Family for Now

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 22nd June 2020

Characters: Urlene, Briata, Y'gel
Description: Urlene finally admits to needing a little help
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 28 of Turn 10

Urlene

Briata

Y'gel

Urlene plodded slowly towards Y'gel's weyr, eyes deeply shadowed as
she carried the small baby in her arms. She'd fed him, bathed him,
and changed him, but rest eluded her. Every noise he made woke her
and she was completely exhausted. It had taken two days before she
finally conceded that she needed help.

Knocking lightly, she waited and hoped that Briata was home. She'd
once made the offer of help, but was it still open?

The door opened and Briata smiled with genuine warmth and stepped back
to let the healer in. "You look tired," she said with concern taking
in the other woman's worn look.

Urlene smiled with gratitude as she stepped in, then nodded. "I am.
I'm exhausted. I've heard all the stories from mothers and have all
the training, but I don't think I ever realized how tiring it would
actually be." She swallowed and sighed. "I've tried to sleep, but
every sound Lorgelen makes wakes me up. And just when I think it's
okay to really sleep, he's wet, or hungry. I don't think I've slept
more than a couple of candlemarks at a time in the past three days. I
was hoping... you said that you wouldn't mind, so would you mind
watching over him just for a little while?"

Briata understood immediately. "No worries, I remember how it was for
me too." She scooped the baby out of Urlene's arms and led her to
Y'gel's study and it's wide sofa. "You lay down and I'll close the
door. I'll keep the children out here so you can get a good nap. Are
you hungry at all?"

"Thank you so much. I hate asking, but I'm just so tired." She looked
ready to tip over when she sank down on the soft surface. " No, thank
you. I've not been really hungry. Just tired. " She immediately laid
down, eyes already drooping. "I appreciate it, Briata." As she curled
up, she couldn't help but notice the familiar scent on the couch. It
smelled like Y'gel... the unique scent of him and the spicy scent of
dragon oil. With a soft sigh, she snuggled up and within moments was
fast asleep.

Briata snuggled the babe into a sling as she'd carried her own with
her everywhere. She nestled him near her heart and his restlessness
calmed while she went about feeding Brigel and Nisheyl. She let the
children play as long as they were quiet. She reminded them that
Urlene was sleeping and stuck her little finger in the baby's mouth
when he started to stir.

"Evening" Y'gel smiled when he stepped in the door. Then his smile
broadened even more when he saw Lorgelen. "Did she take you up on your
offer?"

"Not exactly," Briata said quietly. "I think she was a little
desperate, She's been asleep in your office for a few hours. The
kids have been almost perfect."

He chuckled and cracked his office door open to peek inside.

Urlene was curled up on the couch, slack face half-smooshed into a
cushion with her arms wrapped snugly around another. It was evident
that she was deeply asleep, her breathing slow and regular.

In Briata's sling, Lorgelen began to suck greedily at the offered
finger, a little hand emerging to wave fitfully in the air. There was
a soft whimper as the baby turned his head and began to nuzzle.

"I hate to wake her," Briata whispered "but the little guy is going to
need to eat."

Y'gel stepped into the room and crossed to kneel next to the couch.
"Urlene," he said softly, touching her shoulder. "Lorgelen needs to
nurse."

"Unh?" An eye fluttered open and with a groan, Urlene lurched upwards
into a wavering, unsteady sit. "Uh huh." Still mostly asleep and only
half aware of what she was doing, she fumbled at her neckline and
opened it, then blindly reached out.

Briata chuckled and stepped forward into the room lifting the sling
over her head and then dropping it over Urlene's. How many times had
she felt exactly like that and nursed a hungry babe in her sleep. She
adjusted the sling so Lorgelen fit snugly against his mother.

"We should let her be," Y'gel whispered. No doubt Urlene would be
asleep again in moments. "I'll check on her in a few minutes."

Briata nodded and grinned at him as they both snuck out of the room.

Urlene felt the baby latch securely onto her, and mumbling a thanks
to the pair leaned back against the soft sofa. One arm tucked under
her son, her eyes fluttered closed again and she dozed off once
again.

Briata turned to Y'gel after she closed the door. She shook her head.
"She's not got the hang of it yet. She needs our help."

"I know," he said softly. "But she's stubborn and unwilling to trust
him to a foster mother."

Briata sighed. "Well, you need to do something about that."

"Me?" He grinned at her incredulously.

"Yes," she said emphatically. "Ask her to move in with us."

He stilled for a moment at the implications and put his hands on her
upper arms. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

Briata looked up at him for a long moment. "She's our friend and she
needs us to be her family... for now."

"Right," he said, pulling her against him for a moment. "We'll just
have to see what she says."

Last updated on the August 17th 2020

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Family for Now