Healing the Rift 2/2

Writers: Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 29th November 2007

Characters: Hartam, Tayette
Description: Hartam and Tayette come to a happy decision
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 6, day 5 of Turn 4

She had been concentrating so hard on not letting him see how much his nearness affected her, she almost missed his words. She cringed as his voice raised, but the next words took her breath away. "You.." she choked on a sob, "you do want - both of us?" she asked finally lifting her eyes to meet his.

"Of course I do." Now he did take her hands in his, but kept his eyes on her face. "You. . . from the moment we met you intrigued me and I wanted to be near you and to get to know you better. That feeling kept growing.
And the baby. . . that's an unexpected turn, a very unexpected one at this stage of my life, but he. .. this baby is a part of both of us."

Slow tears filled her eyes as she held Hartam's gaze. "I.. I never thought I'd find someone who would make me feel the way you do." her voice was barely above a whisper, "And though this baby wasn't planned, though I never expected to be lucky enough to fall pregnant, _this baby_" she moved his hands to her stomach, "this baby was _meant_ to be.
_We_ were meant to be, of this I feel sure." she could finally admit to herself as well as Hartam, just how she felt.

"Yes." He breathed a sigh of relief as his hands rested on her stomach, still in somewhat a state of shock over the thought of being a father, though he had now had time to process that possibility. "It was meant to be." He knew that they had much more to work through, many more details to discuss, but at least now he could relax, knowing that they had made it over this first tremendous hurdle.

"You can feel a hardness down there," she said, looking down to where his hand was covered by hers on her stomach, "but there's no movement yet."

He nodded, uncertain whether that was good or bad. "There. . . we've much to discuss and plan, arrangements to be made - and quickly. But we'd best meet and talk about it later. That message. . . do you need to return with a reply?"

"No, no reply. I gather it was about a meeting up at the Hall, just giving a time." she shrugged. "You want to meet up later, to talk?" she still felt awkward with him, despite his words he was still distant.

"If you wouldn't mind? We've much to discuss and this. . ." He gestured to indicate the great room of the Tavern, "is too public and too open to interruption. Perhaps we could meet for dinner? Either an early or late one so as not to interfere with your duties?"

She nodded, "You're right, this really isn't the place to talk. But where? The dining hall would be just as open, and I don't fancy prying eyes on us. The kitchen staff have been curious this past few days, surprised you haven't been around." She would have to tell him about the run-in with the new Headwoman, unless she had been in touch with him already.

"I don't think that the private rooms here are in use," he told her evenly. "I can make the arrangements so that the food is there and ready for us and so that we won't' be disturbed."

She nodded slowly, better a private dining room here at the Tavern, than upstairs in the rooms above, or her quarters. "We'll give less reason for the gossips to start, and no one can see us enter them from the tap room."

He looked her in the eye, his expression serious. "We need to be discrete for a little while longer."

"We do?" she wondered why, and now the guilt of the Headwaoman's interview came back to her. "Have ... er, have you spoken to the Headwoman recently?"

Hartam wondered to himself what that had to do with the conversation they were having, something that was extremely important and personal.
"No. Should I have done so?"

"She," things were tenuous between them, dare she mention the ire the Headwoman had shown when told of their relationship. She had to, before the Headwoman made her presence known to Hartam. "I had an interview with her, she wanted to know about you, and... and our situation..." she finished lamely.

He felt his mouth go dry. "Oh. That's why I wanted to be discrete, to make arrangements for the ceremony and to have all legal before others start to ask questions and call your character to question." He had no worries for himself, but had hoped not to besmirch her reputation in any way.

"Real-" she felt the word catch in her throat, "Really Hartam?" Tears sprang to her eyes, "You, you didn't need to." she shook her head slowly, amazed at how considerate he still was of her reputation, but she had to remind herself this was Hartam not...._him_. "I... I don't know what to say..." she continued shaking her head.

"Oh." He stared down at the table. "I can understand why you wouldn't anything permanent with me. I just wanted to help you. I guess it's a bit late for that though. I should have considered it before. . ."

"Oh no." she gasped and shook her head from side to side hastily, "No, you took that the wrong way..." she took his hands in hers, "I meant I was surprised that you still wanted me, wanted to protect my name. I would be _honoured_ to become a family with you." she said quietly, "With or without marriage." she added.

"With marriage," he insisted. "We'll do this the right way and let everyone know that we're committed to it."

"As long as you're sure, I don't want you to feel pressured by anyone -
not even me." she spoke quietly still, not quite believing this was happening. It was like the day dream she had had since the day after their fight, and it was coming true. She hardly dared believe it was happening. First the babe and now - Hartam. His hands were warm in hers, and indication that this really was happening.

"I'm certain." He said it with conviction but then glanced around.
"However, I do wish to act with propriety. I think we need to finalize our plans and then announce them to everyone."

She nodded agreement, the smile not leaving her lips. "The Headwoman though, what will you say?"

He shrugged. "What's to say? We were developing a relationship slowly but something happened to force it along more quickly. We want to be together, so we're doing the right thing."

"We're really going to do this, aren't we?" she said, more a statement than a question, "I just can't believe how lucky I have been since I met you."

"Not half as lucky as I have been." He squeezed her hand, his smile genuinely joyful.

Meeting his eyes, Tayette was reassured that what had happened today was meant to be. She covered his hand with her other one, and returned the gentle pressure, grateful she had received a second chance with him.

Last updated on the December 2nd 2007

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Healing the Rift 2/2