Loving Care

Your alarm blares in your ears, causing you to jolt upright in bed. Your alarm was on the other side of the room to prevent you ignoring it and going back to sleep. So, begrudgingly, you got out of bed and walked to the bookshelf currently holding your Alarm.

“Anon turn that fucking thing off! I'm trying to sleep.” Thunderlane shouts through the wall.

“You need to get your ass up for work anyway!” You hear groan and a small cluster of profanities aimed at you, the sun and mornings in general. You put on some clothes and your watch and head into the Kitchen.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

That's strange. You weren't expecting anyone to come by today.

“Who is it?” You call through the door.

“It's me, open up.” You just stare at the door and hope that they get the hint. They don't.

“Who's me? Genius”

“Prench Roast. Come on, you can't tell from my voice?” True you probably should have, but it was way too early in the morning for such things. You open the door to reveal her standing there with saddlebags wrapped over her barrel.

“Hey Anon. How's it going?”

“Fine...What are you doing here?” She mocks Shock.

“What? I can't just come and see my favorite human?” You deadpan.

"I'm the only human." She just waves her hoof at you dismissively.

“Fine. I need your help. Something awful has happened” She has your attention now.

“What is it?”

“I have the day off and nopony to hang out with.” You groan.

“And here I thought something serious was wrong.” You invite her in.

“Yeah there is. I'm bored.” She replies.

“Hey Anon, What's going on?..Oh hey Prench.” Thunder walks in with his bed head still occupying his mane.

“Hi thun~nder.” She takes him into an embrace. This was making you gag.

“So what do you have planned today?” He asks her.

“I don't know, Hanging out with Anon I guess.” Wait what?

“I haven't even said if I'm available.” You deadpan. She however has the nerve to smirk at you.

“Oh Anon. You got a last minute day off. I doubt you have plans already.” Her smirk disappears when she notices your deadpan is still holding.

“What? Don't tell me you actually have plans.” You smile, This was too good.

“Actually, yes, I do.” You say matter of factly. Silently laughing at her presumptions.

“Yeah he has a date.” Thunder comments. He was stating to piss you off with this.

“I already told you, it's not a date.” Prench's smile was back in full force.

“Oh Anon, you sly dog. You finally gonna cash in your V-Card?” You face palm.

"No. I'm just meeting with somebody. It's not as if I want to go. Just moral obligations." They look unconvinced.

"whatever you say Anon. Just make sure to tell us how she was." Your right eye just twitched. Time to get the fucking point across.

“Okay, let's get this straight. Yes, I'm meeting a mare. No, it's not a date. No, she's not attracted to me. No, I don't intend to cash in my V-Card. She was just a mare who was looking upset, so I bought her a coffee. We talked, she was nice enough and then I walked her home. For some reason she asked me back tomorrow, I don't know why. Nor do I really care, I was in no position to refuse. So I'm just going to go round, See how she is and leave. Nothing else.” Prench smiles.

“We~ell, if she invited you rou-”

“Don't you fucking dare.” Your tone and stare are enough to stop her in her tracks. You feel you better change the subject before you get more annoyed at your Friends.

“So, Thunder, What are you planning on doing today?” His face was currently red from him trying not to laugh...For fuck sake. He manages to suppress his giggles long enough to answer.

“I am going to work then I'm hanging out with Cloud Chaser. Nothing else, unless you include the video games later.” You roll your eyes. You loved video games, but Thunder was positively obsessed with them.

“Well Prench, I guess you're on your own.” You say.

“UUURRRGGG! Just my luck. A day off and You guys are busy.” You couldn't resist.

“Oh I don't know, I think maybe Noteworthy would be free.” She gives you that, 'I'm gonna gut you with a potato peeler' look. You tried, you really did, but that look was way too cute to be intimidating. You laughed...really loudly. She charges into you knocking you on your ass and throwing play fight punches.

“I. don't. like. Noteworthy.” She says between punches. You hold up your arms to block her from hitting your face.

“Do so.” You say childishly.

“Do not!” She replies.

“Jeez, get a room you two.” Thunder speaks up, moving over to the kitchen and grabbing a box of cereal. Now it was both your turns to blush.

“Thunder. Shut the fuck up.” You say. Rather high pitched. He lets out a single HA as his response.

