//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: Idyllic Interludes // by lollipopchica //------------------------------// 6 MONTHS LATER "So... What’s the news?" Twilight asked sliding into the seat across from the mare in front of her. To her credit, she tried to hide her discomfort. While she'd come to terms with her brother's relationship, she and Chrysalis were barely friends. Her parents liked her well enough, a fact that still surprised her every time they visited. Life was getting along quite well for most everyone. Twilight’s work kept her busy as she now resided in the city. Shining Armor had gotten another promotion and Chrysalis was taking a small break from acting. She was due to start another production in about two weeks. It was during this time the two decided to piece together some kind of relationship. Jedzia's had a small lunch crowd today. And while she knew how much her sister-in-law enjoyed the place and its owner, she wondered why the older mare had picked a spot tucked away in a corner. Chrysalis stared at the younger with an unsure expression on her face. She told her husband she'd make more of an effort with his over protective sister, but today she really wanted to cancel. The manila envelope that sat on the table was wreaking havoc on her mind. She remembered the first time she'd gotten such 'wonderful' news. Her then fiancé had been ecstatic! A baby! When she later had to tell him she lost it, it had been devastating. The second time even more so. She had convinced herself that there was something wrong with her. Granted with her first unborn child she had been working hard with a new venue. But she never thought- Shining Armor hadn't blamed her for anything either time but he did give her a lot of space. Which in her mind felt like a silent accusation. "Twilight... maybe we should do this another day." Thinking about it made her really want to speak with her sister. Twilight narrowed her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something. "And what would you ladies like to drink?" "Oh! Water please. Actually, I’m going to head to the ladies room!" A sudden bout of nausea fell over her and Chrysalis felt like she couldn’t get up fast enough. "Water?" Twilight mused aloud after the waiter had left with their drink orders. Chrystal always enjoyed a glass of wine. Indigo colored eyes fell on the folder that the other had semi tucked away. Perhaps it was the script for a new show, she didn't think much of it. Moments later the waiter had returned with their drinks. Chrystal was still in the restroom. The pony was placing down their drinks when he accidently knocked the other mare's coat and folder off the table. Twilight immediately moved to assist when she gasped at the watermark and business information on the folder: Coatlicue Jade, OB/GYN *-*-*-*-*-* When she had initially made her doctor's appointment, Chrysalis had honestly thought she'd just been sick. Pregnancy was the furthest from her mind. Before she'd been excited about trying for a baby. Now... she didn't know how to feel. After rinsing her mouth out with water, Chrysalis studied her complexion in the mirror before returning to her table with Twilight. What she saw, stopped her in her tracks. The folder that had been under her coat now sat in the middle of the table with an anxious looking Twilight. By the time she made it back to the table she was already on the defensive. "Are you pregnant?" Twilight asked with wide eyes. "Twilight..." She fell into her seat anticipating a migraine. "Does my brother know?" "No..." Was her flat response. That surprised the younger. "Chrystal- I mean Chrysalis, why aren’t you excited? I thought this is what you wanted." "It is..." "Then why do you not look like a happy expectant mother?" "I can't get his hopes up only to disappoint him again." "What're you talking about? Wait..." The other's words were beginning to sink in. "You were pregnant before?!" "Yes..." Suddenly she felt embarrassed. "Twice, actually." "Oh..." Twilight sank back into her seat dropping her eyes to the ground. "I'm sorry." "You should have seen him, Twilight. I'd never seen anypony so happy before. And then I collapsed at work and... he wouldn't look at me, he wouldn't touch me for weeks. I felt so horrible." Chrysalis stared at her water as she talked about it. Even now it still bothered her. Normally she would never be so candid in conversation with Twilight, but once she started talking it seemed she couldn't stop. "He blamed you?" Chrysalis couldn't help but smile at the slight outrage in her sister-in-law's voice. She never thought Twilight would be offended on her behalf. "No... He never said the words but it’s hard to not feel like maybe he does." She looked up to study the other. "You think he does?" "I think that there's something wrong with me. Obviously everything else works... just not me." "Have you talked to anypony about this?" Twilight frowned at the bitterness in the other's voice. "No..." Chrysalis sulked. "I think that you should." "I'm talking to you." Twilight smiled at the quip. "Yes