Author's Note

WARNING: this chapter contains explicit content not suited for young viewers. IF you are under age, DO NOT READ.

Her Moon, his Evening Star (MATURE CONTENT)

For Sireen Wind, change was useful. It allowed one to look back on what they had, and appreciate the lessons learned, the friendships made, and the bonds created. It let a pony know where they were, and what they had to do to improve their way of life.

For Iron Crest, change was kind of scary. It never let one truly settle into a comfortable state. Never allowing them to feel like their life was finally in control. Change warned a pony that they should stay vigilant and always keep their eyes on the goal ahead, to keep those they cherished close.

For Crisp Words, change was something you could use to buy candy. Candy was good, tasty, and let you know you were probably going to have to brush your teeth soon or else suffer the consequences. Change allowed a foal to enjoy life with little to no effort, all wrapped up into a tiny package of concentrated joy.

And right now, that candy was being withheld from him.

"But Daaaaaaad, you said I could have it after dinner, and it is officially six minutes past supper!" Crisp whined, frantically running around his dad's legs, weaving in and out of them as Iron held the pieces of candy out of his reach with two primary feathers.

"You are correct, I did say that, but unlike little foals, parents have the power of choice and change, and I'm using both to change my statement from earlier to 'At bed time after your bathe, you may have your candy.'"

Playful whining echoed from the living room to Sireen who giggled and dipped another dish into the hot soapy water with her hooves. Dinner had been wonderful. Iron Crest had whipped up some roasted broccoli with lemon and parmesan, and some seared codfish fillet for her. For Crisp, he'd made some freshly tossed Caesar salad with mandarin oranges thrown in for zest. For himself, he made some roasted mushroom and potato mash, with seasoned gravy atop it.

Sireen rubbed a hoof gently against her belly and sighed happily. Iron was one heck of a cook!

I might have to forgo meals with these two every once in a while, just to keep in shape. she thought while placing dishes in the drying rack. After the meal was over, Iron took Crisp upstairs for his bath, while Sireen ended up waiting downstairs politely. Her need to do something however, made it difficult to just sit and wait. So it hadn't lasted long before the mare found herself cleaning the dishes and wiping down the table.

Force of habit really, I can't seem to sit still when work could be done. She paused in her cleaning to lean back and nibble at her bandages. The damaged wing's slow healing process brought new annoyances like itchiness with it. She couldn't wait for it to be healed. The sky would be hers again, and she could do so much more.

"I could go flying with Iron...I bet he'd like that." she mumbled.

"I could like what?"

Sireen gasped, her healthy wing popped open and her tail shot skyward. She nearly dropped a plate back into the soapy water too. Spinning around with her good wing over her chest protectively, she glared at the stallion, who stood in the doorway to the kitchen with a smug grin on his face. "I-Iron Crest, you scared the moonlight out of me!"

He smirked. smirked! "Oh? I thought bat ponies didn't get scared...hmm, it would appear my information is slightly off." Wings proudly flared and his chest fluff out at its maximum, he practically strutted into the kitchen, right up to her, stopping a foot or so in front of the mare. "Or did you accidentally imply that you were scared?"

Sireen felt her cheeks flush cherry red. Dammit Iron, one moment you're cautious, and then next you're like this...so confidant. Sireen felt her good wing attempting to stiffen as her body naturally reacted to his courting. "I maaaay have used the wrong term for that. Yes you...caught me off guard!" she smirked back up at him, their noses inches away.

To her surprise he simply leaned past her nose and stepped close, whispering in her ear coyly, "I see, well you certainly caught me off guard when you showed me the treasures beneath your tail a second ago."

Sireen screeped and instinctively turned away, her face now crimson. Son of a fruit bat I hiked my tail up! "Iron! Your not supposed to--"

Her words were silenced as she tried to pass by him. A sensation burst across her spine, running up and down her back as his teeth dominantly clamped over her left ear. "Ah!...aaahhn...I-iron...t-that's m-my...oohhh..." Sireen's world faded away for a few seconds and was replaced with pleasure as his teeth gently rolled across her sensitive tuft and his tongue licked at the soft fuzz of her inner ear.

"Mmm, I think your gonna have to sheath your weapon this time, Sireen." Iron chuckled as Sireen's tail lifted and her leg started thumping on the kitchen floor tiles. He let go of her ear and walked around her slowly, brushing his sides against her rear, tail, and along her opposite side. Sireen thought she'd have a second to recuperate, maybe catch her breath, but then he laid siege to her right ear as well, sending a pitiful mewling sound from her mouth, and quite nearly making her hind legs give out beneath her.

"I...aaahn...I-Iron...st-stop...I m-might..."

He let go and bit her nape firmly, his flat teeth digging into her neck muscles and massaging them in a back and forth pattern. A hoof raised up and wrapped around her front leg, slowly rubbing up and down the forelimb. Sireen purred loudly and pushed her shoulder into him, nipping back at his shoulder, winning a hiss from the stallion.

"You might what? Enjoy it?" He said backing off from the slightly panting mare. He grinned like a fool and folded his wings. "That's kind of the point, love."

