[DL-J] When Hearts Get Involved
By Barbara Matthews carolyn@prismnet.com



Fawna & Sammy
**************

"What's wrong Fawna?" Sammy asked her half sister when the older girl left
the water where'd they'd been swimming with the Dolphins.

"Nothing.." Fawna muttered as she dropped down on the towel and her aqua
eyes looked out to sea. "Nothing you can do anything about."

"Well how can you know that unless you tell me?" Sammy frowned. She still
got a little scared even after all the time they'd been living in Jasra that
if she didn't *try* to be good.. Those she loved would leave her. She knew
it wasn't true.. But Her daddy had once before she was born. Left her and
her mommy. But Tahsa has explained that to her. She said her daddy didn't
know she was gonna be born. But when he found out about her he promised to
be a good daddy and always be there for her.

And he'd kept that promise. He was a good daddy and she never could wish for
any other daddy. She loved her mommy too and Fawna and Ojee and Shawnee. But
she was daddy's little girl.

"Well unless you can make Byron suddenly appear in front of us then you
can't help make me feel better," Fawna told her.

"Oh," the younger girl sighed. "I wish I got to meet him. You make him sound
so nice."

"He is nice," Fawna told her. "He always did fun things with me, and never
made me feel like a kid like some of the riders around here do."

"He's a rider?" Sammy asked, not understanding. "You never told me that."

"No. No," Fawna said quickly, turning her body until she could look at her
half sister. "No I mean that the riders here.. the younger ones always treat
us like kids... Byron .. he's the same age as some of them are, but he never
treated me like a kid.."

Sammy giggled. "You mean like Jerram does when he messes our hair up every
time he sees us."

"Well if it isn't the Warren Heartbreakers..." both girls giggled now as
Fawna reached across the space between the towels to ruffle Sammy's hair,
and they did their joint impression of the Weapons Master. "If only you were
ten years older.. and I was ten years younger..."

Then she fell back and both rolled into balls as the giggles over took them.
"Oh he's okay..." Sammy said once she was able to speak again.
"But I like Trader Darcon. He always has treats for us when he sees us."

"Yes.. I like him too.. But I don't like K'net... he thinks to much of
himself and speaks mean to us."

"He's a smoot bopper," Fawna rolled her eyes and flipped her hand in a manor
that suggested that K'net didn't matter. "Besides if he bothers us then Ojee
will beat him up for us."

Then the smile left her eyes and she laid back sighing.

"I wish Byron would come for a visit," she said, looking out over the water
again. "I sure do miss him."

........

Fawna
******

Saul was out in the bay with a stiff bristle brush in one hand and a rough
cloth in the other, waist deep in the water washing Fayloth when Fawna
wondered up.

"Hey Angel What's up," the bearded rider asked when he saw her standing there.

"Saul.. Do you think Byron will even come visit us here?" she asked, getting
right to the heart of the matter.

Saul looked back over is shoulder and grinned. "miss him do you?"

Fawna nodded. "I love it here in Jasra.. I mean swimming with the dolphins
is great fun and having Sammy as my sister and being able to play with Arron
and Lynnie... but.."

"But you miss Byron," he finished for her, then turned to walk towards her.
"Well you know sweetie it hasn't been that long since you saw him last.. But
I'm sure he misses you too."

"You really think so?" she brightened.

He reached out placed his hand on her shoulder and drew her near for a hug.
"I really think so. Maybe we can send him a letter with the next rider who
makes the trip to the other warrens."

"Oh could we!" she brighten even more, as she mentally began to write the
letter in her head. "I'll make sure I write real good so he can read it and
ask him when he's gonna come see us for a visit."

"Now that sounds like a good idea," Saul agreed. "Why don't you go start it
now. Tahsa's home so she can help you."

"I will. Thank you Saul!" she wrapped her arms around his waist and gave her
sister's mate a big hug. "See ya later!"

"Bye Angel."

