The Hardships of A Father
Part 5: A Babysitter
By: Major Frostwing
I sat outside Fluttershy's home sitting in the snow looking out at the frozen landscape a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. I took a slow hit blowing the smoke out of my nose. "It's so peaceful out here." I said taking a deep breath of the arctic air. I looked at the cigarette in my hand scowling. Smoking was how I dealt with the loss of Samantha and I feel as if I stop smoking I will forget I lost her. "Maybe I should put up a grave so I can go visit her." I said putting the cigarette in my mouth.
"A grave for whom?" I heard a woman ask as I looked over slightly startled. Rarity was looking down at me with a smile.
"Just my late wife I still need a place to go to for her birthday." I said with a sigh. "I just don't know where to put it." Rarity thought about it for a second before snapping her fingers.
"Ponyville does have a cemetery over that hill." Rarity said pointing over a hill I nodded smiling.
"I guess I have to get a gravestone and plot picked out for her." I said taking a hit on my cigarette. "That will cost me a pretty penny." I said with another sigh.
"I hope it goes well for you Darling. Now then can you tell me where Fluttershy is it is time for our spa date." I raised an eyebrow looking down at my watch smiling.
"At this time she is most likely reading." I said getting to my feet. "I hope you two have a good time at your spa date." I offered a smile to Rarity and she smiled back to me.
After a few minutes Rarity and Fluttershy had left for their spa date I just sat outside enjoying the day and crisp cold. Sam was already put down for his nap so he should be doing OK for the next hour. I waved goodbye to Fluttershy and Rarity and they waved back as they moved into the distance.
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3rd Person POV
Fluttershy and Rarity walked towards the spa with Rarity talking about her new orders and Fluttershy "listening" to her friend giving only little snippets that she was listening to her. What was really going on was Fluttershy was thinking about Jeremy she blushed at the mere thought of Jeremy and would move her eyes to her feet every time. To Rarity's trained eye for detail she noticed all of these signs and smiled. "So Darling how are things with Jeremy?" Rarity asked calmly adjusting her hair with a bounce.
"Oh um, things are good." Fluttershy whispered hiding her blush behind her hair. "He has been such a help around the house even going as far as to rebuild a section of my home." Fluttershy smiled thinking back on how Jeremy came back from Sweet Apple Acres with a few things of wood and a set of tools. "He just does so much for me and every time I tell him he doesn't have to he looks at me smiling before going back to helping. Sam helps as well when he can." Fluttershy added as Rarity only smiled.
"Well he does owe you a great amount for your kindness to him and his son." Rarity pushed open the door to the spa motioning for Fluttershy to enter. "It very simple Darling since he has no money to pay you back with he does whatever he can to make you feel as comfortable as possible." Rarity walked up to the counter signing her name down as Aloe and Lotus lead both of them to the back to get their usual. "I have to say I am a little jealous you find such a wonderful stallion." Fluttershy let out an eep hiding behind her hair tapping her index fingers together. "If you are not to careful darling another mare might just claim him for themselves." Rarity teased until she saw Fluttershy look up at her with anger.
"They wouldn't understand that they need to take care of Sam while Jeremy isn't there." Rarity was startled by Fluttershy's sudden assertiveness. "If anything were to happen to Sam Jeremy would be crushed and I don't want to see that happen." Fluttershy's shoulders slumped at the thought of Jeremy being sad. "I don't want to see him sad or hurt." Fluttershy clutched her hands to her chest. "I couldn't bear it."
Rarity placed her hand gently on Fluttershy's shoulder. "I'm sorry dear I was only teasing it was very rude of me to do so." Fluttershy nodded her head in understanding. "How about I make it up to you. You and Jeremy go out for a nice dinner my treat and I will watch Samuel tonight don't worry nothing bad will happen I promise." Fluttershy looked up conflicted on what she should do.
"I don't know Rarity what if he says no?" Fluttershy sulked once again at the thought.
"Well then I shall call him and secure your date tonight." Rarity flipped open her phone using her magic calling Jeremy on his phone.
"No Rarity please I don't want to bur-"
"Hello?" Jeremy answered his phone rather confused about being called by Rarity.
"Darling I just had a wonderful idea for tonight. You and Fluttershy should go out tonight for dinner and I will watch Sam for you while you two are out tonight." Rarity said with a smile.
