A Rare Moment

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 31st January 2010

Characters: Traelyn, B'ram
Description: The couple coming to a hesitant understanding, and B'ram asks something of Traelyn.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 3 of Turn 5

B'ram

B'ram had stood out on Girifith's ledge for three-quarters of a candlemark, his mind a whirl with thoughts the past, thoughts of the present, and an unknowable future. There was so much to sort out - too much. Trae would be angry with him, he knew that much for sure. She had probably left his weyr in a huff, and it was probably better she did, he had decided. The brownrider had enough on his mind right now. He couldn't handle Trae's self-centered attitude on top of everything else. Let her stew and fume on her own, he had decided as he did his best to shove thoughts of her aside and tried to figure out just what it was he was going to do about the baby.

He hadn't even come close to an answer as he trudged back to his bedchamber, having been driven off the ledge by the cool night air. Creeping back into the dim light, he stopped in disbelief at the foot of the bed, just barely making out the form of a body underneath the blanket. She hadn't left. She stayed. After the angry words, after his storming off in a huff, after all his assumptions, she had stayed.

"Trae?" His whisper was greeted only with the sound of her lightly snoring. Carefully he moved around to his side of the bed, and gently lifting the sheets he slipped under them, curling himself up on his side to face her. Reaching over to remove a strand of hair from her cheek. Just when he thought he knew her, just when he thought he could predict her every move, she would do something to utterly baffle him. She would do something... amazing.

Guilt suddenly filled him as he reached down to cover her hand with his. Maybe he had been the one in the wrong. Maybe he had over-reacted. Maybe it had been completely the wrong thing for her to say, but maybe she had been trying. Maybe staying was her way of telling him that she was _still_ trying.

He shifted so his head rested on her pillow, his forehead touching hers. "I'm sorry," his whispered in the dark, knowing she would not hear him but knowing it had to be said. Peaceful rest did not come easy to him that night, but when he did finally fall asleep, he was still holding her hand.

~~~

It was the warm breath against her neck that finally roused Traelyn from sleep the next morning. For a moment she lay still, allowing herself to enjoy the soft contentment that welled in her. He'd come back. She had thought he would stay the night with his dragon, but he'd come back inside to her. An unexpected rush of tenderness for him swept through her and she reached out, eyes flickering open as she ran her fingers lightly through his crisp red hair.

Though his eyes had been closed and his breathing slow, his sleep had been shallow and the sensation snapped him awake, his eyes opening to meet hers. This was new territory for them. The corner of his mouth twitched with an apologetic smile. He couldn't bring himself to repeat the words. It had been so much easier in the dark. Instead he lightly rested his hand on her hip, hoping she could read him far better then he did her the night before.

Her eyes searched his, knowing what he meant by the touch. He didn't have to say it--his actions, and the expression in his green eyes, the small smile--spoke for him. Her hand went to his, fingertips caressing slowly up his arm. He knew her as well as she knew him. He would know what she couldn't say either.

"So..." he said softly, breaking the silence, "I think I've decided to go back to Far Island to see the boy."

"I knew you would," she murmured.

"Would you come with me?" The words were out before he could think better of making such an offer. Did she really want to go back to Far Island, to the place they grew up, where their earliest shared memories were, with _him_? His jaw tightened slightly as he searched her eyes, trying to guess at what her reaction might be. They both had reason to avoid their childhood home.

She stared at him, completely taken-aback. Her heart pounded. She hadn't expected this from him. Not at all. He knew what he was asking of her to go with him, and it was so much. She looked down, overwhelmed by conflicting emotions that she wouldn't even try to sort out. Maybe it was too much. "You....you want me with you?" she finally asked carefully, her eyes meeting his again. "Why?"

Oh shards, he thought, dropping his eyes. "I just thought..." B'ram mentally kicked himself for speaking without thinking. "It's ok. Don't worry about it. I can go alone. You don't have to."

She shook her head, brushing her fingers against his chin to make him look at her. "No, B'ram. No. I want to know why."

It was such a womanly question. How could he reply honestly without leading yet another fight. "I don't know why, I just wanted you there."

Well, shards. It was so much to ask of her, and fear made her hesitate in replying. She didn't want to go back, but if B'ram had enough courage to go back, then she didn't have any kind of excuse any longer. "When were you thinking of going?"

Did that mean she was open to the idea? "Soon, I think."

Once she gave him her word, she couldn't go back on it. Did she really have enough courage to go back? **I guess I'll find out...** "If you want me to go with you," she heard herself say quietly, "I'll go."

"Just to see the baby," he quickly assured her. "Unless... Of course if you want to see your family..." Shards... Atreyn...

"No." She winced at how quickly that came out. "I can see them at a later time." It was going to be difficult enough to go back with B'ram, and that on top of seeing a child that may or may not be his by another woman, she didn't think she could face her family and be all smiles and good cheer.

"If that's what you want," he said, trying not let his relief show in either his voice or face. "But it means a lot to me, you know." It was more of an admission than he was truly comfortable making, but he knew she deserved at least that much.

Traelyn looked at him. "I know."

He looked deeply into her blue-grey eyes. It was one of the rare moments when they were completely unguarded, vulnerable before each other in a way they just could not be with anyone else. B'ram held her gaze for a long moment before closing his eyes as his fingers slipped into her hair and he touched his lips softly to hers, grateful that she had not demanded an apology, grateful that she had stayed. There were so many words he wanted to say, _should_ say, but the beauty of that moment was that he knew he didn't _have_ to say them.

Last updated on the February 1st 2010

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A Rare Moment