Another sweltering evening falls upon Igen Weyr, and Kyara is once again grateful for living so high up. The breeze is almost constant, whistling across the wide portal created by the overhang above Liareth's ledge and drawing much of the hot air out of the greenrider's living space. She sits in her doorway to take full advantage of the difference in temperature right now, her hanging drawn back and a lukewarm cup of tea in her hand. She wears one of her most typical outfits, a blue skirt of crinkled blue cotton and a pale green tank top, burnished hair unbound and a bit more on the full side than usual, indicating a recent bath. There's really nothing to give away the fact that she's a Turn older, though her contemplative state - and the quiet excitement exuding from her lifemate - might show that something is a bit different. She's waiting for R'xim to come by, with Liareth checking in with Shalnth every now and then, unbeknownst to the greenrider.

No, R'xim isn't fashionably late this evening. Given the temperature during the day, Arroyo has been having their PT sessions in the later afternoon candlemarks to help keep the heat at bay — even though it's nigh impossible at the desert Weyr. It does help when Rukbat sets in the horizon. And since he's not one to return home without a bath and a change of clothes, it takes Rix a little longer to make it out of the caverns and into the bowl where Shalnth waits. There is a strange energy about the bronze this evening and R'xim can't help but glance up at those whirling bright blue eyes that glint with some kind of anticipation as he packs up and secures the leather straps. Thinking nothing of it, he just assumes Liareth is starting to glow and blames her for Shalnth's antsy behavior. Soon they are aloft. Soon they are upon the ledge and Rix is entering the weyr in a sleeveless undershirt, board shorts, and sandals when he catches sight of Kyara sitting with a cup of tea in hand. "Happy turnday, I didn't forget. I actually brought a bottle of Benden red but Shalnth is being a pain in the ass." IE, shimmying up to Liareth and not letting Rix touch his straps.

Despite some behavior to the contrary, Liareth is not actually glowing. She sidles up to Shalnth in turn, rustling her wings and crooning softly as the heated mists of her mind swirl energetically across to him, the bubbling and hissing of her baths mingled with excited whispering from unseen quarters. Yet she doesn't seem quite sure how to say what she's excited about at the moment…or else is being held back from saying anything. Kyara can't help the appreciative smile that curves her lips at the sight of R'xim, though there's a bit of a flush that comes with it as well. She stands and sips down the last of her tea, taking his hand when he comes near enough. "Thank you," she says to his first, and chuckles over Shalnth's behavior, giving a little shake of her head. "It's her fault, though not for the reason you might think," she notes, giving a gentle tug to urge him inside. "It's because of something I found out today."

Poor Shalnth. He's excited about something and he hasn't the foggiest idea what it could be — probably because he's too busy enjoying the heady rush of Liareth in his thoughts. The bronze, still with his straps on, settles next to her with his faceted eyes whirling a vibrant blue as he mentally eavesdrops on R'xim's conversation inside the weyr. "I remember turning thirty-four." the bronzer says, collecting Kyara's hand for a moment. "Turns and turns ago." Apparently he's not above jesting over his age as he pulls the greenrider into a hug, embracing her a little tighter than usual. "Yeah? Are you sure? She's got him pretty riled up tonight." As his hands gently run the length of her back, he keeps Kyara close. "Because of something you found out?"

Kyara very much enjoys the tightness of that hug, looping her arms around R'xim's neck and squeezing firmly in turn to bring as much of herself into it as she can. She gives a scoffing chuckle at his first, drawing her head back to look at him with an arched brow. "So many Turns ago. No old man has the right to be as healthy and handsome as you, truly," she teases, though thoroughly means the descriptors and kisses him in punctuation of her words. She takes a moment to mentally nudge Liareth into telling Shalnth something, which the green does all too easily. « Something has happened that she has long hoped for, and I am elated for it, » she informs the bronze, crooning in the direction of their riders beyond the threshold again. In the meantime, Kyara nods, loosening her hold enough to let her hands slide to either side of R'xim's neck, her thumbs tracing along the edges of his jaw as amber eyes meet his intently. "I…" A surge of giddy nervousness steals her breath a moment, and she drops her eyes for just a second before finding his gaze again, a tilted smile curving her lips. "I'm pregnant, Rix. Ours." Not that there was any doubt of that, but there's something wonderful in being able to say it aloud.

It never hurts to stroke R'xim's ego and Kyara seems to know just when to bolster his pride — must be she's been spending too much time with him. He's grown to enjoy their time together, coming home to her after a long day of sweeps or training to spend the rest of the day has become something he looks forward to. It's a daily routine they've established and he's gotten some of the best sleep of his life having her next to him. There's comfort there. A sense of security, even. « Oh, did he finally ask her to be his weyrmate? » Apparently Shalnth is in the know about something other than Kyara's pregnancy! The poor bronze is a bit airheaded this evening (blame Liareth's vibes). R'xim's hands pause and gently press against Kyara's back as her touch is felt against his jaw, his blue eyes casting downward at that tilted smile of hers. "Pregnant." he says almost knowingly, a smile tugging at his lips. "And you thought you couldn't be."

