Will She Curse While She's in Labor

As Cynthia and Ruby made their toward the Dragon Clinic of the Great Dragon City of Glaction, they couldn't keep the excitement out of their voices as they chatted together.

"Do you really think the tests will say I'm with eggs?" Cynthia asked with enthusiasm.

"I mean, do you think not?" Ruby said humorously, "Look at your belly, either you're with egg, or you've just eaten something really bad for you."

Cynthia chuckled along, she knew Ruby wasn't meaning to be insulting, she was just teasing. The two of them had been great friends with eachother ever since they had first met in the dragon nursery, and they'd been close ever since. Though they had taken different approaches to life, they'd never fell out of touch, the two of them were just as good of friends now as they had been in their childhood. Even now that Cynthia was married now, the two of them were constantly supportive of eachother in everything, and they knew nothing would ever separate them.

When they reached he clinic, they made their way to the maternity ward, Cynthia's nerves jittering with anticipation.

"I'm here to see if my results are in," Cyntia told the dragon at front, "the name's Cynthia, Cynthia Fahrenheit."

"One moment please," said the desk-nurse as she went in back to retrieve the results.

The area was light and cheery, but as they sat down to wait, they couldn't help but notice a darker tone to the place, as they the sounds of tortured female screaming radiating down the hall began to become more apparent. This place may have a peaceful atmosphere, but it almost sounded like a torture chamber.

"Poor dragons," said a dragon standing beside a cleaning cart loaded with cleaning supplies. She must be the labor ward's room cleaner. "Whenever a dragon comes in here to lay they always end up screaming like that."

Cynthia and Ruby looked at eachother.

Suddenly in a nearby room, a dragon burst out into screaming the foulest string of curse words imaginable, Cynthia and Ruby winced.

The cleaning girl sighed, "There goes Esmerelda, she always had such a clean mouth too."

Ruby winced again, "I could never imagine cursing like that," she said.

Cynthia on the other talon said nothing, not sure how to respond.

The Cleaning Girl shrugged, "When the pain kicks in, dragons always scream things like that. After awhile, you grow used to it. It's not such a bad job after that."

Cynthia and Ruby looked at eachother again. From their very youngest age, neither of them had felt comfortable with the idea of cursing, neither had ever used a curse word in their entire lives, even the more mild ones. Even the word "stupid" felt uncomfortable to use most of the time, so generally they avoided it all together. Other dragons in school had made fun of them for it, but neither of them had minded, they had eachother, and just to know they had a friend who had the same conviction as them was a great enough comfort to get through.

As they got older, dragons would still tease them as the duo who never cursed, but it was lighthearted, and most dragons tended to treat them with respect rather than real ridicule, even trying to limit their own language around them. On Ruby and Cynthia's part, they never looked down on other dragons for cursing, it was just a part of the world, but for them personally, it was something they would never feel comfortable doing, the idea of dirtying their mouths in such a way was something they never cared to do, so they never used those words and that was it.

A few minutes later, the desk-nurse, receptionist, whatever her title was, came back carrying a couple of scrolls. Noticing the sound of the screaming dragon, she looked at the two friends.

"I'm sorry you have to hear that," said the dragon, "But then again, looks like you'll be doing your share of that in a few days yourself," Cynthia opened her mouth to speak, confused, when the dragon looked at Ruby, "Are you Ruby Talonclaw?"

Ruby looked confused, "Y-yes."

"Well, while running those other tests that you requested the other day, they found something... weird. They sent the data here and..." She held out two scrolls, one for each of them, "You're about to have eggs, both of you."

Ruby gaped. It wasn't unheard of that a single female dragon lay eggs, but Ruby hadn't expected this sort of news today. Ruby looked at Cynthia, "Does this mean...? We're going to be labor buddies?"

The two dragons squealed and hugged eachother, excited that they were both going to have eggs at the same time.

"Hold it," said the nurse, "You two are a few days apart, Ruby, you should be expected in two days, Cynthia, four. Although you aren't going to be laying at the same time, you can still learn what to expect from the experience of the other, but I should warn you now, there will be lots of pain and screaming and cursing if that stuff bothers you."

Ruby looked uncomfortable, "But neither of us curse."

