In a heartbeat

[moonshadows]

In a small, comfortable room of Grommash Hold, deep within the private quarters reserved for the Warchief and his mostly-hypothetical family, a very pregnant Ryxl sits holding a baby orc. The infant sleeps easily, blue eyes closed, and Ryxl's breath stirs the blond fuzz on top of her little head. In the other chair, Thrall sits sans armor. Leaning forward, elbows braced on his knees, he watches his Champion hold his daughter. After a moment, he clears his throat.

"There's something I've wanted to ask you. You...don't need to answer. In fact, if it sends you into Champion mode, you're forbidden from answering."

Ryxl looks up curiously.

"I don't regret the choices I made...but...if I hadn't been Warchief-"

"Yes," Ryxl cuts him off, knowing what he's asking, but Thrall ignores her. This is something he's thought about for a long time, and he wants to be absolutely sure there is no misunderstanding.

"-would it have been me?"

"In a heartbeat."

"If Orgrim hadn't died..."

"You'd have at least three children by now," she says calmly.

Thrall sighs. "Do you regret...?" He trails off, unable to bring himself to complete the question.

"Not for a second. But if it had been anyone except her, I would have fought for you."

He looks down, thoughtful. "How long...?"

"The instant I saw you," Ryxl says quietly.

Thrall frowns at her belly, and at the baby in her arms. "We better keep those two apart." He looks up into Ryxl's face, a deep, secret understanding of shared pain that falls just short of regret shining within his blue eyes. "If I hadn't met Jaina first, it would have been you."