"N-no." Sireen whispered, turning to face him. Iron blinked when he saw her eyes. they were predatory...greedy...lust filled. It lasted only a second or two, before she snapped out of it and her tail clamped down around her rump tightly. A wet clap sounded off as she did so. She looked ashamed, pinning her ears back and whining. "I might go too far..." She whispered.

Confusion found its way onto his face, Iron, unsure of what to say to that, simply shifted his eyes left and right rapidly. "Um, oookay, what do you mean?"

If it weren't for the enormous amounts of pleasure running through her body at the moment, Sireen would have giggled at how his head cocked to the side and one of his ears flopped sideways.

"l-last I checked...didn't you want to take our relationship slowly, Iron?" She said while shakily getting back to her feet. She caught the subtle action his nose did when he caught her scent, and loved how his eyes widened in realization.

"O-oh...Oh did I make you...?" He spared a glance at her rump, and then blushed, looking away, fighting his wings as they tried to open.

She smiled, panting slightly. Her rump muscles clenching firmly to keep the urges down. "You came very close. Our ears are super sensitive areas, more so than the average pony. Plus, I haven't had that kind of attention in quite a while."

Iron chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof, his face as red as hers. "S-sorry...I got carried away there...I was really um, enjoying...you."

Sireen bit her lips as an interesting though came to mind. "W-well I need to go...get rid of the tension...I was going to take a shower. W-would you like to join me?" she gently flipped her ears back against her neck and shuffled her hooves across the floor nervously.

Iron took one look at her, his wings exploded out from his back and he stared open mouthed at her. "l-like, like a mutual bathing...o-or something more?"

Sireen's response was to walk away and lift her tail back at him, making his eyes travel down her back and then gasp. "I figured you'd want to do more than mutual bathing, Iron..." She growled huskily. She waited until he stood and followed her up the stairs, hissing as he began nipping at her rump and snuck in a couple nuzzles to her rear.

When his snout shot under her tail and he attacked her sensitive parts with a long lick, she gasp whispered. "AH! I'll take that as a yes then!"

He stamped his hoof a few times and snorted in response.

They reached Crisp's bathroom where they could hear him splashing around in the tub and talking to imaginary ponies. Sireen leaned against the door. "Crisp, honey? You okay in there?"

"Yes, mom, I'm destroying the western war front of battleships the griffon empire sent our way!" This was followed up by a childish explosion noise, an "Aaaagh we're all drowning, the ponies are too strong, darn their friendship cannons!" and a couple playful giggles.

Sireen smirked, maybe they could get a couple friendship cannons at the castle. "O-okay sweetie, well your father and I are gonna go spend some time--"

"Yeah yeah, go do your dirty adult stuff, I don't need to know!"

SIreen and Iron gasped collectively. Sireen stamping her hoof. "C-Crisp Words we were not about to--"

"Were you about to lie and say you weren't going to go do things a kid my age shouldn't see? Cause that's what it sounds like!"

Sireen opened her mouth, flabbergasted, her ear tufts were practically on fire. "Crisp, you--"

There was suddenly a lot of splashing from the other side of the door, and then it suddenly swung open enough to allow Crisp to peek his head out and look up at her. Iron slammed his wings down in front of himself to hide his son's eyes from traumatic things.

Crisp smirked like a foal and whispered loudly. "Just wear out dad, I think he needs some special mommy time too. I'lltuckmyselfintonightgoodnightmomgoodnightdadmakesureit'sasister!"

The door slammed shut and locked, leaving them both slack jawed. Sireen blinked once, looked back at Iron, who had refolded his wings, and was sighing, rubbing a hoof against his temple. Both of them were beyond blushing.

"Crisp Words, such an aptly named foal...." Iron mumbled, before walking further down the hall. when Sireen followed, he draped a wing over her shoulder and started nipping her nape gently, murmuring. "Forget it, Sireen. Crisp is oddly wise for his age. How about we just enjoy tonight, okay?"

Sireen nodded, leaning into the nips. "Mmm I think I already am..."

They entered the bedroom and Iron gently kicked the door shut before locking it with a primary feather, never ceasing in his nipping or nuzzling. The moment the door was shut, Sireen spun around and wrapped her hooves around his neck, locking him in a passionate kiss that shoved his rump back up against the door. the two lovers used their hooves to hold one another, feeling, shifting, and touching each other on their shared backs, shoulders, and necks. Iron used his wings to tickle her sides and gently pet her belly and legs. when his wing tip slipped lower and stroked between her teats softly, she gasped.

Sireen pulled away first, leaning back and growling, she bared her teeth at him. Iron blushed, gave her the bedroom eyes, and licked his lips. "Mmm, You look positively divine..." He whispered. This threw Sireen off slightly, and she made a curious chirping noise. Iron laughed and cupped her cheek with a hoof, watching as she purred, leaning into the touch.

A moment of silence fell between them, neither oppressive or awkward. Standing, they moved around each other, touching, kissing, nipping, and in Sireen's case, full on biting his scruff. Iron hissed at that, snorting and stamping his hoof into the floor, as she let go, watching the mare as she licked at the small teeth marks.

"Mine..." She whispered. He smiled and bit her ear in retaliation. Sireen gasped, and chirped loudly, baring her teeth and moaning as he suckled the appendage in his mouth for a few seconds. "Mine..." he whispered back.

