While Elma is resting at home, I'm grocery shopping. She wanted to come too but since it's still summer, it's really hot and I don't want my pregnant wife spending too much time in the hot sun.

After purchasing some meat, I notice a woman in her 40s standing in the corner of the stall looking confused. Her head bobs from side to side and she is sweating profusely. Everyone is just passing her by.

"Pa-pardon me young man,but can you help me-?" she asks a teenager.

"What the hell woman? Can't you see I'm in a rush? Frickin old people." he says and storms off with his other friends who are laughing.

The woman looks as if she's about to break down. I'm shy when it comes to meeting new people so I wait a little more to see if anyone else will help her but everytime she asks for assistance people just ignore her and continue walking. Her piercing blue eyes meet mine and now there's nothing I can do but approach her when she notices me looking at her.

"Um are you getting through, Miss? You look lost" I ask her. Her clothing is not from this period at all. She could be a cosplayer. She's probably here for the convention this weekend and can't find her way to the venue.

The woman looks at me with swollen teary eyes. "N-no. Pl-please help me."

"Ye-yes of course. What is it?" I ask her, feeling my shyness stepping in. I don't know what to do. I mean she's crying and I don't really know how to comfort the strange woman. Her clothes are definitely strange though. She's dressed in an ivory semi-fitted chemise that emphasizes her D cup breasts and waists, while softly draping around her 'child-bearing' hips. The dress had a long draping sleeve and looked like it came from the medieval period. Her long dark violet hair nearly touches the ground. She's very beautiful.

"Who are you cosplaying as? You're here for the big convention aren't you?" I ask her, feeling a bit braver at the woman's plight.

"Co-cosplay? What is that? I just- I just want to find my daughter..." she cries, having tears stain her face.

"Do-don't cry. Where does your daughter live?" I ask, remembering I'm not that very good with remembering names.

"She-I think she- I don't know...where is it again? I can't remember- um it must be, oh now I remember it's one of those large buildings."

She cuffs her fists and speaks which I think is adorable even for a woman at her age. The way she's so shy and stutters- anyone would think it's cute.

"You mean in an apartment building? Well there are many around here...Maybe we can start looking in the one I live in" I say and give her a little smile.

Her expression relaxes. "Th-thank you. I'm grateful."

I take her to the Security office at the apartment and she tells the clerk she's looking for her daughter.

"Can you describe the person to me or do you have a photo?" he asks.

" she has short hair like the colour of mine. She's not to too tall but she's not short either and she's very beautiful" the lady says sounding a bit proud.

Eyes as beautiful as the ocean, wide hips and violet hair. WAIT A MINUTE! Could this woman

be-?

"Co-could you possibly be looking for someone by the name of Elma?"I ask her.

The woman gasps and the clerk looks at me. "Yes. Do you know her?" she asks.

"I'm her wife, Nayura."

The woman gasps again. She places her hands to her mouth in a surprised expression and her eyes widen.

"You-you're the one my daughter and her father speaks so much about? ..."You-you're Nai?"

I was still speechless. "Ye-yeah. And you must be Elma's mother right?"

"Elma, wake up. You have someone here to see you."

"Hm?" she says and rubs her eyes, getting up from the bed. She follows me into the living room where her mother's waiting.

"Yes?" Elma asks as she steps out of the bedroom, still half-asleep and rubbing her eyes. Her eyes meet the sight of her mother standing awkwardly in our living room.

Elma gasps. "MOTHER?! I didn't know you would have come.! Is something wrong?" Elma asks with a worried tone.

Her mother smiles at her, the first time I have seen her smile.. She looks relieved. "Nothing's wrong. I just thought I'd pay you a visit" she says and playfully presses in Elma's cheeks.

Elma blushes. Her mother looks very normal though. She treats her daughter like any other mother would, but she's a dragon. I couldn't believe it. Well I guess it is believable because Elma is a nice humble girl so it does make sense her family is like that too.

"My daughter I've missed you so much."

"But Elma told me that no one would miss her if she stayed in this world" I say, recalling the time she had told me that.

Her mother pulls her cheeks roughly.

"Owwww mom stop it, you're embarrassing me."

"Oh ho ho! I'm your mother. It's my god-given right to embarrass you especially after you told Nai no one would miss you."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry to interrupt again but you're my guest. Please have a seat. Let me get some tea for you" I say. to her.

Her tummy rumbles and she turns her head the other way in shame. Like mother, like daughter, I guess.

When we're all seated in the living room sipping chai, Elma speaks.

"Well mom I'm glad you could have come to our wedding."

"Oh that! Oh yes, I did attend it. It's just I lost my memories. A wicked mage wiped some of my memories" she says, happily enjoying the cup of chai.

"What's strange though, is that I didn't recognize her today even though she was at the wedding. It's like I can't remember her." I say..

"Th-that's because well I- I might have wiped your memories of me, Nai."

"Why would you do that, mother!?" Elma asks.

She cowers, downing her head and staring at the teacup. I notice how her hands are shaking with the tea cup, as she holds it.

She exhales and speaks. "Well I still haven't gotten over my fear of humans. Ever since my daughter was betrayed by them, I feared that they were plotting something."

"Didn't we already have this conversation, mom? There are good humans and bad humans"

"I-I'im so sorry. You are right. Nai was the only one who showed me an ounce of kindness when the other people on the street were ignoring me. She's kind, Elma. I'm glad you chose her to be your mating partner."

"Wha-what?' Elma says blushing furiously.

I also blush.

"Oh you two. Don't give me that look. My daughter is carrying your babies inside of her, Nai. I know it and I'm happy for the both of you."

