WAY Out of place

I sat there at the table looking down at my plate. A few crumbs was all that remained of the apple crumble. One item of food never filled me like that before. A piece of desert certainly never even came close. My moved along the wall of my mouth, licking at the sweet apple and cinnamon flavor that stuck to them. I looked over to Twilight who was in a similar predicament. Hoof was held down to her stomach below the table. She looked up to me and we shared a smile happily. It felt like were already a family together. Even though it was really just the two of us. Well there was Spike and Kian, where ever the hell he was, but that's not what I meant. Close enough anyways.

I looked back down to my plate and back up to across the table. "So, which one of you two lovely ladies do I thank for this?" I asked looking between Granny Smith and Applejack.

Applejack cleared her throat, giving answer.

"Well thank you for the meal and, if you guys are ready, I guess we'll be on our way." I said looking over to Spike and Twilight.

Twilight nodded and Spike swallowed a large mouthful. "Ready."

"Sure, let's get the fuck out of here." Bleak sighed.

I just ignored him. "Alright." I said standing up. "It was nice of you having us and I'll see you guys later."

"G'bye, Twilight. G'bye, Spike." Applejack waved. "See ya tomorrow, James."

Twilight walked down the path toward the road with me, Spike on her back. "So what do we feel like when we get home?" I asked.

"Maybe some more reading." She said looking off. "I don't really know myself. I'm feeling a bit tired after all that."

"I hear that." Spike said sprawled out over her back.

"A nap sounds good." I said looking over at Bleak as he walked next to me. He looked at me surprised, smirking suggestively. I shook my head and looked up toward a still cloud. "I wonder what Kian's up to now?"

"So um...is there any other animals needed to be fed?" He asked breaking the awkward silence.

"Um, no, that's all of them." She said softly.

"Well I guess it was nice meeting you." He said starting to walk off.

"W-wait, um, I just wanted to say; thank you for helping me." She said smiling softly. "Would you maybe like to stay for tea?" She asked.

"Uh, okay." He said looking around. "Well geez, isn't this just nice."

She smiled brightly and trotted around the cottage. Kian followed her, finding his day not going so bad after all.

I pushed through the door, holding it open with my hoof. Twilight walked through carrying a dozed off Spike on her back. I didn't see where Bleak was. I'd hoped he'd left for the while. She stepped over a few scattered books, making way to the stairs. I looked down to the mess of books we left. She went up a few steps before stopping to look back over her shoulder. "You coming." She asked quietly.

"Yeah, just give me a minute." I answered back, matching her volume.

She nodded and walked up the stairway into the bedroom. I looked back down to the books and focused on the ones nearby. They became surrounded by a blue aura and levitated over toward the small stacks. I started another and moved them to the side with the rest. I moved on to the books Twilight had left, closing them and setting them down with the others. Closing one, the title and cover caught my eye. I levitated it close, holding it straight and reading it. Families for beginning parents.

A smile crept onto my face. I sometimes imagined what it would be like, us, kids. The real thing. That dream of a life worth living. I dreamed of that when I was a kid. Well, not really a kid, but you'd get what I mean. When I was hitch hiking my way south. I rode in the boxcars of trains when I could find them. I talked and shared stories with the homeless men and woman. Stories of how they got where they were and what they used to have. Families, homes, dreams. It made me make up my own plans. I'd find a nice woman, settle down, make a living off something honest. That sure happened.

It felt nice to know I'd made some steps closer. I set the book down with the piles and levitated the emptied cups of tea, carrying them toward the kitchen. I set them down in the sink and walked back out, going up the stairs to the bedroom. At the top I saw Twilight pulling the covers over Spike in his basket with her magic. I stepped up beside her, wrapping my forelegs around her. She leaned her head against my neck, the both of us looking down at the sleeping dragon. He snored quietly, his blanket rising up and lowering down. I had to admit, for that moment, he seemed cute.

"Hey, Twi." I said softly.

"Yes?"

"Do you think we should have our own kids one day?" I asked.

"Maybe." She answered. I could see out of the corner of my eye a smile along her face.

"Alright." I said letting go and walking over to the bed. I turned back around to Twilight to receive a peck on my cheek. I watched her walk around the other side onto the bed. She hopped up onto it and rested her head on the pillow, looking over to me smiling. I smiled and hopped up onto it, the mattress creaking under my weight. I lied down next to her on my back, staring at the ceiling. She hugged onto me, her face nuzzling my neck. I started to think about it more. "Hey, Twi."

"Yes." She said softly.

"If we did, what would name them?" I asked.

"I don't know." She said thinking about it herself.

"I always liked the name Alice." I smiled. "Could you imagine that? A little filly named Alice?"

She made a soft giggle. "I could imagine."

"But that's not really a name for a pony though."

"Well neither is James, but nopony seems to mind." She laughed.

"I guess so." I chuckled.

"We're still a ways away from that." She said with a hint of nervousness.

"I know," I said looking down to her. "I just like to think about it."

We shared a smile, looking at each other. Our muzzles pressed together in a kiss, holding it. We split and she rested her head on my neck, my hoof rubbing along her side. I definitely wasn't going to sleep. Too risky. I guess lying here with Twilight would be a better alternative.