Not Feeling Well

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 8th March 2008

Characters: Swift, Kateena
Description: Swift has day off on a restday and Kateena is 'unwell'.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 8, day 28 of Turn 4

It was rare that Swift had a restday on a restday, and he intended to make the most of this one. Stay in bed with his wife instead of leaving her long before dawn most mornings to start work in the kitchens.

Which would have been fine but Kateena disappeared from their bed almost the moment she opened her eyes.

She looked at her face in the looking glass above the washbowl. Her eyes looked hollow, even to her, and the pastiness of her face, wasn't exactly complimentary either. She wondered if Swift had noticed anything 'strange' this last day or so. She had intended on telling him immediately, but... She shook her head, unsure exactly why she was hesitant to tell him.

Two days, she had known for two days, but kept quiet, wanting to confirm it with the healers first. She didn't mistrust Civi, knew in fact that he was correct the sickness she had had, more than confirmed by his excitement - but needing to know _when_, rather than _if_.

She opened the door again, and made her way down the hall back to their bedroom. Swift was awake, she could tell; the soft, even snores no longer sounded up the hallway. Slowly she opened the door fully, and met his eyes across the room. "Good morning." she said softly, almost shyly.

Swift patted the bed beside him. "Are you ... not feeling well?" he suggested, hoping that would provide an opening for her in case there was something to tell him. It certainly seemed to his mind that there was. It might have been decades before but he could remember Belevi's similar morning antics quite clearly.

She took a tentative step, then stopped, "You know - don't you?" she asked, the smile growing a little wider. "Why did I think you wouldn't?" She walked to his side of the bed, and leaned over to kiss him softly. "Do you mind?" she asked, her heart beating fast, giving lie to the calmness she displayed outwardly.

"I'm astounded - and happy. And a little worried about you. But mainly happy." He took her hand and squeezed it, not able to find all the words he needed to explain how many emotions he was feeling. "Being a father again - " He shook his head. "Incredible."

"It's been a while for you, and I wonder how Race will take it, to say nothing of Yara." She slipped onto the edge of the bed, sliding her legs down under the covers next to him. "I know mother will be pleased, but I do wonder about your family..."

"Yara will laugh - you know she will - and await the birth of her uncle or aunt with great excitement. Race ... He's a sensible man, Kateena.
He knows this was a possibility. What does Civi say? Is everything all right so far?"

She nodded, snuggling down against him under the covers, "He was surprised I didn't already know." Her hand found his beneath the blanket and drew it onto her stomach, "I must admit, I've never been under the scrutiny of the pod as much as I have been this last few days, but they all say the baby is healthy, and the healers, well, they've said as long as the pod see no problems, then I should be alright."

Swift moved a little so that Kateena's shoulder was tucked into his and then cuddled her tightly. "Are you happy?"

"Yes..." she smiled up at him, "though I was worried..." she admitted, still a little concerned that Swift wasn't as keen that they had started their own little family so early.

"What were you worried about?"

"That you wouldn't be as keen on a baby right now," she said, meeting his eyes with hers. "I didn't expect to fall so quickly, was stunned, when Civi told me - I've had no symptoms." she shook her head, still surprised that she hadn't noticed anything wrong, hadn't even missed her lunar cycle.

"Apart from being ill in the mornings? I wouldn't have noticed that, since I'm usually in the kitchens by the time you get up, or is it a new thing?" He tightened his arm around her shoulders again. "And I wouldn't dream of not wanting a baby - at any time. Babies are always welcome."

"To be honest I hadn't even considered feeling wretched in the mornings." she admitted with chagrin. "This morning is the first time I've actually felt sick enough to require a trip to the necessary."
Though if she thought about it, she had been feeling off-colour for a sevenday or more now. "There's a bug going around some of the apprentices, I guess I just thought I'd caught the tail end of it."

She considered his last words, "So - more than one would be okay?" she asked with a smile.

"Let's get this one safely delivered first, shall we?"

"I guess we can do that." She chuckled softly, nodding in agreement, "Do you have a preference? Another son or a daughter? And we need to talk about names, as well." she said, pushing up away from Swift excitedly.
"This is really happening..."

And it was the first time it was happening to her, he thought, smiling at her excitement. "Yes, it really is."

"And you're really _not_ disappointed, either!" she smiled widely, "So now I can get excited about it, and tell people." she took his hand, and placed it on her lower belly, "Just think in a few months we'll be able to feel him or her kicking, right here." She sat and held his hand against her, "Swift, I didn't believe I could be any happier than I already was... but I am." she felt the tears well up in her eyes, and smiled wetly at him.

"Ahh, I remember this bit. Crying. Lots of crying."

She didn't try to hold back the happy tears that rained down her cheeks, but could feel the laughter bubbling up inside her too. "So, if I hadn't told you today, you think you would have figured it out before too much longer?" she asked, smiling through the tears.

"If I'd seen you in the morning I would have. I'm sorry that I'm usually away. I can get my shifts changed, if you like, so I'm with you while when you start the day."

"And have you here to witness my ... " she shook her head, "no, you stick with the shifts you have, and then you'll just see the healthy and hearty me of later mornings."

"I love you all the time, Kateena, not just when you're well."

"It's not for your sake..." she laughed softly, "I have to maintain some pride."

"Oh, well." He smiled and kissed her forehead. "If it would make you feel better."

"Afternoon makes me feel better." she said with a smile. "But, I will admit, apart from feeling a little 'blech'," she said with a shrug, "having you here this morning is a nice way to start the day."

"And having this news is a nice way to start any day," Swift said, hugging her tight.

Last updated on the March 9th 2008

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Not Feeling Well