Author's Note

Editor left after two months of editing. Did not send me the copy he had finished. I was sick of waiting so I gave it one more close examination and then decided to put it up myself. Screw it. Hope you enjoy its been far to long.

The New Development Part

As you stare in shock at the pink mare who is already babbling incessantly about… you think cheese, or pogo sticks; you begin hear the voices that yell from the corridors. "Pinkie you can't go in there without a doctor or member of staff!" A familiar voice chastises.

Pinkie stops mid-sentence turning to the mare scolding her. "Silly Twilight, you only have to ask somepony to go to the toilet when you’re a little filly in school silly."

"W-Why—y-you even--h-here?" You weakly manage to scratch out through fits of coughs, still paralysed by injures and now a healthy dosage of fear and mild annoyance to the bed

Pinkie winces at that her smile dips but does not leave her face. "Well I'm talking to Twilight obviously."

You would face palm if you really had the capacity to do such a thing. "D-do -- s-somewhere else." You again force out feeling like your swallowing glass with each syllable.

"But then I wouldn't get to see you?" She states oblivious as always to your plight.

"Pinkie come out of their right this instant, this goes beyond indecent, to just go gallivanting into his room yelling and screaming like a hawk, when the poor stallions in such a condition. I sw--" The voice of Rarity scolds before spotting you her chastising words dying on her tongue that spawned them.

"Oh Celestia you're awake!?" She practically bellows out as Twilight come into view equally galvanised into the same position of confusion.

You grunt, unsure whether or not the question was rhetorical. Obviously you were not that used to the formal retort of these types of questions in this predicament, well actually to be fair you where sort of, but animals didn’t respond... on earth anyway.

"W-what was that!?" Another gruffer but no less feminine voice squawks out like it had been thrown from the thrones of sleep, its voice familiar in its tone thick with tomboyish vigour. You recognise the voice anywhere.

“Hey what are you doing in his room? What is she doing here!” It continues getting closer to the door entrance.

"G-Gilda?" You squeak out in a mixture of hope and in the fear of being wrong.

“What the buck is the pink one still doing here I told her to go!” She states rhetorically.

“I did, I even made a tree like you told me to, and look you’re the bush with the frowny face next to me.” Pinkie exclaims showing a crudely drawn picture of her in some sort of tree costume and what looks like one of those finger painting turkeys which only added more questions, because of her demonstrable lack of Fingers.

“That’s not what I said, I told you to make like a tree you stupi—Gah! Just get out of my way buckin way nerd!”

Sure enough as you force out the words a large Griffoness forces her way into the door pushing ruffly past the pink party pony and the other ponies culminating by your room as if they were not even there.

She Gasps as you lock eyes and she races over to your side here expression both sick with worry and glowing with untold relief.

"Big guy y-you’re okay?" She mumbles out a little water quickly forms in her eyes as she leans over the bed leaning over you, before wiping it away quickly.

"I a-am no--." You croak out coughing again more violently this time, the irritation of your swollen throat was becoming unbearable as you feel you’ve used up every bit of saliva in your throat, any more talking and you were certain you would lose your ability to speak at all.

Gilda joyous smile turns to horror as she sees you cough turning back over to the soiled side of the floor as the nausea in your stomach returns with a vengeance.

"Quick somebody get a doctor!" She bellows back to the tirade of multi coloured ponies who quickly scatter out of the room in search of aid.

"It’s okay take it easy big guy, slow and steady." She comforts bringing a scally claw over your back rubbing it in clockwise motions as you wheeze and moan over the side of the improvised bedding.

Huh?

Hugging the side of the frame from this angle you could see were four or five single sized bedframes lined horizontally together with two mattresses on top in some sort of improvised bedding to accommodate your size at least that was what you wagered.

Even being tall was a challenge in this world.

Though doing nothing to truly stifle the pain the feeling of your lovers arm massaging your back brought a psychological feeling of comfort that rested your weary soul.

Feeling confident that you would not throw up again you lay back down fully on the bed, doing your best to smile back at Gilda as she fussed over you in a loving if slightly out of character fashion that was more befitting of Fluttershy than the cocksure, mostly morose Griffon you knew. She leaves your side quickly moving over to the door on the other side of the room which you deduce was the bathroom.

"*cough* S-sorry." You mutter as she rushes back out of the bathroom and walks out with a freshly topped up glass of water.

"Shhh, less yapping, more drinking." She commands bringing the glass up to your mouth. The moment that liquid bliss hits your mouth you greedily suck up all that you can despite your angry stomach protests to go slow.

"Easy, easy, no good drinking it if you're just going to throw it back up again." She smiles half attempting a joke that she couldn’t fully committed to.

Finishing the glass, you are about to ask for another, but she already two steps ahead of you as she rushes back to the bathroom sink refilling the glass.

"Don't worry the water’s good here, I made sure to check." She states bringing the glass back over to you.

She repeats this two more times before you finally feel like you've had enough.

Leaning your head back down to the pillow, you feel a little better and more able to speak as you let out a content sigh.

"I think, I already know the answer, but how are you feeling pal?" She asks, her amber eyes offering nothing but sympathy, as she reaches over to your good hand holding firmly in her own.

"Like shit, to put it nicely, and more than a little embarrassed." You answer eyeing the area the vomit stained flooring would be.

Gilda sighs squeezing you hand a light hearted snort leaves her beak. "Don't worry, I could give a damn about that, so long as you're okay, and besides I think it’s only fair after all the morning sickness I went through."

You chuckle, simultaneously wincing in pain at the vibrations at the same time, looking back at Gilda "I went to fifteen different ponds to fish because I thought I kept giving you food poisoning, I can't believe how naive I was about the baby."

Gilda sighs moving her head over to yours rubbing her cheek with yours. "I was so worried about you, I haven't slept in like three days."

With little way to console her physically you lean into her cheek and nuzzle it as best you could, like you had seen pony's do countless times before. "I promised you I'd be okay, I would never lie like that, I’m not that good at it... Wait was it really three days!?" you shout in disbelief releasing yourself from Gilda as she rises up to meet you at eye level.

"Three turns of the moon indeed." Comes a voice from the doorway turning from Gilda you spot the owner of a voice as she moves further into the room.

"L-Luna?" You mumble out.

"Yes my friend tis I, it is good to see you engaging in levity considering your condition, it makes us breath easier." She smiles sadly moving to the foot of your bed she looks you up and down and then to the side of your bed wincing at the mess but does not mention it.

Gilda turns to her reaching over you in a protective stance.

