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Winter is nearing its end.  The cool breezes and soft, powdery snow diminish as the warmer climates move in for their spotlight in the year.  The snow is mostly melting, dripping and running down the roofs of buildings to the nearby street drains. Venturing outside requires less garments to protect myself against the elements, and all around the atmosphere is just serene.

Overhead the Canterlot Weather Team works together to clear the gray clouds to bring the sunlight to melt the snow.  Pity, I enjoy an overcast day, but alas, the winter must end and the plants must bloom.  Without the warmth of the sun, crops won't grow, and ponies will hunger.  Such is the delicate balance of nature.

My mile is almost done, and I am approaching home.  I take a deep breath, refreshing my self as cool, fresh air travels down my lungs.  I feel amazing!  After the first week and a half after the incident, my muscles were tense and aching everyday.  Now, though, after relaxing and walking everyday, my body feels rejuvenated, or at least for the most part.

The front door soon crossed paths with me, and I casually strode inside.  The very second I closed the door behind me, Vinyl rushed out from nowhere and nearly tackled me to the floor.

Her nose is scrunched up against mine.  "Tavi we need to get to the hospital now!"  She yelled frantically in my face.  Her tone doesn't sound too concerned.  It sounds more shocked and excited than worrisome.

I gently pushed her away and took a second to figure out what is going on.  "Whatever for?"  I ask, then my eyes go wide.  Oh, Faust, I hope Vinyl isn't hurt!  "Did something happen to you?!"

She shook her head quickly.  "No, I'm fine, It has to do with Angel!"

Angel?  Steelwing's wife?  Oh dear.  "What happened?"  

She grabbed me by the shoulders and looked me dead in the eye.  "She's in labor!"

My hoof flung to my mouth as I gasp.  Angel's foal is coming?  My eyes go wide; I can't believe it!  Angel's new son is soon to be born!  This is fantastic!  We have to go see her and support her family.  I turned back towards the door with my hoof gripping onto Vinyl's forearm.  "Well what are we waiting for?!  Let's go!"  

Fortunately, the hospital isn't such a lengthy distance from Vinyl's house, like most places in this city.  Figuratively looking at this, building a city on the top of a mountain doesn't require much space.  Almost everything is in trotting distance from itself.  However, the lower part of Canterlot, where the middle class lives, is vastly larger.  Most of Lower Canterlot runs down the length of the mountain to various basins in the range connected by monolithic bridges.  Each section of Canterlot has its own range of businesses, hospitals, law enforcement stations, libraries and other major necessities in a city.  It's almost as if each region of Canterlot is its own city.

The peak of the city is where the high class, nobles, and famous celebrities live.  Canterlot Castle, Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, the House of Nobles, the House of Commons, and the Upper Crest District are all located at the area known as Sun Peak.  This is where Vinyl, Bluebelle, Father, and I are all located.  

After a brisk two mile canter, Vinyl and I reached the hospital and were guided through the hallways to a waiting room where Steelwing sat nervously chewing his wing while Ironwing lay on his lap mindlessly starring off into oblivion.  The usually tough officer looks like a wreck!  It's as if he's been through a war!  

Once he notices that we are in the room, his expression softens and he stops chewing on his wing.  "Vinyl, Octavia!  Oh I'm so glad you came!"  He exclaims, then sighs in relief.

Vinyl gently lifts Ironwing from his fathers lap, cradling him between her forelegs.  "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Metalhead.  Now, where's my second godchild?!"

Steelwing pointed to the door.  "Since the foal is three weeks premature, they had to inject steroids into his lungs to accelerate their growth.  I'm not sure how much longer until he's stable.  Until then, we just have to wait."

Oh my.  I hope the little one is ok.  Three weeks premature isn't too terrible, but anything could happen.  I've known a stallion who was six weeks premature, and only suffered from asthma as a long term effect, which he quickly grew out of in his late teens.  With that thought in mind, I can relax knowing everything will turn out just fine for the foal.

Vinyl placed a foreleg around his shoulder while Ironwing curled into a ball in her lap.  "Best of luck then, Steelwing.  I'm sure everything will be fine."

Steelwing looks at her.  "Oh sure, everything will be fine, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop panicking!"

Vinyl sighed and gently set Ironwing back down on his hooves.  She then proceeded to slap Steelwing across his face.  Yeesh Vinyl, what's gotten into you?  "Get a hold of yourself!  I thought you were a soldier!  Or was I wrong?  Am I not talking to Highlord Steelwing, Supreme Commander of the Elite Equestrian Military Faction: The Order of the White Sun?  Who are oath sworn to protect the innocent, vanquish evil, keep order and spread the wisdom and morality of the Light throughout all of Equestria as beacons of honor and justice?!"

Highlord of the Order of the White Sun?  Now I know Vinyl is overexaggerating.  My father personally knows the Highlord, and I can tell you it's not Steelwing.

The soldier looks lost in Vinyl's words.  After a second of gathering his thoughts together, he responded.  "Uhh...no.  You're thinking of Highlord Suntrotter.  I'm just Knight-Lieutenant Steelwing.  Commander of...well...nothing at the moment.  I mean, there's no war going on or anything.  And I'm not a member of the White Sun either."

Vinyl softened herself and backed away from Steelwing.  "Well then.  I guess you're not a man."  

The pegasus soldier stiffened at Vinyl's remark.  He turned to her with a hardened gaze, "Excuse me?  Are you calling me a--"  He cut himself off to cover his sons' ears, "--pussy?"

Vinyl smirked.  "I am, indeed, calling you a--"  She cut herself off to repeat his actions, "--pussy."

"You know," a third voice calls out.  We turn to see Sour Grapes entering the room from the hallway.  "I think you're both being--"  This time, she doesn't cut herself off, but anticipating it coming, both Vinyl and Steelwing simultaneously cover Ironwings' ears. "--pussies and should just sit here, shut up, and wait."  Not waiting for them to respond, she sits down on a chair, crosses her forelegs, and waits.

Steelwing rolled his eyes.  "Good to see you too, Grapes."

"Likewise."  She replied without a hint of emotion.  Ironwing is soon lifted into her lap and is being pet as if he is a dog.

"What are you doing here again?"  He asked.

