[Flayme]

"Ky? I'm right here." Nym shifted a bit at the sound of his name, and then blinked his eyes open. Entering the cave earlier to find Ky still somewhere else, and having left Ivan behind at the hot spring, Nym had settled himself down in the nesting cave alone for the night. Now at Ky's arrival he was groggily trying to figure out where the forest dragon had been, and why there wasn't any light filtering through the door when it had opened... "Oh-" Nym said aloud as he realized that night had truly fallen by now. He suddenly felt sheepish that it had taken his sleepy brain to process that.

"It's cold out there." Nym commented, and then hoisted himself up into a sitting position. He leaned forward a bit to prop one elbow on his knee and then drop his chin into his hand. He glanced around quickly and almost asked if Ivan was back yet, he wasn't, and Nym kept his mouth shut. He wasn't about to say anything about Ivan and cause for ruffled feathers the water dragon didn't need. "C'mere." Nym motioned at Ky to get in the nest. "You should sleep."

-----------------

"Sean? Ah, there you are, you finally answered." Addie smiled as she heard the line pick up. She was currently speeding probably ten miles over and had her phone wedged between her shoulder and her chin. "What'cha up to?"

"I finally answered?" Sean sounded incredulous on the other end of the line. "Mom and Dad have been calling you nonstop, I've tried calling nine times, where even are you?"

"I'm going to see Nym, stupid." Addie rolled her eyes and then glanced back to the road, hands tight on the wheel. "I figured that you would have put that  together by now. I'm sure dad's screaming about it."

"What?- Addie, it takes like nine hours to get down there, can you just tell me where you are?" Sean sighed. Why his sister had to be a crazy imbecile all the time, he didn't know. He didn't even know what she was so worked up about, the last he had heard about Nym was that he was settling into his enclosure nicely... At least that's what he had been told. There wasn't any reason to doubt it. "Addie, you're freaking out over nothing-"

"Sh- No I'm not. It's only going to have taken me seven hours to get down there by the time I'm done driving... Especially in the Lexus-"

"Addie, you have the Lexus?" Sean nearly choked. "Dad is going to kill you."

"Tell dad to bite me." Addie singsonged. "Or you can do it in proxy for him once you get here... I know mom and dad are going to make you come and get me." She sighed. Like that would ever work.

"How do you know that?-"

"Because I know mom and dad, and I know you." Addie cut off her brother mid-sentence. "So I'll see you in a bit. I think I have just about an hour and a half left before I get there. How far is your school, like four hours from here?"

"I could tell you, if you'd tell me where the hell you are, Addison." Sean was practically growling now.  "Come on-"

"Bye Sean!" Addie's tone turned sticky sweet. "See you later!" With that she smugly dropped her phone to her lap and set it aside. Sean wasn't going to intimidate her. She'd figured out how to handle him long ago.

-------------------

"Oh dear god." Han muttered almost inaudibly, and then attempted to brush Niza's hand off of his shoulder. He wasn't about to let himself get flustered. Not over some dragon, and not in front of Reva. And he wasn't old... He was thirty-seven. "Ahem- Uh, we can escort her, sure... Honestly, I'd rather not bother with Vance, the man rubs me the wrong way." Really everybody usually rubbed Han the wrong way, but he wasn't about to mention that.

"We can take you in one of the trucks out front." Han patted himself down. He knew he had keys somewhere. The last time he had escorted a dragon to an enclosure it had been Fiske's pain in the ass tundra dragon, who had been supposed to be 'tame', but Han had been snapped at twice. Maybe it wasn't such a huge surprise that Nym had bitten that handler. "If you'd be so kind as to follow me." He gestured at Niza and Reva. "We'll get you down to Avalon, ASAP."

[labprotocol]

Ky shut the door and rushed over to Nym, crawling into the nest. He held Nym from behind, practically hiding his face in Nym's neck. He wrapped an arm around Nym's waist and pressed his palm against the warm flesh. He wasn't sure what had gotten over him. He just needed something. "How are you doing?" he asked, curling himself around Nym, trying to mesh them together. "How are the kits?" he rubbed Nym's belly in gentle strokes. "Does your back hurt? Feet swollen? Would you like a massage?" he rushed on. He'd do anything to make Nym feel comfortable, to feel loved, to want to stay. Anything to convince Nym to stay. Ky rubbed his face against Nym's neck, practically purring. There was a deep ache inside him, pulsing with some unnamed fear. Something about Nym, about Nym leav... no nothing was wrong. Everything was going to be fine. "I love you," he whispered.

[Poppy]

Niza giggled and laced her fingers with Han's briefly as she attempted to push her hand away. "You two are talking like I'm not here," she said, rolling her eyes as Han gestured for her to follow them. "How long's the ride? Maybe I can show you how to do something with your hair Reva. My mom used to braid mine all pretty, a waterfall braid as I've come to learn it." She smiled widely. "Your hair would be so perfect for that, and then you can show off to all your scientist friends." Niza looked between Han and Reva for a moment, contemplating.