Liareth's mental steam seems to thicken for a moment, a quiet chuckle of amusement slipping into the midst of her subtle soundscape. « No, though that would have done the trick as well, I'm sure, » she opines, though doesn't pass Shalnth's airheaded-ness on to her bonded. There's a pause as Kyara makes her revelation, which the green then echoes. « A little one. It will change some things for us, for a time. But that doesn't matter. » The fact that her rider is in a state she hasn't quite seen before does. A breathless bit of laughter leaves Kyara's throat, and she blinks as tears make a prickling feint at the edges of her eyelids. "I'd…assumed I couldn't after that first time. But I'd always hoped. I guess…it just wasn't the right time then. Now it is. And it gets to be with you." And all of it feels right.

Light dawns on yonder bronze head! « Ohhh, right. I knew that. » No he didn't. Just let him think he did, Liareth. Shalnth ruffles his wings and settles back to then puff up with a bit of pride for such an announcement. « Mine already has little ones. Some not so little now, in fact. » He rumbles a sound of content and brushes up against the pretty green as the information is finally shared with R'xim. Faint memories of when Liam was a baby bubble to the surface of his consciousness with a little help, « He loves little ones. Not many people know that he does. » The news settles into R'xim's thoughts and he sobers a bit when he catches sight of the glistening in Kyara's eyes, which has him pulling her close again. "And you just found out today? At the infirmary?" His hands roam to her sides and he steps back from their embrace to glance down at her midsection before asking, "How far along are you?"

« Not before she told him, you didn't. » So much for letting Shalnth think he knew! Nevertheless, Liareth sits herself under the bronze's chin and leans against him a bit. « So does she. So they will do will, » the green concludes. Kyara isn't at all upset, of course, just a bit overwhelmed. But R'xim is helping immensely on that count. She laughs a little again when he studies her stomach, which is still as flat as it normally is. Perhaps just a hint softer, if one squints. "A bit over two months, they said," she replies. "I was sick this morning, so I went. It turned out there really was a good reason to be feeling like I did."

Shalnth snorts at Liareth calling him out on not actually knowing Kyara's condition — which is why he appreciates having her around to verbally spar with back and forth. He rumbles again and is content to just keep the green close, much like R'xim is keeping Kyara close at his side. "Ah, yeah. Well, it'll be a couple of months until you start showing. Usually around the fourth month it'll start to get noticeable." Spoken like a father who's gone through this in the past. Rix is conscious that this is her first experience with him, though, and he's attentive to her feelings on the matter given her history. "Are you feeling okay now?" His expression softens and he half grins, running a hand through his hair while considering going through another pregnancy again — the feeling never gets old. Yet, this time it feels different. "Tell me what you're thinking right now."

The fact that R'xim has been through this before is an immensely stabilizing thing for Kyara, her arm resting along his as she listens to him speak. She nods to his first question, lips curving in harmony with the little grin he gives. "They gave me a tea to help with the nausea, so I'm fine." As for his last, she draws a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I'm thinking…about how I'll have to work everything so that this baby stays. Worrying I might mess it up somehow, but also trying to let myself know that everything will be fine. I'm thinking this is…the most amazing thing to happen to me next to Liareth. And I'm thinking I love you." She lifts her hand to his cheek, uttering a soft bit of a chuckle. "And what are you thinking right now?"

There's a nod when Kyara mentions getting some tea from the Healers and R'xim's brows rise a little when she says she's fine now. "There's a tea shop at Tillek that makes a special blend for morning sickness, I'll have my mother grab a few packets for you to try. Because you might feel worse before you really start feeling better." A beat, "I can hear her squealing now." Ever fond of his mother, Rix knows the woman will be elated at the news of another grandchild on the way when she hears it. "And since you won't be able to ::between:: for the next half Turn or so, I'll make sure you're well stocked." He falls quiet when she starts to explain how she's feeling — from keeping the baby safe to how happy she is. Then, of course, the confession she makes about loving him. Kyara's hands are soft against his stubbled cheekbones and he slips his arms around her again, gazing down at her as he does. "I'm thinking your hormones are already on high, else you really are crazy for loving me." Blue eyes study her for a moment, "But, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel the same. You've put up with my bullshit for Turns and, yet, here you are." A beat, "Pregnant. With my baby." Rix's arms squeeze Kyara a little bit with another half smile as the realization starts to settle in — he's going to be a father again.