“You two are hilarious when you try to hide your feelings.” He replies now holding a spoon in his hoof and eating the cereal.

“Thunder. He said, shut up.” He just grins at Prench's remark and continues eating. Prench just gives one final, hard, punch to your stomach and gets off of you. You let out an 'oof' and clutch your stomach in pain as you get back onto your feet.

“So, you sure you couldn't just blow that mare off?” You huff in frustration.

“Seeing as she was almost crying at the mention of whatever was bothering her, I wouldn't risk it.”

“Aww, come on! What am I supposed to do?” You let out a sigh, grabbing the cereal.

“I already said, go see noteworthy.” She huffed.

“And I already said I don't hav-”

“I never said you did.” You say giving her a shit-eating grin. She however, just sighs.

“Yeah, whatever.” the rest of breakfast was uneventful,what were you expecting it was freaking breakfast. Thunderlane left for weather duty and Prench left because she was bored and needed something to do. You clean up the dishes, which you were always roped into doing, and move around the apartment before you leave. The place was a mess. There were Bottles, cans, games cases and a few pizza boxes lying around. You grab a plastic bag and start collecting up all of the crap scattered around the apartment...and there was a lot of it.

If you wanted to really be a dick, you could get Thunderlane to sort this crap into recycling bags... from one big bag...filled with half empty soft drinks...and off yogurt. You might just do that. You look into his room, it's mostly clean. The bed was unmade, there were a few cans littering his night stand and that was it. Your room however was a complete dump. Ponies had an advantage when it came to not having to wear clothes. They never have to worry about where you place them. You also had many articles of clothing scattered around the room and a lot of trash littering your night stand, you were surprised that you didn't have rats...that you knew of.

Once you deal with the crap lying around your apartment you leave the bag by the door and head out into Ponyville. The day was one of those days. Everyone knows which one. The one where the sky is so cloudy that you can't tell that there are clouds at all. Just as single mass of grey that light can get through, but still made you feel like shit. You hoped Thunderlane would clear it up later on.

You arrive at the house you were at yesterday. Maybe it was the day or the fact that you knew what was on the other side, but something just made you feel about twenty percent worse than you already were. like your entire body had all of the happiness drained out of it.

You might as well just get this over with. You rap on the door three times and wait for it to open. When it does, Loving Care pops her head out of the door and with a slightly confused and surprised tone, greets you.

“Oh, hello Anon. What are you doing here.” Here tone is dead. She really hasn't gotten any better since yesterday.

“You asked me here yesterday, remember? But If you want, I'll just go.” You say gesturing with a thumb behind you.

“Oh no, you're already here and I...guess I could use the company.” Damn. She opens the door further. So much for that idea. You walk in and notice that she has a rather nice house. A kitchen, a bathroom, a living room and a stairway could be seen from where you were standing.

“You have a nice house.” You state looking at the pictures on the wall. You could a few had been taken down lately, as you could see several square marks that where less faded than the others.

“Thank you. I'm...glad you like it.” Her tone is still depressed, as she sounded like a robot spouting out predefined phrases. You were getting really uncomfortable, really quickly.

“So. Is there anything you wanted me for?”

"Please say no. please say no."

“I was just needing some company.” She replies "

Crap. Just stay an hour and you should be fine." You couldn't have been more wrong. You spent the most part of half an hour in complete, painfully awkward, silence. You eventually got her to speak when you brought up her cutie mark. Apparently her special talent is taking care of young foals. She had a job as a midwife at the hospital in Manhattan, But gave it up when she started her own family.

“You said you have a son?” She nods.

“He's through in his room, playing video games. Do you want to meet him?” Her tone was a lot less depressed, compared to earlier. But she still wasn't, anywhere near, happy. Seeing as it might kill a few minutes you accept her offer.

“Sure.” She stands up and walks over to the hallway, climbs a flight of stairs and knocks on the door furthest down the hall.

“Button? We have a visitor.” You can hear the noise of a games console, which doesn't seem to stop.

“Yeah Mom. Just a second.” Oh, so he was going to be one of those kids. Loving Care walks in and you see the little colt playing his video game. You look to his collection and see he is probably a bigger gamer than Thunderlane. And that's saying something. Across one of his walls was an entire bookcase filled with video games case. His entertainment system has pretty much all of the consoles you've heard of. Bit Box 360, Bit Box one. Pony Station, one, two, three and four. And a lot of some of the more retro consoles you've never played.