Grapes gasped dramatically and held a hoof to her chest.  "Steewling!  I am shocked and offended.  I came here to see the birth of your child!  What kind of loving, caring friend wouldn't be there to support their friends in need?!"

"Whoa now, Steelwing."  Vinyl started.  "I mean really, you don't have to lay it on that hard to the poor filly!  She just wants to be supportive!"

"Yeah, what she said."  Grapes continued.  "You're so mean to me Steelie."

"Look, you're gonna make her cry!  You're a terrible person, man."  

False sobs sound from Grapes.  "I-I can't take anymore of this!  Goodbye Steelwing!  We're through!"

Steelwing's face is twisted with confusion.  "'Through'?  What are you even--"  A raised hoof from Vinyl silences him.

With a stern look (or rather, as much as she could muster with those glasses on) she states, "Don't you think you've done enough?"

Hooves flailing in the air, Steelwing yells out, "I don't even know what this is!"

"I will be expecting the first alimony check next week, thank you."  Grapes calmly states.

Looking to me with tired eyes, the pegasus quietly states, "I'm done."  before walking back to a nearby chair.  I simply chuckle at his hilarious misfortune of being ridiculed by those two.

"Oh by the way."  Grapes continued.  "Can I keep him?"  She asked, holding Ironwing in front of her.

Steelwing shot her a glare.  "No you can't 'keep' my son!"  Grapes opens her mouth to reply, but he beat her to it.  "And don't start with some sort of 'custody' crap on me!  You're not even my ex-wife, nor related to him in any way."

With a click of her tongue, Grapes comments, "Calm down bro.  I was just going to say that since you're having another son already I want to keep this one.  He's adorable."

"Never had I thought I'd ever hear those words coming from you."  Vinyl chimes in.

"Contrary to popular belief."  Grapes started.  "I like small, cuddly things.  When I'm in the right mood, of course."  She ruffled the foal's mane, causing him to giggle.  "This guy fits both."

Snatching his son back into his grasp, Steelwing trots back to his seat.  "Well then, why don't you find a nice stallion to settle down with and have your own foal?"

"Fine."  Grapes rebutted, then proceeded back over to Ironwing, looking him in the eye.  "When you turn eighteen, call me."  She winks.

Another deep sigh escapes Steelwing.  He looks at me for support, silently pleading with his eyes.  "I need a drink."  He states.

I nod in agreement.  "After all that, I could probably go for one too."

I heard a snicker.  "Says the one that can't hold down a few shots of whiskey!"

I shot a death glare at Vinyl.  Even after all those months at the bar, she still teases me about that one time I got drunk...in public.  "Would you please drop it, Vinyl!  Sweet Celestia."  That day is always a blur to me.  Even now I don't get exactly what happened.  I was at the bar contemplating about what I should do with Vinyl's feeling towards me, then Grapes pushed a shot of whiskey towards me.  After about two shots I couldn't remember anything past that.  "Even to this day I still don't know why I got drunk so fast."  I muttered out loud.

Both Vinyl and Grapes exchanged surprise expressions.  The former coughs into her hoof and looks down while the later bit her hoof.  I could tell something is conspiring between those two, and Celestia knows how bad it can be.  "What's going on?"  I ask slowly.

Vinyl looks to Grapes.  "You didn't tell her?"  

Grapes looks back to Vinyl.  "No.  I thought you did!"

"I thought you told her!"

"Told me what?"  I asked, irritation growing with every word.

Both their heads snapped to me.  After a few seconds of silence and worried expressions, Grapes spoke out.  "You see Octavia...I might have well - I might have, um, spiked your drink that day."

I raised a brow.  There's something more going on here.  That explanation doesn't seem right.  "How can you spike an already alcoholic beverage?"

She cleared her throat.  "Well, since I am such an expert at my craft, I have developed a revolutionary magical concoction that I sometimes test out on unsuspecting patrons.  The potion is supposed to basically get you drunk at ten times the normal rate.  It involves a mixture of...specific substances and chemicals, as well as a spell, that increase the rate of absorption in the body, and heart rate, thus allowing alcohol, or anything else in your digestive track at the time, to be absorbed and broken down much faster."

My jaw lays limp on the floor.  I feel my blood boiling and steam starting to escape my ears.  Sour Grapes admitted to poisoning me?!  Who in their right mind would even do that?!  I don't even know how to react right now.  I'm furious that she practically poisoned me, but also stunned that she even did it in the first place.  And to other patrons nonetheless!  And exactly what 'substances' were in it?

My hooves start to shake as my anger continues to boils.  "You...you poisoned me?!  H-how--why?!  Do you realize that concoction could have harmed me?!  You know, you're probably the reason why I got a heart attack in the first place!"

Grapes raises her hooves up defensively with a frightful expression on her face.  "Whoa, ok calm down Octavia.  Yes, it probably wasn't the best idea to nonconsensually give you a foreign substance in your drink, and for that I'm sorry, but don't worry, it's not deadly.  I've done it many times to tons of patrons--"  She cut herself off and glances at Steelwing, who, surprisingly, isn't as surprised to hear this as I am.  "--I probably shouldn't have admitted that to Mr. Soldier Guy over here, but anyway, back to what  I was saying.  So yeah, I've done it before, hell I've even taken it myself before and not once gotten any complaints.  So you're fine basically.  Trust me, that heart attack was not my doing."

Though my anger is still rampant, I am able to calm myself down enough to the point where I don't lacerate her throat.  I still can't believe she poisoned me, and nopony had the decency to tell me about it until now!  I just-I...I need a moment to settle in before this hospital adds another patient.  I sit down and run my hooves through my mane.  This whole ordeal is taxing on my body; my muscles now ache once again from the rage I had to force down.

Thinking back on all of this, I can see the reasoning behind Grapes' actions.  Though unconventional and downright stupid, it did manage to work out in the long run.  There were better methods to go about my problem at the time, and it might have been to do so instead of getting drunk in public, passing out, and having Vinyl carry me home.  I wonder how much more damage that stunt did on my reputation.  Ugh.

I'm still angry, and I probably won't fully respect Grapes ever again, but I can't stay too angry at her.  She's too close of a friend to Vinyl and it wouldn't be fair for me to hate her over a single stupid stunt.  Besides, it didn't even do any damage to me.  I've always been prone to chest pains from loud, constant reverberation.  I guess I can overlook this one time, but if it happens again so help me Celestia I will kick her scrawny ass.  Damn you Vinyl, stop changing my vocabulary.