If Luna noticed the change in Gilda’s stance she either didn't seem to understand it or didn't care to address it, instead a long and world weary sigh leaves her mouth as she slumps down just about meeting your gaze.

"We...I-I know now is not the time, but like your griffoness, we have not been sleeping well with the consternation of what our actions may have caused, We know we are not truly to blame for your condition, but a part of us feels we must apologise, for we truly, I am so sorry for accus--"

"I'm here with a doctor!" Twilight announces, steeping aside at door.

All three of you turn your attention to the door where a flustered doctor and nurse rushes into the room, his white doctors coat glowing red as his unicorn magic fishes for the medical tools inside the pockets.

The nurse rushes to the side about to replace the empty I.V bag, when she spots the mess on the side of the bed. Looking up to you with a worried frown, she turns, calling the doctor over however he is still slacked jawed staring up at you as marches over to your side.

"Excuse me." He calls to Gilda wishing her to move, she opens her mouth to protest but thinks against it quickly moving away from you side.
On closer inspection the doctor looks completely drenched in sweet his slick flat black mane sticks wetly to his chocolate brown coat. His panting was light but suggested he had been running around quite a bit at first glance but the shaking of his hooves the sunken back he looked nervous like he was sitting his final school exam, he looked like all of his medical knowledge was now being put to the test.

He looked like you the first time you were on call at your old practice.

“You’re awake!?" He in mild disbelief. You almost want to role your eyes now wondering if this was going to be a running theme, but to be honesty you were more disturbed by the notion that the apparent ‘doctor’ was saying that, apparently bedside manners were not his forte
"I uh…I think so?" is your only real comeback.

"I’m sorry forgive my shock but, you should have been under for at least another two days!" He shakes the shock from his face looking at your body he pulls the slime covered cord that had recently been deep in your throat. The same cord that now gave you a deep founded sympathy for the animals that had sometimes been forced to receive the same medical care you had.

“I’m going to level with you, I don't know if this is normal, as you can understand we don't have many humans in this hospital. A normal pony should be out for at least four to six day with such horrifically sustained injury, and that’s if they were not unfortunate enough to slip into a non-medically induced coma, you should still be in one, but I see that…"

Your turn looking back at the I.V drip and the feeling of pain, you deduce that it was probably the lack of medication that had brought you out of your mini coma.

The doctor follows your eyes up to the empty bag, biting his lip sheepishly.

"Yes…that was my theory as well."

"Wait, so you mean, you did this?" Gilda like the predator she was, pounces on the theory as the doctor and nurse go uncomfortably quite.
"Thou doth realise doctor that negligence is a very serious offence." Luna joins in towering easily over the doctor, her sullen recrimination makes the doctor act like he was about to sweat out all fluid from his body.

"I-I apologise deeply princess but as you know criminals though they are you, him and your sister hospitalised at least thirteen pony's, and most every other available member is away for the heart and hooves day festival preparations, the staff are stretched thin as it is right now plus accommodating for you and the other princess I’m sorry I was unprepared for this." His shaky voice argues in a humbled manor shrinking into himself like a turtle.

"Regardless tis the victim who should receive the most attention nay, is that not what we have paid you personally for?"

The nurse turns from the I.V walking over and positioning herself by the doctor who was now prostrated on the floor head basically touching the ground. “Please your highness it’s not his fault, he’s new here, because of the return of the Crystal Empire most of our staff have been sent over by orders of the princess to administer and teach the local doctors there. We only have a few experienced doctors here on staff and they all are working as best they can, I’ve even been stuck administrating the new nurses and doctors around the hospital and I’ve only been here for three years I’m hardly arch-matron material. Doctor Scalpel here is only recently finished medical school, we had to hire a larger amount of inexperienced Doctors and nurses to accommodate for the others temporary leaving. Please if anypony is to apologise it’s me.”

Luna huffs her chest protruding out eyeing both the doctor and the nurse for a moment. “Very well, we seem to remember our sister saying something about that in passing, as such we understand your predicament. But tis not we who needith thine apology."

As you understood it, Princess Celestia dealt with Political oversights, Laws, Municipal and otherwise, and Foreign affairs (Luna would only join her on these ventures when in somewhat hostile territory or one in her favour such as Transylmaneia, which were more open to their old master than Celestia.) and Luna dealt with Civil Defence (Areas that had been partially taken over by Twilight and her friends) and Economics. So it did not surprise you to notice that she was unaware of such a large dealing as this.

"Yes of course princess" the doctor stutters out almost prostrating himself on the floor just out of your limited view. He turns back to you as you raise an eyebrow at the pony. "I'm deeply sorry for the discomfort you have suffered through my actions."

You stare at the doctor suddenly feeling a little tired by all the negative emotions surrounding you, you simple want it over and done with. "Its fine, I know how it is to be the new kid it’s not easy especially in the medical trade, besides it’s not like you put me here anyway."

Once again you don't know really how to respond, not used to being on this edge of the knife. You believe that the doctor at this point is just flustered and that it was truly a mistake.

The nurse trots back readjusting the I.V and clipping the tube back into the needle in your wrist.

"He going to be okay though, right doc?" Gilda asks. She and Luna turn their head over at the doctor as he bits his lip in thought.

"He seems stable, but we can't rush these things Ms Gilda he's sustained enormous trauma and waking up this early, it’s unhealthy, especially considering the condition of his leg." He muses, turning back to you.

"M-my leg? But its fine isn't it I can see it?"

“It was a clean break sir it went through the skin, I won’t get into the morbid details, and I’m sure it will be fine but… well, all things in time. But yes it will fuse back together and all that will be left is a scar if we are only talking aesthetically. Muscle damages however, well we can talk about that once your condition is more stable.” He mutters the last bit, not meeting anyone’s eyes in the room as he nervously claps his hooves together.

What was that about musc—oh my god that feels awesome!

You want to comment but once more you begin to feel your eyelids grow heavy like weights had been attached to them. Losing the resistance to fight it, you land your head back down on your pillow with a heavy thud.

So this is what the animals feel like… Wow this stuff is great. A goofy smile hit your face as the high from the I.V drip begins to work its magic. The grips of pain release its grasp from your body and all the muscles in your body relax into your bed.

“Tis okay my friend, thou shall sleep easy, we will stand at the precipice of your dreams, guarding you like we always have.”

You nod at the dark blue blur, enjoying how it spinning around the room, That dark blur was always doing silly things like that. It sounds caring if a little funny with all the old English colloquialisms in its voice but it reassures you regardless.

Hey where’s the brown blur? Oh there it is.

Stroking the amazingly soft brown object by your side you drift once more into the thrones of sleep.