............

nrpg:

Just a little for Fawna to set something up

OJEAN
******

The water was wonderful. Cool enough to enjoy without being overly cold on
the hot afternoon. Something Ojean had been doing just a moment ago until he
decided he was thirsty and had left the water in search of a drink.

As he flopped down on the blanket that held their picnic goodies, he looked
back out into the water where Cill was laughing as she was being towed
around by one of the dolphins. As he took a drink, he marveled at how
graceful she was in the water.. And at how lovely she looked in that
fetching little scrap of cloth she called a swim suit.

Oh yes. He was definitely was male enough to appreciate how lovely she
looked in that suit, and was glad she never wore it unless they were alone
together. He was glad that she felt so comfortable around him, even if she
didn't know how much she raised his blood pressure when he saw her wearing it.

Gods she was lovely. And she didn't even know it.

He knew his mother and her father (damn their souls to hell) were in big
part responsible for the way Cill thought of herself now. And the injuries
she'd sustained in the bomb blast at Whiteriver, hadn't helped. But the scar
was almost invisible now.. Well to him at lease.

He didn't see her scar when he looked at her, but then he'd known Cill a
long time and he saw what most people didn't. He saw what a warn loving
person she was, and he knew how special she really was. That was what he saw
when he looked at her.

But lately he'd been seeing a lot more.. Or maybe *feeling* was a better
word for it whenever he was with her. He was thinking about her more as the
woman she was becoming rather then the old friend she has always been, and
it was all he could do to not be rude to any of the other males who sought
her out.

Nor could he let her know how he felt, because he didn't know how she would
take it. Would it scare her? Would it make her uncomfortable just to be
around him? He didn't want to do anything that would ruin the friendship
they had now. Cill meant the world to him and he would do every thing he
could to make her happy.

Including hiding his own new found feelings.

He wondered if how he was feeling was anything like what Saul felt for his
sister Shawnee, and then decided to put the skids on that thought as Cill
came out of the water and ran up to the blanket to join him.

"They tire you out already?" he asked, returning the grin she gave him.

"Never!" she sighed happily. "I would live here if I could Ojee .. this is
where I am truly happy .." She dropped down onto the blanket and flopped
onto her back staring up at the puffy clouds in the sky.

"In the water or in our little cove," he asked, wondering if he should have
phrased it that way.

She giggled, "Both!" She rolled over to her side and propped her head up on
her elbow, "Do you ever wonder about the water breathers? Gods what an
exciting life they must have."

"Maybe," he commented, turning on his side and propping his head up on one
hand so he could look at her. "But you'd look kind of funny all shriveled up
from being in the water all the time. And Tee would miss you if he couldn't
see you because you were off swimming the seas."

Cill laughed again, "I'd take you with me silly. How could I possibly go
adventuring without you?"

"Well we'd have to get an awful big air tank for Tee..." he laughed, feeling
more then a little relieved she'd included him in her plans. "But I think I
could have fun swimming the seas with you. So what kind of adventures would
we have humm.."

"Oh now, that's easy. We would seek out uninhabited islands and hide away."

That wasn't good. He knew she was uncomfortable around others, but wanting
to be by herself. He had thought the last few months had helped her see that
she didn't need to hide from the world.

"But wouldn't you miss your family.. if we stayed hiding out on an island?"
he teased, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.

"We could come back to visit, I suppose." she shrugged and rolled back onto
her back. "But only for short visits .."

"Cill?" his voice lost all trace of humor now. His eyes were kind as they
look at her. "Don't you like it here?"

"I love it here, Ojee .." she looked around meaningfully, "I mean here .. in
this cove. The warren .. well, it's ok I suppose."

"What about your friends?" he wanted to know. "I mean I've seen you talking
with that rider who transferred here from Telnor. What's her name .. Tera..
you looked pretty.. happy when I saw you with her and her babies. And don't
think I haven't seen all those young riders flirting with you during dinner ."

This last he added and had to work at keeping whatever he was feeling out of
his tone.

