The Sense of Family

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 20th December 2020

Characters: Urlene, Briata, Y'gel, Nisheyl
Description: Urlene adapts to family
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 10

Urlene

Briata

Y'gel

Urlene relaxed on the couch, smoothing her dressing gown down as she
settled by Y'gel. It'd been a long, draining, emotional day and she
was tired. The hot bath had certainly helped ease some of the tension. She
looked around to Y'gel's other side and saw Lorgelen curled up against
Briata, nestled close. "Do you want me to take him, or has he fallen
asleep?"

Briata smiled as she rocked but she shook her head.. "Oh he's out, I
was going to put him down in a bit. He has a full belly and clean
nappy so he's out for awhile."

Y'gel smiled as he continued his reading to Brygel who had claimed his
lap and Nisheyl who stood at his knee swaying and sucking on her
thumb.

Nisha looked up at Urlene and held out her arms "Lele up." she demanded.

Urlene looked down at the little girl with surprise. She'd never
really interacted much with N'vanik's daughter, leaving her primarily
to Briata's care. She'd certainly never heard her use that name. "Oh.
Alright, Nisha." She glanced at Briata, then as the little girl
thrust her arms up again, she carefully picked her up and sat her on
her lap. "There you go."

Y'gel looked at the little girl in Urlene's lap as grinned at her.

Nisheyl in the meantime watched her da read to her brother and leaned
against the soft bosom of the woman holding her. Her eyes closed and
opened several times as she fought sleep but da's voice finally
lulled her and her thumb fell out of her mouth as she relaxed into
sleep.

Urlene found her arms wrapping around the little girl, cuddling her
against her gently. Normally so restrained and reserved, Urlene felt
her heart soften and a gentle smile curved her lips as she began to
lightly stroke Nisha's crown of hair. It was a precious moment to
her; this little girl, who she'd only known for a bare few months,
showed such trust and affection in her. How had that happened? She
looked up at Briata, then Y'gel, and then slowly looked down at the
sleeping toddler in her arms. It wasn't until that moment that she
really felt that she wasn't an intruder in their home. It felt like
she was one of them.

Briata slowly and carefully got up and put little Lorgellen into his
cradle. Then she smiled at Urlene. "Want me to take her?"

Urlene kept her arms around Nisha and slowly shook her head. "No. I
think she's fine right where she is for now. I don't mind so much."
She found that the little girl curled up in her lap brought not only a
physical but a real emotional warmth. She looked at Briata again with
a soft, surprisingly contented smile, then at Y'gel before nestling
Nisha closer to her. A soft murmur emerged from her lips, a question
she didn't realize she was asking out loud. "Is this what a family is
supposed to be?"

Y'gel and Briata looked at each other and smiled, then turned and
smiled at her both nodding. "Yes," he said.

"Welcome to ours," she added.

Urlene looked up, surprised before she realized she'd spoken her
thoughts, but her expression wasn't as guarded or wary. Instead, it
was uncertain. "Hm...My family wasn't like this." Urlene admitted. "I
don't remember ever being held by my mother or my father. But
this...this is nice." She didn't feel lonely or like she needed to do
something to occupy her time. There wasn't some hole she was
desperately trying to fill. It was, she realized, contentment.

Y'gel and Briata's eyes met. Y'gel asked gently, "Who held you then
when you were small Urlene?"

That made her pause for thought and Urlene's brow knit. "I don't
really remember. I think it might have been my mother's maids. I
believe I also had a milk mother, but I'm not certain. My mother
wasn't interested in rearing infants. After I was five turns old or
so, she started teaching me appropriate duties, of course, but she's
never been a particularly warm woman."

Briata nodded. "Well, luckily you can change that for your son. We'll
help show you how our family works for the children."

"And the adults," Y'gel added with a smile for Briata. "Adults get
held too when they need it."

"I'm trying," Urlene admitted, but acknowledged that being emotive
wasn't exactly her strength. Maintaining a distance was beneficial for
her craft, but perhaps not so much in private, home matters. "He's
already being held more than I can remember my younger brother being
held."

"I'm glad," Briata smiled. "Personally I believe all children,
especially at his age, should be held as much as possible." She'd even
carried hers around in a sling across her body as she did her chores.
"Skin to skin contact is especially important. A baby massage can calm
them right down."

"I think the Weyr raise their children differently than many families
of the Blood that I know of." Urlene stroked the small girl's back who
still nestled in her lap. "The Weyrfolk don't seem to feel as though
they own their children." Her brow knit. "I received a letter from my
mother last month. It was the first I've heard from her since I came.
She wants to meet Lorgellen. I told her no and she and my father
weren't welcome here." She looked over at her son and there was a
softness in her eyes. "This is his family."

Last updated on the January 13th 2021

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The Sense of Family