Limits

Ascentia sat at a picnic table not far off from the Golden Oaks Library. Her knuckles pressed firmly to her mouth as she tried with futility to stop her crying. Tears flowing slowly down her cheeks and getting into some of the deeper scars along her neck and shoulders, stinging a little.

"Ascentia? Hey, what are you doing out here? Why are you crying?" Came a soft, squeaky voice.

Ascentia looked up momentarily, "Hey Sweetie Belle... I'll be f-fine. You go back to... whatever you were doing."

"I was just on my way to get some groceries," Sweetie Belle said, "We're working through the night at the farm, so I'm getting everyone some food. But I can take a few minutes. What happened? I don't think I've ever seen you cry before."

"Sunrise and the two of us were arguing, she told me to fuck off and Twilight told her not to speak to me that way," Ascentia choked, "And Sunrise said that... that I... wasn't really her mother..."

Sweetie Belle blinked in surprise, then sat down with her, "Oh... I'm sorry. That's terrible."

Ascentia sharply tapped her own cheeks, "C'mon, dry it up..." This only served to make it worse and she buried her face in her hands, "...We went through hell for that girl, and she has the nerve to say I'm not her mother?!"

Reaching over, Sweetie Belle gently patted her shoulder, "Come on, don't say that. She was probably just mad, anyway."

"But she's right, isn't she?" Ascentia asked, lifting her face up, "I didn't pop her out, and Twilight had to get some stranger to knock her up in the first place. I'm the worst kind of third wheel, aren't I?"

"...Seriously? Are you seriously going to say that?" Sweetie Belle snorted, "Look, it doesn't matter who the sperm donor guy is. Was he there when Sunrise fell down the stairs and broke her arm? Was he the one who watched movies with her when she wanted to have family movie night? All that stuff? He wasn't there. You were. You're her mother because you loved her like your own daughter. Just 'cause you didn't give birth or give her your genes doesn't mean you're not her Mom!"

Ascentia sniffled and nodded, "I k-know that, Sweetie Belle. I'm just being s-stupid."

Sweetie Belle shook her head, "No, you're not stupid. You're one of the smartest women I know. You're just sad, that's all. Now when you feel better, you go home and talk to her."

Ascentia reached over and pulled her into a one-armed hug, her breath quivering, "...Thanks Sweetie Belle. I needed a k-kick in the ass."

Giving a smile, Sweetie Belle hugged her, "Hey, you always gave me one when I needed it. Now it's my turn."

Ascentia hugged her tightly, wiping her eyes and taking a shaky breath, "...So... how have you been?"

"Oh, I've been good," Sweetie Belle stretched as she stood, "Although it's not been easy trying to convince Scootaloo to come live with us."

"Why won't she?" Ascentia asked, wiping her eyes again.

Sweetie Belle shrugged, "I really don't know. She spends a lot of time at the farm with Apple Bloom and me, but I don't know why she won't come live with us. I know she's happy at home with her Moms, aunt and brother, but I don't know. It's like she doesn't want to go."

"Eh, she'll come around," Ascentia smiled, "Twilight was resistant to move in with me at first too."

"Really? She was?" Sweetie Belle asked curiously.

Ascentia nodded, taking another shaky breath, "Yeah. She was all 'No! This is moving too fast! We need to think about this!' But she really just didn't want to move out of her parents house."

"Ohh, okay," Sweetie Belle nodded, "How old were you guys at the time?"

"Uh... nineteen? Yeah, nineteen. At least she was, she's older than I am," Ascentia smiled.

"Wow, that's pretty young compared to how most people do it these days!" Sweetie Belle giggled, "I guess I could understand. But Scootaloo's turning thirty. You'd think she would want to get out under her parents' shadows or something."

"Scootaloo also didn't have parents for most of her life," Ascentia reminded her, "She's... really attached to Rainbow and Fluttershy. Like... me to Twilight attached."

Sweetie Belle pondered that for a few moments, "You know, I think you're right! I never thought of it that way. She was only fourteen when she got adopted, then had to live without Rainbow Dash at home for a while, and then she turned eighteen... Yeah, makes sense. I guess it's not too bad, though. She'll come when she's ready, even if we'll be over forty if it happens!"

"Gotta say, you two sure are patient," Ascentia smiled, "I wasn't. I was itching for Twilight to move in with me, then I was pratically pleading the gods that she'd ask me to marry her."

"No way! Really?" Sweetie Belle giggled.

"Yeah," Ascentia smiled, "Like every day. I'd be mumbling it under my breath 'ask me to marry you goddammit!'"

"Not the most patient to get married, huh?" Sweetie Belle giggled, "Okay then! Well, I gotta get going now. You going to be all right?"

"Yeah, I think I'll be okay," Ascentia smiled, "Still stings like a son of a bitch, though."

Sweetie Belle patted her back, "Hey, once you two are all huggy, it won't even matter."

"I hope," Ascentia smiled, "Thanks, Sweetie Belle. You're a real sweetheart."

"No problem, see you later!" Sweetie Belle hugged her, then proceeded going the direction she'd originally been heading toward.

Ascentia took a steady breath and stood back up, striding back off to her home.

"Twilight? I'm back," Ascentia said nervously, coming through the door.

"Hey," Twilight stood up from the table, going over to her, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "At least I will be. Had a good talk with Sweetie Belle." She moved forward and opened her arms, asking for a hug.

Obliging, Twilight hugged her warmly, "I'm sorry about what Sunny said. You know she didn't mean it. She was just angry and acted out a little bit."

"I know... it was still nasty though," Ascentia said sadly.

