Could It Be?

Writers: Ames, Emma
Date Posted: 25th January 2014

Characters: Ameala, Fitchan, Zella
Description: Ameala flashes back to when she first learned of her pregnancy as she prepares for her next appointment with the healers
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 6 of Turn 7

Her hand rested on her abdomen. She knew her meeting with the healers
was only a few days away. Looking down, she knew the others couldn't
really _see_ the changes, but she could. Her abdomen was just slightly
more pronounced now. She knew she would continue to grow throughout
her pregnancy. A smile touched her lips at that thought. Pregnancy.
After trying for so long, she and Fitchan would be parents. Her mind
flashed back to when the first learned the news.

~~Flashback~~

Life had been busy and hectic since Ingoth's hatching. It had only
been a few sevendays since she had been chosen by Ingoth. Her life had
changed dramatically that day. Ameala wished she could enjoy the
experience more. She was exhausted beyond belief. It seemed that all
she did was care for the loving green, and try and rest. She stood
after having finished cutting up the latest meats for Ingoth and
pressed a hand to her stomach. Once again she felt that strange
gurgling inside her that seemed to indicate she would be ill again.

**What is wrong with me?** she agonized, trying to swallow down the
nausea she'd been feeling once again. This had been going on almost
since her Impression. She assumed it was just a weak stomach, but why
then wasn't it getting _better_. She'd learned to butcher the meat for
Ingoth and while it was difficult for her at first, she thought she'd
adjusted to the task now.

She swallowed and made a slight sound as she waited for the strange
feeling to pass once again. It would pass. It _always_ did. She knew
some of the other candidates thought her a weakling for her behaviors,
but she'd ignored them. She didn't know why things seemed to bother
her so much, but she was still intent on doing her duties like the
others.

Ameala continued to take deep, cleansing breaths. Ah yes, there the
feeling seemed to be passing. She picked up her knife and prepared to
butcher the last slab of meat when the nausea hit with a renewed
vengeance. There was no stopping it now. Dropping her knife she tried
to sprint away from the meat, finding a slob bucket nearby.

Dropping to her knees she began to retch over and over again.

Zella watched as the little holdbred girl threw up into the bucket, curious
to see what the other weyrlings in her group would do. Would they laugh as
they had in the past, or would they help? The greenriding staff member was
just on hand in case of any problems or questions, and she'd seen it happen
a few times in the past with the holdbred ones, they didn't seem to realise
that the only way the young dragons could be fed was if they helped them.

She could hear a faint hint of laughter in the background, and a comment
that this had happened almost everyday since they'd impressed. Maybe this
was a time for her to intervene,

Walking over to Ameala, she got down by the suffering weyrling. "Do you feel
better now?" she asked.

She looked up weakly at Zella. "Sort of," Ameala mumbled. She _did_
often feel better after she'd vomit, but the twinges of nausea never
seemed to go away. "I don't know what's wrong with me," she mumbled,
dropping her head and staring at her hands. She felt so foolish to
have such a weak stomach she couldn't even handle cutting up meat for
Ingoth.

"Have you seen a healer?" It could be any number of things, it could be an
allergy to something used in dragon care, although vomiting would be rare
from that, or something new she'd started eating here. But thinking about
it, she remembered the girl had been married when she arrived here, "Is
there any chance this is morning sickness?"

Ameala shook her head no when Zella asked her about seeing a healer.
No one had suggested that before.

"Morning sicknes?" She almost gasped. "No, I mean, I guess, I mean, we
couldn't seem to get pregnant, so I don't _think_ so." Ameala was
floored by the thought, but still didn't believe that such a thing
could have finally happened after she'd wanted and willed it for so
long.

"Maybe I _should_ go to see a healer just in case," Ameala stated, now
feeling as though she needed to know.

"Do you want someone to go with you?" It was probably a good idea that she
had someone with her, but someone familiar might be a good bet.

She looked up at Zella, "My husband...well, I mean, he _was_ my
husband outside the Weyr." Ameala felt her cheeks heat at her
stumbling words. She still thought of Fitchan as her husband, but the
others often laughed at her when she called him that. She still hadn't
decided what would be best. "Fitchan. I'd like Fitchan."

It didn't take long for her to be escorted by some of the others to
the Healers. She was already settled in a bed with a pail in case she
felt the need to vomit again, waiting for Fitchan to arrive and the
healers to continue their examination. A young healer had already been
in to do a basic check, but had said someone with more experience
would be in soon.

