The crackling of the warm fire in front of me is somewhat soothing to the ears. It's definitely an improvement compared to the howling wind and billowing snow outside. I knew Povyville had bad winters, but this? This was worse than I ever could have expected. It also didn't help that Fluttershy was out in that storm. My pregnant lover out in the howling blizzard didn't seem like a good way to spend tonight of all nights, but she insisted she go alone. I was extremely against it, but she wouldn't listen. Saying; "trust me. I'll be fine," before she left. I'm getting worried about her, but all my worry fades when the door blows open and she shakily walks inside, shivering as she pushes the door closed behind her. I bolt to my feet and run over.
"You're back!" I say as I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tightly in her adorably fluffy pink jacket that covers her from head to thigh.
"Hey," she smiles and hugs me back as I plant a quick kiss onto her cold lips, recoiling from the frigidness.
"Damn, you must be freezing," I say, slowly unbuttoning her large coat.
"Mhm, I was afraid the little one was gonna freeze to death," she says as she rubs her swollen belly gently when I remove the jacket.
"Not on my watch," I say, kneeling down and kissing her baby bump, earning a small smile from her.
I stand back up and wrap my arms around her. Both of us are wearing woolen sweaters with each other's cutie marks on them, which was my idea and she had readily agreed to it. I smile as the grey moon and two cyan lightning bolts folds with her movements, and she nuzzles her head into the crook of my neck, closing her eyes and gently kissing my neck with her cold lips. I ignore the cold simply because it's her, and because they're warming up now that she's inside. I kiss the spot between her ear and mane, and gently nuzzle the top of her head, never wanting to let go.
We eventually separate and go to the couch. I sit down first, and then she carefully sits in my lap as I wrap my wings around her, holding her against me as we smile at each other. I don't know what to say. Hell, I don't think there's anything that needs saying, but I still want to break the silence. My eyes drift down her sweater-clad torso, and land on her protruding belly. She smiles as she watches me, and I place my hand on her baby bump, joy and excitement running through my mind.
"I can't wait," I say.
"Neither can I," she replies. "I hope she's as beautiful as her mother."
"Which one?" I ask with a small giggle. "Birth, or father?"
"Both," she smiles, and I return it, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"We also don't know if it's a girl," I remind her.
"I know, but I want it to be a girl," she says with a smile, nuzzling the underside of my chin.
"So long as it's mine, and you're giving birth, I don't care which it is. I'll love it forever," I smile. Then I remember something I had wanted to do. I know it's Hearth's Warming Eve today, but it feels better if I do it now. "Fluttershy."
"Yeah?"
"Uh, mind letting me get up for a sec, hon?" I ask.
"Aww, but you're so comfy," she says in a pleading tone.
"I know, but I have something to give you," I say in an alluring tone.
By the slight blush of her cheeks (or maybe they're still red from the cold) I can tell this sways her as she starts to carefully get up out of my lap. I let her go and stand up once she is, and smile as she sits back down. I know that it's an odd time to propose, so maybe I won't. I got her a necklace too, so maybe I'll give her that one instead. I grab the small box, wrapped in light blue paper with a pattern of snowflakes on it, along with a red ribbon, and stand up. I sit down next to her, and kiss her cheek as I hand her the box. She gasps a little as I hand it over, and eagerly starts to unwrap it, ripping the paper a little as she goes.
"Night, is this...?" she asks as she sees the black velvet box. I simply motion for her to open it and watch as she does. I can see a little bit of disappointment in her eyes, but I know she isn't unhappy. Inside is a beautiful necklace with a gold, heart-shaped locket. Intricate designs on the cover of it. I smile as she takes it out, happy tears in her eyes as she presses the button and the covering springs open. Inside is a picture of us, sitting together and smiling brightly at the camera. Her head underneath mine as we lean against a tree, her back against my chest and my arms around her. She smiles as the memory comes to her, and I do as well. It was a beautiful moment, and the picture was somewhat accidental, but when Pinkie asked us to stay still, well, I couldn't say no, and neither could Shy.
"It's beautiful," she says, unclasping the chain so she can put it on.
"Allow me," I say, gently taking the opposite ends of the necklace from her hands and putting them around her neck. I clasp the ends together and push her hair out of the chain, and smile as it hangs just over her heart. "Perfect," I say, "just like you."
"Oh, stop it," she giggles, and I give her a quick peck on the lips. "You're the perfect one."
"Nah, you've got a bigger heart than I do," I say.
"But you're much braver and stronger," she says back. "and I'll never have to worry about losing you."
That hits me in a very bad spot, but I ignore it for now. "I don't think I'll need to worry too much about that either," I say. "Unless you planned on leaving me yourself."
"I'd never," she says defensively, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace. "You're mine, and I'm yours."
"Good," I smile, and gently press our lips together. She kisses me back with a bright smile on her face, and I know she's giving it all the love she can, so I don't hesitate to fill it with all my love as well.
We hold the kiss for a good minute before she pulls away, panting a little while I do as well. "I love you, Night," she says.
"I love you too, baby," I smile, and kiss her forehead. "I'll love you forever." Saying it hurts a little, but I give it no thought. I know it's true, and so does she.