The beeping of the heart monitor once more wakes you from your dreamless sleep. Before it was disorientating and creepy, but it was starting to become far more annoying now.

Groaning in discomfort you fight with all you might to open your eyes, wincing at the dim but still blinding florescent side lamp that bores into your retinas, you wait for conscious thought to connect the dots.

It takes less time than before, thankfully, for your memory floods back. This time you don't jump out of bed like a buffoon, but slowly lift your head with a morose groan.

Once again you see the room in the same state, it had been since you first cast your gaze upon it, even down to the untold number of cards and that over the top stuffed toy Minotaur that still puzzled you.

Your eyes feel like they weigh twenty tons and you feel sick to the bottom of your stomach, but you couldn't go back to sleep. The shock and awe of waking up like this and the bedsores act like two shots of expresso and a line of speed had entered you system, especially as you move to find a comfy, warm weight lay next to your weary form.

Your fidgeting elicits a slight movement and brings on a murmur and coo that grabs your attention. Looking over you notice a body of fur and feathers by your side, lying next to you was your special someone, deep in the thrones of sleep, she rests her head on the top of your shoulder, moving her body she grabs hold of your arm more tightly as she makes herself more comfortable, you feel her swollen stomach pressing closer to your forearm. The feeling reflexes, and beings on a deep, primal level of comfort. If not for your original observation, you would have just thought that you had woken up in your humble abode like any other day.

At least my throat went unmolested this time and less tubes sticking out of it. That's always a plus. You muse, too tired to laugh at your own joking observation.

"It seems you've awoken? How are you feeling?" A serene and motherly voice quietly whispers over to you.

You snap your head back to the other side of the bed, your vision is engulfed by the wall of white fur as you gaze up at its owner.

"Celesti-"

"Shh, no yelling now, your loved one is asleep, we don't want to awaken her do we?" she asks rhetorically with a small smile on her muzzle, masked on one side by the night and lit up by her sisters ethereal moonlight on the other, she turns from the window and walks towards your bedside, it surprises you how quite she was for a pony of her size.

You pause, then look back at Gilda, she's still resting blissfully unaware, her wither rising and falling softly, she wasn’t a heavy sleeper, but she had looked so exhausted since you last saw her so you felt it was safe to continue.

"What are you doing here Celestia?" you whisper bitterly to her, you would be more courteous, but you found that in this state your patience was a very rare commodity presently.

She leans down a little more to your level out of politeness "I only wished to see you well, we left on... difficult terms last time I saw you."

You frown not out of sadness but anger "Maybe for me and Gilda, you and Luna seemed perfectly content to creating those terms if you recall, we didn't exactly come barging into your house accusing your girlfriend and the mother of my child of--"you suck in your breath bite the side of your lip, cursing yourself for letting that slip.

Celestia’s smile still remains as she speaks "Relax, we both know of Gilda condition, she may have hinted it quite heavily when you and Luna went to talk, not that it wasn’t obvious after a short while, it has been something me and my sister have been puzzling over for some time."

You roll your eyes. "Get in line then."

Celestia sighs, her unreadable ruler mask begins to crack, as she stares down at you as a heavy deep sigh leaves her body through her nostrils as she looks away from you finding comfort in the bedding. "Would you believe me if I said I truly am sorry for what happened, I’m not as ignorant as you would have me believe. I know you and I were never that... comfortable in the presence of one another. Perhaps it was my fault, no I see it probably was me, especially if my sister is testament to anything. She truly does sees you as a dear friend."

You almost want to laugh in her face at that. "I don’t think a friend goes straight to accusations, she didn’t even hear me out before accusing Gilda of abuse.” You hiss, gritting your teeth at the mare. Maybe it was your overwhelming tiredness, or the fact that your patience running thinner than autumn ice, but your undirected anger was causing you to spill more of your deep seated inner emotions than usual. However even then, you seem to regret those words the moment they left your lips.

The celestial monarch seems to recoil, lightly, from you harsh tone and in a sickening way you are happier for seeing it. "Please hear me out, I know you must blame me for this, but please don't blame her. I was the one that brought my suspicions to her. Your absence from the last few meeting and the ominous under tones in Twilights letters… Gave me cause to act. Luna is innocent in this."

Now you do laugh at her, deeply and bitterly the fire in your eyes burn with a sickening intensity "Is that so? Well, so what? I should just blame it on ignorance, is what you’re telling me, I should just say 'accidents happen don't worry I'm only in intensive care and your family was attacked it’s no biggie. Oh and don't worry about us threatening to take the mother of my child from me, without me being able to defend myself and her actions."

You’re working hand is now shaking as you press it into a fist, you take a second to close your eyes as you try to bury your rage, before it spews out any further. "Celestia…Friends are supposed to be supportive, hear each other out, not just act on suspicion alone. She’s pregnant for god’s sake, I’m not sure how many times I need to stress that!" You raise your head further meeting those bright aged pink eyes. You hold your breath, trying not to grit your teeth and losing the fight to keep your turmoil in check that bubbles like a cauldron in the pit of your stomach. It was only Gilda’s presence that you aren’t outright yelling now.

To her credit Celestia meets your glare with her own holding nothing back "Luna, is… new to this sort of thing. It didn’t help that I did little to enlighten her to that fact…Even before the banishment she was isolated for many years without a friend or even myself thanks to my own ignorance it seems." She scrunches her own tired eyes, as if the words had been a blow to her own body, the pain of untold years of her own mistakes for once in a rare moment clearly visible in her face.

"It’s the only reason I even trusted you with the elements. Though my suspicions for you were now as I see it unfounded, the fact that you even entered our lives and were able to bond with my beloved litter sister in her time of need. You did more for me than I should or could ever repay. Please believe me, she was misled she was always the more adventurous out of us and she tended to act quicker than most. If anyone deserves your just aggression it’s me, not her."

You lean your head back closing your eyes you let out a malicious snort, though it would be fair, you couldn't bring yourself to harbour the flames of your animosity towards Luna. Nor truly to a lesser extent Celestia a feeling of cognitive dissonance towards thinking that very concept makes you almost smack yourself for feeling, but you roll with it. Happenstance or not it had been their actions that had caused you to isolate yourself with Gilda in the barn, where you could be ambushed.

But the anger was more than that even you were truly angry for Celestia for hiding you away for never introducing you to this world. All the lies and stigma on you ultimately stemmed from her actions.

