Spike and Rarity, Sitting in a Tree
Spike and Rarity, Sitting in a Tree
by paleowriter
For once, Equestria’s oddest couple found themselves with a quiet afternoon. Spike had no royal duties to attend to, and Rarity had just completed a huge order for a high-end client. To celebrate, they chose to spend the rest of the day relaxing on their balcony.
With fresh brewed iced tea and a bowl of Spike’s favorite quartz crunchies, the two lazily stretched out to watch a summer breeze rustle the trees in the courtyard below.
After scooting closer to the mare, careful not to sit on her tail now that he was larger than even Princess Celestia, Spike cleared his throat. “Rarity, I’ve been thinking.”
“Watch out, Equestria,” Rarity teased, poking one hoof into his scaly side.
Spike rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. But seriously.” He draped an arm around her shoulders. “We’ve been together for a while now…we’re in a really good place. Solid, you know?”
“And?” Rarity prompted, while magically refilling her glass of iced tea.
Spike coughed again. “Well…I was thinking…I mean, I said that already, I know, but…okay. Here goes.” He scratched the back of his head, looking at Rarity out of the corner of his eye. She blinked at him, encouraging him to continue. “It might be nice if we…you know…had a kid.”
Rarity spit her tea clear off the balcony.
“Now hold on, before you—” Spike started.
“What?!” Rarity asked, gasping for breath and setting her glass down before she dropped it. “Spike, you can’t be—you know that sort of thing just won’t work with—I mean I’m a…and you’re a—”
“Yes, I know, but—”
“Do you not recall how we’ve, ahem, tried things along that line before?” Rarity stood to face him, her eyes darting wildly and her cheeks burning. “What, were you hoping to ask Twilight for some magical cure to help a dragon and a pony conceive? Because that would be just perfect and so not embarrassing at all, for any of us! Why, if anypony were to find out how we couldn’t—or worse, had to look into ways to make that happen—”
“Rarity, calm down!” Spike said, putting a hand on her heaving shoulder. “I was thinking we could adopt!”
“We could—” Rarity’s expression melted. “We could…adopt. Yes. Oh. My, I hadn’t thought of that, to be perfectly honest.”
“Well I have,” Spike said, his trembling voice settling now that Rarity had somewhat relaxed (and stopped shouting about their…erm, bedroom issues right out in the open for anypony walking by to hear). “I was adopted myself, and I thought it would be nice to give somepony else a chance at a happy home. I just wasn’t sure what you would think of the idea, so I’ve been nervous to bring it up.”
At that, Rarity’s eyes began to glisten. “Oh, Spike. It’s times like these that I remember why I love you so much.”
“So you’ll do it?” Spike asked, clutching his hands together in hope.
“Oh, I didn’t say that, dear,” Rarity clarified, composing herself once more. “It’s a lot to think about, and I’ll need some time to consider. I’ve never really thought much about being a mother. I don’t think it’s part of my nature, quite frankly. Though at least this way would sidestep the whole giving birth part of things…hmm…” She put one hoof to her lips. “Hm, yes. It will require some thought. Could I get back to you within the week?”
Spike’s shoulders drooped. She sounded like she was talking to a prospective client, rather than her doting Spikey-Wikey, but he supposed this was sort of a huge idea to spring on her.
Spike nodded. “Yes. Absolutely. Think about it.”
One week later…
Rarity had said she wanted to talk that night.
Spike paced the room, trying not to overthink what her answer might be. Because the whole adoption thing had to be what she wanted to talk about. It had been a week, after all.
He sat down at the edge of the bed, fiddling with the hem of a blanket, then stood up just as quickly when Rarity walked in.
Rarity obviously was trying to stifle a laugh, and Spike flushed, sheepish.
“That obvious I’m nervous, huh?”
“Oh, Spike,” Rarity said. “You have every right to be nervous. This is a rather large deal. It’s just that you are beyond adorable when you’re feeling flustered.” She patted him on the cheek. Spike slowly sunk back down on the mattress.
“Fair enough,” he said. “Guess a guy can’t help his good looks.”
Rarity raised a dubious eyebrow, but she couldn’t hold the look for long. Within a few moments, they had both doubled over in laughter.
And while Spike wasn’t going to say anything, he could hear the nervous titter in Rarity’s laugh just as much as it was in his own. He just had to hope it was a good sort of nervous she was feeling.
“Alright, so, as requested, I’ve put a lot of thought into what you asked,” Rarity began, taking a seat next to Spike.
Spike nodded, folding his hands on his lap and trying not to look too hopeful.
“And the thing is…” Rarity trailed off, her eyebrows furrowing. “Spike, I just don’t think it’s a good idea right now. I don’t think I’m ready yet.”
“Oh.” Spike lowered his head and nodded, unable to meet Rarity’s eye. This was about ten gazillion times worse than the time Twilight had made him return PeeWee to the forest. “Yeah. Okay. I understand.”
“But…” Rarity placed a hoof on Spike’s arm. Then she let it trail up to his face, guiding his chin to look at her once more. “I think it’s a fabulous idea for when I am ready.”
Spike grabbed her by the shoulders, bouncing up to his feet. “Really?!”
“Really.” Rarity let out a laugh as the dragon twirled her around the room. “Oh, Spike, you are going to make a wonderful father someday.”
“And you’re going to make an amazing mother.” Spike hugged Rarity close. “Even if you don’t see it yet.”
Rarity blushed. “One can hope…”
“One can know,” Spike said, setting her down. Rarity’s face reddened even more.
He let go of her, and she straightened her shoulders, all business one again. “Though this will definitely need to be a team effort,” she said next, tilting her chin up to face him. “I’m not going to be the only one getting up at all hours of the night, or making school lunches, or cleaning up messes…”
“You won’t be.” Spike leaned down and kissed her. “I promise. You’ll see.”
“I will.” Rarity smiled. “Someday.”
“Someday,” Spike repeated, kissing her again.
It’s how things had always gone with him and Rarity.
Someday was Spike’s favorite word.
