[Statistics] [Hydee] [Mossyth] [Discoveries] [Relative Love] [Of Babies] [Full Circle]

Katanna had firmly declined the offer to stay with her brother and Hydee and instead had taken up residence in the inn once more, which was where C’stian was now - seeing to her comfort and safety. **Nice of him,** Hydee thought and was surprised at the hint of anger, even jealousy her thought held.

The rider sat on the armchair in the corner of their weyr, the one with too much stuffing and a rip down one side. The one she had brought from home when she Impressed Mossyth. She always sat there when troubled, or when she just needed to think. This time it was both.

She closed her eyes and leaned back on the worn head-rest, thoughts dancing in her mind like sunbeams on a crystal lake. Every time a new thought appeared, it would slip through her fingers, a flash of light then darkness. Flash, dark.

“What am I gonna do?” she asked no one in particular. It helped to talk out loud. Placing a hand absently on her stomach, she sighed. “A baby. Now that’s something I never would have expected. But then all this with Katanna ... I don’t know what to do any more. I wish C’stian could be with me, supporting me,” she paused and felt a little selfish for her greediness, but knew she couldn’t help it. “But he has to help Kat, she needs him more than I do right now.”

As much as she hated to admit it, the girl was right. After the baby was born neither of them would want to go out searching for long lost nephews ... Hydee grinned suddenly. Coren was her nephew - he was family.

She opened her eyes and swallowed hard. He was family, so was Kat. She had to help them, even if it meant putting off the baby until it was a more immediate problem. But she couldn’t help thinking she’d been thrown aside by the man she loved.

“Of course he loves me,” she told herself firmly, “But if he loves me ... then why doesn’t he care?” She felt her eyes prick and blinked rapidly to warn off any sudden emotional outburst. Closing them once more, she lay back on the chair and breathed deeply. Something had to snap, and she refused to let it be her.

A presence in the room woke her from a light doze. Opening her eyes she squinted at the bright light coming in the open door in front of her. “C’stian?”

There was silence and the door closed slowly, drowning out the light. C’stian looked at her and shook his head. Without a word he approached her and knelt before her, kissing her hand. “I do love you, you should know that my love.”

Hydee was a little ashamed of saying what she had, but also immensely embarrassed that he had heard. “Oh dear. I didn’t mean for you hear any of that ... how much did you hear?” she asked, feeling redness creep up her neck.

“Enough. Hydee, I want this baby more than you could think. I love him already, not only because he’s mine, but because he’s _ours.”_ He paused, looking at her, waiting for a reply.

Hydee swallowed then felt a smile grow on her face. “How do you know it’ll be a him?” she asked, grinning softly.

C’stian relaxed at her joke, but didn’t reply. Instead he rose up and kissed the tip of her nose, looking at her deeply.

“I love you too,” Hydee said and kissed him back, full on the mouth. She pulled back a moment, her heart racing for the simple act of his touch, and gestured towards the bedroom, grinning impishly.

He laughed and lifted her with a grunt, complaining along the way that she had put on weight. They stopped, looked at her nowhere near swelling belly and laughed together.

Afterwards, Hydee smiled to herself. Everything would be fine.

The morning came late, clouds overriding the sun’s light, but not it’s heat. Donning a light cotton shirt and short pants, Hydee mounted Mossyth and she took her to the feeding grounds where the green ravished enough animals to last her the rest of the Turn.

Mossy, she asked her when she had finished. The green looked at her, but didn’t say anything. Do you think ... what we’re doing - for Kat, I mean - is right? I mean is it our place?

There was a moment’s silence but then the green replied simply, Yes.

Satisfied for now, Hydee remounted and they flew silently back to the weyr where Katanna had arrived and was taking klah with her brother.

“Hydee!” C’stian said as he stood up, smiling and kissing her forehead in welcome. “Are you ready?”

The greenrider blinked. “Ready? What, now?!”

“Uh-huh.” It was Katanna. “We thought we’d find our parents as soon as possible, confront them. I have to do this, Hydee. You know that right?” she added.

