KH: Freedom of an early evening P2

Posted on Thu Sep 4th, 2025 @ 8:11pm by Theeressa & Sr Journeyman Riklan

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: M3 D20

Theeressa smiled as she lay back on the blanket that Riklan had set up while she checked on the girls and ensured the treats and bread were ready. She turned on her side and looked him over. How had she gotten so lucky after so long in Dragon Hold? This man had stuck by her after she had accused him, thanks to how Sophida and Dragon Hold had set things up to break her.

“If only I could drink wine.” She declared softly as she looked at her juice almost longingly.

Riklan yawned a bit as he waited for his wife to return. This wasn’t something they got to do a whole lot so it was definitely a nice surprise. He rolled just enough to look over at her, surprised by her words.

“Won't be too much longer,” he said. “Once Kassa is done nursing.”

“Very unlikely to happen anytime soon. Months and months away,” she said smiling as she noticed the yawn. “If you fall asleep here I will leave you here with a blanket.” She promised him as she got comfortable and held out a plate to him.

Riklan laughed a bit. “Point taken on both.” It would be a bit with Kassa yet but he also knew she wouldn't change it. “And no falling asleep,” he promised, taking the plate.

The woman smiled and lay back on the blanket just staring at the fading sunlight. It was a perfect way to spend the evening rather than sitting by the fire alone. She nabbed one of the bite size pieces of sweet fruit bread.

He smiled in contentment. “We need to do this more often,” he commented. He'd have to see if he could work his schedule around at all to be able to do it from time to time.

Theeressa smiled a little more as she noticed his smile. “We do but sometimes it cannot be helped.” She said, shrugging a little bit as chucked her braid over her shoulder.

“True,” he agreed. He would see what he could do though. He picked up one of her sweet treats. “These are really good,” Riklan commented.

“I would rather savour moments like this than have nothing Rik. These moments are precious.” The woman said wanting him to know more than anything that she valued what they did have. “Can take some tomorrow for lunch.” She had made enough for him to have some for lunches.

He nodded. They were precious. It was hard to leave his family but he knew he had to to support them. “You’re the best, love,” he grinned, leaning over to kiss her.

The woman smiled as he leaned over and kissed her. She caressed his cheek enjoying the connection they had now.

Riklan slowly pulled back, looking into her eyes. He had never thought he would find someone like her or have such a beautiful family.

“That was nice..” She whispered, staring back at him trying to see what was going on behind his eyes.

A smile touched his lips. “It was. I've never been happier.”

“I am glad.” Theeressa was glad as she felt the same even as their lives were filled up with a crying newborn and a little girl who was into everything. “The feelings are very mutual.”

“You gave me a life I never actually thought I would have,” he admitted. “And I couldn't imagine anything different.” Kassa and Laressa were the lights of his world and he loved Theeressa.

“You have the life you deserve.” She assured him leaning up to kiss him softly. “And I am glad that in all of Pern I found the one man who accepted me and wanted the best for me.” She said. She often thought of the day her family came and he picked up his satchel to join her at Dragon Hold when they wanted to take her back.

He gave her a gentle smile, leaning into her kiss. “You deserve to be happy too,” he whispered. He would follow her anywhere. Theeressa had made him whole again and he refused to lose her.

“I did not when you met me but you taught me that I did deserve it.” She breathed caressing his stubbled cheek softly. “I dread to think where I would be if I had not met your sister that day.”

He closed his eyes at her gentle touch. He hadn't had a chance to shave yet. “Yeah guess I do owe Mari a thank you for that one.”

“I owe you both. You did not have to risk taking me in and I’m glad that you did not care about your reputation. Your healer skills spoke for themselves.” She laughed. Anywhere else and she would have been rejected and cast away.

“It's a risk I would take over and over again,” he assured her. He had never really thought much about his reputation. Being a healer and a good one was what mattered. He grinned a bit. “Learned a lot when I was growing up.”

Theeressa blushed a little. No one had ever taken a risk for her, not even Leisa had. “I’d always choose you.” She assured quietly thinking of the trinket around her neck.

Riklan smiled. Theeressa had been the best thing that ever happened to him. “And I you.”

“Drink your wine healer.” She encouraged leaning up to kiss him again. She wanted nothing more than to push him onto his back but she was still not fully healed from Kassa.

“As you wish milady,” Riklan laughed, taking a sip of the wine. It was nice to have some time like this with his wife.

