Okay, sexual humor here and a lot of it. This may get some of the teens out there to bust up laughing…if I did it right.

Chapter 90: The Thing That Started it All

Two more months had passed since the discovery of Griffin. Draken kept true to his promises and visited his family every night with Lunalese and the egg of his precious son, Draecion. Covin'thra had also left the household to stay at the castle with Thorn and Murtagh. It was rumored that she was gravid, but Thorn quickly canceled the thought. Everyone knew that they wanted to raise a family, but both seemed very content in how they were already. It was suppertime at Eragon's home and all of the dragons were gathered around the table. Saphira's belly was so swollen that it looked as if her child would just plop out on the table next to the dinner plates. Even though it has been seven months since she conceived, her stomach was comparable to a nine-month pregnancy. She took her hand off of her belly to sit it on Eragon's hand.

"So when is our grandson expecting to hatch?" she asked Lunalese. She bobbed her head down to clean the side of the brown egg.

Hopefully soon. I cannot stand this anxiety anymore.

"How long was it until I hatched, father?"

"I'd say around a month." Lunalese turned to growl at Draken.

Your parents had it easy then. He shook his head and turned to face Saphira.

"What of my brother?" he asked. "When is he due?" Saphira rubbed her swollen belly and smiled.

"I have had a few mild contractions that started yesterday. Tonight may be the time Bowen enters this realm." Eragon cut out some hefty chunks of boar that he caught earlier that morning for such a gathering and began passing it around the table. Equinox gently nuzzled Guardian and passed up her meal so he could eat first.

Why are you giving this to me?

"You need your strength tonight," she replied shyly. "Eat."

What is going on tonight? She gave him a tender growl and licked the feathery flesh of his neck.

"We will be one." Guardian cocked his head and shook it slowly.

Equinox, he muttered. I do like you, but I have seen our relationship of friend only. What if we end up like Griffin?

Our offspring? Equinox asked mentally with disappointment deep in her voice. I suppose I have offended you, Guardian. I apologize.

It is your loneliness again, is it not? Equinox lifted her head up to nod it.

"I thought we were considered mates…why else would I have asked?" Guardian lowered his head down to eat the cooked meal while eying Equinox lovingly.

We can procreate, Equinox.

"I know."

We can raise a family of our own. Equinox turned to glare at him.

"Are you taunting me?" He chuckled and turned away from his meal.

No, he replied simply. I do consider you a friend and possibly even more than that, but our mating style of the wyverns are different than the dragon lure. I want to keep our relationship between each other like this because…I may shame you.

Just say yes, you lousy crow! A voice growled inside his head. He knew it was Griffin and let out an unnerving growl.

"You are different than those creatures, Guardian…you are a dragon."

Really?

"Really. Come with me later and let us fly like them."

"Equinox!" Eragon suddenly called out. "Watch the talks around this table."

"Are you in heat, dear?" Saphira asked softly. Equinox did not answer but simply nodded her head to answer. Saphira stood up and walked over to her daughter as Covin'thra and Thorn snickered amongst each other.

Stop that! Eragon commanded his daughter. She lowered her head and propped it against Thorn.

"Equinox," Saphira said as she rubbed her magenta scales, creating a subtle moan from the dragoness as she touched them. "It is uncomfortable to be in such a predicament, but you must wait, child. No matter how strange it is. You have a dragonet of your own that must be taken care of first." Suddenly, Saphira winked at her daughter and tossed her head towards the exit of the home. "Perhaps you and your 'friend' can go and hunt for Griffin…if he is expected to break out tomorrow." Guardian and Equinox turned to look at each other and both growled lovingly.

"Will do." They both stood to their feet and practically bolted towards the door.

I am not hatching tomorrow! Griffin protested, but Saphira simply chuckled to herself and took her seat next to Eragon.

"Good work."

"Call me the matchmaker, dear," Saphira replied with a smirk. Suddenly, she grabbed her stomach and doubled over in pain. "Eragon!" she said in between gasps. "He's coming!" Eragon shot up from his chair and quickly grabbed Saphira to whisk her up the steps into their bed.

Thorn, get Murtagh and Arthur! Eragon shouted. Find a healer too.

Yes, friend. He listened as Thorn rushed outside while Covin'thra nervously padded up the stairs. Lunalese and Draken got up as well to follow suit.

"Eragon!" Saphira cried as she held his hand tightly, squeezing the very color out of his skin. "I lied!"

"What?"