"Hold on a second... Hey champ? Do you mind spending time with Rarity while I am at dinner with Fluttershy? ... You sure you don't mind? ... OK OK no need to be pushy... Yea I can go to dinner what time do I need to be ready by?" Jeremy asked as Sam yelled a "Yay".
"Be ready by 7 and I will be over to watch Sam." Rarity answered smoothly.
"Rarity please I don't want to burden him." Fluttershy pleaded blushing like mad.
"Cool I'll see you then I will give you some tips on handling Sam when you get here... Ow Sam no punching my leg." The phone line went dead as Jeremy hung up his phone.
"See Darling that wasn't so hard now was it." Rarity said smiling to her friend.
"What am I going to do?" Fluttershy thought to herself unable to relax now that she had a date with Jeremy.
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Jeremy sat on the couch looking at the clock with a bored expression Sam was sitting next to him mimicking each of his movements. "It's almost 7... When are they going to get here?" Jeremy asked no one in particular.
"I don't know Daddy but good luck." Sam said holding up his fist. Jeremy glanced down at his son bumping his fist with a cocky grin.
"Who needs luck when you have skill?" Jeremy asked as his son giggled happily. There was a knock on the door catching Jeremy's attention. Jeremy stood giving one last stretch before going to the door opening it to See Fluttershy, Rarity, and a little filly that could not be much older than Sam.
"Darling it is so good to see you once again." Rarity said giving a curtsy to Jeremy before making her way over to Sam. Jeremy looked down at the little filly who gave him a curtsy before following after Rarity. Jeremy only cocked an eyebrow before looking back at Fluttershy this time actually looking her over.
"Well I feel a little under dressed." Jeremy said with a smile. Fluttershy was wearing a tight fitting green dress that accented all the right places with a small yellow and green spaghetti string purse. Jeremy on the other hand wore a black T-shirt with blue jeans and his classic black leather jacket.
"I'm sorry." Fluttershy whispered shuffling her feet awkwardly. Jeremy smiled hooking his arm in her's.
"Don't be sorry you look stunning." Jeremy soothed motioning for them to take their leave before a thought occurred to him. "Oh and Rarity a word of warning. Do not give Sam sugar he gets a little crazy. Sam you behave I will know if you aren't." Sam nodded waving goodbye to his father. Jeremy smiled pulling the door closed behind them as they made their way to town for their dinner.
Once they had reached the restaurant Jeremy got a few stares but Fluttershy got more than a few she got some slack-jaws as well. "I think they like your dress." Jeremy whispered to Fluttershy who let out a small "Eep" gripping Jeremy's arm tighter. "Don't worry Flutters I won't let anything happen to you." Jeremy reassured her with a smile.
"How can you be so sure?" Fluttershy asked a little nervous as they were finally sat down.
"Simple." Jeremy looked behind them at their waiter motioning for him to come over. Once the waiter was at their table Jeremy whispered something into his ear he stepped back a little shocked before running off into the kitchen.
"What did you do?" Fluttershy asked a little concerned for what Jeremy said to the waiter.
"Oh nothing really just asked him if they sold meat here." Jeremy shrugged seeing the horrified look on Fluttershy's face. "Humans are omnivores we can eat both meat and greens but since I know you are a vegetarian. I will not eat meat in your presence or in your home it would just be rude." Jeremy looked over to see the waiter return. "Don't worry I was just kidding I will take a salad with balsamic vinaigrette extra croutons if you don't mind." Jeremy said with a smile.
"I will have the same." Fluttershy whispered looking down at her hands. The waiter took the menus walking off.
"Sorry Fluttershy I shouldn't have done that but sometimes I have to play the bad guy to protect those around me. I would never do anything that would hurt your feelings." Jeremy rubbed the back of his head a little uncomfortable about potentially ruining the night before it even really began.
"No it's OK I just wish I was stronger so I don't have to worry those around me." Fluttershy looked up seeing Jeremy smile to her.
"My mother was a tough woman could easily put my old man on his butt and has more than once put me on the ground but that didn't stop my father from being a tough S.O.B. to protect her." Jeremy let out a chuckle looking Fluttershy in her light blue eyes. "What I'm trying to say is no matter how tough you are it doesn't mean anything if you don't have people willing to back you up or even stand up for you when you can't." Fluttershy looked at Jeremy in a new light.