"I know it was," Twilight coaxed, sitting her down, "Believe me, that was out of line of her and I can't believe she resorted to that. At the same time, we really shouldn't have pushed her into talking. She just wasn't ready and needed to calm down, first. She's grounded, I sent her to her room."

"Grounded? Really?" Ascentia asked, surprised, "We've... never grounded her..."

Twilight nodded, "Yes, I know. But I wasn't about to just let her get off scot-free like that. It doesn't matter how angry she is, she still does not talk to her parents like that."

"Thanks..." Ascentia said, hugging her tighter, "I appreciate you backing me up on that..."

"You're welcome," Twilight kissed her cheek, "Now, just leave her alone tonight, because she's being punished. Tomorrow morning, I want the two of you to sit down and talk. I think sleeping on it will help."

"Only if you sleep with me," Ascentia said, pulling a cute smile and kissing her cheek.

"Very funny," Twilight poked her nose, chuckling.

Ascentia kissed her nose and nuzzled up against her, "C'mooooooon. Kitten wants to snuggle!"

"You silly," Twilight nuzzled her, "All right, silly pants. Let's go upstairs and snuggle a bit. I think we could use it."

Ascentia grinned and the two retreated to their bedroom, Twilight pulling the taller woman onto their bed as the two dressed down to their underwear. Pulling the covers over the both of them, Twilight pulled Ascentia into her arms, cuddling her under her chin as her fingers traced over her back.

"Feel better, Kitten?"

Ascentia nodded, nuzzling up against Twilight's chin and cooing softly, "I always feel better like this."

"Me too," Twilight giggled, "Snuggles make everything better."

Ascentia kissed the bottom of her chin and mewled happily, "Yeah, and you're so cuddly."

Once more Twilight laughed as she played with her hair, "You can thank Cadance for that. Same for Shining Armor. Whenever I was sad or just needed a hug, they always scooped me up and cuddled me. Even after I was feeling better, I'd fake sniffles so they'd keep holding me. I just... liked it when they held me."

"Same here," Ascentia mewled, nuzzling her neck, "I just... feel so safe when you hold me, Twiley."

"I know, right?" Twilight nuzzled her, "It did take me forever to get used to snuggling with one of my friends when I first got to know them. But before long, even that was second nature to me."

Ascentia wrapped her arms tighter around her wife and thought for a moment, "...Twilight... when you first saw me come into that class in a huff twenty years ago... did you think I was attractive?"

Thinking for a few moments, Twilight shrugged, "Wow, it was over fifteen-twenty years ago, I don't remember all the details. But, I think on some level I did. It really wasn't until I got a better look at you, though."

Ascentia smiled and nuzzled closer, trying to wrap herself tighter in her wife's grip, "I always thought you were gorgeous. It's all that purple. It's such a beautiful color."

"I know, it's lovely," Twilight agreed, "I think your hair got to me first. All long and fiery red, how could I not see that eye-grabber?"

Ascentia lifted up a bit and licked her cheek, "Really? You like my hair?"

"We've been married for nearly twenty years, sweetheart," Twilight poked her nose, giggling, "I've told you that a million times. You know I love your hair. I think I've come to an appreciation for redheads."

Ascentia smiled and nuzzled her cheek, "I know, I just love hearing it from you. It feels nice."

Ruffling her hair, Twilight nuzzled her back, "That's good, because I will keep saying it."

Ascentia curled up a bit, nuzzling her head against Twilight's chest and making small mewling noises in the back of her throat, playfully batting her hand against Twilight's stomach.

"You really are just like a little kitty," Twilight mused, kissing her hair.

Ascentia licked her skin and grinned through a giggle, "Mmmhmm, am I cute?"

"Well, you are just barely approaching forty, like me, so you've got more to you than before," Twilight winked, "But you're still cute."

Ascentia sat up a bit, pouting, "What do you mean more to me?"

"You're older, of course. And by that I mean you look more mature, like a woman who has had a long life of experience," Twilight kissed her nose, "and I like it. You age very nicely, sweetheart."

Ascentia blushed and leaned in to her, dotting her neck with kisses, "I wish I could say the same, but you still look so young."

"Maybe," Twilight nuzzled her, giggling, "But not for very long. My age will be showing soon. I've already got stretch marks to help along."

Ascentia leaned her head down to her stomach and kisses one of the marks along her abdomen, "Aw, but they're pretty, Twiley."

"No way, you think so?" Twilight blinked with surprise.

Ascentia crawled back up and kissed her cheek, "I have all kinds of marks, and they're pretty. So are yours."

"Oh, fine," Twiilight pouted playfully, "But I have crow's feet."

"Who cares about your feet?" Ascentia giggled, snuggling her tighter and moaning happily.

"That's not what they-never mind," Twilight licked her playfully.

Ascentia cooed cutely and kissed along her neck, curling her legs around her and snuggling comfortably into Twilight's embrace. The affection she craved constantly making her feel warm and cozy. Nuzzling her sweetly, Twilight melted into the immense affection, returning it wholeheartedly. Ascentia nibbled her skin and grinned happily, laying her head against Twilight's shoulder as her eyelids started to feel heavy.

"Sleepy, Kitten?" Twilight asked.

Ascentia nodded softly, nuzzling up closer and cooing a bit.

"Sounds good to me, let's go to sleep," Twilight yawned a little.

Ascentia yawned and got comfortable against Twilight's body, "I love you."

"I love you too, Kitten," Twilight kissed her forehead.

Ascentia sighed and relaxed against her and closed her eyes, trailing her hand over Twilight's opposite shoulder. All the while, Twilight lay awake for some time, before she too fell asleep. Her final thought before drifting off, strangely, had been about donuts.