Hydee nodded. “I know. I just hadn’t expected it to be so soon. But there’s nothing wrong with that,” she added quickly as Kat opened her mouth to rebut. “We can go now - well, maybe after breakfast, hey?” she added with a grin.

They agreed and hastily broke their fast in silence, Kat too nervous to make conversation and the other two not quite knowing what to say. When they were done, C’stian stood up and walked straight to Feyeth who was waiting patiently with Mossy. Beckoning to his sister, he gave her a hand up the brown’s side and mounted after her, waiting for Hydee to mount her own green.

Without a word spoken, they were off and a moment later both dragons disappeared between.

When they reappeared it was above Ridge Crest Hold. The weather’s better here, Hydee noted absently as she glanced at the blue sky that showed between cotton clouds.

Feyeth spiralled downwards and landed just outside the main entrance to the Hold, Mossyth a wingbeat behind. The two riders dismounted, C’stian helping Katanna down the large brown side.

She smiled a little nervously at him in thanks and looked towards the Hold. Taking a deep breath she started walking towards it, Hydee and C’stian a step behind.

No turning back now.

Walking through the small crowd that had gathered at the entrance of two dragons, Hydee, C’stian and Katanna made straight for the siblings’ old home near the centre of the Hold. Surprisingly, neither was nervous in the slightest.

“Is this it?” Hydee asked, unnecessarily as they stopped before a solid-looking place with a garden of bright red flowers surrounding the entrance.

C’stian nodded and put his arm about her waist, walking behind Kat as she approached the door confidently. She paused only briefly before raising her hand to the hardwood, but then froze the instant before her knuckles hit the door.

The sound of a young child’s giggles emanated from inside, followed by a man’s voice playing a mock dragonrider. Hydee saw Kat’s back stiffen slightly at his voice and her reserve started to falter.

“I can’t do this,” she said suddenly, her hand falling to her side limply. “I can’t - he has a family now, he’s happy.” She spun to face them, a look of desperate defeat in her eyes. “I can’t take him from his family, I can’t! He’ll hate me for it,” she added, her eyes prickling.

C’stian let go of his weyrmate’s waist and leaned forward to hold her tight. Pressing her head into his shoulder, he smoothed her hair, then pulled her back and looked at her. “Listen to me Kat,” he said in a firm but emotionally unstable tone of voice. “Coren is your son. He’s too young to know what’s right and wrong, but not too young not to know his mother when he sees her. He’ll remember you, I’m sure of it.” But his voice didn’t sound so sure.

Katanna shook her head slightly and closed her eyes. “This is wrong. I know he’s my son, I know we should be together, but I’m too late for it. I should have stood up to them before any of this happened, if I had then maybe he’d know me.” The fact that her son wouldn’t know her scared her most of all.

Hydee closed her eyes and held her breath, warding back the flood of emotion that was on the brink of toppling her carefully composed reserve. She was just 17. A baby herself, and yet look at what she was going through. At 17, Hydee hadn’t even Impressed Mossyth, she remembered how a 17 turn old was supposed to act, and it was not like this. This wasn’t right ... but it was real.

“Kat,” she said, opening her eyes, “You can do this,” she said simply. “I don’t know what else to say, I’ve never been a very motivational speaker, but I do know that Coren is your son, you’re his mother. You belong together, even if he doesn’t know that right now. I have faith in you.”

Katanna swallowed and stared at her. She smiled wanly, “You’re right you know.” She paused and then grinned, making the other two grin in return. “You’re not a very good speaker.”

Hydee laughed and slapped her playfully. **Well it worked, didn’t it,** she thought with a smile of relief as the girl turned to the house once more.

She paused, glancing back at her friend who mouthed one word. ‘Faith’ she said. Smiling, Katanna knocked on the door.

At the knock, another childish giggle, followed by the man’s quiet reprimand. A woman’s voice joined in and was told to “Take him to his room.”

A moment later the door opened and a kindly-looking man of about 60 turns smiled out from bright blue eyes. He opened his mouth to greet them politely when he saw just who he was greeting. His eyes widened in surprise momentarily, then returned, but the smile had faded slightly. As if he knew why they were there.

