Never Too Old for a Mother's Love

Writers: Devin, Halyonix
Date Posted: 24th August 2026

Characters: K'mai, I'serin, Caranda
Description: K'mai and I'serin tell K'mai's foster mother about their relationship.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 2, day 6 of Turn 13

K'mai

I'serin

K'mai was surprised at how nervous he was as he slid down from Sebeth's neck outside the Lower Caverns entrance closest to Caranda's quarters. He'd brought plenty of lovers over for dinner, but those had been friends he was also having casual sex with. The last time he'd brought a serious partner over had been when he was weyrmated to Gaiya.

If K'mai was nervous, I'serin was positively warding off a minor panic attack. He smoothed his pristine tunic again after dismounting. "Are...you certain that she...?" he asked with suddenly dry mouth.

K'mai hurried up to him and barely stopped himself from taking I'serin's hand. "Hey, it'll be fine, really. She'll be _thrilled_ for us." K'mai gave him a serious look. "There is one thing, though."

Terror shot through I'serin. His hand reflexively tightened around K'mai's as he reined his emotions in. "...yes?"

K'mai immediately felt guilty, but he went on. "You'll probably have to endure a hug. Maybe more than one."

A hug? That was it? I'serin exhaled with relief. "I thought..." he began to say and then he paused. "I can handle a hug." He had endured far worse from strangers before.

"I was joking, love," K'mai said quietly. "I mean, she'll almost definitely hug you, but I was teasing about how you don't like most people touching you." He gave I'serin a reassuring smile. "Come on."

He led the way inside and down the corridor, trying to keep his own nervousness in check.

Caranda answered the door with a bright smile. "K'mai! It's been too long!" she said as she pulled him into a hug. "I was starting to worry you'd forgotten me." She was a plump woman in her early sixties, her gray hair tied back with two small braids.

"Of course not, Mom." K'mai hugged her tight, feeling a little guilty.

"And I'serin, it's good to see you again," she said. "How have you been?"

It had been Turns since he had seen her. While there was gray in her hair, it was her eyes that still shone as he remembered from his youth. "Caranda," he answered, warm manners and a courtly bow springing to his command as easily as ever when he had been Weyrleader. Even though he knew she would do more, he offered his hands in greeting as he said, "I am...well." It was mostly true and he would not bring down the mood with his struggles. This was to be a happy thing.

She squeezed his hands. "That's good to hear." K'mai had brought him over for dinner when the boys were young, and she'd known I'serin to be a quiet, polite boy.

"Why don't we go sit down?" K'mai said, his nervousness starting to creep up again. "There's something we'd like to tell you."

"Oh? Is there anything wrong?" She asked as she closed the door behind them.

"Very much the opposite." K'mai sat at the table and waited for I'serin to take the seat next to him. He reached for the bronzerider's hand, gripping it gently. After a steadying breath, he said, "Me and I'serin have been . . .in a relationship for a Turn now. I'm in love with him."

"Really?" Caranda blinked in surprise. Bronzeriders didn't . . . But if K'mai was telling her this, then it was true. Her expression shifted into a wide, joyful smile. "Oh, K'mai! I'm so happy for you. For both of you." She stepped around the table and K'mai rose to sink into another warm hug.

She peeked around the tall bluerider. "You, too. Come here." She opened an arm to make room for I'serin.

I'serin's heartbeat had gone through four different rhythms in a short space of time and he was certain one of those rhythms would have had a healer rushing him to the Infirmary. Good thing it had switched to a more natural rate by the time Caranda demanded a hug from him. He slipped into that embrace, leaning towards K'mai more as a balm for his nerves.

"It was...unexpected," he explained to her once they all drew back to continue conversation comfortably. His hazel eyes landed on K'mai. "But I am glad that it happened."

"Being with you is the most wonderful surprise." K'mai's gaze was adoring.

