At 09:16 AM 11/1/97 -0600, Kris & Scott Gant wrote:
>Kalewyn
>***
>
>>*Because if everyone else in your family was hearing but you, then most
>>likely you have nothing to worry about,* Kattibrie smiled reassuringly at
>>him.
>
>He thought on her words. *My parents were not deaf .. but my mother, she
>knew sign language fluently. My father tried, but he wasnt' as good as she
>or I.*
>
>"Maybe she learned because she loved you.. just like me." Kattibrie blushed
>slightly and Kay smiled.
>
>*Maybe ..*
>
>"But you aren't sure?"

Kattibrie had to be hopeful. She hoped and prayed that one day, once they
were mates, they would have children. But, she knew, that day would be a
long way off, if ever. She promised to go slow, and she would, she was
letting him set the pace. Well, except for yesterday morning, but he didn't
seem to mind that.. She blushed at the memory of her asking young Kay to
make love.

>He shrugged,  *Everything is so hazy about that time for me. I was very
>young when my parents moved to their farm. Before that .. I vaguely
>remember others .. a grandmother, I think.* Kay frowned, *Though when my
>parents were killed Rufus was all that they could find ..*
>
>"He would know." Kattibrie said softly, her face deep in thought.

But would Kay want to see Rufus, or would it be too painful.

>Then their eyes met and the same idea flashed through their heads .. Rufus,
>the only known family Kay had left. Kay shook his head, *No.*
>
>Kattibrie had no desire to see Kay's cousin either .. but if it stilled her
>love's fears. "He could tell you more about your family, Kay."
>
>The dark young man shook his head again, *No, I don't want to see him.*
>
>"All right," she said gently, running a hand over his cheek, "It was just a
>thought."

Kattibrie could understand his resistance. She didn't want to force him
into a situation that would be too painful. She didn't want anything to
hurt her Kay.

>He shrugged, *It doesn't matter now. It would just be better if I never had
>children. Then I don't have to worry about it.*

The words stung. Kattibrie bit her lip, trying to keep it from trembling
and wiped a tear from her eye. She looked over at Kay, who was oblivious to
her at the moment, busily working on the picture of the infant Solara. She
was grateful for that, because she didn't want to scare him by confronting
him with her desire to have his child. No, that would just make him run in
fear most likely. She took a deep breath and calmed herself, pushing the
thoughts out of her head.

>Kattibrie sat beside him watching, lost in her own thoughts. They sat,
>without talking until Kay set down his pastels and moved back from the
>picture. *It's done,* he signed.
>
>*It's beautiful,* Kattibrie signed.

And it was, so beautiful and precious...

<Stop torturing yourself!> Calishandra protested, <What is wrong with him
anyway, not wanting a hatchling?>

<He's scared, Shandra,> Kattibrie sighed.

>He smiled at her, *So are you.* He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his
>arms and kissing her in one smooth movement. His pulse quickened and he
>felt a stirring of desire. He pulled back looking down at her.

<Mmmm... Good feelings... Good feelings lead to hatchling making.>

Kattibrie ignored her nosy queen's commentary and just enjoyed the
passionate feelings she and Kay were sharing at the moment.

>He didn't have to ask, for she just nodded, her eyes echoing his desire. He
>smiled and picked her up, carrying her toward the bedroom.
>
>***
>
>Morning brought a dim haze of autumn fog to the heights of the warren. Not
>enought to hinder flight in anyway, but enough to put a bit of a gloom over
>the warren. However, there was no gloom in Kays apartment as he and
>Kattibrie worked together to make breakfast. Danielle had not been one for
>cooking and neither was he, but Kattibrie seemed to have a knack.
>
>*Where did you learn to cook so well?* Kay asked her.
>
>She grinned at the compliment, "Tabita, mostly. Though I picked up a lot
>for the other cooks too.  Everyone was always offering to spend time with
>me .. after my father died." She turned away from him as a frown settled on
>her pretty face.

She didn't want to think about that time. It was a time best forgotten. She
desperately tried to push the thoughts away.

>Kay decided that he couldn't let her frown, so he moved to wrap his arms
>around her from behind and kissed her gently on the side of her face.  In
>front of her he signed,  *I've never smelled anything so wonderful.*
>
>He felt her body tremble in a chuckle as she move to face him, "You are
>very sweet."
>
>*I love you.* he signed pulling one hand out in front of her. She smiled
>happily and he grinned, mission accomplished.

Those three simple words, how they warmed her heart and made all the
worries melt away. What was this magic he held over her?

<Love,> Calishandra answered, reading her thoughts yet again.

Could it really be that simple, Kattibrie wondered, enjoying the
contentment of the moment.

