"...hmph... hmm... *whimper*... "

"...huh... no... I- I- I..."

I woke up from an odd noise in my hospital room, as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I looked around to find the source. My eyes fell on Scootaloo, she was whimpering, sobbing, and muttering in her sleep. She was sweating and curled up in the fetal position with a pained look on her face and streaks from tears. Unable to watch any longer, I reached out and placed my hand on her cheek. She awoke immediately and lashed out at my hand and blindly ran to the other side of the room, tripping in the process. I stood up and made my way towards the now, hyperventilating and terrified filly.

"NO! STAY BACK, PLEASE! I- I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU MAD! I JUST WANTED TO HANG OUT WITH SWEETIE BELLE AND APPLE BLOOM A WHILE LONGER!!!" Scootaloo yelled.

Her eyes hadn't adjusted yet and she was still in dream mode. I knelt down and began to speak in a hushed tone to try and calm her and coax her back to reality.

"Scoot, hey, it's me, Mike.", I began to whisper, "Calm down, you were having a bad dream. Shh, shh, shh, come here." I said as I reached my hand out for her to grab.

My words seemed to have an effect on her. I could see her eyes beginning to shrink back down. Her breathing began to slow down and she stopped clamoring to get away from my figure in the dark. Then all of a sudden, the tears began to flow again as she resumed crying, only this time it was while she ran to me.

She began to tell me about her nightmare.

"This was a few weeks ago. I was having so much fun crusading with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, that I forgot what time it was and had to rush home so my uncle wouldn't get mad at me, but I was too slow. I was and hour late home and that made him really mad. He had been drinking his grown up pony cider because I could smell it. He just started yelling and came after me. I couldn't get away, and when he grabbed me he started hitting me and and and-" She tried to continue before I cut her off.

"Scootaloo, you don't have to continue. I know what he did to you. Just know that he can't do anything now and you're safe with Derpy and I. You wont have to worry about him or anypony or anything else hurting you as long as I'm around." I said.

I picked her up and walked back to my bed. I held her close to me as I felt her heart beat slow down to a steady rhythm. She didn't wake up again that night.

The next morning came too soon for both of us as Derpy and the doctor came in nearly at the same time. Derpy was here to get Scootaloo for school and have a quick breakfast and the doctor was here to tell me that I was being released this morning. There was a collective sigh of relief from the three of us. I was completely healed, except for a few minor scrapes and small bruises, but I couldn't even feel the pain anymore. Derpy and Scoots left as the doctor and I continued to talk over the details. There was nothing major with my injuries, just severe bruising and some slight bone damage, all of which were healed with the treatments. I thanked him for all of his and the staff's help as he went to work with his other patients.

I got showered and changed back to normal clothes. Wearing a quadruple extra large stallion gown wasn't the most comfortable thing to wear for that long of a time so I was overly excited to be back in my fresh and clean clothes. I went to the nurses station and and finished some paperwork and signed myself out, but no matter how much I argued, I had to be wheeled out. I felt ridiculous in the chair. I was three times too big for it and it took two ponies to push me. I probably looked like the equivalent of Big Mac in a foals stroller.

When we finally reached the exit I thanked the ponies and made my way to Brick's shop to check in and tell him I was ready for work. It was only about quarter after nine so I hoped there would be something simple for me to do. I arrived and it looked like the shop was in full swing. I made my way to the back and found Brick talking with some of my coworkers. He shooed the away when he noticed me.

"Bout damn time you got back from yer little clinic visit." Brick said with a punch to my arm.

"Yeah, you know, no little pony can keep me down." I said while leaning over him to emphasize the joke.

"Alright, nuff chattin'. We got a big job comin' up tomaruh an I need tuh know if you can be ready.' He said.

"Of course I'm ready, what are we doing?" I asked.

"The Ponyville Convention Center is gettin' a pretty big addition. We're puttin' a whole nuther wing in. Gonna be 15,000 square hooves. Gonna take about a month by my estamation. You ready fer that kind of work?" He asked with a cocked grin.

"Does a Timberwolf shit in the Everfree?" I replied.

"That's what I like tuh hear! Be ready boy, big job gonna mean a big paycheck. We're talkin' five digits each." Brick said.

"Ho-lee Shit. Bring it on. What about today? Anything small so I can get back in the groove of things?" I asked.

