“That one will do fine.” Barrier pointed out the casket to the funeral director before leaning back into the chair and nuzzling the non-responsive mare next to him. The last few days had been a maelstrom of emotions for the mare, ranging from depression, to anger, to regret, and then all over again, ultimately ending with near silence on the subject. Finally, the mare asked him if he’d be willing to help her plan the funeral, citing that she wasn’t really certain how to handle such an affair; she simply seemed ready to be done with the whole situation. Barrier couldn’t imagine how a pony could be so distant from a parent, but he supposed she had her reasons; he would love her regardless.

“Very well then, that concludes everything needed. The funeral will be held tomorrow from two to five. I’m sorry again for your loss.” The funeral director - a plain brown colt with a casket cutie-mark and a green mane - stood up to see the two ponies off.

Someone has to be, I suppose. Barrier stood upright with Octavia, the pair trotting out of the room.

“Barrier, am I a bad pony?” Octavia asked as the pair were whisked towards the funeral home in a pony-drawn carriage, both ponies being dressed in black.

Barrier’s neutral expression shifted to one of confusion. “What? No, why would you think that?” He was quick to respond.

“I don’t know, I guess I feel like I should be sadder than I am. I know it’s horrible that he died, but I honestly can’t find myself to feel all that terrible about it.” The uncertainty was clear in the mare’s voice.

“You’re not a bad pony, Octavia. I don’t know what happened to drive you and your father so far apart, but I know you well enough to know you’d have a good reason for it. Don’t ever think you’re a bad pony for this.” Though Barrier would never admit it, out of respect for the dead, but the world wouldn’t be missing much in Clavier Melody - as far as he was concerned, it was one less criminal in the world to cause problems. The best thing he had done for the world was helping create Octavia. “Not to pry, but, you never did tell me about your mother.” He glanced at Octavia who stiffened slightly at the question.

“She moved on some number of years ago…of all the reasons I hate my father, his hoof in that is what sealed our relationship.” Octavia said nothing more on the subject, silence reigning as the carriage stopped at the funeral home.

Glancing around at the other attending ponies, almost all of them dressed in funeral attire, Barrier couldn’t help but wonder how many of them were ‘business’ partners and how many were friends or family.

“Come, there’s nopony here I’ve a particular interest in talking to, even on a day such as today.” The mare’s voice was distant as she trotted off.

Perhaps, Barrier mused silently to himself, this is her way of coping. While it was illogical and unthinkable for him - parents had always been ponies you respected, if not as ponies than as parents - it was her choice, he decided. If she was happy he was gone, he’d love her all the same.

Taking a slow breath to steady himself, Barrier nodded his acknowledgement and trotted after Octavia.

“Wakeupwakeupwakeup!” Barrier was all but bouncing up and down on his bed, which he and Octavia had been sharing on a nightly basis since their return from Appleloosa. “Taaaaavi wa-” The unicorn’s voice vanished as the mare in question kicked his legs out from beneath him and caused him to flop uselessly onto the bed and then the floor.

“Honestly, you insufferable…” The mare fell silent in favor of a yawn. “If I wanted a foal, I would have adopted.” She rolled off of the bed sleepily, giving her unicorn a sidewards glance, which was returned with only a sheepish smile.

“You’re so sweet in the mornings.” He crawled upright and twisted his neck, getting a satisfying pop in response.

“So, what merits waking me up at,” she glanced at the clock, “eight am on my only day off this week?” The mare’s critical gaze caused the sheepish smile to wither almost immediately.

“Sorry, but we’ve only got an hour and a half before we gotta go catch the train to Canterlot. I’d like to remind you, that you’re the one who wanted to go see Twilight and her friends in the play.”

Octavia’s eyes widened in realization. “Of course I want to go, the princesses offered us box seats to the Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant in Canterlot! Have you any idea what some ponies would pay for such seats?” She seemed almost offended.

“Yeah, yeah, I hear ya.” The unicorn brushed her off with a chuckle.

“Honestly, you should be more enthusiastic. You’re going to watch your granddaughter act in one of the most prestigious plays in all of Equestria.” Octavia trotted past the stallion, making her way into the kitchen where breakfast was already waiting, as it often was.

“I’m proud of her, but I’m just not a terribly big fan of plays. The only reasons I’m going are because I want to show support. That and that you’re going to be there. That’s another really big incentive.” Barrier plopped down at the table with Octavia.

“So, who gets the box?” Octavia glanced sideways at the pony-sized crate in the living room, which Barrier had said was a gift and that it should remained unopened.

“It’s a secret.” A slight smile crossed the unicorn’s features.

“Well, can you tell me what’s in the box?” The cultured mare requested, the stallion’s smile only widening.

“Secret.”

The mare’s expression narrowed slightly, “Well, can you tell me how much whatever’s in the box is worth?”

“…promise not to hit me?” Silence. “So, the silence is really not making me comfortable with telling you what I paid for it.“

Octavia’s gaze only narrowed further, her face giving him a silent order.

“I definitely didn’t spend more than three-months rent on a present. Promise.” Barrier chuckled nervously as her gaze locked him in place. He was capable of some soul-shattering stares and gazes, but something about the way Octavia stared at him in disappointment…horrifying.