but I'm not a professional." Just because they weren't bff's it didn't mean she liked to see the older mare so at upset with herself. It bothered her more than she cared to admit. But it also touched her that Chrysalis would share this with her. "I think you should stop worrying about how Shining Armor feels about the situation and worry about yourself." At the confused expression on charcoal features she continued. "None of what you said focused on your feelings of lost. All I've heard is how much you think it’s your fault and how my brother will cope." "You sound like a professional..." Chrysalis grumbled taking a sip of her water. Twilight grinned, "I have a friend who's a professional. Let me take you to her?" Chrysalis looked unsure. "I promise Fluttershy is the best." Twilight assured. "Trust me, please." "What will I tell your brother?" "Let me deal with him." *-*-*-*-* If Shining Armor was surprised to find his sister waiting for him on his steps, he didn't show it. "Twiley!" He greeted with a giant grin on his scarred face. "Big Brother!" She greeted with a grin of her own. "How was work?" She asked making small talk as they filed into the modest home he and his wife had purchased a few months after being married. "It was dull." He grimaced, "lots of court." The two continued catching up as the older put his things away. After he'd excused himself and showered, he flopped down in a seat across from his sister. "How was lunch?" Much to his surprise his sister and wife had started having lunch every Wednesday. It’d been three weeks since the duo started and so far the stallion hadn’t heard about any arguments or fights breaking out between the two. What he was expecting was not what he heard. "Your wife is pregnant." Twilight deadpanned. "Pregnant?!" He sputtered with eyes like saucers as he jerked forward. "What?! How do you know that?" "She told me." Twilight shrugged watching his reaction. "She told you?! No offense... but she told you?!" "Yes... after I found the pictures she really had no choice." "I thought it was just a bad stomach flu." Shining Armor rationalized aloud to himself. "Where is she? I have to talk to her!" He was already on his hooves ready to spring into action. The lavender mare immediately intercepted him blocking the doorway with a determined expression on her face. "No you don't. You're not supposed to know. She's with Fluttershy." "Fluttershy? Your therapist?" Twilight nodded. "Why is she there? What's wrong?" "You." "Me?" He sounded incredulously. "Sit." Was her command to which he obeyed. "What're you a parrot today?" She rolled her eyes despite her amusement with his reaction. "Twilight! Why is she with Fluttershy?" His eyes followed her as she took the seat he had earlier occupied. "She thinks you blame her for not being able to carry a baby to term." "What?" He furrowed his brow in confusion as disbelief fell over him. "That's ridiculous- I don't!" "Did you tell her that?" "I didn't think I had to." "Of course you didn't." Twilight rolled her eyes and threw her hooves up in the air. Sometimes her brother was too dense. "What did you do when you found out she had miscarried?" "I gave her her space. I didn't think she'd want to be reminded..." "But did you explain that?" She urged. "I-I didn't.... no." "So you just stopped interacting with her after she found out she'd lost a baby and didn't think to explain yourself beforehand." At the confused look on her brother's face she hoof-faced and shook her head. "How did you think she'd take it? I'm pretty sure the only thing she needed after being told she couldn't give you something you wanted was to hear you tell her you didn't care and that you loved her anyway. Of course she came to the worst possible conclusion." "Fuck! I'm such an idiot!" Cerulean eyes widened almost comically as Shining Armor tore his hands through his mane and fell back into the couch. "Yeah you are... Now what are you going to do about it?" *-*-*-*-* When Chrysalis finally arrived home, she came home to a napping stallion on the couch. She smiled at the sight. Ever since she started seeing Twilight's friend she was beginning to let go of a lot of things that she hadn't even realized she'd been carrying. Her relationships were always based on a need to prove something to somepony else. She realized why she had so soundly fallen in love with Shining Armor. His love for her wasn't based on anything else but her self. He loved her spirit and her passion. He didn't care about her name or her money. He just loved her. Tonight she was going to tell him about the baby and her therapy sessions. "Hey..." he yawned waking up to the sound of the front door closing. "Hey yourself..." Was her timid reply. "I think we need to talk." "Okay," she had no idea that he wanted to talk about what she was planning on telling him. She thought nothing of his stare as she went about hanging up her coat and scarf. "Twiley told me about the baby...." That caught her attention. "Did she?" She managed as she halted in her actions. "You don't understand how much this means to