“Button. Could you turn that off please.”

“Okay mom. Can I just finish this match please?” Well he was at least well mannered about it. At his age, you probably would have yelled at your mom to leave you alone. With a lot more curses

“Quite the collection you have here button.” You interrupt. “You and a friend of mine might get along very well.”

“Thanks.” he says plainly. Too focused on playing Command and Counter to care. You watch as he sets up a line of infantry, and prepares to send in a pegasi carriages to bring them over a river.

“I wouldn't do that. There's too much anti air. There's a crossing on that map about halfway up.” He Pauses the video Game and looks to you.

“You play video games?” He asks, completely bewildered. You smile.

“Me and my roommate are kind of addicts.” You say happily. Loving Care just rolls her eyes as Button's widened in Astonishment by this information.

“But I thought Grown-ups didn't play video games.” You laugh.

“Are you kidding?! They're the ones most of these games are designed for.”

“Really?” He asks skeptically. You just smirk and pull out a copy of Love and Tolerate.

“The age for this one is eighteen years old.” You point out.

“Is it?!” Loving Care speaks up.

“Er...No?..I was just trying to...” She smiles, not a forced smile, not a fake smile, a genuine smile. You've seen that smile on Prench all the time. Two thought ran through your head. The first one was she was smiling at least. And the second was she was fucking with you. You groan.

“You're just Fu-woah ho ho~o No.- er...You're just messing with me, aren't you?” Your almost curse brought the attention of both of the ponies. But she nods all the same.

“Hows about we leave Button to his game?” You nod and follow her out of the room, back down to the living room and take your previous position on the sofa.

“You got on really well with him.” She points out.

“I guess. He's a good kid.” You both descend into awkward silence. You really have no idea why you're here.

“Um...If I may ask, why did you want me here today? You just met me.” She sighs.

“I...uh guess. I wanted some company.” That only confuses you more.

“Aren't there other people more qualified than a complete stranger you met yesterday to do this?” She shakes her head.

“I Don't really have any friends in town. I gave them all up when my husband and our sons moved to Ponyville.”

“Didn't you make any new friends.” She, again, shakes her head.

“I never had time, I was too busy working or being a housemare. I never really went out much.” Okay that's weird.

“Really? Never? You never went out at all?!” She shakes her head.

“I went out, sure, but I never went out socially.” You couldn't believe your ears. This mare had been living in Ponyville for god knows how long and she never went out with friends.

“How long have you been here?”

“Two years.” Okay that's unhealthy.

“You should go out, just go to a bar or a cafe or anything and just go have fun.”

“But what about Button?”

“Get a babysitter.”

"Who?"

"I don't know. Just anyone you trust."

“How about you?” Shit.

“Ummm...you only just met me, I don't think that would be wise.” She smiles at you.

“Yes but I can't get a sitter this late and I already know you get on well with Button. I think I can trust you for a few hours.” You let out a breath, This mare was really starting to freak you out. You only just met her and she wants to trust you for a few hours with her kid. Okay there is nothing wrong with her then you are way too nice. But she has been inside and all depressed for ages...you couldn't just say no.

"Shit"

“Can I bring a friend. He could help, I promise.” She puts a hoof to her chin in thought.

“I don't see why not. Just no drinking and no vandalism.” She gives you a stern look. You bat your knee in mock frustration.

“Dang it, and here I was hoping I could set up a catapult in your living room.” You get a chuckle as a reward. It was nice to hear her laugh.

“Okay, fine I'll watch your kid he shou...Wait a minute, you said you had sons, plural?” She sighs and sits next to you. Oh shit you've struck something. She sigh's and just leans back in her seat.

"Fuck. Brace for depression."

“Our family used to live in Manehattan. Just the four of us...” Okay brace for some really heavy shit right now. “...Me, my husband, and my two sons Button Mash and Rage Quit. We were happy, he had a steady job as a sailor and I stayed at home with...the kids...” Her tone is getting more and more depressed.

