A/N: I forgot to mention, Dany is five months pregnant.

Chapter 12: Scars

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Jon was awakened by the sunlight bursting through the window and illuminating the soft lace veils surrounding their bed. Two days had passed since he'd cut down Tywin Lannister and Petyr Baelish, and much to his annoyance the new head royal physician had ordered him on bed rest until his wounds closed properly. He glanced at his side, Dany's warmth was missing. Jon went numb as he stared at her body on the farthest side of the bed, her hands were over the sheets, lying at her side and they were pale as the bedding. Jon bolted up, despite the painful racks in his torso.

A shaky hand reached out to trace the delicate features of her cheek as he whispered to her, almost urgently, "Dany, wake up!" After what seemed like an eternity, she stirred. He had never been so terrified in his life.

"Jon?" She murmured tiredly, the hollows of her cheek even more prominent. She smiled softly, seeing the worry marring his handsome face. Her hand came to rest on his cheek; she captured his lips in a sweet kiss. "The poison is still working its way out my body, and it will be a little longer until I can keep a meal down. But, I am fine."

"But," Jon went to argue, but Dany's lips were on his, silencing his protests, weakening his resistance. Jon gathered her to him, she whimpered softly against his lips, clutching fistfuls of hair. He imprisoned her in the strength of his arms, melding her body against his, straddling his waist. His mind was at war, the desire to protect, to cherish, and too soothe her. The softness, silken sheets fell away from her body, inviting him to her. Dany withered in his arms, moaned when he pressed a kiss against her neck. Her lips swelled, her flesh burned under him, seared his body, branded him as hers alone. Jon drew away slowly, her eyes burned dark, reflecting the raw yearning that he knew she saw in his own. He kissed her temple, smiling almost teasingly. "Not until you are fully recovered."

Dany sighed, pressing a kiss against his lips. She raised a brow, a mischievous smile playing along her lips. "It is your loss, not mine." She whispered heatedly in his ear.

Jon chucked, kissing her forehead. He whispered in return, "I'll take my chances."

Dany smiled as Jon lay back against the pillows, resting his aching body. She watched him fight back a small grimace, her gaze softened. She looked out at the window; in the distance she could see Dragonstone. "It's strange how quickly it has become peaceful again." She hummed lazily, still straddling his waist. She could feel his desire for her rise between her legs and she smirked in triumph.

"It is," Jon agreed quietly, his gaze shifting to her swelling stomach. A tender expression rose on his face, he rested a hand on her warm skin. "It's hard to believe how quickly they've grown."

Dany smiled, "We have been through a lot in a short amount of time. I had nearly forgotten myself at times how rapidly they grow." She glanced out the window, her violet eyes swirled with a dreamlike gleam. "Visenya will lay her clutch in the next few days." She whispered.

"Isn't it too soon?" Jon murmured gazing out at Dragonstone, he could make out shadows soaring around the island.

"No," Dany reassured him. "But, I am struggling with the decision if to raise them myself, or allow her to raise her children."

"Will she take care of them?"

"I don't know," Dany sighed, her gaze darkened. "Balerion and Rhaegal could pose a threat to the newborns. Visenya will not be able to protect her children from both of them. They are my children as well."

"Do what you think is best, Dany." Jon spoke, pressing a kiss to her hand. "You know about dragons more than anyone else."

Dany looked at her lover thoughtfully for a moment, "I want them brought to the Red Keep. Dragons are more or less harmless in their first year of life if trained." She gazed out at the rising sun. "If Visenya were to raise them, they would be wild, and that is not something I can have so close to King's Landing."

"Will Visenya let you take her clutch?"

"That is something else I don't know," Dany murmured. "I will call her here to King's Landing, I can only hope she will roost and make a nest here. Thankfully, she is the least aggressive, unlike her two brothers."

Jon chuckled, "Rhaegal isn't so bad."

Dany raised a brow teasingly, "He's your mount of course you would not think so."

"My mount?"

Dany laughed this time, running her fingers through his dark curls. "You mean to tell me you did not feel it? You two are bonded. His allegiance is no longer just to me, he is loyal to you before me now."