Once a tense two or three minutes pass, I rise back up from my seat and lock gazes with Grapes.  She stares back confidently, but apologetically at the same time.  I clear my throat.  "While your method was unnecessary and stupid--"

"Agreed."  Grapes interjects.

"--And I've also lost a little bit of respect for you--"

"Understandable."  Grapes said.

"--I guess I can overlook this one incident."  I finish, my tone sounding both of a warning and threat.

At this time, Vinyl decided to come between the two of us and pull us into a group hug.  "Yay, we're all friends again!  Right?"

"More or less."  I replied.  "No harm done right?"

A quick sideways glance to Vinyl practically answers my question.  "Weeeeeellll.  It did kind of--"  

"Shhh!"  Vinyl exclaims, cutting her off.

Grapes looks at her.  "I wasn't going to--"

"Shhh!"  Vinyl interrupts once again.

"When are you even going to--"

"Shhh!"

"Could you stop being such a--"

This time, Vinyl levitates Ironwing in front of her.  "Shhh!"  The colt says.

"Fine, I give up."  Grapes ended her conversation by levitating her glasses off to clean them while quietly sitting back down.

At this point, the nurse enters the room levitating a clipboard in front of her.  She quickly scribbles on the paper before moving it out of her line of sight, smiling at everypony in the room.  "Hello everypony."  She says joyfully.  Steelwing immediately stood up to face the nurse.  His tired and worrisome expression is all the nurse needed to see to know what he is going to ask.  Before he can speak, the nurse eases him down with a gentle hoof on his shoulder.  "Now now, Steelwing, I just got word from the doctor.  He said your boy is perfectly healthy."

All tension in the room vanishes at the nurse's word.  Steelwing cracks a smile and sighs contentedly.  Vinyl and I both relax in our seats, and Grapes puts her glasses back on and clicks her tongue twice in rapid succession.  I'm so relieved everything turned out without complication.  Steelwing has a new addition to his family, and Vinyl has a new colt to play with.

To be honest I never took Vinyl for a pony who loves foals.  I mean, everypony loves foals in one way or another, but Vinyl loves Ironwing as if he were her own.  Whenever the colt finds his way into the house, even when I know for certain the doors are locked and he still finds a way in, Vinyl drops whatever it is she's doing and plays with him.  Seeing those two laugh always brings a smile to my face.  Vinyl is truly a foal at heart.

"May we see him?"  Steelwing asks the nurse.

She smiles and turns to all of us.  "Of course you can.  If you would all follow me."  She turns around and holds the door open with magic.  We all file out of the waiting room and are guided through the corridors until she stopped in front of a single door.  Inside, Angel is laying on a bed with her eyes focusing on a bundle cradled in her hooves.  

Upon hearing the door gently open, Angel looks up to see all of us approaching her.  We all huddle around the bed, trying to get a good look at the newborn.  Angel smiles at us and sits up straighter.  "Thank you all for being here, it means a lot to me."  She says quietly as to not wake the foal.

"Like I said to Metalhead," Vinyl started, "I wouldn't miss it for the world.  Now come on, don't keep us waiting!  Lemme see him!"  She, as well as I, could barely contain our excitement.

Angel obliges and carefully lifts the blanket off then foal.  Once he is in our line of sight, we all marvel at the adorable colt curled up into a ball.  His coat isn't a pristine white like his mother's, nor is it gray.  It's more of a thin fog color.  The small tuff of mane and tail he has is a navy blue, with a small line of gold running down the middle.  

Steelwing came close to his wife, nuzzling her and placing a gentle hoof on his new son.  The look of pride on his face is enough to tell me that his stress filled fit is over.  I wish for the best for these two having to raise two beautiful foals now.  

"What's his name?"  Grapes asks.

Steelwing flashes a grin at his wife before answering Grapes.  "Something-wing."

A groan can be heard from Angel.  "Really Steelie?  Is that what you're going for?  Another Wing name?  We already have two of you!"

The soldier feigned hurt.  "But dear, the Wings are a powerful and proud family that descended from the personal guards of Commander Hurricane himself!  My sister, Amberwing, my father, Frostwing, and his father, Swiftwing, and his father and so on!  All the way up to the captain of Hurricane's Royal Guard, Deathwing!  The name must be carried on and honored through the ages!"

Angel wiped her hoof down her muzzle.  "While I respect your family traditions, all I'm saying is that we already have a son with 'Wing' in his name."  She rebuts.  "I wanted to name him Thunderstrike."

Steelwing smirked.  "Ok, how about we compromise; Thunderwing!"

Angel shoots him a death glare.

He gulps.  "But, honey, you know that Amber prefers mares.  There's nopony to carry on our name from her!  Ironwing is the only one!  And what if he turns out gay, or he never marries, or if, Celestia forbid, he's infertile!"

The whole time that Steelwing was talking, Angel kept an agitated hoof firmly on her muzzle.  Everypony else in the room constantly giggled at the husband-wife feud while Ironwing kept himself occupied by climbing on the bed and staring at the newborn with a smile.

Angel sighs heavily and glares at her husband.  "Alright fine honey.  We'll give him a Wing name, but not Thunderwing.  It just doesn't...I don't know I just think there's something better out there."

Steelwing observed his son closely.  "Hmm...Navy blue mane with a yellow stripe...cloudy coat...clouds...blue, rain, lightning...storm-aha!  We shall dub thee Stormwing!"

Angel rolled her eyes.  "Alright Steelie.  I'll agree to Stormwing."

Steelwing mouths 'yes'.

"But!"  Angel starts, allowing his crestfallen expression to return.  "I want another foal, and this time I'm naming it, ok?"

Steelwing's eyes widened.  "A-another foal?  Are you sure we can handle three?"

"Of course you can!"  Vinyl shouts, earning her a harsh glare and a 'shh!' from everypony in the room.  "Sorry."  She says more quietly.  "I mean uh, me and Tavi can totally help you guys out.  Right Tavi?"

I ponder her for a moment, momentarily caught off by the question.  "I, uh, suppose we could."  I reply.