The Nurse waved it off, "Don't worry too much, no dragon is going to blame you for it."

As Ruby and Cynthia left the clinic, an awkward silence between them.

Finally, Cynthia looked at her results, "It says I'm expecting... 20 eggs! Wow, that's nearly five hours, if not more. How many do you have?"

Ruby checked, "Only five, that's why we noticed yours sooner I guess, I'm smaller than you. Looks like I should be done in a little over an hour."

It was a well known fact that for dragons, labor typically lasted around 15 minutes per egg, it was an extremely quick process for most dragons, but on the downside, dragon labors ranked most painful out of any other species; never in the entire history of the Universe had a dragon laid an egg without completely screaming her head off. What's worst is that nobody seemed to be able to create an epidural that worked on dragons, for some reason, they never worked.

Cynthia lowered the scroll uncomfortably, "About what that dragon said, do you think it's true that every dragon curses while laying eggs?"

Ruby shook her head, "I hope not. I mean, just because a dragon hasn't managed to go through labor without screaming doesn't mean all of them curse, right?"

Cynthia still felt uncertain.

"Dragons curse all the time," Ruby continued, "Just because it's a dragon's learned response to extreme stress doesn't mean it'll be the same for dragons who aren't in that habit."

Cynthia tried to accept that. In some ways, Ruby was even cleaner than Cynthia; she had never had a partner like Cynthia, which meant she had never involved herself in... _{married dragon stuff.} (And nor did she ever plan to, thank you very much). This of course wasn't a problem for Cynthia, there were very few dragons in the word who didn't curse, and Cynthia was lucky to have found one of them, and though of course Cynthia enjoyed her... _{married dragon time} with her husband, she felt extremely comfortable around him, and it never felt too naughty.

Cynthia wanted to accept Ruby's words, but still... "You heard that cleaning girl, that other dragon in there... supposedly she always had a clean mouth before labor."

Ruby shrugged, "We don't know how she was like all the time. It's best not to dwell on it, or cursing will be the only thing we can think about during labor."

But as comforting as Ruby was trying to be, she still couldn't help but feel a little unsettled by the whole thing. Not only would she have to brace herself for pain she couldn't even imagine, but she also had no idea what would slip out of her mouth while that all went on, and the idea that for once in her life she may not be able to control her tongue was not an idea she wanted to think about.

---

Cynthia rushed her way into the clinic as fast as she could.

"How is she?" Cynthia asked the dragon at the reception.

"Ruby? She's doing fine, everything is going smoothly."

Cindy winced, from the sounds of the screams of bloody murder penetrating the hallway, Cynthia's lifelong best friend must be in unimaginable pain. But that was just the way with labor she supposed. Her lifelong best friend with whom she could relate anything, now she didn't even want to think of what she must be feeling right now to be screeching like that. She didn't want to think about what she herself would be feeling in a couple of days.

The dragon looked at her, recognizing her from the other day, "It's Cynthia again, right? Your friend called for you. Do you want me to see if she's ready for you now?"

Cynthia nodded, feeling a sort of anxiety at the aspect of seeing her friend in this sort of pain.

"Follow me," the dragon said.

As Cynthia followed her down the hallway, Ruby's screams became louder and clearer.

"LET ME DIE! She screamed, "LET ME DIE! JUST LET ME TAKE THAT SCAPLE AND KILL ME!"

Cynthia cringed, she had never heard Ruby like this before, how could her friend have been made to change so drastically? Was the pain so bad it was changing her to the very core?

The sound of something giving a violent jerk, "MY V_____!" Ruby suddenly screamed.

Cynthia stumbled in shock, she had never heard Ruby use that term before. Though it technically wasn't bad phrase, it was very crude, and they tended to avoid those terms too. Even in marriage, Cynthia and her husband had always just did, never said; the words just never seemed appropriate. Cynthia knew how labor worked, that that was where a large portion of the pain came from, but still...

The nurses were trying to calm her down, "It's okay, you'll make it, you're going to live."

"GOING TO LIVE!" Cynthia screamed, and then it happened, those words she would never be able to take back, "**** my life! **** my v_____!"