“My goodness,” he said, shaking his son’s hand and kissing Kat’s cheek. Hydee was glad to see she didn’t react negatively. She supposed the girl was used to putting up a wall of ice between them in public. “I’m so glad to see you both, it’s been a while.” He glanced, one eyebrow raised, towards Hydee and C’stian introduced her as they politely shook hands. “You can call me Stannen,” he said with a polite smile. “Please come in,” he added and stepped back to allow them entrance to their home.

“Kissa, we have visitors!” he boomed.

A woman of about the same age as her husband popped out from around a corner and blinked in surprise. “Darlings!” she cried and raced around to give each of her children a dragon-sized hug and a multitude of kisses. Hydee grinned as it came to her turn.

“This is my weyrmate Hydee, Mother,” C’stian said, delicately wiping his cheek.

“Hydee! Oh welcome to the family dear!” she exclaimed, giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “My name’s Kissara. It’s so good to meet you - although I must admit I haven’t heard much about you,” she glanced at a rather guilty-looking C’stian and twinkled. “Please, come sit, I’ll get some klah and cake.” She bustled off to where Hydee assumed was the kitchen, busying herself.

Stannen made his way to a larger room where comfortable seats and an old double sofa adorned the otherwise empty area. Kissara came in from an entrance from the kitchen to the room and set a tray of little slices of some sort of cake that looked delicious: Hydee wondered just how she had managed to make it up so quickly. A moment later they each had a mug of cold klah and were nibbling on a piece of cake, exchanging small talk. How is Feyeth, C’stian? Enjoying your stay Kat? Tell us about yourself, Hydee. A rider too?

In the middle of explaining to the couple (who Hydee honestly thought seemed very nice) about herself and Mossyth, Kat’s face - which had been carefully composed into a polite smile - suddenly dropped and went pale as a sheet. The rider stopped mid-sentence and turned to where the girl was staring, goggle eyed.

In the middle of the doorway sat a chubby-fingered child, his golden blonde curly locks bouncing as he giggled and pointed at the visitors. Coren.

Kissara looked in alarm at her husband who didn’t quite know what to do. Neither went to retrieve the child, but their eyes slowly moved to their daughter. Kissara looked extremely anxious, worried, and maybe even a little guilty. After all, they had stolen their daughter’s child. Stannen didn’t look anything. He glared at her, daring her to do something.

Dare accepted. Kat slowly rose and, swallowing, walked over to where the child was sitting. She knelt down and held out her hand, stroking the downy-soft skin on his cheek, his arm. “Hi there, sweets,” she said, emotion choking her voice.

Coren looked at her, his mouth pursing into a wet bow, dribbling furiously.

The room sat in silence, watching, waiting. Kat was sure they could hear her heart beating, but she didn’t care. This was her son.

The little boy suddenly reached out and grabbed her finger, tight. He grinned and bounced some more, baby rolls lolling on his tummy. Kat let out a choking sound, half sob, half laugh, and tentatively reached forward, picking him up. He happily sat on her hip and played with a strand of her hair intently.

Turning to her parents, she looked at them for a good minute, then said a little harshly, “Thankyou for taking care of my son all this time. I’m sure he appreciates it too.” And turned away, walking outside. She didn’t look back and sincerely hoped her brother and Hydee were following her.

But before she reached the door, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw the face of her mother, tears rolling down her cheeks not for the loss of a son, but the return of a daughter. She smiled and nodded, this was the right thing to do. Her eyes spoke to her daughter, saying ‘I’m glad you’re doing this.’

Stannen seemed to have dematerialised, but Kat wasn’t about to go looking for him. She knew how he must be reacting and hoped by Faranth that her mother would be able to talk to him.

Kat turned from Kissara and walked towards the dragons, her son in her arms. As she walked further away from her old home, relief flooded through her system. Coren, his entire fist stuck in his mouth, grinned and made happy-baby noises. Maybe he did remember her, after all.