The Two Families.

Today was the day, the day Giggle and Snowflake's lives were going to change. Today was the day when they would board a ship to Equestria. This was Snowflakes seventh month of being pregnant. And she has changed in many ways. She was always tired, her whole body ached, and her belly has expanded greatly. But being the prideful mare she was, she didn't ask for Gigglebox's help when she needed it, and she didn't mind when ponies would stare. She knew that this was natural and a completely normal part of life.

But the one thing that not just bothered Snowflake but Gigglebox as well, was the possibility of her untimely death. This thought made Gigglebox more quiet but loving to Snowflake. This thought has also made him nervous and paranoid for her safety, he didn't shave, he was always on some sort of medication. But he made sure to spend all the time he had available with the mare he loved. With them on this ship was Gigglebox's mother, his boss who had to tag along on a business trip to Manehatten, a large crew of British sailor ponies, Snowflake's sister Melody, who was the only one of her sisters that wasn't too busy to tag along. and the two unborn foals that lived inside Snowflake.

The living quarters wasn't large, but it managed. Gigglebox let Snowflake sleep on the main bed while he usually stayed up just looking after her, or going to the ship's cafeteria for a few quick drinks. During their three day voyage, Giggle got a lot of useful advice from other crew members who were already fathers before him. And oddly enough, Giggle's boss gave him some advice.  He told him to always be there for his children and to always support there choices in life. As long as those choices lead them to a good future. He also told him to be careful of who teaches his children about life, always be the first one to teach them everything they will need to know. That is what Overload would say, Giggle gratefully accepted this useful advice.

The last night on the ship before landing was spent planning what they will do when they arrive. Gigglebox and Snowflake would obviously have to go to Ponyville, but they needed to plan where Giggle's mother and Snowflake's sister would stay. If the house wasn't too small, then Sweet and Melody would stay with them. But if the home was too small, then Sweet and Melody would have to find an inn or a hotel to stay in before they settle things.

During the final night, Giggle still stayed up watching Snowflake as she slept; however Snowflake didn't sleep, she would always face away from Giggle because she always felt bad that he had to spend many sleepless nights just to make sure that she slept soundly. So Snowflake did the one thing she should have done before. She turned over confusing Giggle since she did not have a hint of sleepiness on her face.

"Giggle, can you... Please sleep with me? I don't want you to spend another night staying up to make sure I'm fine." Giggle only looked at her, but without saying anything he obliged. He got up from his seat and lay down next to Snow. Snow believed that Giggle was actually half asleep or fully asleep because when he laid down he wrapped his rear hoof around hers, gently laid his head in the crook of her neck and wrapped his left forehoof around her belly and gently stroked it. Finally he wrapped a wing around themselves and finally fell completely asleep. It didn't take long for Snow to join Giggle in the bliss of slumber, with the warmth of Giggle's wings, him slowly rubbing her belly, and the accompaniment of Gigglebox by it self was nice.

~*~

Gigglebox awoke from his warm and comfy slumber with Snowflake, wishing that this moment could last for all eternity. He didn't want to let his angel go, not yet; not unless he could go with her. His grip tightened around Snowflake as warm tears filled his closed eyes, he lay there for what seemed like hours but he slowly and reluctantly go up and left the living quarters. He saw his boss; Wooden Overload looking off to the distance while drinking a mug of coffee.

He glanced at Giggle with a smirk, he gestured with his head for Giggle to come towards him, he put a hoof around his neck ad pointed to the shores and distant harbor of Manehatten.

"See that lad? That there is Equestria, I know it may not seem much to you; but lad, it means the world and more to me." Giggle still looked off to the docks and harbor, the city smells of bustling ponies, coffee, cigarettes and a hint of sea water tickled Giggle's nose. A smell that was too familiar yet foreign to him on account of living in Britain for five years.

"It's new opportunity for me lad, it's new experiences for me lad." Overload chuckled.

"All it is to me is home, and sad memories. That's all this dump has to offer me." Giggle said in a low tone.

"Look lad, I know that you're scared of being a new father, but in the end; it'll end out swell." Overload said in a cheap chipper tone.

