Chapter Ninety-Five: The Love of a Lover and Mother

Standing erect, body trembling with cold, Smokey underwent the process of removing the final bandage. By the time Fluttershy returned, he had worked it off. The draconic being was gladdened by the mare's arrival. Even with the curtain holding in in some of the heat, he still convulsed with chills.

"I'm back, hon!" Fluttershy announced upon arrival. One bucket hanging from one wing filled with rocks, she transferred the empty one from her other wing to her front hooves to fill it with water. Setting down the buckets, she left them to unscrew part of the radiator. Temperature warming considerably, even more steam billowed out of the room.

"I got some smooth rocks from outside and more water to set up our own homemade sauna," she said.

"Th-thank you… Y-you're the m-most w-wonderful p-pony in E-Equestria."

Smokey sat back down in the tub and yanked out the plug all the while giving the pegasus a smile of adoration. As heat wafted through the room and over his body, his quivering almost ceased and his pours opened up to release perspiration. Sliding the shower curtain back a little more, she planted herself upon her haunches.

"I try to be. I checked on the girls. They're still peacefully sleeping. They look so cute curled together!" she gushed.

"Oh, I wish I c-could see. But I s-suppose there will be p-plenty of o-opportunities in the f-future." Relaxing his muscles, his ear frills flared at a deep rumble erupting from his stomach. "P-perhaps it's about t-time to w-wake them up and f-feed them… A-and the animals."

"And I'll also bring up something for you." She dipped her head into an agreeing nod. It was about time she usually woke up Chenoa and fed her and the animals. Extra time would need to be spent preparing the morning meal, but she knew the creatures would be understanding and tolerate waiting a little longer for their meal. "Is there anything specific you want?"

"Surprise me," he answered as he lifted a hand to motion for her to come closer as he puckered his lips in anticipation for a kiss.

Blush tinting the mare's cheeks, she leaned in to share a brief kiss with him.

"Just call me if you need anything." Drawing back, she left him. Trotting downstairs, her smile broadened as her eyes fell upon her sleeping daughters. Stopping at their heads, she dropped her muzzle to nuzzle each of them to gently stir them awake. "Wake up, sleepyheads. It's time for breakfast."

Pulled out of her state of slumber, Chenoa let out a high-pitched yawn and opened her amber eyes. A wide grin pulled at her beak before she realized she was hungry, and began crying to convey her hunger. Terra Cotta, however, wasn't vocal over the emptiness within the pit of her stomach. As she roused from her slumber, she released a yawn of her own and smiled up at her adoptive mother.

"Mo-ning, Mami," she greeted, delivering a comforting nuzzle to her new little sister.

"Good morning, Terra." Picking up the infantile griffon, Fluttershy cradled her in her forelegs and nuzzled her downy head. "Aww. C'mon, sweeties. Let's get you both something to eat."

Extending her wings, she flapped them to lift her off the floor and take herself and Chenoa into the kitchen with Terra Cotta in tow. The filly didn't get far, observing that the dragon was no longer on the couch.

"Mami?" Terra Cotta hesitated. "Where Dadi?"

"He's upstairs, honey, taking a bath. He's still feeling pretty terrible," the pegasus spoke over her shoulder. "He'll come downstairs later."

The wailing baby attained her mother's attention again. She had quieted the moment she was picked up, but that silence had been short-lived. The mare gently shushed her with loving promises of food. Terra Cotta cantered over to the table and climbed into one of the chairs to patiently wait for her breakfast. As the yellow-pelted equine dropped a couple of slices of bread into the toaster, she retrieved some pre-made applesauce for her baby. Chenoa instantaneously quieted down once food was presented to her. In her typical fashion when her belly was empty, she wolfed down everything that was put into her beak.

The small portion of applesauce was gone in a short time. Tearing off small pieces of toast for the chick, Fluttershy fed them to her one at a time while she prepared a bowl of oatmeal and buttered toast for the filly sitting patiently at the table. Once the baby was full, she settled back in her mother's foreleg with a satisfied smile and a messy face. The mare laughed in her amusement and wiped her child's face clean with a wet dish cloth.

"You gobble up so much so quickly! You might get a tummy ache if you keep this up." She turned to Terra Cotta, who hadn't quite eaten through her meal yet. "Is everything all right, Terra? Does everything taste okay?"

"Uh-huh." Terra Cotta nodded. "Tanku, Mami."

"Mama!" the griffon chick squealed, giggling at the tickling sensation the damp cloth gave her with each wipe across her face. Once the mare completed her task of cleaning her face, the baby snuggled into her chest, her head nuzzling her underneath her chin.

