//------------------------------//
// Child of Mine Part 2 
// Story: Life in the Fast Lane 
// by TheAmazingMe 
//------------------------------//

So. Much. Paperwork. 

I sat in the waiting room of the Royal Guard's counseling services office, practically knee deep in paperwork. At least I could say I was sitting; the last few days were mostly marked with running around Canterlot getting everything together so I could start doing this paperwork. There had to be some kind of help for a non-Guard like me to navigate through this, although I had no idea who to ask. Then again, maybe it was just me; maybe other ponies didn't need help filling this out and I was just being a worrier.  

Ugh! I ran my hooves through my hair. Luckily, Bruiser was entertaining himself with a few puzzles nearby. Normally, he didn't have patience, but he was more subdued than usual. I prayed that the visit to dad's former friend and biased psychologist wasn't to blame for his behavior. Sighing, I looked back down at the mountain of forms and information packets. I just had to get through all this bureaucracy and Bruiser would get the help he needed. 

As I went to put pen to paper once more, I heard my name. "Life?" 

I looked up at a familiar pegasus. "Velocity?" One of the best flyers in the north, Velocity Windwing had been recovering from a serious wing injury when I met her atop one of the skyscrapers in Whinnyapolis.  

"Dad?" Bruiser asked as he came over, eying Velocity with uncertainty 

"So this is your son?" She asked. Had she stayed for the reception? I couldn't remember speaking to her afterwards.  

I gathered my scattered brain and decided to go with formality. "Let's start over. Velocity Windwing, this is my son, Bruiser. Bru, this is a friend I made on my trip, Velocity. She was at the wedding, but I don't think I ever got to introduce you two." 

"Pleased to meet you." Bruiser said stiffly.  

"Pleasure's all mine." Velocity said with a smile, unaffected by Bruiser's mannerisms. "Are you here to see a counselor?" 

Bruiser's eyes narrowed and his ears flattened against his head. "That's..."  

"Right!" I said, interrupting what was sure to be an impolite response. I'd have to remember to question Bruiser about this later. "Yes and I have all this paperwork to go through..." 

"Maybe I can be of help there." She said, clearing a space on the couch near me. Bruiser bristled, gritting his teeth. Before I could cut him off, he turned tail and returned to his side of the table. I caught him glaring at Velocity every once in a while. "Let's see. A family psychologist? So it's just behavioral and not health-related?" 

"So far as I know." Did waking up on the wrong side of the bed count as health-related. With the daggers he was staring into Velocity; I had to wonder what had gotten into the colt. 

Oblivious, she shuffled through the pile to familiarize herself. There was a method to my mess and she caught on quick. "All right, then you'll probably also want somepony with a bit of experience with adoptions." 

"Where do you find that?" I asked, surprised. 

"In here." She said, tapping her head. "I've been here since about a month after I met you. You are reading my letters?" 

"Yeah, you've been a little light on details. So this is the job you found in Canterlot? The one that keeps you so busy you can't make time to see me?" I pouted playfully. Bruiser clicked a puzzle piece into place loudly.  

She looked away. "Yeah. Not everypony is as lucky as Amore." 

My smile fell. "Velocity, I..." 

She shook her head. "No, I'm okay. Really. Well, I'm seeing somepony about it as well. But I'm working on it." 

"Somepony here?" I asked. 

She nodded. "Yeah. My mother is a city guard here." 

"Good for you!" I said sincerely. 

Her smile widened. "Thanks. But we were talking about you!" She flipped over a few papers and pulled out a few things. "Well, I've heard good things about a few of these psychs, but when it comes to adoptive families, Dr. Clarity is as good as her name. Limbic Clarity, right here." She said, pointing to a name in one of the pamphlets. I made a mark next to the name. "She's fairly new, so she should have some openings. I'd hurry though, she's had quite a reputation. Apparently, she was on some sort of writing trip before this, so she's gotten popular." 

Did I remember a psychologist on the writing trip? It was possible there was one. I hadn't made many friends on the trip outside of Open and Cross. 