“...Rage Quit was a lot like Button, he loved video games, he was always so nice to everypony, he was very popular, despite his name. He shouted a lot at his games.-" She says all of this with a reminiscent smile "-But that's not relevant...One day, when he was rushing home from school...h-he forgot to look both ways before c-crossing the road and...and...” She bursts out into sobs, You just sitting there like an idiot.

“...a cab ran him down...D-Didn't even see him before it...” Her sobbing becomes hysterical, as she leans over in your direction. You take the initiative and wrap your arm around her. She in turn cries into your shoulder. You felt really awkward right now, you couldn't just up and leave, like you really really wanted to.

You try stroking her mane to calm her down. It works a little, but it still takes her another twenty minutes for her to stop sobbing and another five for her to stop whimpering. You just hold her until she starts to talk again.

“We...we moved here after the funeral...We just couldn't handle living there anymore...to many memories. When we moved here, Button was only six...He was so quiet. He rarely talked to us about anything. But he got better over time...The whole thing however put a strain on my relationship with my husband...two weeks ago he'd had enough and he left me and Button, he was jjust gone in the morning and we never saw him again. Button was okay, him and his father didn't get on much in the last two years....-" She looks down again, her eyes starting to pool over again. "-I-I really tried to keep our marriage together. I Really did.” She peels herself off of your chest. Her breathing becoming ragged “That's another reason why I don't go out as much, With everything that's happened I never felt...in the mood.” You sigh internally. You lean over and wipe the tears from her cheeks.

“I think you should just stay home tonight. Going out might not be such a good idea.” She smiles again.

“Thank you, but I really should go out and make some friends. It's been too long.” Well... if she want's to. But you still don't feel right about this.

“Fine then. But can one of my friends go with you to make sure you're okay.” She looks a little insulted.

"I'm a grown mare Anon. I'm not made of glass." You smile sadly and sigh. You really didn't feel comfortable with this.

"Can you just do this for me? It will give you a head start on making friends." She et's out a huff of air.

“I suppose I could make due with that.” She smiles again.

“Well. You go get ready and I'll go get my stuff.” She looks to you confused.

“What stuff?”

“Spare controllers.” She smiles a knowing smile.

That night.

“Why are we doing this again?” Prench asks.

“I told you. I need you to watch Loving Care while she's out making friends and make sure she doesn't hurl herself off a bridge.” You reply

“Can't we just go in be like 'hey we're your friends now' and go home?” Your silent stare is the only answer. “Fiiine.”

“So why am I here again?” Thunderlane asks.

“You did say you wanted the lost video game time back. Besides you might like this kid.” You say.

“Why?” You touch your nose.

“You'll see.” Thunderlane just shifts in his hooves.

“I don't like the sound of that.” He states. “he's gonna be really weird isn't he?”

“No. He's not weird. You'll like him, I promise.”

“You know you owe me a day out right?” Prench cuts in. “I get to loose my evening, because you're trying to score.” You stop her and look her in the eye.

“Look. I'm just trying to do something nice. I offered her a drink thinking she would be emotional about something small, like being stood up, and then this happened. I do not plan to 'score'. I just plan on getting today out of the way.” She nods.

“Well. That's going to be a while then.” Thunder throws in. “I still think something bad is going to happen. He's probably booby trapped the house or something.” You sometimes liked how Thunderlane was a little paranoid, but this was ridiculous.

“He's a good kid. He wouldn't have done something like that.” You say as you approach the door to Loving Cares house.

“How do you know?! You told me you met him once! For like two minute!” Thunderlane refusing to take your word for it. You rap on the door and wait.

“He wouldn't because he'd be too distracted.” Thunderlane gains a look of understanding.

“Ohh. He's one of those colts.” He starts to snicker and averts his gaze to the floor.

“Tell me Thunderlane. What do you mean when you say, 'one of those colts'?” Prench asks.

“Frequent masturbator.” Thunderlane just spouts out, no awareness of what he just blurted out. This wouldn't have been so bad if Loving Care hadn't opened the door at that exact moment. Her mane and tail were tied up in small buns. as she just stares at the three of you, with a wide eyed look.

“Umm...” You were always the wordsmith, weren't you?”

“I can explain.” Thunderlane Says trying to salvage the situation.

“He's an idiot.” You state.

“That's the friend you brought to help you watch Button?” You sigh.