They entered the bathroom and Iron closed and locked that too. When Sireen tilted her head in confusion, he smirked and said "Just in case..." He chuckled. "Now...let me see you..."

Sireen screeched happily and turned slowly for him, purring and flaring her good wing out. As her rump turned to face him, and his eyes naturally traveled downwards, she spread her legs wide and slid her tail to the side, hiking the tail up as far as it would go to her right side.

Iron growled back as best he could. When his eyes fell on her rather damp and shimmering vulva, he whistled lightly.
"O-oh my...you are rather close, aren't you." Leaning in, he snorted and then sucked in air, let her scent fill his nostrils, curling his lip as he did so. Sireen growled and wiggled her rump at him, watching as his erection gained strength. his shaft head slapping the under side of his belly as he stepped forward and drew a long firm lick across her folds, parting the flesh with his tongue.

"Ahhh...I-Iron....." Bowing onto her knees, Sireen felt her legs shake violently as he did it again, this time stronger, lashing his tongue against her vulva and making her moan louder, winking several times. Fluid ran down her inner thigh and he shot his head down to lick it back up, his nose brushing her teats and nipping at one of them.

Instinctively she growled and lifted a hind leg defensively, and Iron backed off. "Those are for Crisp..." She hissed playfully. The stallion grinned, his cock slapping his belly in a meaty primal sound. "Well I guess I'll have to claim them as mine too."

Walking next to her, the two ponies nuzzled one another and kissed firmly for a few seconds, before Iron reached over to the walk in shower and opened the sliding glass door with his wing. Iron Crest nibbled along her nape before kissing her cheek and gesturing to the inside with a foreleg. "Shall we, my love?"

Sireen chirped her agreement and brushed past him, flicking his snout with her tail. Iron nipped at her rump as she did so and closed it behind them.

It was here Sireen noticed a problem, the shower was smaller than the two of them. With iron right behind her, her nose was inches from the front wall, and his rump was the same distance from the back one. "Iron, this walk in shower barely fits both of us, how are we going to--"

Her words died in her throat as he suddenly threw his head back and whinnied loudly, reared up behind her, effectively mounted her and gripped her hips. Sireen gasped as his flared tip pushed against her vulva a few times before Iron got his footing and paused, leaning forward to bite her nape. "I guess we'll have to make room then, huh?" He growled dominantly through her mane. She could see the smug grin on his muzzle without even looking at him.

Instinct took over and Sireen felt her tail shoot to the side and her stance widen. She lowered her head to thump against the wall gently. Screw going slowly! She was ready for him, to have him inside her...and he...he was...washing her mane?!

Sireen did not feel him penetrate, did not feel him start thrusting as she expected. Instead, she felt his hoofs as they began rubbing soap onto her back and slowly working into her fur. "I-iron what are you doing?!" She whimpered, pushing back against him. his cock slid up and down her folds but did not penetrate, frustrating her.

Iron chuckled and nipped her ear, stopping her from moving. "Hush, love, I'm doing what I said I would." He whispered while lathering her coat, which to Sireen did feel very good, his hooves were massaging her muscles.

"Oh, and what would that be?" she growled, trying to hump backwards into him. Again, his cock slipped away from her vaginal grasp, and she sighed.

"Simple. I'm taking it slow. Just think about it for a moment, why would I say that Sireen?" As she thought about it, he peppered her neck with nuzzles and nips, while using his wings to slowly uncoil her wing bandage. Dropping it to the floor, He reached out and turned on the water, letting the warm liquid seep into their coats. Sireen moaned as the water cascaded across them, warming her all over.

"I...I don't know, Iron, why?" She whispered, loving the things he was doing to her. The feeling of his grip on her hips, the touch of his wings on hers, the subtle thumping and grinding of his shaft against her rear, and the nips and kisses across her back were sending rivulets of pleasure wracking through her. Iron purred, taking one of her ears into his lips and nibbling. Sireen gasped and arched her back higher in response. mewling as he lowered his cock so it was between her legs, and slowly started thrusting, making Sireen moan as it slipped between her teats and ground against her body.

"Because i'm *thrust* pretty sure *thrust* you*thrust* don't want*thrust* a foal, *thrust*"

He panted with her, as the pleasure increased. Through the haze of sexual arousal and pleasure, logic came rushing in for a moment to the mare.

"Ah! I--ahhn! No, no I don't--AH! But, Oh GODS ABOVE, IRON I DON'T WANT YOU TO STOP!" Sireen screeched, loving how every time he'd thrust she'd get pushed up against the wall. "Thrust! Hump me! I'm...I'm your mare! ah...ahh...aaaaAAAAHH!!!"

Sireen practically screeched as her orgasm came washing over her. Her hind legs gave out and with a heavy splash they crashed to the shower floor, Iron panting atop her and groaning. Sireen was a mess, tongue out, eyes rolled up, and her body shivering all over. Her wing was at full mast, her ears were flat against her skull, and her lower region was twitching and shuddering repeatedly.

Iron groaned and chuckled and nipped her ear, making her shiver more.

