//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11: Satisfaction 
// Story: What the Heart Craves 
// by ocalhoun 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 11 – Satisfaction

Bella snuggled on her side, with Silver's back pressing into her belly. Spooning had always been Silver's favorite way to cuddle. They'd been lying there for hours, but neither of them had made the slightest move to get up, not even to escape the now-cold wet spot on the bed. It was too comfortable, too wonderful a moment to ever end.
She stroked her hoof through Silver's mane, lazily straightening it out from its disarray.
Silver gave a soft, humming moan and pressed herself tighter against Bella. Her mane fell away, exposing the back of her neck.
Bella gasped. A big purple bruise sprawled just below Silver's head. “Spoony?”
“Mm-hm?” Silver rubbed her cheek against Bella's foreleg.
“That bruise on your neck ... is it...?”
Silver tensed, the muscles of her back going hard and stiff.
“Spoony?”
She breathed a long, drawn-out sigh. “He was shoving me down on himself ... really hard.”
“Silver!”
“No!” Rolling over, Silver stared into Bella's eyes. Her burning intensity didn't invite any argument. “You can't do anything. You promised!”
Bella sighed. “Okay.” She held Silver close for a long, quiet while, but inside, she was scheming. There has to be some way I can get him to stop. It isn't right.
“What are you going to do with the baby?”
What if Spoony doesn't want it? Bella blanched at the prospect of choosing between her foal and her lover ... but there was no way around it. They'd have to talk sometime. “Well, ah... I'm not sure,” she fibbed. “Maybe I'll keep it?” I don't want to sound sure about it. I couldn't bear to get in a fight about it now.
“Hmm.” Silver squeezed in closer laying a hoof across Bella's side. “Good.”
Bella let out the breath she'd been holding.
“I've actually always had kind of a secret fantasy about it,” Silver admitted. “Having a family with you, but it was always impossible.”
Bella giggled.
“It happened a little sooner than I would have liked.”
Bella's giggling cut off. “Oh ... um, sorry.”
“It's okay.” Silver smiled. “We're going to be just fine ... and I'll enjoy being Second Mommy.”


⁂


Stupid scratchy bushes. This wasn't the best hideout spot Diamond Tiara had ever used. It wasn't the worst, either. But it was still awful.
She peeked out. Silver Spoon's house was still and quiet, but she knew they must still be inside. It wasn't as big and nice as her house, but what house was? Nothing in this two-horse town. 
She wished they would come out already. She had another beauty pageant to win later this evening, and if her 'doing the right thing will always be rewarded' dad got wind of what she was up to, he'd never shut up about it.
Ducking back down, she fondled the controls of her camera. Wonderfully diabolical plots swirled in her head. “Leave me all alone again, will you?” She chuckled darkly. “We'll just see about that, Silver Spork. When I'm through with you and that little slut of yours, you'll never—”
“Diamond Dazzle Tiara!”
Diamond jumped. Leaves and pokey twigs jabbed into her, but she spun around to face whoever was foolish enough to—
Vinyl Scratch scowled down at her hiding spot.
Her! Diamond wasn't sure how, but she knew that pony was involved in this somehow. She'd have to do something about her, too. Shaking the leaves out of her mane as gracefully as possible, she stepped out of the bushes and right into Vinyl's face. “And what do you—”
“Don't even start.” Vinyl moved in closer. “If you do anything – anything at all – to my daughter or her marefriend, I'm going to title my next tour 'Diamond Tiara is a Whiny Little Bitch', got it?”
Her daughter? But Silver's mother was dead. And that threat... Cold spikes of fear dug into her, but she knew how to deal with that. She laughed harshly. It was ridiculous. It was—
“You won't be laughing when all of Equestria makes 'Whiny Little Bitch' your new nickname.”
Goddess, that pony was serious! Diamond gulped. “Oh yeah, well I'll—”
“You'll what?” Vinyl scowled at her.
“Um...” It had been so clear a moment ago.
Vinyl stomped, coming in closer. Their noses almost touched. “Got it?”
All Diamond could see was her own reflection in those big, colored glasses. She nodded.
With a smirk, Vinyl turned away. “Good – remember it, and leave those two alone.”
Diamond felt sick. Seriously sick, like she might barf. She wanted to get back, to lash out. Her instincts screamed for retribution ... but that fear came back, a crippling fear, a fear she hadn't felt since her first pageant. She couldn't risk humiliation on that kind of scale. That DJ was crazy. She'd do it.
This was a new feeling, and Diamond didn't like it, not one bit.


