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Writers: Ames, Miriah
Date Posted: 4th August 2013

Characters: Bahji, Gelira
Description: Gelira bumps into Bahji and the conversation makes her wonder if there's more going on than she realizes...
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 28 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Z'an, Rhosyn

Her stomach was still a bit unsettled. She couldn't figure out what
was bothering her. She'd thought it was just nerves leading up to the
Hatching and then all the emotion after not Impressing.

Sighing, she placed a hand to her stomach hoping it would help keep it
calm. Then she smiled. Rhosyn was pregnant. That was exciting news.
Gelira expected she would love finding out such news herself.

Her stomach rumbled and gurgled again. She paused, taking a moment to
gain control over herself. **Maybe I'm just hungry again,** she mused.
She'd eaten a good breakfast, but then she'd hurried to meet Rhosyn.
Maybe her food didn't settle well. That _had_ to be it. It didn't
explain the stomach grumbling she'd had for days, but that _had_ to be
the after effects of the Hatching.

Pushing aside the queasy feeling, she made for the dining caverns to
get herself a little snack to tide her over until the mid-day meal.
Hopefully it would calm her rollicking stomach a bit.

"Good morning," she greeted one of the kitchen workers. "Have anything
I could munch on until the next meal?" The girl nodded, then returned
with a pastry in hand. Gelira thanked her. She breathed in the scent
of the sweet treat. She wanted it so much, she took a big bite out of
it right then and there. Walking with pastry in hand, she made her way
back out of the dining caverns. The sun nearly blinded her and she
ended up bumping right into someone else.

There was a light squeak and Bahji's head turned towards the person
that had bumped into her and her hands fumbled to grab the thick roll
that she carried. "OH! Shard it!" She scrambled and grabbed the roll
before she dropped it, then clutched it to her chest.

Gelira hurried to catch the roll. "Bahji. I'm so sorry. I wasn't
really paying attention. Are you okay?"

Clutching the roll, Bahji recognized the voice and straightened. "Oh,
Gelira, hi." She exhaled. "I'm fine. I just wasn't paying much
attention either." She gave a rueful smile. "I'm either thinking of
food or thinking of a waste bucket, so it's not your fault."

Gelira chuckled a bit, though Bahji's words stuck a chord with her as
well. "I hear you. I've been hungry all the time lately, and if I'm
_not_ hungry, my stomach seems to be churning. I figured it was all
the anxiety over the hatching, but it hasn't let up yet." She took
another bit of the pastry she'd been carrying.

"How _are_ you doing Bahji?" Gelira knew of Bahji's pregnancy and was
hoping all was well with her friend.

"I'm doing alright. The little lump here hasn't made it easy, but it
should be getting better soon." She stopped and tilted her head, her
nose twitching. "Is that...is that a pastry?" Her stomach growled
loudly, but her attention was on the delicious smell.

"Yes," Gelira replied, "I begged one from the staff as I was so
hungry. Want to go see if we can get another one for you?"

Bahji sighed. "You know...I don't even like pastries. They're too
sweet. But..." She felt her stomach grumble again. "They sound so good
right now." She paused and tilted her head. "It's not like you to
snack. You must have been hungry."

Gelira took Bahji's arm and steered her back towards the kitchens.
"We'll get you a pastry then," she replied finishing hers off. **I
might even have _another_.** She thought until Bahji's comment gave
her pause. "I was, hungry I mean. It's like I can't stop eating this
past week. I attributed it all to nerves from the Hatching, but today
I felt a bit quesy. I couldn't decide if I wanted to puke or eat, so I
tried the pastry and I feel tremendously better." Gelira smiled,
though she knew Bahji couldn't see her.

"Here, wait one second," Gelira told her and then moved off for a
moment. Voices were heard and then Gelira returned with a pastry in
hand. She pushed it towards Bahji. "Here, all for you." Yet her voice
held a hint of something else. Gelira swallowed a bit. "Mind if we go
back outside? I think I need some fresh air." She put her arm through
Bahji's and without waiting for an answer starting walking, a bit
quickly away from the kitchens.

Taking the pastry, Bahji hurried to keep time with Gelira, her brow
furrowed. "Really? I was like that a few weeks ago. Still am..." She
nearly stumbled in her hurry, almost dropping her roll and her pastry
as something clicked in her brain. "Exactly like."

Gelira paused and gave Bahji a puzzled look. Then realizing she
couldn't see the expression Gelira said, "Exactly like what? I'm
confused." She felt as though she had lost the train of the
conversation. That was happening to her from time to time to. Mostly
when her body was giving her these strange fits that seemed to take
over. It was hard to concentrate when she wanted to throw up.

Bahji looked a little hesitant and her free hand fluttered over her
abdomen. Swallowing, she spoke softly. "You have the same symptoms,
Gerlira. Are you...perhaps..uhm..."

Gelira continued to start at her friend puzzled. "Am I what Bahji? Are
you sure you're feeling alright today? You don't seem to be speaking
clearly?" Now she was starting to feel concerned for her friend's
overall health and well-being.

She sighed and rubbed at her temple, then took a long breath. "What I
am trying to say is that you've the same symptoms I have had. I'm
pregnant, Gelira. Is it possible that you are as well?"

"Me?" Gelira replied shocked. "Pregnant?" She started to protest, but
her mind traced back over the details of the past few sevendays. Z'an.
The pool. The strange stomach issues she'd been having. She quickly
started counting days in her mind. She'd always been fairly regular
each month, but sometimes she was not.

"Oh!" She finally breathed, realizing she _was_ late. "I _am_ late,
but I just assumed the stress of the Hatching caused me to miss my
menses a few sevendays ago." She was looking for a reason to explain
away the thoughts Bahji had placed in her head.

One of Bahji's brows arched. "A few sevendays ago?" She shook her
head. "I think you should go to the Healers, Gelira. Just in case."

Gelira frowned, "You don't really think I'm...pregnant do you?" Her
voice was full of shock. She hadn't even considered the idea, not even
when Rhosyn had told her her own news. Her hand slid down to her
stomach. She hadn't been with anyone _other_ than Z'an and only those
few times. "Oh, what if I _am_?" She asked on a whisper, uncertain how
she felt about the idea yet.

There was a pause. "I don't know, but the symptoms are awfully
similar." Her voice softened, picking up on the Gelira's shock and
uncertainty and then she offered her hand. "But isn't it better to
make sure? Just in case? I'll go with you, if you want."

Gelira let out her breath and squeezed Bahji's hand. "That would be
great Bahji. I think I could use a friend right about now."

Last updated on the August 9th 2013

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