"And it should be boss, but the possibility of me being an only father? Having to care for two foals by myself and when they're scared and need a mother to hold them, I can't just do that! I mean, I could if I wanted to but what if they have friends? What if they get friends with moms and dads and they come home from school asking, 'Daddy? Why don't we have a mommy like the other kids?' I can't lie to them, it would be too hard for both me and the kids." Giggle said repeatedly glancing at his boss trying not to show any tears.

"That's when you do your best to care for them, to do your best at comforting them when they learn the sad truth. You know lad, maybe just maybe Snowflake dies and you do grow old and alone. In the end you'll be together once more, and after that your children will join you on god's golden shore. But in the meantime lad, you care for your children, you love and tolerate them, you comfort them when they have nightmares, you tuck them in at night, you say that you love them every time before they go to bed. Because at the end of the day lad, it'll all be worth it." Overload gave Giggle and pat on the back and began to walk away.

"Wait, boss! Why are you being so... helpful and caring all of a sudden?" Giggle asked knowing that his boss was always an emotionless soul at work.

"Let's just say that I've been through the same thing when I was a father. I didn't give my child a second chance, so I'm just making sure that you don't make the same mistake lad. You're a good stallion and you don't deserve such heartache I went through." Overload kept walking away.

"Thanks boss." Giggle exclaimed making sure the middle aged stallion could hear him.

"Don't mention it lad" He paused then said. "Now get your family up, we're docking in 45 minutes!"

~*~

It didn't take long for Giggle and the rest to pack up their hygiene products and other miscellaneous objects they brought on board with them, mainly because there wasn't much to pack.

Something seemed different about Snowflake though. She was very distant, and often looked surprised every time Gigglebox or anyone else spoke to her. Gigglebox didn't trouble her about it, though, he knew exactly what it was about. She was scared of the unknown. What the unforeseeable future may hold. And so was he.

Her distant mood was suddenly broken when the ship finally docked into Equestria. Gigglebox hadn't seen her so happy, nor so engrossed in her surroundings, for a long while. For too long.

He gently shook her shoulder.

“C’mon, Snow, we need to go.”

She gave a quick nod, her blue mane bouncing as she did so. Two of Overload’s workers Rust Bucket and Tin Can two brothers with Tin being the oldest, had helped haul their furniture over to the train station, where they would get the train to Ponyville. Rust Bucket and Tin Can wouldn't board the train however, since they would have to stay a little longer to unload more shipment on the ship.

Before Tin Can left, he gave Giggle a small note "From the boss fella" His gruff old voice rattled Giggle's eardrums.

"Thanks Tin, oh good luck with the trial next week!" Giggle exclaimed.

"Ah thanks fella, but I'll surely need it." Tin gave a quick salute before walking away with his brother. Giggle sat next to Snowflake and Melody, since Snow and Sweet were already asleep Giggle only had Melody to talk to. Since she was only a sister-in-law, she and he didn't have much of a connection like Melody did with Snowflake. So to Giggle it was quite awkward.

Finally after waiting Giggle decided to ask Melody a question, probably start a conversation if he's lucky.

"So, Mel how's it feel to know that you'll be an aunt soon?"

She looked at him with a tired but still aware face and answered,

"It makes me feel kinda old..." She gave a quick splutter of laughter then. "That sounded so weird then! But it's true. It kinda sucks, y'know? I mean, she's this lively little girl, and she gets stuck at home playing mum, and I'm not really doing anything much, and I still get the entire world."

"You... you scared?" He asked quietly, looking at the floor.

"Yeah... it's so unfair." She seemed to get angry then, "It's just so goddamned unfair." She said, kicking the ground with her hoof. Melody suddenly looked up at him, serious. "Look, not to turn into my dad or anything, but if you do anything to hurt her or those kids, I'm going to cut of your wings and send them to the Rainbow Factory. Understood?" Gigglebox nodded, but now out of pure habit. He'd heard similar threats from each of Snowflake's immediate family at least five times now. "Sorry, it's a sister thing. Snow used to do the exact same thing to my coltfriends, only slightly more graphic. Well, a lot more graphic, really." She said giggling.

"Yeah, I can imagine Snow doing something like that." Replied Gigglebox. Melody sighed.

