[Hadyn's Apartment] Here We Are (Hadyn)

by **Orion Michaels** on December 15th, 2013, 2:15 am

Orion surprised even himself with how quickly he accepted her offer to sit. He’d been out of the city for about a dozen days, but it had felt an eternity longer. Being on a horse was quite different than being on a warm and comfortable bed; his body wasn’t going to let him argue or worry about any deeper meaning behind her offer. There wasn’t one. He was a tired man, and his droopy eyes did nothing to hide that fact.

He managed to crack a smile at her assessment of his appearance. She had the right of it. ”While you’re the godly visage of beauty, Hadyn,” he retorted, playfully nudging her with his shoulder as he settled in beside her. ”I haven’t even had time to get cleaned up. I’ve been out on the road for the last several days.” With a shrug and a sideways glance, Orion continued. ”Pardon the smell,” he said with a grin.

Syliras wasn’t exactly the greatest smelling of cities as it were; it was something he was usually numb to. Time spent outside the city always reminded him of just how true that was. A handful of days away from the musk would allow his senses time to remember what the world was supposed to smell like, even if he’d hardly had time to worry on his own hygiene.

”I couldn’t. I’m here for the child. Would seem a shame to come here and steal your bed instead,” he said, glancing over his shoulder to the crib. ”Liam Michaels Skellig. Poor kid’s got a bit of us both in that name. Hopefully he can take that first name and do something with it.” He turned his attention back to Hadyn, an uncertain gaze falling on her face. He’d heard that newborn mothers had a certain glow about them. Maybe he’d missed it, or maybe it was his presence that sapped it away. The hesitation was obvious in her actions. ”It’s early morning, first of the new season,” he replied, leaning down to place the mug at his feet. He hadn’t even remembered pouring his own.

”Is he..is he healthy? Any problems? No angry former lovers of mine tried to kill you or something, right?” Another grin as he tried to lighten the mood between them. Everything had been doom and gloom, arguing and yelling, and worst of all, crying. Emotions had been volatile, and at times it was difficult to tell who between them was the hormonal mess. His voice dropped low as he added an additional question.

”….What are we supposed to do now?”

They’d asked the question before. They’d screamed it, wailed it, bellowed it, but something was so very different when there was a little babe sitting in the room. They couldn’t just ignore the reality.

Right?

by **Hadyn Skellig** on December 16th, 2013, 3:58 am

"One of us should be," she replied coolly as he nudged her. The wonderful familiarity of their banter was both a relief and nuisance. There was something about the way they could talk to each other after all they'd been through - was it a sign of maturity or naivete? Hadyn wasn't about to pretend she understand their relationship, of a firm mind to move on with life, the idea of dwelling in the past imprudent. Glancing sidelong his way the woman took in his appearance more fully now the light was beside him. Even sitting beside her the man seemed uncertain despite his obvious exhaustion. Releasing a sigh as he apologized for the smell she took another sip.

"He's sleepin'," the woman reminded him with a glance to the crib. "And I'll have your head if you wake him. You know you're welcome to rest here. No doubt your patron will have you running leagues and fightin' wooden enemies come sunrise."

Hadyn smiled at him her expression indicative of the gentle teasing in her throaty voice. If they could hold onto this, if they could maintain this kind of interaction everything would be alright. They could wade through the stress of raising a child. He was conveniently absent from the most painful and harrowing part of the journey. Now they had to face the future. An eyebrow piqued at his following comment. Canting her head in agreement the brunette paused before giving her opinion.

"He will. Hope you're not beat up I didn't wait for you. Didn't want to leave the poor boy nameless."

She watched Orion set the mug down and sit back up. He looked so rigid. So uneasy sitting beside her. Frowning she made ready to remark upon it when he spoke again. Brown eyes found their son again, his quiet breaths almost inaudible. Shaking her head Hadyn returned her gaze to the boy's father.

"Healthy as can be, far as I'm told. Lungs like a bellow." She shared his grin and took another sip. "And no. No lovers come to lop my head off. Not yet, least."

Hadyn debated how much she ought to tell Orion about the birth? Did he actually want to know? Obviously both she and the baby were alive and he didn't seem overly concerned with her. Best to let him dictate the tone of their conversation. His final question caught her off guard, a sharp glance his way marked by raised brows. Wasn't that just the question of their lives? the woman's expression fell as her near empty mug settled in her lap.

"Keep on," she replied at length, her voice tentative at the start. Reaching a hand out she rested it lightly on his forearm, brown eyes searching for his blue. "Orion, it'll be alright. We've got a healthy son. Frankly, I'm thankful for it. And I'm thankful you're here. Truly." Hadyn sighed looking down at the space between them before speaking again.

