Same day as Mari goes to "visit" Alexis, evening

M'naten grimaced at the list Vesta had given him and Sharees. It was crumpled, stained and scribbled all over - but, on the bright side, nearly all the names were checked off now. Sharees had gone off to check on Mari about an hour ago now - cleverly avoiding the brief rush. It had been awkward and annoying to try and sort through all those people - all hungry and not wanting to wait - but he had managed. He had also noticed that Sharees was much better at doing this than he was. Sighing, he viciously scratched off the last name as D'rak headed off, wiping the ink from his fingers as he went. That was it, then - done! And without a single match. Things did not look good for Tair'n with this lot. M'naten shook his head. He didn't want to think about that. He stood up, trying to ease the kink in his back from sitting so long. Sharees returned just as M'naten's back gave a crack of protest at his full stretch. 

"That didn't sound good," she commented, grinning.

"Didn't feel too good either. So, what happened to Mari?"

"She sprained her ankle. She seems to be ok now."

M'naten grunted pleased agreement and headed to get some food. "Share some dinner with me?"

Sharees nodded and they gathered their food and sat down. By tacit consent, neither mentioned the investigation at all. They chatted amicably through the meal, discussing a wide variety of topics, from Sharees's leather art, to how training was preogressing, to assorted warren gossip. It was a pleasant break. When they had lingered over dessert as long as was really feasible, M'naten turned the topic back to their duties.

"Well, I finished the list without you. So now you really owe me." He grinned, already thinking of a number of pleasant ways to collect the "debt".

"We'd better get going then," Sharees smiled and looped her arm through his.

They flew up to his apartments and he meandered into the kitchen to get a couple of glasses of wine. It was nowhere near as good as the Mountaincrest Vineyards Sparkling, but those bottles were long gone now. Well spent though, he reminded himself, very well spent.

"So, how about a backrub in payment?"

Sharees smiled broadly at M'naten and gestured toward the bedroom. For a brief moment, M'naten toyed with the idea of falling asleep on her - just in payback, but then that would spoil the fun. He laid down on the bed and stretched out, groaning slightly at the protest from sore muscles. He felt the weight as she straddled his hips and then the warmth of her hands through his shirt. Her hands gently rubbed his shoulders and neck, testing for sore spots. When she found the tight knot at the base of his neck, she really got to work. M'naten grunted in surprise and a little discomfort. Her hands were amazingly strong.

"I'm sorry, did that hurt?"

M'naten could almost scream in protest as her hands stilled, lifting away slightly. "No, no, its good. Please keep going."

Slowly she worked her way across his back. "You know it would be better with your shirt off..." 

He obliged, removing the garment. Face into the pillow, he smiled broadly. He certainly wasn't going to complain about feeling her hands on his bare skin.

<Do you EVER think about anything else?>

<Nope.>

"Have you any oil?"

"Only what I oil Graimor with."

"Thought so. Wait right here." She slipped out to Chamelle and pulled a bottle out of the saddle...then she grinned and decided to undo the saddle. <Have a good night, my love.>

<*I know you will!*> Chamelle looked over at Graimor and shrugged. He wasn't the best cuddling partner she'd had, but he wasn't too bad once you got used to him.

Sharees returned to M'naten's bedroom carrying the scented oil. He cocked one eyebrow, but didn't say anything.

"Just lie back down...now where were we?" And she got back to work on the tight muscles. She started at the shoulders. worked her way along his spine and then laterals -- slowly easing down to his lower back.

"This would be easier with your pants off." She commented coyly.

"Anything you want, darling," M'naten said softly, before rolling quickly to his back, capturing her astride his hips. "But are you sure you only want to rub my back?"

Sharees grinned. "Now that you mention it..." 

M'naten twined one hand in her hair and pulled her down against him. His lips explored hers until they were both panting. 'This would be easier with your clothes off," he whispered, grinning broadly.

Sharees chuckled and removed her shirt. "You were going to take those pants off, weren't you?" Her voice was husky with desire.

Wordlessly, M'naten rolled again, this time pinning her to the bed and kissed his way down her neck to her newly-exposed breasts. He lavished great attention on them, suckling first one nipple then the other until Sharees was breathless with need. He worked his way down her body, slowly removing her pants, before standing to deal with his own. He returned to her, joining them in one smooth movement. They smiled at each other and moved as one, united in their rhythm.

*******

Next morning

M'naten woke with Sharees snuggled firmly into the curve of his body. A glance at how close to the edge of the bed she was provided an obvious reason for her closeness. M'naten smiled in memory and nibbled gently at the nape of her neck. Suddenly, Sharees sat bolt upright in bed with a gasp.

"Oh gods, I'm going to be late!"

M'naten moved his arm and allowed her to leap from the bed and start frantically pulling on her clothes. At length he sighed, stretched and arose. Sharees was running fingers through her hair in an attempt at combing by the time he was standing. She whirled toward him, dropped a kiss at the corner of his mouth and was out the door before the sound of her "morning, see you later!" was gone. M'naten chuckled. Well, and if she was late - what did that make him? Whistling, he headed for a quick shower before breakfast.

After breakfast, M'naten settled down in T'rell's office to work on the paperwork his partner had cleverly managed to delegate. He was halfway through the assignments for the wing for the following week when he was interrupted by a grumbling dragon.

