Just You Take Care of Her
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 22nd November 2005
Characters: Birigundi, Demalia
Description: Birigundi tells Demalia that he might become a father
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 16 of Turn 3
Birigundi sat in the remotest corner of the dining hall that he could find. He pushed the food on his plate around, his thoughts occupying his mind much more than the food in front of him. One word kept intruding into his peaceful meal... **Pregnant...**
Demalia had looked around for someone to sit with, and finally spotting someone she knew, walked over to join him. "Birigundi?" questioned the greenrider as she watched him before sitting down. "Are you okay?"
"He sat up straight and gave her a half smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"You sure?" she asked. "You don't look it."
"No, I just..." He pushed the food around a bit absently. "I'm just thinking is all."
"You do look a little..." She paused to study him for a moment, "A little preoccupied."
He shrugged a shoulder, knowing that he couldn't deny it. "I'm just thinking about my father."
"Your father?" He'd never mentioned his father before.
"Yes. He died when I was young." Birigundi gave her a half smile. "I have no memories of him, so I could never really miss him. I guess that's why I don't think about him much."
"I didn't know that," she said, thinking of her own father who was a labourer for the weyr. "It must have been hard for you, if the other kids had both their parents around when you were growing up."
"Oh no. The children all knew that he was a Station Master who died in the line of duty." He shrugged. "And the new station master, Fergus, he never made me feel lacking a father."
"So what brought this on?" she asked gently, sensing there was something on his mind. "Anything I can help with?"
"It's nothing that can be _helped_ really." He didn't meet her eye.
Should he tell her? There really was nothing she could do. But she was his good friend... "It's just... There was a girl I spent the night with about a month ago and... Well, she might be pregnant."
Pregnant? Her mind whirled at that thought - did he know about her aborted pregnancy last turn? Mind you, she knew that having that man's child was no good for anyone, and the trip /between/ to make sure that hadn't happened... Well it had been worth it. "Biri, have... Is that good news?
Do I congratulate you?" she said finally?
He shrugged. "Well, it's not for sure that she _is_ pregnant yet, and even if she is, I don't know what her intentions will be."
"Have you, have you spoken to her about it?"
"Besides assuring her that if she's pregnant that I will stand by her no matter her decision? No, not really. We're waiting until we know if she really is pregnant before making any decisions."
"It, it can't be easy," she said, not meeting his eyes. "Have you been to the healers yet?"
"No, not yet," he said with a shake of his head. "That's tomorrow. And I'll go with her."
"You should," she urged. "She'll appreciate that."
He nodded. "I don't know what she's going to do if she really _is_
pregnant, though. We will have to talk about that."
"Just, just be there for her," said Demalia, thinking of the way _he_
had treated her. That bronzerider had basically told her that he wanted nothing more to do with her, but she could tell the healers who the child's father was for the Weyr records. He'd not been interested in the messy bits of fatherhood, and by all accounts had children already who didn't know their father.
"I will. I know I have a responsibility to her now," Birigundi nodded.
He looked up at Demalia. In his turns as her friend he never saw that look on her face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said, not really wanting to bring the past back. "Just you take care of her, okay."
He studied her carefully, wondering what it was that she was not telling him, what lay behind the strength in her plea. Birigundi nodded. "I will take care of her, Demalia. I promise."
"Good," she said, a faint smile crossing her lips.
Last updated on the November 22nd 2005