Chapter 13: A Surpise

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The rest of the day passed relatively uneventfully. The twins avoided both Rofin and Sophie, for which he was profoundly gratefully. Lunch was a cold buffet laid out in the kitchen - Filan had found that she urgently needed to do some shopping and took Huda with her; and Rotalin was busy with his accounts. His position was something like a governor, a remnant from the days of the humans, that the Rifans had adopted as their own. But he was retired now, and although he served in an advisory capacity, he was able to work from home many days. Lisk occasionally popped up, but mostly occupied herself. Talin took advantage of the break to nap.

Late in the afternoon, Rofin's father called him in. Leaving Sophia in the gardens, he entered.

"Father."

"Son." He answered shortly. "I need to talk to you. What are your intentions? How do you plan to deal with your situation?"

Never one to beat around the bush, thought Rofin. Aloud, he answered, "Sir, I intend to present our case to the Council, and petition that more thorough testing be done of the harac to see if they are at last compatible."

His father harrumphed. "You need backing. More than I can provide. I took the liberty of preparing several letters for you," he laid them on the desk, "to signac Kol, to grifan Haltic, and ..."

He pulled one last envelope. "This to the Council Master himself. I called in all the favors I could. He knows the laws as well as you. Be prepared for him to find every possible loophole. What if the girl miscarries?"

Rofin was stunned. Here he thought his father disapproved, and yet he was doing everything possible to help them!

"I considered that, Father, I intend to wait until she is farther along, closer to her due date, when her condition is undeniable, and ultrasounds will show more. She has just passed her third month, I believe the time of the most danger is past. They take longer, about nine months."

Rotalin nodded. "Well done. Send these letters in one month. I have left the date blank. Son, I -" The older man paused, "I wish you well. You have never looked so happy as with that female. Don't lose it. And bring them here when it is born, your mother will come around."

"Thank you, Father."

"You are leaving tonight?"

"Yes. I'll wait for Mother to return, and then we want to get back to the city."

A few hours later Filan and Huda returned. Sophia had already packed their few things, and waited with Rofin to say their farewells. Again, she was mostly ignored, until, as they turned to leave, Filan thrust a small package at her. "Sweet drops." She said, hurriedly, "For the nausea. I always suffered it."

Touched by the unexpected gift, Sophie smiled and gratefully thanked her.

"It is nothing. But you cannot be sickly yourself if you expect to have a healthy child. Now go, both of you. Get going before dark."

Sophie blinked back a sudden welling of tears, "Yes, thank you."

Grabbing Rofin's hand she left with him.

~~~~~~~~

Whew. I think that visit took more out of me than it did them! ;)

Any suggestions for where to go next? I'm open.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a76/TaliaG/WattPad/NARUTO.600.1375387_zpswfug4c85.jpg

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