"I know you will, baby," she says gently.
*****
My dreams are pleasant as I lay wrapped in my one love's embrace, and when I wake she's already downstairs making breakfast. I get up and go downstairs to see my slightly more pregnant Fluttershy cooking with a frying pan. I smile at her slightly larger baby bump and slowly walk up behind her. I wrap my arms around her, placing one hand on her belly, the other right above it, and I smile as she turns her head and kisses my cheek.
"Morning, sleepy head," she says.
"Morning, my love," I reply, kissing her cheek in return as she goes back to the eggs.
"Sleep well?" she asks.
"Always when you're around," I reply, even though we both know I don't always have a good night's sleep. I did last night, however, so I guess it's somewhat true.
"That's good," she smiles and nuzzles my cheek.
I nuzzle her back, and we go about eating breakfast and opening a few gifts for and from each other, or from friends. A pair of sweaters, she got a butterfly headband from Rainbow Dash, whereas I got a set of guitar strings from her. Rarity gave us a pair of tickets for the spa. No expiry date and they're apparently for the absolute best treatment available. I don't know how much it cost her to get those, but I'm really glad she did. Anxiety and me are like green on a snake. Bad analogy, but you get the idea. From Twilight came a set of music and guitar books for me, very nice, and Fluttershy got a marine biology book.
"I don't have a lot of marine animals," she says, looking at the book quizzically. "But it'll be useful I guess."
"It's the thought that counts," I reassure her, and she nods in agreement.
We blaze through the rest of the presents, and before long we're heading out to see our friends. She walks beside me in her pink, fluffy jacket while I wear a dark purple one that matches the middle section of my hair. Our fingers remain interlocked the whole way, and we reach Sweet Apple Acres in a few minutes. We walk up the snowy trail, which would usually be a dirt path if it weren't for the storm last night. I'm surprised it got cleaned up this quickly, but I remember that Big Macintosh is ridiculously strong, and I start wondering why we don't pay him to do the whole town.
We enter the large, red barn, and I see that Rainbow Dash is already here. Of course she is, seeing as her and Applejack are currently engaged in a fierce face-sucking session. Applejack holding Dash against the wall as I can get a very clear image of what must be going through their minds. Fluttershy lets out a surprised "Eep!" at the sight of them, and they immediately stop kissing to look at us.
"Uh," Applejack stammers for words, but can clearly find none.
"We early?" I ask with a slight snicker.
"No, you're right on time for the show," Rainbow says, smirking and snickering and causing Applejack's face to go from orange to deep crimson in seconds, which only results in both Rainbow Dash and I laughing our heads off.
"You two suck," Applejack says, backing off of Rainbow but taking the time to grab her hand anyway.
"Sorry, AJ," Rainbow says, coming from her laughing fit.
"Yeah, me too," I say, wiping a tear from my eye. "So what's the plan?"
"Well, ya know where the mistletoe is now," Applejack says, straightening her stetson before Rainbow Dash snatches it and puts it on her own head. "But th' real plan is t' jus' have a good time."
"Damn straight!" Rainbow Dash yells, and then the waiting begins.
The remaining four people arrive two at a time. First Twilight and Rarity, then Pinkie Pie and her sister. Oddly enough, Pinkie and Maud are the only single girls here. Rainbow and Applejack are together, and Twilight and Rarity are as well. Leaving Fluttershy with me and Pinkie all alone. I watch as the other mares enjoy themselves, but my hand never leaves my pocket, protecting the small box that hides inside it.
*****
The Hearth's Warming feast goes as anyone would expect; happy music, two of the three couples getting some time under the mistletoe (I never knew how long Twilight could keep a make-out session going until now) while one, Fluttershy and myself, stay in our seats at the table. Not out of the fact that we don't want to, but because I have an idea. And I want to wait until the time is right. About an hour passes before I stand up, taking Fluttershy's hand in my own and walking around the warmly lit barn with her. We swing our hands together, and before long we end up the small bundle of leaves and berries. She starts to pull me close, but I gently place my hands on her shoulders and nudge her away.
"Aww, why not?" she pleads, but I don't answer. Instead, I stare right into her eyes, my thoughts on nothing but her and what I'm about to do.
"Fluttershy," I start, "I love you so much. You're my everything, and I'm so happy to have you in my life... however temporary it may be."
Her eyes widen as the realization hits her, and I swear I can see tears in her eyes as I slowly get down on one knee. "Night..."
"So, I'm gonna ask you..." I pull out the box and hold it out to her, bowing my head as I open it and show her the gold ring with an onyx diamond inside. "Will you marry me?"
The one word that comes from her mouth is all that I need to hear. I know that everyone's staring at us, but I don't care. All I care about is what she says. "Yes." My heart soars as I look up at her, happy tears in my eyes as her own roll down her cheeks, nodding excitedly. "Of course it's yes."
I immediately take the ring and put it on her outstretched ring finger, and stand up so I can hug her tighter than ever. Our lips make contact without hesitation, and the love that fills this kiss will only ever be surpassed by our wedding day itself.