Author's Notes:

THE RETURN
Sorry for skipping ahead a bit, but we gotta wrap this thing up soon.

I stepped out of the hospital, Red Heart standing beside me, facing the warm summer town that was waiting beyond the dull grey walls of the hospital. "Well...summer's here." She mumbled, scratching the floor. "Are you gonna be okay?"

I rubbed my head, left only with the faintest memory of what had happened. "Uh...how long was I out?" I asked, my stomach rumbling loudly. "It wasn't this hot when I went in...."

Red Heart tapped her hoof nervously. "Hey...the important thing is you're here now. And that you're fine...and that they visited you the whole time...."

I took a deep, hissing, breath. "How long."

"Induced Coma, a few months...." Red Heart chuckled softly, "It's July."

I coughed roughly, "Of course...what happ--"

"A shelf broke and you got brained by a lamp." She stated, fixing her bun and walking around me. "But, it worked! And the doctor said you won't have any lasting damage!"

I scratched my head. "Where was I that there was a shelf above me!?"

Red Heart stepped up and down path before the hospital, the nicely paved concrete covered in wheel marks. "The lobby...you were about to be discharged." Red Heart trotted back up to me, smiling nervously at me. "I actually just used the same papers...I just crossed out the dates."

I took a deep, angry breath. "Of course...I'm honestly not even surprised." I crossed my arms and stepped onto the pavement. "I remember Pinkie...then my foot getting fixed, then...black, and now I'm here." I groaned angrily, my voice quavering as I shook. "How long was I in there?"

Red Heart scratched her chin, "Uh, you were admitted before Winter Wrap Up, Running of the Leaves is in a month, so, about four months, five months? I think it's five."

I felt myself start to shake, my weakened body shivering as my blood simmered. "Now what!?" I shouted, spinning around and looking to Red Heart. "That's time I'll never get back, and I'm just supposed to pretend like it's okay!?"

A soft voice snapped me back around before I could continue to yell at the nurse. "Peter, are you okay?"

I took a deep breath, my body quivering as I tried to turn around. "No, Marble, I'm really not." I spotted my grey maned mate and ducked down, holding my arms out. "I'm far from okay." Marble stepped before me, leaving me to wrap my arms around her and pull her tight to my chest, my face resting against her ginger scented mane. "I missed you...."

Marble leaned forward, tipping me from the balls of my feet and onto my ass. "I don't. I visited you every day since you got hit. I was there to take you home when it happened." She cooed, rubbing my knee with her hoof. "And I'm here now...."

I took a short, sputtering breath. "Oh god I missed you." I leaned forward, scooping her up and holding her as I got back to my feet. "Marble...I need to talk to you."

Mable settled in, causing my weakened body to shudder at her weight. "Peter...I should--"

"Marry me?" I asked, looking down at her, watching as her usual neutral look crash into one of blush and surprise. "I don't have a ring...or...anything like that, but I've had some time to think...and some time where I couldn't, and I really--" I stopped myself, unable to carry Marble any further. "Sorry...." I set her down, sitting down on the warm path and pulling my knees up to my chest. "This isn't really romantic is it?"

Marble stared at me, soft pink along her cheeks. "Um...it was just a little sudden."

I shook my head. "I have to say this before we get back to the rock farm. I mean, between Maud and Limestone and Pinkie, it's all too much...." I stood up, brushing my backside off. "Humans aren't made to handle that many relationships, and I do care about them, but it's not the same." I reached out, brushing her cheek with my fingers. "Marble...I'm sure they can find their own...and I'm not going to stop loving them, but it's different for you." I ran my hand over her soft face, curling it up and around her ear. "Marble...I don't know how much longer I'm going to be alive, I don't know if that curse is going to kill me or if it's over, but either way I'd like to spend my life with you--"

I caught a hoof to the jaw, plugging my mouth before I could continue. "...I didn't bring enough for a hotel...." Marble mumbled, "We could stay at--"

A sharp caught caught our attention, followed be Red Heart swinging her flank towards me. "I'll probably see you around the rock farm...so...you can pay me back later."

I spun around on my toes, facing Red Heart and smiling at her. "Red Heart...you're not a huggy person, are you?"

Red Heart took a step to the side. "Um...no...why--"

I cut her off, scooping her up and nearly snapping my spine with a twirl around the path. "Oh god-" I set her down and spun to the floor, laughing as I rolled in the dust. "That was dumb...."

Red Heart stumbled sideways, her hooves clacking against the ground. "Yes! Yes it was!" She shook her head, planting her hooves in place before shaking her body. "I offer to give you an early wedding gift, get you laid right out of the hospital bed, comfort you in your time of need, and you hug me?! What's wrong with you!?"

I laughed softly, slowly looking towards Marble, her face stuck in a blushing smile. "A lot...." I reached out and pulled Marble towards me, giving her a quick peck on the lips. "But I think things can only get better from here."

Red Heart coughed, pulling my attention to her. She made it a point to roll her eyes for me. "Get a room...consomate that thing, and stop dying! Seriously, with your luck your dick is going to fall off and you'll break your back falling off the bed."

"That's not funny...." I mumbled, turning back to Marble. Face to face with her I couldn't help but smile, but genuine worry percolated beneath my expression. "...Red Heart...just...hang around...."

"In case you--"

"In case I do get hurt...yes...."

"Third wheel I am!"