Midnight Miscommunication

Xanadu Weyr - Siebith's Weyrbarn

Covered in rough, weathered wood, aged by the weather and the sun, the irregular grayed clapboards outside of this weyrbarn lend the place has a rustic, masculine charm. White shutters and window boxes overflowing with brightly-hued tangles of flowers on the lower windows and flowering vines twine about the supports for the porch overhang add a feminine touch, softening the stark stone steps leading to it.

The worn stone floor of Siebith's area is just inside the large sliding door. The living area of the weyrbarn has an open, airy layout gives the utilitarian, bachelor-like plain white-washed walls and simple hardwood floors a sense of wide open spaces. A sturdy mahogany-toned table with chairs that somehow manage to match despite their variety accent the earthy, wooden tones of the kitchenette. The same dark reddish hues are in the door at the far side of the barn, as well as in the low-slung coffee table in front of the plush, worn couch. Dusky sea-blue rugs are scattered here and there. Dark golden curtains hang on either side of the many windows and partition off the loft up above, led to by a black wrought iron set of ladder-like stairs. Lilies arranged in glass vases on the tables provide a crisp of white counterpoint to the dark wood tones.

A new addition, the bedroom has walls of the same plain white, but the floors are made of newer wood, still shiny with polish. A four-poster bed of the same red mahogany takes up the most of one wall of the small space, a blue-and-cream linen coverlet spread on the wide mattress. A set of wooden bureaus take up the bulk of the wall opposite while another wall has been painted upon in the very center with a seascape mural, its crisp blue waters and sandy shores. The final wall is graced by a feminine-looking writing desk stacked with papers and bedecked with knick-knacks. Over the bed, a set of stained-glass windows allows golden-brown light mingled with white whorls and blue haze to shine into the room with the rising of the sun, though both panes are able to be unlocked and swung wide to accept lake breezes.


Middle of the night is a time for sleeping peacefully, recovering from the day's stresses and gathering energy for the day ahead. Everyone needs their beauty sleep, and some more than others! Alas - sometimes things just conspire together to thwart this. In the darkened weyrbarn Thea sits holding Marella trying to soothe her back to sleep with a gentle back and forth of that rocking chair. The babe's fussing has faded when picked up… Perhaps she got to her quickly enough that she didn't disturb D'had's sleep?

Perhaps, or perhaps not. D'had shifts, turning over so that he's facing the direction of the rocking chair. He might just still be asleep though… But no, that idea is smashed when he speaks. His voice is low, in an attempt not to disturb mother and child or the boy who's still asleep. "Everything okay?"

"Shh, yes. She was hungry. Go back to sleep." Thea's answer is whispered while she winces dismay that he's awake. Perhaps it's the different timbre of voice, a deeper one than the babe's just been hearing as her mother murmured to her, but Marella seems to perk up a little, turning her head towards the bed in the dark. Her vocalization is nothing but syllabic sounds but they're -loud-! And questioning. The twins are already recognizing their daddy and they like him. Even if he is often grouchy.

D'had wasn't completely awake, just enough that he noticed she was. There's a note of recognition of her answer, a mutter, a mumbled 'yeah', something along those lines and he puts his head back to the pillow. That is until Marella's next scream. That causes a wince from the Weyrsecond despite the fact it goes unseen by anyone given the darkness of the room. There's another mutter, muffled by the pillow as he pulls it over his head.

Thea is up almost immediately as Marella calls, not screaming really, but to someone who's barely awake, it might seem like it. She's been learning their 'language', wordless as it is and knows what the babe wants, so she moves to the bed in swift steps and climbs in with the babe held in the crook of one arm to curl up beside him with Marella between them. "She wants you, Donn." And that's said with a whisper too even though the babe's now-quieter 'aaahhhoooh?' sounds are enough to wake her brother, there's no sense adding to it.

D'had mutters. He's not listening. Lalala! Oh, but wait, Thea's talking to him. Take.. baby… Is she crazy? "You don't know that," he grumbles. Give him a break, he's still half asleep, he's not grumbling at her, just in general. She might be learning their 'language' but he hasn't. The pillow does move from over his face however. "What am I suppose to do?"

She must be, because yes, she's right there beside him with her. "Shh! I do so." For the grousing he's doing. "You want to wake up the loud one?" Because stereo is so much more fun now, isn't it? She grasps the corner of his pillow to tug experimentally on it. "I'm right here, Donn." It's still sotto-voiced, but she's trying hard not to laugh as she answers. Marella, meanwhile quiets given she's nearer to The Voice. "Try uncovering your head and talking to her." Surely he can't break her with his words?