"Ah...I-iron...I...whoa...holy...mother...of Celestia..." She looked back to him, expecting to see a happy grin, and instead found him wincing and clenching his teeth.

"Iron? A-are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

Iron groaned more. "Y-yeah, no problem, w-well sort of...it's just you're laying on my dick...." He whimpered.

Sireen "eeped" and lifted her rump, only to slip on the now lubed flooring and collapsed back down. Iron groaned louder.
"Ooow..."

"Oh my gosh i'm so sorry Iron! Um, I, uh, one sec!" Thinking quickly, Sireen slowly but carefully flipped over onto her back, watching out for her wing, and his limbs. Successfully flipped over, she was now cradling his cock between her legs and her teats. He was now straddling her missionary pose, and as he sighed from the alleviated pressure, he immediately looked down and his wings exploded out again, spraying the walls with water. Laying beneath him, Sireen was soaking wet, her mane ran down the side of her neck, and her glistening breasts were aptly placed on either side of his cock, the stallion was aroused more then ever now.

He caught Sireen blushing and flipping her ears back cutely. Gods above she looks so sexy like that... he thought.

Sireen blinked and perked her ears up. "I...I do?"

Iron clapped his mouth shut with a hoof, realizing he'd said it out loud. flustered, he tried to say something, anything to ease the awkwardness of his statement. He never got the chance. Hooves gripped his forelegs and pushed them against Sireen's thighs, a wing reached up and stroked his chest floof. He watched as Sireen used her good wing to pull his head close, and they locked in a kiss that lasted several seconds, long enough for Iron to need air. When he pulled back, she held him there for a moment, nose to nose. She licked his snout and purred huskily. "Iron...Why don't I help you now. Hump me, hump me until you climax..." She whispered before leaning back and clenching her thigh's around his cock. Her warm teats pressed against both sides if the hard shaft.

Iron lost himself in the pleasure of her body. "Okay, Sireen...love." Getting into a perfect position, Iron began thrusting, his flared head making wet popping noises every time it pushed out past her legs, and driving him to thrust more and more. He grit his teeth and growled, flapping his wings every time he did. "You are my mare!"

Sireen kept gasping and making "ah's" and "ohs" as he thrust, leaning up to pepper his neck with nips and kisses, "Yes, I am..."

"And you*thrust*are*thrust*my*thrust*mate!" with one final shove, he snarled, teeth fully bared, his cock head bulging to the maximum as he reached his limit. "MINE!" he roared, clamping his teeth down on her shoulder and making her shout his name. He flapped his wings hard enough to lift him off her for a second as he hilted his hips against hers. His testicles slapped against her vulva with a loud clap of water. His cum exploded out of his cock, splashing against her chest, muzzle and neck in droves. Sireen moaned and gasped as he came onto her. She purred loudly and lapped at her muzzle, enjoying the scents and tastes as they dances around her senses.

Panting above her, Iron looked down on her with heavy eyes. "M-Mine...my mare..." He whispered, leaning down to lock her in a kiss before flopping atop her gently and purring with her.

The purring intensified as he started kissing her more, running his hooves up and down her body as they flipped over on to their sides. Iron draped a wing over her back and nuzzled close to her, and she did the same. The two ponies resting as the hot water landed all around them in a subtle shower of warmth.

"I love you Sireen...I love you so much." Iron whispered, his head on her shoulder as the mare licked and lapped at his muzzle, purring and chirping in happiness.

"And I love you Iron. You're a good stallion."

He hummed and peeked an eye open at her. "Oh? how so?"

She chuckled and kissed his cheek, "You respect me, you had the kindness to not give me a burden I couldn't bare in my current living situation." Here she took one of his hooves and gently placed it on her tummy. Iron's blinked slowly and then his eyes widened as he understood.

"Oh, yeah." He murmured. After a though he blushed and gently lifted up her hind leg, and kissed her belly in a few places, before he dared lick at one of her teats. Sireen chuckled and raised her leg higher, allowing the stallion access. he smiled and nuzzled her teats, before taking one in his mouth and nursing.

Sireen sighed in pleasure, a different kind of pleasure. Nursing brought about feelings she rarely felt. Ones of being a mother, and she found herself licking and preening at him as he did so. "It looks like you are still a foal who needs his milk." She whispered.

Iron merely hummed and kept suckling, moving from one teat to the other. After a time he pulled away and let her lower her leg. He rest his foreleg across her midsection and nuzzled into her mane. "My um, my ex-wife used to let me nurse her, She liked it...do...do you?"

The thestral chuckled and flicked an ear, "I think I'll be fine with it, just leave some room for Crisp...."

He smiled and lay his head across her withers, closing his eyes. Sireen rest her head on the shower floor, enjoying his company and touch. For her, Celestia had come and taken her to the golden fields beyond life itself. She was happier than she'd been in a long time, and nothing could take that away from her.

"Mom? Dad?"

Sireen flicked an ear, what was that?

"Mom! Dad!"

Iron lifted his head and sighed with a smile. "It's Crisp. He probably needs some help getting ready for bed."

After they both verified they were clean, Iron shut off the water and they toweled off as quickly as possible. Iron giving Sireen her space while she did her business and then she did so for him. When Iron opened the door to the bedroom however, they found Crisp standing there with a frustrated expression.

