A/N: A very short chapter… but the next one will make up for it ;o)
Chapter 6 – Hearts
Finding Linka alone in the common room, working on her laptop, Kwame asked if he could join her.
"Of course." she replied with a smile, though he noticed it didn't reach her eyes.
The African looked over his friends shoulder, "What are you working on?"
Linka looked a little embarrassed, ''It is a conservation project in the United Kingdom. They are looking for people to help them campaign and plant trees and things."
Her friend looked surprised, picking up on what she hadn't said, ''Are you thinking of joining them?"
The Russian couldn't meet his eyes, "I was thinking about it, da. For a little while... when the baby comes."
This was the closest she had come to confessing her feelings and Kwame was worried about saying the wrong thing and shutting her down again. "That is understandable my friend, but, you will have to come back eventually, and the baby will still be here."
The wind planeteer nodded, "Da but... the fuss will be over with, I..."
She looks so lost, Kwame thought, his temper quickening as it had done so often lately. "This is not fair on you or Trish, I can't believe Wheeler has been so irresponsible about this, I thought he'd grown up."
"He has, he just was not expecting this." Linka looked away. "He obviously still has feelings for her and when he sees the baby for the first time, he and Trish will work things out."
Kwame laughed softly, an odd look in his eyes as he mused, That's what she said about you! Then added out loud, "He really doesn't deserve either of you! Trish says there is nothing between them, I don't know if that will change but I have a feeling it wont, he's making it pretty clear he's not interested in her."
Linka smiled sadly, "But the baby will bring them together again, you will see."
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea, it's not fair on her if he doesn't love her." The African asserted. "Perhaps they should just call it a day and move on, like she said, there is no reason he can't be a part of the baby's life."
The Russian now looked more closely at her companion, Oh Kwame! She thought, distressed. "Kwame," she shook her head, "What they have will always be there and the baby will be a constant reminder, it would be a very bad idea to get in the way of that." She looked away again. "Besides, if he didn't love her why would he… he's not like that, he wouldn't use someone like that!"
"Are you sure?" Kwame asked.
"Da!" Linka said sharply, then closed her eyes and sighed. "Perhaps you should come with me to the UK."
The Earth planeteer swallowed hard, "No. Thank you my friend, but I need to know that she will be looked after." Then he wet his lips nervously, "Maybe I will join you later, once things are more settled... and if you are right about them."
The beautiful Russian nodded, not trusting her voice.
Kwame got up to leave, "I must go, I promised to take Trish to an art gallery, they have agreed to exhibit some of her work and she wants to oversee it."
Linka nodded again and watched the earth planeteer sadly as he departed, sympathy shinning in her eyes along with her own unshed tears.