Cynthia's heart stopped, her friend had did it, her friend had shouted that one word for which she could never forgive herself. Inside the room, the other dragons had fallen silent too. Ruby was especially mute for once.

And then-

"I'M SORRY!" Ruby burst out, "I'M SORRY! I WISH I COULD HAVE NEVER SAID THAT! IT'S ALL BECAUSE I HAVE A V_____! A STUPID ____ING V_____!"

For the first time in her life, Ruby's mouth must be feeling absolutely filthy. Cynthia felt so terrible for her friend, she knew the sting of labor must be horrible, but the sting of knowing what she'd just said must sting in a completely different way. For the first time in her life, Cynthia was glad she was not her friend, and the feeling of knowing that gave her the worst sense of heartache she could imagine. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"Wait here," said the desk-nurse as they stopped at the door.

Cynthia said nothing as the receptionist went in. "Your friend's here, mind if I send her in?"

"FINE! I DON'T ____ING CARE! LET HER ____ING SEE ME LIKE THIS!"

The receptionist reappeared at the door and nodded at Cynthia.

As Cynthia made her way in, she found Ruby panting on the floor, her expression twisted in excruciating agony (beds didn't work very well for dragons in these situations, so typically, they didn't use them).

"Hey Ruby," said Cynthia cautiously, "How are you doing."

Ruby looked up at her, her expression still pained, but some slight comfort lighting it at seeing her friend being there for her. "Awful," she struggled, "____ing awful." She winced at the sound of her own cuss word, her face filling with shame, "And now here I am ____ing cussing like a stupid ____ing ______. I'm so ____ING SORRY!" She screamed as the contractions suddenly increased again, mid-sentence "OH, ____!"

Cynthia winced at every curse, she couldn't imagine what it was like for her friend who she knew her whole life; so many memories behind her, just to lead to her being reduced to such pain and screaming like a madwoman. Tears and sweat rolled down Ruby's face, and Cynthia could see in her face it was all too much.

Cynthia gently laid a talon on her friend, "I know." As awful as it felt, she knew there was nothing she could do to help her friend, she didn't even know if there was anything Ruby could do to help herself.

"IT HURTS," Ruby cried, "IT ____ING HURTS!"

Cynthia could see the pain and tears on Ruby's face, it was so hard to watch. Ruby looked up at Cynthia, straining to keep her senses through the pain.

"You should go, you shouldn't have to see me like this."

Cynthia hesitated, "Ruby, I can't-"

More sharp contractions, "JUST ____ING GO!"

Cynthia took a startled step back. Ruby looked so regretful Cynthia wanted to cry for her.

Gently, the desk-nurse led her from the room. "Don't take any of it personally," she said, "It happens."

Cynthia nodded, she understood. But it was happening personally to Ruby, how could she not take it personally as well. Oh Ruby...

Following the receptionist-nurse back down the hallway, Ruby's tortured screams continued to ring behind them, all the normal curse words the two of them had avoided over the years, and a few more dragon terms that were way worse than anything the humans came up with, words so awful, even the most shameless of dragons felt it too indecent to use them.

But that was just the way of labor, right? How could Ruby have done any different while in such pain?

Heading down the hall, Cynthia saw the cleaning girl again. The two exchanged glances, the cleaning girl watching Cynthia apologetically.

As Cynthia left the clinic, she felt a deep ache inside her, as if she wasn't leaving Ruby from the Labor Ward, but from Urgent Care after saying her last goodbyes. Sure Ruby would still be alive after this, Cynthia would still love her no matter what, but the Ruby that left the clinic today would not be the Ruby that had went in; it was the loss of a Ruby with who she could share every part of her life.

So Cynthia returned home, grabbed some ice cream, and curled up on the couch to watch television for the rest of the day. Her husband sat next to her and she curled up close beside him. She didn't say anything, nor did she want to. Besides, she didn't want to think of what she'd be saying herself in a couple of days.

Her husband just sat there with her, letting her press tight against him, he didn't ask her anything, he knew she wasn't in the mood for it, she would talk in her own time, and he would leave it at that.

---

The next day, Simo, Cynthia's husband, flew with her to visit Ruby and check up on how she was doing. When they reached Ruby's place, Simo stopped outside with her. "Are you sure you want to see her alone?" He asked. He knew how much yesterday had affected her and wanted to be there for her if she needed.

