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Licorice Cookie walked into his and Longan Dragon Cookie's bedroom. Gold blankets thrown around almost erratically, and another, more duller blanket being almost woven into a makeshift nest, some afterbirth being present on it.
"Longan Dragon Cookie!" He laughed, "That's my favourite quilt!" He added, finding some amusement in the whole predicament.
Longan Dragon Cookie glared at him, as their tail wrapped around the golden egg. "
I'm joking!!! It's honestly fine!" He added, sensing the annoyance in the silent glare they gave. "Can I see them?" He asked, as Longan Dragon Cookie gently moved their sleeve, the egg being unprotected.
It was a single egg, but it was their baby.
"Licorice Cookie?" Longan Dragon Cookie asked, their golden pupils dilating. This suprised Licorice Cookie. "D-Do you still love me?" They asked, looking sorrowful.
"What?! Of course I do!" He responded, as Longan Dragon Cookie seemed uncertain.
Their eyes shrunk a tiny bit, before a soft growl emitted. Licorice Cookie knew what this meant; Longan Dragon Cookie was unhappy.
"What's wrong?" He asked, as he sat down next to the nest, scratching his mate's head, a tiny smile creeping across the dragon's face.
It meant a lot, as the dragon rarely smiled.
"I feel like...we're drifting apart, Licorice Cookie." They admitted, as their arm gently wrapped around the egg.
It was special. It shouldn't exist - dragons and Cookies were never meant to be one in the terms of romance. But still...
"We haven't...been as close. Ever since I started nesting, we...I haven't...I need some physical attention. And since I started nesting, we haven't had that closeness..." They admitted, before kissing Licorice Cookie's hands. "And...I'm still doubting about this egg." They admitted.
"A bit late for that." Licorice Cookie thoughtlessly responded, as Longan Dragon Cookie shot a glance.
Licorice Cookie realised what he'd said, and felt bad for it. Not long after Longan Dragon Cookie revealed the pregnancy and they'd both agreed they'd work through it together, he learnt they were still having some extreme doubts about being a parent.
"Hey, sh, sh...come here..." He whispered, engaging in a hug with Longan Dragon Cookie.
It wasn't as close as the dragon wished, as they were still instinctively guarding their egg. Their baby...theirs and Licorice Cookie's baby.
"Do you think it'll be a dragon or a Cookie?" Longan Dragon Cookie asked, changing the subject, but not subtly enough that Licorice Cookie still knew that Longan Dragon Cookie was still doubting heavily.
"Longan..." Licorice Cookie responded, "I...I don't..." He sighed, "I don't care what the baby is, I just want you to be happy."
This caused Longan Dragon Cookie to smile softly, one of their genuine ones. Their tail, (which they kept for further incubation and protection of the egg) started wagging slightly, knocking the egg out of the nest. Licorice Cookie noticed Longan Dragon Cookie's panicking and picked up the egg, paying attention to the details. It was a pretty, golden egg with intricate swirls. He placed it back in the nest, watching as his mate calmed down deeply. Longan Dragon Cookie wrapped around the egg again, as Licorice Cookie slowly stroked through the Dragon's hair, knowing his lover enjoyed this.
"I love you." Longan Dragon Cookie quietly muttered, purring and growling.
Licorice Cookie liked hearing the purrs and growls of his mate. It was music to his ears, especially as he watched the Dragon's breathing soothe to levels he'd never seen before.
"Do you believe Poison Mushroom Cookie would like them?" Longan Dragon Cookie asked, opening one of their eyes as one of their golden pupils was dilated to levels Licorice Cookie never had seen before.
"Well, considering they hate you, it'll be difficult to tell." He admitted, pressing a gentle kiss on Longan Dragon Cookie's forehead.
This caused Longan Dragon Cookie's tail to wag softly, wrapping around Licorice Cookie's legs to some extent.
"Do you think it'll be a hermaphrodite or a set gender?" Licorice Cookie asked, confusing Longan Dragon Cookie.
"What do you mean 'set gender?' Don't all animals have the power to shift genders?" They asked, looking very confused.
Licorice Cookie gently laughed before taking a deep breath.
"Some do, but it's mainly jelly fish or other jelly amphibians. Most mammals, birds and reptiles stick to a birth gender. Did you have one?" Licorice Cookie asked, genuinely intrigued at this question.
"Male." They snappily responded. "Please, keep stroking my hair." They quietly muttered, as Licorice Cookie softly smiled, complying with his mate's demands.
He pressed another kiss to Longan Dragon Cookie's forehead.
"Whatever it is, I'm going to love them forever." Licorice Cookie quietly mentioned, as Longan Dragon Cookie softly smiled.
A quiet nod was given to the Cookie of Darkness, making it known they agreed with their mate.
"Please. We need to have a serious discussion now." Longan Dragon Cookie added, their pupils contracting to their normal size. "I...we don't have the same natural lifespan. You know that, right?" They asked, as Licorice Cookie realised where this discussion would go. "I don't want to see my mate and child crumble before me, but..." They sighed, their tail wrapping around Licorice Cookie tighter. "Did you know fruit dragons are monogamous? Once we mate, that's our lover for life." They added, tears threatening to fall from their face, but refusing to fully fall.
Licorice Cookie glanced away slightly. "So you knew the risks?"
"And I still took them, because I love you." They responded, before gently kissing (more licking) their mate's hand.
Licorice Cookie broke out of Longan Dragon Cookie's tail, causing them to become concerned. What was happening? It felt like an eternity for Longan Dragon Cookie before Licorice Cookie returned (although 5 minutes is more accurate), with an inflatable mattress and blanket.
"I've decided I'll sleep near the nest until the egg hatches and becomes independent." He softly smiled, causing Longan Dragon Cookie to return the smile.
Licorice Cookie pushed the bed next to the nest and set up the sleeping area. "What time is it?" Licorice Cookie asked,
"1:42am in the morning. Sleep." Longan Dragon Cookie growled, as Licorice Cookie laughed, lying down as Longan Dragon Cookie hugged him the best way they could.
This truly was one of the best ways to fall asleep in Longan Dragon Cookie's mind.