"Are you two a thing?" she asked curiously. Not that she thought they were, they looked to be simply coworkers, but she was nosy and like hell if she wouldn't try to get something going. "Why are you guys trying to be so professional around me? C'mon, just talk real with me." She huffed. "I'm trying to get to know you two. You seem lovely excluding the fact that you work here. I'm telling you, put on a little makeup, Han get a nice lady friend... You'd have way more interesting jobs than watching a bunch of dragons fuck each other."

Blunt, maybe, but Niza liked to speak the truth. No sugarcoating here.

---------------

"I can be a princess if I like!" Ceral said, putting his nose up but not too long before he dug right back into the chicken. "Ew, don't I taste like chicken?" he snorted as Ivy licked at his lip. He nodded at her next comment. "I am a skilled hunter. Very skilled, totally. Even with this-" Ceral pat at his abdomen. Sure, he'd gotten bigger, but he didn't think that he was too big that it would hinder him if he decided to go out and hunt within the next few weeks. Or so he hoped. He wasn't going to jinx himself, no thinking about it until it came. It was a process.

"Oh no, you can't do that. I'm my own person." Ceral smirked and stood, twisting to shuffle next to the entrance to the cave their nest was in. "Ahh, look... I'm leaving-" Ceral clicked his tongue, having set the chicken down on the ground. "I've been getting rest. Kind of."

[labprotocol]

"Oh no you don't," Ivy said standing up and picking Ceral up bridle style. "I haven't seen you all day. You've been gallivanting off with Nym and now it's my turn. You're mine." She grinned, nuzzling his curls. She sank back into the nest with him on her lap. "I caught you fair and square."

She wrapped an arm around his large waist to keep him from escaping and touched one of the lumps. "Oh! You can feel them now." She squeaked excited. "This one is ...Nivana and this one," she moved her hand over his tummy "is..."

[Poppy]

"Nym is a cool guy," Ceral raved, squirming a little in Ivy's hold as they eventually sat down again. He could already feel himself getting restless, but he'd try to stay idle in the cave as long as he could, for Ivy's peace of mind. He knew now was the time to be getting outside though. If his sickness continued, he was well aware being out and about wouldn't be an option down the road.

"Yeah they're gross and lumpy." Ceral gave a mock groan and watched as Ivy pointed one out. "Grizzly Bear!" Ceral exclaimed, poking at the place where Ivy had her hand over. "Because I think that one will be strong and cool... like a grizzly bear." He laughed and wiggled some against Ivy. "I wonder how big they'll get. Like I don't know about cave dragon eggs. They could be small or huge." He hummed thoughtfully. "Names will have to be made for all... however many of them."

[Flayme]

"Whoa-" Nym was taken slightly off guard as Ky virtually leapt into the nest and wrapped his arms around him. "Hey- I'm fine." He chuckled. He couldn't remember the last time Ky had been this... Touchy with him... Not that he was complaining, Nym was aware that he himself, wasn't the most snuggly of beings. He was usually rather independent, and Ivan usually seemed to fill Ky's need for contact, but, right now he was reveling in the fact that Ky wanted to be sidled up to him. He giggled again as the forest dragon just started rapid firing questions at him again. In truth Nym had been a little sore earlier, but he felt like he was doing better now. "Really Ky, I'm alright. So are the kits." He said softly and then snaked one hand down to meet Ky's briefly at his middle, only to bring it back up again a moment later to pull his fingers absently through Ky's russet hair. He smiled a bit as he realized that Ky's hair seemed to be a little shaggier than when he'd first met him. Or maybe that was just his imagination-

"What?" Nym suddenly took a sharp inhale, and froze at the last three words that Ky whispered into his ear. Three little words had his heart pumping like crazy, but his blood running cold all at the same time. "Ky..." He pulled back slightly so he could look Ky in the face. "Ky, do you mean that?" He asked breathlessly. He hoped he did.

------------------------

"Right, to the truck then." Han shook his fingers away from Niza and then almost choked on his own spit. Together? Were he and Reva a thing? Of course not. He gave a sharp glance to Niza and then kept walking. "I don't think the relationship status for either of us is any of your concern." Han was mortified to feel himself blushing like mad. It only got worse as the dragon kept talking. Lady friend? Other jobs?

"Look, our job is to provide you with a comfortable place to stay." Han clipped each word as they made their way out to the truck, or the van, whatever the hell it was. "I assure you that both of our lives are going just swimmingly." He forced a smile and then gave a look of exasperation to Reva. This is was why he didn't like escorting dragons anywhere. They all seemed to be smart-mouthed and too nosy for their own good.

"Here we are." Han shoved through the exit of the lab and led the other two to a truck, yes, it was indeed a truck, not a van. He motion to the back cab. "Nizhoni, if you would..." He glanced her up and down. It didn't look like she was going to be be any trouble, but he was ready bind her if he had to. "Reva if you'd take the passenger side... I suppose I'm driving. Avalon isn't very far at all. Perhaps a twenty minute drive."

