Note: HI readers. Sorry I didn't upload. I was busy. I hope you are still following the story though. I had this idea in mind for quite a while now and after Xahrahs suggested a sick Elma fic, I thought about combining the two ideas. Enjoy! All the best for the new year!

My eyelids open to the sound of soft whimpering. I see a naked Elma, tossing and turning on the bed, her eyes still closed. I embrace her head in my chest which calms her whimpering.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Her clothing are all torn pieces on her skin now. It's like they just peeled off during the night.

"Nai, I think I am shedding" she says. She opens her eyes only for a second just to close them again. I notice some blue scales on the sheets from her tail. Her skin is peeling and have these white spots.

I continue cradling her head in my chest. "Are you in pain?"

"My whole body hurts. This hasn't happened to me in decades."

"Will the children be affected?" I ask her.

"It's different for dragons. They're still too young so their scales are new" she replies.

"I'm so relieved."

I begin to get off the bed and she holds my arm.

"Where are you going?" she asks, in an almost helpless tone.

"I'm just going to get a few painkillers and some water. I'll be back shortly."

"You can wear my clothes for the time being." I give her my t-shirt and some slacks with new underwear. They are a little baggy on her.

"Thank you...um" she says.

"Hm?"

"I just never thought I would be taken care of by a human when shedding but I'm happy you are here" she says with a slight smile.

As I exit the bedroom, I wonder if human medicine would have any effect on Elma. I don't have much but I can at least offer her some painkillers.

She takes the painkillers and chews them.

"No. You swallow these with water." I say.

She blushes. "I see."

I notice how she's profusely sweating. The sheets are very damp.

I change the sheets with her on it- a skill my late mother taught me. Her stomach rumbles.

"I'm sorry. I haven't given you anything to eat as yet." We hear the twins crying from the nursery.

"It's fine. Look after the twins first."

"Elma, is there anything I can do to stop the pain?"

"I'm afraid it's something I will have to endure. It's happened to me many times before so don't worry." She gives me a reassuring look.

"Tell me if you need anything" I kiss her forehead.

"As they say, new year new scales eh?" I say with a goofy smile.

She grins too. "I don't think they really say that."

I take the twins out of their nursery and feed them porridge.

"Guys, your mom is not too well right now so she can't nurse you."

"Mom is not well?" I feel Haru tug my nightgown.

I look down at him rubbing his eyes. "I want to see her" Haru pleads with longing eyes.

"Of course, Haru-chan. I have an idea. Why don't we make breakfast for her?"

"Yes! I will help!" the little dragon says eagerly, his tail perking up. I see Elma has taught Haru how to hide and show his tail and horn.

He puts the rice in the rice cooker. I prepare miso soup with rice and broiled eggs.

I leave the twins in their chair and go to our bedroom with Haru carrying the tea cup in his little hands.

Haru hops on the bed. "Mommy, you ok?" he asks with concern in his voice.

Elma pats his head and smiles. "Yes Haru-kun. I'm fine. I'm just shedding."

"What's that?"

"It's when a dragon changes old scales to new ones. Although we're in our human forms, we can't escape shedding season."

"Will that happen to me, and my brother and sister?" he asks.

"It will but not for now."

Elma happily eats the meal. "Sho delicious." She starts a fit of coughing. I rub her back.

"Chew slowly Elma. The food is not running away from the plate" I tell her.

After she finishes up, I tell her I will check on the twins.

"I will come too" Elma says.

"Elma, I know you want to go about your normal routine but I think it's best if you rest today. I will take care of everything. It's my day-off so don't you worry."

"But-"

"No buts. Haru it's time for your bath."

"Ok but I want to stay with Mommy Elma until she feels better"

"No prob, kiddo just take your bath and have breakfast, ok?"

Haru looks at Elma. "Well I guess Nai is fully in charge of the household today so listen to her, Haru."

"Ok."

After looking after the twins, I play a bit with them in the nursery until they both fall asleep.

I step into our bedroom. Haru is showing Elma something on his iPad.

"Wow those fruits are flying in the air so fast. I have to chop all of them!" Elma exclaims.