That pillow is easily enough pulled away from him. Not that it makes him any less grumpy. "No," D'had mumbles about Muir. No, he doesn't want him up too, but really what is HE supposed to do? "Hi baby?" he tries at the suggestion of just talking, careful to keep his voice low least 'the loud one' is woken. Just how he survived two children with Asher is anyone's guess. Give him another couple months?

Marella's baby hands are waving about in the dark but when her mother removes the pillow and The Voice isn't as muffled anymore, she responds sweetly with a quiet little croon. Aww? It should melt his heart. Thea still holds the child (at least that's a bonus?) as she rests her head beside D'had's. "That's right," she's encouraging him, or so it sounds at first, until the tease enters her voice, "Be sure Marella is the only gal you say that to, hmm?" Marella, meanwhile makes grabby hands for his chest. Oooh! What's this? Itty bitty baby fingers curl around the hair there. Mine!

D'had is out of words with those two. Thea might earn a glare for her teasing, if only she could see it for what it is. "Suppose you won't be hearin' it anymore either then." Take that woman! Make him try to be lovey to the little baby will you. Even if it is his little baby. "Ow.." its a blunt and relatively unemotional word, though it does hurt. Those hairs are sensitive to being pulled. "Mar.." Don't do that to daddy!

Thea laughs low in her throat as she lifts her head to brush a kiss across his forehead, her airy reply given in return, "Fine, but you'll have to learn my name then." Nyah! It's the ow of his that has her laughter pausing. "What's she-?" Thea's lying in her side so she's got one arm free to pat around with and can feel that Marella’s leaning towards him while the baby pulls, trying to bring both handfuls to her mouth. Thea is trying to pry open the baby’s determined fingers with one hand. It’s an easy task, trying to prevent a tug of war.

D'had knows her name… Sometimes. It's just easier to not get it wrong if he doesn't use it. "I know that." Really he does. As for the baby, "Don't think that'll taste very good…" At all. Hair isn't exactly something one usually wants to put in their mouth. Then again, baby means everything goes in the mouth. That much he does know about them. "Let 'er go…" he mutters, one hand finding Thea's where she fights with pulling Marella's hands free and moving to slide across the baby's back. The other, closer to his weyrmate, sweeps around to catch the little girl under her bottom and pull her around so that she's lying on his chest. Her holding is one thing, pulling is another.

Thea puts all of the pout into her voice since it's too dark for him to see it, "You do not." She points out, “You never use it." Using her logic, that's the conclusion she draws, anyway. When he reaches for the baby, she's free with both hands to help unclench those fingers and Marella is happy to lie with one small ear snuggled against her daddy's chest and hmmm to herself. "Quick, offer her one of your fingers," she suggests, "before she grabs again." At least she doesn't have teeth yet?

Don't remind him about the teeth yet to come. He's still working on the current phase right now. "Do too," D'had retorts. "Now come here, she's fine," he adds, reaching with the hand closest to her to pull her closer, his other hand remaining on Marella's back. See, he can handle baby. Just maybe one at a time… Or maybe he just thinks too hard about it most times? Then again after three months of being pushed to hold one or the other he might just be falling back into daddy mode.

Thea is fine with being pulled closer, her laughter warm on his ear as he gathers her in. Vastly amused, "What is it then?" She's not at all worried about him handling Marella, apparently for all she says is, "I know." Or maybe they're growing on him and he doesn't know it yet? Marella seems fascinated by his heartbeat for she's wide eyed silence in the darkness. Maybe he ought to do this more often?

Maybe… "Babe," D'had replies in a teasing manner, turning his head to press a slightly awkward, given he's not wanting to disturb the baby, kiss to what should be her forehead if he's guessed right. "There, now I got my two favorite girls." Just don't let Resha or Darce know he ever said such a thing. His thumb continues to idly rub Marella's back and he lets out a bit of a sigh almost as if content. But he's holding one of them…

"I like the sound of it too, Marella," Thea lifts her head to leave a soft kiss in the darkening silk of downy hair growing on the baby's head. She's snuggling her head back down when he kisses her forehead and he's got her snickering with that answer of his, "Play it safe, then." Marella's breathing slows, her tiny form stills. A rare peace settles in the weyrbarn. "Seryth's too heavy to fly," Thea says quietly into the darkness.