“You are going to choke leaning over me like that.” She laughed, pushing him a little to sit up to avoid temptation. “I do not need 2 firelizards panicking.” She teased him.

“Never,” he grinned, but let her push him back. “Ooh no that would be a very bad thing,” he agreed, sipping on his wine in.again

“You will, and I am not sure my mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is very good.” She teased, poking his chest as she sat up a little better and looked up at the night's sky. “It is a beautiful night. So clear.” She remembered nights like this when they had been first trying to figure things out at Far Site, where she would lie out there in a blanket before she disappeared off to the tavern for her shift.

Riklan laughed. “Love, you could bring me back with just a look,” he assured her. “It really is. I'm glad we got to enjoy it together.” It was something he cherished.

The woman laughed and glanced from the night's sky to look at the man. The way he said she could bring him back with a look made her stomach twist and turn and her skin blush. “Riklan, are you flirting with me?” She demanded giggling.

He grinned impishly. “Maybe. Is that a problem?” He asked softly, leaning over to kiss her. “I don't get to do it much with our schedules.” He wanted her to feel loved.

The woman sighed happily at his kisses. “No. Never. I just don’t know if I can take the flirting any further.” She admitted against his lips, blushing even more. She was thankful it was a dark night and there was very little light from the stars and the moon.

He gently nuzzled her neck. “Love, it's okay,” he promised. “It does not have to go any further.” He was a healer after all. He wasn't about to hurt his wife.

“But shards, I want to.” She whispered, letting out a soft sound at the gentle nuzzle on her neck. She was thankful for the walls around their little garden there and then, it gave them a little privacy.

Riklan smiled against her neck. “Want me to stop?” He whispered, kissing her shoulder and along her neck. He would if that was what she wanted.

The woman shook her head. “No… shards, Rik.” She gasped. Her skin was sensitive, and why was she wearing a summer dress of all things that day, which gave him access to her skin and set it on fire.

He chuckled a bit, playfully nipping at the pulse point in her neck. “Yes?” He teased. He liked hearing her like that. They didn't get time like this often.

The woman sighed happily. “Let's go inside.” She murmured, sitting up, grabbing her glass of juice offering her hand to the man to pull him up.

Riklan pulled away slowly as she spoke. “Okay,” he agreed, not sure why they were moving. He accepted her help up and moved to gather their stuff.

Theeressa smiled at his confusion as she led him inside. As soon as they were inside, she turned and leaned up, wrapping her arm around his neck to kiss properly.

He followed her into the house and nearly dropped everything as she turned. “Theer?” He asked softly, looking down at her, his eyes dancing.

“Yes?” The woman demanded as she stepped back from the kiss, breathless but grinning at the soft question. She took the plate and glass from him, putting them on the counter by the sink.

“You are making it hard to keep my word,” he breathed. Shards, she knew how to work him.

“I… I do not … I do not want you to keep it.” She whispered, stepping back a few steps hitting the table. “I just don’t know if I am healed enough.” She blushed again. It was hard to tell if she was healed or not. The healer had signed her off with a be careful.

Worry flashed in his eyes for the love of his life. He leaned over and kissed her soundly. “Then how bout I just make you happy?” He suggested, watching her. “And I can stop as soon as you want me to.” or he saw a reason before to.

“That is not how this should work.” She breathed looking up at him, seeing the worry in his eyes. She hated that this between them was worrying him.

“Theer,” he said gently. “I can enjoy it too,” he assured her. He kissed her forehead. He wanted her happy too. .

The woman looked up at the man as she sat back on the table a little to be more comfortable. “You better. I do not like that worry on your face.” She leaned up, kissing him harder.

“I just want what's best for you,” he assured her, moaning at her kiss. She was making this extremely hard.

“I know.” She whispered against his lips. “I want to try.” She admitted quickly before she lost her nerve. She knew he would stop instantly if she hurt or anything.

Riklan slowly pulled away. “If you're sure,” he said gently, kissing her softly. “Your pace and only what you want.”

“I am sure.” She promised quickly. She wanted him to know that she was very sure and trusted him more than she trusted herself sometimes. “I trust you and I love you.”

A smile touched his lips. “And I love you,” he whispered, kissing her again as his hand ran down her hip.

The woman smiled as he ducked to kiss her. Theeressa wrapped an arm around his neck as she opened her legs to bring him closer. “You and me against the whole of Pern.” She breathed.

“Always,” he whispered, determined to make sure she enjoyed herself.