But Cynthia just shook her head, "Ruby's my best friend, I got this."

Simo nodded as he watched her turn to go in alone.

Cynthia found Ruby sitting down in her living room in silence, deep in thought. The moment Cynthia saw her, she rushed up to her to embrace her, and there they held eachother tight for a few long moments.

Finally, Cynthia pulled away and looked at her, "How are you doing? Are you feeling any better?"

Ruby shrugged, "I'm still a little sore, but I'll be alright. The eggs are safe upstairs."

Of course by safe she meant she had put them somewhere where they wouldn't accidently be broken or something. It was the same scenario with many dragons who laid eggs without partner, not sure what to do with the eggs considering there was nothing inside to ever hatch, but not wanting to dispose of something you'd "worked" so hard on. Of course one could always eat them, but that seemed pretty messed up for most dragons considering... where it came from, so usually they just put them away in a closet to collect dust and hope they wouldn't go bad and crack and give off that awful rotten smell old eggs sometimes did.

Cynthia and Ruby sat down together, neither wanting to bring up the uncomfortable topic on both their minds. Ruby had thought a lot about it since yesterday, and her mind was still as clouded with confusion as it'd been before. She didn't actually blame herself exactly, but she could still feel that sense of hot shame in every inch of her face whenever she thought about that sickening moment she had burst out in all the words she had taken care to avoid her all her life. Remembering how she had done it made her feel sour all over; she'd made her mouth do something that she'd always held as such a personal taboo, that her mouth felt so wrong even now, now even the taste in her mouth felt taboo. What would she tell her younger self who would've felt so dismayed over the idea that she could ever use those words someday?

Finally, Ruby spoke up. "You know, about yesterday, I apologize... I didn't want to... But it was all too much. I'm so sorry."

Cynthia shook her head, "I know. It's okay. I know that's not who you are."

They let themselves fall into silence once again.

Finally, "You're worried, aren't you?" Ruby asked, "About when you go into labor."

Cynthia fell quiet. Then she let it out. "Yes." She looked for the words, "I don't want to... If every dragon... Why shouldn't I have the free will to not do something that I feel wrong about doing?" Cynthia asked.

Ruby looked at her calmly. "Nobody is going to hold you accountable for anything you say in the delivery room," she said gently.

"It's not that," Cynthia said, "It's me. To actually have those words coming out of my own mouth, I don't want that, that's not who I want to be. Is there anything wrong with not wanting that?" She felt guilty even admitting it, Ruby had already been through all that, and now here she was looking out for her own self.

Ruby looked away, "I didn't want that either." Then she turned her head back to look at Cynthia somberly. "When you're in that kind of pain, I don't think you have very much choice what kind of dragon you become."

Cynthia looked at Ruby, she couldn't imagine what it had been like for her, always so clean, having all those words like that coming out of her mouth. Her heart twisted, she didn't even know what it was like to be her friend anymore, and in some ways, she was no longer sure if she wanted to. "I'm so sorry," she said lightly.

Ruby shrugged, "Don't feel bad for me, you'll be having your own share pretty soon."

Cynthia felt her tummy, they really were so close to coming. Tomorrow would be the day where Cynthia would be in the same spot that Ruby was at yesterday.

Is that what it had to be, Cynthia asked herself, that cursing was what it cost to become a mother?

This time Ruby hugged Cynthia, "Listen, however it goes, I'll still be your friend, you know that."

Cynthia hugged her back, "I know. And you'll always be my best friend no matter what."

And it was true, but there was no comfort in it.

---

Cynthia tried to take deep breaths as she waited outside in the clinic's waiting area to be admitted inside her laying room. Labor hadn't started yet, but she could tell from the unsettling stirring in her stomach that it was getting close; she had got here as early as she could so she could be ready when it started. It was a quiet day in the labor ward and perhaps only one other dragon was laying at the moment (it did not sound like it was going well, obviously, but at least it seemed she was about done), and Cynthia had very little to calm her nerves as she awaited the inevitable labor that laid before her.

