This Husband Thing

Writers: Dana, Paula
Date Posted: 3rd December 2005

Characters: Dawyn, Keles
Description: Keles and Dawyn get into yet another tiff
Location: Smith Hall (NPC)
Date: month 9, day 6 of Turn 3

Dawyn laid on his back on sofa, the baby sitting on his stomach. He was twisting his face, making the boy giggle.

"I think it's almost time for his afternoon nap," Keles said with a small smile, coming over to them.

"Aw, just as we were having fun", Dawyn said and bounced his stomach so the baby was heaved up and down. That made him shout with glee.

Kelwyn's laugh brought a grin to her lips. "Even so, Dawyn. If we don't put him down now, he'll keep me up all night with his crankly wailing..."

"Okay, Okay...", Dawyn lifted the boy off and got up, handing him to his mama, "go to mama, she wants to tuck you in bed." "You know, you should let us spend more time together, instead of always asking your brother to babysit him."

"Well, you're away most of the day, Dawyn," she replied as she walked into the next room, carrying their protesting son with her. "And when I have to run to places, I can't just leave him alone."

"You know I'm between projects now and I have the time," Dawyn pointed out, with a pout.

She frowned as she wrapped Kelwyn into his blankets. "True. But you weren't home last time, and Nyblek happened to be here."

"Still, it feels like you are trusting him more than you trust me," Dawyn said with all conviction of injured male ego.

"That's ridiculous, Dawyn." Was it really though? Schooling her expression, she turned around to look at him. "Don't be like this. Nyblek is my _brother_, and a good lad. Not some stranger working here in the Hall."

"So, now I'm a stranger?" Dawyn crossed his arms over his chest.

"I didn't _say_ that." Her irritation was rising. "Don't put words in my mouth."

"You didn't say it, but you meant it" Dawyn accused.

"No I _didn't_." Her eyes narrowed. "But you know something? Maybe you _are_ like a stranger, Dawyn. I'm you're _wife_ and it's like you barely know me! If you did know me, you wouldn't be talking to me like this!" Keles knew what was coming - their usual rant to each other. It was a litany she knew by heart now.

"Oh really?!" Dawyn said and then fell silent because she really did have point. They were strangers to each other. They marriage had been so hurried one and they never got the time to really be together. But then how was the situation different from many other marriages, where people were arranged to be married by their parents.

"Yes. Really." Brushing past him, she made her way into the other room, trying to get a hold of herself. It wasn't easy.

"Why do you have to always be so difficult?" Dawyn complained.

"_Me_?" She turned around to stare at him. "I'm not the one who's being difficult, Dawyn."

"Yes, you are. You're never happy with anything I do or say," the young smith accused, sounding very much like petulant child.

"I didn't _say_ that! And if you'd quit acting like such a sharding adolescent..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes flashed up into his.

"I'm not adolescent!" Dawyn insisted, sounding even more...well, adolescent.

"Well, you sure are acting like one!"

"If you don't like the way I act, I just may well go and have beer with my friends in tavern!" Dawyn retorted.

"Fine! Get out then." **Better than taking your sharding frustration out in the bedroom...**

"As your ladyship wishes!" Dawyn snarled and stomped to the porch. He pulled on his coat and boots, loitering a bit in case she called him back.
But she didn't and he slammed the door behind him.

~~*~~Much later ~~*~~

It was late when Dawyn came back from the Tavern. He wasn't roaring drunk but he certainly wasn't sober either. He tried to move quietly, but couldn't quite keep the oaths escaping when he banged his shin on table corner in dark. The bedroom was lit by dim nightglow (in case baby woke up Keles in middle of the night. Something that Kelwyn rarely did anymore.)
Dawyn stopped at the door to watch his sleeping family. Kelwyn was making faint noises in his sleep and Keles was curled up in bed, looking so beautiful, peaceful and young. Dawyn's heart melted. "Keles, what's wrong with me?" he wispered. "You two mean so much to me, you are my everything, but I don't get it said. The word love just sticks into my throat." He rubbed his face and yawed. "I'm not good at this husband thing. You would be happier with someone else." Then he climped to his bed and started to snore.

Last updated on the December 3rd 2005

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This Husband Thing