Worth Staying The Night

Writers: Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 13th March 2014

Characters: Pierka, Z'ku
Description: Sleeping in the same bed?
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 18 of Turn 7

Pierka

Z'ku

Z'ku woke and blinked in confusion. This wasn't his bed, and there was
a woman in it. Usually he slipped out as soon as things were over.
Then it came back to him... Pierka.

She lay curled on her side with extra pillows everywhere. That was the
only way she could get comfortable but with someone else in her bed
all night she hadn't gotten any good solid sleep. Instead she'd woken
up several times during the night. But she was thankful Z'ku had
agreed to be here for her. It was almost time for the baby to come and
she didn't want to be alone at night in case she went into labor. Of
course the flits would advertise it as they always did and she could
call through Liddith but she was just more reassured with him here.

She felt him wake up and reached behind her to touch him and let him
know she was awake since it twas just so difficult to turn over. But
what she felt was. "What the shards?"

Z'ku went completely still. For a moment he didn't even breathe. Shock
and embarrassment made him warm all over. He tried to stop it, but her
touch made his body react and that made everything worse. Finally he
sucked in a breath and grabbed her hand. He meant to say something, he
wasn't sure what, but it came out as a kind of garbled croak as he
moved her hand away.

Pierka scooted off the bed and turned to look at him with an accusing
stare as she held onto her round belly. "What's going on Z'ku?"

"Uhh ... you touched me." He tugged the blanket up to his chest,
wishing he could pull it over his head and disappear.

"Yeah," she said just a little sarcastically. "But why was it hard?
It's not like we have that kind of a relationship you know."

No, they didn't. And he was afraid to admit it was starting to bother
him. "Um, that just happens in the morning." How could a pregnant
woman not know that?

A look of incredulity crossed her face. "Really?" She shook her head
feeling embarrassed. "I'm sorry Z'ku. It's just... well..." she could
feel her skin flushing and she looked away. "No one has ever spent the
whole night before. I didn't know."

"That's a shame. I mean, that no one spent the night." It warmed him
to know he was the first. He let go of the sheet and it pooled in his
lap. His body was no longer at full attention.

She shrugged, "I'm only just sixteen, it's not like I've had a lot of
experience yet. Just a couple of flights and T'nom really."

"It's not about that, just..." He shrugged. "You're worth staying the night."

She gave him a soft smile. "Thank you Z'ku," she tucked her hair behind
one ear and climbed back into the bed. "That was a very nice thing to
say." She reached out and touched his shoulder. "And I'm sorry I
freaked out on you."

"It's okay. You didn't know what was going on." He wished she'd found
out in a less embarrassing way.

"I just don't want us to feel strange about this..." She didn't quite
know how to tell him how much she needed his friendship. With Qorri
gone and T'nom involved with Meledei the only one she could really
count on was Z'ku. She slid down into the bed and rubbed her abdomen
which was feeling just a bit uncomfortable.

"Don't worry. It's fine." Even if he felt awkward, he didn't want to
add to her troubles.

She turned toward him on her side with her eyes closed. "I just feel
so much better with you here Z'ku," Then she took a deep breath and
yawned. She patted his arm and started dropping back to sleep. "Just
another candlemark."

Last updated on the March 13th 2014

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Worth Staying The Night