"Y'know, we spent so much time pushin' each other back to the boundaries of what feels comfortable. I don't know about you but I'm weary of it. Although part of me wants to tell you you've seen the kid and you can go now it can't work like that. I don't want him to despise or dislike you because we can't be around each other without the threat of yellin'." The brunette paused to moisten her lips, allowing her expression to soften. "So we're not in love and pinin' for Cheva's mark. I don't give a petch. Liam," she indicated with a wave of a hand to the baby, "is our son. Our family. What do we do now? we love him. What else can we do?"

by **Orion Michaels** on January 25th, 2014, 4:30 pm

”You can have it,” he replied, eyebrows raised. ”These looks get me into enough trouble as it is. It’s better that I look like shyke for a while.” Maybe, after everything, they could pull it together and make it work somehow. Orion had established himself as the emotionally unstable one between the two, but the last time they’d met, there had been an almost step forward. Some hint of progression. She’d help take that first step past rock bottom, and he hadn’t exploded or fought her about it. That in itself was a miracle, considering their history of tumultuous shifts.

”Wake him? I’m scared to even touch him. You know, I’ve never held a baby, not once in my life?” He was the only child of his parents, no immediate family about to force any children into his life, and he’d never really learned anything about the care of infants. His father had never taught him, and he’d never bothered to learn. ”And you’ve got that right. Dinah is an unstoppable taskmaster. I expect no rest so I can be surprised when I actually get it. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, right?” He trailed off somewhat after he spoke, the saying applying all too well for them. Maybe that had been doing just that, but both of them were so petching incompetent that it turned out the way it had.

The squire would have liked to be there for his child’s birth, and been there for the naming. He’d missed it once already, and he’d missed yet another thanks to his obligations to the knights. He didn’t see another child in his future, if he had anything to say for it, so he couldn’t hide the whispers of regret that nipped at his features. ”No, it’s fine. He needed a name. I really appreciate you giving him my namesake. You didn’t have to do so. “ He smiled softly, the tension relaxing somewhat from his shoulders.

As she finished explaining what she thought they were to do, Orion waved his hands slowly across his body, as though he wanted to take back his question. ”no, no. You’re right. I know this, we’ve been over it about as many times as we could. It’s just too easy to fall back into hold habit. I’ve said we don’t need to recount this again and again, but it’s me who brings it up every time. You’ve tied your life to a fool, Hadyn.”After setting the mug down, he leaned back and let himself lie across the width of her bed while putting his hands behind his head to help prop him up.

”I don’t want the kid to hate me, and I really don’t want you to hate me either,” he said, the caution clear in his tone. He hesitated momentarily to continue speaking. He hated opening up, but on his patrol he’d come to a simple conclusion. He’d never be a part of this kids life without finding a way to at least trust Hadyn, if only a little. ”I’m forced to endure my daughter’s hate nearly every day. Her mother despised me, and no one could blame her. She transferred that anger into Emily.” He chuckled softly at the thought of it. Roxy had been so full of life when he'd met her, and then it was over. Wild energy turned into focused hate, and that might have been one of Orion's biggest regrets.

”I just hope Liam can grow up happy. Roxy and I messed up Emily quite bad. I’m counting on our combined stubbornness to make sure it doesn’t happen to him.”

by **Hadyn Skellig** on January 28th, 2014, 12:27 am

Hadyn found herself silent as he responded, whether it be from simple physical exhaustion or the inability to find the right words. The tension in Orion's body seemed to depart like the slow trickle of water, not entirely gone from his person but slipping casually away as he settled atop the mattress with her. It was unfamiliar for them to be in a state of rest in each others presence. Part of her welcomed it, the tediousness of their past given a reprieve. But another part gave way to uncertainty. Without the buffer of extreme emotions could they actually interact like this successfully? Hadyn didn't want to ruin the moment by remarking on it and she was too tired to detect any awkwardness. So she let it be.

"Even fools have their merits," she replied, only half serious, hanging her head to one shoulder to look at him sidelong, a grin on her pink lips. Lifting her head and leaning it back against the headboard the woman closed her eyes as he spoke again. These were foreign words he sent forth, the guarded tone not lost on her. He'd never seemed to care what she thought of him, much less whether she loathed him. Now he admitted he didn't want her to. Letting him continue the brunette opened her eyes, and drew up the strap of the grey shift that'd fallen down her arm before staring down at the empty mug nestled in her lap. His laughter sounded empty to her, giving cause that she turned to look at him, eyebrows raised a fraction to ascertain his sincerity. When Orion expressed his hope for their son her expression softened.

