Hours passed as you and Redheart grew cramped in the tiny passenger train booth. The two of you remained silent, not because there wasn't anything to say, but rather, what was the point in saying it? That was what you felt, anyway. The waves of anger, guilt, and helplessness came in shorter waves now, and further apart. Maybe it's just desensitizing after all the shit that Fluttershy has done to you in the past, but at one point you rub your eyes and think that this is just another day in Equestria. Nothing more, nothing less. Just another day of the yellow menace wanting to make your life a living hell.

Well good on her, it's working.

"Um," Red says as her eyes changed focus between you and the floor. You raise your attention to her, but don't say anything in response.

Her face is contorted, almost choking on words caught in her throat. She takes a deep breath before opening her mouth, as if making sure that speaking was still a function her body was able to do.

"I'm beginning to think... I'm beginning to think I'm doing something horrible to you," she says. Then, she exhales, as if the words released a heavy burden from her shoulders. Her ears turn down and her gaze moves back to the floor.

"Why?" You ask. Your voice feels flatter and more apathetic than you intended. You aren't mad at Redheart, it's just been a long day.

She closes her eyes for a moment, as if putting herself in her happy place for a little while before returning back to the small train car.

"I don't want to be a mare who asked you to give up your child to run away with me... and I didn't mean for that. It didn't really hit me what I asked you to do until right now. And now I just..."

Her words trail off. She takes a deep breath, shaking her head. Her voice cracks and a pinkness rises across her face.

"I'm sorry. I'm really not trying to make this about me. I just... I really don't want to be the bad guy here," Redheart says. "I did that once before I really knew you... and I'm still... trying to forgive myself for that."

A silence fills the room as you look down to the floor.

"I don't see it that way. You aren't taking anything away from me, Red," you say. "I'm not giving up my child to be with you, or run away with you."

You sigh, running a hand through your hair. You rise to your feet and pull her in close to you.

"The way I see it, Fluttershy took something away from me. From us. She took my first child. She took away my ability to share that experience in all of it's wonder with you in a fresh new way. Now... I'm going to always be left with more questions than answers. What if's? And even if I do get to see my child, or even gain some sort of custody... you'll know she isn't yours. You'll know the circumstances. This little one will be associated with a crime that she never committed or consented to. And that's wrong for everyone. You aren't the bad guy here, Red. So please, quiet that little voice in the back of your mind."

Redheart pushes herself against your body and wraps her hooves around you.

"I love you, Anon," she whispers in the quiet little car.

"I love you too, Red," you whisper back.

The train continues to roll down the tracks and the sun moves across the sky. You reach a hand out and open the curtain, finally letting some sunlight into the booth. The rolling plains of the open country pass by, animals grazing on the grass moving past at a blisteringly fast speed.

"Where are we even going to live once we get to Baltimare?" you ask.

"I don't know," Red says. "We won't even get to use our real names."

"Yeah, I guessed as much," you reply. "Or else she'll track us down. I can do some handyman jobs, I suppose."

"It'll be a lot harder for me. Hiding a cutie mark for the rest of my life isn't really... uhm. Easy."

"I'm sure there's something we can do," you say. "If you want to stay at home, I can take two jobs and make this all work."

Redheart pushes back to look you in the eye.

"What? No. You can't do that."

"What are the chances that someone in the medical profession will recognize you?" you ask. "And be honest with me."

Red pauses, biting her bottom lip.

"That's what I was afraid of," you continue. "We have to do this right. I couldn't hide the fact I'm a human even if I tried. So I can get jobs at night, doing hard, but honest labor. Maybe we can turn where we live into a sort of... off the books medical clinic. Bits only... sort of thing. That can be our primary income, while my work helps us buy supplies."

"There's a lot of ways this could go wrong, Anon," Red says, looking away from you. "I don't like it."

"What else do we have?" you ask.

The car goes silent once more, as the mare beside you ponders your question.