[labprotocol]

Ivy giggled. "Yes, Grizzly Bear, our little warrior." She grinned and let Ceral go. "We'll name them all together okay. After your ultrasound." She un-twinned herself and stood up, holding out a hand. "Okay I can tell you're getting antsy. We can on go outside, but you own me kisses. Lots of kisses, for ditching me earlier." She fake pouted, sticking her lips out.

---------

Ky blinked at Nym. What did he mean did he mean that? Of course he meant that. "Yeah," he said leaning his head into Nym's touch. "You're my mate. You're Nym. Of course I love you." He said it matter of fact, so confused that Nym would even question it. He moved his head away and cupped Nym's face, turning him so they were face to face. He smiled and gave Nym a light peck on the lips. "I love you," he said, green eyes sparkling before he simply let his hand drop and said, "Hey, lean forward I want to massage your shoulders."

---------

Reva blushed deep red. Her and Han!?!?! Never. She stayed quiet as they headed for the truck and simply slipped into the passenger seat. She was feeling flustered all of a sudden. Her emotions were so twisted by this "civilized" dragon. She glanced at her reflection in the side mirror. Maybe... maybe if she wore just a little lip gloss... and did her hair casual... maybe

[Flayme]

Nym smiled, he didn't think he'd be able to stop the stupid grin spreading across his face even if he wanted to, though he suddenly felt a little sheepish. Ky seemed to so confident with that answer. That they were mates, that he loved him. He hadn't hesitated at all, and Nym suddenly felt the cold anxiousness inside him turn warm and tingly, like he'd just stepped into the hot spring again. Actually hearing how Ky felt about him out loud did wonders. It was reassuring that perhaps things would eventually be a little less strained around Avalon. The worries about Ivan, and kits, and scientists were all lessened for a moment, and then when Ky kissed them they were melted away altogether. "I love you too." Nym murmured back quietly as they pulled away again. The words were out of his mouth before he could think, and he had no intention of taking them back. He leaned forward a bit as had been Ky's request, even though he was reluctant to move out of the embrace they were sharing. When he touched his hand to his face he found that his cheeks were burning, which only made him flush more. Could Ky feel him blushing up like this? "You know..." Nym started slowly, trying not to stutter over himself. "You probably need a massage more than I do. You were out hunting for quite a while. Your skin's all cold." Nym reached up to grip one of Ky's forearms from behind him and then pressed his lips to the top of Ky's hand. "You need to warm up."

-------------------

"Fucking GPS, fucking Sean, fucking good for nothing horrible drivers...." Addie laid on her horn as heavily as she could as she passed the person who'd been coming toward her with their brights on the whole way, which was ridiculous because it was approaching pitch black outside at this point... Well maybe not pitch black, but it was definitely night. She hoped these namby pamby scientists were still up, she didn't care if the facility was closed at this hour. If she had to, she'd sleep in the car. At this point, after about eight hours of driving, she was tired, and not having any nonsense from anyone, no matter how unintentional it was. Sean had already blown up her phone with forty odd texts and her mother had been calling non-stop. It seemed that her father had given up altogether.

"This one-" Addie was suddenly stirred from her brooding thoughts as she caught sight of the exit she was supposed to be taking coming up fast on her right, the unmistakable symbol of the Dragon Facility was printed neatly on the exit sign. It matched perfectly with the one on the manilla envelope that had been on her father's desk, and was now sitting neatly on the passenger seat beside her. "Hmmm hmmm hmmm, going to see Nym." She hummed to herself a bit to calm her nerves, because admittedly she was starting to develop some. "It will all be fine."

It didn't take long to find the facility. There was a parking lot, and a gate, and beyond the gate Addie could see the first lab. She'd heard about this place. It was was like a hive work of twenty different buildings. Whichever one housing people that would get her in contact with Nym was the one she needed.

[labprotocol]

Ky's heart pounded in his chest when Nym kissed his hand. Warmth flooded through him and he shivered, the tight knot of fear loosening in his stomach. "Am I?" Ky hmmed, he didn't feel cold at all.

"Being with you will keep me warm." He smiled. "We can snuggle in a little bit. Just let me pamper you okay?" He massaged Nym's shoulders, getting out all the knots in his neck and shoulders, before moving down to back and kneading along his spine. He let his hands linger in smooth brushing caresses. He marveled in the feel of warm skin beneath his fingers, proof that Nym was there with him. "You know when I lived in the nursery, before I became of age and stuff I used to have a.... um whatcha call it? Well there was this older female carrier who used to take care of me and Ivy. She was too old to have anymore kits and no one was going to buy an old dragon ya know? So the facility keeps her around to take care of the kits they don't sell. Her names Paloma, and she's so old, like centuries. She remembers before the war. Before all this," Ky waved his hand in a vague motion. "... hostility? She's the one who taught me how to give massages." His lips curled up. "She said that every good seeder should know how to give their mate a massage. It's only right considering that I don't have to carry or anything. Anyways before this I guess dragons used to be revered and that humans had respected us and our wisdom. They felt honored if a dragon built their cave nearby their city. Isn't that strange." He sighed. "I wish our kits could grow up in a time like that. When humans and dragons worked together. When I see you and think about how you lived with humans your whole life and still turned out... perfect. Well it gives me hope that maybe one day it can be like that again." He stopped and smoothed his hands down Nym's side, finally wrapping his arms around Nym's waist, just below his belly. He leaned forward and rested his chin on Nym's shoulder. "I really love you."