Jon looked in bewildered, "I had no idea."

Dany hovered over him, kissing him sweetly. "You have the blood of the Dragonriders of Old Valyria. Are you truly so surprised Rhaegal would bond with you?"

"I have never really thought of my mother's bloodline," Jon confessed quietly. "I have only ever known the north."

Dany's sweet gaze swept over him, "You will learn. I want our children to know the blood that runs in their veins, blood of Old Valyria and the north." She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. "In four months they will arrive, Jon. Do you think we are ready?"

Jon mused fondly, "I don't think we have much of a choice."

Dany laughed moving to curl into his side, reveling in his warmth. "You make have the look of the north, but you have the heat of a dragon."

Jon kissed her forehead. "I love you, Dany."

"And I love you." Dany whispered lovingly, "Always and forever."


Three days had passed, Dany had a large barn like building made for Visenya to land, inside she had a flock of sheep waiting for her draconic daughter. Dany wore a plum colored gown, ribbons of purple silk hung from gold cuffs around her upper arms. She looked ethereal to anyone who gazed upon her. Jon appeared from behind her.

"Are you sure you are ready for this?" She was surprised by his softly uttered question. "Months from now you will bear children, can you handle raising newborn dragons as well?"

Dany smiled ruefully, "Yes, but I will need you to take leadership of Westeros." Jon looked ready to argue. Dany pressed a kiss to the corner of his jaw, whispering softly. "You have done wonderfully so far, Jon. You were born to sit on a throne; I wish you would believe in yourself as I do."

Dany thought she could see a hint of a smile twitching on her husband's lips, but it wasn't optimistic. Jon sighed, "I will do my best, but you are the true ruler of Westeros, Dany. My talents lie in combat, not ruling a country."

"They do!" She insisted, after a moment, Dany's expression darkened slightly, "She's here."

A piercing screech could be heard overhead, a white body flew towards the Red Keep. Visenya roared, she was furious, the Mother of Dragons laughed, her draconic child was fuming for being summoned. Dany could already see the strain white dragon's body as she descended lower and lower until she landed on the wall of the Red Keep, fanning her wings and releasing a shrill cry at her mother. Some of the men cowered away from the expecting mother's anger. Visenya scrambled down the wall until she landed on the ground with unexpected graceful movements. Visenya's teeth clattered as she growled lowly at her human mother.

"Hush my darling," Dany soothed, she reached out to hold the dragon's snout. She smiled warmly, whispering lovingly to her dragon. The palace workers shied away, watching in awe of their queen. Dany saw a young child peeking out from behind a hedge. The Targaryen heir knelt down, beckoning the child with a flick of a hand, a nod of her head, and a smile of encouragement. Shyly the child approached, but his mother look on worriedly, though she held her tongue. "He'll be fine, I promise you." Dany spoke kindly, though the woman remained unconvinced, fighting back tears for her son's safety. The silver-haired queen turned to the boy, smiling tenderly. "May I ask your name?"

The little boy nodded with a beaming smile, "My name is Micah."

Dany touched his cheek, "A glorious name." The little boy smiled brighter.

"I want to be a knight one day!"

Dany raised a brow of surprise, looking on in pleasant surprise. "You do?"

"Yes!" Micah beamed with glistening brown eyes. "I will protect you one day, your Grace. I-I will be the best knight in all of King's Landing!" Dany laughed quietly as he stumbled over his words in a rush of excitement.

"I look forward to that day," Dany smiled almost sadly. How the deliriously blissful child reminded her of her beloved Rickon, her dear, sweet Stark boy. Leaning down, she gathered Micah into her arms. "Would you like to pet my dragon?"

"May I?" His looked on in childlike wonder. Dany nodded happily.

"Of course you may," Dany rose and held the little boy at her hip. She took his hand in hers. "She is here to protect you, and your mother. She protects all the people of Westeros." She pressed his hand against Visenya's snout, the white dragon crooned softly. Molten gold eyes watched the tiny boy with curiosity in her mother's arms. Dany turned to gaze upon the dozen people who hid behind pillars and trees. She called to them, "You may approach; she will not harm you." Encouraged by their queen, one by one the workers approached hesitantly, standing a few paces behind their queen.