D'had chuckles softly, still trying not to disturb Marella too much with too much movement or voice a smidge too loud. He nods, resting his head against hers as she snuggles in. "Still got Sie if you're want'ta go somewhere…" he offers sleepily. Give him five minutes too and he'll be out just like their daughter.

And she'll rescue Marella at the first snore, too. "Might take you up on that," Thea murmurs. Because yes, she likes near-death experiences. She's relaxed, fairly sleepy herself, tells him with a yawn, "She should be clutching within the sevenday. You know what that means."

D'had nods idly. He's listening. Really he is. "That's good," he notes, the words coming easily enough. The first comment that came to mind on Seryth's imminent clutching likely. "Hmm?" No, he doesn't know. So now what does that mean again? Oh, he should, yes, doesn't mean he does.

Thea is just snuggling in and half-asleep herself. Not to worry though! Mothers can navigate dark rooms carrying babes when fully asleep, so he won't be having to get up. "Mmmhmm." She half-mumbles against his shoulder drowsily. "Be stuck on the sands with her. Have to have a mattress moved from stores to the 'level." Her lips curve in a reminiscent smile, "S'where you first ever kissed me." A chuckle, "Was that a surprise." Putting it mildly.

D'had blinks. Wait. Move… stay… "No, you can sleep here." Setting of first kiss or not, he's not happy with that thought at all. "Specially if he's there." Whichever 'he' it happened to be who's dragon caught Seryth in the first place. Sleepy or not, that didn't get by him.

"Who's where?" Thea stirs, sleep receding just a bit, puzzlement rousing her. She's still in the languor of the bliss of unaccustomed quiet - relaxed, unconcerned, enjoying his warmth and the feeling of now-rare contentment about him. "I'm not sure… Donn. Broody gold… she needs me near." She turns her head towards him in the darkness, trying in vain to see his face.

Well there goes his chance at sleeping. "Never mind," D'had replies gruffly to the question of who. "Near enough here," he tries to reason, "'Sides, what are you gonna do with them if you're there the whole time." She certainly doesn't expect him to keep them all night, every night, by himself for the duration of the time that Seryth is on the sands. That's … well it's crazy is what it is.

Thea blinks more fully awake, lifting her head to lean nose to nose with him. As if that will help her read him! She really ought to know better. Firmly, but still quietly "Don't you be telling me to 'nevermind.' He who?" There's an undercurrent of confusion mixed with faint unease. "No, it's not near enough if someone wanders in there and I'm not there, you know how they can be." Then oh! She gets it. Two of them, yes. Overwhelming. "Oh, I have the twins covered," she says airly. "You'll be having some help at nights." Now really, what woman would she trust here alone with him at night?

D'had sighs, trying not to let it get to him too much. It's late, they're both tired. He should have never brought it up. "You know," he replies. She should certainly know 'he who' if she put a little bit of thought behind it. "I know, but," he tries to protest, "you can't stay away ever night." He'd get lonely! Not to mention the twins, but … "Oh?" The fact that she's got that all figured out already piques his interest if only for the fact that - well she has it all figured out already.

Doing most of the care for two babies along with her weyr duties has left Thea a bit slow these days, so thinking is not so easily done. "Donn…" Thea sighs as well, frustration in that exhale. "You half say things." She sits up, places a hand on top of his where it rests on Marella's back. "She's asleep, want me to take her?" She's still talking softly but there's an undercurrent of exasperation in her tone, "Why not? It would only be for a few… months." She winces as she says that. It sounds like a long time. As to his question, all she says is, "Yes." It's terse, but he's not answering her either.

D'had's idle rub of the girl's back stops when Thea's hand rests on his. "Nah," he replies, "She's okay." She's there, don't move her lest she wake up again. Or well that's one theory anyway. "Exactly." Months. But now isn't the time to talk about it. You're tired babe, go to sleep."

A dichotomy of emotions wells up in Thea. She'd smile with delight that he's willing to continue holding Marella, but that other… She is silent for a long moment, then withdraws her hand and shrinks back away from him. "Fine. But it seems to me like the time's never right." Her head drops on the bed rather than his shoulder with a soft thud and she lies there, her body tense. And wide awake.

