An ear-piercing squeal filled Cup Cake’s ears as her daughter galloped from the room as quickly as her short legs could carry her. Cup waited until Pumpkin had made it halfway up the stairs before giving chase. The filly squealed again when she heard her mother’s hoofsteps.
Cup saw Pumpkin turn right and chuckled. Normally, Pumpkin would head for Pinkie’s room for refuge, but today it seemed she thought Pound or Carrot could help. The filly stopped in front of her parents closed door, looking at it with wide eyes. She turned to see her mother right beside of her.
Gathering Pumpkin in her hooves, Cup hugged her tightly. “Now, now, you know you have to take a bath.” Cup blew on Pumpkin’s stomach, causing the filly to giggle.
“Baf!” Pumpkin exclaimed with another giggle.
Cup put Pumpkin on her back and walked the short way to the bathroom, where a warm tub of water was already waiting. Cup poked a hoof into the shallow water, checking to make sure it wasn’t overly warm before putting her daughter down.
“Guess what, Pumpkin?”
The filly looked up at her mother, her eyes shining with excitement. “Wha?”
“I found Ducky!” Cup pulled out a faded yellow rubber duck, grinning at her daughter’s delighted squeal. While Pumpkin played with her favorite bath toy, Cup set about washing her. She took care when washing the squirming filly’s face so she wouldn’t get soap in her eyes. No tears or not, the stuff still stung.
Once the bath was done, Cup wrapped Pumpkin in a towel and carried her to the room she shared with Pound. Her brother was already fast asleep in is bed, having been put down by Carrot not long before. Pumpkin smiled at Cake, even as she fought to keep her eyes open. Cup hummed a lullaby as she rocked the filly.
When Pumpkin’s eyes didn’t open again, Cup placed her in the bed. “Goodnight, sweetheart.” She placed a kiss on the filly’s forehead. She stood for a moment, simply listening to the soft breath of both of her children before turning out the light. As she walked out the door, she couldn’t help but stop and smile at them.
“Did you and Pumpkin have a good time?” Carrot asked from behind her, causing her to jump slightly.
She leaned against her husband as they looked into the darkened room. “Of course.”
With a contented sight, they turned and headed for their own bedroom.