Still smiling, Caranda's gaze shifted between them. "I've never seen you look at anyone like that, K'mai." Her foster son had always loved both widely and deeply, but this was something new. "But you've known each other your entire lives. How did this happen? You have to tell me everything!"

K'mai's face heated. "Uhhh . . . " K'mai was very open with his fostermother, but he didn't think I'serin would appreciate him telling _that_ story.

Luckily, truthful evasiveness was one of I'serin's strengths. "An impromptu night of wine that led to some unexpected conversation." He paused to add, "The vintners have always said there is truth to be found in wine."

K'mai bit his lip. That was accurate enough. "He told me about his sexuality, and how he'd been hiding it for so long. And being open about that let him be himself around me. When I got to know the real I'serin, that's when I started falling in love with him." He squeezed I'serin's hand and gave him another fond look.

"Oh, that is romantic." Caranda smiled at them. "And thank you for sharing this with me. I'm going to guess you'd like me to keep this quiet, if K'mai has taken this long to tell me."

"I've been _dying_ to tell you, but I'serin gets to decide who knows," the bluerider said.

I'serin winced a little bit, even though he knew it was not an accusation. "It...has been...difficult," he tried to explain in half apology. "Bronzeriders embody a stereotype and..." He paused, his tone becoming a little sadder. "Those in charge do not do well with those who would break with tradition."

Caranda nodded, frowning slightly. "Well, girls are Impressing to blues now, so we'll all have to adjust what we think is possible."

The bronzerider nodded in agreement. "That we shall." He looked over at K'mai and gave his hand a squeeze. "Despite the difficulties," he said, "it has been worth it." The veracity of his statement shone in his eyes.

K'mai's heart swelled, that sunlight feeling filling his chest. He lifted I'serin's hand and kissed it. "You're more than worth it."

Seeing how much they loved each other was wonderful. Caranda didn't want to spoil the mood at all, but she couldn't help being curious. "Does your mother know?" she asked I'serin.

The effect was instantaneous. One moment there was an endearing light to I'serin's eyes and the next it was replaced by the storms of reality. "She does," he said. His mind replayed half a dozen painful memories of his parents finding out about K'mai. He gathered them up to bury in a little mental grave later. "Her opinion of the situation does not matter," he said in an emotionless tone.

"Oh, sweetheart." Caranda's voice was full of sadness and compassion. "You're too old for fostering, but you're never too old for a mother's love. I would be happy to give you mine."

His smile was thin but he politely said, "Thank you." It was an offer he would not take because he disliked being a burden to anyone but that would a concern for later. "Perhaps...we could come over for dinner again. More frequently than just...every few Turns."

"I would love that," she said.

"Me, too." K'mai smiled at both of them. It was such a relief to finally let his foster mother know. There was still tension in I'serin, though, and K'mai rubbed a thumb over his hand, trying to soothe him.

At a quiet mental prompting from his rider, Aluneth said via Sebeth, }: He blames himself for his mother's grief and return to Healer Hall. Misguidedly, I might add. :{ But his rider had always borne quiet burdens that were not his.

K'mai closed his eyes for a brief moment, his heart aching. Then he turned and gently cupped I'serin's face. "You deserve to have love of all kinds. Please try to accept what's offered to you."

There was a brief second where I'serin stilled as if in prelude to panic but he relaxed into K'mai's touch. "I assure you, I will do my best," he reassured his lover as he leaned forward to rest his forehead against K'mai's.

"I'serin," Caranda said gently. "You're family now whether you like it or not, so you're just going to have to get used to me loving you."

That would be easier said than done but I'serin did not argue. He chuckled and restated, "I will do my best." Eager to draw the spotlight away, he motioned towards the larger Weyr around them. "Please, catch me up to what has been happening in your life here. It has, after all, been some Turns."

Caranda smiled. "Well, nothing as exciting as hiding a secret romance, but the grandkids do keep my life interesting . . ."

Last updated on the October 28th 2026

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Never Too Old for a Mother's Love