It was whatever idea of you she harboured that made her hide you away, inside the bowels of Canterlot castle, for so many months. Because of her, you were never publicly allowed to explains your full story, or even yourself. As such, her fear had led to suspicion in the castle staff and that suspicion lead to wide spread mistrust of you throughout Canterlot and beyond, by those privy to your existence. Even to this day your name was found in some of the other admittedly more fear mongering unrepeatable newspapers like Canterlot express or Ox news, as some sort of Bigfoot or loch ness monster of the imperial city.

And when she did let you out of her sights it was to be whisked away to some small town, in the hands of another Princess and her elite squad of knights. Well obviously that wasn’t exactly true. Fluttershy was about as far away from elite military as you were. But in hindsight how were you to know that.

You tried to rationalise it at first in your mind why they thought that. Given the large number of thousand year old evil deities that popped up over the last couple of years, how was it not a given assumption on anyone’s minds that you weren’t just another of those wicked abominations? But after so many months around her, hadn’t you proven yourself enough to let that stigma dissertate?

You never knew why Celestia didn’t trust you even after this time. True, you were not normal in this world’s definition. But you in your short time here had never seen her treat, even openly hostile races, like the Changelings like she treated you. You gained the courage one day to ask Luna once and she said that it was just her way, she had always been scared of what was different, or even change after so many years of peace and that perhaps you were the start of something new. For someone with such a long life change most often than not meant something bad, especially when you had a country to run, she was as much a mother figure for her ponies as she was a monarch.

In the end, it was what it was, pointless to pontificate. You were not able to convince her you were anything but an unknown. No evidence other than time would suffice, so that was what you chose for good and bad. You sympathised and hated at the same time but it was never towards Luna.

Ultimately you didn't truly have the capacity to sever such a tight bond with Luna even over something like this; you were a rational person at heart. The entire situation was just a string of unlucky situations, for the most part, and even then, she did not keep you locked away. But instead sought after you. You, an out of place and isolated individual cast into a world you barely understood…almost like her.

In your heart and mind you were certain Luna never wanted to see you in this state, siblings of misfortune that you and she was, she was almost like a foster sister to you if you could be so liberal with the statement, in those many months before you meet your demented aggressive second half. You never got on with your real sister there was no closeness, nothing beyond contractual sibling love, and obligated understanding that kept you in each other’s lives. Before or even after this incident everything Luna did seemed to be in your best interests.
Opening your eyes once more you turn back to the older sibling who was captiously awaiting your words.

"I, I don't hate Luna, and I don't blame her...I'm mad, furious even... but I'm not going to throw it needlessly around, especially at her."

Celestia smile grows exponentially, oddly it was perhaps the first smile you ever saw from her that you truly believed was real.

She tilts her head down in a humble thanks "I truly did misjudge you. Thank you, she hasn't been right since the incident, I will bring her here at once so she can speak her peace, I can't stand seeing her like this It's--"

"Celestia I don't blame her... but I don't think I want to see her, at least for a little while, the wounds are still to fresh, quite literally in this case and I, I haven't even spoken to Gilda properly since I first woke… and ultimately even though I don’t blame her, I do to an extent blame you."

Her smile seems to drop, but in its place is a look of understanding as she turns her head to the door in thought.

"Yes…I see what you mean, I understand, it will be enough for her to know this at least.” She pauses her eyes unfocused as she soaks in the sentence you wager it was one of the very few times in recent memory for the mare that anyone had outright refused her so blatantly.

But you gaged she was rational enough not to take it as an accusation like this. You had a pretty good ability to understand of mannerisms, it was what made you such a great vet, every animal was unique no matter what anyone said and understanding mannerism and subtle body language was key to any veterinarian worth his or hers salt. No one lasted long in an animal enclosure without knowing what you were working with regardless of how many tranquiliser darts you happen to have.

“You know it’s funny…” Celestia continues “I pushed her to meet other ponies, stallions and mares beyond counting that I thought would do her better in getting back to normality and acclimate. But, she kept coming back to you, no matter where you where, now I think can see why."
You open your mouth to speak but a large yawl comes from your side as you turn to look you hear some mumbling as Gilda turns over onto the other side of the bed taking most of the quilt with her. At the same time she pushes her back and wings into your body in a funny, if ironic way of subconsciously keeping you warm whilst stealing you warmth at the same time.

You chuckle lightly, looking back to Celestia who had also adorned a warm smirk on her muzzle.

You feel compelled to comment. "She does that a lot, normally I just grab another blanket but-- instantly a second quilt lands on your chest teleported curtesy of Celestia—oh uh thanks." You finish awkwardly as Celestia just nods in acknowledgement.

"Your wife appears to be fine by the way, from what I can gather, she's still rather hostile to me, my sister and some of the other elements as I have learned first hoof. But Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy seem to have kept her mind stable at least. It took a little convincing but we came to an understanding with the doctors and allowed her to stay by your side, once she was thoroughly sterilised of course. It was better than the alternative, she can be rather, intimidating to the other ponies as you may know, not many have the pleasure of meeting Griffons."

You chuckle again, as you entertain the less than kind words she spoke and the intimidating moments that she must have put everyone through. At least she was still her same old self and though it was troublesome to put it nicely, that type of normality was what you needed right now more than any medication.

Celestial seems to chortle along with you, before a now infamous bought of coughs breaks your focus. Again what seems like Deja vu a glass of water is lifted to your face to answer for the deep chesty coughs.

"Thanks" you whisper guzzling from the levitated cup, it was funny as livid as you still where at her, the situation in and of itself brought some sort of civility to you now that you had exposed your true emotions to her. Perhaps because of the surliness in your mind that you even believed that you were still alive as it would happen, then again perhaps it was just the meds.

“She’s actually my girl, no I mean my marefreind by the way, not my wife.” You add in.

Celestia raises an eyebrow, looking at you with a sideways glance. “Oh, but the feather around your neck I just assumed she was your Feather -Kompis.”

“Kompis?”

“Mate. Is the Equestrian translation of their language, though that might be the wrong term I forget if that is for a friend or a lover.” She shakes her head, in acknowledgment that she was rambling to herself.

“Never mind perhaps I’m jumping to conclusion then. Again though considering your inexperience with this world, perhaps you might want to ask her about that in a bit more detail when you get the chance. Especially considering you’re going to be a father if I heard correctly?" She scrunches her lips in thought before speaking in earnest "I suggest we skip the genetic mystery of it all, I imagine you are as un-savvy to the esoteric doctor talk as I am."

Again you couldn’t help shake the weirdness in seeing Celestia draw you into here form of ‘small talk,’ but this kind of normality at least distracted you from the other looming issues.