Vinyl's expression brightens as she turns her attention back to the pegasi.  "See!  If you guys ever need a break, we can totally take over for you."

Angel nodded at us.  "Thank you you two."  She then turns to her husband.  "See, we'll be fine raising a third with our friends on our side."

He sighs.  "I guess if--you know, we'll talk about it later, ok?"    

Angel leans in to kiss the pegasus.  "Thank you, dear."

Unfortunately, the sudden motion from Angel shifting is enough to stir the newborn.  We all watch with amazement as the newly dubbed Stormwing twitches ever so slightly.  As soon as he opens his eyes--which are gold, by the way--his first sight in this world is the brown eyes of Ironwing smiling upon him.

Angel smiles at her two sons.  "That's your little brother, Ironwing.  His name is Stormwing.  Go on, say 'hello' to him."

The two brothers stare each other down.  The eldest smiles at the younger while the younger stares back at him with confusion.  Everypony in the room is silent as we wait for what is to come.  Moments passed as brother duels brother in a game of wits to see who would make the first move.  

Curiosity holds the reigns in this battle.  Little Stormwing slowly waved his tiny hoof at Ironwing before making contact after a few tries.  Hoof touches muzzle, and the younger colt laughs with glee.  Ironwing blinks at the sudden affection, and returns it twofold.  Stormwing stares at the foreign object on his nose for a second before grabbing it with both hooves and cradling it.

Ironwing felt the need to have his hoof back, so he gently retracted it.  However, his little brother did not want to give up easily.  Ironwing is old enough to understand safety around delicate objects, so he does not force his hoof away, but merely uses his free hoof to try and pry Stormwing off of it.  This attempt fails, and he has to resort to his last option.

"MooOOoOoOooM!"  The colt whined, "He won't let goOoOOoOOoOo!"  Wait...he spoke.  He spoke!  Finally!  He does have a voice!  I knew the little one can talk!  Yes!  Victory!  

Angel placed a foreleg around her eldest.  "Shhh, it's ok, sweetie, he's just playing."  

Ironwing wouldn't have any of it.  He kept up in full pursuit to pry his hoof away from his brother's expert grip without upsetting him.  Quick as a wit, Ironwing reached for the blanket Stormwing was previously sleeping in and covered his body with it.  Within seconds, he released his older brother and started to blindly wave at the air.  Slight whimpers could be heard, and Angel took the blanket off his head before any further crying could ensue.

Back to the realm of the light, Stormwing looks around, spots his mother, and buries his muzzle into Angels breast to begin nursing.

Ironwing droops his head, ashamed that he almost made his brother cry.  "I'm sowwy mom."  

Angel brings Ironwing in for a hug.  "It's ok, sweetie, just please be careful around your brother.  At this stage, almost anything can hurt or scare him."

The colt just nods and snuggles further into her embrace.

This moment is when the nurse from earlier comes back into the room.  She smiles at seeing the happy family.  "Hello again everypony.  Miss Angel, is everything going alright?"

The white pegasus nods happily.  "Everything is perfect."  She replies,  "I couldn't be happier."

"Oh that's wonderful to hear!"  Her cheerful expression suddenly turns saddened.  "However, hospital policy states that we must keep you on a 24 hour waiting period, just to make sure there's no complications."

Angel nods to the nurse and looks to her husband, laying a hoof on top of his.  "You'll stay with me, right?"  She pleads.

He grabs her hoof with his other.  "Of course I will."  He then turns to Vinyl, "Vinny, do you think you can watch Ironwing until tomorrow?"

Vinyl's expression brightens up and she rushes to the bedside to scoop up Ironwing.  "You know you never have to ask me to watch over the little guy!"  Without skipping a beat, her cheery attitude drops and she releases the foal.  "Except I can't tonight; manager needs me at the studio."

"Don't worry,"  Sour Grapes started.  "I can watch him."

Steelwing holds a hoof up to stop her.  "Oh no you don't.  Not after last time when I came over to pick him up and caught you trying to teach him how to mix drinks!"

"Oh come on!"  Grapes whines.  "I was just--well I was, um...yeah I was doing that.  But I mean, I was doing it by myself when he started to watch me, so I thought he was curious and I just...you know...showed him what I was doing!  It's not like I gave him any booze!"

"It doesn't even matter anyway."  He continued, "Don't you have to work tonight?"

Grapes's blinks at the sudden realization.  "Oh yea...sorry brah."

"Tavi can watch over him!"  Vinyl exclaimed.  

The two pegasi were now focusing on me.  In truth, I've never foalsat before.  However, taking care of a foal, especially for one night, shouldn't be too difficult.  I just need to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble and goes to bed early.  I'll make sure he eats, bathes, and stays safe.  That is, if the parents decide to allow me to watch over him.  I wouldn't be to surprised if they didn't, nor offended.  They've only known me for a short time.

"Would that be alright, Octavia?"  Steelwing asks.  "It'll just be until tomorrow."

I nod with a smile.  "Of course.  I don't have any plans for tonight."

Steelwing relaxes from my statement.  "Thank you so much.  I wouldn't want him to stay here overnight."  He covers his mouth with a hoof and lowers his voice.  "After about twenty minutes he'll start to whine about how boring it is."

"Heeeeeeeeyyyyy!"  Ironwing starts.  "Dad!"  He spoke again!  It's a miracle!

Steelwing ruffles his son's mane.  "C'mon, champ.  You know it'll be much more fun at Vinny's then it is here."

Ironwing nods and hops off the bed.  He approaches me with a curious look on his face.  I smile down at him, telling him that it'll be ok.  However, he just continues to stare at me like I'm an alien.  "Don't worry."  I say.  "I'll make sure to feed him, bathe him, and get him to bed on time."

"Alrighty!"  The nurse exclaims.  "Now that everything is settled, I'm afraid I have to kick you all out!"  She giggles.  "I'm sorry, but visiting hours are just about over."

"See ya!"  Grapes says before making a hasty retreat.

Vinyl makes sure to scoop up Ironwing onto her back before turning to the foals parents.  "Bye guys!  See ya tomorrow!"

"Take care now." I say.

"Bye girls."  Angel says.  "Bye sweetie, be good for Miss Octavia alright?"