D'had's free hand, as it's free with Thea not laying on that shoulder any more, reaches for her hand. "Babe, we'll work it out. Don't think the candidates are gonna be tryin' ta sneak out there in the middle of the night." His idea anyway, he might be wrong. "Sure someone else'll keep guard couple nights a seven? Make sure no one gets out there.."

He finds Thea's hand and she's not stopping him from taking it, but there's not much response. "You don't understand broody golds, Donn. She needs me, not some guard," Broody weyrmates, however… That 'couple nights a week' sinks in and she lifts up on one elbow to smirk down at him in the blackness, "You'd MISS me!" The accusation it's all but chortled before she puts that sulk back in her voice, "But, oh, only a couple nights a seven?" Teasing him, which may or may not be all that wise at the moment.

D'had snorts. "Shh," he grumps at her. Sleeping babies, remember. "Understand them well enough," at least as well as any male ever could. Well at least as well as he could at any rate. He'd miss her of course, but just because she's made a big deal of it he's not going to say it. "They'll miss you," he replies. "And yeah, couple nights." He was trying to compromise here.

Thea huffs softly, "Okay, I'll shush." She slides her elbow back down and rolls so her back is to him. "No you don't," she insists softly to the wall in front of her face. So he's not saying it and since she can't read his mind, her next words are cool, "Told you, I have it covered. I'll be making quick trips to care for them during the day. I'll make sure you aren't inconvenienced." Hmph.

D'had sighs. There's really no use arguing any further. Yes, his mother might have told him going to bed angry isn't good, but they're going back to bed. There's a difference. Right? "Night babe, sleep well."

"My mother's coming to stay for awhile," Thea says quietly at last, clearly piqued. She turns back, but keeps her distance, "And if you wish, you may join me up in the level to sleep?" So it's really more of a question, but she's not really comfortable leaving things as they are.

D'had ohs. "Well…" isn't that just interesting. "You already invited her?" Not that he minds the help with the twins, but maybe he could have been consulted about it first. "What's your da think about all that?" Beat. "Might," join her that is. "Few days anyway."

Maybe it's the tone of that question, but it has Thea lifting her chin defensively, "Yes?" She's already invited her. "She'd like to see her grandchildren," she points out reasonably before muttering, "I really didn't think you'd care either way." Although the way he's holding Marella has her reconsidering that conclusion. She pauses as she struggles with her emotions, "Communication is a two-way street, Donn." She lets out a long breath and adds, "And I don't know about Thadan, she didn't say." She refuses to use the word 'da'. "I don't think he's coming."

"Glad she can come," D'had replies sounding sincere enough in that comment. "I'm sure she does," want to see them that is. "Don't matter if he does, probably best that way." He's not going to beat around the bush there. As far as Thadan is concerned she should certainly know by now he has a certain level of hate for the man. He pauses, letting silence fill the space between then once again. "Thea.." he breaths out. "I'm sorry."

Words. Thea listens to them stiffly in the dark, allowing her eyes to slide shut since she can't see anything anyway. "I don't want him here!" They're said with enough force, though quietly uttered, to have Seryth rumbling in agreement, muted by the weyrbarn walls, thankfully. Her name on his lips causes her eyes to fly open and blink. He does know it! "I… me too," she breathes her contrite reply, scooting over to snuggle back near him. "And I promise R'owan's bronze won't come between us." Because that's the only 'him there' on the sands that she can think of.

D'had told her he knew it! So it might have taken him that long to think of it. Might. The hand that's for her sneaks around behind her neck as she snuggles in. He turns to press a kiss to her lips, or as near as he can get in the dark. "I know babe, I know.

And sometimes that two-way street is a tangled mess of exits and on-ramps that are ironically labeled with signs that read, 'Slow, Men at Work.' He's got remarkable aim in the dark, finding her mouth the first try. After she returns his kiss, all she can think to say is, "You… do know that Nyunath is on the sands with Kilauaeth, yes?" In other words, she's so totally confused by his objection. She's back to near-drowsy, however and not going to keep him awake over it.

"Yeah," D'had replies given that question. He's not that dense about things. Most of the time. As for him and sleep, he hasn't left drowsy through the whole conversation so without further prompting on her part he's out like a light in less than no time.

Sleep claims Thea as well, who is apparently that dense and is left to puzzle just who he's meant. But at least the pair can sleep until Muir decides it's his turn for attention since his sister is getting all of it - or was. They might get all of five minute's worth.

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