It was the day called Hearth's Warming Eve, a holiday very much like the Christmas I had grown up initially loving, but as more of my family crossed the Rainbow Bridge, Christmas had lost all meaning to me. Here now a mare had wrapped me in her wings and her love and I was feeling the same feelings in return. In our care we had a young filly with a broken home and heart, I could not let my personal feelings about the holiday ruin things for the two pegasai who had started nesting in my soul.

Since we had taken Scootaloo in for the winter, Fluttershy and I had seemed to reach a relationship equilibrium. Few words were exchanged on a daily basis, us both being naturally quiet individuals, however the closeness we had begun to share was not diminished. Rather we had come to an understanding of our roles in the home. Fluttershy kept up her vet and pet boarding work where I brought in most of the funds used towards household needs and established savings for us.

Scootaloo had added an interesting, if at times sad, dynamic to the household. She had retreated from her fellow Crusaders and was constantly holed up near either Shy or myself, as if afraid to allow either of us from her sight, in retrospect she probably was. We had initially set her up in the room I had been occupying since I had moved in to Shy's bed, but after the first week it was not an uncommon occurrence to wake up with the little orange pegasus curled up between us.

I couldn't imagine the trauma the little filly had been through, to loose both her parents to unprovoked violence and at such a young age was a horrific thought to me. I confess I lay awake more than one night cuddling both girls silently weeping over the pain our little charge was bottling in.

It was not all gloom in the household though, both girls smiled as we placed up holiday decorations and both seemed to like custom of erecting a Christmas tree that I had introduced them to. I took special pride in having found the perfect gift for each of the girls I was living with. For Shy I had a local pony carve a set of lovely combs from shed deer antlers. I had acquired the raw materials from Shy's friend Lily Tail in the White Tail Wood. Lily's buck for his part had been more than happy to part with the shed antlers for a hefty sum of bits. I knew the look on Shy's face when she opened them would be worth it.

Scootaloo had been easy to buy for. Taking the remaining bits I had saved, which were a considerable, since I learned I was actually fairly highly paid for my work, I had a brand new scooter and wagon made. It came  complete with a horn, bell, and a new sturdy helmet. Both the scooter and helmet I had painted up in the livery of the Wonderbolts. I had come to learn Scootaloo was a bit obsessed with this pegasus stunt team, I couldn't say I blamed her, I was a fan of the Blue Angels back on Earth. The wagon I had a bit of extra effort put in to by the builder. Rather than an old wooden crate with wheels like her old one, this one was made of sturdy metal painted the color of her mane and the Cutie Mark Crusaders logo proudly painted on the side with the words "Crusader Flyer" carefully painted beside it.

All the gifts sat under the tree in unassuming brown boxes. I was rubbish at wrapping presents and wouldn't try to pretend I could, not even for the girls I cared about.

It was about mid day when I called Scootaloo over to me.

"What's up Bear?" Came the rather drab and unenthusiastic reply.

"Scoots I want you to grab your coat and put on your snow booties. We are going out for a bit." I informed her.

She slumped a bit, "Do we have to?"

Fluttershy came up behind Scoots, already wearing her scarf and hat, with Scootaloo's snow gear in her mouth. She proceeded to bundle up the little filly while I donned my own coat and hat. Rarity had been kind enough to accept my commission for a warm greatcoat and a nice flat cap, I was from the deep south I had  explained, snow is my nemesis.  

We made our way through the winter snow in to town, Fluttershy hovering beside me with her tail entwined with my upper arm, while Scootaloo rode on my shoulders with her barrel resting on the top of my head.

"Bear?" Came a questioning voice above me.

"Yeah Scoots?" Came my reply.

"Your ears are cold." The little filly said in a matter-of-fact tone.

I shrugged, careful not to dislodge my passenger, "My fault, forgot to ask Rarity to make me some earmuffs. The place I am from doesn't usually get snow in the winter. When we would get the occasional inch or two I would hide inside under a warm blanket with a book."