Kyara nods over R'xim's mention of the tea from Tillek, laughing softly at his mention of how his mother is likely to react. There's another deep breath as she's prompted to consider the things she won't be able to do as a dragonrider for the next half Turn or so, as he says, but she quickly moves on from it. She's done plenty of mulling over that today already. The smile she slants up at his first is of the cheeky variety, though it turns warm as he returns the sentiment. "I think you've called me something to that effect before. But I know what I'm about, Rix. Hormones or no," she counters wryly, gently stroking the hair at his temple. "Here I am. And I couldn't be happier." Her arms tighten around him in turn, her head coming to rest on his shoulder. After a moment, she notes, "I'd…probably better forgo the Benden you brought, though." A bit of chagrin there; she does love a good Benden red.

"You ain't seen hormones yet, my darling." R'xim says with a smirk following. Ah, the mood swings that are yet to pass! Kyara's head isn't resting on his shoulder for very long until he bends to pick her up into his arms, leaning in to kiss her neck and jawline and anywhere else he can make contact with her skin. "And don't worry about the bottle of Benden, it won't go to waste." That same smirk is still very much present as he carries her away from the entryway where a slight breeze from the Igen night air is felt — the draft feels good. And even though Rix doesn't drink much outside of special occasions anymore, this is as good as any excuse to open that bottle. "Here." Kyara is set down upon the bed. "Rest here while I take Shalnth's straps off. I think he's settled enough now." He thinks.

Kyara groans at that. She's observed enough of pregnancy hormones throughout her life to know they're there, rationally. But she certainly isn't looking forward to experiencing them herself! From what she can tell, proddiness has nothing on pregnancy. Then she's being caught up into R'xim's arms and kissed wherever he pleases, and she's quite done thinking about all of that, quite content to let his attentions melt any future concerns away. "I'm glad to hear it," she says of the wine. "Getting to have you is better than getting to have the Benden anyway." She comes out winning even if she can't have the alcohol, as far as she's concerned! She's more than happy to await his return on the bed, a smile lingering on her lips as she tries to get her swirling thoughts to settle now that she's told R'xim everything. Liareth is still excited, but quietly so. Perhaps that will help Shalnth's situation as well.

Liareth can tell Shalnth to jump and he'll ask how high, so if she's calm then he's calm. It doesn't take R'xim long to remove the bronze's straps, store them, and return to the weyr with the bottle in hand. If Kyara has some glasses lying around, he'll find one and take it (and the bottle) back with him to the bed after he's finished opening it. "And since you can't have this, you get that special infirmary tea." Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? His grin is wry as he goes to pour her another cupful from the batch she previously brewed on the hearth. "Don't worry, you'll get used to the taste over time." It may take some time getting used to but it does work at fending off morning sickness. And speaking of, "You might find that you're not just sick in the morning after waking up. Nausea can hit anytime, anywhere. 'Morning' sickness is just a myth." The tea is handed over to Kyara before he sits down on the edge of the bed to pour himself a hearty helping of wine in his glass. "So, I'll sleep on the other side of the bed from now on. That way, if you feel sick in the middle of the night, you have a straight to the ledge." Is he helping? Teasing? A little of both as he glances over at Kyara with that same (loving) smirk. Cheers!

Kyara does keep a small wine rack near the hearth, glasses hanging in easy view and reach just above it, so R'xim should have no trouble there. Though she doesn't feel she really needs any more tea just now, R'xim's warning that nausea could strike at any time has her accepting nevertheless. "It's not too bad," she says of the taste. "I guess it'll be replacing all but water for a while." Hopefully the nausea part just goes away after a time. A chuckle greets his last comment as she sips. "Afraid of getting caught in my line of fire?" she teases in turn, and sets her tea aside for the moment. "I can also keep a bucket nearby. But I do appreciate that." She may need just as quick a shot to the ledge for other reasons, after all. She reaches out to settle her hand on his knee, worrying at her lower lip slightly. "There's going to come a point when I'll need to move into a ground weyr, isn't there?" she asks, her mind jumping ahead again. "Not for a while, but…still."

Hey, the tea is there should Kyara need it. R'xim takes a swig of the wine and then lifts the glass to look at the liquid, assessing. Still tastes as good as ever. The glass is then lowered and he looks in the general direction of the ledge then pivots to look at his new spot on the bed. "I'd rather not get pummeled in the process. If it's one thing I've learned, it's to stay out of the damn way." Very few things in this life get to Rix, yet pregnant women seem to do the trick. And now that Kyara is pregnant, well. He'll just give her plenty of room on all accounts. When she brings up moving into a ground weyr, he nods after taking a swig from his glass. "Yeah. At about the seventh month you'll find that scaling Liareth's straps will be damn near impossible. So, staying in a ground weyr that's close to the infirmary is ideal. Not to mention that you'll be transferred into Mirage at some point, too." When her hand rests on his knee, he catches sight of her worrying and then collects her hand within his. "You aren't the first pregnant dragonrider and you won't be the last. Diem and Nasrin will take good care of you in Mirage, and I'll try not to drive you crazy the rest of the time." Kyara's hand is then lifted to his lips so he can brush a kiss against her knuckles.

