RCW Talking part 1

Posted on Tue Jan 6th, 2026 @ 8:03am by Jr Journeyman Nerlyn & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL
Timeline: M3 D16

Nerlyn looked at herself in the mirror as she tried to work out how she could look that pregnant at only 4 months or so. She shook her head as she turned on her side again to look at the bump that was visible. She could not remember having that type of bump with Raen, but she had been so much skinnier with him that maybe it was why she was feeling the surprise. She had noticed it the previous night when her dress had been clinging to her when she had walked the table the previous night.

K'ron yawned a bit as he walked into the weyr. He had had to finish a couple things before he could retire for the night. “Ner?” He called softly, not sure where she was or if Raen was asleep.

Nerlyn jumped a little at the soft call, having been so intent on thinking about the size of her bump. “Shhh… in here,” Nerlyn called softly, still staring at herself in the mirror as she heard the footsteps get closer.

K'ron followed his mate’s voice, making sure to keep quiet. “You okay?” He asked, seeing her looking in the mirror. He wasn't quite sure what she was up to.

“Yeah… I was just looking at my bump. I do not remember having one so early when I was carrying Raen.” She admitted softly blushing at being caught being a little vain.

He walked over and gently slipped his arms around her. “Maybe it's a little girl this time,” he teased, kissing her neck. “But you look beautiful and healthy.” He hadn't felt like he had to worry so much this time.

Nerlyn was surprised when he slipped his arms around her stopping her grabbing up her dress to put on and kissed her neck. “Maybe it is. Five months and we shall find out.” She smiled at the teasing tone in his voice. “Are you okay?” She wondered looking at his reflection in the mirror.

It was hard to believe there were still five months left. K'ron was glad that Nerlyn had seemed happy though. The bronze rider nodded. “Just a lot going on,” he admitted quietly.

Nerlyn hated the sound of his quiet tone. He was tired and thinking deep like the ocean. “There is?” She wondered quietly, not sure on that when she was trying to not think on the timing and the ruins that eventually they would have to look at. She was hoping the Weyrleaders were going to let it all go and just carry on like nothing had changed.

K'ron closed his eyes briefly. He didn't want to think about everything going on and what it might all lead to. He had already had a battle with the Weyrleaders once and he didn't want to do it again. “It will be fine,” he assured her.

“It will be.” The woman said, smiling at him as he opened his eyes. She moved his hands to her bump and held them both there. She had not felt kicks or anything yet but she had felt the quickening and the almost fire lizard wing fluttering in her stomach of movements. “How was sweeps?”

A smile touched his lips as she moved his hands to her stomach. There were still times that he couldn't believe they were having a second child. “Pretty normal,” he answered. Thankfully his wing hadn't had to go near the ruins.

“Pretty normal? Normally I get a little more than that.” She laughed a little and shook her head at him. “Are you that tired after sleeping on the beach?” She teased. “I thought it was a pretty nice memory refresh for that hatching after I lost Leaneth.” Nerlyn said softly turning slowly to look up at him.

The bronze rider managed a smile. He had a lot on his mind but wasn't ready to talk about it. With those words he did laugh. “Maybe,” he grinned. “And yes that was great. And to answer your curiosity we had sweeps along the coast so Ty got to see the dolphins,” he chuckled. His bronze loved the dolphins.

“Well that’s nice.” She said loving the grin on his face. It was nice to see it after all the timing chaos she had caused. She was still not sure how she was going to make it up to him but right now the grin on his face was a good start. “So are you all done?” She asked stepping back out of his arms to retrieve her dress.

K'ron was trying not to let his worry show. At least not at the moment. He just wanted to forget things for a bit. “I am, so you're stuck with me for a while,” he answered as she stepped out of his arms.

Nerlyn nodded, she was happy to be stuck with him. It was why she came home to the Weyr every night. “Well that is nice but did you want to spend time in the cavern or something?” She offered turning to her dress, pulling it on and wiggled into it.

He shook his head. “No, I am fine right here unless you wanted to go down to the cavern.” He really just wanted to spend time with her and not think about anything else.

“Not without you, and Raen is asleep.” She reminded him, smiling as she caressed his stubbled cheek. “So what would you like to do?” She wondered, moving around the bedroom, tidying up a few things.

He hadn't thought about that. Raen was sound asleep. He gave her a gentle smile as she caressed his cheek. “Honestly, I am just happy here with you, talking. We don't get a lot of time together like that anymore.”

Nerlyn paused, picking up her book that she had been reading in bed the last few nights and looked up at him. “Okay.” She said moving back over to him hearing something in his tone that made her think he needed her.

K'ron smiled in relief. He wasn't ready to admit everything yet but he did just want to spend some time with her. “Thank you,” he breathed, knowing he probably wasn't making any sense to her.

“Let me just finish tidying up and I’ll be out unless you want to go to bed now.” She asked trying to work out what he needed and wanted.

He nodded. “Anything I can do to help?” He offered. He wasn't ready for bed and he really just wanted to be with Nerlyn. Things were not going well.