"He is perfect." Fluttershy thought to herself as he food was set down in front of her. Jeremy had his food set in front of him and he smiled.
"Hey can we get a bottle of wine?" Jeremy asked as the waiter nodded going to fetch the bottle. "I don't know why but I always enjoy wine with a salad." Fluttershy smiled nodding as the waiter returned pouring their drinks. Jeremy raised his glass to Fluttershy. "A toast to protecting what we love." Fluttershy lifted her glass tapping it gently to Jeremy's before taking a sip of the drink they both ate their salads every now and again telling a story about their pasts.
After the bottle of wine was finished Jeremy was finishing up his story on his victory in the golden gloves tournament. "So I took the hit but returned it with an upper and a right hook to the guys jaw he went out like a light." Fluttershy was a little shocked on how Jeremy could take such a beating but still win.
"Weren't you scared going into that fight?" Fluttershy asked her cheeks red from the wine.
"Any real fighter will tell you going into a fight is scary. You are going into a fight that could potentially end your career or permanently put you down. Plus I was told by my coach how the first round of the fight went would judge if he would even let me back out there. So I told myself if I can only get one round I better win in that one round." Jeremy shrugged about to take a drink from his glass when he noticed it was empty. "I think we should get back home we did polish off a bottle of wine." Jeremy said motioning for the waiter to come over for their check.
"Rarity said she was going to pay for this night." Fluttershy said standing up only to slip and fall. Jeremy moved quickly catching her.
"You OK to walk home?" Jeremy asked seeing the blush on her cheeks. Fluttershy didn't make a noise except for a small almost inaudible squeak. The waiter walked over a little concerned. "We're good apparently Rarity has this covered?" Jeremy asked to see the waiter nod walking away. "Come on Flutters let's get you home." Jeremy wrapped his arm around Fluttershy walking her out the door into the frigid night.
Fluttershy gave off a light shiver as the wind blew past Jeremy could feel her shiver so being the gentleman he was slid his coat off of his shoulders. "You must be cold only wearing that dress." Jeremy wrapped his coat around her smiling.
Fluttershy was about to protest when Jeremy set a finger on her lips. "I will not let you walk home in this cold without a coat. I can survive much worse than this tiny cold." He smiled moving his finger away from her lips wrapping his arm around her walking forward.
Fluttershy held the coat tight smelling his scent coming from the coat. "It's so warm and smells just like him." Fluttershy glanced up at Jeremy behind her hair smiling. "He is perfect." Fluttershy thought as she instinctively pushed herself closer to him. Jeremy tightened his wrap on her shoulder looking down at her smiling.
The walk back was peaceful and without a doubt beautiful each stare shined brightly along with the moon which seemed to shine brighter just for them. When they got to their door they opened it to see Sam Rarity and Sweetie Belle all passed out on the coach. Jeremy and Fluttershy shared a small laugh at how adorable it was before pulling a blanket up for them to sleep comfortably Jeremy was about to lay down in a chair when Fluttershy stopped him.
"J-Jeremy w-would you l-like to sleep in m-my b-b-b-bed... w-with m-me?" Fluttershy nervously stuttered out Jeremy looked at her seeing how nervous she was and a little unsure on how to approach the subject with him. He thought it over before smiling to her.
"You don't need to push yourself if it makes you uncomfortable." Jeremy said pulling up her chin so he could see her eyes. "You don't need to prove anything to me." Fluttershy seemed to melt under his kind gaze.
"I just don't want to be alone tonight." Fluttershy said with batted breath. Jeremy could feel her shaking fighting against her nature.
"OK but only sleeping we both could use it." Fluttershy nodded showing Jeremy to her room. Fluttershy moved to the bathroom to change into her sleepwear Jeremy only took off his boots and T-shirt sitting down on the edge of the bed. After a minute Fluttershy entered the room wearing a long baggy T-shirt crawling under the covers of the bed. Jeremy slid in next to her rolling over so he was looking at her she rolled to meet his gaze.
"Good night Flutters sleep peacefully." Jeremy closed his eyes smiling as he drifted off to sleep. Fluttershy watched him sleeping soundly before turning her back to Jeremy. She scooted closer to him as she felt Jeremy wrap an arm around her frame pulling her closer. She let out a content sigh as one thought prevailed before she fell into her dreams.
"He is perfect for me."