"Are you sure the dragon will not turn on us?" A woman whispered.

"The dragon allowed the boy to touch it!" Another man whispered in awe back to the woman.

"I want to touch it!" Another man murmured excitedly from farther back.

Dany cast a smile to Jon, Tyrion and Ser Barristan who stood close by. She held out a hand to a young woman with auburn curls, and a pretty face. Micah's mother, slowly the woman came forth until she was at the queen's side, she glanced nervously at the beast who son continuously petted without a care in the world. "She will not harm you or your child; you may pet her if you please."

"Thank you, your Grace!" The woman bowed, reaching out a fearful hand until it pressed against the smooth scaled face of the dragon. The woman blinked, "She's so warm." Dany smiled; slowly she was gathered by the small crowd as they took turns petting the fearsome creature. They all whispered to each other excitedly. Visenya crooned softly.

"She is truly one of a kind," Ser Barristan mused fondly. "The people love her; slowly all of Westeros will learn to love her as well."

Tyrion nodded with a tender gaze, "She knows when to be kind and when to be fearsome as her dragons."

"She is a queen Westeros can be proud of," Jon spoke lovingly as both men nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, queen!" Micah hugged her as he hurried after his mother to return to her duties. Dany waved in return, slowly the small crowd departed with thankful cries to their queen. Jon came to her side, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"Why was Visenya so irritable?" Jon murmured as Visenya's tail swayed.

Dany laughed as Ser Barristan and Tyrion came to their sides, she mused fondly at her dragon. "I would be ill-tempered as well if I was expected to fly while so heavily pregnant." She intercepted his thoughtful frown and blinked, casting her eyes to the white dragon's round belly. "She must be expecting a large clutch, and I could sense the strain in her wings when she took flight. She's ready to lay her eggs. She will need a lot of nourishment and peace. It will be a long night."

Suddenly she found herself dragged against her husband's chest in a fierce hug, "I'll return shortly. Lord Varys will come to keep you company." He murmured above her head.

"I'll be fine," Dany offered him a small smile. "Go, I'll be here."

Jon appeared conflicted before he sighed and kissed her chastely on the lips. "I'll be back soon." He promised.

As Jon, Ser Barristan, and Tyrion left, Lord Varys appeared, bowing to his king before approaching his queen. "It's a beautiful day for birthing."

Dany laughed, "I'd think so." She called to her dragon, leading her to the manmade den. The white dragon crooned against Dany's shoulder before entering the large barn and curling onto the enormous mound of hay, Varys grimaced when Visenya growled predatorily and sunk her fangs into a lamb that wailed for its mother before it was devoured whole. Dany cast him a sheepish expression. "It is not a pleasant view I'm afraid."

Varys chuckled, "It is alright, I have seen worse, had much worse to me as a child."

"I have heard some stories," Her tone was resigned. "No child should have to suffer, for that I am sorry on behalf of those who hurt you. I cannot undo the scars of the past, but I can promise you, as a vital member of my council, and of my family, I will never allow harm to befall you again."

Her words surprised him. No king, queen, or person had ever truly cared for him unless it benefited them. The single thought that Dany would concede to him as part of her family warmed him. "You truly are to kind, my queen." Varys whispered.

Her gentle laughter soothed him as much as the tender look in her eyes when she corrected him, "Dany, remember?"

Varys nodded as he mused, "Yes, I was forgetting."

"Having a family is still new to me as well Lord Varys," Dany spoke solemnly. "I had only begun to learn about true kinship under the watch of Eddard Stark, interacting with his children." She laughed self-deprecatingly. "I was a broken thing. The only family I had before them were my dragon eggs. In lonely times they were companions, my only ones." She caressed her stomach affectionately. "Never I had I imagined I would gain a family, one day marry a man of my own choosing, one I truly loved and bear his children." She gazed at Varys, her violet eyes darkened. "These children will be your family as well."