A moment later I felt something feathery and warm encompass each side of my head and a tiny hoof boop my nose. "Well Bear I'll just have to keep your ears warm." Scootaloo announced in a small voice.

I was now wearing Scootamuffs. I was OK with this.  

Our little expedition in to town turned towards the west side and eventually to the cemetery. Where dozens of newly chiseled tombstones could be seen. Quietly and reverently we made our way to one isolated corner where a single headstone poked out of the snow. Freshly chiseled on it were the words:

I could already feel Scootaloo sniffling and shaking a bit. I reach up and took her from her perch on my head and cradled her in my arms. I stood in silence for a time with Fluttershy leaning her side on my leg while Scootaloo whimpered softly in my embrace. After some time she asked me to set her down and I did so.

Scootaloo approached the marker and laid down in the snow, her face streaked with tears as she started talking.

"Hey Mom, Dad, these are Mr. O'Hara and Ms. Fluttershy. They have been watching out for me while...while you are gone."

My heart climbed in to my throat at the heartbreaking scene.

"I know you didn't want to leave me. I'm not mad. Honest." Continued Scootaloo as tears flowed freely from her eyes.

"I know we won't see each other again...for a long time. So I hope you don't mind if I keep letting these two take care of me. I know you like Ms. Fluttershy mom, she was always buying corn from your stall to feed her critters. Dad I think you would like Mr. O'Hara, I know he looks a bit scary...but he is really nice and doesn't let anything happen to the people he cares about...I guess that includes me now." She was starting to choke up now. I wanted to step forward and comfort her but Fluttershy held me back with an outstretched wing and looked up at me shaking her head no, her own eyes filled with tears.

I stood silently letting Scootaloo say her piece. After a time she turned to Fluttershy and I.

"I-I think I'm done." She said while trying to wipe her tears on the arm of her little jacket.

I was proud of how brave she was being. I stepped forward and scooped her up in a hug, shortly thereafter I felt a pair of yellow hooves on my shoulder followed by wings wrapping around Scootaloo and I as Fluttershy reared up and sandwiched Scootaloo between us in a long hug. After a few minutes of closeness we parted. I walked over to the marker and cleared the snow from the ground before it, exposing the sleeping earth beneath. Reaching in my pocket I pulled out three small votive candles and placed them before the marker.

My girls looked at me curiously and I explained, "It is a tradition of the faith I was raised in, we light a candle for those we have lost and speak to our loved ones...it's a silly tradition bu-" I was interrupted.

"It isn't silly Bear, I think it is very sweet." Fluttershy insisted. Scootaloo sat nodding her head in agreement.

I smiled and handed my lighter to the girls, each lighting a candle. Fluttershy, after lighting hers, quietly spoke to the marker, "Wind, Wild, I didn't know you very well...but I promise your little filly will be taken good care of."

She stepped back and wrapped a wing around Scootaloo as I stepped forward and lit the last candle. Clasping my hands I looked upwards and spoke to any god, spirit, or ghost that was listening, "I have failed many times in my life to do what I set out too. But I promise, as long as I draw breath Scootaloo will know a life with as much joy as I can provide."

We spent some more time in silence before heading back to the cottage. Scootaloo alighted back on my head and shoulders resuming her role as Scootamuffs. Fluttershy in the meantime fluttered beside me a little higher with her tail entwining Scootaloo's. I don't think there was a safer filly in Equestria right now.

We were crossing the little bridge leading to the cottage when Scootaloo broke her silence, "Bear?"

"Yeah Scoots?"

"Can I...can I call you Papa Bear?" Came the meek reply.

I stopped on the bridge and lifted Scootaloo off my head and cradled her in my arms looking in to her eyes. "Scoots...yeah...yeah that would be OK."

The three of us stood on that bridge in the cold hugging until even the warmth of our budding familial love couldn't keep away the chill. We made our way in to the cottage and began preparing for Hearth's Warming Eve dinner. Next Chapter: 16 - Yule Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 48 Minutes