Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jaina Proudmoore had never been one for dating when she was younger.

Perhaps it was because of her mantle, she was going to inherit the Proudmoore responsibilities one day!! Or maybe it was because nobody clicked with her. Well, nobody until Arctic. 

Arctic was many things. A blue dragon, the best friend of Anduin Wrynn, funny, stubborn, and rather attractive (even if Jaina had been in denial at first). Jaina and Arctic had been friends since they were in their 20’s… but had only just started to court and be intimate, yet Arctic had a tendency to reassure Jaina that nothing would ever happen to them that would make her worry.

So, it was quite the surprise when Jaina’s beloved fell ill one morning. 

Arctic never got sick, as dragons had one of the strongest immune systems on Azeroth. So seeing the dragon vomiting periodically and sickly pale sent Jaina into a worried frenzy. She had called priests and healers, but they were inexperienced with dragons… So, after exhausting almost all of her resources to try and figure out what was wrong with her significant other… She called upon her nephew, King Anduin Wrynn, to try and diagnose the issue.

Anduin arrived very quickly thanks to one of the mages conjuring a portal for him. As he walked into where Arctic and Jaina were, he noticed that the air was stale, but not smelling like sickness as he had initially expected. He knocked on the already open door, announcing that he was here.

“Arctic? Jaina? I’m here-”

The room was colder than it should’ve been, probably because of Jaina’s frost magic, but the Mage seemed unbothered and quickly stood up. She was visibly nervous, something Anduin has never seen in her before. The priest carefully walked to the other side of the bed where Arctic lay, groaning and clutching their stomach. 

“Arctic? It’s your friend, Anduin. I need to look over you to try and figure out why you’re ill, okay?”

“Oooookaaayyyyyyyy…”

Anduin pursed his lips as his friend groaned and gagged again. He needed to work fast before the dragon started vomiting again. Anduin channeled the Light, his glowing hand hovering over where Arctic clutched their torso. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, until a small oval, akin to a more rotund duck egg, was detected nestled in an organ just below Arctic’s intestines. Okay. That was strange. Anduin focused more of his light on the oval. 

Oh.

Well, that complicated things.

Anduin’s light detected two heartbeats, one rapid thumping from Arctic and one steady thumping from the oval. Jaina saw the concentration on Anduin’s face, and immediately got more worried.

“Anduin? Did you find anything??”

Anduin motioned for Jaina to come over to the other side of the bed, letting her hand rest on top of his as he helped the mage see what he was seeing. Jaina’s breath hitched in her throat as she could make out the oblong shape.

“What… is that? Is it a tumor??”

Anduin let out a breathy laugh before letting his Light allow Jaina to feel the shapes heartbeat. Jaina froze her frantic thoughts as she felt another heartbeat than Arctic’s.

“Is… Is that a-”

Anduin nodded before letting the Light fade from his and Jaina’s hands. Jaina just stared dumbfounded at where she had seen the oval just moments prior. Anduin looked at Arctic, then at Jaina before he spoke.

“Congratulations you two! I’ll be checking in regularly just to make sure that theres no… complications.”

Arctic roused from their pained slumber at Anduin’s worlds, confusion on their face.

“Whaddya mean… congratulations..?”

Jaina looked at Arctic, about to speak before Anduin started to explain.

“You’re sick because you are uh, pregnant and have morning sickness! It looks like an egg, which I would expect considering that you are a Dragon… not to mention the egg has a lot of magic and Light emanating from it-”

“Anduin-”

“Right- I’ll be leaving now. Send for me if you need me. Arctic, you need to take it easy from now on- especially now that we know why you’re sick.”

Arctic just mumbled an agreement.

Anduin nodded and quickly left the room, leaving Jaina and Arctic alone in silence. Arctic groaned and glanced at their beloved. They hadn’t even mentioned the idea of intercourse with each other, so how were they..?

Another wave of nausea washed over them.

“Are… you okay, my love?”

Arctic groaned again.

“As good as I can be, I suppose…”

A beat of silence went between them before Arctic spoke again.

“How did this even happen..? I mean, we haven't even-”

“I- I don’t know…”

Arctic placed their clawed hand on top of Jaina’s, a sign of reassurance.

“Hey… It’ll be okay… At least I’m not dying!”

Jaina gave Arctic a smile, knowing that they were right. Eventually, the two settled into bed and dozed off.

Chapter Text

Arctic didn’t particularly know why they had an urge to made a nest and keep Jaina and themselves in it at all times… but they reasoned it was instincts. 

And Damn were these instincts strong.

Jaina must’ve noticed their restless pacing, as she looked up from her book with concern. 

“Honey?”

