Joy and Worry

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 24th June 2008

Characters: Swift, Kateena
Description: Swift feels his baby move for the first time but has worries about Kateena's health.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 10, day 24 of Turn 4

"Swift?" she called out to him, from the bathing chamber. The excitement in her voice was hard to conceal. The first flutterings were happening, and she wanted to make sure it wasn't just her that could feel them. Her hand hovered lightly over her slightly rounded belly and she was sure she could feel the squirm below the tight surface of her skin.

"Hmm?" The journeywoman's much older husband appeared at the door of the small room, his shirt unbuttoned and his feet bare. "What did you want?"

"Would you like to feel your son or daughter?" she asked, barely containing her happiness.

Swift's face lit up with pleasure. "I'd love to. If I can," he added more cautiously, remembering that Belevi had been able to feel their babe's movements long before he could.

She took his hand and placed it lightly on her lower abdomen which was now nicely rounded and hard. His hand felt warm on her skin, she stood taller and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Wait just a moment or two, there's a break between movements," she cautioned.

He snuggled closer, enjoying the moment even if he didn't -

"Oh? Oh!" He laughed. "That was it, wasn't it? Our baby?"

She laughed softly, tears shining in her eyes. "You felt that, didn't you?" she asked, her voice hoarse with emotion. "Yes, that was your son or daughter making their presence known."

"Oh, Kateena." He couldn't find the words to describe how lucky he felt
- to have a wife like her, to have a baby on the way for only the second time in his life. And all this at an age when he was mature enough to truly appreciate the blessings that had arrived in his life.

"Oh..." she felt the babe move again within her, this time as if the child were doing cartwheels within her. She felt a sense of dizziness overcome her, and swayed where she stood, reaching out and grabbing a tight hold of Swift.

"What's wrong? Is it the baby? Are you ill?"

"No..." she shook her head slowly, "No, I dont' think so, I just felt...a little light-headed for a moment." she said, reaching out and settling herself down on the edge of the bathing tub. "I think - the baby moved a little too quickly for me." she gave him a weak smile.

"Can they do that?" he asked, eyeing her stomach with an anxious look.
"I don't want anything to happen to you, Kateena."

"I'm fine..." she smiled wearily up at him. "Morning sickness, and lightheadedness, all part and parcel of being pregnant, apparently."
Though this amount of lightheadedness was worrying to her, would she be able to keep up with her duties? She would be with Civi, he woldn't let anything happen to her, she was sure.

"Is that what the healer says?" He didn't want to be forever harping on at her about Belevi but his first wife's illness started while she was carrying their son.

"Erm..." she couldn't lie to him, she was only going on what she had heard from others when pregnant. "Nooo..." she prevaricated. "Not exactly."

"Well, what _did_ they say?"

"I haven't spoken to them about this particular symptom, this is only the second time I've had it." she didn't meet his eyes as she replied.

"Kateena! It could be something important. You _have_ to have it checked."

"You're right. I will," she answered, **As soon as I can stand up straight,** she thought to herself. This was definitely worse than the last time it had hit her. At least then, she had been able to walk without everything sliding sideways in her vision.

"Soon? Maybe they could see you now? I could go -"

"No..." she shook her head, "we can go together. I'm not an invalid, I'm just pregnant." she smiled softly.

He wasn't so easily reassured. "Being pregnant doesn't stop you having any other sort of illness," he protested, "And women can die from pregnancy and childbirth too."

She wanted to come back with a glib, easy answer but one wouldn't come.
She looked up at him, "Okay, help me up and we'll go and see a healer, but Swift?" she took his hand in hers, "I'll be fine." she tried to sound as confident as she felt, but sensed she missed her mark.

"Of course you will be," he said, but his words lack assurance. He had lost a wife to gain a son before and he couldn't help but fear it was happening again.

Last updated on the June 28th 2008

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Joy and Worry