Disclaimer: I do not own Anne McCaffrey's Dragon Riders of Pern (DRoP) series. Most of the characters in this story are mine, although some have been borrowed from Southern Realms: Kahiko Weyr with the permission of the members AND the BoD there.

The main character Jayen and her two siblings are my own creations and are also my characters at the Kahiko Weyr. Blue Rider Valkyrie is an NPC/Adoptable Weyrling at Kahiko Weyr, but has been promoted to Full Rider/Search Rider status for this fan-fic, and Bronze Rider D'haran, another Weyrling at Kahiko Weyr, has also been promoted to Full Rider status.

I thank my first two reviewers, Swift and cathrl. I have sent my reply to cathrl regarding her review, and I shall put all of my replies to reviews at the end of the fic once it is finished.

Clear skies! Jenna-Jayen.

Chapter 3: Reunited

In the three seven-days since she had arrived back home at the Weyr Jayen had buried herself so fully in her new duties that she didn't pay attention when the first batch of candidates came in.

So it wasn't until the evening meal, when the Headwoman asked her to serve out the herd Beast Stew, that she was reunited with her brother and Daellin.

She heard their voices first, and looked up in shock, not believing what her eyes were showing her. "Jayce!" She cried once she'd gathered her wits about her, and walked out from behind the stew pot. "What are you guys doing here?"

Her brother, hearing his name and her question being called out, looked around, trying to find which direction it had come from. His eyes alighted on her face near the stew pot and a grin nearly split his face in two. "Jay! Shards, we've been looking for you everywhere so we can tell you the news!" Daellin nodded his agreement, he was grinning too, and the two young men quickly walked over to her.

"What news?" Jayen asked them, looking first at Jaycen and then at Daellin for an answer.

"We were searched Jay!" Daellin burst out. His grin was getting wider. "Me, Jayce, Jaddie, and two of my brothers. We were all searched just this morning!"

Jayen was happy for them, and she told them so. "Shards, that the best news I've heard since I got here!" She exclaimed. "Have you and Jaddie told Ma and Da yet Jayce?"

Her brother nodded, still grinning widely. "Yep. But shells am I famished! Any chance you could give us some of that stew? It smells divine."

Jayen smiled at her twin and nodded, moving back behind the stew pot to get a pair of bowls. She ladled generous amounts of the thick stew into the bowls and handed one to each of the young men.

"I'll see you later Jay. Da wants to have a chat to all the candidates once we're all seated." He grinned once more and motioned for Daellin to join him, shrugging and walking away when the other young man declined to go just yet.

Jayen smiled up at him. "I'm really happy for you Daellin. I really am."

Daellin blushed. "Thanks Jay." He looked into her eyes. "I've missed you. It hasn't been the same since you left…" he trailed off and looked down at his feet after putting his bowl of stew on a bench nearby.

"I've missed you too Daellin. There hasn't been a single day when I haven't thought about you. And now you're here!" She walked around the stew pot again and hugged him tightly.

Daellin returned her embrace with all his pent up love, and kissed her.

They were interrupted by an obscenity and the words "Excuse me, kids." One of the blue riders was glaring at them, and they drew apart reluctantly.

"Sorry to burst your happy little bubble, but some of us are famished and have been on Search all day." The blue rider pouted unhappily.

Jayen apologised to the blue rider and quickly ladled some stew into a large bowl. "Sorry Valkyrie." She apologised again, blushing.

"Hey, don't mention it. I remember being young and in love once, kid. Reunions are special in their own way, sorry to break yours up, but he'll be here for quite a while, methinks." Valkyrie grinned at the two young lovers and raked a hand through her short black hair. "Good luck at the hatching, kiddo." She said to Daellin and walked over to her own table to sit with the other Search Riders. Daellin's older brother, D'haran, a bronze rider, was sitting at the Search Riders table collecting Marks as bets were placed on which candidate would impress which colour dragon.

"I'd better get to the candidate table Jay, or your Da will have my guts for your mother new Garters." His eyes sparkled with mirth and he grinned apologetically, leaned over the stew pot and kissed her softly before walking off.

The rest of the evening was a blur to Jayen, and she was glad to fall into her own bed sometime after midnight and sleep.

She dreamed happy dreams about her Daellin that night.