Simo sat next to her his presence somewhat comforting to the anxiety firing all over inside her, but he could only do so much. Ruby had also offered to be here, but she had also realized that with all that had happened lately that might just make things all the more stressful. She completely understood when Cynthia told her it might be best if she just let her husband accompany her for this. Ruby promised Cynthia she'd remain close by just in case, and Cynthia couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude toward her friend.

"You okay?" Simo asked, noticing Cynthia talons tapping violently beneath her.

Cynthia nodded. She had finally opened up to Simo about all her fears and anxieties last night, and he had just listened. It had been comforting to let it out to him, but right now, her stomach was unsettled, her nerves were already all over the place, talking about it would just make it worse.

"Hey, listen," Simo said, looking her in the eyes, "whatever you say in there, I'm not going to hold against you."

"I know" Cynthia said, "but I don't... I just don't want to say those things to you."

"And I hope you won't," said Simo, holding her talons tight, "But just remember, whatever happens, I love you."

She rested her head on him, just grateful for his presence.

Pretty soon, the nurses came back to the front and led her to her room. It looked fairly comfortable, but Cynthia didn't let that comfort her, knowing full well of the torture that would soon be happening inside these walls. There was a widow to the outside looking out to the city, but the curtains were closed - a good thing, because even on an upper floor like this she really didn't want any dragons who happened to fly by outside to see her as she was about to be.

Inwardly, she winced, I always try to be so modest, now all these nurses are going to be seeing me as eggs come out of me in the most indecent way possible.

She shook her head. No use worrying about that, now matter how self-conscious it made her feel, what mattered was not what the process was, but how she reacted, and what she said, that was what she had to focus on.

Cynthia's stomach twisted with anxiety, she didn't want to do this, she wanted to go home. But she also felt the stirring of the eggs inside her and knew there was no way to keep this from happening.

"Okay," said the Nurse, "You know how this works, right?"

Cynthia went red, "Yes, a lot of indecency, a whole lot of words concerning parts of me I'd rather not have mentioned, please, I don't feel like talking about this, okay? Can we just let it happen and accept it as it is without using any of those...uncomfortable words to describe it." She tried to be as polite as she could, but the thought of actually putting into words what was about to happen to her was something she did not want to hear.

The nurse nodded, "As you wish." She collected some things, "We'll be back in a few minutes, just settle in and try to relax, okay? I know it's hard."

With that, she left Cynthia and Simo alone.

Cynthia felt her stomach, "This is going to hurt, isn't it?"

Simo said nothing, they both knew the answer to that question.

Cynthia looked at him, "You know how this works, right?"

Simo gave her a "seriously" face, "Yes, well of course." He wasn't going to say anymore than that. "But Cynthia," he continued gently, "it's just the way of nature, you don't have to feel bad about it, you know that." He knew it'd already been said, but he felt for her, it was worth repeating.

"I know," Cynthia said, looking away, "I'm just stressed, that's all. I don't..." She took a deep breath, "I don't want to cuss." Cynthia admitted quietly.

"I know," said Simo going up to hug her, "I know."

Then abruptly, Cynthia pulled back in shock.

"Cynthia?" Simo asked in concern.

"It's starting, oh no, oh no, please-" and then a contraction shocked her. She gave a loud yelp, alerting all the nurses in the labor ward.

Her nurses came in and immediately went about trying to comfort her. Cynthia struggled to catch her breath through the pain, panic rising in her as she realized this was actually happening, the pain that she was feeling and would soon be feeling was very real. She didn't want to think about the agony that awaited her, but she was about to feel it, so then how could she not think of it?

And so her labor had begun. Cynthia stood whimpering, hunched on all fours, pressed down, her... _behind slightly raised (not the most decent position she'd ever stood in). She had no idea if this was the best position, but it was the one that suited her at the moment. Not that any position felt comfortable, but at least in this one she could stay folded over.

The pain she felt felt so indecent - how could this be happening to her? - she would never dare to say where the pain was attacking her.

But then, an unexpected sharp pain.

"My v_____!" she cried. Shock rippled through her at the realization of what she'd just said, of all the nurses standing around her knowing exactly what that word meant and how it related to her. Hot shame filled her face, but the pain was just too much. "My v_____!" Tears rolled down her face, how could she, she had never had to use such a term in her life. She was so ashamed of herself, but she was in so much pain, she just kept repeating those words over and over, "My v_____! My v_____! My v_____! My v_____!"