>They settled down at the table to eat. It was as good as it smelled and
>definitely the best breakfast he'd ever helped to make!
>
>He watched her eating, studying her face. The scars she'd been so worried
>about did nothing to mar her beauty. At least he didn't think they did. He
>certainly wouldn't mind spending every morning with her like this. And
>every night like the last.
>
>She looked at him questioningly, *What?*

Kattibrie's discomfiture at her new scars made it hard to read Kay when he
was looking at her. She kept wondering what he was thinking.

>He blushed slightly, as he realized he'd been staring at her, *I was just
>thinking how beautiful you are and how much I love being here with you.*
>
>*I like it to.*

Kattibrie was relieved that it was not the scars on Kay's mind, but her.
And it was nice, waking up next to Kay, fixing him breakfast. As if it was
supposed to be that way, as if they were mates.

She shook her head slightly, mentally chastising herself for rushing
things. They had promised each other to go slow. She would love to be Kay's
mate, but she wasn't going to push. He probably wasn't ready yet.

>His smile faded a bit as he realized that she had her own apartment to go
>to. One that connected with stairs to the haching cavern .. something that
>was necessary due to the fact that her dragon was a queen. She needed to
>have easy access to the normally difficult to access hatching cavern.
>
>*Kay, what are you thinking?*
>
>He shrugged, *Just that I'll miss you tonight.*

She frowned, confused and bordering on hurt, *You don't want me to stay?*

>He smiled, *I want you to stay every night .. but Calishandra's a queen ..
>at some point you'll need to be in your apartment.*
>
>Kattibrie nodded. She could see the dilemma. Kay 's apartment was filled
>with  paintings he'd done .. Little paintings of fruit baskets on the
>kitchen walls ..  little doodles in the bedroom, that gave the room a
>personal touch. And there was the still unfinished mural of Sabbith on the
>wall over Sabbith's sandy bed.

But somehow that queenrider apartment didn't feel like home, but Kay's did.
She was only in that apartment by mere chance, and it still didn't feel
like hers. It lacked the touches that made it a home still, not like Kay's
place.

>"Couldn't we have two?" She asked, the blushed, "I mean if .."
>
>*If we were mates?* he asked looking at her.

Kattibrie blinked in surprise. Could he possibly be asking...

<Ask him yourself, don't just stand there wondering!> Calishandra pushed.

*Are you asking me to become your mate?* Kattibrie signed. and then
immediately regretted asking the question. She promised she wouldn't push
and here she was pushing.

Kattibrie stammered her hands trembling, "I... I'm sorry... you probably
don't want.. you wanted to go slow."

Kay shook his head, not following what she was saying, *Sign it, please, if
you can.*

Kattibrie took some deep breaths, and clenched and flexed her hands,
willing them to be still enough for her to sign.

*I am sorry. I did not mean to push. I assumed too much, though I think it
would be nice.* Her cheeks burned at the confession.

Kay smiled at her, and took her face in his hands, kissing her softly on
the lips. Good feelings rose inside her again.

When the separated he signed to her, *I think it would be nice, too. Yes, I
am asking, will you be my mate?*

"Yes," Kattibrie said, tears of happiness starting to flow down her cheeks.
*Yes,* she repeated in sign, just to be sure he understood.

The happy couple embraced each other tightly, lingering in a passionate
kiss. Desire rose in both of them once again.

Kattibrie broke the kiss suddenly, Calishandra's words of the night before
coming back to her... Good feelings lead to hatchling making.

*I love you, but I have to go. I have something I need to do,* Kattibrie
signed quickly.

*Where are you going?*

*It's not important. I'll meet you at the med center to go see Tahlaya's
baby, OK?*

******

<Where are we going?> Calishandra asked.

<Med center, my darling.>

<Are you sick?>

<No, I just need to make sure I don't screw up our future.>

******

** Med center **

"What can I do for you today?" Sarrine asked, surprised to see the young
queenrider so early.

"The morning after pill you gave me, I need another one, and some
contraception besides."

"Oh?"

"Kay and I we..." Kattibrie blushed.

"Congratulations," the healer replied.

"Anyhow, I found out last night, Kay doesn't want to have babies." The
corners of her mouth twitched slightly, as she cast her eyes to the ground.

"But you do."

"Yes, but, he's scared that any baby of his will be deaf, and he's not
ready to talk to Rufus about the family medical history... We just became
mates, you see. If a baby is to be born, it must be something we both want,
not just me."

**************

NRPG: Well, I was going great and then got stuck. Kris, do whatever you
want with it at this point. Will Kay follow her or just meet her later?




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