You grunt moving a bit more upright, looking back briefly at Gilda. "It seems so, I haven't had much time to really deal with that, but I'm hopeful that I'm up to the task. It’s one of the sorry handful of things that keeps me going."

"From experience I can tell you nopony with any common senses believes they are up to the task at first, you can only try to do what is right, I'm certain you'll make a wonderful father." she pauses again her features go serous once more.

“Though a small pointer if you’ll allow me, learn to understand sophistry.”

“Sophistry?” you parrot back with a raised brow.

“There’s not a child alive that won’t try to convince you that sweets and backed good before bed is a good for them. Trust me foals are a sneaky bunch and there not afraid to employ their deadliest of weapons, puppy dog eyes are more convincing than any debater could ever hope to be.” Celestia finishes with a comical smirk, laughing softly at her own joke.

You chuckle light heartedly along with her, nodding. “I see your point, I’ll make sure to do my research.”

“See that you do, for both of your sakes.” She goes quite for a moment, contemplation painted on her features.

"Though if you'll let me state one thing, my sister was right in saying that it is true that we have been ignorant to your issues with my little pony's." She turns from you to the window observing the outside of the hospital through the window looking down at the passers-by.

"It’s selfish I know but I wish I could remain ignorant myself to this. However it’s obvious that my ponies are still not as accepting as I thought they would be after a thousand years. Perhaps it explains the reluctance for immigration from other country's to our own. I had always wondered why most chose to avoid Equestria, for other pastures."

"You're referring to Gilda" you say in understanding.

"I am, concerning the griffons and others, I dismissed my former students letters about the zebra stationed here. Zecora if I recall her name was? I thought perhaps it was just a little small town ignorance that led to her being ostracized. Ponyville isn't much of a cultural melting pot as other cities are... were. Unfortunately it seems the issues is greater than that, I see now why the zebra mare sought sanctuary on that Tartarus trash heap they call the Everfree if you and Your wife's misfortunes are anything to say about that."

You want to correct her about the wife part again but it was harmless and your thoughts were else were at this time "It’s been tough, I won't lie, Fluttershy and some of the others have been beyond pleasant and hospitable enough. But even going to town is a herculean task for me at times." She turns back to your eyes wearily dawn to the tubes and medical machinery that covers your body.

"I understand, even now with the letters that brought me here and your vicious attack that kept me around, I won't promise that I can change pony's minds... but I will try. Something must be done and by the sun and the moon I will make this right."

You fight back a scoff "How?"

"Well for starters, I believe that you and Miss Gilda have been going through some financial troubles, as I know well, preparing for a filly is both a physical and financial issue."

"Celestia stop, you can't and I won’t let--"you words are cut out with a raise hoof in protest.

"I can and I am more inclined to do so than anything I have ever done in my long, long while. But not for my own source of pride or redemption. For starters Luna would kill me if she found out that I let you go on struggling right after everything you’ve been through." She spoke in earnest.

You bite your tongue, wanting to protest further, however it was all true you were going to struggle you didn’t have expendable money like you would need for starting a family. You didn’t even have the baby’s room ready or even planned, nor did you even know how you were going to look for a second job. Being a veterinarian was a full time job, and now especially with your injuries. Swallowing your pride you unwillingly accept her offer, "I-I don't know what to say?" a truer statement never left your lips.

"Then don't waste the words, it’s not something that needs to be spoken. But I must ask a necessary hardship from you in return, I will be making a formal speech, something I have neglected to do for far too long. Though I will be touching on immigration policy and other such factors, you will be the focal point, and me and my sister will be meeting with the major publication's to discuss in harsher words the price for threatening a political guest of Equestria as well as friend of the royal family."

The way she said that, the icy cadence in her voice makes you parched throat somehow even drier. "You really think fears going to help?"
"No, not fear, fair warning and respect, just as I would wish on any pony that is a victim of brutality because of fallacious prejudice. But that is neither here nor there at this time. I'm only saying this because I want you to know that you, Gilda and your child will be protected even if I have to post half the guard in Canterlot to do so, I swear here and now, you will have a normal life."

You shake your head biting your tongue once more. "Compared to how I used to live, all I can say is don't jinx it."

Celestia smiles down at you her icy tone replaces by a mischievous twinkle lights in her eyes that appear for only a moment.

"You know I always kind of liked that word, do you know the origin of that phrase in Equestria?"

“What, Jinx?”

“Yes, funny, of all the words penned to paper in Equestrian history, the word before here meant something far more devious. It was above the most unused and the most…well taboo is probably the word for it but that’s a story for another time.” She chuckles as the flair of nostalgia seep into her cadence.

“As I was saying, I once had an advisor, She grew up in an orphanage, called herself Jinx much to the disapproval of her peers and the staff so I’m told. She was as unpredictable and mischievous as her name suggested, the troubles she would weasel her way out of, or cause. It became the focal point of that phrase for many of my advisors, every time something was too good to be true, one of them would bring up Jinx as a precaution, thus the word changed meaning.

Funny you think she would have been angry, but she revelled in it. She was the most loyal and honest mares I had the pleasure of being near. Though perhaps too honest at times, she did tell me, on multiple occasion, that my posterior was like two clouds trying to fight one another for space in the sky.”

You bite your lip trying desperately not to laugh, mostly because you didn’t want to start coughing again, but good lord was it hard not to. Especially coming from the mouth of the co-monarch herself.

“I would like to meet this mare sometime she seems very interesting and more than a little brave.”

Celestia chuckles softly. “She was, however I’m afraid you’re a little too late to meet her, she was before your time.”

“A shame.” You say solemnly.

Celestia looks down at her hooves muttering something to herself, almost like a silent prayer. “Indeed, but she lived a happy life, one that I shall see you both and your child take as well.”

Celestia closes her eyes, looking up in deep thought, the action confusing you to the point you need to address it, but she catches you before you get a chance to voice you puzzlement.

"I am needed elsewhere, I am sorry, I will keep you up to date on any new events that come to light. I shall have two of my top Royal guards posted at the door so that you can rest easy, no one will be allowed access without your express permission." She stated matter-of-factly, leaving no chance for protest.

“Oh and be warned, more than a few reporters have travelled here. Apologies once more for that was most likely spurred on by our continual stay in Ponyville hospital. I’m afraid they will soon find out about your wife’s miraculous conception, if they have not already, do not worry though I have forbid any of them from meeting you until you are well, and will do my best to quash any ugly rumours before they have a chance to blossom. I wish you all the best, believe me, with a hatchling, you will need it.” She finishes with a wink and a laugh.

You feel the stirring to your side caused by your loved one as she flips back over to your side rubbing her eyes. "Uhh big guy, is everything alright, who’re you talking to?" She asks sleepily eyes still closed.