Burnished brows hike at R'xim's reasoning, and Kyara smirks. "I haven't slapped you for anything so far," she points out. However, she's never had pregnancy hormones on any occasion that he might have thought called for it, either. There's another nod for mention of Mirage. So many conversations to be had tomorrow! Or over the next sevenday, as everyone's schedule allows. "I know. I do. It's just going to take me a bit to adjust to everything that has to change, that's all." More than "a bit," but she doesn't know that yet. Smiling at his last and the kiss to her hand, she sits forward. "There's good crazy and bad crazy. I'm sure I'll let you know it if there's too much of the latter, but feel free to do the former as much as you like," she invites, and gently touches her lips to his in punctuation, fingertips feathering against his cheek again. "You're being wonderful about this."

It's been a while since Rix has been slapped for saying something horrid and he'll chalk it up to the fact that he's calmed down since being with Kyara. And since he can't predict just how hormonal Kyara is going to be throughout her pregnancy, he'll just work at maintaining his streak of good fortune. "You might find this shocking," he says, pivoting on the bed so he can face Kyara now. "But, I've never had an issue being a father-to-be." The topic is a bit odd to be having with her given that he's already a father and has gone through a few pregnancies with other women in the past. Still, it is his past and he's never lied to Kyara about any of it. The experience given to him has prepared him for this. With her. Here and now. And for that, he's not sorry. "I might actually know a thing or two about what you're going through."

"I know," Kyara quickly answers R'xim's last, "and that's part of why I'm so glad to be doing this with you." He's been here, from his own unique angle, and she values that as she goes forward into her own uncharted territory. "It's not so shocking that you've never had an issue, considering you like kids. But…did the first time scare you a bit?"

R'xim thinks back to the first time a woman told him that she was pregnant, which has him wincing a bit at the memory. So he takes another swig of wine. "Yeah, I remember. I was young and I wasn't exactly involved. I remember checking in on her and every time she'd tell me things were okay, so I left well enough alone." And looking back at how those conversations went, he should have stuck around more than he did. He did, however, get better as he got older. "The actual delivery and birth stressed me out, though. I mean, when someone's in pain and you can't help them, it's a little nerve wracking. But the sight of the baby at the end of everything was," He considers that moment in his past, grinning. "Well worth the wait. Because that little person is something I helped create and that… always stuck with me. It's why I've grown to love the process." There it is — the truth. Words hardly uttered to another person on Pern. "They're me." Blue eyes flick down to Kyara's midsection and then back to her eyes. "It's us. I can see why couple have a lot of kids when they've found the right person."

Faranth, she does love to see R'xim grin. It might seem a little thing, but Kyara always finds herself grateful for getting to witness and hear the nuances of this man in her life. "Not looking forward to the pain part," she admits ruefully, "though what woman would?" Perhaps they might get to the point of not worrying about it, but looking forward to it? Unfathomable! She finds herself grinning in turn, laying her other hand upon her stomach thoughtfully. "A piece of each of us," she murmurs. "That… I think that's what strikes me so much about it, too. A little of you, a little of me, somehow becoming someone entirely new. It's amazing."

Truthfully? R'xim's not at all worried about Kyara's pregnancy. There will be plenty of ups and downs in the months ahead of them but it'll be a blip in their memories before they know it. It's expected that Kyara is as nervous as she is right now, and those nerves won't go away. If anything, they'll intensify at times and all he'll be able to do is be there to help ease her anxiety. "Half me, half you." The feeling between them is mutual on the matter and it really does sit well with him. "So." Rix leans over to put his glass down next to Kyara's tea. "What do you say we get some sleep. You've got a lot of people to track down tomorrow and I've sweeps at dawn." But judging by how he's pulling the greenrider close, he's not ready to fall asleep just yet. He might be content to just hold her close and kiss her jawline. And neck. And clavicle.

Nervous but content, fearful but hopeful - Kyara is deciding that she's just going to be a walking contradiction through this entire process. Yet she knows very well that between Liareth, R'xim, and her other loved ones, she's going to be just fine. R'xim's next suggestion is met with a sigh and a nod even as she's pulled closer, a smile curving her lips. "Sleep sounds good," she breathes, tilting her head to the passage of his kisses. "Eventually." She's not ready to fall asleep just yet, either. She's still too caught up in the rather perfect ending to this Turnday for that, and wrapping it all up with this, with him, only makes it all the sweeter.