After a little while, Danielle made eye contact with Artex and motioned away from everyone else. Artex caught on and stood up, "Everybody keep going. I'm going to stretch my legs for a few."

Danielle stood up and walked down the hallway and into her bedroom in the apartment. Artex followed her, closing the door behind himself. As soon as the door clicked closed, Danielle wrapped her arms around Artex in a tight hug. Artex' own arms encircled her and held her in a way he had been longing to for what seemed like a lifetime. Artex kept holding her even when she started to cry again. The tears were of so many emotions: longing, fear, heartbreak, sorrow, mourning, relief, surprise, elation, disappointment, and even envy. Through it all, Artex held her and continued holding her as she let it all out in private, in a way she could not in front of everyone else. He sat the two of them down on the bed and just kept holding her exactly like he used to.

Eventually her tears dried up once more, but she kept her arms around him, "I never gave up on you." She admitted quietly, "I knew you were still alive, somehow I knew." She sniffled then added, "I missed you so much."

Artex rubbed his hands up and down her back, "I know, Danielley. I missed you too."

Her arms tightened their hold on him, "You... you moved on..."

Artex sighed, melancholy, "Yes, I did. I didn't think I'd ever be able to come back. Even if I did..." he shook his head, "There was no future for us. I can't be changed back."

"It's not fair." Danielle sniffled, trying to stop more tears from coming, "We were happy! No, we were perfect! Nobody had what we had! Nobody in the whole world. And then..." she trailed off and sniffled again, "And then you were taken and you-you went native..."

Artex caressed the top of her head, "It's not like I had a lot of options and it wasn't something I just jumped into either. I had been around only Human women until then and suddenly there I was, surrounded by alien females, which I can admit, I did not find attractive. Still don't except for... well you know."

Danielle shifted in their hug before asking, "What does she look like? Is she pretty?"

Artex sighed wistfully, "Her mane is fuchsia with a tan coat. She is very lovely, in a Kavim way. They have different ideas of what is attractive and desirable over in Equestria."

Danielle was silent for a time, before she asked, "Are you going to stay with her?"

"Yes." Artex replied without a second thought, "She's been with me for a long time and we're having a foal, of course I'm staying with her."

"So that's it?" Danielle asked, voice rising, "I waited for you, but you go off and knock up some alien horse and I don't mean anything now? Fifteen years and you just throw it all away for some horse pussy!?"

Artex clenched his eyes shut and hugged her tighter, "I know it doesn't seem fair..."

"You're damn right, it's not fair! I stayed loyal to you! I had you first! We worked through every problem life threw at us and just yelled 'bring it on' afterward! How could you do this to me!? Did you ever love me!?" Danielle spat.

Artex let go of the hug and held her at arm's length, eyes intense, "I always loved you! I still do! But we can't have a future together like that anymore! My body changed, Danielley! I can't father Human children! I can't give you what you want!"

"I want you!" Danielle suddenly yelled. She clamped her lips shut and turned her head, staying silent for a moment while she calmed down.

She eventually cleared her throat, speaking in a very small voice, "I still want you. That hasn't changed and it's not going to." She hung her head, "I don't care whether... whether or not we ever have a baby. We can adopt or something..." she groaned and leaned her head back, "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

Artex pulled her close and leaned his chin on the top of her head, "I know, babe. I never wanted this to happen either."

She buried her head into his chest, "You replaced me."

Artex inhaled sharply, but managed to calm himself just enough not to yell, "You can't be replaced. Nobody can. But I do have another wife now. Heh," he chuckled quietly, "You'd like her. She has a temper like you do."

"I'd hate her." Danielle said petulantly, "She's having a baby with you. I was supposed to have a baby with you."

"Don't do this, Danielley." Artex said in a warning voice, "I don't want to walk out of here, but I will if you make me."

Danielle harrumphed, but changed the subject, "I can't stay here. The news knows all our names and they'll never stop following us. I have to go to your new world."

Artex shook his head subtly, "The media will forget in time."

Danielle head butted his chest, "You said they have cures for every disease?" She asked quietly, "Even bi-polar?"

Artex shrugged, "I never asked. I honestly don't know."

"It doesn't matter. I'm not staying here." She sniffled and looked up at his face, "Besides, I doubt anyone is as good with kids as I am."

Artex chuckled and gave her a squeeze, "On that, we agree. If you had a Cutie Mark it would be for child care."

Danielle snorted, "Cutie Mark? What is that, some cutesy name for a tramp stamp?"

Artex gently released her from the hug, "Remember the symbols on Luna's haunches? Those are Cutie Marks. They're symbols of a Pony's special talent. Something they excel at above anything else."

Danielle lapsed into silence and each of the two of them basked in the presence of the other. Artex held Danielle. She was as cuddly as he remembered. She nestled into his chest, reveling in the feeling of his arms around her. She missed him terribly. The memories of the lonely nights tormented her. She knew he was the only one for her, but he had already made it clear that he was not leaving his new wife, alien horse or not.

Danielle knew she had a decision to make, but she was loathe to even consider it. She quietly pondered possibilities, a nearly endless stream of realities, each with wild variations of nearly innumerable scenarios. In the end, she did not know enough and she knew it. She did, however, know what she still wanted, "I can share you... if I have to." She admitted quietly, "I don't like it, but if you-if you married her... she must be amazing. I," she took a breath, then took the plunge, "I won't like it and... I can't say it'll be easy but... but I'll... I'll try."

Artex gripped her tightly in his arms, "I... I would like that." A thought then occurred to him, "Erm..." he began, "There are a few cultural and personal things you'll have to get used to... like... herding."

Danielle look up, face puzzled, "Herding?"

The two of them sat down on the bed in the room and continued talking for two more hours before Artex had to leave and go to bed. Their conversation was comfortable if emotional at times. After all putting a manic depressive man and a bi-polar woman, who shared a former romantic bond, in the same room together was a guaranteed recipe for interesting times. Nevertheless, they understood that their relationship had changed during their time apart. Neither was happy about it, but both hoped they could learn to live with the changes.

Author's Notes:

You asked for it and here it is. I'm working on the next chapter and it should be quite a bit longer. Hopefully this one will garner a more significant reaction that the previous chapter. Five comments? Disappointing.