"Awwww!" Fluttershy cooed, returning the nuzzle while slightly tightening her hold on her baby. Swiveling her eyes over to Terra Cotta, she unfolded her wing to drape it over the filly's withers to nuzzle her as well, following the affectionate gesture with a kiss upon her head.

"Mami," Terra Cotta spoke up, appreciating the attention. Even though she had been told the condition of her draconic father, she wanted to know the details. "How Dadi?"

"He's still very sick." Fluttershy sighed. "In fact, he's doing worse this morning than he was last night."

Terra Cotta blinked, eyes widening. She began to look distraught at this revelation.

"Don't worry!" the mare urgently assured, recognizing the panicked expression. "He'll get better. Some sick ponies get a little worse before they get better. He'll be all right in a few more days. Just give him some more time."

After the children have been fed and reassuring the animals that she would get to them after Smokey, Fluttershy trotted back upstairs, Terra Cotta busying herself with entertaining Chenoa.

"Smokey?" she addressed her draconian companion as she entered the bathroom balancing a tray of a bowl of oatmeal and a small plate with a single slice of buttered toast. "How are you doing?"

"I… th-think I am g-getting dehydrated…" the dragon answered before issuing a grateful smile as he accepted his breakfast. "Th-thank you, honey. Th-this looks good."

"Oh! Well, we can't have that," she said, directing herself to the radiator to screw in the valve and partially open the room's window. She exited the room, returning a minute later with a large glass of water for Smokey to quench his thirst. "Here you go, sweetheart. We can get you into the bed in my room after this. Once you're underneath the covers, you'll be so much more comfortable there than on that couch."

"Thank y-you, honey," he purred, pecking the feathered equine on the cheek and gladly taking the glass of water which he guzzled down. Gasping for air upon swallowing the last of the water, he set the cup down on the floor and proceeded to eat. "Mmm… This t-tastes good."

There was a hint of concern in Fluttershy's smile as she observed him down his water.

"Now, now," she spoke up, gentleness thronged in her warning tone. "Be careful. Sip. Don't chug. We don't want you to wind up throwing up, do we? Unless you want another bath."

"Sorry, dear," he apologized. "I was really thirsty."

"I understand." The mare leaned in to nuzzle him. "You've been in a practical sauna and you're all sweaty."

Taking the empty glass from him, she refilled it underneath the sink and returned it.

"Thank y-you, Fluttershy. Y-you're too g-good to m-me." Accepting the glass a second time, he took slower and more controlled swallows. Ingesting half of it, he lowered the cup to the floor with a contemplative expression, coupled with sea green eyes that conveyed slight nervousness with what he was about to bring up. "So, I-I've been th-thinking… W-would you… b-be willing t-to… have a b-baby the n-natural way?"

Fluttershy stared at him, eyes steadily growing wider as she processed what he just said. Thoroughly sinking in, a fierce blush raced across her pale yellow face.

"Am I… what? Smokey, are… are you… are you suggesting…?" she ventured, bringing her hooves up to her mouth and averting her gaze. There was an expression on her face that conveyed she was surprised, touched, and rather… taken aback all in one concoction.

Smokey blushed himself, folding his hands in front of him to nervously twiddle his thumbs.

"I… I'm s-sorry! I… d-didn't offend y-you, d-did I?"

"No!" she sputtered, removing her hooves from her mouth. "… No. No, you didn't. You just… I'm… I wasn't expecting such a question, that's all. I mean, I've never actually thought I would ever truly wind up having a baby, let alone a family."

There was a slightly awkward pause.

"Are you… suggesting that… we… That is… you… and I…?"

"W-w-well, not n-now! I… I m-mean… after we… g-get married." The dragon gave pause, blush becoming more prominent. "It's… b-bound to h-happen someday, r-right?"

Face burning, the mare turned her head away to avoid eye contact.

"Well, yes, I… um… yes, I suppose you're right. I mean… eep!" she squeaked.

Lowering his head to his half-eaten oatmeal, Smokey's ear frills dropped in shame.

"I'm s-sorry… I shouldn't h-have said a-anything."

Recovering from her initial embarrassment, the corners of the equine's lips curled back into a smile.

"It's all right," she reassured him, shifting closer; her face still dyed a bright, scarlet red. "I… I think it's a little early to be thinking about such things. Don't you?"

"Y-yes, you're right. I-I'm… glad I d-did not offend y-you."

Immense relief covering him, Smokey tilted his head back to meet his beloved's gaze with an awkward smile. Picking up the spoon he had left in his bowl, he resumed eating.

