Styx's POV:
It is Hearth's Warming today and I decided that it was time to tell the girls about my inability to love. I made sure to get up early to make the girls their favorite breakfast, along with getting a large mouse as a present for Basil. I hear the girls come running down with Sombra casually following behind. They gasp as they see the amount of presents that lay under the tree for them. Changelings don't celebrate Hearth's Warming, but supposedly ponies are told that three reindeer called the Gift Givers of the Grove bring presents each year. While it is true, a lot of the presents were bought by Sombra and I. Mostly Sombra as he can at least see all the vendors, but I did all the wrapping. As he is not the best at it, since he was never taught how. One of the presents is a card with the word story on it, which we are saving for last.
As the girls finish their sightseeing of the prsesnts, they come prancing into the kitchen to see what breakfast is. Sombra stands in the doorway watching. I hover over the biggest bowl of watermelon and pancakes of multiple flavors, including chocolate chip, strawberry, blueberry, cherry, and peanut butter. "Happy Hearth's Warming Orla and Mystel!"
"Happy Hearth's Warming Mother!" They say in unison, leaving me feeling warm and fuzzy inside. As they dig in, with Orla trying her hardest to eat on her own with a little help from Mystel, I wander over to Sombra.
"Happy Hearth's Warming my king."
"Happy Hearth's Warming my queen. Are you ready for today?"
"As ready as I can be. Now let's not worry about that now, let's go join the girls in eating."
We sit at the table and eat, encouraging Orla to eat on her own, but eventually Sombra helps her. As soon as we finish eating the girls run to the tree and begin sorting out all of the presents, including a little pile for Basil. I start to do the dishes, but Sombra stops me, "The dishes can wait until after presents."
He walks with me to the living room and helps me get out of my bracers as I sit. The girls admire them for a second before pushing a small box in front of me. "Mom you go first, cause if it wasn't for you, none of us would have a home here," says Mystel.
I submit to this and carefully open the small box. Inside is a small necklace with a heart charm. I open the heart to see a picture of Orla and Mystel on one side and then a picture of Sombra on the other. I smile and Orla uses her magic to take it from me and put in around my neck. "Orla, when did you learn to do that?"
"Mystel and Daddy helped teach me so that I could put the necklace on you," she says grinning from ear to ear.
"Thank you, I will cherish it always. Now, should we get onto the rest of the presents?"
I give Orla and Mystel each a present from their piles, along with giving Basil all of his to unwrap. The girls each gave Basil a small wicker basket to put his blankets in. Sombra and I each got him two more blankets to put in those new beds. Mystel's present from Sombra is a small midnight blue dress for formal occasions. Same with Orla, with hers being buttercup yellow. My presents to the girl were two stuffed animal crystal looking bunnies. The girls got many other gifts from the Gift Givers, but I am not sure where we are putting all of it. Oh, well, anything for my two girls. We hand the girls the last present, the one they must open together.
"Why does the only thing the card says is story?" asks Mystel, staring at me expectantly.
"It is time for me to tell you an important story. One that will affect the rest of our lives. So, I want to tell you how your father got to be here with us. Long ago, he ruled the Crystal Empire, but soon a war broke out between him and Celestia and Luna. This war raged on and on, unicorns, Earth ponies, and pegasi on Celestia's side and Changelings and Umbra on Sombra's side. I was just a filly when this war started but I helped out during the war, raiding villages for food. As the war drew to a close Sombra's army was winning but Celestia and Luna would not allow that. They intervened and banished him to Limbo, leaving the Changelings to fend for themselves. I was with foster parents and mine were allowed to live. Twelve other Changelings young were sent to pony foster homes, all of which either starved or threw themselves off of Celestia's castle. I stayed in hiding until 2 years ago when I came out of hiding. Slowly gaining friendship from Twilight and the other bearers. Soon I had to reveal myself, and you know the rest. However, the one thing you don't know is that I can't actually feel love for you two or Sombra."
"Mom! You don't love us!?" Orla shouts starting to cry.
"No, I love you very much, or as close to feeling love as I can. In order to get your father out of Limbo I had to give up something, in this case, my ability to love. I still care deeply for you two and Sombra."
"Oh, so you just can't feel the emotion, but you still love us, like we love you."
"Yes, now do you two want your last present?"
"Yeah!"
I hand them the skinny box that has their adoption certificates in them and watch them open it. They both stare at them confused, until Orla asks, "Mom, what are these?"
"Those are your official adoption papers."
"Wait so you actually adopted us as your kids?" asks Mystel puzzlingly.
"Yes, you are now officially ours and not under the care of the orphanage."
At that they both come barreling into Sombra and I. Taking us to the floor and hugging us tightly. Sombra and I hug them both tightly and we lie there in a content pile until I hear Sombra kiss Orla and Mystel each on the top of their heads. The girls go running off to their rooms and each come back with a present for Sombra. He looks at me questionly and I shake my head as I have no idea what is in them. He takes Mystel's first, and opens it, it is a picture frame with a picture of all of us on our hike. He smiles and thanks Mystel. He takes Orla present, opens it, and pulls out a small purple crystal rose in a black clay pot. He hovers it over to the front window sill and thanks Orla. Sombra tells them to go play and helps me into my bracers. He hovers a small box in front of me and kneels down, "Styx, I know I should've popped this question sooner, but now that the girls are ours, I think it is time. Will you be my special somepony forever?"
"Yes!" I yell, too excited to keep quiet. He hovers the promise ring to my horn and gently clasps it around it. I hear a small squeal and I look towards the stairs to see Mystel and Orla smiling and crying. I wave the girls over, we stand together, I pull out a camera, and take a picture. One big happy, fully together family.
We take the girls out to dinner that night, we come home and they fly upstairs immediately falling asleep after so much excitement for the day. With the girls asleep, Sombra and I head to his room, as he has the bigger bed. We lay down in bed, and snuggle close. It is a time for thankfulness and sharing time with what would be my loved ones. I sit up and look at him, "Sombra, you remember before I was kidnapped how you mentioned that we were having a quarrel?"
He sits up and looks at me before speaking, "Yes, I think it is time to discuss that. What do you feel for me? Do I still feel like a father, or do I feel like something more?"
"Love is a fickle thing, you know I can't feel it. But I guess I feel whatever the closest thing is to that for you. Admiration, adoration, just not actual love. I want to feel it for you, but you know I can't. Definitely not as a father though, but more. You?"
"I know I'm in love with you. I just didn't know if you were ready to accept that from me. However, if you are, then I think we can take our relationship further."
"I think I am ready to accept that, but we can't take it too far. As I'm not ready for that, and the girls are in the next room over."
"Fine, but I can still do this," he says, leaning down and kissing me. I am surprised by the sudden boldness, but I melt into him. He gently lays me down, never breaking contact with my lips. He holds his weight off of me, and then releases the kiss. "You know, you really turn to mush when I do that. I wish I would have done it sooner."
"Well you've got all night to turn me to mush. However, you probably shouldn't do it too much, as I will probably start moaning eventually."
"I can handle that," he says, kissing me again. I relax and enjoy this time. Eventually we both tire and fall asleep.