You turn from her back to Celestia, or where she once was. The space she occupied was now vacant, filled in only with the white pale glow of the moon from the window.

Turning back to Gilda, who settles into the crook of your neck, you nuzzle her cheek. "No one darlin', just talking to the sun."

A pregnant pause fills the conversation for a moment "You’re not still loopy from the meds are you?" She asks her eyes now half closed.

"I hope not, don't want to find out your just my imagination and I'm actually hugging that random minotaur doll next over there."

She lifts her head slowly, before laughing and returning to your neck. "That things from some toy making stallion in Ponyville. He brought it in saying he didn't have any pictures to use to make a doll of you. But I think it pretty much the same, expect for the horns, it even fits your vet coat."

You eye the stuffed figure trying to work out if she was teasing or not. “Thanks feathers maybe next time we have a photo taken, I’ll just take a picture of a duck or a cat, it’s pretty much the same as you right?”

Gilda leans in nibbling your ear. “You wouldn’t have the guts, dweeb.”

Though she was under you, you still roll your eyes for effect."…So these cards and stuff, all of them from the Girls at the picnic?"

"Nah they're from the random hicks around town, strange right? Seems they suddenly give a damn about you, now that a couple of the buckers assaulted you." Even coming out of the thrones of sleep she instinctively reaches over and holds you tighter, yet still careful enough that she didn't press on your injury or her own swollen stomach.

You lift up an eyebrow. "Huh that's… interesting."

"You should have seen the mayor outside, she was all for making speeches and wanting to take a photo of you for some stupid political stunt, said it would hammer home the importance of fighting against prejudice in the home towns or some bull. I bet it’s just some stupid mayor voting thing." Gilda growls moving a wing over your chest.

"I… well I don't know about that, she didn't strike me as that type when I meet her, even a couple years ago she seemed okay with me."

Huh actually, maybe it was just because I was buying that condemned piece of junk from her, back when no one would?

"Whatever, that old hags not doing anything while I'm around, that'd for sure!"

"Thanks Feathers, nice to see you got my back." You very lightly shove her shoulder with your working arm evoking a cocky laugh from her.
“Course…so uh, you actually okay? When you last woke up you gave me a bit of a scare, I mean I knew you were fine and all, I wasn’t actually scared, my stallions been through worse... but still, you are okay right?"

“I'm fine Gilda, just a few cuts and bruises, I've had cat scratches worse than this." You jest.

You shuffle closer to her, using whatever working muscle you still had to get you about as close as you could, given the circumstances. It was hard to even move your free hand, everything apart from breathing was a laboured chore.

Turning your head you stare into the golden eyes, peering into the depths of those troubled yet loving pupils, which flicker up back to meet your own, piercing into the very soul inside your mortal coil.

"I'll be fine, really. I mean I feel I will, I haven't really talked to the doctors enough, as you know, hell I'm probably still pretty drugged up right now. But I honestly don't feel as bad as I must look."

Gilda straightens her wing across your side, her primary feathers dance and caress your upper chest underneath the blanket. "That’s good, I talked to him after you passed out and the Doc was sayin’ it was a lucky break, eh, no pun intended." She adds in with a sheepish, apologetic smile before continuing on.

"He said it was a miracles that you landed on something soft or somepony I mean." Dispute herself she actually manages to chuckle at that. "Also the fact that you fell on your back like you did helped save you a heap of extra breakage, but it still didn't stop your leg breaking, based on the investigation they say that it got tangled in the ladder as you fell apparently human legs are not supposed to bend like that normally and we'll the leg bone... well you really don't want to know actually."

You grimace at the thought, thankfully the fall was all but a blur, so you didn't have to relive that part over and over again in your mind. It had trouble letting you sleep normally as it was.

"I don't remember much after falling, I guessing the group did the rest of the work." You say lifting your broken arm up an inch off the bedding to look at before the weight of the cast and your depleted strength brings it back down.

Her beak boomerangs into a hate filled frown a fire burns in her eyes as she eyes the arm subconsciously as she tenses up next to you.
"That's what the guard report said, the guards said they dragged you off the bottom step of the ladder, but I don't know the rest." Gilda growls slamming her talon into the bedding, trying to placate her own anger and helpless frustration, before reluctantly drawing back. "Those sheath sucking buckers!"

You grab hold of her claw interlocking them with your own "Hey easy, it’s over now, we’re still here, okay? We're still together." you smirk even though you feel no joy behind it. "At least I'll have some new battle scars, I hear girls dig guys with scars?" You joke, hoping to make light of this depressing conversation.
"I think I'd rather have my guy in one peace." She baits back, huffing angrily, even in the fading light you could see her feathers were ruffled and unkempt. She still looked tired and the bags under her eyes were still prevalent, a war torn road map of sorrow and unkempt worry on her face, she probably hadn’t even showered since the incident.

You sigh deep and long, looking up at the roof of your room, eyeing the cracks and patterns in the wall panels as the conversation withers into a uncomfortable silence, it looked like that would be your only bit of scenery for a while considering that the window looked out to, yet more of the hospital.

Yay.

Might as well start counting each panel now, wait does the lights count? Ah I'll work that out later.

You stay quiet for a bit enjoying the comfort of Gilda's wing on your chest the transfer of warmth onto your chest, the curves of the feathers, soft like angels wings, blanketing your body, as they ripple over your body.

You had joked to her back in the day and it was still true in a crude way, that it was like if a pillow had gained sentient life and decoded that its first act as a sentient object was to smother it owner lovingly. Then again, everything felt like that on morpheme.

And the less said about what how you described her ass the better.

You think about going back to sleep, the idea is beyond tempting. But something prevents you from going back to sleep, a niggling sensation in your thoughts deprived you of the sleep you so desperately lusted after even now. You couldn't really commit to relaxing whole heartedly, so many things were still bugging you, so many questions unanswered. But you couldn't put a finger on any specific one, the question wasn't about the ponies who attacked you, nor Celestia and Luna for some reason it was something to do with Gilda, or was it, wait was it the baby? No, she would have brought something up if anything like that had happened, no it had something to do with the barn something to do with armour...

"Gilda!?" you whisper loudly, nudging her with your shoulder.

Turning back Gilda squint her eyes yawning again as she lifts her head from your shoulders. "Nghh, what? I though you went back to sleep?"
"No, I was just thinking…What happened to the griffon who helped us Gilda, where is it?"

