As a dragon, I find this romantic as fuck AADIFTRAF

Matryoshka

...

The sound of the AC, the peacocks calling each other down in the garden, moms cold hands. Khanir held onto her as she lay in her bed, sick.

"Are those who I think they are?" She asked, finally opening her golden brown eyes. "I was gettin' worried. They're two days late."

"I was too. She's so young." Said Katra, staring Khanir down with her signature murder eyes. She was holding the egg that had Lance while Khanir held the egg that had Valkyon. "She needed a cut." (Cesarean)

"No wonder... She's so small. Too small." She sat up. "Give me."

Khanir gently handed her the spotless beige egg. The knitted blanket around it kept it warm, although dragon eggs are not that sensitive to cold. She took it. "This one. Tis is our newest Valkyon."

"But Tia wan'ed to name them something else."

"There's u'nother she can name, I refuse to die without knowin' the family tradition is continued. Your sister was s'posed to..... Obviously she can't... And surely you won't be havin' any more kits, it's surprisin' that you were even able to father these. They are the last chance... Katra, how old is she?" Her yellowish tan skin, the way it looks like it's about to fall off... Khanir is scared, he's not ready to lose his mom... And to be a father at the same time?

"She's 16."

"Hmm, too young. Poor thing. Khanir, what's the date?"

"Februáre 20th."

"Ah, so they have the same birthday as you... And you're 15." Khanir nodded. "What's the other un' named?"

"Lansegra." He said.

"Unusual name."

"She chose it."

"Is that bláv?" She handed Valkyon back to him and reached for Lance.

Katra stepped forth and gave her the egg. It looks the exact same. "Yes, segra is bláv. I donno what it means though. Lana means hunter in her dialec, I think." Khanir said.

"I see." She looked out the window, eyes staring into the endless sky. Her face suddenly turned blank and she tipped over, egg rolling out of her arms. Khanir caught Lance mid air, but he couldn't stop his mother from hitting her head on the edge of the nightstand.

"Valkyon!" Katra yelled, rushing to pull her back on the bed as Khanir checked his beloved kit for any cracks. "Valkyon wake up!" Khanir couldn't hear much from the pounding of his heart, but the heavy footsteps of the hospice Nurse rushed up the stairs of the condo and he immediately began looking for vital signs.

Bless his heart. That Nurse deserves a gold medal. He's watched this whole shit show go down right besides the family. What some people would give to be a fly on a wall, he doesn't need to. He was here nursing Khanirs great gramps when he was at the end of the line and coincidentally he was here as the family grieved the death of Khanir's sister. She was the Valkyon of that generation, but she was taken young. Only 8. A tragedy. This Nurse was here to guide Khanirs father into the end and that just happened to be at the same time as when they found what remained of Valkyon. He was here with them when they found who murdered her.

He's been here for a year now, helping his mother be comfortable as she's withering away.

He saw it all. He was here when his new Vattra was assigned to him, he was here when they kissed each other for the first time, he was here when Tia noticed how weird and sad she felt, he was here when she needed a doctor to turn to. He's always here, whenever someone needs him.

He heard her yell at him, heard fine china shatter, he stitched his busted lip up. He's seen everything play out, from the devastating news being told to the eventual acceptance. He was here to see Tia become eggbound two days ago. Valkyon wasn't wrong about her grandchildren being two days late, that's how long it took to get them out of her little body. She's been sleeping a lot lately, she must not have noticed.