[BabyBelly]

(Did a little time skip to catch up with you all)

Lago flung his head back onto the bottom of the nest, drenched in sweat and other fluids, and trying to catch his breath. He and Demus had finally made it back to the nest, barely containing their sexual desires, practically sucking each others faces off with their kisses. Turns out, there were plenty of positions available to them despite his burgeoning belly. Lago closed his eyes, reveling in the feeling of post sex ecstasy. Apparently, Lago wasn't the only one with needs. His mate had gone at it as if he was in heat all over again. It was just as good as their first meeting. A big grin grew on his face as he let out that goofy giggle of his, remembering the fond memory.

He ran a hand over Demus chest admiring every sweat-drenched, chiseled muscle. "Wow...how many times was that? I lost count after 3." He let out another laugh as he looked between Demus' legs. "Oh my god, you're still hard! Are you serious?" He just looked into Demus' eyes and shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose I could go for one more."

[Flayme]

Nym let himself lean into Ky, each touch from the other dragon sending a mild sensation of pins and needles through him, starting with his shoulders and shooting down. He hadn't realized that he'd been that tense. But Ky began working at him, slowly loosening all his muscles, he truly did begin to relax, and he closed his eyes to listen to Ky talk. He nodded along with each comment. When he was a bit younger, and perhaps a little more naive, Nym had used to dream about those now seemingly fabled days.. Times when dragons were renowned scholars, and regularly welcomed into royal courts and into villages. When humans, dragons, and other creatures alike had all seen eye to eye, and had all been considered equal. It hardly seemed possible that things could be that way again. In fact it seemed foolish to even hope, but Nym's heart panged for it anyway. Hearing about Ky, and how he'd grown up with his own kind. The old dragon, Ivy... Nym loved Addie and Sean, that was for certain, but part of him was always somewhat disturbed at how he'd been raised so unnaturally. He hadn't even seen one glimpse of his siblings or his parents. This facility was the first time he'd been given something to actually ease the longing he felt for the company of others like him.

"I'm not perfect." Nym laughed, somewhat somberly. "I don't know know anything about being a proper dragon really..." He tilted his head back to try and look at Ky, though it was kind of impossible with his ever present horns in the way. "I wish we'd met somewhere that wasn't... Here." Nym motioned at the door. He wished that he'd met Ky somewhere that was open, and free, that this whole thing had happened slow and quietly, like it should have. That he hadn't been shot of up with that awful hormone that had made him act so ludicrously... He wished he could still have all this but, different. "I wish our kits were going to be born somewhere... Safer." Not that Avalon wasn't technically safe, and if they were given homes similar to his, he supposed that they wouldn't be raised in any sort of horrible fashion, but Nym still had the foolish hope that'd he'd get to raise the little dragons somehow. Even though that was absurd. "I guess, though-" Nym started again afer a moment, forcing himself to push his melancholy thoughts away. "I guess I'm grateful though. That I got sent here. That we were sort of... Forced together." He smiled. "I suppose it's one thing Avalon is good for, because you're wonderful." He reached up to grab onto one Ky's arms again, up to his shoulder and into the forest dragon's ginger hair again with Ky's chin his chin tucked over his shoulder. "And I really love you too."

---------------------------

"What?" Demus snickered, he'd barely heard Lago's question. They were both a rather a mess at this point, but the prairie dragon didn't exactly care. "I dunno, who's counting? C'mere...." Demus leaned in to give Lago a rather sloppy kiss to the cheek. When the swamp dragon mentioned him still being... Aroused, he just laughed again. "Hey, I was stuck inside inside a little white box with nothing to talk to but the camera on the ceiling, can you blame me?" Demus reached to cup both hands around Lago's face. "I missed you... And I remember you saying a little something about how you loved me, you know, while all that shit was going down by the lake...." Demus was making light of it, when really he'd thought about those words that Lago had shouted at him the entire time he'd been cooped up. He'd replayed it over and over until hadn't been able to stand it. But now that he was here, it wasn't painful to recall, but rather elating. "Well, I love you too... And by damn if I'm not going to show you that I do. Now c'mere and maybe we'll both be tired enough to actually fall asleep after we're done this time." He wrinkled his nose up a bit as he smiled at Lago.

Not more than a little while later, Demus was flopped next to Lago, thoroughly exhausted, and strangely enough, laughing. The last part of their "alone time" had really turned into a somewhat risqué tickle fight more than anything. It was maybe a tad childish, but Demus couldn't care less. He was eating up every moment he'd with Lago that night... Though admittedly he was pretty beat at this point.

"I think... I need water." Demus darted a glance to Lago and then suddenly kissed him on the forearm. He apparently wasn't going to be able to control his flirtiness, no matter how tired they both were. He was on a high, a high wich was purely the company of his mate. "I can bring some for you if you want? In... A leaf, or some shit. I dunno." He grinned.