Ironwing nods from his position on Vinyl's back and turns around to place his forearms on top of her head, giving him a frontal view.  The three of us swiftly leave the hospital and head home.  While on the way, Vinyl makes sure to explain to me in detail on how to take care of Ironwing for the night.  She tells me what specific foods he does and does not like, what tv shows he's allowed to watch, what time he should go to bed, and she stressed that I should play with him a lot.  With all the information she's giving me, I would think Vinyl is his mother.  

Speaking of mothers, Bluebelle should be home at about seven to help with Ironwing if need be.  I'm sure she would be delighted, seeing as how she treats Vinyl like a foal often, now she has the chance to actually do that with an actual foal.  I swear it's like adoring children runs in the family.

We reach home after about an hour.  Vinyl begins to ready herself to go to the studio while I sit on the couch with Ironwing contemplating what to do with him.  He stares at me like he always does: like I'm some kind of otherworldly object.  

"So Ironwing," I start, "I'll be taking care of you for the night."

He doesn't say anything.

"Uhh...would you like me to get you anything?  Are you hungry?  Thirsty?"

He doesn't respond.

"Well then, uh...What would you like to do?  Watch a movie?  Play a game?"

He doesn't even blink.

I sigh and look over my shoulder.  "Vinyl, is he always this quiet?"

She responds from our room.  "He talks to me all the time."  She then leaves the room a second later with a saddlebag slung over her back.  "Well, I'm heading out.  Hey Ironwing, what's that!"  She points behind him, causing the foal to quickly and curiously scope out what is behind him.  While he is distracted, Vinyl steals a quick kiss from my lips.  "Bye Tavi, love you."  She whispers in my ear.

"Love you too, dear."  I whisper back.  

Once the door opens, Ironwing turns back around to see Vinyl leave.  Once she is out of sight, he turns his attention to me and keeps his curious gaze fixed for many seconds.  I stare back at him.  What to do with the little one?  He doesn't seem to want to respond to me.  Maybe I should...oh yes, this shall be fun!

"So Ironwing, want to play a game?"

Again, no response.

"Come on, don't you want to have some fun?"

Not even a twitch.

I raise a brow.  "Do you even understand me?"

After a second, he nods.  Good.  For a moment I thought I was wasting my time talking to him.

"Good.  Talk to me, Ironwing.  How are you feeling?"

Nothing.

"Are you excited about your new baby brother?"

Nothing.

This is where I start to get annoyed.  "Come on now, speak.  I know you can talk.  I heard you earlier."

Nothing.

I lean down to eye level with him.  "Please?  I promise I won't bite."

Nothing.

I start to feel a pain in my chest.  "Do you...do you not like me?"

Nothing.

I sigh and lay on my belly in front of him.  "Yes, that's it.  You don't like me."

Nothing.

Tears pool in my eyes.  "Why don't you like me?  What did I do to you?"

Nothing.

"Is it because you think I'm stealing Vinyl away from you?"

Nothing.

"Yes, that's it.  Ever since I came along you think she's spending more time with me and less time with you."

Nothing.

"Please don't think that way Ironwing.  You know Vinyl still cares for you a lot.  She just cares for me a lot, too.  She does, but...but I don't know."

Nothing.

I roll over onto my back to stare at the ceiling.  "Can you...can you keep a secret?"

Nothing.

Of course he can, why am I even asking?  "Alright then.  Well you see-well...first off, Vinyl and I are together.  You know, as a couple, like your mother and father.  We love each other.  The thing is though...I mean, I love Vinyl to death, I truly do.  It's just that we've been, uh, well I've been, uh, having some complications."

Nothing.

"The problem is..." I sigh, "I just wish Vinyl had some more confidence in herself!  I mean, she refuses to tell anypony about our relationship, which I for one don't mind being open!  Except for the nobles.  But anyway, there's that, and the fact that she's so sensitive about her eyes!  Does your father even know what they look like?  Do you even know?"

Nothing.

As far as I know, Moondancer, Bluebelle, my father, and I are the only ones who know what they look like!  Don't you think that's a little obsessive?"

Nothing.

"All I want is for her to have confidence, to just know that her friends don't care about her eyes, or her preferences.  But no, she has to hide away in the shadows and wait.  I just, I-I don't know why it's bothering me so much and I just want it to stop.  No more secrets, no more mistrust.  Is that such a bad thing?"

Nothing.  

At this point I roll over to my side and curl up into a ball.  Talking openly about this ongoing problem has helped to ease the pressure, but still, I wish I can talk to her about it instead of Vinyl just shushing me and changing the subject.  I don't understand what the deal is with her.  Why does she feel that keeping our relationship a secret is a better option?  What's so wrong about it?  I'm sure Steelwing and Pinkie aren't closed-minded ponies.  I mean, Steelwing's sister is a fillyfooler!  That's basically a clear-as-day sign that Steelwing is completely fine with it!

I feel a prodding sensation from my back and crane my head around to find Ironwing poking me.  Once he is aware that he has my attention, he hops up and down in place.  I'm not sure what he wants, but I sit up straight and I begin to ask before he stops me.  Looking down, I notice the colt has his forelegs wrapped around my midsection, smiling and nuzzling into my coat.  

I smile and gently return the hug.  "Thank you Ironwing, I needed that."  I release the foal and look him in the eye.  "Do you think I can finally convince Vinyl to coming clean to everpony?"

He nods.

I furrow my brow and poke him.  "Why don't you respond with words?"

He shrugs.

I huffed.  Alright I've had enough of this charade.  I'm initiating plan B.  "Alright then Ironwing, If you're not going to speak, I'm going to make you speak."  A sinister grin creeps up my lips.

His eyes widen and he backs away.  However, he had nowhere to run.  Quicker than he can blink, I am on the attack.  I lunge my hooves forward and swiftly brush against his fur all over his body.  Ironwing bawls out in childish glee, unable to contain his unyielding laughter.

Ironwing falls on his back, exposing his vulnerable, squishy belly.  Weak point being exposed, I unleash a devastating wave of tormenting tickles.  His laughter escalates until it reaches its peak.  He tries effortlessly to thrash about and release himself, but I am far too powerful to let that happen.