⁂


The sun was already sinking when Bella came home. It was always weird when the days started getting so short.
She opened the door and darted inside, eager to get out of the cold.
Arpeggio stood inside, holding his old brown suitcase in his magic. “... I'll look for him, Dear, and I'll write if I find out anything.”
Bella closed the door behind her. “You're off to Canterlot again?”
He nodded and glanced away, biting his lip ... but then he turned back and smiled.
Smiling back, Bella enjoyed the moment. For once, she didn't resent him leaving. She knew he cared, and that was all that mattered.
He hugged her on the way out, then ducked through the door and rushed off.
He must be late for the train. Bella stared out through the window even after he passed out of view. Weird. He's never late.
“Is that you?” Lemon stepped out of the kitchen. As soon as she saw Bella, she ran out and hugged her tight. “Oh thank goodness you're alright! I was so worried!”
“Huh?” She was home a little later than usual for a school day, but it shouldn't have been anything to worry about. “What's wrong?”
“Have you seen your brother anywhere?”
“No, why?”
Lemon's hooves couldn't hold still. She trotted in place. “He's been missing all day! A lot of his things are gone, and when I talked to Applejack, she said she'd seen him getting on the morning train! And then I checked at the school, and you weren't there either!” She wrapped Bella in another suffocatingly tight hug. “I was so worried!”
Bella blinked slowly, vacantly hugging her mom back. “Oh... Wow.” It was hard to absorb. “He's gone?” They might have had a rough relationship lately, but Ruby had always been there for her, always been a friend to hang out with.
Finally letting go, Lemon went right back to her nervous jitters. “Nopony knows where he went! He didn't tell anypony where he was going.” She winced and looked at the door as if she expected him to walk through it at any moment. “We don't even know where to look, what town to go to.”
Staring at the window, Bella absently laid a hoof on Lemon's shoulder to comfort her. “Huh...” I wonder if it had anything to do with me...


⁂


Come on, come out! Bella shivered, waiting in the narrow side street next to Ponyville Savings and Loan. I really should have brought a coat. 
It was past eight already, according to the clock tower, but Silver Platter still hadn't come out. The upstairs light was on in the building, though. He had to still be in there.
Shaking herself, Bella tried to ignore the chill. The night was clear and breezy, and stars twinkled overhead. Somehow, they always seemed closer when it was cold outside.
Why hasn't he come out yet? All the other bank workers had gone home already, but it was apparently a late night at the office for Silver Platter.
Finally, the window went dark. A few excruciatingly slow moments later, the side door opened and Silver Platter stepped out. He wrapped a grey scarf a few shades lighter than his coat around his neck and slicked back his mane before turning around and carefully locking the door.
Bella crept toward him, totally silent.
When he turned back around, he jumped away from her with a shout. “Who are— Oh. It's you.”
“You are never going to touch Silver Spoon again.”
He raised an eyebrow. Though he was slightly shorter than her, he seemed to lean over her. “Are you threatening me?”
“No... I prefer to think of it as blackmail.” Bella allowed herself a wicked little grin.
His eyes narrowed and his bottom lip curled. “Spoon will never come out publicly, and with my sterling reputation, nopony will believe your outlandish accusations.”
“I'm not talking about what you've done to Silver Spoon.”
He pulled back, looking at her sideways, then shook his head. “I don't have time for this rubbish. Step aside.”
Bella took a step forward, seizing the space he'd given her. “I'm talking about what you did to me. You raped me. And now I'm carrying your foal.”
“Preposterous!” His eyes went wide and his mouth sputtered soundlessly. “I – I did no such thing!”
Bella had to stop herself from laughing at him. And that's what it looks like when a liar is finally telling the truth for once. She settled for letting her lugubrious grin widen. “Prove it.” Moving closer, she whispered into his ear, “What's that sterling reputation going to look like when you get done denying that in public?”
“You wouldn't dare.”
“Try me.” Bella didn't give him an inch. “I'd do anything to protect my Spoony.”
He grimaced, and his eyes darted from side to side. His breathing became the loudest sound in the street. “This is slander! When my lawyer hears about this you'll—”
“I don't care. I want your hooves off my marefriend!”
Shaking his head, he calmed himself until he stood perfectly still. His cold, dead eyes glared into her. “I will ruin you.”
I'm already ruined. Do your worst. She stared him down. “Not a hoof on her, understand? ... And this can go away.” Goddess, I hope this works. Bella didn't have a 'plan B'. If this didn't work, who knew what might happen... She could barely breathe, and she fervently hoped Silver Platter couldn't see her legs shaking.
A flurry of different emotions played across his face – it twisted with rage one moment, and blanched with fear the next. At one point, he even looked heartbroken... Finally, though, the storm blew over and he slumped for a long moment, silent as the night around him. “Very well.”
“Good.” Bella gave him a genuine smile before turning away. “Don't forget this. Not a single touch.” It might not keep him off of her for long, but every day he doesn't do something to her is a blessing. She just hoped it would be enough to keep him away until Silver could move somewhere else. School would be over soon, and so would Silver Platter's hold on her.