"Jeez, I thought you two went to bed or something, there is someone at the door." He then sniffed and cocked his head to the side "what's that smell? Wait...did you two actually do the nasty!? Do I have a little sister on the w--" IRON clapped his son over the mouth with a wing and ushered the little guy down the hall to his room. "DOKAY! Bedtime, sport, yup! Time to go sleepy bye now, Sireen would you be a dear and get the door for me?"

By the time she had a chance to respond, Iron had pushed his son into the child's bedroom and closed the door. She laughed, gently, and walked past, her sensitiveness ears picking up part of the conversation.

"Dad I know what you two did, I learned about it in sex ed! You two--"

"Yes us two, not you too, the foal who shouldn't know what us two did too. now get into bed ya little scamp."

"Is it a boy or a girl, cause I want a sister!"

"Crisp! Bed. Now."

"That's not a no...perhaps a hard maybe?"

"Good night Crisp!"

Sireen giggled and walked to the door. Opening it, she found an elderly mare standing there. She was wearing a blue dress with a little yellow flower on her shoulder, and had a small hand bag. Her mane was up in a bun, curly, and mostly orange. Her light tan coat was mostly hidden by the dress but she looked nice. Sireen smiled, "Hi there, can I help you?"

The elderly mare smiled and waved her hoof at Sireen, "Oh no, deary, but perhaps I can help you. I thought I'd politely inform you that the next door apartment--my apartment-- does not need to hear of your sexual escapades through the walls..."

Sireen gasped, her ears pinned down against her neck, and she blushed crimson, remembering how she'd screeched and shouted during their shower time. Sireen put a hoof to her lips. "I...Oh my gosh ma'am I am so sorry I didn't know we were--"

The old mare cackled and waved her hoof emphatically at Sireen again, smiling sweetly. "Oh deary, it's no worries, I was your age too once, I know how the youngsters get these days. I merely wanted to inform you that you might want to keep things down next time. Did Iron at least pay you for your time, Sweetie?"

...

"Did he what?!" Sireen barked. "Excuse me miss, but I must have heard you incorrectly, did you just imply that I'm a--"

The old crone laughed and started walking away down the hall. "Oh don't get your halter in a bunch deary, I was joking! I know you're no harlot, gossip gets around the apartments pretty quickly though, so expect a couple gifts and jokes thrown your way." The old mare paused and looked back, "All I ask is that you keep em in good shape and stay with those for as long as your heart wills itself to. Those boys have been through a whirlwind of trouble. It'll do em good to have a mare in the house again, especially one that stays..."

By the time the old crone had waltzed off Iron had come downstairs and was tapping her shoulder. "Sireen, are you okay? who was it?"

Sireen slowly blinked, closed the door with a subtle click, and turned to him, with a flat expression. "Your neighbor. She jokingly called me a harlot."

Iron Gasped and looked to the door "Mrs. Blotchquill said that? T-that...actually sounds like her. I'm so sorry Sireen I--"

The bat mare firmly poked him in his chest feathers with a hoof, furrowing her brow and growling lightly. "How many mares have you had over, Iron? I even heard about stuff like this from Crisp!"

Iron quickly flailed his hooves in front of himself defensively. "Sireen wait, I need to explain this! It's not what you think!"

She raised a brow and sat in front of the door. "Oh it isn't? Alright, I'm listening." She flicked her good wing out and hovered her wingtip inches from his snout. "You better have a good explanation."

Iron sighed and nodded. He walked around the couch and lay down, his hooves underneath him, his eyes downcast. "Losing Noble Crest, hurt. It hurt a lot. She was my first true love, Sireen." He lifted a wing and waved it around the room. "Coming home the first month with no one to greet you, but a foal who was still asking why his mother hadn't come home...it was heartbreaking."

Sireen slowly came around the couch and hopped up to sit next to him, listening intently now. "Iron..."

He continued, a forced chuckle escaping his mouth and a cracked smile. "Heh, I had no idea what I was going to do. The school teachers said I should mourn but move on, the councilor said I should give myself time to adjust, and my boss flat out said I should take a vacation, without Crisp, said I should leave him with family."

He looked to Sireen, the tears in his eyes barely contained as he whispered. "B-but he doesn't have any!"

Sireen scooted closer and draped her good wing over his shoulder, pulling him close and silently nuzzling him as he fought to keep his composure.

"I'm all he's got, all he's got... M-my mother and father live too far away to safely send him off on his own. He's got an aunt that lives near the griffon border, but she's crazy. Grade A crazy. I wouldn't trust that mare with a plastic spoon, let alone a foal."

Sireen nodded gently, nuzzling up under his chin, a light purr reaching out to Iron in an attempt to soothe him. "You're not alone any more, Iron."

Iron nuzzled her back firmly, his wing spread out and draped over top hers. "I know, and that's what scares me..." When Sireen looked at him with a confused expression he smiled. "Please don't mis-understand. I am more happy right now than I have been in a long time. You've brought light back into our home, and warmth..."