Lord Varys looked at her swollen stomach with a gentle gaze, "I will love them as my own." Dany smiled softly. Silently, the two watched as Visenya nudged at her large belly before sighing and resting. The Targaryen heir went to her child, she sat upon the hay, Visenya shifted to rest her weary head beside her mother's leg, and a deep rumble rolled in her chest. Dany stroked Visenya; her head alone was the size of a horse. Varys watched the young woman, immersed with her dragon. Never had he met such a woman, a human. Loving and tender as a blossoming flower, yet equally terrifying as a destructive storm when needed, she was so much more than her Targaryen ancestors. He laughed to himself, "A family of misfits and broken things."


Jon sat in the small council chambers, Tyrion, Ser Barristan, Ned, and Robb at his side. Ghost, Grey Wind, and Summer lay on large pillows, Jon cracked a small smile, and they had become accustomed to the spoiled life Dany bestowed upon them. He turned his dark, brooding eyes onto the man before him, Jorah Mormont. He was conflicted. He knew of his father's feelings towards the man, but he also had his own thoughts of his former mentor, Jeor Mormont, he had been a father figure to him when his own father failed to be.

"You understand why I must do this?" Jon remarked somewhat dryly.

"Yes," Jorah nodded, his expression gave nothing away.

Jon sighed, leaning forward in his chair. Ned spoke, "You fled like a coward, and you disgraced your family and abandoned your duty."

"Slavery is illegal in the Seven Kingdoms," Jon began as Jorah stood lifeless. "You know that."

"I will not stand before you and lie." His voice quieted as he murmured more to himself. "I have already done enough of that. Yes, I did try and sell poachers into slavery instead of turning them over to the Night's Watch as I should have. I have no excuses."

"The queen's views on slavery are highly known." Robb spoke next, his hand resting upon Ice.

"I was informed by the queen herself," Jorah's tone was slightly defensive.

"You past aside, how can I trust you?" Jon bit out, rounding a glare on the older man. "You were meant to be an informant to Robert Baratheon, if you could so easily be persuaded by him how do I know you won't be again the future. As part of my Kingsguard you are meant to protect me, my family. How do I know you won't turn on me if someone were to pay you to do so?"

Ned's gaze darkened and his voice grew cold. "You may have his name, but you are nothing compared to your father."

Jorah's eyes narrowed; his voice somber. "I know all that."

Jon didn't answer for a long moment. He looked thoughtful, almost melancholy. "Jeor Mormont was like a father to me. My wife has already pardoned you. It is because of them I will offer you a chance, fail me, and you will die by my sword."

"Understood," Jorah bowed.

Jon nodded, "You are dismissed."

"Thank you," Jorah turned and left the room.

Ned looked at his son, "Are you sure that was wise?"

Jon slumped back in his seat and sighed, "I don't know. Dany seems to have faith in him, Jeor was his was father. If those two are not reason enough to give him a second chance then I don't know what is."

"He's a slaver."

"He's the son of the man who mentored me, who was a father to me when you abandoned me to the Night's Watch." Jon spoke coldly, Ned grimaced inwardly. "We have all been changed by this war, and he has lived in exile for years. I have to trust Dany's judgment. Some people do deserve a second chance; I learnt that at my time at The Wall." Jon's gaze was unreadable. "Honor is not always enough, that is something else I learned, and it's about time we all did. There are men living freely who have committed far worse crimes than Jorah Mormont. Is that honor or justice?"

Ned sighed, patting his son on the shoulder. "I may not agree with everything, but I will support your decisions. I owe you that, my son."

Jon could only nod; part of him still resented his father deep down. "I must go, I promised Dany."

"Of course," Ned murmured, releasing his son as he strode away.

Tyrion came to the Warden of the North's side, playing over his words, he spoke warily. "Give him time."

"How much time does he need?" Eddard looked defeated.

"When you've been ignored your whole life, watched your half-siblings grow up with a father and mother's love, sometimes all the time in the world is never enough." Tyrion informed him softly. "Jon, he has a large heart, to big in my opinion. It's never fully mended. Because of Lady Stark you could never love him openly, only from afar. Then, almost because of Lady Stark you shunned him and sent him to The Wall. If your father did that to you would you be so forgiving?"

Ned nodded, eyes tapering sadly. "I never did love him as I should have. I allowed him to be blamed for my faults."