"Why don't we give it some time?" she suggested, reaching out to brush her hoof over his arm as he stuffed an entire slice of toast into his mouth. She held in a giggle, finding the image of him with stuffed cheeks endearing. "Spend time together. Get to know each other even better.

"Besides, we still have two children to raise," she added, leaning in to nuzzle his arm.

Swallowing what he had in his mouth, the draconic being nodded.

"Y-yes. That w-would be our b-best option."

The combination of water and sweat did not deter Fluttershy from applying one last nuzzle to the dragon's arm before drawing aback.

"Are you feeling any better? Are you still cold? We should go ahead and get you to bed. You can finish your breakfast there," she fussed, taking a step back. "Are you able to stand on your own? Do you think you can walk?"

"H-honey, I can w-walk," he chuckled. Holding his breakfast in one hand, he utilized the other to brace himself on the edge of the bathtub and gradually push himself to his feet. "I w-walked up h-here, r-remember?"

"Well, yes, but I was so worried that you would fall over! Being so sick and so lethargic… I wanted to make sure you would be okay." Flapping her wings, she lifted herself to the reptilian's eye level to press a kiss to his cheek. "You can't fault me for making sure the dragon I love would be okay, can you?"

"N-no, I would h-have done th-the s-same for you a-and the g-girls," he purred, returning the kiss. "S-speaking of w-which… Can y-you check on th-them while I g-get to b-bed?"

"Of course! They're downstairs playing."

Just then, there was a loud CRASH downstairs that was promptly followed by crying. Panic shooting through the couple, they emitted a gasp in unison and charged out of the bathroom. Despite the adrenaline rush, Smokey ended up trailing behind Fluttershy. As the mare streaked down the staircase, the drake grasped onto the railing, leaped over it, and landed in order to get to the children faster. Both parents arriving at the scene, saw Terra Cotta holding Chenoa, a vase in pieces and several flowers scattered about.

"Dear goodness! Are you two okay?!" Fluttershy exclaimed, both she and Smokey precipitating themselves at the children's sides. The dragon plucking Chenoa from Terra Cotta's arms to hold her in a comforting embrace, the pegasus pulled the filly close. "What happened?"

"'M s'rry, Mami!" The filly trembled. "Ay wuz d'nc'n an' Ay bum'd inna tabul!"

"A-are you b-both a-all right?" Smokey questioned in concern, giving Chenoa a look-over.

"Yus, Dadi." The child nodded, burying her head under Fluttershy's chin. "'M s'rry! 'M s'rry!"

"It's all right, sweetie," the mare soothed, sweeping her hoof down the girl's mane. "It's just a vase. Vases can be repaired or replaced. We're just glad YOU'RE not hurt." She sighed, lifting her head to focus her attention on her paramour. "… At least you must be feeling a LITTLE bit better… Either that, or it was just the adrenaline."

"I w-was worried s-somepony w-was hurt," he said, coming down from the adrenaline rush. His chills returned with a vengeance since his scales were wet. "I… I sh-should dry off b-before g-getting into b-bed."

The mare's smile dissipated upon observing that his body resumed its shuddering.

"You poor dear… Yes, we need to get you dried off before you get even sicker." Letting go of Terra Cotta, she plucked Chenoa from Smokey's arms. "Terra, go upstairs and get the bed ready for Daddy."

The filly complied, trotting up the staircase to do just that while Fluttershy retrieved a towel, which he immediately put to use. Once he was completely dry, Chenoa went back into his arms and snuggled contently against his scaly chest.

"And here I thought you were getting better. Come on, let's get you upstairs and into bed."

"Ok-k-kay," Smokey said, teeth chattering as he trudged his way back up the steps.

By the time they reached the bedroom, the bed had been turned down and the pillow fluffed. Fluttershy remained at Smokey's side, escorting him to the bed and easing him onto his back with the chick still in his arms-making sure not to jostle too much pain in his wings. Terra Cotta giggled, flopping onto her side beside the red-scaled beast. The mare chuckled, clambering onto the bed on the dragon's other side.

"Isn't this much more comfortable? Now we ALL can lay down here if we want."

"Th-thank you, T-Terra," Smokey graciously thanked the filly at his side, touching a kiss to her head. "Y-yes. M-much more c-comfort-table. Th-thank you, d-darling."

Fluttershy nodded in acknowledgement and planted a kiss upon his snout. Unfortunately, she couldn't leave him to rest just yet. The bandages that had been removed needed to be replaced. Briefly disappearing for her medical supplies, she disinfected and rewrapped his injuries-taking especial care of his damaged wings. Once this task was completed, she dispensed kisses to her beloved and their two children and left them.

She had hungry animals to feed.