---------------------

"Sorry kiddo, the facility locked up like two hours ago."

"What? Come on, I'm Addison Fiske! My father owns one of the most expensive dragons in this place!" Addie was in the middle of her third retort with the woman who was keeping the gate. Staring up at her with blazing amber eyes while the woman stared back with her steely grey ones. It was apparent that this guard wasn't going to let her through, and she really had no idea how much Nym was worth, but she was desperate to make up and try anything now. "He'll be angry if he finds out that you didn't let me in." She huffed.

"Doesn't change the fact that the gate locks down after eight..." The guard said flatly. "We open back up at seven a.m. sharp.... Come back, then?"

"Ugh, for the love of god." Addie moaned. "Fine.... Seven a.m., you better have this damn gate open for me... I have an annoying brother to avoid until then."

"What was that?" The woman quirked an eyebrow at Addie.

"Nothing, I said I'll be here bright and early tomorrow, ma'am." Addie quickly nodded. "Have a good night." With that she rolled her window up and reversed the car in search of some place to park. She hoped her phone lasted until morning. It was going to be a long night if she had nothing to do but stare at the ceiling of the Lexus the whole time. Maybe if she was bigger, or older, more intimidating, they would have just let her in... Obscenely important or menacing people seemed to always get what they wanted.

[labprotocol]

Ky sobered a bit, his hand tracing Nym's belly. "I wish we could have too, but I'd glad I met you and we'll figure something out. Maybe our babies will be ugly," he snorted "and they'll let us keep them." Unlikely. Ky couldn't picture any child of Nym's being anything other than perfect. He knew logically that Nym wasn't perfect, that he had flaws just like everyone else, but Ky was so high on love that he could barely notice them, let along care. All he could see was Nym's kindness and the way he'd fought for Ky and Ivan's kits when they weren't even his and his adorable way of talking. Ky still didn't know what a bowling ball was, but he loved the way Nym would flush or get frustrated whenever he used a human term that the others didn't know.

He quickly changed the topic. It was a nice night and he wanted it to stay nice. What else had Nym said. Oh yeah. Ky snorted, practically nuzzling into Nym, rubbing his face against one of Nym's horns. He loved those things. "You don't need to be a 'proper' dragon. You are a dragon, so whatever you do, that's how a dragon behaves. It's not like there's a rule book or anything." He began to play with Nyms hair, letting his fingers circle the base of his horns. "All dragons are different anyway. Ivan's pretty much a vegetarian, 'cept for fish of course and Ceral seems like he only eats meat. Ivy's fangs have freaking poison in them and Lago's built like a tank. You have feathers, while Ivy's wings are more insect like or a bat or something. Besides I like the way you are. You're cute," he kissed one of Nym's horns and then the other "and intelligent." He kissed Nym's neck. "And compassionate..."

[BabyBelly]

Lago blushed and stared thoughtfully into Demus' eyes. He did say he loved Demus, didn't he? He hadn't forgotten about it, he actually thought about that little phrase he had said to his mate almost every day he had been in isolation. He was half expecting Demus to have forgotten about that after all the other crap that had happened. But there it was. Demus had just said it too. So much for not getting too close to mates.

There really was no standard way of going about mating in swamp dragon culture. Did you want to mate with someone different every heat cycle? Cool, no problem. Did you want to have a life partner? Great! Good for you. It was pretty much, "Do whatever the hell you want." That's the way it was for swamp dragons in general. They were a very much, 'Do what makes you happy' kind of race. They're not firm believers in rules and traditions. Quite independent, and stubborn about it, the one general belief held by swamp dragons was "Follow your own path, and you can't go wrong."

Lago liked the idea of a life mate, but his luck with finding one had been nil. After all, dragons can only be life mates if both parties agree to it. It's funny really, he had to get captured, get brought to some stupid, human, dragon fucking facility, get put into an enclosure that was no where near what his swamp used to be, go into heat early because of all the damn seeders, and run into a prairie dragon of all species, just to find his life mate.

Lago wrinkled his nose up too into a mischievous smile and spread his legs, as Demus dove in for more kisses and another round of love making.

Finally depleted of his sex drive, Lago looked over to his mate, wonderful post sex glaze in his eyes. He cocked an eyebrow and started laughing at Demus' ridiculous comment about the water. He lightly slapped him on the shoulder. "Water in a leaf will be fine, you ass." He almost didn't want Demus to go, but his throat was getting sticky with dehydration. He laid there with a hand on his belly, just taking in the weird and wonderful turns his life had taken. He could almost feel the outline of his eggs.