Gilda's eyes open more fully now as she fixates on the bedding in thought. "I-I don't know the guy napped me from the barn and took me towards the picnic, I tried to fight, but he was pretty tough I couldn’t get her off me--

"Wait, it was a he?" You but in.

Gilda lifts an eyebrow up at you "Not sure, I never really hung around with any griffons before, so I can't tell right off the bat like that, but I guess so?”

The cadence in her tine seems off to you, like something wasn’t right furrowing your brow you can’t help but ask, “You guess so or you know so?”

“I guess I know so, what does it matter anyway if it had junk or not!?" she finished with an cursing caustic tone that takes you off guard.

Why did she make it should like I asked a taboo question, I only asked if she knew where he went?

You frown at the tone she responded in, like she was mad for you asking the question. Maybe she was just cranky. Even sympathetic as she was to you plight, the lady loved her beauty sleep, another lesson you picked up early into meeting the griffon, a nap to Gilda was anywhere between five to ten hours.

"Gilda, do you know that griffon?" You almost cup your mouth as the words slip out before you had a chance to analyse what you said.

Gilda sits upright immediately bringing her face up next to you. "No, why are you asking me!?"

"I don't know, why are you being so defensive over him if you don't know him!?" You bite back.

Gilda huffs at the question leaning back forehead crinkled in anger. "Wow, wow wait an buckin’ minute, you better not say something that you’re going to regret, you’re not saying what I think your saying...are you!?"

“I—

“Yeah!?” She growls moving further towards you.

You bite your tongue, the rage still curdled inside you in a sickening vile form, but still, did you have it in you to start accusing anything, especially now?

Was it even the same griffon from that night, I don’t have any evidence, I need. No! What I need to do is stop this now before it gets out of hand, this is foolish, even if the griffon was there for her, and it doesn’t mean she knows him...

…But then what does it mean?

"No, I guess not, sorry Gilda, it’s the pain talking, I didn't get that great a look at him, it all happened so fast. Plus the fact he was wearing armour and the griffon didn't speak, I wouldn't have known, it just seemed so weird that he was there."

Gilda gives you a deadpan stare for a full minute before breaking out a tiny smile and wiping you lightly with her tail. "Don't worry dweeb its fine, any other time I would have flayed you for even suggesting that. At least, even in life threatening situations you weren’t checking anypony out, you frickin’ dweeb."

Despite yourself you chuckle slamming your head down on to the pillow wirily "Shut it bird brain, I'm the one in the hospital here." you retort playfully with an impish smirk.

You see the smile once more leaves her face with a dejected sigh "Yeah don't remind me..."

"So the griffon..."

She sighs again. "I don't know, we were in the air for like a minute or so, then he must have spotted the others because he swooped down behind a tree, dropped me and bolted."

"He just left you there didn't anyone else see her?"

Gilda shrugged, "Not sure, he literally dropped me down landed pretty hard and then he turned an flew off east, I wasn't really thinking about it I was just occupied trying to get the groups attention, so I ran to Twilight and told her we had to get to the barn to save you."

"Wait, he literally just dropped you?"

"I know what an asshole, it hurt like a motherbucker!" She says with an indignant slam of her claw.

You eye her from paw to beak "You’re okay right, the baby’s okay?"

Another deadpan stare follows you question. "Dude, we’re both fine, can you stop being so caring, you’re the one in the friggin’ hospital right now!"

You shrug with your good arm "Sorry force of habit, if you lived with Fluttershy for as long as I have you sub-consciously pick up a few things from her.”

As well as ticks from all the bloody animals as well, just because she can talk to them doesn’t mean they wouldn’t still bight me.

“So was the princesses with Twilight?"

"Yeah they all were and so we're some of the guards I don't know why but they said they were already heading over there before I told them, they were looking for you in particular."

So they were heading there before you went was it because they had heard the noises and went to investigate? The farm did have a large echo when it was a peaceful still day.

Then again it could have been Luna coming to take Gilda away, it could have explain the extra guards, not that they would have needed them, I didn't even see the guards when we left, perhaps they were lying in wait ready for anything to go wrong it was supposed to be a secret meeting like always, it makes sense I guess.

“Do the princesses know, about the griffon I mean?”

“Yeah one of the guards flew after him the moment I got in view of the group, I don’t know after that they won’t tell me the rest, it’s on some stupid ‘need to know bases at the moment’.” She mockingly ends using her claws for quotation marks.

Celestia didn’t mention him to me, maybe she’ll ask later?

Gilda stretches one of her paws hearing the cracking sounds of loosening joints that sends an involuntary tingle down your spine you couldn't stand that noise for some reason, but she probably knew that by now. "Can we drop the subject for now, it’s too late for this and I don't want to spend all night getting angry again, I was this close to decking that pink dweeb yesterday."

"You mean Pinkie?" you say with a subconscious shudder, you had nothing against her really but the speed, the craziness. Jesus it was like hanging out with the joker if he was harmless; interesting and fascinating but a complete detriment to your sanity.

She snorts out an indignant huff, ruffling her neck feathers as she settles back into your chest. "Yeah, I mean why the heck she'd even show her dumb, goofy muzzle around here I’ll never know! I thought she came here to laugh at me or something, by Griffonstone she bugs me!"

Gilda grumbles mumbling further complains into your shoulder the thoughts of sleep long evaded from her body by now.

You shake your head with an exaggerated huff it was nice to see that she hasn't changed one bit at the very least. "It’s okay you don't have to like anyone just because you're told to, not everyone clicks together friends should be like-minded people or at least share something in common, I know she’s crazy weird but she never struck me as sadistic, she means we'll even if she's weird as fuck, I wouldn't go fighting her Gilda we are trying to get back into society I don't think hitting our important princesses world saving friends will help that at all."

Gilda sits upright towering over you with a worried and perplexed look on her face.

"Wait you still want to go around with those jerks in town after all this, are you insane, they tried to cripple you!?"

The question takes you back somewhat you thought instinctively you two where on the same wave link, you both still wanted to keep the plan going right?

"Well yeah, it wasn't like the town did this, it was just those pony's at the barn I even heard them say the town didn't want to join in and look at all the get well soon cards do you think people that hate us would go out of their way to send their sympathy. We can't give up now if we keep hiding, keep to the shadows something bad is going to happen again?" You explain moving your free hand up to cup her cheeks only for her to move it away from her.

"No!"

You pause for a second taken back by her tone "What?"

"I said no, there is no bucking way I’m letting our child anywhere near those crazy freaks. As soon as you’re better we're getting as far away from here as possible!"

