You've Gotta Do What You've Gotta Do (Part 2 of 2)

Writers: Ames, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th July 2013

Characters: Pierka, T'nom
Description: T'nom meets up with Pierka and she shares some life-changing news with him.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 7
Notes: Notes: Follows: Jealousy Rears Its Head and Out of the Mouths of Dolphins

Mentioned: Meledei

(Part 2 of 2)

Pierka

T'nom

He lead her into the corridors and then to a room away
from some of the others. He didn't want to take her to his weyr for
fear of what that could lead to.

The room held some craft items within it. There were some wood pieces
and tools around, but no one else.

"I work here sometimes. It's close to the main woodcrafters, but also
gives me more privacy," he shrugged by way of explanation. He gestured
for her to take a seat on one of the carved stools he'd made. He had
to share it with a few others, but they were seldom if ever around, so
he'd thought it was a safe bet to come here.

While he waited for her to take a seat, he found himself pacing. He
reached a hand up to rub the back of his neck as he thought about all
that she'd told him.

She followed along though she wasn't really sure she wanted to. This
was so much more painful than she'd thought it would be. So, he wasn't
just obsessed, but the gold rider had made him promise to be
exclusive. That gave her a burning resentment toward Meledei and it
burned inside if her with a slow heat knowing there was absolutely
nothing she could do about it.

She sat where he pointed and paid only minimal attention to their
surroundings. Staring at him with her pain still evident in every line
of her body. "I don't know that all you want to talk about. Seems
pretty cut and dry to me."

He turned and gazed at her. His heart aching as so many thoughts
rushed through his mind.

He moved forward and dropped to a knee before her. "Are you...." he
breathed in unsteadily, afraid to even say what was on his mind, but
he _knew_ he had to. He couldn't let himself think beyond it yet. "Are
you keeping the babe, Pierka?" He knew he had no real say over what
she did. His heart hammered in his chest while he waited for her
response. It felt almost as though all the air would be sucked out of
his lungs in the moments that passed between them.

Her hands went to her abdomen possessively. "T'nom, I'm alone in the
world except for Liddith. My whole family was killed in a big storm or
so they thought. I was the sole survivor." She looked at him
earnestly. "I have no one, and no memory of anyone from before that
storm." She took a deep breath "I'm all alone. Why would I want to get
rid of the only person in the whole world I know is related to me?"

T'nom let out the breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding.
Without thinking, he reached up and cupped a hand on her cheek.

"You've no idea how glad your words make me, Pierka. I understand how
you feel. I have no family left that cares about me." Then he gave her
a slightly cocky grin as he let the realization of it all sink it.

"I'm going to be a father! _We're_ going to be parents!" His eyes lit
with a joy that he'd never known before.

Pierka watched him puzzled. She still wasn't ready to forgive him for
being a jerk to her. "Yes," she nodded "We're going to be parents. But
I'm still mad at you."

He pulled his hand away, putting a bit of space between them. T'nom
got up off the ground and pulled another stool over to sit beside her.
He took a breath as he sat and looked to her.

"I don't understand Pierka. _Why_ are you mad at me? Are you angry
about getting pregnant?" So much had happened in such a short time for
him that he couldn't sort out the pieces anymore. He _definitely_
couldn't figure out what she was thinking and feeling.

"Faranth T'nom!" She jumped off the stool and stomped toward the door.
"Really? Are you that dense?" She shook her head and slapped the door
jam in frustration.

"You'd better run back to Meledei so you don't lose your chance," she
said with little running fingers.

His mouth dropped a bit, but he recovered. He was still frowning,
however, as he watched her.

"I...I mean...I didn't....oh shardit, this is a mess." He heaved a
sigh and rubbed his hands over his face. "What do you want me to do
Pierka?" He asked looking at her with imploring eyes.

She closed her eyes and sighed. "I don't know."

Pierka shook her head. "Look, I really don't want you to lose your
chance at something you've wanted for so long... so just give me some
space, and realize you can't have it all." **None of us can.**

He looked at her. His mouth opened and closed before he spoke.

"I...well. Alright, but I _want_ to be part of our child's life,
Pierka. Please don't shut me out." His heart was already aching in his
chest at the thought of having a child that he wasn't connected to. "I
care about _you_ and our child." He didn't know what more he could
say.

"Shut _you_ out? That's funny T'nom, because the way I see it you shut
_me_ out when you made your deal with Meledei." She didn't like the
way she sounded and wished she could take back the words, but it was
too late and his words hurt. He wanted the baby but not her. He loved
Meledei not Pierka.

"I'm sorry," she said and took a deep break. "Look, I'm carrying the
baby and while it's inside me you can't be a part of its life. You
made that clear enough. We can't spend any time together. Not if you
want to keep your promise to her. I don't know if you even want to
tell her about us or about the baby. You've got some time to make it
work with her. So... go.... do it. There will be plenty of time for
you to get to know the baby after it's born."

"But," He wanted to argue. To tell her that he wanted to be _more_
than that, but T'nom didn't know what more to say. Heaving a sigh of
acceptance and frustration he looked to her and said. "If that's what
you want Pierka. I will stay out of your way. But I _am_ here for you
if you need me. I hope you know that." He didn't know what more to say
to her.

Pierka shook her head. Men were clueless how could he even imagine he
could announce he'd made a promise to another woman but he wanted her
to wait around for him? He was delusional. She did want him to be
happy but she couldn't promise to put her own happiness on hold until
he figured out what he wanted. That was just too cruel.

"It's not what I want," she sighed. "It's what is." Her shoulders
slumped. "You are the one that made a promise so you'll just have to
live with it," she said. "I'll see you around T'nom." She turned and
left the room.

Last updated on the July 23rd 2013

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You've Gotta Do What You've Gotta Do (Part 2 of 2)