(11.7.2761) And Newborn Makes Five (attn: Rhi)

[Multi- Facets]

As Heirax struggled to wakefulness, she found a lot of body parts hurt despite the telltale sensation of liberally applied numbweed. It felt as though she had ingested some, too, though she could not recall doing so. It also felt like someone had given her a cloth bath and changed her nightgown. Why was she even trying to rouse, anyway? She was exhausted to the bone, and-

She heard a soft gurgling, and an answering hum from a person and a fire-lizard, and remembered. She had Ancients-damned FINALLY gone into labor early last night, and the second her mother Raxa had proclaimed “It’s a boy!” at dawn, Heirax had passed out from the effort. She hoped she hadn’t worried anyone too much. She dragged her eyelids open, finding R’ien in a chair next to her bed, holding a bundle with True perched on his shoulder and a slate and chalk on the bedside table. There was also a goblet of water, which Heirax gratefully made use of.

Her motions caught R’ien’s attention, and he immediately beamed at her, freeing an arm to pick up the slate. It’s a boy, his handwriting said. Your mother says he’s ten pounds, ten ounces. How are you feeling?

“Sore,” Heirax said, her nose still in the goblet. “Tired. How is he?”

R’ien set the slate down, wiped off the text, and wrote some more. He’s perfect. He has eyes like yours and hair like mine, and he really knows how to hold on to someone’s finger. His eyes glinted, and True crooned at him. The brownrider must have been too overwhelmed with emotion to talk.

Heirax put the goblet aside and held out her arms, and her weyrmate hastily put the slate down again to carefully place their son in her arms. The healer’s heart melted as soon as her stare met her child’s, and she found herself getting teary herself as she touched a soft, chubby cheek. “Hey, little one,” she whispered, feeling a grin practically split her face. “I’m your mother, and I’m so, so happy to meet you.”

R’ien wiped his face of suspicious moisture and did some more writing. Can I call Rhi and L’kas now? Do you need Raxa or any other family members?

“Oh, yes, of course,” Heirax answered. “And no, I don’t need any other family members yet. I’m guessing they all met our baby before I did.”

The brownrider nodded and sent a message to Derekoth, who gladly called out to Rhi and L’kas that Heirax was awake and ready to receive visitors.

= M-F

R'ien, True, Heirax, Derekoth, and new arrival.

--

==========

Carpe diem: Seize the day.
Carpe noctem: Seize the night.
Carp en denim: Fish in pants.

[Geo]

The infirmary had a notoriously effective gossip chain, and Rhi had known that Heirax had gone into labor some time ago. The voice of the brown saying that visitors were now welcome was a happy update to what little she'd last heard. Admonishing Skie that this was not the time to follow and get up to antics, the healer pushed back from her never-ending paperwork and headed out to find her friend. Stopping for a moment to splash some cold water on her face and wake up, she found herself thinking, 'Better her than I. I still have trouble taking care of myself, much less a little one.' 

This was more fun anyway. Being able to enjoy the newborn, and not have the responsibilities of motherhood was good fun. She'd decided some time ago that specializing in new-born and young patients wasn't for her, and that was that. Stepping into the alcove set aside for maternity, Rhi took in the scene a moment. Joyfully happy mom had the newborn in her arms, and R'ien was right next to her, essentially speechless still. Smile on her face, the healer replaced the friend a moment. Mom look tired, which was expected, but otherwise well. There hadn't been any overt chatter about problems among the others. Just a long labor. Everyone was pretty much glowing with happiness though, and reverting back to the friend, Rhi stepped forward and lightly rustled R'ien's hair. 

"Hey papa, how's life as a father so far?" 

Turning to look more fully at Heirax and her little one, she smile grew just that little bit larger. 

"You have a beautiful little boy. Congratulations mom." She paused and added jokingly, "And don't let anything L'kas tells you think otherwise." She loved teasing her bronzerider from time to time. 

Geo-

Rhi 

[Multi- Facets]

R'ien grinned up at Rhi. "It's- It's- It's- It's-" Wisely giving up on trying to express himself verbally, he once again used the slate. It's like a dream, and I'm basking in it as long as I can before reality sets in. He showed the reply to Rhi first, and then to Heirax, who laughed at it and Rhi's smart remark.

"Ha ha ha ha- ow, ow, ow. Okay, new rule: No making me laugh just yet," she said, wincing. "My stomach and spine are not up to it. But that was well said," she added to her fellow healer. "I hadn't thought of it. R'ien, if L'kas says anything untoward about our little one, feel free to punch him or something."

"Oka-ka-kay," R'ien said brightly. Any excuse to hit L'kas is usually a good one, he wrote.

"Aye, because he usually deserves it," Heirax snickered.

"Hey there, happy parents," said bronzerider said, entering the room with his left hand behind his back. "Got a little something for the new arrival here." He moved his hand into sight, displaying a mid-sized plush dragon in patchwork shades of blue with black button eyes sewn on tightly. True cocked his head and looked at the toy suspiciously. "So what is it and what's it's name?"

"Re-Real c-c-classy," R'ien snarked.

Heirax adjusted her hold so her son could be seen more clearly by her friends. The newborn looked at them with what seemed to be a mix of solemnity and surprise, with eyes indeed like Heirax's. "It's a boy," she said, "and last month, we finally agreed on calling him Daykas."

L'kas stopped dead, eyes widening, and his smirk became slightly gooey around the edges.

= M-F

Heirax, baby, True, Rien, L'kas.

--

==========

Carpe diem: Seize the day.
Carpe noctem: Seize the night.
Carp en denim: Fish in pants.

[Geo]

Making a note in the far corner of her mind to ask about numbweed when the opportunity arose, Rhi bit back the laughter in her throat and followed the interaction between her bronzerider and the couple. The stuffed dragon was a nice touch, and then she learned the little one's name. Realization clicked a heartbeat later, and it took a moment to put the emotion in it's place. Names were a funny thing and to deviate away from the couples names, and choose other people wasn't done lightly.

Stepping around to her lover's right side, Rhi elbowed her boy lightly. "I think this is a first Heirax. L'kas speechless, and perhaps a little teary-eyed around the edges?" 

Doubting that she'd ever hear anything other than positives from the bronzerider about the child for the near future, Rhi turned back to the little corner of her mind that held healer concerns. "Heirax dear, pardon the healer, but how are you feeling? I can grab some numbweed if you'd like."

Geo

Rhi

 

[Multi- Facets]

"I am not getting teary!" L'kas indignantly exclaimed over R'ien's cackling. "True, back me up here," he pleaded of the fire-lizard, who was still staring at the stuffed toy.

"You're getting softer in your older age," Heirax teased, and her friend huffed in annoyance. Daykas made a fussing noise, and after checking his wrappings and finding them still clean for now, the healer concluded the boy was hungry. "I'm all right on the numbweed; it feels like my mother dosed me after I passed out," she said to Rhi. "But if you wouldn't mind finding me a small towel of some sort? I really should feed Daykas." 

Pleased to no longer be mocked for now, L'kas handed the stuffed blue to R'ien, who nodded thanks.

= M-F

L'kas, True, Heirax, Daykas, R'ien.

--

==========

Carpe diem: Seize the day.
Carpe noctem: Seize the night.
Carp en denim: Fish in pants.