Taking a deep breath, the mare nodded. “I’m not going to hit you because it’s your money to spend how you see fit. I would, however, advise you not to make such rash purchases.”

Despite Barrier having a healthy chunk of savings -which he seemed to be rapidly depleting, if the crate was any indicator- Octavia had refused to take advantage of it, initially citing that it was his money to do with as he pleased, not pay her half of the bills with. As the relationship progressed, and he once more offered to put it to use on bills, to further ease the burden of a mediocre yet expensive apartment, she insisted that they ensure they were able to manage without the savings before even considering such a thing. While sound reasoning both times, Barrier still felt like he owed the mare more than he’d be able to repay in one lifetime.

“I know, I know.” Barrier chewed through a couple of pieces of hay bacon to buy himself some time. “The sword was partially impulse and partially personal, since I just didn’t feel right not having one,” even farmers owned some degree of weaponry for self-defense, usually against wildlife one-thousand years ago, “whereas the…” the unicorn hesitated, glancing at the crate, “item in the crate was actually a very thought-out purchase that I did a significant amount of research on before purchasing.”

Octavia didn’t really argue for the sword. While she didn’t understand the desire to have one in the home, it was clear that it was something Barrier seemed to need, and so she let it go. “So, I’ll assume whatever is in the crate is a Hearth’s Warming gift. I can’t think of any reason you wouldn’t tell me who it is for or what it is, unless…” The mare’s eyes narrowed dangerously once more, causing Barrier to shift in his seat uncomfortably.

He had initially planned on hiding the box, but Octavia had seen the crate the morning it arrived, giving him no time to do such…and even then, where in the hay was he going to stuff a crate like that? It was roughly the size of a pony-and-a-half if they were standing on their hind-legs.

“You know it horrifies me when you stare at me like that, right?” The soul-piercing gaze faded behind the mare’s eyelids.

“So, correct me if my theory is wrong, and please, do correct me,” her eyes remained shut, “you spent…” the mare thought for a moment, calculating their rent in her head, “nine-thousand some bits on a Hearth’s Warming Present for me, when I was rather insistent on receiving nothing?”

“S”not a Hearth’s Warming present.” Barrier finally sighed out, closing his own eyes. “Was initially a thank you gift, and I contemplated giving it to you for Hearth’s Warming instead, though ultimately decided against it.”

The mare finally opened her eyes, her amethyst eyes meeting the unicorn’s own deep blue eyes as she asked a simple question.

“Why?”

“Because you saved me from me.” Barrier said without hesitation. “You’re pretty familiar with how I think. Loyalty, to me, is…” the stallion frowned, thinking for a moment, “was everything. I was loyal to the Crown, my friends, and my family, more than anything. Princess Luna was two of those, and I was going to, and could have, killed her.” The stallion stopped to take a drink before continuing, “You saved me from myself and stopped me from doing something I’d have regretted immensely, whether I lived, or the most likely scenario, died. To say nothing of the disgrace I’d have brought my family. I felt like I should thank you, so I bought that.” Barrier motioned to the crate once more. “The reason I didn’t bring any of this up is because I know you wouldn’t have let me get it for you if I did, and that you’d have insisted I didn’t owe you anything.”

Octavia couldn’t really argue, as she knew she would’ve done just that. Instead, she shook her head in slight amusement, and decided on gratitude rather than the initial frustration she had started with. “Very well then, thank you…but what is it?”

“A surprise that’ll you have to open to see. And looking at the clock, that will have to wait until tonight.” The unicorn smiled slyly. Tomorrow was Hearth’s Warming, and it was a lengthy trip to Canterlot for the pageant, which would run until relatively late. By the time they got out of the play, they would likely grab a quick dinner and go straight to sleep. They were due at the Sparkle household the following morning, having decided to spend Hearth’s Warming Eve there, since it was Barrier’s first Hearth’s Warming since his return, as well as Octavia having no family she would enjoy spending it with.

“Well-played, unicorn of mine.” The mare’s eyes glinted playfully.

“Yeah, it all lined up a little better than I thought.” Barrier chuckled in response and stood upright, levitating his plate to the sink after scraping leftovers into the trash.

“Very well then, I’ll take a quick shower and we’ll head off to the train-station and to Canterlot. Do know that I’ll get you back for this.” The mare motioned to the crate.

“The score stands at one to zero, I believe.” The pair locked eyes briefly before Octavia pulled her gaze away and trotted towards the bathroom, Barrier’s eyes lingering on her flank as she trotted away.

Biting his lower lip, he tore his gaze from her flank just before she disappeared down the hallway and set about gathering up their tickets and travel-bags, levitating his sword over his shoulder and buckling it on.

Author's Notes:

So, it goes without saying that I suck at stuff like this. I'm not terribly good at feel~y stuff. I'd go so far as to say I'm awful at it. So...yeah. Sorry 'bout that.

So, my editors/proofreaders {Izanagi/Alticron} are still awesome. Little worried about how they're cuddling in the basement these days though. Thinking I might have to separate them again, or maybe find a female editor to even things out. We'll see.