He watched her face after he had popped the question and explained his 
reasons.  Her face betrayed her confusion.  "Darshan? How...?"

"Makayla told him before Darlea was able to stop her.  I know you made 
Darlea promise not to tell me," he explained.  "So, you will accept?"

Salinda looked at him, her face full of questions, and fear.  "What's the
point?" she asked, then seemed to stop as something occurred to her.  "Ah, 
now I understand, it's so you can feel like you've done the *noble* thing. 
And I'm supposed to be grateful that you've come to my rescue."

He was stunned.  She didn't understand at all.  "I..." he began, then 
paused.  How did he explain?

"You don't want me, I know that."  She looked into his eyes and he felt the 
accusation and challenge there.  "I don't need your sympathy.  Just go away, 
and don't worry about me.  I can take care of myself."

Suddenly, tears began to course down her cheeks, and she collapsed into sobs.

"Salinda, I..." Almiron said as he sat down next to her, putting his hand on
her shoulder.  He felt through the touch so many things-- fatigue, nausea, 
the physical symptoms of fear and anger and hurt.

She shrugged his hand away and turned to look at him through her tears.  
Wiping away her tears she asked him, "Almiron, why are you doing this?  Are 
you really ready to be... a father?"

He smiled gently at her.  "I don't think anyone is ever ready to be father.  
It scares me, but I am willing to give this child my best.  My father... was 
hard man.  He had little love to give me.  I had no mother.  I would like 
this child to have benefit of both parent to love and care for him or her.  
I would like to do better by my child than my father did by me."

Salinda's eyes were wide with surprise at this.  Almiron's past and family 
were such a mystery to most of the warren.  He could see she was absorbing 
this information.

He gently took her hand.  "I don't expect immediate answer.  This is sudden, 
for both you and me.  I know you think I don't want you, that I am doing 
this for some... reason of honour.  I... I can't say that honour is not part 
of it.  But, Salinda, I remember our time together with fondness.  I have 
worried about you since then.  I know someone has hurt you, badly.  I have 
great respect that you have become strong, beautiful person despite this one 
who hurt you.  It is not love-- yet.  But love could grow from respect and 
care and admiration with time.

"Child is not going to be born tomorrow.  You have time to think.  Promise 
me you will consider it?  If you don't want to be my mate, I still wish to 
be good father to child.  Don't think rejecting me will hurt child."

He sat back and looked at her.  Her hand still lay cradled in his as she 
looked into his eyes, looking for any sign of deception or insincerity 
there.  She looked long and hard, then broke the contact suddenly.

"I'll think about it.  I'd like some time alone..."

He nodded.  I understand."  He turned to leave, then turned back to her.  
"If you need anything, call me-- anything at all."

She nodded and he left.

<Where to now?> Darshan asked.  <I'd like to do some hunting.>

<I need to find out what is happening with Evelle, and talk to Michel, and 
check in with Medical Center and find out if I can help, and check about Keev.>

Darshan sighed.  <Okay.  I guess I'll hunt later.  I'll ask around.>

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Almiron and Darshan

NRPG: So, will she or won't she?

 **********************************************************************
 * Lynette R. F. Cowper       *     Official INWO NetRep & Goddess    *
 * lcowper@io.com             *        Circle of Janus Secretary      *
 * lcowper@indy.net           *   VP of P.U.R.P.L.E. (People United   *
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 *     The INWO rulings I make are official.  All other opinions,     *
 *  discussions, deck ideas, card ideas, political beliefs, etc. are  *
 *  my own and not those of Steve Jackson Games, the Circle of Janus, *
 *                        or P.U.R.P.L.E.  Fnord.                     *
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