Then suddenly, a sharp contraction racked her, ripping the first egg free from her. "D___IT!" she screamed. The room went still, everybody looked at her. "I'm sorry!" she suddenly cried, hot shame filling her. She'd just done it. She'd just said something she'd hoped she never would. "I didn't mean to say that! I didn't..."

"It's okay," her husband said. He picked up the egg from the floor, "See, the first egg's here, isn't it beautiful?"

It didn't matter though - yes, it was beautiful - but she'd just uttered a word that he would never have to use. It may have been only a mild one, but it was still a curse word, and he had no idea how lucky he was not to be in her place, all this guilt and shame that he didn't have to feel, it made her feel so demeaned in herself.

Then suddenly the contractions began to pick up again, hammering her inside out, the pain was unbearable. Cynthia gritted her teeth, and then burst into screaming. Fortunately, no more words came out this time, just pure guttural agony, it was so intense, she couldn't even muster a single syllable.

And so it was as the eggs made their way through her body and into the world, every once in awhile she would begin panting again, "My v_____! My v_____! My v_____! My v_____!" and then another egg would be born, and she'd scream excruciatingly, but no more real curses surfaced, she was in too much pain to care about bad words anymore. She still regretted the one mild one that came out earlier, and the shameful term she kept using even now, but as she cried her way through labor, she just wanted the pain to end, she didn't care who heard about her "v_____" anymore, she didn't care that the dragon who had finished having her eggs just across the hall from her and the huge group of relatives that had come to congratulate her on the delivery could certainly hear every cry Cynthia was making, she was trembling all over in her wretched body, it hurt so much.

"Are you okay?" her husband asked her.

She just shook her head and whimpered, "no." She didn't know how any dragon could take this.

Another contraction, "My..." This time she gritted her teeth, trying to hold back, but the pain wouldn't cease, she couldn't help herself, what was the point in holding back anyway, so she burst out again in another round of "My v_____! My v_____! I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My v_____! I'm sorry. My v_____! I'm sorry." She'd just keep saying that word again and again, and why not? It humiliated her so - every dragon flying by outside could probably hear it - she never used such terms out loud, but that's where all the agony was heading as the contractions tried to force the eggs to rip themselves out of her; who cared now if she declared it to the world? Right now it was her comfort word; it stung to hear herself saying it, but that helped to bring away some of the sting from labor, and maybe it helped distract her from using something much stronger and so awful that she'd never be able to live with herself again - she'd lived with that part of herself her whole life (once again, her husband hadn't), she'd just never had to say it. Though perhaps she didn't know how anyone could live with themselves knowing the pain of labor either.

And then, suddenly, she was screaming, "MY V_____! MY V_____! MY V_____!" the pain too sharp for any dragon to handle.

As her husband stood by her side, patiently listening as she cried her mantra over and over, she realized he would be spared ever having to use that term too, (he probably wouldn't have been able to bring himself to use it if he tried; apparently, that wasn't the case for her). Right now, it was her naughty little word, one that would exist for her and her labor alone.

Through the fog of pain, Cynthia realized at some point, her mother had come by to visit her and check on how she was doing. Cynthia, still wrapped up in her tirade, felt so ashamed to be using such a term in front of her own mother, but she couldn't stop herself.

"I'm sorry, but it hurts," Cynthia whimpered with tears or sweat in her eyes, she couldn't tell "Oh my v_____ hurts!" she wailed.

Cynthia's mother winced at hearing her daughter say that word, but she just nodded understanding, "I know sweety, I know. It happens."

"But it shouldn't," Cynthia said through another whimper, she would try to refrain from using it at least while her mother was here- but then another bolt of pain ripped through her. "My v_____!" she cried.

So, throughout the remainder of her hard and painful labor of 20 eggs, Cynthia continued to scream, wail, shrieked and whatever other types of anguished cries one could make of that term over and over. Yes, it was shameful, but she was so busy on that word, she didn't have energy to focus on any other curse words. So ironically, the most embarrassing term she could use about herself, in some way, helped her more than she could've ever dared to hope.