"Well we got one thing, but I'm not sure if yer gonna want it..." He said with a sinister smile. "That DJ mare Vinyl Scratch blew out two windows. Again. You up fer that one?" He asked as he tried to suppress laughter.

The memory of my last encounter with the white unicorn came flying back to me. I hadn't even thought about it until know. But hey, it was work and work means I get paid so I took the job.

I made my way over to her house/club and knocked. She answered and immediately grinned at me and beckoned me inside. Oh boy here we go. I straight up told her that I was here to fix her busted windows and would only accept a traditional payment this time. She giggled and this and "agreed" to it. She led me to the room where the blown out windows were. She left me to my work, or so I thought. She kept making little "tasks" fer her in the room that lead to her moving into very compromising positions, within my seeing range. I was doing everything I could to concentrate on my work and keep myself under control, but I'm only human. She took notice to this and began emphasizing her actions. I finished in record time and began packing my things. Just as I was finishing up and about to leave, Vinyl approached me. She offered a bonus payment, but I politely declined.

Miss Scratch, as much as I enjoyed our last little encounter,I am going to have to say no this time. I am in a relationship currently and would dare or dream of doing anything to betray or hurt this mare. I'm sorry and I mean no offense, but I'll be taking my leave now and I'm sure you remember the payment address." I said all in one giant breath, while looking directly and a now, very interesting stool at the bar behind Vinyl.

"She's lucky, most guys would've pounced on me already. I hope she makes you happy, and hey thanks again for fixing my windows again." She said as she stood up on her hind legs to pull me down for a kiss on the cheek.

I nodded and left. I stopped just outside her door and finally released the breath I had been wholly unaware I had been holding until just then. I looked down just below my waist and whispered, "I'll deal with you later..."

I walked back to the shop and checked in with Brick. He paid me and told me there were no more jobs for the day and that I should rest up for tomorrow. I thanked him and made my way back into the bazaar for some food. I spotted Derpy heading to a cafe. I called out to her and we sat down for a quick lunch. She told me about her day so far and I told her about last night with Scootaloo. She gave me a reassuring smile and told me that we were going to make it through this in one piece. I also told her about the big job coming up and about the money it would bring in. She was dumbstruck when I told her five digits.

We finished our meals and kissed each other goodbye and went our separate ways. I told her that I would pick up Scootaloo and make some dinner that night. Homemade pizza sounded good. So it looked like I was off to the bazaar for ingredients.

I gathered everything, was forced to buy a bag to carry it all. I then made my way to the school, it was about two at this time and school should be getting out soon and I wanted to surprise Scoots and the girls. I made it there before the bell rang and hid behind a tree near the rack where Scoots parked her scooter. A few minutes later and the bell rang, followed by a tidal wave of foals coming outside. The girls were among the last to come outside. They were obliviously talking away about crusading and were terrified when I came up behind them.

I told them the good news about the hospital and me finally getting to adopt Scootaloo entirely now. I told them that I was making homemade pizza to celebrate and they were all invited as well as the elements. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle raced off to let everypony know. Scoots and I made our way back home to unwind after the day's work.

Around eight that night, after Derpy got home and we all cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, there was a ring of the doorbell. Everypony had decided to come at once, even Spike showed up. We had to sit all over the living room because our table didn't have seating for 12. There were no complaints, except for spike wishing there were gems on his slices. We all caught up with each others lives and I told them the good news with the adoption and Pinkie, of course, in all of her infinite Pinkie-ness suggested we throw a party but make it a double party because we didn't have the last one.

We all thought it was a great idea, but it had to be put off because of the immense amount of work I was about to be doing. Everypony agreed and the party was planned for the Saturday after the project was finished.

If this was what I had to look forward to for the rest of my life, then I was going to be just fine.

Author's Note

There are no words to describe how sorry I am for not posting another chapter. As I've stated in my blog post, I have been without internet for nearly two months. There have been family issues and I've had to sacrifice some luxuries. If there are any questions, please ask them and I answer them as quickly as I can, so please, ask away.
I've also been asked, why Scootaloo is my favorite pony, the explanation for that is simple; I Couldn't Wake You Because You Could Never Wake Up Again. If you have read it then you know why, if you haven't, you need to.