I'm Glad It Was You

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 15th September 2006

Characters: Birigundi, Nialyn
Description: Nialyn battles her insecurities after meeting Ma
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 7 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows "DFW: Grandma"

Birigundi

"Well, she's settled in for the night," Birigundi sighed as he walked
through the weyr door. Carefully he lifted Nialyn's feet so he could
flop back on the sofa beside her. "You made quite an impression on
her," he said as he began gently rubbing the arch of one of the feet now settled
on his lap.

"A good one, I hope?" she asked softly, leaning back against the
pillows.

"A very good one," he reassured her. "I mean, really. How could she
not love you?"

Smiling her relief--and knowing that she'd been sharding foolish to
doubt that it had gone well tonight--she let herself relax. "I really
like her, Biri."

"She's a great woman," he nodded proudly. "She raised me alone, you
know. Raised me and managed a tavern all at the same time."

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

"Uh huh," he said, moving on to her other foot. "My father died when I
was young. He was the Runner Station Master. When he died, Ma had to
have some way to support us. The new Station Master, Fergus, he
suggested it."

"I'm sorry about your Papa, Biri.... I don't think you ever told me
about that."

"Well, to be honest I can't say that I miss him. I really never knew
him. I regret that, but I can't imagine my life with him in it. If
that makes any sense."

Her eyes fluttered closed as his fingers continued to massage. "Do you
think you would have become a different person?"

"How could I not have been?" he shrugged. "But I can't complain. I
mean, look where I am. I'm living in a Weyr, I'm about to have a baby
with a beautiful woman... How can I regret that?"

She cracked an eye open. "You can't," she grinned.

"No," he grinned as he reached out to take her hand. "I really can't,
Nia. I have to say, I wasn't sure at first about this whole baby thing,
but now... Well, it's different now."

She hadn't been so sure either. And to be quite honest, she still had
her doubts...especially where she and Biri were concerned. But in
moments like these, when he was with her and she could feel the baby moving
inside her, all her doubts were cast to the side. She could almost
pretend they were a young couple, just recently wed.... Quickly brushing that
thought away, Nialyn closed her eyes again. "Very different."

The spark of something a little deeper in her eyes didn't escape his
notice. Nialyn had been a bit of a mystery at first. He hadn't been
sure what exactly their relationship had to be now that she was pregnant
with his child. Birigundi knew he'd support her along the way, but he didn't
know what was expected outside that. But no, though their relationship
still was undefined, he found he was comfortable with things the way
they were. More than comfortable. Quite happy. She had her life, and
he had his. But then they were also building another life together. "I'm
happy it was you, Nia."

Gently she squeezed his hand. "I would sit up and kiss you for saying
that, Biri, but my tummy won't let me move as I'd like to...."

"Well, here," Birigundi smiled as he slid out from under her feet and
knelt down on the floor beside her. "Allow me," he murmured as he
leaned in to kiss her softly, his hand laying gently on pregnant belly.

Nialyn slid her fingers into his hair, responding to his kiss a little
more passionately than she'd first meant to. All of her relief of that
evening, and all of her want for him to touch her--to be with her--was
in that kiss.

"Hmm," he hummed when he finally pulled back, grinning and terribly
pleased at her reaction. "If this is how you respond to meeting my
mother, I'm sure there are a few more family members I could scrape up
for you to meet."

She snorted. "And you probably would too."

"If it means I get to keep having my way with you, I'd gladly parade all
of my relatives through your weyr," Birigundi said with a saucy grin as
fingers found their way between the ties of her tunic.

A blonde brow rose. "Are you planning to have your way with me right
now?"

"Why yes," he said with a deep, throaty chuckle, nipping lightly at her
windpipe. "Do you have any objections?"

Well, it wouldn't hurt the baby..... "Not really," she murmured,
running a finger down his cheek before cupping the back of his neck.

"Good. Shall we move into the bedroom?"

They haltingly made their way to the bed, chuckling and giggling, with
Birigundi's arms around her, lips brushing against her ear and neck.
She grinned when they stopped--again--to get a proper kiss in. "At this
rate, we'll never get to my bed," Nialyn murmured teasingly, wrapping
her arms around his neck.

"Oh, we'll get there eventually." Another tie to her tunic fell open
under his fingers. "Half the fun is the journey itself."

"I suppose you're right," she chuckled, caressing her hands along his
shoulders, down his long arms... "I know how much you love
to...prolong...such journyes, Biri. You're really quite transparent."

"You think I'm trying to hide something from you?" His tunic fluttered
to the floor. Shards, it had been a while since they had just let go
and enjoyed each others company. At least... a seveday or two...

"I would hope not." Nialyn lifted her arms obediently as he pulled her
blouse off. Gently she pressed her body against his, suddenly feeling
rather self-concious about her rounded stomach. She paused in kissing
him to press her brow to his shoulder. This wasn't the first time
they'd been intimate with her pregnancy, but each time he was here, she was
showing a little more. And she couldn't help the fleeting thoughts: what if he
was repulsed? What if he didn't think she was beautiful? Nialyn
nervously rubbed her cheek against his bare chest.

Birigundi couldn't help but notice her change in mood. Lifting her chin
to look up at him he asked softly, "Everything ok?"

Nodding, she leaned up to kiss his mouth, telling herself she was a
foolish woman to feel so insecure at a time like this.

He leaned back, knowing _something_ was wrong. "Come on, Nia. What is
it?"

"It's nothing." Nialyn ran her hands through his hair. Shards.
"Really, Biri..."

"You know, we don't have to do this if you don't want to," he murmured
softly, his fingers tracing lines along her spine. Shards, he _wanted_
to, but not if she wasn't into it like he was.

She gave him a small smile. "Believe me, Biri. You'd know if I didn't
want to."

"All right," he said, with a challenging gleam in his eye. "Make me
believe you."

And, after shoving away those ridiculous, lingering doubts, Nialyn
proceeded to do just that.

Last updated on the September 27th 2006

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I'm Glad It Was You