At the apartment after dinner, Trey settled onto the couch and stared at the 
blank page before him.  He had no idea how to go about this.

He laboured over it for some time.  Diana was sure taking her time, but he 
didn't object.  He wasn't sure he could write the letter with her there.

He finally finished and surveyed the missive.

        Dear Ophelia (and Laria, B'rin, and Ph'let),
           I hope you all are well.
           I see no way to say this except to just cut to the chase.  I've
        met someone here and we have moved in together.  Her name is Diana.
        She's been very supportive of me here while I was trying to adjust.
        I realise this is sudden, but it just felt right.  I wanted you to
        know from me instead of hearing through the grapevine.
           I still love you, Ophelia, and always will.  I understand why 
        you had to do what you did.  I wish I could express to you the 
        depth of my sorrow and grief over what happened, but I can't.
           Tell the kids I love them.  Hope they enjoyed the cookies 
        R'chein brought with him.
                                        Trey

He was rereading it when he heard Zena land on the ledge.

"All done?" Diana asked, as she entered.

"Yup," he said as he looked up at her.  She was carrying a rather large 
package.  "Now, my passion quota may be high, but I don't think it's *that* 
high," he teased.

Diana blushed. "Well, you aren't the only one around here who can give 
presents," she said, offering it to him.  "I noticed you needed these."

He laid the letter aside and took the package and opened it.  Inside was a 
pair of brown leather riding boots, with a dragon design down the side of 
each one.  Folded under the boots was a rich brown leather riding jacket 
with a dragon design on the back, matching the boots.  "Diana..." he said, 
overcome.

"I love you, Trey" Diana said simply.

He pulled her to him and kissed her.  She pulled back and said, "Try them 
on, I want to make sure they fit."

Trey was in sock feet, as was his custom in his own apartment.  He pulled 
the boots on, tucking his pants legs in, and then stood and tested them.  
"After they're broken in, they'll be perfect," he said.  He then took the 
riding jacket and slipped it on, fastened it, and turned to show her, 
flexing his shoulders to check for fit across his back.  "Perfect," he 
concluded.

"Yes," she agreed, though the tone made him think she wasn't talking about 
the fit of the jacket.

He turned to see her eyeing him hungrily.  He grinned, "I think I'd better 
take this back off before you tear it off."

He slipped the jacket off and sat back on the couch, kicking the boots off, 
then taking her in his arms.  Their lips soon found each other, tongues 
exploring.  They slowly undressed each other.

She broke the kiss.  "Sheaths," she said, handing him a small package that 
contained several.

He took it and set it aside.  He had never been fond of sheaths, but there 
was no point in complaining now.  "Let's see what we can do to fill our 
passion quota before using these."  His lips trailed slowly down her body, 
paying special attention to her throat and breasts, stopping just short of 
their goal, and then he moved and worked his way up from her feet, lingering 
at her toes and the place behind her knees.  Her fingers tangled in his hair 
as he finally reached his goal.

******

He awoke in the middle of the night, curled next to her on the couch.  They 
had never made it to the bedroom before falling into an exhausted sleep.  He 
smiled, shifted position and then groaned as his muscles protested.

She didn't stir at the sound.  She had seemed awfully tired tonight.  He 
remembered how Ophelia would be very tired shortly before she discovered she 
was pregnant.

He felt a twinge of anger again at her irresponsibility.

He wondered what people would think if it were true.  His mind roamed to 
Z'lec, cringing at Trey using the word 'mate' to describe Diana.  He thought 
of Waylene apologising for her mate's behaviour.  He thought of David and 
Minty, sorrow for their loss flowing through them.

The letter sat on the table, next to the package of sheaths.  Ophelia's name 
on the outside seemed to glow in accusation.  He had cut all ties to her 
now.  He wondered if she would ever let Ph'let and B'rin visit.  What would 
they think?  What would Laria think?

He shook Diana awake-- well, awake enough to walk to the bedroom-- and led 
her to bed.  He laid awake, images of his children flitting through his 
mind, as he drifted fitfully off to sleep.

******

"Trey," Diana shook him awake.  "You'd better get up if you want breakfast."

He opened his eyes and shut them again immediately as the pain hit him.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Just a headache."

"A headache?..."  He didn't notice the fear in her voice.

"Ow!  Yeah, I didn't sleep well.  Probably just that."

"Do you... do you think you ought to see D'ssarian?"

"What for?  Just give me a headache remedy."

"Trey, didn't your... illness start with headaches?"  The fear was strong 
enough to hear now.

It twisted into him.  Not again.  Not now.  No... no, this was just a 
headache, nothing more.  "This isn't like that," he tried to assure her.

"Are you sure?"

"Diana!  Ow.  Look, I can't live my life in fear of every headache, okay?  
Can you please just get me something for it?"

"Okay," she said, her voice quiet, but still worried.

He listened to her rummage through the boxes they had yet to unload, his 
mind ranging back.  It was different, wasn't it?  Wasn't it?  He pulled the 
blanket over his head to cut out the light, to cut out the world and keep 
the monsters at bay, as he had as a child.  He wouldn't think about it.

Unbidden, the image of Laria, crying, her innocence just ripped from her, 
came to his mind.

A panic started within him.

Then he felt Koroth's reassuring presence.  No words, just comfort pouring 
through the bond.

<Promise me, Roth.>

<You know I won't let it happen again, Trey.  Don't worry.>

He lay in his dragon's comfort, trying to ignore the headache, trying to 
ignore the fear.

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Tr'etram and Koroth


 **********************************************************************
 * 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   *
 * http://www.io.com/~lcowper/*   Respecting Purple Legal Equality)   *
 **********************************************************************
 *     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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