The Perfect Strangers (2)

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 10th November 2009

Characters: Varija, Nancho
Description: Varija reflects on lost chances as she learns more about her lover.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 21 of Turn 5

'Mmm," Varija murmured and snuggled closer to Nancho, waiting her heart beat to calm down.

"_Hmmm_mmmm," he hummed, quite pleased with himself for the performance he just gave, and with the lady's as well. "Shards, that was great."

"It was. I like men who know what they want and know what they are doing," Varija said with playful slap to his bare chest.

"Hooooo!" he grunted, though he was more amused than truly injured. "Trying to rile me up again, are you? Well, you'll have to wait a spell. You took a lot out of these old bones."

"You aren't that old," she said.

"Old enough to see two daughters married," Nancho muttered lazily as he interlaced his fingers behind his head and sighed contentedly.

"Daughters?" Varija asked. Of course, she had daughters too, and son.

He nodded stretching his toes with a couple satisfying pops. "Just the two older ones are married."

"How many you have, in total?" she asked. She wondered if she should tell him, that she had children too.

"Daughters? Oh shards, let's see." He pulled a hand out from behind his head. Silently he ticked them off. "Just the five, so far. Valta swears the ones she's carrying now are girls, but my marks are on one of each."

"Who is Valta?" she asked, although she had already guessed. She felt..envious. Happy little family. Her happy little family had fallen apart like house made of dragonpoker cards. She wasn't allowed to meet her son, her daughters wanted nothing do with her.

Nancho looked down at her, almost as if he were surprised by the question. "Valta? Why, she's my wife of... oh... a good eight-teen turns now at least."

"Really?" Varija said, although her mind wasn't in the comment. Her mind was elsewhere. Longest time she had been managed to stay weyrmated had been... With that brownrider in River Bluff Weyr. Varnia's father. She refused to even think his name. Why did it still hurt so much?

"Oh yeah." Nancho's face lit up in a smile as he chuckled softly at some far off image. "You should see her. She's big as a cot. We're pretty sure it's another set of twins. That woman," he shook his head in disbelief, "the healer says she's built to breed. But the breedin's just the half it! There she is, belly out to there, and she's still got one arm round the baby on her hip, while the other hand's stirring three pots and she's barkin' orders to anyone and every one. Even me! Shards, you gotta love her."

"And still you sleep around with other women?" Varija asked sharply. She didn't know if she should feel sorry for the other woman or envy her for her family.

"Valta doesn't mind as long as it's at the Weyr," he shrugged. His eyes glazed over with that same far off look. "Faranth, I remember the first time, I was wracked with so much guilt for it. I hadn't meant for it to happen, but drink and flirty greenriders... Well, I came straight home, fell down at my wife's feet, confessed it all and wept. She wrapped her arms around me and said, 'Nancho, I know you're a good man. I know you would never leave me or your children. Have what comfort you will when you're far from home. I know you're always coming home to me.' I couldn't believe she could forgive me, let alone _allow_ me. But I think it takes a bit of the burden off of her, you know? Not that she's ever said making love to me is a burden. We wouldn't have twelve kids between us if it were. But she gets worn out sometimes. I think she feels guilty when I reach for her and she's just too bone tired to want it. I don't want her to feel it's her duty. It should never be a woman's _duty_, you know?"

Varija made a gargled sound that could be interpreted as affirmative. Shards, where were men like him when she was looking for one? Now it was too late for her.

Last updated on the November 16th 2009

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The Perfect Strangers (2)