Coming Home (R'net)

[Kayla]

Neory had left the flight room as soon as it was decent to do so. J'var was a good guy, and the compromise, she hoped, would lead to good decisions, decisions which had the good of the weyr at their heart, and decisions that would make things easier for the four who had been sent back to lead Nova. However, knowing all of that, knowing why she had made the choice she had, did not make her any less anxious to see her weyrmate, to be held and comforted by him, and to be reassured that he had meant what he had told her before, that this would only affect their relationship if she wanted it to, and she did not.

She opened the door to their weyr and blinked to find it empty. No stuff was missing, but R'net was not there waiting for her. She had not expected that to be the case. "R'net?" She moved through the weyr, hoping that she was missing something, that he really was there.

She moved to the bathing area, and finding that just as empty, Neory started to wonder if he had taken her selection of someone else personally. "How could he not?" She sighed, wondering if he had not understood what she had meant when she touched him, when Sheluth touched Torenth, if he had not realized that her heart, their hearts, wanted them not anyone else.

"Shards... what have I done?" She moved to the bed, sitting on it and pulling a pillow to her chest, squeezing it for comfort. She did not notice as the first tear slid down her cheek, and she could not say when it was that she had started crying into the pillow. Few could bring her to tears, and R'net seemed to be at the top of that list, though the last time he'd reduced her to tears he had been denying his love for her and Sheluth was guarding her and Torenth's first clutch. The normally strong woman had not stood a chance with all the new feelings from Sheluth and the "rejection" from R'net.

This time the tears were soft, and more anger at herself than anything else. Could the compromise really had been worth destroying what she had with R'net?

[TheDreamerLady]

R'net had not had the best of days. His first instinct, after losing, was to find a girl(really, just a willing body- his lust knew no limits), but when reason had returned before a willing body had been found, R'net wandered back to the weyr he shared with Neory.

And then had left again. That had been a miserable place to wait, so he'd gone looking for a friendly face. Though it had felt awkward to him, he'd cried on R'ko's shoulder, his son's Brown humming soothingly. And when he'd finally composed himself, there had been no words exchanged, just a hug, and feeling more like R'ko's brother than his father, R'net had headed back to the weyr he shared with Neory. They had, of course, discussed this situation, and R'net had meant what he'd said. He just needed a while to come down off of the Flight Emotions. Outwardly composed, he entered the weyr, and spotted Neory crying. His brisk stride turned into a dead run, and he was at her side in moments.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you need anything?" The older man asked, his eyes wide, and all thoughts of composure gone. If J'var had hurt Neory, the other Bronzerider would wish that Thread had eaten him.

[Kayla]

"R'net!" She clung to him when he reached her, her tears subsiding, as she just held to him. Excuses and reasons seemed so wrong at the moment, and she wondered to herself how she had not chosen the man she loved, "I'm so sorry. I wanted to choose you."

After a moment, his words and his concern registered with the Goldrider, now Weyrwoman. She shook her head, tears still staining her cheeks, though the flow had been stopped, for now at least, "I'm fine. I just... I came back to the weyr, and you weren't here... and..." She frowned, not wanting to admit that she doubted him, though she did not think that it had really been about doubting him. "And I got scared that you thought I didn't want you."

She sighed softly as clung to him. Neory hoped that he would understand, it had made sense to her when she explained what she wanted to J'var, what she hoped for, but now... now she was not so sure.

[TheDreamerLady]

R'net clung to Neory as well, stroking her hair with his oil softened hand. She smelled good, even if R'net could just smell a whiff of something he didn't like. He didn't care. At least Neory hadn't left him for J'var yet. Though, he reminded himself, if she chose too, it was her choice.

"It's always your choice Neory. How can I fault you for your wise judgment?" R'net's voice was slow, and rhythmic. And he really did agree with what he was saying.

"And if you didn't want me, I hope you'd tell me outright, and not just let someone else win you. Those were the rules, were they not?" R'net smiled, and kept all of his insecurities, the kind that liked to attack him during the night.

[Kayla]

She half laughed, half groaned at the reminder of the "agreement." Neory looked up to meet his eyes, "That's never going to happen, because I'll always want you, R'net. I love you, and you're just going to have to learn to live with that." She smiled, her eyes slightly red from crying, but the smile now that he was there and holding her, was sincere.

"I don't know about wise. I just hope it works. I don't think I could make that sacrifice a second time." Neory nuzzled against his chest, "It was weird waking up with someone else. I didn't like it." Sheluth was content, and Neory was sure that the experience had not actually been unpleasant, but she would have much preferred to wake up with R'net.

She sighed softly, "It's not the first time I thought I fully understood, but I hope that I do now, finally, fully understand what you grandmother warned me about. Of course, I'm just now a Weyrwoman, so we'll see..."

[TheDreamerLady]

"You'll do what's right." R'net said seriously, trusting as ever in the power of female Goldrider's to sacrifice all for the betterment of their Weyr. It's what Mari would have done, and Neory was as much a Queenrider as Mari had been.

Then, as though his own thoughts had caused Neory to talk about Mari, R'net turned to stare at his Weyrmate.