"I do not have a high…ow…tolerance for…ahhh…pain!" Eragon tried to withdraw the pain from her, but it seemed as if it could not go away. He hiked up her dress and quickly lowered the flap.

"You also lied about not being much of a bleeder," Eragon said back worriedly as blood began trickling down onto their bed sheets. He stroked her hair as she bent her knees up.

"This is worse than the eggs!" she exclaimed, pushing with all of her might. Even though this was her first human child, instinct has taught her that the best way to get rid of the pain is to get rid of the child altogether.

Hours went by without any sign of a child, which worried Saphira greatly.

"Where is it?" she whined. Murtagh and Arthur had arrived with a healer and had taken over while Eragon was ordered to wait outside the room.

"I can't leave her," Eragon stated, but Arthur pushed him outside before he could say another word.

I am scared, Eragon, Saphira suddenly came into his mind. Why did they make you wait away from me? I need you here…you're my strength.

I am still here, Saphira. I'm right outside this door. You do exactly what they tell you to, understand? I will never leave you. He had to stop to hear her scream behind the door.

Eragon!

I am sorry. He put his hands to his face and sunk down against the wall of the hallway. What have I done to you? I will never allow this type of pain to happen ever again! She squealed in agony again as Murtagh could be heard issuing commands to her over her yelling.

It is not you who should be blamed, my love. There was a pause. It was I who asked for this. I love you enough to endure all of this.

You're in pain!

And I will endure it. Eragon groaned as a wave of pain tore through his midsection. I am stronger than you think. He shook his head and gave out a nervous chuckle. See?

Saphira, I love you.

I do too, but if you give me another one of these, I will cut off the object that began my troubles.

No you wouldn't, Eragon snickered. You'd miss it dearly afterwards. There was another pause as a smaller wave of pain passed through him.

True. Fine! I'll just carve one out of wood and replace it! Eragon chuckled again and tossed his head back against the wooden wall.

You would get splinters.

Better than getting a human child, Saphira argued. Perhaps there is another way…less painful?

Abstinence?

I said less painful! Saphira snapped. I still want to mate, but I do not want the after effects of it. That way I would not have to worry about my tongue slipping out again.

Hmm?

When I ask, you give me, correct?

Yes?

I want something that will stop it altogether! Eragon laughed heartedly and slammed his fists into the floor.

Saphira, he chuckled. It can't be that bad, can it? Are you sure you do not want another…?

Don't you dare finish that! Eragon stifled it. This is my last child Eragon. No more…at least for a while.

No mating then, Eragon chuckled. He heard Saphira let out a whimper in the other room.

What? No fair!

Well, mating is designed for creating. If you want no more, the best alternative is abstin…?

Well then I will abstain from creating children. Eragon shook his head.

It doesn't work that way. You can tell me know that you don't want a child, but when you ask, I give. Simple.

Do not give me everything I ask for then…?

If that is the case, then you would end up with another child anyway, Eragon shot back slyly. I love you and I do not want us to have to give up our binding just because of the threat of a child. Fine…I will make the promise. He sighed and thought of the words to say in the ancient language. "I will not give you anymore offspring." He felt as if all of his energy drained from him as he repeated it in the ancient language. Happy? He muttered to her. Now, if you ask or not, I will not give you a child.

That is better than abstinence if you ask me.

You are addicted, aren't you?

To you…? She tried to say, but Eragon cut her off.

Well, to a part.

Eragon! Saphira shouted both mentally and physically. Suddenly, the sound of a crying baby filled the room. Eragon quickly jumped up to his feet and barged in through the door to see Arthur snip off the umbilical chord.

"It's a boy!" Murtagh shouted. "I am an uncle, Eragon! A human uncle!" He looked to see Saphira drenched in sweat and blood was on her dress, as well as the sheets underneath her.

"I will clean that..?" Saphira struggled to say, but Eragon stopped her by placing his lips against hers.

We will just get a new one! Eragon said mentally to her. I am happy that you are okay. "Where is my boy?" Arthur smiled and handed the little child over to him. He was very healthy with the usual light-pink skin, but his brown eyes seemed to pierce through Eragon's heart. "My son, Bowen." He cradled his child and crouched so Saphira could get a look at him. In one slow motion he handed the little babe down to his mother, who cried at his sight.

"My little one," Saphira sobbed, cradling him next to her neck. Bowen had stopped crying and was sleeping against her. "Eragon, that wasn't so bad. I could do another…?"

"Don't go there!"

The End…?

HA…FOOLED YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PEACE!