Castus and Fluttershy both lay snuggled up close to each other on the couch. A warm, heavy blanket lay around them. Seated in Fluttershy's lap on the blanket lay Angel bunny, who was quietly sleeping. The warmth emitting from the fire place gave the living room a warm, cozy feel added further by the two steaming hot cups of tea that say on the table.
"Hmmmm. So how was work?" Castus hummed a bit, gently moving his hands up to caress and massage Fluttershy's shoulders.
Fluttershy gave a low cooing noise, and she leaned into Castus' treatments as she spoke, eyes close in contentment.
"It wasn't so bad. We had this adorable little puppy brought in. The poor dear had to get his shots, but he was so brave." Fluttershy said with a smile. She always hated having to give a pet shots, mostly cause she hated causing them even the most momentary of pain. But she knew it was for their own good.
"After that, Winona and Applejack came over. Winona wasn't feeling so good and Applejack was worried. She wasn't as active as she use to be." Fluttershy continued.
"Was she okay? Nothing serious I hope." Castus asked. He knew that Applejack cared deeply about Winona and even he had a soft spot for the dog.
Even if she had bit his leg when he had taken the Sweet Apple Acre's human population. And his hand. And his ass.
"Oh she was okay. In fact, she was better then okay." Fluttershy said, smiling and getting a sparkle in her eye.
"How so?" Castus asked.
Fluttershy smiled, and said, "Winona is going to be a mother!"
Castus blinked in surprise, "She is? How?"
Fluttershy giggled, "Oh come now Castus. I'm sure even you know how."
Castus blushed and he slid an arm down to give a playful, pinch of Fluttershy's rear and side. She squeaked, moving away a bit but Castus caught her in his arms and pulled her back to him. He and she shared a chuckle.
"Anyway, I can't really say. Applejack thinks she snuck out of the house and met a male dog somewhere in town. Or she might have run across a wolf. There was a pack passing through not long ago." Fluttershy said, "we won't really know till she has the puppies."
"How is Applejack taking it?" Castus asked.
"Well she was a bit upset with Winona for being as she put it, irresponsible, but she seemed happy at the news anyway." Fluttershy said with a smile and she pressed her head up next to Castus and nuzzled up into his neck.
Castus close his eyes and nuzzled into her mane, breathing in the sweet aroma of her shampoo. The two lay there for a time, until Fluttershy spoke up in a slight hushed tone.
"It's always a joy....when a baby, even puppies are born. Winona will be a good mother." Fluttershy whispered, and moved her hooves down towards her stomach, over her womb. And they began to shake just the barest bit.
"Fluttershy." Castus whispered, feeling a great sense of pain and he moved his hands to place them over Fluttershy's hooves and gripped them to keep them from shaking. Instead now, Fluttershy's whole body shook slightly.
"It...it's okay. I...I'm okay. Really." Fluttershy breathed, though the shaky intake of breath made it clear she was not.
"Fluttershy. I..." Castus started, but Fluttershy cut him off.
"No..I-I know its wishful thinking. I know we were two different species but....but I...I guess I just hoped....that maybe..." Fluttershy began to cry. Gasps of air between moments of tears. Her whole body shaking uncontrolled now.
Castus felt tears in his eyes, and he tightened his grip around Fluttershy. Holding her tight. He did his best to comfort her, stroking her mane. Fluttershy turned, knocking Angel from her lap, much to the rabbits disappointment but hoped up and patted his owners back with his little paw. Fluttershy wrapped her hooves around Castus, hugging him tightly and weeping into his shoulders.
It was something they had long come to terms with and agreement. They would never be able to have children of their own. He was a human and she was Equestrian. Their genetics were too different to be compatible.
Once, Castus had asked if Fluttershy had any regrets in concerns of their relationship in this regard. He felt bad inside thinking that he was denying her the chance to have a family.