"He'll be happy," she assured him with another faint smile. "And Emily may grow to be happy too. Y'never know. She's young still. It's easier to let go of hate an' anger when you're a child - if you're given the opportunity." Hadyn paused, averting her gaze from the man before continuing. It wasn't like her to give advice or encouragement but they'd done enough of the bare minimum in this clusterpetch of a relationship. They were attempting to raise a child. She could at least give him something instead of sitting there nodding like an idiot. "Don't give up on her bein' happy around you. She'll come around. 'Haps she'll even take a liking to -"

Hadyn stopped mid-sentence as the bundle in the crib began to move, noises issuing from the darkness. Without pause she moved from the bed slowly and quietly, untangling her legs from the covers to sit at the edge of the mattress. Reaching into the abyss of the crib the woman reached for the softly mewling bundle, raising Liam in his swaddled glory to see him better in the light. Her back to Orion she put the baby to her shoulder, returning carefully to her previous position without the use of her hands. Resting her back against the headboard she raised her legs carefully onto the bed, feet digging under the covers against the chill. Held against her right shoulder in view of his father Liam pressed his cheek to the bare skin of Hadyn's collarbone, blue eyes lazily opening to stare at the man. One hand on his dark fringe of hair the mother released a slow sigh, turning to look at the squire over the baby's head.

"I think he must wake up sometimes thinkin' he's alone," she explained in a whisper. "He makes those noises until I pick him up."

Hadyn realized in that moment this was the first time Liam and Orion would see each other. Shifting the baby gently against her chest the woman brushed back the blanket to expose his head. With the freedom to move unhindered the boy twisted his neck a bit further to stare with a languid gaze at his father, mouth parted as if ready to speak, fingers flexing and extending against his mother's arm. Hadyn waited patiently for Orion to react, unsure how he might respond to the boy but giving him time to grow accustomed to having his flesh and blood son so close.

by **Orion Michaels** on February 2nd, 2014, 5:57 am

”Some more than others, right?” He closed his eyes, taking in a slow, deep breath to keep his nerves centered and voice even. For the first time in a long time he felt like they could actually interact, but a very real fear at ate him, one that screamed that he was going to mess it up. Gods, he was trying to do better, but he’d been so very selfish for many, many years. A change in one night there could not be.

”I’ve certainly got a knack for creating awkwardness between us, haven’t I?” He grinned widely, his tone bright. There was no self-pity in his words, only a statement of fact. In their last few encounters he’d been the one doing the talking, a complete reversal of how he’d been in past. He wasn’t sure how to say anything to her, and he’d gotten into the habit of blurting out things that were on his mind, bubbling near the surface but never surfacing until recently.

Surprisingly reassuring words came forth, helping him release the bit of tension he was still holding onto. He didn’t know if they could hold onto this, whatever this was, but if they could, they might have a shot. Maybe he could finally relax, if for a moment. It seemed so impossible, this moment of serenity.

That’s why his heart nearly jumped from his chest when Liam began to make noises, leaving the two parents with extremely different actions. Orion’s eyes widened as he turned to simply stare into the darkness at where he was. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do, but thankfully Hadyn didn’t need him to. Whether it was something that she’d learned growing up, or something natural to being a mother, it left the adult squire in awe at how suddenly she reacted.

The tiny human peeked over his mother’s shoulder, eerily similar blue eyes falling on his. Orion was left speechless as his son stared at him, a feeling crawling over him he’d never expected to feel. He’d never got to experience it with Emily, or rather, his own selfishness left him running from that opportunity. His gaze shifted from Hadyn, back to Liam, back to her, and repeated this several more times as he struggled with what to do.

He knew she was unsure of what to expect from him. It was expected; he hadn’t presented himself as anything but volatile.

Not this time.

Orion awkwardly extended his arms, palms up and arms close together, a sheepish grin spreading as he gave her a nod. ”Can I hold him?”

by **Hadyn Skellig** on February 2nd, 2014, 1:49 pm

"Of course," she murmured with a surprised if not relieved smile crossing her lips as Orion imparted his wish, arms extended to accept the baby. Shifting Liam across her shoulder the woman carefully lowered him, depositing the bundle of infant and blue swaddling in his father's arms. Once the transaction was made she reached forward with newly free hands and began rearranging the covers about her legs against the chilly draft. Scooting closer to the squire until their hips touched she leaned back again, tilting her head to the side to look at their son.

Liam, for his part, was captivated. Long moments of staring between himself and his father resulted in a definitive smile displaying pink toothless gums. A squeak came forth from his tiny mouth as his arms made a single cut through the air, wriggling his entire body until he settled quietly. The smile did not fade as he stared, bringing a tiny fist to his mouth to chew on while he pondered this new face.