"You know that feeling when you turn on the news and the first thing you hear is something like 'three year old beaten to death', and you just lose all faith in this fucked up world? That's how I feel right now. And I'm telling you, that's how I'm going to feel for the rest of my life if she bites it. Because if anyone deserves a miracle, it's her." The rest of the wait between them was quiet and awkward. Finally of what seemed to be hours of waiting, the train to Ponyville finally arrived, and they all loaded onto the train and took their seats. Giggle made sure to sit right next to Snowflake, leaving Melody and Sweet to sit across from them. It was only 3:47 but to them it was midnight, and they were all tired. Not even seconds later, they all fall sleep once more. All except Giggle who was still too stressed to sleep, suddenly he remembered the note Tin gave him earlier ago.

He took it from under his wing and unfolded it, it was from Overload and it said,

Dear Gigglebox,

I personally want to thank you for all your hard work while working with us in the shipment bureau. I also want to personally wish you good luck on your new family lad, and remember what I said about always caring and supporting your children.

I also want to say that I know how expensive it can be to care for children, especially in a new home. So in return of your hard work I'm giving you your final paycheck worth 2,000 bits. I know it's not as much as you payed me but I still need to pay the workers aye lad? Anyhow, the crew and I all wish you luck with your new life.

~Wooden Overload

~*~

Ninroot is finally in her final month of her pregnancy, and she couldn't be more excited. Little did she know that Techie had a small surprise.

For about a week, Ninroot has been at her parents house at the edge of town, but Techie didn't go with her like he usually would, he said that his business needed help from him and he had a lot of work to finish. But really, he was building another room for the new foal. He would work day in and day out, from dusk to dawn. He built everything from the room's interior to the furniture that filled it. He built the furniture, painted the walls, and even installed floorboards all himself.

Finally on a Sunday night, Ninroot walked into the house, with bags full of baby cloths and baby toys.

"Techie! I'm home, why weren't you at the train station?" Techie was too excited to answer, only excited giggles escaped his muzzle. "Techie, you better not scare me again! You don't want the same thing to happen from last years Nightmare Night party!" Still no response. Ninroot slowly went through every door, making sure Techie wasn't going to burst through and scare her half to death.

She finally made it to the bedroom door, but noticed something else near it. The only doors that were near the bedroom door was the door that lead to her green room, and the door that lead to Techie's workshop. There was also a spare room that Ninroot stayed in when her and Techie first met but, now it's just used for extra space for storage. But she noticed something odd. The door wasn't shut, it was normally closed keeping back boxes and extra junk from falling out. But instead what she saw was shiny oak wood. She stepped through to find Techie casually sitting in a padded rocking chair tinkering with one of his smaller experiments.

"Oh hey!" Techie said casually, he got no reply. All he could hear were gasps and what he saw was a teary eyed Ninroot. He quickly stopped what he was doing to comfort her, but these tears weren't sad, they were happy and surprised. Techie was very relieved that she liked the room.

"I'm glad you like it. Because I think I need to appear in court next week on Friday about building this room without her authority."

~*~

That same night, Gigglebox, Snowflake, Sweet Cotton, and Melody finally made it to Ponyville late at night around 3:00 Am.

"Oh, that train ride was killer on my wings!" Giggle complained while stretching out his wings. They went to the end of the train to receive their luggage. All they saw was a half empty caboose with a big bundle of crates.

"Well, I guess we have to unload that ourselves huh?" Melody commented. A long silence fell over the small group of family members, until Gigglebox and Snowflake heard a very unfamiliar and unsuspecting voice.

"I can help." The small group turned around, to see a beige furred Pegasus wearing a black beanie carrying a saddlebag.

"Okay, but... Who are you?" Melody asked curiously.

"Oh you're British? That's cool." The stallion said with sudden interest in the young mare. Finally Snowflake noticed the odd stallion getting uncomfortably close Melody and exclaimed

"Will you help or not?" She asked in a stern voice.

"Yeah, I'll help... 50 bits." Gigglebox stepped forward, he was tired and aching and all he wanted was to get to his new home and rest. He would rest on the floor of the house if he had to but all he wanted was rest.