And then, finally, with one last agonizing shriek, the last egg was laid. As Cynthia took in deep breaths of recovery, the nurses stepped out of the room to give her and Simo a chance to rest a few minutes.

"I made it," she said, breathing deeply, "and I only said one bad word."

She still felt bad about that one slip up, but perhaps it had been mild enough to let go.

But her husband just shrugged, "Though I'm sure anyone anywhere near the clinic had quite an interesting earful of anatomical terminology if you don't mind me saying." He wasn't mocking her, he was just being honest, but Cynthia still winced. She thought of all the dragons who had just probably been flying by outside who now had to associate that term and how it related to her to her voice, it did not feel like the greatest thing to happen to her dignity to say the least. Simo noticed her face. "But don't worry, you did fine," he assured her comfortingly.

Cynthia reluctantly sighed, apparently she'd have to admit she hadn't been perfect, perhaps no mother could be while in labor, she like Ruby and many other dragons before her had said some things she had never thought she'd say. She had managed to keep it milder than most, but her record wasn't entirely clean either. Ruby had managed to cope by letting it slide, Cynthia didn't know if she'd be able to do so as well; she might very well feel the sting of her own self-betrayal for the rest of her life, but she'd managed to hold on just enough that she might be able to get past it. She'd declared aspects of herself she'd rather not mention, and she'd used one mild curse, if that was the extent of her language for her life, especially considering how much pain she'd had to live through, perhaps this was something where she could live with herself.

Simo sat there in silence for a few moments while Cynthia processed her thoughts, but then he let a sly smile cross his face, "Besides, that word you chose was quite cute, I suppose," he said unexpectedly. "Although I do prefer the shorter variation of the term."

"Oh stop it!" said Cynthia, hitting him in the head with a pillow.

But hey, she had ended up saying some stuff that wasn't exactly particularly in her comfort zone, it only seemed only fair if he let himself take on some of the load of shameful talk as well, even if he could never bring himself to use the terms directly (even if what he was saying was true). Cynthia understood what he was doing, and even though he was such an annoyance right now, she did feel grateful.

By this point, another dragon had come in to lay her eggs, and as Cynthia heard her screams, she could help but feel sorry for her, while her pain was done, this other dragon's suffering had just begun. Cynthia didn't know where this other dragon stood on cursing, but she hoped she wasn't one to be too hard on herself, because she wasn't making it far, spewing words that Cynthia now knew (fortunately) she would never have to use. But such was the nature of life Cynthia guessed, one dragon would finish laying, another would begin, some dragon would be in pain while another would finally be given their relief, it was a constant cycle. No dragon could predict what another dragon would say during their delivery, some would curse like there was no tomorrow, but perhaps there were some who'd make it through without it; every dragon would have to deal with the pain in her own way.

Cynthia looked at her 20 eggs, sitting beside her, everything leading here had been hard, but at least these ones had come out of it; every one of her children who hatched from these eggs would be precious to her.

As they left the hospital loaded with all the eggs she had laid - a couple of slings and overloaded arms - the cleaning girl passed them, giving Cynthia a polite nod of approval. When they got outside, Ruby was there to greet them at the front door.

"Cynthia, you're here, how are you?" She noticed them struggling with their loads, "Here, let me help you with that."

She grabbed a few of the eggs from Cynthia and Simo's arms and held them tight, "Oh, they're so beautiful."

Cynthia nodded, "Yeah," she replied simply. She meant it, but she was just exhausted.

Cynthia looked at Ruby, suddenly feeling sorry again, thinking of all the words she had now said that Cynthia never would, and she felt an ache inside her for that part of their relationship that they would never again share.

A slight silence fell over Cynthia. Ruby looked back at her. Obviously the past few hours had been quite hard on her, there was no telling what she'd been through in the delivery room she knew.

"It's okay," Ruby said finally, "you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Cynthia nodded gratefully at Ruby, as close as they were as friends, she decided she would let this pass. What had happened had happened, they'd both lived through their deliveries as best as they could, and now it was time to let it rest in the past.

As they started walking again to head back home, Cynthia looked at Ruby, then at Simo, the two most supportive dragons in her life; grateful more than anything to have them both. "Thank you," she said.