He leaned in and touched noses with her for a few minutes, and she purred back, enjoying his touch. "Such warmth...isn't something I want to lose, Sireen." She opened her eyes to see him looking down her snout to stare back at her.

"I love you Sireen, I actually, honestly, truly, feel in love again. For a time though, I was broken, lonely, and desperate for control and order." He removed himself from the couch and started pacing, Something she noted seemed to be a coping method for the stallion, and for crisp. Like father like son, she thought.

"I started talking with other mares, carelessly and with out thought for what it might mean for Crisp. I brought them home, thinking it would bring back a semblance of order to his life and mine. In the end though it created a massive problem."

He paused and looked to her, his wings twitching. "You saw today how he got in a fight over you, that's never been an issue before, but he has gotten into numerous arguments over who his new mother is, with the foals at school." Iron sighed. "I started to notice how every time a new mare would come over, he would latch on tighter and tighter, until even the mares felt uncomfortable."

Sireen flicked her ears back, "W-were all of these mares...harlots?"

Iron smiled, "No, some were close friends I've had, others were attempts at creating real relationships. Sadly a lot of the mares I courted were...less than applicable to being a mother to Crisp." He paced back and forth a few times. "And then...there's me. A first time father and one who has some issues of his own."

Sireen chuckled. "Like what? Last time I checked being super floofy wasn't a crime in Equestria." She covered her lips with a hoof to hide the giggles. To her relief Iron took it in stride and smiled back.

"No, that is true, thankfully. No I have...a very high libido." He turned to her a blush on his cheeks, rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof and looking at the floor. "Not tooting my own horn here, but I could probably go twenty rounds with a mare and still want to do more, Sireen. The average stallion can only do five or six times, maybe before they collapse."

Sireen made a noise that Iron was sure was a mixture of a purr and a gasp. He cocked his head to the side at her. "I..am not sure what that sound means, but it sounds nice?"

The mare giggled louder, and then nodded. "Well you won't get any complaints from me on that note, Iron. I have been rather...dry in the courting game, so if you can actually back that claim up, I'll be a very happy mare indeed."

Iron looked pleased and crossed the space between the coffee table and the couch, touching noses with her dominantly.

"I can do more then back it up, I can prove it, girl." He growled playfully. Sireen giggled more and wrapped her hooves around his neck, growling back. "I'm sure you can. But tell me, why is that an issue?"

She nuzzled his chest while he sighed. "Sireen, not every mare I was with liked that aspect of me. a couple of them thought it was all I wanted. Saying I only wanted them for their bodies. This isn't true though, it's just another part of me, I didn't want you to be startled if I...well, if I tried to do things a lot more often than what I thought you'd expect from me."

He shook his head and nuzzled her back. "I'm over complicating things aren't I?" When she nodded he kissed the top of her head. "Well then I'll let you tell me when I overstep my bounds, okay?"

Sireen leaned up and kissed his cheek, before hopping off the couch and heading to the stairs. "Well right now you haven't over stepped any boundaries with me, and honestly I want to give you all the time you need to adjust to my presence as well." She paused and put a hoof to her chest. "Guards have tough jobs, half the time we just stand around and guard key locations around the city, but sometimes our separate skills are required for missions."

She waited till he came up to her side. "Iron, there might be a day I go on one of these missions, and am gone for weeks on end. I need to know two things right now. If I leave for that time, will you lose interest me for another mare?"

He frowned instantly, pinning his ears back. "Alicorns above no. Listen, Sireen. Even when I was with other mares, trying to date them or gain physical relief, that pony was my center, my core. Right now, for as long as you will allow, you are my center. I don't care how fake that may sound, because it's true. When I have a partner, they are my purpose, my sky."

He leaned down and locked her in a kiss that was equal measures of passion and power. Sireen felt her good wing slowly lifting to the reaction, and she purred into it. When he pulled away his hoof caressed her cheek gently.

"I cannot fly without you, my sky." He whispered sweetly.

She purred louder and they went up stairs together. Sireen brushed up against his side. "Good, because bat ponies are extremely territorial with their mates. I would hate to see another mare here, cause i'd probably need you to dig a grave or two in the garden, if I did."

He stopped and frowned, "Firstly, we don't have a garden plot, secondly...why more than one grave?" In response Sireen bite his shoulder assertively, making him hiss through clenched teeth.

"Because you'd be joining her."

He gulped. "R-right then...territorial. Got it."

As they entered the bedroom, Sireen turned to the bed and pointed up above it. "Also, I need a Bat Bar placed above the bed."

Iron blinked and cocked his head to the side, looking from her to the wall above the bed. "A what?"

Sireen crawled up onto the bed and burrowed underneath the warm sheets, purring loud enough that Iron felt his wings twitch in agreement with the noise. "Bat ponies sleep upside down, it's a thing we kind of have to do. We can sleep on the ground but we don't like it. It's instinctual, a primal urge of ours. Let me get one from the guard barracks and I'll show you."

Iron came up and watched the lump of fabric shift and move around, and then a hoof poked out of the sheets and pointed to the wall. "A bat bar allows us to dangle properly, now don't interrupt me."