I have to give the boy credit, though.  He has withstood horrendous foal-borne torture for almost a minute without cracking.  Blast, he's more tougher than I expected.  But I can't give up, I need him to speak to me today!  "C'mon!"  I holler over his laughter, "Speak!  I know you have vocal chords!  Use them!  Speak and I'll stop!  All you have to do is say 'stop' and I'll stop alright?  Just say it!  Come now, say 'stop'!"

His will is too strong, he will not give in.

"I can do this aaaaaaaallllll day, boy.  It doesn't matter to me, but to you it does.  All you have to do is say 'stop'."  Persistent child.  I.  Will.  Break.  Him.

My bloodlust ends when I start to hear the foal coughing.  I immediately stop tickling him to allow him a moment of rest.  He heaves and wheezes, trying to catch his breath from that relentless assault.  I clasped a hoof over my mouth, stunned that I was unable to control myself and nearly hurt the child.

I swiftly cradle him as if protecting him from a collapsing building.  "I'm so sorry Ironwing!  I didn't mean to hurt you!  I was just having so much fun and-and I didn't realize for how long and--"

"Hic!"

I stop ranting momentarily.  Silence consumes the room as Ironwing and I stare at each other, none of us blinking.  Did I hear that correctly?  Did he just hiccup?  It could have been something else entirely but--

"Hic!"

This time I caught it.  And this time the foal hopped in the air a few inches while hiccuping.  Sweet Celestia, that's so adorable!  Awww look at him!  He jumps in the air and flares his wings out like he's going to fly whenever he hiccups!  This is just too cute.

"Hic!"

I cover my mouth to try and muffle my giggles.  This is too precious!  He can't stop hiccuping and bouncing all around the couch!  Is it wrong that I feel no regret towards this?  Absolutely not!  This is too much to bear!

"Hic!"

My laughter burst out of me tenfold.  I fell onto the floor and rolled onto my back, clutching my sides.  This is literally the best thing ever!  

"Heeeeee--Hic!--eeeey!"  I heard the foal say from above, "It's not--Hic!--funny!"

I gasp internally.  He just spoke to me directly!  Progress is being made!  Excellent!  However, I don't want to point it out, less he notice his mistake and silence himself again.  I'll just act as if it is normal.  "It most definitely is, Ironwing!"  I cease my laughing and pop my head onto the seat of the couch in front of where the foal is standing.  "I'm so sorry.  Do you need me to get you a glass of water?"

He nods.  "Hic!"

Suppressing another giggle, I turn around to fetch him some water.  When I come back, he's gone.  The spot that was being occupied by a hiccuping foal is now empty.  Where the bloody hell did that adorable pegasus go?  A sudden hiccup answered my question, and a glance to the ceiling reveals that Ironwing is suspending from the fan.

I lost it.  Every time he hiccups, Ironwings' wings cause him to flutter a few inches off the ground.  Apparently now, he must of hiccuped so hard to cause him to fly to the fan!  

I hear him whine from above and call out to him.  "Don't worry, I'll catch you."  I sprawl my forelegs outward.  He hesitates, deciding weather or not he should do it.  "It's ok," I say again.  "I promise I won't let you get hurt.  Just let go."

He closes his eyes and takes the leap of faith.  I easily catch the light-weight foal.  When he opens his eyes, taking in the fact that he is ok, he nuzzles me and jumps out of my grip.  Noticing the glass of water I brought for him, Ironwing does not hesitate to guzzle it down to end his hiccups.  Which, in fact, it did.  What a shame, I found it adorable.

"So Ironwing."  I start.  "what now?"

He points behind me.  

"What is it?"  I say while turning around.  There's nothing there...hmm.  When I turn back around, he is gone.  "Ironwing?  Ironwing where did you go?"

From somewhere echoing in the house, I hear a foals laughter.

I narrow my eyes.  So he wants to play that way?  Oh it's on now.

(\/);,,;(\/)

I give up.

I've literally looked in every nook and cranny in this bloody house!  Where in Celestia's name is that foal!  Argh!  I can still hear his laughter echoing!  He's mocking me; I know it.  He's just sitting somewhere where he can see me, but I can't see him, and laughing at me.  Oh Ironwing, when I catch you, you're going to get it!

The laughter seems to be centering around Vinyl's recording room.  However, there isn't much places to hide in there.  There is about two cabinets chock full of records and wires jumbled up, a desk, and a closet both filled with the same assortment of junk.  Unless that foal is part roach and can squish his body to paper thin, there is no way he's in here.

Blast!  That laughing is infuriating me!  The same, monotonous, mocking laughter!  It just won't let up!  Always the same...always consistent...always...wait a minute.  Same, consistent, always the same sound, tone, coming from the recording room...please don't tell me...

I turn my attention to a tape recorder in the corner of the room.  Sure enough, the machine is on and playing a recording of Ironwing's laughter.  Bloody.  Hell.  I can not believe I fell for that!  That bastard!  I will have his head on a silver platter for this mockery of my name!  As soon as I can find him...of course.

(\/);,,;(\/)

It's been two hours of back and forth hide-and-go-seek.  I swear this foal is a trained assassin!  He hides in the most rudimentary places, then strikes with no warning!  Oh, but whenever I hide, he tracks me down in an instant!  This foal...this foal...

I finally caught the adorable devil.  He's been restrained in a maximum security over turned laundry basket, heavily guarded by my rump.  If this foal is the master assassin slash escape artist that he has been notorious for, then he should be able to easily escape my prison.  

But alas, I am too powerful for Ironwing!  He cannot, and will not, escape me again.  From bellow, I hear a harmonica being played.  Typical jailbird.  I hope you have fun with that cheap toy of an instrument, because it's the last you'll ever play--where'd he go?!  

From behind the laundry basket, a hole about the size of a foal is filed out.  Sneaky little bastard.  He just escaped me, again, right under my nose, literally!  How did he even manage that?  Pegasi...always sneaking around and being light on their hooves.  

I look before the barren wasteland that is the backyard.  A glance to the sliding glass door is all the proof I need to know the Infamous Ironwing escaped that way.  I don silver aviators, and mutter under my breath, "I will catch you, Cool Hoof Luke."  There, it awaits me.  Such an untamed land with danger at every corner.  There it is where my prisoner escaped to.  My task is bold, and my quest is epic, but it must be done to ensure the safety of the foal.  For if anything would happen to that adorable little pegasus, I would never forgive myself.