[Flayme]

"Pffft, I hope not." Nym scoffed. "I don't want to be giving birth to devil spawn..." He teased. "I want them all to be beautiful, like you." He hummed as Ky pressed up against him, relishing each kiss. He outright snickered when Ky called him cute. His heart was fluttering like a bird in his chest with each word the other dragon said, as if it was threatening to come up his throat at any moment. He turned a bit to try and arms wrap his arms behind Ky's neck. Luckily his belly didn't seem to be hindering them too much. "I want them all to have pretty ginger hair like you do. And to be be bigger and stronger than I am when they grow up." Nym smiled, with made his nose crinkle up a bit. "I want them to all be unique like everybody here in Avalon. Maybe being part forest dragon, they'll get shimmery wings, and poison fangs..." Nym was actually becoming burningly curious at what the kits would look like. Would they have feathers and horns like him? Would they be russet colored like Ky? "I have to admit, I'm get a little excited thinking about them." He smiled again. "And I must say... That this is one of the most pleasant nights I've had in a while." He let out a contented sigh. Simply existing with Ky, being here with him, enjoying their conversation, being dry and warm together all night. It was probably enough to keep Nym on cloud nine for a week.

"Everybody's been so sullen the past few days." Nym chuckled. "So I like this... It's nice." He leaned a bit to kiss Ky on the chin. He wanted this to last for as long as possible. Relaxing here with Ky without having to share him with anybody else.

-------------------------

"Hey-" Demus gave a mock scowl when Lago slapped him. "I could just decide to not bring back anything at all." He chuckled a bit and his expression softened to show that he was joking. "I'll be right back... Don't move. You and our little ones have had enough excitement for one night."

With that, Demus straightened up, and hopped out of the nest. The cool night air was a welcome feeling on his flushed skin. He was still somewhat disbelieving that he was actually here.... There were crickets chirping all around him, and the moon was beaming down at him. It was all to surreal, spending a night out under the stars. The feelings pumping through him were part ecstasy, part relief, and a third part the sleepy love drunk feeling he got every time he thought a little too hard about Lago.

Finally, after standing out in the cool air for a moment, Demus moved forward again to search for water. He wasn't a fan of the lake, or the pond water. He usually preferred to get his water from the miniature falls that spilled into a stream, which then bled into the lake. He didn't know why, but he felt like it was fresher, and the falls were half the distance to their nest than the lake was anyway. After meandering his way over to the stream, he drank, and gathered up the largest leaf her could so he could cup it and scoop some water for Lago, as promised. It was a little absurd, but it was the only way he could think of to bring water back to Lago, save for dragging the water dragon out here to the stream itself.

"Here-" Demus carefully stepped back into the nest just few minutes later. Large leaf in both hands. "I have no idea how successful this is going to be, but I have leaf water for you." He grinned a bit. "You need to tell me if tastes any different."

[BabyBelly]

Lago stuck out his bottom lip in an equally mocking pout, making it quiver. He winked as Demus left for some water, "No problem there, we'll be waiting." Lago sat up and leaned against the edge of their nest. The nest was quite a feat of dragon engineering. It was made using a combination of mud, grass, tree branches, and that play sand from the western end of the enclosure. They had made a good sized mound, and then had dug a little crater into it. They lined the inside with soft leaves and grass. He dared say it was more comfortable than either of the other two nests he'd made with previous mates.

He sat there rubbing his belly, poking and prodding. Damn these layers of fat! He could just feel the outer most one, closest to his belly button. He'd have to tell Demus when he got back, assuming the egg didn't shift. He looked down at his chest and noticed that they were swelling up as well. His breasts had been getting sore lately. Swamp dragon kits both breast fed and fed on any edible foods the parents brought them. Lago started giggling at the thought of seeing Demus' face if the kits all turned out to be chubby. One thing about swamp dragon pregnancies, their appetites skyrocketed. They ate everything.

Of course he couldn't think about the kits without the thought of them getting taken away creeping into the fray. He felt his eyes start to mist, but he quickly wiped away any tears that threatened to fall. He didn't want to think of that right now. They still had four months until they were born, and who knew, maybe there weren't any buyers right now. They could get lucky and at least get to feed them for a few weeks. Of course that could make it harder to let go. Lago sighed and continued rubbing his belly, at least content in the knowledge that the facility couldn't get at them for now.

He was pulled away from his thoughts by Demus handing him a giant leaf of water. His mate had done well, there was quite a bit in the leaf. Lago tilted his head back and drank greedily. Love making sure had a way of making one thirsty. "Mmmm...the leaf does make it taste better", he said smiling at Demus. "Hey c'mere. You can actually feel one of the eggs", he motioned with his hand.

--------------------

Shelly put on her night gown and put some moisturizing lotion onto her face, arms and legs. She may have been a former marine and now an FBI agent, but she still liked to look good. She actually looked younger than most 52 year old women who had been through the military. She had good genes she assumed. Before she left the bathroom, she looked into the full length mirror at herself. She turned sideways and ran her hand over her abdomen. It was flat and toned...as usual. Not the way she had wished for it to be. She should have been seven and half months pregnant today. However, the powers that be decided against it. She had been pregnant just over 2 months ago. One day, she and her husband had gone in for an ultrasound, and there were no heartbeats. It had been too good to be true.