The squirming increased rather suddenly and Iron felt his confusion increase. "Sireen, what are you doing under the sheets?" He lifted a bit of the fabric with a couple primary feathers and peered under, only to see the cutest thing he'd ever witnessed. "Oh my goddess, Sireen...what are you doing?"

Beneath the sheets, Sireen was rolling back and forth like a cat, firmly rubbing her cheeks, forehead, and mane into the fabric vigorously. When she flipped over, she turned into a bat like cat loaf, her glowing blue eyes wide as saucers as she purred heavily.

"Claiming my roost." Was the only words she mumbled/purred before iron saw her hoof snap closed around the cloth, blocking his view of her actions.

Iron felt his wings pomf out to their fullest, and he blushed hotly. She was so freaking adorable like that! His chest fluff puffed out and he groaned.

"Oooh that is not fair."

As the sun descended past the horizon, and the day inhabitants drifted indoors, a subtle quiet fell over the apartment district that Sireen now called home. She sat outside atop the roof, watching the reds and purples of the day bleed away to blues and blacks. Her eyes filtered out the excessive light remaining and she was able to see all the way across Canterlot.

It had been two weeks since she'd officially moved in, the process of doing so was a lot easier than Iron had expected. She'd collected her armor, her extra military gear, and a couple items she'd collected over the years. These items included a photo of her parents, a yo-yo she'd found while on duty, a gemstone she'd collected from her first official mission for Luna, and a medal given to her during the changeling invasion, given for exemplary combat skills and protecting a key location during an attack. Princess Luna didn't have many medals back then, but it barely mattered to Sireen. Guarding Luna and her citizens was an honor any thestral would leap at the chance to get.

Her moving in hadn't gone unnoticed by the apartment complex's other occupants as well. Iron and her had found several gifts at her door, congratulating the pair on their relationship. Mostly some cards with well wishes on the inside, and a gift basket with fruits and vegetable in it, and a note that said to keep in shape, from her platoon leader.

The weirdest gift of them all though, was what currently had Sireen sitting on the roof in contemplation. She'd just gotten back from the platoon medic's office, and was told she could start work in a week or so, which was a relief because her being grounded was driving the mare up a wall. Iron had come in the bedroom a couple times and found her hanging upside down in the bathroom, by the shower rod, staring out the window and muttering nothings at the birds as they slept in the trees outside.

They'd installed her Bat Bar over the bed that very day to help ease her tension. Plus giving kisses to each other was rather exotic now.

He'd been a perfect partner so far, but he cemented that by taking her on a flight over town that night, to help ease her stress. When she'd mentioned how awkward it would be to have him carry her, he simply shrugged and said he could hold her marriage style if she liked, to which she pounced on him and they got into a snuggle fight.

She won of course.

The flight had been wonderful though and Sireen felt her stress levels plummet as Iron deftly did dips and dives through the air with her on his back. She'd screeched and whooped as they did so, catching the pleased looks of a couple of her guard friends. After this, Iron had landed in the park where they'd met and the pair walked together, nuzzling and purring to one another in mutual silence. It was a night she wouldn't hopefully ever forget.

They'd returned to the apartment to find an envelope just inside the door, with the initials 'FD' written in wonderful script. Sireen had growled and scooped it up before Iron could ask and had ripped it open viciously.

The contents were oddly specific.

Sireen, Iron Crest, Crisp Words,

I congratulate you on your courtship, and wish to meet up to talk with you in person, as well as offer Sireen a job. I cordially invite you to dinner/breakfast at nine pm tomorrow night, at the Golden Rod Restaurant. Wear whatever you wish, or come naturally. Present this letter at arrival and you will be allowed in and taken to my booth.

Please do not inform others of this letter, or my contacting you.

I am a friend.

--FD

Iron had pestered her with questions about who FD was and she'd told him all she knew. He'd given her weird looks when she explained the soda can incident, as well as how this character apparently helped her find their address. He got really worried and at first adamantly refused to go, but Sireen assured him she could handle things. The Golden Rod Restaurant was out in the open, and well known as an exclusive vip members only restaurant. If you weren't part of the club or had an invitation from some one inside, you didn't go inside.

Sireen had heard it was where Luna and Celestia had private meetings with their lovers, but it was unconfirmed, and assumed gossip created by the elite ponies of the court.

But if one asked Luna directly, she would pointedly look away and change the subject. Celestia would too, albeit more subtly. Sireen didn't mind, they were ponies too, and deserved love just as much as her.

She was thankful she didn't need a step ladder for her stallion though.

Now sitting on the top of the building, Sireen let her mind calm down. Whoever this FD was, they had helped her find Iron and Crisp again, and they hadn't done anything underhanded except hide who they were. If they were a noble, then it actually made sense that they would do so. Nobles hated being outed as supportive.

Sireen's ear swiveled to the sound of footsteps behind her and she turned to see Iron coming out of the stair well, Crisp words on his back with all his school supplies in his backpack. The foal yawned cutely atop his dad. His eyes droopy but his tail wagging happily.

Sireen hopped off the wall and approached, taking a moment to nuzzle Iron and then she leaned down and licked at Crisp Words cheek and face, mothering over him for a few minutes, even as he whined and half-heartedly tried to push her affections away.

"Good night to you my evening star." Iron whispered into her ear, nibbling it gently.