"Here, take the bits and help us." Giggle through a small bag of bits to the hooves of the stallion. With gratitude the stallion picked it from the ground and began to help Giggle and the rest unload. After some long minutes of lifting and straining they finally made it to the newly built cabin.

"Hey, you live here? You're the family who bought this place?" The stallion asked.

"Yeah, had a friend who sold it to me for cheaper than it would be." Giggle replied proudly.

"Nice. Well, I think you guys got it from here." The stallion started his way down the road but before he began flying away he turned to Melody once more. "And I'll be seeing you later sweet cheeks" Finally he left the small family to themselves once again. Sweet Cotton confronted Melody who stood there with a crimson face.

"Hey, you alright dear?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Stupid stallion thinks he can make me fall for him. Fall for his unkempt, sloppy... Self, his dark blue eyes, his scruffy mane poking out of that beanie." Sweet Cotton noticed her face getting more red and red as she went on and on about the stallion's features.

"Okay, just hurry in the house before you catch a cold dear." Sweet said in her usual motherly tone. Melody turned around to see Snowflake suddenly next to her, eyebrow raised and a cheeky grin plastered all over her face.

"Oh, piss off, Snow!" Melody said, agitated. All hell was going to break loose on her very soon.

"Y'know, I think that was fate that he showed up. Just two souls... meant to be..." She teased, as Melody slowly grew more and more red. "And he seemed pretty interested in you, too, Mel. Should'a told him to stay 'round for a drink!"

All the red was gone from Melody's body, and she was starting to turn burgundy.

"Snow, you're not twelve anymore..." she muttered to herself, knowing full well that she would pay no attention.

"But that's just like you, isn't it, Mel? Can't even be off a train five minutes before getting chatted up by a nice new stallion." She said, her smile threatening to crack her face, "You slut, Mel." She gave her a playful tap.

"Snow, I don't know if you noticed, but there was nothing at all nice about him. He probably just wanted to do that thing where they sell foreign fillies into prostitution and get them addicted to drugs and kill them."

Snowflake rolled her eyes. "You can't ignore fate!"

"What, a fate of whoreiness?" She asked.

"And you were the one telling me that that's not a real word earlier." Said Snowflake, "Anyway, back on topic. He seemed nice, Mel, he really did! And that beanie, too! You used to have a thing for beanies, I remember it very vividly!"

All the red rushed back to Melody's face.

"I was fifteen, Snow."

"And you're not getting any younger either." Snowflake feigned shock, "Are those wrinkles before my eyes?!"

"Look, the only reason you think he's so great is because he has some weird Brit fetish!" Yelled Melody accusingly. Snowflake put a hoof to her chest, pretending to be hurt.

"Moi? I would never be so close minded and self centered. You should know that, Mel!"

"Can we please just get in the house?" Groaned Gigglebox, looking very fed up, but mildly amused.

"Huh, good idea." Said Snowflake, finally leaving Melody alone, "Right after I find him and bring him right back here you to take out on a hot date." She started walking back.

"Don't you dare!" Yelled Melody, her voice squeaking.

Snowflake turned around, finally letting all the laughter that she'd been repressing the entire time out.

"You are so much fun to wind up!" She managed to choke out, heaving with laughter.

"Oh, grow up, Snow." Melody said, annoyed.

~*~

As they entered their home, they were all surprised at the interior of the humble little home. They all separated into different parts of the home and inspected the new house.

Gigglebox went upstairs to find three bedrooms; a master bathroom connecting to the master bedroom, the other two were guest rooms. The carpet in the rooms were white and fluffy. The bathroom was black and white tile, shiny and smooth. He went back to the center of the master bedroom and slumped on the ground. Willing to fall asleep right there and then.

Melody and Snowflake went through the first floor of the home. They found a small bathroom near the kitchen. The kitchen also had black and white tile. Sweet Cotton went with them but went down another smaller hallway leading to a backyard area. It wasn't large like she was expecting this over sized home to have. But it was still a nice little escape to the outside, it was big enough to have a small garden and still would have enough room to have children play without disturbing the plants.

It was this moment where Sweet Cotton realized that her little Giggle has grown to be a proud stallion, husband, and soon to be,

father.