⁂


Bella had never known a birthday this warm before. They always seemed to come on the dreariest day of late fall, but this time – thanks to a freak warm spell – she could almost think it was the middle of summer, despite the yellowed leaves rustling around her hooves.
She glanced around as she came up to the cafe, just down the street from that fateful nightclub she visited nearly a year ago. All the outside tables were already full of ponies enjoying this one last break before winter.
Before long, though, she spotted Vinyl and Lemon waving her over to a table with a couple of empty chairs and a booster seat set up.
Trotting over to the table, she took a moment to give each of her moms a quick hug.
“Glad you could make it, Birthday Girl.” Vinyl patted her back. “How's Crave been doing while I was on tour?”
Before Bella could answer, Lemon cut in, “Oh, he's been an absolute darling. Silver Spoon should be bringing him by any minute now. The poor little dear was in the middle of a nap.”
“Darling?” Bella took a seat across from them. “You haven't had to wake up in the middle of the night to nurse the little brat!”
Giving an exaggerated sigh, Lemon rolled her eyes. “Well, if you would just let me bottle feed...”
Vinyl snickered at the look Bella gave Lemon.
“Oh—” Lemon pointed away and began waving a hoof in the air “—there she is now.”
Turning around in her seat, Bella spotted her marefriend carrying Heart Crave in a saddlebag papoose. Silver Spoon had blossomed in the past year. Her eyes and coat had a brand new shine to them, and she walked with an easy confidence that was no longer faked.
When she came up to the table, Silver gave Bella a quick kiss.
It still sent tingles through Bella that she could kiss Silver out in public in front of everypony. Somehow, it made what they had more solid, more real. She picked Crave off of Silver's back and kissed him on the forehead. He giggled.
As Lemon helped Bella wrestle the little yellow and blue colt into his highchair and strap him in, Silver watched, smiling. “He's been pretty good today. I think he's just showing off for his grandmas now.” She paused while they finished buckling him in. “And happy sixteenth, Bella.”
Smoothing her mane down, Bella shrugged. “It's my anniversary of meeting my mom, too.”
Vinyl laughed loudly.
Everypony looked over at her. “What's so funny?” Silver asked.
“A pony's birthday is always the anniversary of meeting her mom!”
Silver snickered. “Oh yeah. You're right. Good one, Grandma.”
Vinyl's face pinched at that last word.
Bella giggled too. “And thanks, all of you, for taking me out to lunch.”
“Of course.” Lemon smiled at her and shot a playful look to the side. “Besides, Vinyl's paying.”
“What?” Vinyl's mouth dropped open.
Before anypony could laugh, an elegantly mustached unicorn approached the table. “Ah, is everyone present now? May I take your orders?”
“Ooh, I'd love a marigold sandwich on a poppy seed bun, thank you!” Lemon blurted out.
Bella glanced at her as Silver buried her nose in the menu.
Lemon shrugged. “I've been waiting for a while.”
“And you, Miss?” The waiter looked at Vinyl.
“Okay...” Vinyl began moving her hoof down the menu like it was a checklist. “Two oat burgers, extra cheese; a daffodil platter; two orders of hay fries, one with honey mustard and the other with hot sauce; three apple fritters, extra crispy; and a large...”