"But where are all the fruits we chopped up, Haru? Don't we get to devour them?"

Haru shakes his head. "We win the game by getting a high score"

"Ooh. I want to make a game like this but I will add all different types of food..taiyaki, manju, soba" Elma comments. They both drool.

"Guys, please excuse me. Haru, I will borrow Elma for a while, ok sweetheart?"

"Ok" the little dragon says and continues playing on his iPad.

Elma got up from the bed.

"I read on this website for shedding snakes that warm water helps when they shed so I prepared a warm bath for you."

"I am no pet Nai!" Elma exclaims, her reptilian pupils, now very obvious, giving me a good scare.

"Sorry Elma. I-I didn't mean it like that but I didn't know where else to get information about your condition at short notice."

"You're trying your best.. Well I guess there is no harm in bathing." she begins to take off the shirt I lent her.
I stop her. "You forgot Haru is in the room!" I say.

She grins. "Oh yeah."

She gets into the tub with warm water and bath salts. I use a scrub sponge on her tender skin. It's so strange and something I had never witnessed before. Snakes frighten me so I never kept one as a pet. While I scrub her, some skin comes off, leaving her body with pink patches.

"This bath is very relaxing. I can spend all day in here" she says.

"I'm glad it's helping dear."

"Aren't you going to join me?" Elma asks, settling her back against the tub.

"If you insist," I reply, dropping my robe. I slide into the tub and rest my back gently against her.

Elma rests her chin on my shoulder. She sighs happily.

"A girl could get used to this," Elma coos, now fully relaxed. "I don't know what deity loves me enough to send me you but I'm certainly glad that they did. I guess all of those prayers were worth it" She lightly kisses my neck.

We relax a few more minutes, then when I notice the water losing its warmth, I step out of the tub, wrapping myself in a fluffy white robe. I offer Elma a hand.

"Are you feeling better now?" I ask the water dragon, while wrapping her up in a soft white towel.

"Much better" she gives me a "thumbs up".

"You know, you've changed a bit from when I first met you. You used to be a little more serious but now you're more enthusiastic and positive."

"Well, I am changing my ways. I've learnt that having fun is very important in this world." she says proudly.

I pat her head and her peeling tail sways.

"I spoke with Kobayashi-san. She told me that Tohru and Kanna are also shedding and that she heard Lucoa and Fafnir are too."

"Oh my. It must also hurt them too. I want to check on them."

"You're not going anywhere, ok? Our friends will be okay."

She has a worried look on her face. "I'll give them a call." Even though she's not well, she's still thinking about her friends too. She does care about her closest and she has her own ways of showing it. That's why i love her.

"How do you feel now? I ask.

When we return to the room, I get her dressed and comb her hair.

Haru comes intp the bedroom.

"How are you feeling, Mom?" he asks.

"Thanks to your mother, I'm feeling much better. It's not so bad with you guys around. The last time this happened to me, I was alone."

I wipe some sweat from her forehead. "Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me for anything. By the way, how long will you shed? You know I don't like seeing anything bad happen to you."

"About three more days in human time"

I press her forehead to mine. "If you need anything, just ask, ok?"

She wraps her arms around me.

Haru hops on Elma's lap and joins our embrace too.

'This is so comforting" Elma says.

"Hmm I'm in the mood for some dango" I say.

"DANGO!?" mother and son exclaims.

"I'll help Mommy Nai make it" Haru says with bright blue eyes and licking his lips.

"Thank you,"

Elma laughs.

"Why are you laughing?" I ask her, when we break the hug.

"I remembered something. Before Nai knew I was a dragon, she had challenged me in a dango eating competition. She lost to me and when we were in bed, she threw up all on me. I thought I deserved that."

I blush and Haru laughs.

"I might also beat Mommy Nai too."

"You're not over-eating Haru-chan" I say sternly.

"Nai, I love when you sound so strict. It's a side I don't see very often" Elma says.

I kiss her chapped lips. "You rest up. I've got everything under control."

Thanks for reading. I enjoyed writing this especially when Haru and Nai helped cheer up Ema.