Arctic kept pacing, eying the pile of blankets neatly folded in the corner of their room. Jaina put her book down fully before she stood up and walked over to where Arctic was. Arctic’s stomach had grown just a bit from the Egg developing, Jaina noticed, but the dragon was still restless.

“Arctic, talk to me. What’s wrong?”

“I keep having these urges to make a nest!! And my brain is telling me that it has to be large, on the floor, and have both of us in it!! These instincts are pissing me off-”

Jaina placed a hand on Arctic’s shoulder, making them pause their frantic pacing. The mage gave her beloved a soft smile.

“It’s okay, I promise. I can get more blankets and pillows if needed, love. You do what makes you feel right, okay? I’ll even help you!”

Arctic glanced away in shame but was pulled back by Jaina kissing them tenderly. As they broke away, Arctic couldn’t help but softly smile.

“Only if you’re sure…”

“I’m sure, Arctic… besides, I have nothing planned today!”

“Okay. Let’s see if the blankets and pillows in here will be enough…”

Arctic and Jaina meticulously worked to build the nest for around two hours, taking a break in between to test it and get more blankets and pillows. Eventually, Arctic fluffed up the last pillow and stepped back to see if their instincts approved.

They were relieved that there were no more internal critiques. 

Arctic shifted into a smaller version of their full dragon form and padded over and into the nest. They circled a few times within it, kneading the blankets and pillows before carefully laying down. Arctic started to purr as they rubbed their face up against the blankets, attempting to replace the clean linen scent with their own pine-smelling one. Jaina smiled as her Beloved kept purring and started to knead the pillows. Eventually, Arctic motioned for Jaina to join them in their nest, at least for a little bit.

And who was Jaina to deny them?

Jaina carefully stepped into the nest, making sure to not mess up their hard work, and leaned against the blue dragon. Arctic shifted a bit, then nudged Jaina as a sign to lay down. Jaina obliged, laying down up against Arctic’s side. The dragon curled their tail around Jaina protectively, careful to not poke her with their spiked tail. 

The two fell asleep rather quickly, both forgetting all about Anduin’s planned visit to check on Arctic and the egg. 

Anduin knocked on the closed door, his other arm full of old, dusty books that he and Wrathion had gathered on dragon medicine. Anduin, after hearing no response, tested the door to see if it was unlocked. Once he realized it was, he opened the door to peek inside the room. He could hear soft snoring and purring from one corner of the room, and he couldn't help but smile when he saw Arctic and Jaina. The priest carefully entered the room, making sure he didn’t wake up either of the sleeping figures in the room. 

He carefully laid the books that he was carrying on Jaina’s desk, making sure they made almost no noise, before he carefully approached where Arctic and Jaina were sleeping.

Maybe he could check the egg from a distance..?

Anduin summoned some Light in his hand before he closed his eyes and tried to detect the egg from about three feet away. It was blurred, but Anduin eventually detected the growing egg and its strong heartbeat. The Light from the egg was only growing stronger… which Anduin made a mental note to check into that. However, in his concentration, he failed to realize that Arctic had woken up. 

A puff of chilled air on his face startled Anduin, making his Light flicker out. 

“Arctic- I didn’t mean to wake you-!”

“It’s okay, I just remembered your planned visit for today.”

“I also brought some books on Dragon Medicine that me and Wrathion scrounged up.”

“I’ll have to take a look once we’re done.”

Arctic carefully laid down on their side, allowing Anduin to properly check the egg for any complications. The visit went rather quickly, as the egg was thriving as far as Anduin could tell. As Anduin left and closed the door, Jaina finally woke up. Before she could do much of anything, Arctic returned to their nest and curled around their beloved. Jaina mumbled a few tired words, but quickly returned back to her slumber alongside Arctic.

Chapter Text

“You’re going to be sick from those, Arctic.”

Arctic let out a hum and looked back at Jaina with a slice/spear of pickle hanging halfway out of their mouth. As was common with humanoid pregnancies, Arctic had started to crave odd things while they were in their visage. 

However, the worst part about this whole situation had been the aversion to any type of fish; smell or taste. Arctic had been gagging so much in Boralus that Jaina and Anduin had made an executive decision to relocate to Stormwind for the time being. Arctic had found solace in pickled vegetables for some odd reason. As a dragon, Arctic was an obligate carnivore and usually didn’t eat vegetables… but now they couldn’t seem to eat enough of them. 

Arctic finished their current bite of pickle before they answered Jaina.

“I know, but it’s like my body won’t rest until I eat something it wants…”

Jaina chuckled before closing the book she was reading, one on dragon medicine and different poultices, before she walked over to where Arctic was wrapped up in their nest. The mage sat down beside her beloved. Arctic was fidgeting, their hand restlessly drumming against one of the nest blankets.