She pushed out her belly as far as it would go, trying to imagine what she might have looked like had the baby survived. She had gotten absolutely huge with her triplets. She shook her head and sighed. She had run out of tears a while ago. Here she was, a 52 year old former marine, mother of 3 grown children, ready to go under cover for the FBI into a facility that was most likely breeding weaponized dragons, and all she could think about now was how badly she wanted to be a new mother again. Things couldn't get any stranger or more stressful if they tried. She wanted to try again, and so did Harold. He was like a kid on Christmas when he had heard the news. She was going undercover though, and trying for a kid now just wasn't a very practical idea. She turned off the light and walked over to the bed, being careful not to wake up Harold. She crawled in and gently wrapped her arm around him, and tried to turn off the thoughts racing through her brain.

[labprotocol]

Ky greened, his dimples peaking through his freckles. "Yeah. Like me huh?" He kissed Nym's wrinkled nose, he couldn't help himself. Nym was acting too cute. "Well I'm hoping some of them look like you with feathered wings and horns."

Ky laid down, his eyes hooded. "It is nice." He gently eased Nym down next to him and began to kiss him. "Let me make love to you? Properly this time." he grinned against Nym's neck. Ky's hands gently caressed the tundra dragon's sides. He kissed Nym long and slow. Their first time together had been so rushed. Ky wanted to take his time and memorize every part of Nym.

Their bodies moved together slowly, building the fire inside them until every breath of air on Ky's skin set his nerves on fire. He kissed Nym slow and soft until he forgot where he began and Nym ended, until they were one. Afterwards, as Ky lay panting in the after glow, he traced patterned on Nym's skin, his head and heart and soul warm and bright. "I feel like my chest is going to explode I love you so much," he whispered, barely realizing he'd said the words out loud.

[Poppy]

"Well maybe not between you two, but in general. Reva, you must have a nice man, right? You're pretty." Niza gave a sing song hum, closing her eyes briefly as she thought. "And you as well, Han. You can't tell me you aren't married." It was quite entertaining to see the two of them getting flustered at all of her questions, and it only made Nizhoni want to ask more, but she figured she shouldn't cause too much of a ruckus just yet. Reva looked to be the more collected out of the pair, but then again Han just seemed like he'd never been asked any questions such as the ones she was posing before - and that was a little weird because surely humans would ask about their mates too, wouldn't they? Or maybe it wasn't as open as it was with her kind.

"That awkward forced smile tells me everything, Dr. Han." Niza pursed her lips, pointing her nose up and continuing along to the truck. When Han gestured for the back, she huffed. "You got me right before I was about to call shotgun," she said, hopping inside and sitting cross-legged in the back. A twenty minute drive, she wondered what she might be able to ask them other than more queries about their lack of a love life. Or possibly she might just stay quiet, watch how they interacted. More fun.

---------------

"When're they supposed to do that?" Ceral asked casually. He suspected that they'd do the ultrasound soon enough, unless they just wanted to wait until the last minute; unless they had a forklift, though, they could count on Ceral sitting his ass down and waiting for someone to come pick him up and get him to the lab because he didn't plan on walking himself further along if they decided to take their sweet syrupy time.

Ceral took Ivy's hand and stood, following her outside and visibly relaxing. Not being in that nest had its perks. Even though his life had mostly consisted of staying in dark places himself, now that he had Ivy and was carrying her clutch, he didn't really want to be at the peak of his pregnancy and wanting to go outside when he couldn't. It was an odd paradox or something, truthfully.

"Okay, you can have all the kisses you'd like." Ceral stretched forward, arching his back as he struggled to get somewhat comfortable with the new weight in his front. "You gotta yell at Nym for stealing me away though!" he smirked, glancing back towards his mate. "Not really, don't yell at him. He's too nice to be yelled at."

[Flayme]

"What- Really?" Demus instantly dropped to his knees so her could reach and placed a hand on Lago's belly where he directed. At first he couldn't tell really if he felt anything, and he was half afraid that Lago was going to get upset with him. His previous mate, Kia, had gotten snappy when he'd prodded at her like this. He hadn't been able to help it. He'd been younger, less mature, and very very excited about his first sired litter of kits. He'd been excited about the second one as well, but it had been less of a novelty. Now though, after all this time, it was like her experiencing it all for the first time again, and he felt his stomach flip flop as he finally felt something that was definitely an egg.

"That's amazing-" Demus grinned. He almost felt like his face was going to split in two smiling so much. "Can you feel them kicking around in there yet?" He asked curiously, his fingers making light circles of Lago's belly now. He was aware of course that dragon kits didn't exactly kick like other live born creatures would in the womb, but he'd been told on a few different occasions that once they were big enough that that would indeed move enough to be felt. "Hmm.." Demus sighed quietly and rested his head on Lago's belly, for the second time that day. He closed his eyes, and looked as if he was listening for something, though of course he couldn't hear anything. "Hey kits." He muttered after a moment and then looked back to Lago. "I wonder what color they'll be..."

-------------------------------

Nym was hardly even able to breathe when Ky pulled him down beside him. His heart which had already been beating like crazy before was about to burst through his chest. It only calmed a bit again Ky leaned into him. They seemed to be almost melting together, and Nym didn't even have to think about it. He barely heard Ky talking to him, he simply nodded as he kissed him back. The last time this had happened, Nym had been terrified, and in pain. It had been such a blur. It had made Nym thoroughly afraid to ever go into heat again, or even let himself be open like this with anybody ever again. This was different though. Nothing but soft and gentle.