“Yes, but he won't be like that around Button, I swear.” She looks to you.

“Maybe this wasn't a good idea.” She says.

“Look, Mrs Care. I know he looks like an idiot, they both are, but he's okay once you get to know him I promise. Besides they're both responsible when it matters.” Prench says. Loving Care looking a little hesitant.

“Please don't make me regret this.” She says in a tone that a parent says when they're pleading with a child. She moves out of the way and gestures for you to enter.

“We won't, I promise.” She directs you to the living room, you all take a seat and she begins to give you detailed instructions and rules for the night.

“...His bedtime is Eight o'clock, no later. His dinner is in the fridge, just microwave it for a minute and feel free to help yourselves to any snacks that you like. Now, I'm putting a lot of trust into you two so I request that you don't make me regret it.” You stand up and look to Prench.

“We won't. By the way, this is Prench, She will be going with you.” They bump hooves together in greeting.

“Nice to meet ya.” Prench says.

“You too. Now. If you'd just give me a minute. I just need to finnish getting ready.” She heads upstairs to her bedroom.

“Great. Tonight's gonna be so awkward.” Prench says in a whisper. You groan.

“Just be nice.” You say.

“Hey I will. It's just we probably have nothing in common and the entire night is going to be awkward silences with occasional bouts of drinking.”

“Yeah. I know. Hey look, Thanks prench. I owe you one.” She exhales through her nose in a sigh. She was about to say something when a creak drew your attention to the stairs. Standing there at the top was Loving Care...And she looked stunning, her coat was clean, not a single part of it out of place, her eyes were sparkling with no sign of the bloodshot from earlier, and her mane and tail were smooth and flowing, tied at the end. As she look down at your bewildered expressions, a smile and a blush grew on her face. She looked happy.

“Wow” Prench nudges your side and waggles her eyebrows. You would have cuffed her but you were too busy trying to form any coherent thought.

“How do I look?” Loving Care asks, still blushing.

“You look amazing.” Thunderlane points out. Causing her to blush even more.

“T-Thank you.”

“Shall we go Mrs Care?” Loving Care smiles to Prench

"Please just call me Loving Care." Prench nods and gestures to the door. You watch as the door closes behind them and the room becomes silent.

Thunderlane speaks up. “Dude!...Total MILF.” You cuff him over the backside of his head.

“You have a girlfriend.” He gives you a sly grin.

“I know. But you don't.” You blush a little.

“Don't even go there.” You state rather quickly.

“Say what you will, but the blush never lies.” You give Thunderlane your biggest 'fuck you' stare.

“let's just go see Button.”

“Yeah where is the little pervert.” You cuff him again.

“I thought it was implied that he was not like that.” He smiles.

“He's a colt. Of course he is.” Your palm meets your face as you groan at his poor joke. You walk up the stairs and head over to the room Loving Care brought you to earlier.

“This is his room.” You open the door and see Thunderlane's eyes go wide.

“I think I just died.” He mutters under his breath.

“Lets get this over with.” You state.

“Hey Button...” Your night goes by quicker than you thought. Thunderlane and Button got really competitive with some racing game, Button won. The three of you watched a movie about some guy on the moon, finding a copy of himself in a cave and shit braking out about clones and corporation and stuff along those lines. Eight o'clock rolled by and Button went to bed. He tried to bargain with you, but he had no luck. You remember when you were like that.

You and Thunder just sat up in the living room talking about day to day things. You talked about Thunderlane's relationship with Cloud Chaser, which resulted in a rather forced joke about your relationship with your hand. You both laughed at that one. You talked about work, local events, some of your friends, which eventually led to you talking about Loving Care.

“So what's the deal with her?” Thunderlane Questions.

“What do you mean?”

“Why was she upset when you found her?” He asks.

“That's a little personal. And not my business to share.” You state.

“Okay then, but what is your deal with her?”

“I don't know. She was upset, I was sympathetic. Maybe she just found the first person to be friendly towards her and then latched on.” He nods taking a sip of his Dr. Pony

“She seems a little damaged.” He says though not quite sure of himself.

“How so?” You ask, despite your better judgment.

“She just seems too...domesticated. I'm just saying that she's a bit emotional and you should be careful.”