Everypony was staring at her.
“... diet hay soda.” Vinyl glanced back and forth at them as the waiter frantically scribbled down her order. “Hey, being on stage takes a lot out of a pony.”
Lemon laughed first, and the others soon joined her.
Finally, the waiter finished taking down Vinyl's order. He looked to Silver. “Are you ready, Madam?”
“Just a minute,” Silver said, still poring over the menu.
“I'll take an apple and mandarin salad, thank you.” Bella set the menu down in front of her.
“Really, that's it?” Vinyl asked.
Her cheeks burning a little, Bella glanced away. “Well, I've almost got my figure back after being pregnant. I don't want to blow it now.”
Silver put the menu down. “Um... okay.” When the waiter turned to her, she wrapped a hoof around Bella. “I'll take what she's having.”
“Very good. I'll be back shortly.” The waiter trotted away.
Lemon stared down at the mushroom-shaped table, sinking into a slump. “So... No cake later for the Birthday Girl?” 
Baby fat or not, I can't let her suffer like that! “Well, maybe a little cake.”
It didn't seem to cheer her up, though.
“What's wrong?” Vinyl put a hoof on her shoulder.
“It's nothing.” After glancing around the table, Lemon gave in to their concerned looks. “It's just that it reminded me of when Ruby disappeared.”
“Oh don't worry about him,” Vinyl said. “I know the type – ponies like him always get lucky breaks somehow. I bet he owns half of Fillydelphia or something by now.”
Lemon gave a weak laugh. “Yeah. I guess.”
“You bet on it.” Vinyl leaned over and pulled her into a sideways hug, which seemed to ease Lemon' mood, then she looked over at Bella. “So, my tour's coming to Ponyville in a couple weeks. You wanna come? I'll take you backstage to where the real party goes down.”
Bella had to bite her lip for a moment to stop herself. “I, uh... I'm sorry. I can't go.”
“What?” Vinyl glanced around, as if looking for the reason. She cringed, looking more than a little betrayed. “Why not?”
Bella looked at Silver, and Vinyl glanced back and forth between them, her eyebrows furrowing.
Silver grinned and melted down into her chair a little. “You can go. I'll watch Crave.”
“What?” Bella blinked repeatedly. “What about our...”
“You can go if you stay with Vinyl the whole time.” Silver glanced over at Vinyl, and her smile grew.
Jumping up out of her chair, Bella latched onto Silver. She'd never felt so warm and bubbly inside. From his highchair, Crave giggled at her and clapped his hooves together.
Silver barely reacted. She only laid a hoof across Bella's back, and she kept looking at Vinyl. “You can keep an eye on her, right?” She squeezed Bella tight. “And make sure she comes home with some stamina left, okay?”
“You bet I can!” Vinyl grinned wide.
When Silver kissed her on the forehead and let go of her, Bella pulled herself back up into her chair. “I'm glad I have such a badass marefriend!”
“Bella!” Lemon shot her a look.
“Oh.” Bella laughed. “And a badass family, too!”
“No!” Lemon covered her face. “Bella, Crave's going to be learning his first words soon. You shouldn't use curse words around him!”
Bella waved a hoof at her. “Oh come on. It'll be fine. My little Heart Crave is a perfect—”
“Badass!”
Everypony stared at the baby, which caused him to go into a giggling fit.
Bella grinned so wide her cheeks hurt. “My kid is gonna be awesome!”


The End