You push yourself upright in the bed, trying to maintain eye level with the griffon it was a painful bad idea as your chest and abdomen scream at you from such actions, but you mollify the pain pushing up until you’re at last meet her at eye level. The gravity of the situation demanded such actions.

"No Gilda I know you're upset right now but this is the best it’s going to get. Do you think any other towns going to treat us differently? At least here we have a foundation to work on, I have a job a home and a friend, I don't give up when the going gets tough and I know for a fact that you don't either!"

Gilda opens her beak to retort but the evidence and conviction in your voice gives her reason to pause. You take this as a chance and press on.

"Sweetie I know this looks bad, you almost got maimed or worse over nothing and I almost lost the most important thing in my life. But we have to think about this, do you really want our daughter growing up isolated in some forest somewhere, knowing that nobody will accept her, or me, or even her mother? That she should be afraid of being who she is. She has a right to grow up normal like everyone else doesn’t she? This is the only place for her that will give her a chance. It’s not the best place I know that, but with the princesses help and if we play our cards right, we can at least have some semblance of a normal life, isn’t that worth fighting for?"

It was true all the hardships you had faced now… to start that again in some other patch of soil…it would probably be too much. Your life here wasn’t exactly perfect even before the baby but you had to believe that as soon as everything went back to the way it was, the sooner you could go back to starting on a normal life. It really was the best of a bad situation. Even if you did entertain the notion, where would you go?
It was true that Gilda was well travelled even in her young life, she had only ever had one home back in Cloudsdale and it was demonstrably clear she wasn't in a rush to go back there. So where would you go if Equestria was out of the question?

You knew next to nothing about the Minotaur’s homeland or the Zebras or any of the other species, would they be any different, would it matter in the long run?

Griffonia was the only viable option, but it was so far away. You couldn’t travel that far with a new-born and besides, from what Twilight had told you, they didn't exactly seem like they were taking people like your family in with open arms. They didn't even care for their own leaving.
Twilight had alluded that that was a relatively new practice for them, something they had only adopted in the last few years, you would have to ask her about that at some point, even just out of curiously. But to do something like that now would not only be irresponsible, but it could be dangerous. Moving in and of itself was an arduous affair with a moving van and a car, the logistics of that now, well it wasn't even worth entertaining.

No, truly Ponyville for better or worse was the only viable option, it was quite, out of the way. You had a somewhat stable income from your practice and despite what had just happened it was relatively tranquil, out of all the options it was the best place to raise a child.

Gilda's facial facades barely changed her frown hung deep and long on her face. But you could already see it in her eyes, that the fight was gone, at least for now.

She relaxes her posture once more, before turning to her stomach bringing her hand over to it and stroke the contents in which she carries, it’s both peaceful and heart wrenching at once.

"I hate when you do that." She mutters leaning onto your side using your good shoulder once more as a pillow.

"Do what?"

"Make sense, can't it go back to me being the logical one?"

You chuckle and she joins in even if none of you could really commit to it.

"I still don't like it though, who's to say somepony doesn't try it again?"

You muse on the response, the idea wasn't too far from your own thoughts either. "I think this whole thing has brought us into the limelight Feathers, those guards out there are blocking half of Equestria press right now."

"How do you know it's that many?" She asks suspiciously.

"Well…I don't think it’s every day that three princesses visit a hospital to go see the only human in Equestria and his miraculously pregnant girlfriend who may or may not be carrying a new species inside her. Honestly darlin' I'm just surprised it didn't happen sooner, I suppose even Celestia couldn’t keep this under wraps forever." Though you bet more than anything she was still trying, then again it wasn't like you were trying to advertise all this. What could you say shit just happens to you, how could you even begin to conceive you would be here in this situations, just a few months ago you were debating kicking you free loaning roommate out unless she found a job, now you and her were starting a family.

Life's has a sense of humour like that, it seemed.

Gilda puts her claw lightly onto your chest. "But that just means more are aware of us, they know where we are now doesn't that mean anything to you!"

You take your good hand and place it over hers stroking it lightly a caring smile aimed at soothing her vehement tone. "I know but it was bound to happen eventually you know that. Besides I doubt anypony will get the chance, I'm not saying it’s impossible but I get the feeling we'll be getting better help than before." You decide to leave out the conversation with Celestia right now Gilda still seemed more than hostile towards the Alicorn and everything Celestia said had yet to be proven though nothing she said sounded like false promises you didn't want to be the one to get yours or Giada’s hopes up so soon. Actions spoke louder than words.

Gilda doesn't seem too convinced, her understandable pessimism was something you shared, but she doesn't state otherwise, perhaps Celestia had told her or maybe Twilight it wasn't out of the question they might have said something weather Gilda was in any mood to believe that was a different story.

it was obvious this was all too much right now the sleep in her eyes and the posture she was in this was all too much for a morning discussion on a hospital bed this was a conversation for later, it was still too soon to tell or make radical dissection both of you knew that. Right now sleep was the only thing on both your minds.

“I" she sighs deeply before cupping her beak as she yawned blinking slowly, "I'll think about it big guy."

"That's all I ask." you say leaning down to kiss the top of her head, leaning in as she turns around to return the favour on your lips it was a brief but fulfilling kiss that felt akin to losing yourself in the moment it soothed your soul considerably more knowing that even now you could enjoy these tender things. Even as the moment was being serenaded by a beeping heart monitor.

Neither one taking their eyes off each other as your eyes before she nestles into your arm again with a sigh, you couldn’t tell if it was one of weariness or world weariness perhaps she was just glad things for now were at least fine for now, you couldn’t quite say. Maybe it wasn’t for you to comment. Soon your eyelids become too heavy to stay open you drift off with her being your own last image like always before the grasp of sleep takes hold, it was only so many more months until the problems of today would be over and then there would be many more months for it to start up again strong and even more treacherous.

But like Gilda had said back on that bench back in what seemed like years ago, Fuck what anyone said or did. All this trouble all this pain you were both still here together, still fighting sometimes each other but that was neither here nor there, and that wasn’t going to change.

But...

Still something had changed, those words were right to a degree, but they didn’t have the cosmic unpredictability factored in. It was all well and good saying fuck the world and doing your own thing, but when the world was actively waiting for you to drop the soap in the showers and it became you against the world, you can’t defend yourself forever, no one could.

Sometimes help could come from unlikely places when the world was at its worst. Sometimes in the form of a smile and a shoulder to lean on… and sometimes in the form of a talking horse that moved the sun like a cosmic tennis ball. Regardless what she said for most people would be right but you needed more you both needed more.

Right now however, rest was all you needed, perhaps tomorrow would be different. Certainly it would always be unique, that, in this world was a given.