Hadyn for her part breathed a quiet sigh of relief. The baby not only avoided crying but had actually smiled for his father. This was a good sign if ever she'd seen one. Reaching gently across Orion's body she brushed the blanket from where it had settled halfway across Liam's face during the exchange. Leaning her shoulder against the squire's the woman retracted her hand, resting it across her waist as she watched their son.

There was no attempt to hide the radiant smile as she allowed the two to become acquainted. After the unpleasant business of giving birth and the havoc it'd wreaked on her body it was incredibly pleasant to have another person so close. Far be it for her to admit it but her actions would hopefully do the talking she was loathe to. Resting against the pillow her gaze still on Liam the brunette chanced a thought.

"He besotted with you," she whispered with a grin. "Like so many others."

by **Orion Michaels** on February 2nd, 2014, 7:42 pm

No hesitation on her part? Now that had surprised Orion. She was a newborn mother, the child no older than a whisper in eternity, and she was readily giving the boy into the arms of a man who had no clue how to properly hold a babe. Thankfully, Hadyn did all the work, an admittedly unfortunate reality of their relationship. It didn’t take much work for Orion to figure out how to hold Liam when she’d adjusted him and made his blanket all proper to protect him from the elements. Orion’s left bicep supported the child’s head as the rest of his arm and the other one held him tightly against his chest, supporting the entirety of the newborn’s body.

Orion’s eyes widened at the squeak, looking at Hadyn with some modicum of concern. When she adjusted the blanket once more and smiled fully, relief found him and he could look down at his son without any worry. ”..Hi, there, Liam,” he said, finally, whispering down to the little human he held. ”I’m your dad. I’m your dad,” he said, repeating it as though he was surprised to hear those words coming from himself. Even with Emily being in the picture, she’d never cooperated when he informed her of that. Liam, however, was a clean slate, with two people that weren’t nearly as bad as they would make themselves out to be starting him on his path to life.

”Can’t blame the little tyke. I’m so handsome it hurts sometimes,” he quipped, tossing a sideways glance Hadyn’s way before focusing back on their child. ”I fear this boy will have to carry on that curse. You going to break hearts, Liam?” Liam continued to stare up at his father in wonderment. So few people had he seen in his short time on Mizahar, and the features he presented were so very much different than anyone he’d seen. For Orion, it was like staring into his very own eyes, only in them existed a purity he’d thrown away a long time ago. ”I’ll protect that,” he said of the innocence, not explaining his thoughts aloud. Emily’s had been stolen from her, thanks to a stupid father and an angry mother.

If Orion could prevent it, Liam would know no such sadness.

He softly ran his thumb against the blanket covering his son, looking over to Hadyn with a tired smile. ”You can catch some rest, if you’d like. I’m just going to sit here with Liam for a bit.” He nodded to reassure he was truly fine with what he was saying. ”We both know the knights are going to keep me away for far too long as it is. Rest, if for a moment.”

by **Hadyn Skellig** on February 3rd, 2014, 6:06 pm

Hadyn smiled watching the pair. Almost every moment of the last day or so had been consumed with simply staring at the newborn, completely enchanted by the tiny human she'd created with Orion. It was beyond anything she was able to understand - much less articulate. And now to see the man faced with the same wonderment and incredulity gazing at his son was immensely pleasing. All the uneasiness and concern over saying the "right thing" vanished as the parents sat together with their child for the first time. There was no awkwardness, no need to distance herself from the squire. They may never actually love each other but if this was as good as it would get Hadyn couldn't complain.

The woman allowed him time to simply be with the baby. She needed that more often than she could keep track of. Although he spoke his attention was consumed by Liam and the brunette merely smiled, aware of how easy it was to lose time simply watching the infant. When he offered for her to rest Hadyn considered it for a moment before nodding. Settling beside him, one arm bent beneath her head, the other resting on Orion's arm she kept her eyes open for a few moments. It was nice, she decided, to enjoy the warmth of another body beside hers after so many nights alone.

"Thank you. If he starts getting fussy I'll wake to feed him," she assured the squire, her voice quieting with each moment as her eyes slid closed. Sleep was precious now and with Liam in his father's care Hadyn could hardly ignore an offer to rest. "I'm glad you're here," she murmured faintly.

by **Radiant** on March 2nd, 2014, 6:56 pm

Orion :

Hadyn :

Notes :

My radiance is not bright enough?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, beam me a PM and we can work it out.

Skill	XP Earned
Socialization	+5 XP

Skill	XP Earned
Socialization	+5 XP
Observation	+3 XP
Rhetoric	+2 XP

Completed [Hadyn's Apartment] Here We Are (Hadyn)