I grit my teeth as Twilight crushed my hand with her magic, her screams echoing down the corridor. Several weeks had passed since the incident with Derek in the Everfree, and I had tried to put it to the back of my mind; Twilight helped matters by going into labour.
Just... breathe through the pain! I thought. Holy fuck, this hurts!
"Come on, Twilight, you're nearly there," Doctor Haywick said gently. "A couple more pushes should do it."
Twilight's eyes nearly popped out her head as she screamed again. I felt the bones in my hand cracking as her hoof crushed it. Ignoring yet another bolt of agony, I looked down towards Haywick; his horn was glowing softly as he concentrated.
"You did this to me, Geo!" Twilight shouted. "Damn you!"
"We did this, Twilight," I replied. "I seem to remember you having as much of a part in the whole process as I did!"
"You son of a—" Twilight was interrupted by another scream escaping her; she fell back onto the bed, exhausted, and then there was nothing but silence in the room.
A silence which was finally broken by a crying foal, who was picked up by Haywick.
"It's a unicorn colt!" he placed the foal on Twilight's chest and she nuzzled him. "Well done, Twilight, you must be so proud."
"Well done indeed." I kissed her forehead and looked at the foal she cradled in her arms. "Hey there, little guy, welcome to the world."
The foal gave me a smile I thought for sure would tear my heart in two. Twilight kissed him gently and placed him in the nearby cot.
Next to his sister.
"Two unicorn foals." Haywick chuckled. "You'll certainly have your work cut out when their magic begins to manifest."
"We'll cope," I said.
Haywick nodded. "I have no doubts that you won't," he replied. "Anyway, my work here is done; I shall leave the four of you in peace." He went to the door. "Congratulations."
"Thanks, Doctor." Twilight and I spoke in unison.
Haywick left the room, leaving us alone with our children. We both looked at them as they took a nap, taking after me already.
"They're precious," Twilight said. "I love them already." She looked at me. "Sorry I yelled at you, Geo; it was the hormones talking."
"Don't worry about it," I replied. "I'd have probably said the same, if not worse, had the situation been reversed."
She giggled and nuzzled me. "Probably."
There was a knock at the door and Shining Armour entered. He had a huge smile on his face as he went and gave his sister a huge hug.
"Hey, Twiley," he said gently. "Congratulations." He looked at the foals. "Wait a minute, I thought you were only expecting one?"
I grinned. "We kept that well hidden, didn't we?"
"You sure did," Shining replied. "I guess you found out they were twins when you went for your first prenatal check-up, rather than your 'holy crap, it might be a hybrid' check?"
"Yes." Twilight rolled her eyes. "We were just as surprised as anypony else, but we felt that we deserved at least one secret."
"Fair enough, Twiley, fair enough." Shining chuckled, then looked at the clock; when he saw the time, his face fell. "Damn it. Sorry Geo, but we need to head back up to Canterlot."
"Already?" Twilight asked. "Oh come on, Shiny, don't do this; at least let him spend some time with the foals first."
"It's all right, Twilight," I said reassuringly, as Shining put a set of manacles around my wrists. "I'll be fine, I promise."
Twilight sighed. "I don't see why you got punished," she said bitterly. "You were only protecting your friend."
"I know," I replied. "But since Derek was attacking John and not me, that's why I got charged with culpable homicide."
"But Derek wasn't even an Equestrian citizen!" Twilight spat.
I kissed the top of her forehead. "I still took a life on Equestrian soil, Twi," I said. "But don't fret; I'll be back in no time at all."
Twilight kissed my cheek and nuzzled my face. "I waited for you once, so I think I can do it again," she whispered "I love you."
"I love you too," I replied, as Shining Armour took my arm and led me out of the room. When Twilight disappeared from view, I sighed and looked at him. "I took a life to protect those I cared about. And you know something, Shining Armour?"
"What's that, Geo?" he replied.
"I would do it again in a fucking heartbeat."
With those words Shining Armour led me outside, the hospital doors slamming shut with an echo that rang through the halls.
*** THE END ***