“I feel so useless just sitting here! What if someone attacks Azeroth? What if the world ends?? I need to be ready to defend it!!”

Jaina softly looked at Arctic, deciding to try and distract their minds a bit with a task that they’ve been putting off.

“Hey, how about we go over names for the egg to get your mind off of things.”

Arctic sorrowfully looked at Jaina before conceding.

“Alright. I suppose we have been putting it off for too long…”

Jaina internally sighed with relief, glad that the distraction was working. She spoke with a suggestion first.

“I’ve been landing on Saoirse a lot lately if they are a girl…”

Arctic’s hand rested on their distended stomach, feeling the egg as it developed. 

“The name Opal has come to me in dreams… but how about this-”

Arctic turned to face Jaina, a small smile on their lips.

“If they have dark hair, we’ll go with Saoirse. If they have light hair, then we’ll go with Opal.”

Jaina nodded and chuckled.

“You really think they’re going to be a girl?”

Arctic nodded.

“I just know it. There is no doubt in my mind that they are a girl.”

Jaina nodded before scooting closer to Arctic, the two falling asleep in the nest again…

Chapter Text

It was early when Arctic awoke with a harsh pain in their body and a puddle of dampness below them. Their shifting in the bed and groaning woke Jaina, who was obviously worried. 

“Honey? Are you-”

“Jaina- get Anduin- NOW!”

Jaina wasted no time, running down the halls towards where Anduin was. Just as she was about to knock on Anduin’s door, he opened it. Anduin, seeing how out of breath his aunt was immediately put two and two together.

“Already??”

Jaina could only nod, her throat too dry to form words.

The two raced back to where Arctic was, closing the door behind them and locking it. Arctic had attempted to shift, but with how low their magic was from the egg… they needed a boost. Anduin went to one side of the nest, not stepping over into it, while Jaina stepped into the nest to assist. 

“Arctic? I’ve brought Anduin-”

Arctic whimpered in pain, their sharpened teeth digging into their bottom lip as they tried to shift again. Anduin turned towards Jaina, giving her instructions.

“The egg took most of Arctic’s magic, so we need to give them a boost. Can you put your hands on each side of their head?”

Jaina nodded, cradling her beloveds head and awaiting more instructions.

“Good, okay. Now I need you to funnel a decent amount of arcane magic into them. A basic spell will work, you just need to hold it until I say stop.”

Jaina nodded and started to recite the spell, funneling arcane energy into Arctic’s body. She kept up for a good few minutes until-

“Okay, that should be good, Jaina.”

Jaina leaned back and nodded, out of breath slightly. Anduin turned towards Arctic, who had tears running down their face.

“Okay, Arctic. Try to shift again, please?”

Arctic growled and reached out for their ability to shift fully, and sighed as they finally shifted into a proper draconic form. Anduin nodded before speaking again.

“Arctic, You’re going to have to use your instincts for this, okay? Jaina and I will be here to help if you need it, but this is something we can’t fully help you with.”

Arctic whimpered and nodded, eventually feeling the first of many contractions in this form.

—

The whole process was smooth, and after only three hours of labor, Arctic was curled around a large, light yellow egg. Anduin decided that now wouldn’t be optimal to do a full check on the egg, especially since its heartbeat was strong. Arctic had long since fallen asleep, so Jaina bid Anduin farewell and thanks before she settled in next to Arctic. 

“Our little Opal…”

Jaina smiled softly before she too fell asleep.

Two Weeks Later…

Arctic and the Egg were given a clean bill of health by Anduin, but he recommended that they stay in Stormwind for the time being. Arctic agreed and so, they stayed and kept careful watch over their egg. 

It was around two weeks after the egg was laid that Arctic felt it shift and wobble. The blue dragon saw the first crack in the shell and yelped.

“Jaina!! Jaina wake up!!”

Jaina woke up with a start and rushed over to the nest. Before Jaina could even say anything, Arctic motioned to the egg.

“She’s hatching!!”

Jaina and Arctic watched intently as the whelp hatched over the course of five minutes. Eventually, a dandelion-colored whelp tumbled out and yawned. Arctic went to work licking the Whelp’s body to clean her of the amniotic fluid from the egg. Jaina was in awe as she watched, joyful tears welling in her eyes at the fact that their child was healthy and strong.

Arctic nudged the cooing whelp towards Jaina when she was cleaned off before speaking.

“Our little Opal…”

Jaina carefully scooped Opal up into her arms and starting cooing over her almost immediately. Jaina nuzzled her face into Opal, those happy tears falling finally.