After all was said and done Nym was left trying to catch his breath and feeling like he was practically floating, walking somewhere on cloud nine. Nothing else existed. Just Ky. He was almost marveling at if any of what had just happened was even real. Not more than a few hours ago, Nym had been turmoiling over not being able to do anything about the horrible mood everybody was in, that Ky was in... But there wasn't any trace of that now. "C'mere..." Nym scooted over a bit to place a hand over Ky's chest. He immediately was greeted with the flittering pounding of the other dragon's heart. Everything was so warm, even there in the middle of the pitch black of the nesting cave. For a moment there was nothing but the sound of one another's breathing and the resonance of Ky's words in the air. "I love you too." Nym let his head drop against the floor of the nest. This was the third time he'd declared his feelings for Ky today. Third time was the charm right? "I love you, Ky." And that made four.

--------------------------

"Ugh." Han rolled his eyes at the comment about his smile, and started the truck. A dragon sitting shotgun... Absurd. A dragon sitting in the back of a personal company truck with no bindings, and seemingly nothing dangerous but snarky remarks, that was still absurd. All of this was. "No, I'm not married." Han shrugged, trying his best o stay nonchalant now. He wasn't even sure why he was responding to this dragon. She didn't owe her any information. Nothing. So he snapped his mouth shut again. If Nizhoni wanted to try her luck chatting one of them up, then she could have at it with Reva.

"That insane prairie dragon is back in this exhibit as of this afternoon." Han changed the subject, hoping that if he talked to Reva about something else, then if Nizhoni did try to engage in talking to them, it wouldn't be about marriage or anything stupid like that. "It's too bad it's dark now... We won't be able to pick up whatever damage he's surely doing on any footage worth watching..." He drawled slowly, he wanted to drop the hint to this new dragon that she would indeed be being supervised. "Maybe some more night vision enabled cameras would be a good investment."

[BabyBelly]

"Mmm hmm", Lago stated simply as his mate got down on his knees and started to feel the spot. "Yeah...it took a little while for me to feel it too", he said with a little embarrassment showing on his cheeks. He just looked at the child like wonderment spreading across Demus' face and couldn't help but feel the love he had towards this loud-mouthed, obnoxious, handsome and fantastic dragon. Lago saw the look on Demus' face that let him know he'd found the egg's outline. He started laughing quietly at his mates big smile. It reminded him of the other times his mates had first felt his eggs. This time felt different...special. He supposed it was because this clutch came from his life mate. The life mate he wasn't expecting to find. Lago was looking forward to having many more clutches with Demus. He could almost imagine themselves together, decades down the line, having bred many clutches, and their love for each other growing stronger.

Lago giggled as Demus' fingers circled his belly. He was actually pretty ticklish, which sucked when they got into tickle fights, because Lago was a big target. "No, not yet. I probably won't feel any movement until the fifth month. They should be big enough by then to throw their weight around inside the eggs." He ran his fingers through Demus' hair, massaging the scalp. His mates face was illuminated by the moon light. Unlike the other couples, both he and Demus had opted for an "open roof" nest, and Lago was thankful they had during moments like these. "Hmmmm, I don't know. Whatever color they turn out to be, they're going to be some handsome and beautiful dragons by sheer virtue of their daddy's good looks." He ran his hand over his mates face. Lago wondered what his reaction would be when he finally learned how many kits they'd be having.

[labprotocol]

"Night vision? Yes, I'll look into that." Reva hopped up into the truck and gave Niza a quick glance, before turning to Han and pretending the dragon didn't exist. "The new Captain will be starting tomorrow," Reva said conversationally. "She seems competent, more reliable and even headed than Devin at the very least. She came with high recommendations. She's highly overqualified to be honest, but I really think she might be able to put Avalon into line."

She paused for just a moment before quickly switching topics, she didn't want to give Niza any chance to talk. Not if Niza was going to ask about her love life. She got enough talk about being a spinster from her parents. She didn't need Niza to be arranging a marriage for her too. "If Ivan doesn't stop moping soon I'm seriously thinking about shoving a feeding tube in him. I swear he's too over dramatic. If his kits weren't so expensive I'd have given up on him by now."

-------------
"The ultrasound should be coming up pretty soon, I mean you're showing quite a bit." Ivy wrapped her arms Ceral from behind and stroked his stomach with the back of her finger tips. "And I get to decide whether Nym is too nice to be yelled at or not." She kissed his head and looked out over the cliff side. They could see most of Avalon from up there. The canopy stretched out before them, tiny breaks showing a glimpse of an artificial lake or meadow. She could see all the way to the gated wall and the shimmering field separating them from the stars. "Ceral?" she said softly, as if her voice could break the night and the sky would flicker out and prove to be a simple illusion. "Are the stars brighter? Out there I mean... without the barrier? I've... I've never been... not since... what's it like?"