I take my first steps outside into the harsh landscape.  The winds of spring gently greet my coat.  A harsh glare from the midday sun would have blinded me had I not had these aviators on.  Each step I take ruffles the grass below me, making my slow advance all the more intimidating for my escapee.  

I spot the mischievous foal up in the one tree in the backyard.  He stares down at me defiantly with a smug expression on his tiny, adorable face.  I stop a few yards from the tree, shining my aviators at him.  The tension between us is tight.  Not a sound is heard save for the rustling of leaves from the breeze.

Finally, I break the silence.  "What we seem to have here is...failure to communicate."  

"Octavia?  Who are you talking to?"  

My ears flick in the direction of the sound.  I turn to my right to see Bluebelle approaching me.  I take off the sunglasses and nod towards the tree.  "Oh little Ironwing and I are just playing; he's in the tree."

Bluebelle blinks and looks at the tree.  "Ironwing?  Steelwing's adorable son?"  Her eyes soon grow to unproportionate sizes, and as soon as she spots the foal in the tree, they grow bigger.  "Hi Ironwing!"  Bluebelle practically squeals.  "It's me, Bluebelle; Vinyl's mother!  Oooooooooooh you're just so cute up in that tree!  I wish I had a camera!"

I roll my eyes and smile.  Bluebelle is such a sucker for foals.  

"What are you doing up there?"  She asks him, then gasps.  "Are you hiding from mean ol' Octavia?"

"Now wait just a second--" I start to protest, but she cuts me off.

"Don't worry Ironwing, I'll make sure Tavi gets a nice time out."

...What?

"Exactly what are you planning--"  This time I am cut off by being unceremoniously levitated into the air.  I am placed into a small corner of the patio with a sign infront of me that reads 'time out'.  Blast!  I absolutely hate being magic handled!  It just feels so awkward!  It's like when you put two magnets together that are the same pole and they force each other away.  That feeling of being forced away, but from the ground!  Then the invisible force changes to whatever opposite direction that I'm going.  

Bluebelle sits on her haunches and outstretches her forelegs.  "You can come down now!  I locked up Old Mare Octy!  Just jump; I'll catch you!"

With some hesitation, the steel colored foal takes a leap of faith, landing expertly in the embrace of Vinyl's mother.  She then begins to nuzzle the foal and blow raspberries on his stomach, prompting the foal to laugh hysterically.  In between raspberries she would coo him in some dialect of baby talk incomprehensible by myself.

I couldn't help but smile to myself.  Bluebelle is so caring towards everypony.  She will put her own issues aside just to help somepony out, watch over and protect anypony from danger, or just be a simple shoulder to cry on.  Bluebelle isn't just Vinyl's mother, she is the mother.

The crafty Ironwing is able to escape Bluebelle's assault and gallop around her and back into the house.  Bluebelle narrows her eyes and prepares to hunt down her adorable prey.  Meanwhile, I casually slip out of my holding cell to watch the ensuing battle.  The two of them chase each other around the house for a few minutes before Ironwing gets tired and slows down.  Bluebelle scoops up the foal once more in a crushing and nuzzling embrace.  A yawn signifies the foal's exhaustion, and Bluebelle gently rocks him to sleep while humming a lullaby.  She tucks Ironwing into her bedroom and quietly closes the door.

I approach her with a warming smile.  "You really do love foals don't you?"  I ask.

She returns the smile.  "I do."  Her smile then wavers.  "It's just...I never had the opportunity to care for a foal properly..."

I drape a foreleg over her withers.  "There there, Bluebelle.  Try not to think about that anymore.  You have Vinyl and an adorable foal that will need a foalsitter for many years right next door."

"True...but I just...I just wish that I had one of my own again.  Don't get me wrong, I love Vinyl to death, but she's not a foal anymore.  As much as I wish she was again."  She turns towards me with a smirk.  "I'm waiting for those grandchildren."

I laugh and trot towards the kitchen.  "If only I could..."  

(\/);,,;(\/)

"Taaaaaaaviiiiiiiiii!  I'm home!"

I emerge from my room to find Vinyl closing the front door.  She casts aside her glasses and approaches me for a hug and a kiss.  "Hello Vinyl."  I say before catching her sweet lips.  "How was it?"

She waves a hoof at me.  "Same old same old.  Sound Wave just wanted me to record some new stuff I wrote, then went on and on about his daughter's cuteceanera and how he wants me to play at her party."

I smile at her.  "Oh that sounds wonderful, dear."

She shivers.  "Hardly.  His daughter is such a bitch!  Like, she's constantly nagging at him for bits to go shopping, and if she doesn't get what she wants she gives him the cold shoulder until he does.  I mean, the guy works hard to earn that money, he doesn't deserve that from his own daughter!  And she always gives me these looks, too.  Like she's just disgusted by my presence."

"Oh my.  That does sound terrible.  He should really teach his daughter some respect."

Vinyl rubs her snout.  "He tries, but he's too soft around her.  Anyway, speaking of foals, where's whatshisname-Ironwing?"

I point to Bluebelle's room.  "He fell asleep about an hour ago."

We both approach the room and peak inside.  There, a little gray ball of fluff ever so slightly moves up and down.  The blanket has been removed, and his tiny form is completely visible.  His wings twitch ever so slightly, and his tail moves in to envelope his body in the absence of the blanket.  

We both sit on our haunches in front of the door.  Vinyl wraps a foreleg around me, and I lean down to rest my head on her chest.  

In the complete silence of the room, I can hear her heartbeat like a metronome.  Vinyl nuzzles the top of my head, then proceeds to kiss my forehead and cheeks.  The trail goes in a random order before I incline my head and catch her lips.

I soon fall into victim to her mesmerizing kiss.  Every time I kiss Vinyl it feels as if her hunger can never be satiated.  We would always start a simple kiss, and end in a deep, passionate make out session.  I part my lips, but Vinyl dives back in for me.  This repeats for several moments before I finally speak up.

In between kisses and giggling, I try to speak.  "Vinyl...please...stop...Ironwing...is right there!"  I whisper.

She moves from my lips to my cheeks.  "Doesn't matter...he's sleeping."