Cill blushed a deep red, "Oh stop it! They don't even notice me. Why would
they. And Tera is great! I love babies. Makes me remember when Neril was
that small."

"Well I heard her asking your mother if she thought you would mind keeping
Ryan and Gabbie when she went back to work. So it seems she kind of likes
you too. She's going to need a child minder you know. And the riders do to
Notice you.. only you never look back." which he was forever thankful for.

"Ojean! Stop it!" Cill rolled away from him, " If they do look at me, it's
to gasp at this ugly face!"

Ojean snorted. "Trust me my friend.. Have I ever lied to you," his voice
sounded a bit husky now. "I know what's in their minds when they look at you
and it *Definitely* isn't because your scar scares them off. You are a very
*pretty* woman Cill. Those riders see that and respond to it whenever you're
near by. Believe me I know."

She turned to look at him, "What do you mean? How could they miss this ugly
scar?" She pulled her hair back to show the scar that was indeed fading, but
that would never fade away completely

"Cill every young man, rider or not in this Warren hates me right now
because *I'm* here with you.. When they wished they could be." He again
snorted again. "It's not that scar they see when they look at you.. But ..
Well Everything... Plus they all know what a good person you are inside
where it matters..."

He knew he'd said the wrong thing the second the words were out and she
turned her eyes away from his. "Cill... there are a lot of pretty women in
the Warren. But being pretty isn't everything.." He sat up now hating
himself for saying something to hurt her. "With or without that scar.. you
are far more beautiful then any of them because you're also a caring
warmhearted person, and that drawls the riders too you. That scar doesn't
take away from your beauty.. It just gives a man pause to realize that
you're much more then just another pretty face."

"They see what I've known all along," he added in a tone barely above a
whisper.

Cill sighed unhappily. "But sometimes Ojee .. sometimes I just wanna be
pretty again .. I mean really pretty .. not just on the inside."

"You are beautiful Cill," he said softly and couldn't hide the longing in
his words this time. Ojean turned away lease she read his feelings in his
eyes. "You're so beautiful that it sometimes scares me when I see how the
others look at you. I'm scared that one day you might look back at one of
them and forget.. me."

"Forget you?" Cill asked, shaking her head, "How could I ever do that.
You're my best friend .. sometimes my only friend."

"Right now maybe... But what about when you finally do look back at one of
those riders and decide you're in love.. Where will that leave me?"

"You mean like .. a boyfriend .. " Cill blushed again, "I know better then
that. I don't think I could ever fall in love," She looked away from him,
embarrassment covering her face.

Ojean's heart sank. In one breath he was happy that she didn't want to even
look at any of the others in *that* way. But where did it leave him? Right
back where you've always been sap.. As her friend.

"Come on," he said suddenly and reached for her hand. "Let's take one more
swim with your finny friends before we have to go back."

Always as her friend.

A little while later they decided it was time to head back.

They started to run out to the water when Cill slowed to a stop. Ojean
turned and looked at her quizzically, "Ojean .. will you forget me, when you
have a girlfriend?"

He took her hand in his and smiled warmly down at her. "I can promise you
Cill I will never forget you." Then he dropped her hand and quickened his
steps towards the blanket.

"Besides," he threw back over his shoulder wondering how she'd take what he
was about to let drop. "One of the reasons the others hate me is they think
I already have a girlfriend."

"You do?" she asked, but when he didn't slow she took chase after him, "Who
Ojean.. who?" He did not answer as they dove into the water, and soon the
question was forgotten .. for the moment ..

+++++++++++++++++++

[[ Nrpg thanks to Kris Gant for her help with Cill... silly girl.. doesn't
she know how pretty she really is... something Ojean hasn't missed... Poor
boy..]]

John:
I have a Shawnee post in the works dealing with the meeting with the water
breathers and what happens there.... and hope to have it out this week...

****Submitted by: *****

Shawnee's siblings
Ojean & Teewith
Fawna
Sammy
Jasra Warren

Aka
Barbara