<Is there ANYTHING that shuts him up?>

<He's your partner now, Grai. Learn to live with it.>

<But he's such...hey, wait, now THERES an idea....>

<Don't damage anything, please.>

<Yeah, yeah, sure thing.>



M'naten frowned for a moment. Flerrion certainly wasn't bringing out the best in Graimor - and likely, vice verse. Maybe he ought to speak to T'rell. They'd have to keep those two from tearing down the warren with their rivalry. Satisfied with his plan, M'naten re-buried himself in his paperwork.

*****

later, same day



M'naten had headed over to where T'rell was about to graduate the trainees once the paperwork was finished. He was chatting with T'rell about partners and assignments for the new riders when Troy relayed Amadith's call.

<snip>
"Okay right now we know where Tair'n is and he's asking for our help," T'rell was telling the others who were gathered around. "This is what we're
going to do......."

<end snip>

M'naten listened intently, his blood rising with excitement. Finally! It had been too long since he'd flown to fight anything. He quickly mounted up on Graimor and followed T'rell to where Amadith sent them.

{Tags to anyone who wants to write this. <G>}

******

M'naten had no sooner landed upon returning from their "rescue" when Graimor relayed a message from Troy. Jayleigh wanted him in her office within five minutes. There was no mistaking - even through that many relays - the seriousness of the request. He took off running, stopping only to knock on the warrenlady's door before entering. She was bent over something on the couch, but turned immediately to face him.

<snip>

"Graimor said you wanted to see me M'lady" he said quickly, his hand moving up to smooth back wind blown hair. 

"Yes M'naten. A rider from Geode was here not to long ago."

The rider frowned. "Is he still here?"

"Oh no he's gone," Leigh smiled slightly, her violet-blue eyes looking intently at his face. "Anything you care to talk about?"

"No M'lady," he shook his head. "I can't think of anything."

"Well then maybe you can explain something to me?" she asked in a tone most riders knew as Leigh's before the Whammy tone.

"If I can." He answered more confused then before. "What?"

"This," she said and moved aside to give him a good view of the object laying in peaceful slumber on her couch.....

<end snip>

M'naten glanced at the object on the couch, froze and then looked back. Why would Leigh be asking him about this? Not exactly his strong suit, really.

"Um, it's a baby, Leigh." He shrugged.

"I am well aware of that," she responded tartly. "I'm asking why D'arnik was so insistent that you get it. Oh, and there was a note too." She gestured at an envelope on the corner of her desk.

"I don't know, Leigh. Some really sick kind of practical joke, maybe? Maybe the note explains."

Edging a bit nervously away from the tiny bundle, M'naten picked up the envelope and felt his heart skip a beat. The crest on the sealing wax was Lord Tiarna's. What the hell? Gods above, he couldn't be plotting against Daere now - could he? With trembling hands, M'naten tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter within. It took him several read-throughs for the meaning to sink in. 

"It's...it's addressed to you, Leigh." He said hoarsely. 

"Go ahead and read it aloud, my hands are full." She responded, having scooped up the infant and cradled it.

"Warrenlady of Daere: You have by now accepted the services - in whatever venue - of the scoundrel known as M'naten. I do not know if he has told you of his callous treatment of my daughter, nor if that has any affect on your twisted warren relationships. But the truth is he deceived her, ruined her and abandoned her.

And instead of being punished as was his due, he was simply moved to a more congenial atmosphere. However, that is past and I shall not interfere in the depraved customs of the warren. 


This whelp is another matter entirely. My Kelyse died to bring his spawn into this world, but I shall not allot one jot of Tiarna resources to that child. His father

can have all joy of him. A shame it isn't a girl, that he could stand in my shoes and fully understand what he has done.

Lord Tiarna"

M'naten set the letter down oh-so-gently on the desk, as though it were a bomb that might explode at any moment. Problem was, it had already gone off. He sank to the ground, his head spinning. Kelyse was dead. He was a father?! He glanced at the blanket-wrapped bundle Leigh was holding. His child? Oh gods, he was gonna be sick.

<I TOLD you you were going to get into trouble over her, but would you listen? Oh no....what do I know? I'm just a dragon.>

<Oh shut up! This isn't trouble....exactly.>

<No? Well, I don't know anything about human hatchlings, so you're on your own.>

<Thanks a lot, pal.>

"M'naten? Are you all right?" Leigh's concerned face was just inches from his. "You look like you're about to faint on me."

M'naten struggled almost to his feet and half-crawled to the couch where he collapsed again. "Do you blame me?" She shrugged. "I never expected this. A son. I have a son." He took a deep breath. Right. A son. He had a job here. He could do this. Really. "Ok, hand him here."

Leigh frowned. "Are you sure? I mean..." she faltered.

"I gotta learn sometime, right?"

With a wry grin of assent, Leigh laid the bundle in M'naten's arms. He looked down just as the boy opened his eyes. Staring into those dark eyes, M'naten was sunk. 

"Welcome to Daere, Kelten."

Kelten regarded his father gravely and burped. M'naten looked up at Leigh with panic-filled eyes.

"Dear gods, Leigh, what do I do now?"

_______________________

Katrina

Babysitter applications now being accepted. <G>