"And there we have it," Tyrion sighed. "You already know why he is the way he is. Give him space; give him time, he's under a lot of stress. A country in chaos to rule, and children on the way can take their toll on a young man."

"He will be a good father, better than I have ever been."

"You were a good father, Eddard." Tyrion reassured him. "You did your best."

"I could have done more."

"We all could have done more," Lord of Casterly Rock mused somewhat amusedly. "For example I could have killed my father long ago, why didn't I, because he was my father. And as arrogant and cruel as he was I still cared for him. We cannot change the past, but we can make amends for the future."

Ned chuckled, "I was wrong about you, Tyrion Lannister."

Tyrion smirked, "Most men are."


When Jon left the Small Council chambers, he had not realized how late it had become. The sun had nearly fallen altogether. He walked out to the large barn, Visenya had gone. Instead, there stood Dany overlooking a pyre, her hair delicately woven into a thick braid. One by one, her family assembled: Starks, Varys, Ser Barristan, Missandei, Grey Worm, Tyrion, and her beloved direwolves.

"What are you doing?" Jon questioned; whether he should have or not did not matter. He had only come a moment earlier when the wind picked up, carrying with it the whispers of death.

She caught his gaze and smiled, Jon's chest tightened, his body tensed, and he knew he was doomed to give in to her. "Trust me," Were the only words he heard when a shriek floated along the air as Balerion emerged from the shadows of the night. It was as if the darkness itself cowered from his ruby eyes. Jon had to bring his hands to his ears, pressing against them in attempt to mute the noise.

Jon felt fear rise in him. The sort of fear that you never forget no matter how many beautiful things you hear or see afterwards. "Dany!" He protested, but he knew it was useless. He looked behind her; eleven livestock were bound to large tree pillars. In the middle was a mound of branches formed like a table, upon them laid eleven large eggs.

"Trust me," Dany reassured him. "We will be fine." Her hand pressed against her stomach. Her gaze softened. "This is the only way my children will hatch." Without another word, she whispered the command to her beloved 'black dread', 'dracarys.' She entered the ring of stone and wood.

"No!" Jon lunged forward; Ned and Robb caught him in mid-step and jerked him back. He half growled, half hissed at them. "Let me go!" His eyes glowed with anger before he became ashen as Dany and the pyre was engulfed in a sea of Balerion's black flame. He looked helpless among the dancing flames. Balerion screeched, wings fanning out, he watched the fire with an elusive gaze, as if mesmerized by the fire. Was he recalling his own birth?

Ser Barristan spoke quietly as everyone stood pale as the morning dawn at their queen's action, "Now we wait."

Jon sighed, "We wait."


In the early dawn morning, the last of the flames died away, Jon rose from the ground slowly, and through the silence he heard a soft crack in quick successions. Jon hurried through the burnt wood, tiny life-filled flames held on the remaining branches, almost as if to light his path to her. He found her then, amidst the glowing embers and ashes, she sat, naked, covered in soot, her brilliant silver mane dusty gray, yet she was unharmed, unburnt. At her breasts suckled two tiny dragons, others clambered up her legs, were cradled in her arms and lap, upon her shoulder sat one, as the sun rose and hit his tiny body, his gleaming scales shone like beaten gold and he stretched out his wings, the pale pink membrane glowing, but it was his eyes that caught his attention, red as rubies, just like its father. It screeched, stirring everyone from their slumbers.

Jon smiled warmly, he knelt, touching her ashen cheek, he pressed a kiss to her pale lips. "Welcome back." He whispered lovingly to her.


End of Chapter!

I hope you all enjoyed and please review if you want more updates!

A/N: So, Visenya basically abandoned her clutch because doesn't know how to raise baby dragons, since she was raised by Dany. Either way that's how it's going to go in my story! I don't really know how big many eggs a dragon would lay, but I chose eleven. I chose for Dany to enter the pyre, because I believe like the first time, the dragons see her first and see her as their mother, and offering herself as well to their birth bonds her to her dragons more. Well, in my story anyway that's the reason she entered the fire, and since she is the last dragon, she was unburnt, unharmed, so yes, her children survived.