Stuck in Place

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 16th May 2020

Characters: Urlene, Y'gel
Description: Urlene gets help when a little stuck.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 3 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Lorican

Urlene

Y'gel

Urlene sat in her bathing pool, idly flipping the water through her
fingers. The heated pool helped with the muscles in her back and legs,
tired and aching from the days work. Perhaps, she thought, she was
working a bit too hard, but it was better than sitting idle and doing
nothing but thinking. It was best sometimes not to think too much
about that damnable letter and how utterly foolish she had been. She
shook off those thoughts and the hurt that still flickered inside of
her, then tried to lift her foot to her lap to massage her instep. Her
middle was expanding and it wasn't quite as easy as it used to be. She
sighed, leaning her head back to soak her hair.

Her quiet reverie was interrupted by a firm knock. She sighed,
irritated at the interruption of her relaxation and solitude. "Just a
minute!" She rose, pressing her hands down on the side of the pool and
tried to lift her leg over, but fell back with a splash. With a
muttered curse and a scowl, she looked towards the door as another
knock sounded. "I said just a minute!"

He'd heard the splash and instead of knocking again he called out.
"Urlene, are you alright in there?"

**Why didn't they think to put a few extra steps in here?** Urlene
thought, irritably. When she didn't manage to pull herself up, she
looked up at the door. "Y'gel? I'm in the bath. Come back later!" She
studied her surroundings. Didn't she have a stool she could put in the
water to use? Not seeing one, but now determined to get out of the
bath, she took a breath, steadied her arms, wiggled, and hefted. She
almost made it, but a shift in her center of gravity sent her falling
back into the pool with yelp of surprise and a louder splash. She
sputtered as she righted herself, then gave a vicious curse.

The splash and crash was too much for him but it was the curse that
made him open the door and step in. He shook his head and closed it
behind him then grabbed the towel from the back of the chair.
"Urlene," he growled. "You should have put a towel under you and over
the side to give you traction." He held out his arms. "Can I help?"

Urlene frowned up at him through the curtain of dripping hair that
covered her face. She pushed the strands aside with a blown breath. "I
didn't realize the blasted bathing pool was so deep." Or that she
would feel so cumbersome. It was quite one thing to see a pregnant
woman and give advice rather than actually being one. She eyed his
offered arms, realized that she did indeed need his help getting out,
then sighed a disgruntled, "Yes..."

He sat for a moment and removed his boots and then just stepped into
the pool unmidful of getting his clothing wet. "Here you go," he said
and lifted her effortlessly out of the pool. Once he'd set her on her
feet he grabbed the towel and draped it around her.

She tightened the towel around her, embarrassed that he'd been proven
right. Again. "Thank you. I'll remember about the towels next time.
" She reached for her robe and slid it around her shoulders.

"Urlene," he said with a bit of a sigh. "I've done this, It's not easy
for any woman. I just want to help where I can. Briata is fine with
it. "

She sighed and looked down. "I know. And I'm sorry. Sometimes its
difficult for me to remember that I can ask for help." She took
another breath and looked up at him. "And I'm sorry for avoiding you.
I know you've noticed. None of this is your fault and I've had to
come to the realization that I've been acting silly. Lorican never made
promises to me and I can't be angry at him. I care enough about him to
truly hope that
he finds happiness and love where he is. If the child is his,
then he have me a precious gift. If the babe isn't, then he gave me
wonderful memories. This child will be loved either way. " She reached
out and took his hand. "And thank you, Y'gel. For being here, even
when I don't ask you to be."

"Of course," he said and squeezed her fingers. "I know you're hurt and
need to find your balance. I am fine with that. But you're only alone
if you want to be. Maybe you could train Stitch to come find me when
you need me?" His brow rose on the question.

"I don't think I know how to _not_ be alone, Y'gel. I've done it for
too long to change now. It's served me well enough. And let's face it,
I'm hardly an easy person to get to know. I do have that reputation."
She gave a brief smile, then looked up to where Stitch perched,
watching with interest. "I can send him for you. I've just," She
sighed and looked up at him, "I've not wanted to cause you problems,
Y'gel. I know how important Briata is to you. And I know she says she
doesn't mind, but part of me thinks she really does and simply doesn't
wish to push the matter. You're very lucky. She's beautiful and seems
to be very kind."

"With good reason," he smiled to take the sting out of his words.
"You've been defending yourself from lusty dragonriders. But as it
turns out, we haven't caused problems Urlene, so no need to feel bad
about it." He nodded at her comments, "She is," he smiled, "And she's
a wonderful mother." Y'gel was proud of his weyrmate in many ways.
"Might not be a bad idea to get to know her better too. It really
helps to have friends."

"Not now that the lusty dragonriders mostly know better now, no, they
haven't." She smiled up at him. "I don't really feel bad about that
part." She tugged her robe a little tighter around herself. "I know
you're probably right about Briata too. But it's an odd situation for
me to deal with, Y'gel. It's not going to be that easy. Befriending
your weyrmate while lusting after you seems a bit..." She pursed her
lips as she considered her words. "wicked on my part, really." Her
lips curled upwards with a wry smile. "Unless she also likes women.
Then that could be interesting...and wicked." Surprised at her own
gall, she suddenly laughed at herself. "Faranth, this baby is
short-circuiting my brain."

Y'gel snorted. He knew Briata very well and doubted she had interest
in other women, or men for that matter. Not that he'd have any
objections if she did. Their weyrmating had been exclusive for a long
time though not because of any agreement but because of desire. They
simply loved one another. "Well," he smiled. "I'm not here to try to
climb back in your bed. I'm just here as your friend and the possible
father of your babe. To help, because that is what I do."

Urlene tilted her head up to look at him, her lower lip pursed in
thought. "What if I wanted you back in my bed?"

The corner of his mouth lifted revealing a deep dimple and his eyes
twinkled as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed as if to a Lady.
"At your service ma'am."

She laughed softly and reached her arms up to wrap around his neck.
Sighing softly, she laid her cheek against his shoulder. For some
reason, she ached for comfort and to have warm arms around her. "How
about you start off with just laying beside me for a while?"

He held her against him for a moment, "I can do that," he smiled. Then
he picked her up, towel robe and all, and carried her to the bed. He
put the towel under her wet hair, then began removing his trousers.

Urlene lay back as he disrobed, resting her cheek on her hand to
watch. When he had finished and let the wet trousers fall on the
floor, she held her arms out. It would be nice, she thought, just to
rest in strong arms for the night. Faranth, she'd missed it,
especially after turns of sleeping alone. She felt desire for intimacy
certainly, but there was more of a desire simply to be held and
caressed as though she was special. She ached just for touch.

He climbed on the bed and into her arms. He pulled her close and
wrapped her in a gentle embrace. His hands roamed her back just giving
support and comfort. At this point the words had all been said and he
showed her with his hands that he cared about her emotions, not just
her body or what was growing within it.

Feeling soothed, she pressed her cheek against Y'gel's shoulder and
sighed softly. She curled up against him, nuzzling his warm skin with
a contented smile on her lips. Within moments, she was asleep, one arm
wrapped around his side.

He smiled, kissed the top of her head and closed his own eyes.

Last updated on the May 31st 2020

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Stuck in Place