It was a couple of weeks later that Elunara felt like hell. She'd slept in so late that Grogek and Tulani had already gone. The drawing had gone over Tulani's sewing desk. Elunara tried to get some work done but she couldn't focus. When her stomach settled down, she was going to have a discussion with the cook about the freshness of that seafood.
She wandered into the Healing building and flopped down. Ina did her usual bird chirpery.
"Just give me something for this nausea and I'll be on my way.
"I have to find the source of it first. So button up and deal with it.
Grogek heard it. It was on the edge of his hearing, but a man knew when his mate screamed. He bolted out and grabbed his axe on the way. He made his way through town, tracking that horrible screaming. The longer it went on, the more afraid he was. He broke the healer's door with his axe held up, but only found Ina plugging her ears and rolling her eyes. Grogek dropped the axe to the ground.
"Can you shut her up?" Ina mouthed.
Grogek placed his hands on either side of Elunara's face and used his thumbs to force her mouth shut. She had tears coming out of her eyes as she stared at the ceiling in stunned horror.
"What is the matter with her?"
Ina rubbed her ears. "By Mauradin's beard, I only told her she was pregnant."
"She's what?" He whispered.
"Don't you start screaming to!" Ina jabbed her finger at him.
"I'm going to be a father?"
Ina swore she heard a squeak, but she'd take it to her grave.
Grogek scooped Elunara and twirled around with him. "I'm going to be a father!" He roared.
"Put me down you moron, before I throw up on you."
He sat her carefully into the chair.
The door opened and Tulani looked around. "I could have sworn I heard screaming."
Elunara was currently doubled over, staring at the ground, so her response was muffled. "That would be me."
Tulani knelt down and rubbed her hand on Elunara's back. "Whatever is the matter?"
"She's pregnant." Ina propped her hands on her hips. "I told her to come more often for that drink, but noooo don't listen to the dwarf." Ina froze and looked up. Grogek was practically beaming with joy. "What if... it's not..." She hazarded.
He gave her a hard look. "It is hers so it is mine. No arguments."
Ina held up her hands for peace. "Not another word."
"I hate you all." Elunara muttered. "Can't you just give me the damned drink anyway?"
The second thing Ina would take to her grave; was the obvious pout on Grogek's face. The door broke open and Renwa rushed in.
"I heard there was a commotion. Several people told me Grogek came this way ready to kill."
"Elunara's pregnant, and she's not taking it well." Ina smirked.
"I hate every last fucking one of you." She whimpered. "Ina! For the love of the holy light," Elunara looked up. "The nausea!"
"Oh! Shoot. Sorry." Ina began mixing things. "If you hadn't screamed like a ninny I wouldn't have forgotten it."
"Ahhh..." Renwa backed up. "I will leave this in your capable hands." He slammed the door behind him.
"Coward." She muttered.
Tulani pulled back Elunara's hair. "There, there, it's not all that bad."
"Why do you not wish I have my child?"
Ina knew that was a pout now. She quietly mixed the correct remedy and slipped it to Elunara.
Elunara started to chug, but choked and tried sipping instead. "I don't want to have any damned body's kid. Me and kids? Not a chance. Most people won't even let their kids be near me. My profession? No. My body, ruined. No. No. No." She flopped back and stared at the ceiling. "I can't take care of a kid; I have nothing to offer one. It's just a bad idea all around."
"I can help you." Tulani rubbed Elunara's leg and arm. "I used to take care of children all the time. That's why I made them stuffed animals. I love babies." She smiled, but something was wrong with her eyes. "I'll never have one." She whispered.
"Oh, don't do that." Elunara muttered. She reached out and touched Tulani's cheek.
"I have wished for a child for some time." Grogek added quietly. "It's just not been a discussion I felt I could have." He knelt in front of her. "The prejudices we face, the physical differences. I wasn't even sure it was possible." He laid a gentle hand on her belly. "I want this."
Elunara groaned. "I hate you all so much right now." She closed her eyes. She took several relieved breaths as the nausea abated. She looked up. "Gods, you're a couple of puppies. Fine. Whatever. I'll suffer this intrusion, but I don't have to be happy about it." She laid her head back and her arm over her forehead.
She was pretty sure, by the end of the day, that there wasn't a single soul in town who didn't know. She hid in her room. She knew it was cowardly, but she had an excuse. She didn't want to puke on an innocent bystander.
She laid there and stared at the ceiling. Was she seriously going through with this? They'd convinced her so easily. She'd never been convinced to do something she didn't already want to. She laughed at that thought. She knew what they all thought though. Is it Grogek's? She considered. The past few months... depending on Ina's guess, give or take a week or three.
Shit. Well, eight cocks in her in the past couple of months that weren't Grogek. Well, race would out, she guessed. It occurred to her how damned large Grogek was in comparison to her own body. She whimpered. Human might be ok. Draenei hooves? She prayed they were soft on infants. Night Elf would be ok. After all, she was one. She must be built to birth that. Would a panda tickle? She considered that one and began to giggle.
"At least you are in a better mood."
She looked over at Grogek who had brought her flowers. Oh dear Elune, the man had brought her flowers.
"Oh no, I'm still quite pissed off. I think Ina drugged me." She eyed the cup in her hand.
Grogek laid a soft hand on her belly. "I want to be a father."
Elunara narrowed her eyes. "If you start treating me like I'm fragile now, we're going to have a long and pissed off 6 or 7 months."
"I am sorry." He rubbed her stomach. "I just never knew how much I wanted this until now."
She scoffed. "I never knew how much I didn't. I'm having legendary level freak outs right now."
"You do this for me?"
"I don't know why I do anything I do somedays.
Grogek stared. "I've never heard you talk like that."
"It took me SO long to even understand love, to find love. I still struggle to understand it. How am I to give love to a creature I never intended to exist? Why did I look at the two of you and not want to disappoint either of you, over something that disappoints me?"
He kissed her forehead. "It is ultimately your decision."
"So you claim." She pouted
"You're in quite the mood."
"I don't like being sick. It makes me feel vulnerable. Not a situation I've been in all that often. On top of that, I finally started having visitors again. This'll just run them all off."
"We'll see what we can do about that."
It didn't matter anyway. Elunara spent the next several weeks laying in bed. No matter what Ina tried, she just couldn't shake off the nausea. It felt completely strange to have townsfolk showing up to drop off gifts, and the local women were showing up to help Elunara function. Grogek would often carry her up to her tree so that she could lean and draw. Tulani never left her side, and Eloise took to bringing Tulani her work for the day. Elunara felt as foolish as she felt grateful.
After a particularly violent vomiting episode, Ina was called to the room.
"What's wrong with her?" Grogek frowned.
Ine ran her hands on Elunara's body and sighed. "He's growing so fast, her body can't keep up."