“Now what do you mean by that?” You are starting to get irritated.

“I think she likes you.” You raise your eyes, from the glass you were drinking from, to directly ahead of you slowly turn to Thunderlane.

“That...Is...The...stupidest thing...I have ever heard. She just met me yesterday!” You declare a little louder than you intended.

“Yeah. But if she's as emotional as I think, then maybe she will like you just for being nice to her. I'm just saying be careful.”

“Look Thunder, she doesn't like me okay. We just met and she doesn't seem like she's crazy.”

“I'm only going to say that she invited you around again after you spent an hour together.” You roll your eyes at him out of habit.

“Whatever you say.”

“Anon?” You Hear the squeaky voice of Button coming from the stairs. He is standing there, rubbing his eyes, in his rocket ship pajamas.

“Hey Button. What are you doing up?”

“Can I have a glass of water?” Thunderlane stands up.

“I'll get it Anon.” He goes through to the kitchen and prepares a glass for Button.

“You okay squirt?” He nods.

“I'm fine, I just can't sleep.” You walk over and sit besides him.

"What's wrong." You ask tenderly. Thunderlane comes in and hands the glass to Button.

"Nothing as such. just can't sleep." You give a sympathetic smile.

"Okay, buddy come on." You place the water back in Thunderlane's hooves and place your hands under Button's forelegs. You lift Button up as he wraps his himself onto you. You then proceed to carry him up the stairs like a baby.

"Aww. Wittle Anon has a heart." You decide to ignore Thunderlane, as he follows you up the stairs. Once you reach his room you place him on his bed and Thunder places his water on the night stand. You reach over and drag the covers over Button.

"You gonna be okay there pal?" He just nods.

"You want the night light?" He nods again. You walk over to the wall and flick on the switch. A golden yellow glow covers the room.

"G'night Button." You say at the door.

"Anon?" You pause and look over.

"Yes Button?" He brings the covers up to below his chin.

"C-Can you fix my mom." Oh snap! You just stand at the door looking down in thought.

"I'll try buddy. Promise."

"Goodnight Anon." You flick the main light off and close the door. Thunderlane is just standing there, staring at you.

"What?" You ask.

"Nothing. I just never thought you to be good with kids." He says sheepishly.

"Whatever." You go down the stairs in silences. Once you return to the living room, you flop down onto the sofa and let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm getting into this so fast it's scaring me." Thunderlane trots over and takes a seat besides you.

"Hey. you'll be fine. You're a good guy Anon." You just nod your head absentmindedly

"What makes you say that?" You ask with a humorous smile.

"Other than today?...I probably would still be a bumbling idiot if you weren't my friend." You just scoff.

"You grew out of your old attitude. I had nothing to do with it."

"Maybe. But I'm still thankful. Besides, you wouldn't have all of us as friends if you weren't." You just let out a breath and lean forward.

"Perhaps you're right. But what am i going to do about Loving Care?" He lets a reassuring hoof rest on your shoulders.

"Maybe you've already done enough. She's probably out there right now, having the time of her life and..." You hear the front door open.

“Hey guys we're home!” You hear Prench's chipper voice ring through. Maybe it did go well.

“Hey Prench how did it go?” Thunder asks.

“We made progress. LC and I hung out with a few ponies from town. She's pretty cool.” She emphasized that by bumping a hoof on her shoulder.

“LC?” You questioned.

“Yeah it's a nickname I gave her. Kinda has a nice ring to it.” You shrug.

“I guess. Are you going to be okay.” You ask Loving Care.

“Yes. I will be fine, thank you I believe I have your payment.” She hands you a bag of bits, it was rather hefty.

“I wasn't expecting this.” She smiles.

“I insist.” Well money is money. You pocket the cash.

“I think we should be going now.” Thunderlane says.

“Yeah. I'm pooped.” You agree. “We'll see you later LC.” You all walk out the door and close it. That went better than expec...you hear the sound of weeping coming from inside.

"Oh for fuck sake."

You open the door again. She's there weeping on the sofa. You hang your head in defeat.

“You guys go ahead. I'll catch up.” You close the door and head towards the emotional mare on the couch.

An hour, that's all I was expecting to do today, an hour. You plop yourself down beside her. You lean over and ask...

“So...what's wrong?”