I take Elma's hand in mine. "Yes she's pregnant. We would have told you but we don't know how to contact you from the other world" I say. Although the woman was her mother, she looks great for her age. I mean she must be thousands of years old but she's still very beautiful. The only thing that had indicated aging were a few wrinkles and one and two grey hairs. I couldn't believe I was looking at the woman who made my wife. It was so very surreal. I thought dragons' parents were the hostile kind but I was so wrong. This woman is easy to talk to like her daughter.

"Your little Haru, he's a bundle of joy. I play with him alot. I'm really thankful you two gave me a grandson."

"Is he behaving well?" I ask her.

"Yes. He's very obedient. He reminds me of Elma when she was little. She wasn't a very troublesome child but she hated it when her dragon playmates were mean to her and called her names."

"I'm glad to hear he's doing fine" Elma says, sounding a bit saddened.

There's an awkward pause before Elma's mother speaks up again.

"I knew you were the one for Elma. I was skeptical at first when she told me you were a human. After she was used and betrayed, she was miserable. I was partially to blame because I had taught her everything she knew about your species and encouraged her to help them out. She ended up enjoying helping them until they tossed her aside like she was an old piece of meat" her mother says, looking very dismal.

"That's so awful.. Elma you never told me about that."

"It's because it's something I don't like bringing up. I'm sorry I never told you.". I squeeze her hand tighter.

'"My daughter used to lead humans to peace back when dragons were worshipped, She was in her own way their "Goddess"- the humans used to call her "Sekai-miko Sama" which means Saint from the Seas. Back then she had long hair just like mine and she used to travel on carriages carried by humpback camels. The human shrine maidens would perform dance rituals for her and they held many festivals in her name. Under her guidance and care, she never executed any human nor did she ever encouraged human sacrifice. A mother couldn't have been more proud. She protected those people from pain and passed on their prayers to the gods and the thanks she got for it was a stab in her back. The humans were conspiring to start a war in her name even though she did not sanction it and had known nothing of it. Luckily she was told of this by the Emperor of Demise's daughter, Tohru who destroyed the place of worship of 'Sekai-miko Sama's' followers. And even after all that, she still forgave them and rebuilt the palace so they would have a place to live in."

I felt my eyes tearing up. "That's so cruel. Mankind is so cruel. I say looking at Elma with a downcast expression."

"It's okay Nai. It happened a long time ago" she said trying to comfort me but I wasn't the one who needed comforting.

I pull her into a hug. "NO IT'S NOT! You deserved better. You were too good for them and even after they betrayed you, you still didn't destroy them. You gave them and their families a home to live in. You're too pure-hearted and didn't deserve that." I say, crying now.

Elma offers me a tissue when we break the hug.

Her mother silently watches on in awe.

"You- you feel so much sympathy and compassion for my child. I wish all humans were like you. Even her own friend Tohru left her when she needed her the most that's why she came to this world in search for her. Even after she heard that wild chaos dragon died, she never gave up searching for her. Anyway I'm trailing off, when Elma came back to my world to negotiate her retirement, she wouldn't stop talking about you. I was intrigued and wanted to meet you. I told her if she thinks you are worthy to be her companion, then by all means, she has my blessing. I was still skeptical but the sacrifice you both made by giving up your first-born son to the Harmony Faction, is a great one. You both are highly respected among us even if Nai is only a human. Those policies by the way are so outdated. They were made by the older folks, my ancestors. However they are currently reviewing old Harmony guidelines and laws and if they change the law, you might be able to get back your Haru."

We both gasp. "Really? we both ask in sync.

"Well if that stupid child sacrifice law gets erased from our books, I would push buttons, as many as I can to find a way to return your son to you."

Elma stands up and shouts "That's wonderful news! Please try your best mom!"

"You seem very kind, Miss- how should I address you?" I ask the woman before me.

She grins. "Oh you don't need to worry about that. You can just call me 'mom'. Elma told me that both of your parents died when you were only a student. That must have been difficult for a growing child. You're like a daughter to me and it would make me happy if you think of me as your second mother from now on."

My eyes blinked a lot trying to fight back tears. This woman, this dragoness, she was so kind to me and Elma. I get up to find myself bowing at her feet.

"Thank you for blessing my relationship with your daughter. Please continue in your noble fight for Haru. I will always remember you even if you're so far away., Mom"

She pats my head and Elma places a hand on my shoulder.

"Please continue taking good care of my daughter. The last time I visited her in this world, she was living off breadcrumbs and water. She was still living alone. You seem to be taking good care of her. She always tries to maintain an independent impression and can be stubborn so please bear with her" the woman says smiling at Elma.

"Moooommmmm that's enough."

I chuckle. "Don't worry. Your daughter has to put up with me too.."

"Well I don't want to overstay. You two be good to each other and good will follow you. The next time you see me, is when your offsprings' eggs are hatched... I was worried but now that I've met you personally, you seem like a good person and I can finally rest. Take care."

She takes out a little square box and holds it in her hand until a blue portal appears. I assume she needs the aid of the box in order to travel from world-to-world because she can't do it on her own, like Elma.

"Before you go mom" Elma hugs her and kisses her cheek.

"I really missed you doing that." she says before stepping through the portal. It closes.

"What do you think of my mother?'

"I think she's a very noble and benevolent woman. And you definitely got your looks from her."

Dragons may be to some people, mythical beasts with fangs and wings but while they are those things, to me they are individuals with feelings who are fighting their own battles too.

Author's note: So the title actually means How I met your Mother.