Ameala felt so foolish. She had no idea what was wrong with her, but
Zella's question still rang in her mind. Could she actually be
pregnant? She hadn't been with Fitchan since before the Hatching, and
that seemed so long ago now, but was that the right timing?

"I came as soon as they told me you were sick." Fitchan sounded slightly out
of breath as he'd dog-trotted to the infirmary on hearing that Ameala was
there. "Are you feeling okay?"

She started to cry. She didn't mean to, but seeing him was like a wall
bursting and the tears flowed. She reached for him, just needing to
feel his strong arms around her.

"I don't know what's wrong," she finally said between her tears. "I
haven't felt good almost since I Impressed Ingoth, but lately I've
started vomiting too. They want me to get checked, see what could be
causing things." She didn't tell him of the suspicion that Zella had
mentioned. She would not get their hopes up when she was sure that it
was _not_ that.

Just than a woman came into the curtained area.

"Ah, hello there. I hear you're not feeling well. My apprentice
already checked you over and didn't find any sites of injury that
could indicate infection. Can you tell me a bit more about what's been
happening?" The woman asked.

Ameala related her experiences of not feeling quite well after the
Impression, the nausea at all different times but especially when
around certain things, and now the vomiting. The woman listened and
nodded. Then she looked to Fitchan.

"And this is?" She asked, curious as to his relationship to the woman.

"I'm, I mean I was, her husband, but now...." Fitchan's voice trailed off as
the small voice inside his head wondered just how to describe their
relationship now.

"He's the man I love with all my heart," Ameala said, reaching for his
hand to squeeze it.

"Okay then," the woman replied. "So you were married to each other
prior to coming to the Weyr? And I assume you've been together up
until the Hatching?" She paused, looking between the pair.

Ameala blushed a bit but nodded.

"Well, then. Could you be pregnant? Hmm, I think we need to check on
that so we can rule that out if its _not_ the cause of your problem.
Could you change into that drape over there so I can do a further
examination. I'll return in just a moment." The woman turned and left
them alone.

Ameala darted a look at Fitchan. She wondered what he was thinking.
This was the _second_ time today someone had mentioned pregnancy. She
didn't dare hope it was true. Moving from the bed, she reached for the
drape and changed her clothes before returning to the bed.

Fitchan's emotions were reeling all over. First there was the news that
Ameala was sick and asking for him. Then the suggestion that the child they
had wanted for so long may finally be on the way. he wasn't sure what to
think or say. The only thing he could do was reach out to take Ameala's
hand as she got back onto the bed.

The healer returned and performed a more thorough examination that
Ameala blush at times. She asked questions, and checked on various
things.

"Well, dearie, as best as I can tell the signs _do_ point to a babe on
the way," She remarked when she was finished.

Ameala just blinked at her for a moment, saying nothing.

"We're having a baby?" Fitchan blurted out.

The healer looked to him and smiled, "Yes, it would appear that you
are having a baby."

Then looking to Ameala she added, "There are options of course if this
is not something you both wish. And if you do plan to continue, we
will need to talk about diet, and other changes to help you keep your
nausea at bay. I'll leave you some time to talk. If you need me, just
ask one of the healers and I'll return." With that she left the pair
alone to face the reality of their new situation.

Ameala reached a hand down to her abdomen. "A baby?" She murmured,
staring at her unchanging stomach. Was this for real? She turned to
look at Fitchan.

"All that time and it happens now," the tone of his words indicated he
hadn't really taken it in yet. "I just don't know what to say, I, I'm going
to be a father?"

She let out a soft laugh. "Yes, yes, I do believe you are, and I'll
finally be a mother." She reached for him, wanting to kiss him, to
hold him, but then had to hold back, recalling all her new training as
a rider. "Know how much I want to kiss you right now," she managed
instead.

"If only I could," he said, an odd note in his voice. This should, and was
something to celebrate, but it felt odd somehow.

She felt it to, but there was nothing she could do to change it.
"We'll just have to settle for knowing that we want to for now." It
wasn't what she wanted, but it was the way things had to be.

"Can I at least escort you back to your classes?" he asked.

"Of course," she said, rising with a smile and walking over to him.
She placed her hand in his, for that she knew was still safe to do.
Someday soon, she hoped, she would be able to do more than that with
him again. Someday.

~ End Flashback ~

Last updated on the January 28th 2014

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Could It Be?