*** 

With my parents colt-sitting again, Amore and Progetta kindly took Div and I out to dinner. We were picked up in a nice covered drawn carriage. The vehicle was lit on the inside, so conversation was nice and easy. We even left the covers over the window. By the time we got to the restaurant, I was in a great mood. 

Then I realized exactly at which restaurant we'd arrived. 

Delmaneco's 

Of all the restaurants, in all of Canterlot, in all of Equestria, we ended up at the multi-generational traditional Bitalian eatery. Div looked at me, concern apparent in his eyes. 

"I think we should g--" He began. 

"No, it's okay." I said, cutting him off. "Besides, I have someone to introduce you two to." I let my expression draw up into what I hoped was a passable smile. The odds of Genuine Article being here at this exact moment were slim. Besides, Delmaneco would love to meet Amore and Progetta. He'd probably keep Genuine from making a scene. Probably. 

"Welcome!" Delmaneco said as he made a mark in his booking schedule at the host podium. When he looked up, his eyebrows shot higher than a Wonderbolt.  

"Mia Celestia!" Huh. I guess generations of living in Canterlot had an effect on the Bitalian stallion's phraseology. Slowly, he stepped around the podium and let out a string of Bitalian that I couldn't follow. 

Amore and Progetta's ears perked towards the restaurateur. Amore answered in another string of Bitalian. Progetta looked at Div and I and pushed on Amore's shoulder. Mama Pro regarded the other two and spoke in a familiar, lightly rebuking tone. Amore looked unfazed, although it was rare that Mama Pro's lectures had any effect on Amore, no matter the language. Delmaneco glanced at me and hesitated. The gears in his head seemed to freeze, but he recovered quickly and looked genuinely pleased.  

"Ah! Not as nicely dressed as the last time, Signore Story." 

Div piped up. "Signore diVolare." He corrected. 

He looked at the two of us and hesitated again. "Signora Progettazione, I take it this is your bambino?" 

"Just as if he were my own blood." She answered, throwing a hoof around Div's shoulder. "Don't let his preference deceive you, he and his sposo have already made us grandmothers!" 

His head inclined to us. "Congratulazioni! You will be my special guests tonight!"  

As he lead us to our table, I was fairly sure a lone mare sat at Genuine's usual table. I avoided looking twice. I really didn't want to know if she was actually here or not. Our meal was incredible, although I felt like somepony was watching us.

*** 

Dr. Clarity eyed me over the rim of her glasses. "Blot Inkwell, huh?" 

I squirmed a bit under the scrutiny. "It was a pen-name." 

Pushing her glasses back up, she continued. "And your cutie mark?" 

"Part of the cover. It was a spell." I explained. 

She smiled. "Well, it's nice to meet you again, Mr. Story, and nice to meet your son." 

I really shouldn't need a reminder that he was there. I gave a start and introduced them properly. "Bruiser, this is Dr. Clarity." 

Reaching a hoof over her desk, Bruiser spoke. "A pleasure to meet you, ma'am." 

Shaking his hoof, Dr. Clarity gestured for him to sit down. "Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you as well." 

Bruiser looked at me, then back at Dr. Clarity. "He can go, right?" 

Dr. Clarity nodded. "It's up to you, Bruiser." 

Bruiser looked back at me and gave me a hug. "I'll go. I'll be in the waiting room. Have a good talk." 

*** 

"Velocity, we have to stop meeting like this." I said jokingly as the pegasus came into view.  

She smirked. "Is that an invitation to dinn—oh, wait. You're married, you little punk." 

I held up my forehooves. "Hey, I can have friends! Just because I don't have a lot of them and actually married my best friend doesn't mean I can't make new ones." 

She shrugged. "Fair enough. Friends, then. Lunch, tomorrow. My treat." 

"Sounds good." I said. 

At the end of his appointment, Bruiser was all smiles. What's more, the smile was an honest to goodness real smile. Clarity gave me a sheet of exercises that Bruiser was to do regularly to even out his temper and emotions. We spoke for a bit and then went home. My attention rested solely on Bruiser's smiling face. It was such a silly little thing, but it meant the world to me. 

I felt like the happiest parent in all Canterlot.