Maybe More

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th June 2006

Characters: Larken, Ojisan
Description: While Ojisan plays a Turnover song for his wife, Larken tries to convince herself that she doesn't need or want anything more than she has already
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 12, day 8 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows "Maybe It'd Be Best..."

Larken was glad that Ojisan hadn't been home yet when she finally came back from the beach. She had never been able to cultivate a good pokerface, and she wouldn't have been able to hide from him.

Once she had taken one good, long look at herself in the mirror, she knew she had to get her mind off of everything that had passed between her and M'tone earlier that afternoon. So Larken had set herself to work in the weyr, hoping that the physical duties would help take her mind off of things by cleaning, organizing, sewing buttons that Pisky had chewed off Ojisan's jacket back on, mending one of her many skirts, grooming the kitten - who now lay curled into a tight ball on the couch. Shards, she wished she could just curl up and sleep too.

"You're lucky, you know," she murmured to the sleeping feline as she passed him on the way to the bathing chambers.

All she needed now was a long soak in the large bathing pool. Then maybe
- just maybe - she'd feel like herself again.

"Larken?" her husband called as he entered their weyr, leaning his guitar case against the wall beside the door. "My lesson was cancelled tonight... Are you here?"

"In here!" she called back, slipping into the hot water.

"I have good news," he called to her from outside the curtain. "I'm going to be featured in one of the pieces for Turn's End."

"Faranth, that's wonderful news, Ojisan!"

"Yes, I'm very excited." His voice was slightly muffled by the sound of the curtain separating them. "Its a new piece we've been working on.
Would you like to hear it when you come out?"

"Of course! Here, I'll come out now." The long soak would have to wait, but she could hear how excited he was... Grabbing her robe, she slipped it on, and as she pushed her wet hair back behind her ears, she came out from behind the curtain to greet him.

"I'm sorry, love, I didn't mean to disturb you." Despite his contrition, he was grinning like an excited apprentice as he ran to fetch his guitar.
"Sit down, I'll play it."

Obediently she sat down, gently scooping up Pisky, who mewled a sleepy protest, and cradled him in her lap. "What is the song called?"

His fingers ran up and down a chord quickly to check that it was still in tune. He knew it was, but it was an old habit he had to get himself warmed up. "It's called 'Aloft'."

Settling back against the pillows, she watched him begin to play, studying the way his fingers strummed the gitar, almost in a caressing way...

Larken bit her lip, trying to push M'tone's words out of her mind. She didn't just pretend to be happy with Ojisan - she _was_ happy with him.
And it was in moments like these where she could feel it the most.

The harper played through the piece, filling it with little trills and slides, changing dynamics to give it added depth of emotion, finally finished with a flourish, and in true artistic style, he let the note reverberate in the body of the instrument and die away naturally before turning to look at his young wife. "Well?" he asked with a smile, "what did you think?"

"It's absolutely lovely, Ojisan!" Leaning over, she pressed her lips to his cheek. "Perfect for Turnover."

"Well, it still needs a lot of work," he said with a small, pleased smile.
"There are still a few chords we have yet to work out, and a few notes I'm having trouble reaching for. The bridge could use a bit of work..."

"There you go again! Pointing out all the details that are wrong. From where I'm sitting, love, you can't even _notice_ those flaws."

Ojisan sighed as he set his guitar aside. "That's very sweet dear," he said patting her hand gently. "But a trained ear can hear them loud and clear. It really does need a lot more work."

"You'll get it perfect before Turnover. You still have plenty of time."

"And I will need every minute," he nodded and squeezed her hand. "Thank you, love. I appreciate your confidence in me."

Raising his hand, she gently brushed her lips against it.

Ojisan smiled and traced the back of his thumb across her lips. "Thank you for listening to my playing, Larken. It really means a lot to me that you take an interest in what I do."

Larken smiled at him. "No doubt our children will be just as interested."

"I hope so," he said as he smile wistfully, thinking of having a sweet little family with his beautiful Larken. "Maybe a little girl I can sing to? Or a little boy I can teach to play?"

**Or even a little girl to teach...** The thought flitted through her mind. Brushing it away, she moved Pisky off her lap and scooted closer over to her husband. "Or both..."

"I think I would like both. And maybe more." He curled his arm around her and pulled her to his side.

Turning her head, she kissed the side of his neck. M'tone was wrong.
She _was_ happy...because this is what Ojisan wanted the most. Trying to push away her self-doubt, she shifted, brushing her lips up to his jawline.

Her husband leaned into her touch. Larken wasn't often so bold, but he had to admit, he liked it when she was. She had been so young and unsure when they were first married, sometimes he had wondered if she had really been ready. But in moments like this, when she acted more the confident woman yet still maintaining that innocent charm, this was when he loved her the most, when he knew that despite their age difference she was happy with him.

Encouraged by his gentle response, Larken tilted her face to his, offering her lips.

Last updated on the July 3rd 2006

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