"At least...have the decency...to go...to our room first!"  Taking advantage of the pause in her assault.  I grab her hoof and rush to our room.  I do not hesitate in pushing Vinyl to the bed, wrapping my forelegs around her delicate cheeks, and dive into a deep kiss.  

(\/);,,;(\/)

The next day, Vinyl and I are currently cuddling on the couch and watching a movie.  I am holding one of Vinyl's hooves in my own and keeping it close to my heart while her head rest on my shoulder.  I could fall asleep right now if I wanted to.  Vinyl is just such a comfortable pony!  Her snuggling embrace warms my heart and makes me feel so loved.  

A knock on the door rudely interrupts our tranquil embrace.  Vinyl groans beside me and starts murmuring on how we should pretend that we're not home.  I simply sigh and kiss her on the cheek before getting up to answer it.  Behind the door, Steelwing stood with a strange smirk on his face.  

I smile at him.  "Hello Steelwing.  How are you?"  I greet him politely, then motion for him to come inside.

"Oh I'm fine, thank you."  He replies while striding inside.  "What about you and Vinny?"

"We're doing just fine.  So how is Stormwing?"  

He wipes his brow.  "Thank Celestia everything turned out fine; he's back home with the missus sleeping."

"Oh that's wonderful to hear.  So what brings you here?"

"I just wanted to thank you for watching over my little Iron Nugget.  I didn't know what I would have done without you."  His smirk suddenly drops.  "I could've asked Grapes...but..."  His smirk soon returns.

I wave his compliment off.  "Oh not a problem at all!  The little guy is so adorable.  He wasn't any trouble, mind you.  Though I wish he wasn't so quiet around me."

At that comment, Steelwing starts snickering.  "Quiet...yeah...yeah he tends to be shy around new ponies."

I raise a brow at him.  What's going on here?  "Quite.  But who knows?  Maybe in a few days he'll get comfortable around me."  

He starts to snicker again.  "Don't worry, I'm already comfortable with it, I don't think he'll have a problem with it either."

Now I'm confused.  "Comfortable with what?"

His smirk grows.  "Oh...nothing.  Anyway, so Vinny, Octavia, my sister's coming down this weekend and I'd like you to meet her."

From behind me, I hear Vinyl rustle on the couch before standing up and looking over the backrest.  "Oh really?  Cool."

He starts to snicker again.  "Oh I'm sure you two will get along quite nicely.  I mean, you already have something in common."

"Oh is that right?"  I say.  "What's that?"

Before he could answer, a high velocity plush projectile impacts the soldier's face.  "No you didn't!"  Vinyl yells.  

Steelwing starts laughing manically now.  "Oh whatever do you mean, my dear Vinny?"

Vinyl marches right up to the Knight and stares him straight in the face through her glasses.  "You know damn well what I mean!  How'd you figure it out!"

"Figure what out?"

"I swear to Celestia, Metalhead!"

"I don't know what you're talking about, honest!"

"Is there really a chunk of steel in there?"

"Why are you yelling at me?"

"Dammit Steelwing don't play games with me!"

"What games?!"

"You're a fool!"

"No, you're a fool!  A fillyfooler!"

Vinyl gasped dramatically.  She starts to visibly panic.  "N-no!  I am not!  But uh...Tavi there is!  Yeah she's like, totally gay for me and all that!  But like, I'm not gay so I'm like 'Whoa there Tavi!  I'm like, not gay and uh...sorry!' But no she keeps, uh, keeps coming on to me and like...yeah and all...you uh...uh...I mean, if I-if I was gay I would be attracted to her, but since, you know, I'm not gay so I'm not...But she is!"

Steelwing can't hold it in anymore.  He falls to the floor, holding his sides for dear life.  "It's...it's so...so adorable...how you...try to hide it...but you...you're blushing like crazy!"

I merely chuckle and nuzzle Vinyl.  "You know, you're cute when you're embarrassed."

She takes a few steps back from me.  "Whoa there!  See what I mean!  She's like, all over me!  I mean, I know I'm sexy and all, Tavi, but I'm like...straight!  I like...stallions and uh...penises!  Yeah, those...those things.  And uh...Yeah not gay, so sorry.  I can't help you with your...gay stuff or whatever you gays do because, you know, I'm not gay so I wouldn't know what gay ponies do!"

Even cuter.  "Vinyl could you just stop you silly filly!  There's no sense in hiding it anymore."

With a heavy sigh, she returns back to my embrace and shrinks.  "Ok Steelwing, you got us.  It's true, right here in black and white...er, gray and white.  I love Octavia Harmonious ok?  She's my marefriend.  I'm a fillyfooler.  Anymore secrets you want to pry out of me while I'm at it?"

Steelwing only shakes his head.  "Come on Vinyl, what was the problem?  Why did you have to hide it from us?"

Vinyl hesitated then murmurs something incoherent with a shrug.  

"Did you really think I'd think less of you because of that?"

Again, she mutters something.

"Vinny...my sister has a marefriend, and I still love her all the same and you knew that.  Why would you think I would think differently of you?"

She's silent for a moment.  "There's a bigger story behind it..."

Steelwing outstretches his forelegs.  "Come here you."  It takes a second, but Vinyl accepts the gesture.  Steelwing ruffles up her mane and laughs.  "Try not to go into another one of your moods again, alright?"

Vinyl nods.  "How did you find out anyway?"

"Oh that."  Steelwing releases Vinyl and sidesteps, revealing a miniature version of the soldier.  "Ironwing told me he saw you two making out."

Both Vinyl and I stare at the foal in shock.  Vinyl scrunches her face up and huffs at the little guy, making a notion to cause mock physical harm in toddler-like way during the next playdate.  The foal merely sticks his tongue out at Vinyl, climbs onto his father's back, swipes Vinyl's glasses right off her face, revealing her striking crimson eyes for all to see, puts them on his head (for which they are too big and it looks absolutely adorable) and laughs.  

"I still don't understand why you find the need to wear these things 24/7."  Steelwing says as he places Vinyl's shades on top of her horn.  "Red is my favorite color."  He then leans in close to me.  "You have yourself a keeper here, Octavia, I wish you luck because you are going to need it."

"Oh trust me, I'm already well aware of that fact."  I turn towards Vinyl to see her having a staredown with Ironwing.  "Even with all the migraines she plagues me with daily, I still love her all the same."