A Special Birthday PT 2

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 9th August 2013

Characters: Wirnan, Kaya
Description: Kaya gives Wirnan a gift.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 19 of Turn 7
Notes: Pt 2 of 3

Wirnan

Good, I'm glad." Kaya hesitated. then pushed back her chair and rose.
She crossed over the room to retrieve the gift and bring it back to
Wirnan. "I hope you like it." She murmured softly as she held out
the package."

He smiled, reaching his hands up to take the package. Honestly, he was
just happy that they_weren't_ arguing. That alone had made this day
better than so many of the others.

With the package in hand, he looked to her, before tearing into the
wrapping.

Within the package was a picture. Dwidara and her family all sat on a
couch, the children in their parents' laps. What had been different
from the pose that family had taken was that Kaya had inserted Wirnan
into the picture as well. He leaned over the couch, his hands spread
apart and gripped the back, a part of the family. His face was lit up
with a smile she remembered, but hadn't seen in some time. She had
taken the time to colour this one. Subtle shades to the clothing
brought out the smiles and eyes of those pictured. She had gone to a
woodcrafter and had a dark red frame made to go around it. It was
ready to hang wherever he wanted - and she had done the same for
Dwidara, though that gift had yet to be given.

He simply stared, gaping at the gift. He ran his fingers over the
drawing, almost as if he expected the figures inside it to come alive.

He looked up at her with both wonder and questions in his eyes. "When
did you do this? And how did you do it? It's amazing, but I never
stood with Dwidara's family for a portrait." He was shocked, pleased,
and confused all in the same moment.

"I...went to Dwidara last month and several times in between to have
them pose." Kaya explained as she lowered down into a seat beside
him. "And...well, I see you every day. It wasn't hard to draw you in
there."

"It's amazing," he remarked looking at her in awe. "Thank you Kaya. I
will treasure it always." He wanted to add that she was missing from
the picture, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Things were
improving between them again, but up until just recently she really
hadn't made an effort to_be_ family to him or his sister.

"I'm just glad you like it." Kaya let her teeth worry her lower lip
and watched him. "Is...there anything else you'd like...for your
birthday?"

He looked over at her questioningly. "The gift is lovely and was more
than I expected. Dinner was wonderful, and I appreciate all the effort
you went to make it special for me." He wasn't sure what else she was
indicating. There were things he wished for between them, but that
could not be remedied now. He would deal with that by himself as he so
often did.

She hesitated, uncertain. How should she go about this? To simply
state it seemed awkward to Kaya. She sat there for a moment in
silence as he asked for clarity. Finally she decided that maybe an
action would speak louder than her words, so she leaned forward to
kiss him gently on the lips.

He was shocked when she _actually_ kissed him. For a few moment he
didn't even respond to her kiss, then the feelings of his body took
over, and he began taking control of the kiss.

When he broke the kiss, he gave her a puzzled look. He reached a hand
up to her cheek and held it there. He _had_ to know before he
proceeded.

"What brought that on? I mean, I need to _know_ what your thinking
here. Are you suggesting what I think you are between us?" He asked
the last with a quiet tone, his eyes meeting hers. He'd been hurt by
her before. He wasn't going to cross any lines until he _knew_ without
a doubt that she understood what she was suggesting. Questions bounced
around his head, but it was his body that was begging for her answer.
That single kiss, while confusing to him, had triggered a slew of
reactions within him.

"I'm your wife. I...I know I haven't been acting like your wife, but
I'm trying. And...I'm sorry...and...and yes, it is what I'm
suggesting." Kaya's teeth worried her lower lip as she watched the
man in front of her. "If...if you want it." If he wanted her. He
may not and if he didn't, she didn't know what she'd do then.
Probably just keep trying however she could.

He narrowed his eyes a bit at her, but yet that hope he'd tried to
smother seemed to leap high inside his heart at her words. He held it
back for now. "Is this a trick of some sort? I've tried this last
Turn, but _you've_ shown no interest in me, no interest in actually
_being_ my wife." He paused, "I've _wanted_ you to _be_ my wife all
along, but why now? Why the sudden change?" He knew he should just
accept the gift she was offering, but he was afraid to allow even a
small glimmer of hope back into his heart after he'd felt as though it
had been crushed by her repeated refusals.

"I know." Kaya lowered her gaze and reached into her collar. She
pulled out the necklace that was there. No longer was the locket
Ristin a presence - now it was solely the locket that Wirnan had given
her. "This...it...it hit home. And I'm sorry." She'd apologised so
much already. How much would she have to apologise? Kaya would do it
for the rest of the life if she had to.

He reached his hand up to the locket he'd had made for her. He blinked
at it. "I'm glad you found it. I didn't think you wanted it. It felt
as though you'd shunned my gift that night." The hurt was clearly
evident in his voice. That night had been like a breaking point for
him. It wasn't going to be as easy to mend those hurts. They ran deep.
He'd allowed them run deep. He'd given up on them and their marriage
in that dark night. He wasn't sure how to feel right now. The hurt was
still there, but there _was_ some hope as well.

Last updated on the September 3rd 2013

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A Special Birthday PT 2