about to say was more than appropriate, "that makes you _happy_. It's been a long time coming." She kissed her daughter on the cheek, before reaching out and bringing Swift into the embrace.

The kitchen hand hugged the older woman in return, unable to help wondering just how his life had changed so much in the matter of a few months ... The few months since he first met Kateena.

Last updated on the November 3rd 2007

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Surprise (2)