Could Be Yours

Writers: Devin, Paula
Date Posted: 13th February 2015

Characters: Uetia, K'mai
Description: Uetia tells K'mai that he's a potential candidate for paternity.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 7 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Sabonus

K'mai

Uetia stared the dates on a scrap hide. The farther her pregnancy
progressed, the more accurate the dates became. Date when she was due
to give birth and the date when she most likely conceived. She could
do the math, she was good at math. Uetia couldn't deny it any longer.
The baby she was carrying was likely to be from Sirjath's last Mating
Flight. Uetia had a dilemma. She was honest and straightforward person.
But how did you tell something like that to your weyrmate, weyrmate
who was currently/still sailing somewhere on Pern's oceans? When she
had found out she was pregnant, she had borrowed a flit and sent
Sabonus a short message: I'm pregnant: With love, Uetia. The reply had
been equally short but jubilant: So happy! I love you. S. Telling someone
that baby might not be his after all, was not something you wrote letter about.

She rubbed her face, feeling tired. The pregnancy did take it's toll.
It just had to wait until Sabonus got back. Shouldn't be more then two
sevendays now. Meanwhile, she could warn K'mai that he was a strong
candidate for fatherhood. It was just fair. Uetia wondered if she was
ever going to be sure who the father was. Did it even matter? The baby
would be loved, no matter what. She knew Sabonus, he would love the
child even if someone else had sired him/her.

"Ask Sebeth if his rider could talk with me?** Uetia asked Sirjath. **
I meet him at the beach.** Once her mind was set, she didn't dawdle.
Besides, a walk would do good for her.

K'mai was happy for the invitation and hurried down to the beach. When
Uetia was in sight, he waved and jogged over to meet her. "Hey there."

"Hi, K'mai," Uetia gave him a warm smile. What else he may be, K'mai
was always a friend. "How you been?"

"Good! How are you my lovely greenrider?" He put a companionable arm
around her shoulders.

"Pregnant," Uetia replied with grin. Her pregnancy was public
knowledge by now, had been since she had been moved to Queen's wing.
There was only two reason why young, female greenrider got transferred
to that wing and since she obviously wasn't injured...it was the other
reason.

"Congratulations!" He gave her a hug. "I'd heard you were moving to
the queen's wing. Have you told Sabonus yet? Isn't he still on a
trip?"

"Yes, he's still on a ship assignment. I borrowed a firelizard and
sent him a message as soon as I was able," Uetia replied.

"How did he take the news? Is he happy?"

"I presume he had to buy drinks to all his shipmates, and yes, he's
happy about it," Uetia replied. "The thing is..." she hesitated a
moment and then just plunged ahead. "The baby may also be yours,
from the Mating Flight."

K'mai blinked and it took a moment for the words to sink in. "Mine?"

"Possibly. Maybe. I don't know for sure, and I wonder if I ever will.
Unless the baby grows up to have some distinct family trait. Like
early male baldness, except that would come from my side of the
family..."Uetia realized she was babbling and shut her mouth with a
snap.

He didn't really hear what she was saying. At first he was surprised,
then a little scared. What if he was a bad parent? What if the child
didn't like him? But then warm happiness spread through him and he
grabbed Uetia in a tight hug. "A baby! Yours and mine and Sabonus'!"

"Mine, yours and his...that kind of thing is only possible in the
Weyr," Uetia grinned. "The baby's very lucky to have lot of loving
parents."

He kissed her cheek. "This is my first. That I know of, at least." One
hand touched her stomach lightly. "How wonderful to have it with a
friend like you." K'mai hadn't given much thought to children. Being a
rider, he would never be a full time parent so it wasn't a concern.
Now that he was confronted with it, he found he liked the idea of a
little version of himself running around. Well, _maybe_ a version of
himself. It could be Sabonus'.

"I'm happy to be your friend. Thank's for being understanding," Uetia replied.

"I know Sabonus is gone a lot, so I'm here for you if you need
someone." He put his arms around her again. A baby! He still couldn't
believe it.

"Thank's K'mai, I need that," Uetia said softly and leaned against
him. "I miss him terribly and I wish he was here so he could share
this," she touched her belly.

"He'll be back. I'm sure he'll spend as much time with you as he can."
K'mai was sad when his friends moved to other Weyrs. He could only
imagine how hard it would be to have your weyrmate gone for long spans
of time.

"Yeah. I sometimes wonder how my sister-in-laws can do it," Uetia sighed.

"I bet they're strong women, like you." He nudged her. "Want to do
something to celebrate?"

"Sure I do. So much has been happening that I haven't celebrated at
all," Uetia replied.

"Is there anything special you'd like? No alcohol, obviously." He
nodded toward her belly.

"No alchol and no /betweening/ but I'm sure we can figure out
something," Uetia answered.

Last updated on the February 18th 2015

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Could Be Yours