She purred louder, "Mmm good night my midnight moon." She looked down at Crisp and rubbed noses with him gently making him giggle, "And my little scamp."

Crisp sat up and put his hooves on her shoulder, looking over the building to the city beyond, eagerness in his eyes. "So are you going to go back to work soon, mom?"

"Yup! Your mum is gonna make sure the night stays safe and quiet once more!" Sireen struck a proud pose and chirped out into the night, confidant that she'd get a reply. She did, a nearby post sent back a chirp, making her smile.

"What about the job offer from FD, love? Are you sure it's a good idea--mmmph!" Iron's worrying was shut down as she kissed him. Crisp gagged and stuck his tongue out. Sireen pulled back and smiled at him.

"If anything happened I'd be there to protect you both. Besides, I showed the letter to one of my superiors and they assured me they know who it is and that they are safe." Sireen grumbled under her breath though, pinning her ears back. "I just wish they could have told me who it was but they are not allowed to."

Iron nodded, but Sireen could see the subtle signs of anxiety in his posture and his expression. She knew no matter what that until he knew who FD was, he'd be flustered and worried. She changed subject, shifting to Crisp. "Now, I wanna hear you got into no fights, and did all your work as best you could, kay scamp?"

Crisp saluted her cutely and puffed out his chest fur. "Yes, ma'am, mom, sir!" She giggled and licked him a couple times before backing up and watching Iron spread his wings. He turned back to her with a smile. "Stay safe, and keep to the shadows, love."

She smiled in return. "Ill be waiting in the darkness for you."

He knickered confidently and leaped off the building with Crisp squealing childishly. Sireen watched them leave before exiting back inside the building. As she traversed the halls she saw barely any pony at all. The rooms were semi quiet, the only sound she heard from one of them was classical music. She'd discovered in the first week that the apartments were mostly owned by older ponies, retired or too weak to really leave. She'd run into a couple younger ponies who did hospice care for them. Most were nice, but a couple were grumps. She could tell who enjoyed their jobs vs who didn't.

As she unlocked the apartment, She was caught by surprise by another note on the floor. At first her frustration came back, but it sapped away when she saw it wasn't from FD, but instead had the signature of Mrs. Fuzzdrought. Closing the door behind her and locking it, she opened the letter and laid it out in front of her while she started doing push ups.

To Sireen Wind,

It is great to hear you are going to be back on duty soon, I have so much to tell you! Truth be told, I think you are one of the only mares I can talk to safely about this without it being a total travesty. Elite ponies like myself can't simply have conversations about our day to day lives you know.

I have divorced with Longpea, our relationship wasn't something we could keep going on with if we wish to see our later years. The stress was too much. We both agreed to be friends though, both in the business field and in every day to day. I also wish to congratulate you in person on your new partnership with Mr. Crest. I only got tid bits of his going ons, but they sounded dreadful, so it will be good to see his life improve with a real mare in the household.

If you can, could you come over at your soonest availability? I'll leave the back door unlocked for you. I would like you to meet my new partner as well.

best wishes,

Mrs. Fuzzdrought

Sireen smiled and continued doing her work out. She figured it couldn't hurt to check up on the mare. Her schedule was empty for the most part. She did her morning exercises, which involved push ups, sit ups, running in place four an hour, and then a cold shower to wash off the sweat. Normally it involved wing ups as well and a flying sprint, but she couldn't do those yet. Instead she spent time gently flexing her wings. Slowly letting the muscles stretch to their limits and then releasing them.

Then after that was taken care of she would clean the house. Dishes, sweeping, dusting, mopping, picking up Crisp's toys that usually lay scattered across the house. It depended on what his current adventure he was on. If he was on a coastal quest, all the toys were in the bathroom, but if he was on a world tour they would be everywhere. She once found some of them in the top cupboard of the dishes in the kitchen!

He said they'd been climbing the griffon alps and got stuck.

Then there were the moments Iron had spent with her at home on his days off. The stallion was insatiable! She'd be working on the dishes and he'd just sneak up behind her and mount her, growling and attacking her sensitive ears playfully before saying he was 'helping her with the dishes'. Sometimes it would be more intimate and he would nurse from her while they relaxed on the couch or in bed. Other times she would give him pleasure, exploring, tasting, learning about her mate. When things got too heated, he never penetrated, staying true to his word that if they chose to go there it would be by both their agreement.

She didn't mind it actually, it felt nice to be wanted in that way. Plus, when it inadvertently caused another mess, she'd delegate him to to cleaning duty. He hadn't liked that part for sure!

Still it felt good to be loved. Sireen found herself humming and dancing when she was cleaning up or just meandering around the house aimlessly. She'd seen that Crisp had dove back into his art, making multiple portraits of her and Iron, with Crisp in the middle. A happy family and a real home. She'd showered the foal in affections and let him nurse from her several times. her body seemed to react to the touches, and she'd started producing milk for the first time in her life.

Both Crisp and Iron said it tasted good, she figured she'd take their words for it.

It felt wonderful being a mother, and Sireen wouldn't trade it for the world. She loved them both to the ends of the earth, and would make sure they were safe, no matter what.