"What did Mari tell you?" He asked, knowing that her advice to Neory would have been different than his own. He had been her grandson, and she'd trained him, but he had trouble remembering any specific advice. He'd always learned something new from her, but that had as much to do with the situations she placed him in, as with her talks. And R'ko had been effected just as much, despite his riding a Brown, and having lost her four or five. R'net had kept her memory alive as well as he could.

His green eyes peered at his weyrmate, taking in the tear reddened eyes, and he smiled hopefully.

"We'll get through it Neory. We always do."

[Kayla]

Neory smiled a bit, she had not really thought about how he'd respond to the mention of Marisol, though she realized she should have. "She just told me that being a Gold Rider would be worth it, but that it would also take a lot from me, require a lot from me. I think I knew, even then, that she meant more than just... dedicating myself to the weyr. Or rather that what that would mean in specific would not be clear until I experienced it myself. I believe she was glad that Sheluth chose me, but she wanted me to understand that it would not be an idyllic life." She wished she had gotten to know Marisol better, and was thankful for the time she did get with the wise woman, tending for her and a little R'ko were cherished memories.

She sighed softly, "I thought I knew what she meant when I lost you and K'dyn for a turn for me, 10 for you. When I thought that meant you would not be there for Sheluth's flight. Then when you got back and.." The weyrwoman gestured. She did not want to bring up painful history. "But I was never Senior before today. I never had to make leadership choices, so I don't think I did fully understand before. I just hope I do now."

Neory smiled up at him, "Thank you, R'net. I love you."

[TheDreamerLady]

"I will always be here for you, dear." R'net said softly, and then remained quiet for everything else Neory had to say, closing his eyes to listen better, feeling his age on his joints, and in his eyes. It was true that everything would be fixed if he and Laszreen could make a match of it- however, it would be interesting if J'var caught both Golds. And a bit of a blow to R'net's ego, but he could handle it, or at least, that's what he thought.

"I love you as well." R'net added. He contemplated the moment a second longer, and then looked at his Weyrmate.

"You know what seems like a good idea? A nap- the two of us together. I've been so tired lately, with a new Weyr, and being Wingleader." And it would be nice to just have Neory in his arms, with no other thought than to hug her close, and breath her in.

[Kayla]

Neory smiled at that and nuzzled against him, nodding, "A nap sounds good indeed. Let me go wash my face, first." She did not want to get out of his arms, but she could feel the slight stickiness of the tears on her face. She kissed him softly and then slipped out of his arms to wash up.

"Do you have the rest of the day off?" She splashed the water onto her face and looked over to him. "I'd really enjoy being able to have the rest of the day together, just us." And perhaps, when waking up from a nap, maybe she could pretend like it had been Torenth who caught Sheluth after all. Like she was waking up with him after flight.

After she finished washing her face off, she came back over to him, crawling back onto the bed and into his arms. "You're too good to me, R'net." She was not sure that she would be able to show as much equanimity if their roles were reverse, and then she blinked a bit, remembering that ... hopefully? ... their positions would in fact be reversed soon. She shook her head slightly and smiled, then when that happened, she would follow his example.

[TheDreamerLady]

R'net nodded easily, and headed to the large bed they shared to turn the covers down, then settled down to remove his boots. The rest of his clothing would remain on- it was a nap, after all, and during the day, one would be surprised about how many people thought it was acceptable to bust into the private weyr of a Weyrleader, Weyrwoman, or even a lowly Weyrsecond. He didn't liked to be searching for pants while listening to a messenger.

"We have the rest of the day off so long as nothing goes wrong. " In which case, it didn't matter what had happened to them- they were to report for duty, and do their duty well. But such was life- at least they had first call on weyrs and the like. Rank did come with some tokens of gratitude.

When Neory returned to the bed, he snuggled down under the light throw with her, and chuckled at her comment. "I know for a fact you could find any number of men who are much nicer than me. Simply doing as I said I'd do isn't being very good to you."

[Kayla]

It only took her a moment to get comfortable in his arms, finding the right nook for her to snuggle against his chest. She rolled her eyes slightly at what he said, "You really need to stop talking like that, R'net. I have the only man I want." She wondered if she'd ever manage to fully convince him of that.

"And good. Maybe we can go to the beach later." She smiled a bit, knowing he liked the beach, and if they could find a secluded spot, it could be a very good day indeed, and perhaps she could forget about what was waiting for them, the consequences of her choice.

She closed her eyes. Emotionally, she was spent. While she'd not been awake that very long, she could very contently find herself sleeping again, now that she was where she belonged. Though until she did drift off, she could just enjoy being in R'net's arms.

[TheDreamerLady]

"I'd enjoy that." R'net said softly, already finding himself drifting off into sleep. His mind was spent, and the idea of sleeping into the afternoon was a good one, cuddled with Neory. Going to the beach could wait until the utter heat of the afternoon was somewhat diminished.

As he closed his eyes, the Bronzerider remembered other Flights that had ended in beach runs, sometimes with R'ko, and other times without the Brownrider. He thought about his daughter who he hadn't seen in a little while, and his second son, who he had also not seen in days. The Bronzerider was fairly sure that Neory didn't want a family reunion today, but perhaps another day they could sneak off in the early morning, and return later on.

It was good to have a family, though sometimes he forgot. And with a warm thought in his head, the aging man fell deeply into slumber.

(End Thread?)