“I was just going to potter and pick up our things from last couple of days so we don’t trip over in the night. I nearly fell over this morning and I was fully awake.” She said, indicating their shoes and clothes by the bathing chamber, her book from reading in bed a couple of nights ago. They weren’t messy people but sometimes they had to many days where they had to rush around.

K'ron cringed a bit. “Guess we have just been dropping things huh?” He felt like they had been running in circles. He bent to pick up some of their dirty clothes. “How bout i help you here and then just enjoy some time on the couch while Raen is asleep?”

“Okay.” Nerlyn agreed easily enough as she moved to pile up the books on her side of the bed. She would really need to get some of them back to the harpers and dolphin craft hall but she kept forgetting to do it when there was so much to enjoy about them. Within ten minutes or so Nerlyn looked around and smiled at the clean floor and bedside cabinets. “That was easier.” She decided smiling a little more as she realised she needed to accept his assistance sometimes.

K'ron quietly worked alone with his mate to tidy up their weyr. It didn't take long at all with the two of them. “Goes much faster with two,” he agreed, folding the last shirt.

“Lots of things go faster when you work together.” Nerlyn commented picking up the pile putting them away in their clothes chest.

She had a point. “Means we have a little more time to relax,” he commented. That was certainly something they didn't get to do often. Both of them were busy and normally Raen was bouncing around too.

“Come on then Bronze Rider.” Nerlyn smiled as she stepped out into living area and flopped onto the sofa and looked up at him expectantly.

He smiled, following behind. K'ron laughed softly as shd flopped onto the couch. He sat down beside her, stretching his legs out in front of him with a sigh.

“You sound exhausted mentally today.” She challenged softly as she turned a little to him, curling up a bit. She had no idea what was going on with him but he did look like he needed to talk.

K'ron put his arm around her shoulders as she snuggled against his side. “Sorry. There's just been a lot going on,” he said softly, kissing her hair.

“I know. I am sorry.” She sighed mostly to herself feeling the weight of the guilt hit her hard. She closed her eyes even as he kissed her hair. She had not meant to cause this mental exhaustion in him at all. She had never thought to have a normal life.

He gave her a tired smile. “No reason to be sorry,” he said gently. Some of the things were his fault and some of them he should have just let go. K'ron closed his eyes briefly, feeling worn out.

Nerlyn nodded and snuggled a little closer picking up Raen’s stuffed green dragon and for a moment held it close to her chest. “That’s the problem with me K'ron. I am such a mess up that i am always sorry.”

K'ron shook his head. “You are not a mess up. I love you and no matter how crazy things get we will get through it.” He hated when she got down on herself like that. “Plus we have Raen and this little one,” he smiled, touching her stomach.

Nerlyn said nothing to agree or disagree. She did not need to, she just moved his hand to where she was feeling the strange fire lizard wing sensation. “You won’t be able to feel it but right now that baby is moving just under your hand.” She said gently.

K'ron was a bit confused as she moved his hand but didn't argue. “Really?” He asked, sounding awake now. He remembered the first time he felt Raen move. It had been exciting and nerve racking.

“Yeah.” Nerlyn assured smiling at the man he looked awe struck by her revelation. “It’s like a firelizards wings beating against the air just there.” She said poetically.

He blinked as he tried to think how that would feel. “That is so amazing,” he whispered. K'ron couldn't stop smiling. For the moment his troubles were forgotten.

Nerlyn moved her hand from his and stroked his cheek softly as she just watched him. “For you sure. For me not so much as they get bigger.” She grinned knowing she would not change any moment of it.

He looked up at her as she stroked his cheek. “I hadn't thought about that. Anything you need you tell me,” he said softly. He would help her anyway he could.

“Just you. I’ve never needed your status, your dragon or anything K’ron.” She assured him knowing she would be stubborn about asking for help but she would try her best. She had left him help that day and it had shown that it was easier.

K'ron closed his eyes briefly, trying to decide his response. “And you know I will always be there,” he said softly. “For whatever you need.” He knew she had never cared about his status the same as he never cared either.

“I know that. K’ron?” She wondered seeing him close his eyes as if he was trying to think on what to say and didn’t want her to see the storm behind his eyes. “What is wrong?” She wondered quietly pulling her hand back.

He hated this. It wasn't fair and he didn't know what to do about it. “I'm okay. I'm sorry to have worried you.” He didn't want to ruin this moment with his problems.

Nerlyn nodded and leaned forward pressing her lips against his softly. “Maybe you need an early night or some space. I can curl up with Raen for the night.” The boy would be more than happy to have a sleep over.

He leaned into her gentle kiss, hating how he was worrying her. “Maybe,” he agreed with a sigh. He highly doubted he would be sleeping though. “But you don't have to sleep with Raen. I don't mind the company.”

Nerlyn smiled sadly. Not sure what to say to get him to open up when there was something there so she just nodded. She leaned over to grab a book to read and snuggled against him. Maybe just being there would allow him some head space to work out what he wanted to say.

K'ron leaned back against the couch. He knew he needed to talk but he wasn't ready to face that yet. He wanted to make sure he was calm before he talked to Nerlyn because he had a feeling she wouldn't be happy with him.