She Shouldn't Encourage Him

Writers: Eimi, Shelly
Date Posted: 10th November 2005

Characters: Gaiya, L'cian
Description: Gaiya and L'cian see each other for the first time after their break up.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 27 of Turn 3

** I'm _not_ going to talk to her. I'm not.... I'm not! It will only end in me missing her more than I already do. ** L'cian's eyes followed Gaiya across the dinning caverns. **It's settled, then. I'm just going to sit here and mind my own business. **

"Gaiya!" His mouth readily betrayed him.

"L'cian," she cried in happy surprise. "Where have you been hiding? I haven't seen you in days!"

"I went to see my brother for a little while, he's a bit stressed with the Harper Hall move and all..." It was a lie, but he didn't care - as long as she didn't know he was avoiding her he didn't care. "How have you been?"

She set her tray down next to him. It seemed Ar'lis would be late anyway. "Good. Tired. You know how it is."

"Yea..." He lapsed into silence and dug at his tubers. There was no way he was ready for this.

"Oh, what's wrong?" she asked giving him her brightest, most encouraging smile. "You look like something's bothering you."

"I'm sorry." He smiled. "We've been running a lot of drill lately and it's been cutting into my sleeping hours. Occupational hazard, I suppose."

Gaiya was not buying it, but she would play along. "I guess Ar'lis is on a different schedule then. They must push Torrent wing rather hard."

L'cian shrugged and tried not to notice Gaiya's reference. "It comes in spurts. I'm sure there weeks where Ar'lis is in the same spot I am..."

"Yes, I suppose so." Gaiya hadn't learned Ar'lis' schedule well enough to know when his busy spurts would be. He never seemed to be tired when she saw him. They usually wore each other out before too long though...

"So how as life as a foster mother been treating you lately?" He knew that it was a pitiful question, but it was the best he could come up with without showing how hurt he really was.

"Good. The children are so sweet. It's hard giving them up at the end of the day. But I know eventually I will have a full-time fosterling."
Though she had to admit, she was enjoying the freedom of sending the children home once their crafter parents were off duty. She was still young, and enjoyed not being tied down... kind of.

"Would you ever want children of your own oe day?" He tried to keep all hints of hope out of his voice.

"Someday. But I would want them to have a father who would take an interest in them." She looked down at her hands as she played with her finger nails idlely. "My father never took an interest in me. Not that I felt I was lacking with just my mother, or that I didn't find men who have been like fathers to me. It's just that... well anyway."

"No, I understand, Gaiya," L'cian replied with great tenderness. "My father was never around when my siblings and I were growing up. That's a large parrt of the reason I'm so hesitant to have children myself -
being a rider isn't very conducive to being an active father."

"Oh, but there are so many riders who are wonderful fathers," she said as she laid a reassuring hand over his. "Don't let that fear stop you if you want to have them."

"Well then there's the fact that I'd have to find someone to have them _with_!" He winked good naturedly.

"I'm sure you'll have no trouble with that, L'cian," she said with a grin. "You are a sweet man, and a very considerate lover. Any woman who dreams of having children would love to have you father them, I'm sure."

**Except for you.** He wasn't sure if he was more upset by the fact that he had let that thought disrupt his thoughts forcibly or that it was true. "Yes well," He took a last bite of food. "It's probably time I got to oiling Caelyth, he'll never forgive me if I let it go too much longer."

Gaiya smiled, but part of her was sad that he had to go. Despite the fact that she had chosen Ar'lis, she had wonderful memories of L'cian, both as a friend and a fling. She sighed. "Yes, I suppose I've kept you long enough." "Good night." He gave her a short nod and cleared his things from the table.

"L'cian, do you want to..." She gave him an appologetic smile. She wanted to see him. She had missed him the last few days. But that would just complicate things, more than they already were. Of course, she had not intentions towards him in that way... At least, she was pretty sure she didn't... But no, she shouldn't encourage him. "Good night, L'cian."

Last updated on the November 10th 2005

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She Shouldn't Encourage Him