//------------------------------//
// Carrot Cake -- Walk in the Park 
// Story: The Album 
// by Peregrine Caged 
//------------------------------//

Written by: .Pinkamena
Rated Everyone




	Carrot Cake smiled to himself as he watched his children play. Pumpkin was following an ant on the ground and Pound was using his wings to shower everyone in a three foot radius with sand. He couldn’t believe how much they had changed in so little time. It was astounding how fast foals grew, and he knew soon they would be off to school and helping in the bakery.


        Only a year had passed, and yet they were already walking on their own and forming words. Of course, some of the words didn’t really sound like words, but that is what happens when you have Pinkie Pie for a big sister. His mind drifted to the pink mare helping his wife back at their shop for just a moment. She wasn’t their biological daughter, but it didn’t matter to him. 


        His mind snapped back when he heard Pumpkin’s laughter. Her blue eyes glittered as she giggled at her twin brother’s antics. He was trying his hardest to reach a butterfly that was floating just above his head, but he couldn’t make it. 


        Thankfully their initial flying and magical abilities had diminished some. The small brown pegasus fell, causing a small puff of sand to flurry around him. Pound giggled while Pumpkin rubbed her eyes. Carrot was on his hooves a nanosecond before the unicorn filly started crying. He reached the two foals and picked Pumpkin up. 


        He shushed her quietly. “Sand in your eyes hurts, doesn’t it?” He didn’t expect her to answer, of course. Fairly soon, she quietened to sniffles as the tears washed the sand from her eyes. “All better now?” Carrot asked. He picked Pound up and put the twins into a special saddlebag Rarity had given them to carry the foals and began to stroll around the park. He listened for the words they had learned as he walked them through the park.


        The day was perfect for a walk--sun’s warmth just stronger than the chill of the autumn wind, evening out the temperature comfortably. Carrot’s leisurely stroll slowed to a stop in front of the duck pond. Though it had no ducks, he took his children out of their harnesses and let them play around the bank of the water. The brother and sister rolled and tumbled around; before long, both sported wide yawns.


        “Time for a nap, I think,” Carrot murmured to himself as he placed them back in their saddlebags. The walk home was as uneventful as always. It was Saturday, so the merchants had their stalls set up and called for ponies to try whatever it was they were trying to sell.  The bell chimed as he walked into Sugar Cube Corner and smiled at his wife. “Busy?”


        “Not really, I even let Pinkie go out with her friends,” the plump mare replied with a shake of her head. “Did they have a rough day?” Cup asked, looking at the foals who were now asleep in their carriers.


        Shaking his head, Carrot smiled. “No, just a lot of fun. Pumpkin did get sand in her eyes, but that was sorted out quickly enough. I’ll just take them up to their room for a bit then.”


	Carefully, so as to not wake the foals, Carrot climbed the stairs slowly. He made his way into their room, navigating through a maze of toddler toys to the cribs. This was always the hardest part: getting them out of the saddlebags and into the crib without waking them. If only he had a horn, it would be easier. He reached over for Pound, who was the heavier sleeper. Taking the pegasus colt’s diaper in his mouth, he pulled up and gently moved his son to the blue crib bed. 


	Next he moved over to the pink crib. Pumpkin almost always woke up. And she did not like being woke up from her nap. Normally Cup or Pinkie would be here to help, but Pinkie was out with her friends and someone had to be down in the shop.


	Carrot swallowed and slowly picked Pumpkin up the same way he had picked Pound up. The light orange filly didn’t flinch, her light breathing the only sound in the room. Slowly, ever so slowly, Carrot moved his young daughter to her bed and lowered her to the mattress. After releasing her, he sighed. Finally, the twins were down for a nap. Now to close up shop early and spend some time with his lovely wife.


	Just as he turned to leave the room, the door slammed open. “Baby Cakes!” Pinkie yelled with a grin. “You’re...home,” her voice dropped dramatically as the scene before her unfolded. Pumpkin and Pound both sat straight up, wide eyed, looking at her. Then, simultaneously, they began to cry. “Oh no,” the pink mare said, her eyes as wide as theirs. 


	“Pinkie,” Carrot said, his voice forcefully calm. 


	Pinkie took a small step forward. “I’ll put them back down. I’m sorry.” 


	He watched the young mare walk past him, a small smile on his lips. “Pinkie, it’s okay. Just...go help Cup clean up, tell her I said we’re closing up early today.” The pink mare turned and smiled at him. 


	And she shook her head. “I’ll put them down Mr. Cake. I did wake them up, after all. Besides, I bet they love being put down by Auntie Pinkie.” She turned to Pumpkin and picked the unicorn filly up. “Don’t you?” Carrot only stayed long enough to see her pick up Pound as well.


	Cup was in the kitchen, washing dishes from the sound of it, so he quietly turned the sign on the front of the shop from opened to closed and slipped into the kitchen. His steps like those of a ghost, he stepped up beside his wife and nuzzled her neck. 


	“I think today would be the perfect day for a walk in the park,” he whispered into her ear. “Pinkie can take care of the twins, and it will only be for an hour. What do you say?” 


	Cup turned, looking into her husbands green eyes. “I think that would be amazing,” she said. She walked upstairs and told Pinkie their plans and walked down to meet her smiling husband. The couple left the shop with tails intertwined.


	It was the perfect day for a walk in the park.