Fluttershy had slapped him silly when he asked that question. Saying he was an idiot to think that. Later, they both reassured each other that they loved each other without any regrets or doubts.
Perhaps a bit too hard. After all, when a family of mice come barging in and squeaking at you over being too loud apparently, means you are being really loud.
Still, despite her words Castus could see that the fact hurt her. At one time, Fluttershy had apparently taken a pregnancy test and it had come up positive. She had literally been bouncing off the walls, and leaving him stunned. But he didn't question her loyalty, never.
It had looked like for a moment that they had, somehow, told genetics to go screw itself and they were going to have a baby anyway.
But it turned out, after a visit from the doctor, that Fluttershy was not pregnant. A fact she refused to believe until she had taken at least seventeen other pregnancy tests. All of them negative.
It had been a false positive.
Fluttershy didn't leave her room for nearly three days. Outside he could hear her crying, and felt absolutely powerless to help or do anything to make her feel better. It tore him apart inside.
After that, Fluttershy seemed to have returned to normal. But every so often, when the talk of babies came up, she sometimes would break down like this. All Castus could do was hold her close till she stopped crying.
Eventually Fluttershy's weeping became sniffles, and her body stopped shaking as much. She soon looked at him, tear stained red eyes that she wiped, sniffling.
"I'm okay. I'm fine now." She sniffled, "I just....I finally have somepony, someone, who cares about me. Who makes me feel whole. And I can't give him children. I feel so useless."
"You're not useless." Castus said, hugging her tight.
"But...d-don't you want kids? I-I know we haven't talked much about it, but...." Fluttershy sniffled again.
Castus was quiet for a moment. He had never been sure in his desires to be a father. Back in his world on Earth, he had not found the right girl for one. And even then, he didn't feel he would have wanted kids even then; with the world looking like it was going to hell in a hand basket more and more each day.
But now he had found the right girl. The perfect girl. And he wasn't on earth anymore. Maybe....
"Yes. I would like to be a father. Not sure how good of one I would be but...so long as if I was with you I wouldn't mind." Castus said, and he gently stroked Fluttershy's wins.
Fluttershy gasped a bit from the touch on her wings, but nuzzled in close to Castus, "R-really? I think you would be a great father. I...I don't know if I could be as good as a mother as mine was."
"You would be the best." Castus said, lifting her head up with a finger to her chin and kissing her gently for a few seconds.
Fluttershy smiled when the kiss ended, but frowned again and whispered, "But...we can't be parents. Can we."
Castus frowned, but then an idea came.
"Well...maybe we can." He said.
Fluttershy looked at him, confused.
"We could...adopt." Castus said, though now when he thought of it. The idea had its own set of problems.
Problems that he did not want to deal with.
"D-do you think they would allow us?" Fluttershy asked, the same uncertainty in her voice as it was in Castus mind.
And there was the problem. While he was sure that Celestia would back him in a desire to adopt, but he doubted social services and ponies in general might support that. Well maybe some would. Twilight and the others might. Luna. Cadence. Maybe others. But then there would be ponies who would say he couldn't. Especially considering his part in the war.
Best case scenario, they adopted a filly or colt or two without any hassle; or not much anyway. Worse case scenario, this descended into a vicious legal battle and social battle that could cause both him, Fluttershy and Celestia any number of problem.
Castus wasn't sure if he was ready to deal with that possibility. He had so much work already. But when he looked down into Fluttershy's eyes. Seeing the worry, but the deep hope just barely fighting back a deep sadness and despair within. Well, he had always said he would go into the depths of hell for this mare. And he was going to live by his word.
"Yes. Lets adopt. And anyone who says know can kiss my ass." Castus said, tightening his grip around Fluttershy.
Fluttershy smiled, and pulled him into a deep kiss. Castus returned it with equal passion, and allowed his hands to slide across every curve of Fluttershy's form, as she pulled the blanket over them and Castus wove a thread of the Wind to kick Angel out the door.
The little bastard needed exercise anyway.