me." Slowly she turned to face him. "I do." "But do you understand how much you mean to me?" Harlequin eyes were confused as she tilted her head to regard him. At this point, Chrysalis didn't know what to expect, but she didn't expect him to say that. "I want a baby with you, Chryssie." He took his time reaching out to her as he guided her back to the couch. "But I want a baby because it’s you." He kissed her forehead. "I want to have this life with you." Next her nose. "God you're so beautiful." She closed her eyes as he placed kisses on both corners of her mouth. "Do you know that? Somethings aren't meant to be..." A soft kiss to the neck. "But I never blamed you for anything..." She offered him her throat as he continued to speak to her in a low tone kissing her all the while. "I never thought there was anything wrong with you. I just didn't want to make you anymore upset than I knew you were." He placed a tender kiss on her mouth as he looked into her eyes. "I'm sorry if I ever made you think that I did." Tears pooled in her eyes and she turned to let them fall only for him to redirect her gaze to his with a flick of his hoof. Without warning his mouth covered hers and he kissed her like he'd never see her again. Like if he didn't give his all in this moment then she'd disappear from him for forever. She whimpered against his lips as she let his crimson wave of emotion wash over her drowning her in love and support. "You're amazing, you know that," He mumbled against her flesh. "I want you all for myself all the time. My wife is perfect." Somehow, they stumbled into their bedroom and she cried as he made love to her. With her hormones on edge, it was one of the most intense experiences she'd ever had. It stole her breath and soothed the aching in her heart that had taken root since this whole baby ordeal started. "I love you," She murmured later as she lay breathless in his grasp. Physically and mentally exhausted, she curled into his body as his voice filled her ears. "I love you too, Chryssie. He placed kisses along her neck and shoulders. "I love you, baby or no baby." "But this time we will..." she moaned at the attention he lavished her with. She believed it. "You're sure, baby?" Was his absent reply as he kissed her stomach and sides moving down to the place between her legs. She nodded with heavy eyelids. "Mmm hmm." She felt his lips and tongue and didn't have the strength or the voice to make him stop. The only sound she could manage was his name as the rest of the world faded away in a hazy screen of pleasure. *-*-*-*-* "I hate you travelling like this while you're pregnant." The two were walking to the main train station as Chrysalis had a meeting to attend in Las Pegasus. Shining Armor requested the day off so he could see his wife off. "Thank you for the concern, daddy." She said with a hint of annoyance. He rolled his eyes. "I'm serious. I worry about you." He wanted foals, but he wanted his wife more, and this pregnancy had its own set of risks. "I know. I'll be fine. Everything'll be fine." She kissed him playfully when they had finally made it to her tier. Grand Central Station was always full of sights and ponies. Today was no different. The two stood in front of her entrance point as they said their goodbyes. "I just don't want you to overdo it, I know how much your work still means to you, but you mean so much more to me. You know that, right?" Chrysalis grinned at the words that had come from her husband's mouth. "I know..." She had given him a kiss and boarded her train. "I love you too!" She'd shouted from a window as the locomotive pulled away. He'd smiled and watched as the machinery departed. Everything was going to be fine. But everything wasn't fine. The train experienced engine failure running too fast around a curve and jumping the track. There had been too much internal bleeding as the blunt force trauma the mare had experienced had been too much. She could feel herself grow weaker as the pain tried to swallow the world around her. As the mare lay dying an apparition of buttercream, plum and corals cocooned her being in warmth. "Chrysalis... My sweet, sweet daughter." Chrysalis felt as if she were floating "What's going on?" "You're dying..." "What... but my baby... Shining Armor." She protested weakly. "They can't- I can't..." "Shhh... but there is something you can do." "What? Please..." "I can give you more time, but know you will be different. You will be yourself and completely unlike yourself." Elytra could tell the other had questions. "When the time comes for this part of yourself to return, there will be nothing more I can do for you and what was supposed to be, will be." "Will my daughter get to meet her father?" "Yes. She will." "I'll do it." And before she could say anything else, a multitude of emotions and memories assaulted her changing her while fading into obscurity. Slowly, she felt herself merging with an achingly familiar being who was painfully incomplete. Just when she thought she'd lose herself completely to these overwhelming sensations her world faded to black.