Cleaning Up After The Ancients - Chapter 167

Chapter 167 - Interlude - Teyla’s Day Part 3

Thankfully their trek from Atlantis to the mainland had resulted in them gaining several additional hours of daylight. So it was only just approaching mid day there by the time the settlement came into sight.

At her instructions John had set the jumper down near Charin’s yurt. Which was technically her own, but the length she tended to be gone had made delegating it to the woman who raised her a preferable thought then leaving it empty.

Ducking through the partially open flap, a smile found its way onto her face as she noticed Charin hard at work over by the small cooking table that had been the only survivor of her first rather disastrous attempt at making turtleroot soup.

Looking up from the grinding stone she was using to crush a mix of dried peppers, a brilliant smile came over Charin's face. “Teyla! You're back!” Her smile turned impish. “I was beginning to wonder if you had run off with that military man of yours.”

“Only for a short time.” Teyla returned as she walked over to give the older woman a hug.

Charin straightened up and returned it. “It is good you took some time for yourself at least.” She motioned to one of the stools. “Come, have a seat, I will warm some tea and we can talk about just what has you looking like that time I caught you and Tanar sneaking back from the hot springs without your pants.”

A familiar pang of guilt washed over Teyla at the words, and she moved to sit as the older woman began her task.

It took several minutes for the water to boil, and they filled it with small talk about the few minor happenings that had occurred in the time that she had been gone. Finally, the metal kettle began to bubble and Charin poured the steaming water into the clay teapot.

Soon enough, a cup of steaming tea was set down in front of Teyla, and the older woman moved to settle onto the stool across from her.

“So what is it my dear?” Charin asked as she finished pouring her own cup.

Taking a breath to steady her nerves, Teyla fidgeted a bit with her hands before clenching them into fists to steel herself for what she was about to admit. “It seems I am pregnant.”

Charin’s eyes lit up, and she reached over to clasp Teyla's hands with her own. “Teyla, that's wonderful. Was it with that Sheppard, or did someone else catch your eye?”

“It was indeed with John.” Teyla confirmed with a somewhat weak smile.

Releasing Teyla’s hands, Charin eyed the younger woman for several seconds before a mild frown found its way onto her face. “Then why do you continue to look so guilty?” Her eyes narrowed. “He did not promise you things and then fail to follow through, did he?”

“John has been nothing but respectful.” Teyla put forward before Charin could get the wrong idea. “Sometimes too much, though thankfully we have worked that out now.”

“Ah,” Charin murmured in understanding as a mirthful light seemed to twinkle in her eyes. “One of those types. I am surprised you were able to make him give in so quickly.”

“There was some very strong alcohol involved.” Teyla confessed before giving an acknowledging tilt of her head. “That both of us drank.”

“Ha!” Charin laughed. “I hope he was not too disappointing given the length your chase went on.”

Teyla's lips twitched slightly as she fought back an awkward giggle. “I am sorry to say neither of us were at our best. Though thankfully things improved significantly in later encounters.”

“That is certainly good to hear.” Charin smiled. “In my experience nothing tends to cause wandering quicker than a lack of satisfaction in the bedroll.”

Her look morphed into a chiding frown. “Do not think though that I have not noticed you dancing around whatever it is that has you feeling so guilty.”

Teyla winced, taking a moment to check the temperature of her tea before letting out a sigh. “I have yet to inform John of my pregnancy.”

Charin gave a noncommittal hum. “And for what reason have you not?”

Two answers momentarily warred between themselves in Teyla's mind. But while the temptation was there to give Charin the same answer Teyla had been repeating since she found out. It was past time she confronted the truth, because if anyone could understand it would be the woman who raised her.

“I do not wish John to stay with me out of obligation.” 

“Oh my dear.” Charin's eyes softened. “He has seized your heart quite badly.”

A surge of defensiveness flashed across Teyla’s mind at the suggestion, however Charin knew her better then any other. So she let out a breath and took a sip of her still slightly too hot tea as she worked out how to explain in a way that wouldn’t leave her sounding like a young girl with a teenaged crush.

“He continues to be everything I saw in him on the day our people first met.”

“Which was a heroic figure swooping in on an ancient chariot to save us from the Wraith.” Charin pointed out as she stared knowingly into Teyla’s eyes.

“Which was a leader of firm morals and kind heart who is valued by his people.” Teyla attempted to correct, well aware her words weren’t actually disagreeing with Charin’s own.

Giving another hum, Charin took a sip of her tea and waited several seconds for Teyla to follow suit. “If you wish me to contact Weir to begin negotiating groom price, you need only ask.”

Teyla nearly choked, turning an unamused glare on the other woman. “That is not funny.”

“Was it not?” Charin raised an eyebrow in challenge. “It is not our way that marriage must follow pregnancy. And from your words it is not his people’s either. And while I applaud your wish to discover whether his feelings reach the same depth as your own. A pregnancy is not something one can hide for any realistic length of time.”

Her eyes flicked down to Teyla’s abdomen. “Given your own awareness of it, you must have what, a month, maybe two at best before you begin showing in ways that will be impossible to hide?”

That made Teyla grimace. “The human doctors were able to detect it early, I am only around a month along… With twins.”

A look of surprise flashed over Charin’s face before she gave a bemused shake of her head. “So a little over a month then unless you have not been keeping up with your physical training.”

“That seems a bit… Soon?” Teyla offered, fidgeting with her teacup to try and leach away the sudden nervousness.

An odd look flashed over Charin’s face before settling into a comforting smile. “I take it this knowledge is new?”

“I only learned that it was twins a few hours ago.” Teyla reluctantly admitted.

Charin nodded as if that confirmed what she had been thinking. “Twins take up more space, my dear.”

For a brief moment Teyla felt very stupid for forgetting something so simple, but with everything else on her mind she supposed it was something she could excuse just this once. “I should tell him today.”

“Yes.” Charin agreed.

“After dinner then.” Teyla said, desperately wishing she could have a drink of something to steady her nerves for what was about to come.

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Author’s Notes: Well, it looks like I’m going to need one more chapter to finish this part up. I wanted to get to the confession today, but Teyla’s conversation with Charin kind of spiraled. But hey, at leas that means you get an extra large one for chapter 168.