//------------------------------//
// A Gem Richly Won 
// Story: A Gem Richly Won 
// by Rose Quill 
//------------------------------//

The voice was soft but full of confidence as it called out from the kitchen.

"Aunt Sweetie, could you help me get this to the table?"

Sweetie Belle smiled and stood, setting her coffee mug on the table between us.

"Can't ignore my favorite niece," she smiled.

I leaned into Rarity as we had a few moments of quiet. 

"This is nice," I whispered to her. "Melody cooking dinner for Mother's Day."

"I'm thankful she is better at it than Sweetie Belle was when she would try," Rarity whispered back. "She clearly paid attention when we let her help when she was younger."

Sweetie Belle stuck her head back in the door for a moment.

"I heard that," she mock pouted. "And dinner is served, by the way."

We went to the dining room, decorated tastefully as were all the rooms in the house, done by the fashionista by my side. Sitting on a hot pad in the middle of the solid oak table made by AJ and Big Mac as a wedding gift was a large casserole pan steaming lightly next to a bowl of salad that our daughter Melody was tossing gently.

I smiled at the purple maned girl, leaning down to kiss her on the head while Rarity rubbed noses with her. She was our little treasure, and also our largest trial to date. When she got together with Midnight Sky, Windvane, and Aurora, it was like seeing Sweetie Belle and her friends at that age again.

Trouble and all.

As she served out the caesar salad and the vegetable pot pie,  I took a moment to look around the table, at the family I had gained when Rarity had agreed to marry me. A sister who was miles better at being understanding than my brother, a little girl that could always make me smile, and a wonderful wife who had stood by me through everything as I had with her.

Of all the treasures in the world, she was truly a gem, one richly won despite trouble.

"Mum?" I heard Melody ask. "You ok?"

I nodded with a smile as I took Rarity's hand in mine.

"Just basking, Little Sparrow," I said, happily.

"Just basking."