After a long talk with his wife about what happened with her crazy craving frenzy, Shining armor was back on track with his duties as captain of the royal guard and taking care of his wife. But what he didn't realize was that soon enough, one of those jobs would take priority over the other. The next day after the royal couple had their talk, Shining and Cadence were both still asleep in the early hours of the morning. Shining Armor was always first to be out and about as he being the captain of the royal guard, meant he always had to be up and ready to not be late to start training, and today was no exception. Today was the final day of basic training for the recruits and today would be the day that they move on to being official royal guards. Shining Armors' eyes slowly opened as he woke up to start the day, put on his armor, and get the recruits ready for their test.

"Hm, the recruits will be awake soon, better get a move on."

Shining said as he went to get out of bed, only to find that he couldn't move. He wore a confused face as he looked around to find the source of his confinement, needing to get ready for the day. He had no idea what was holding him until he looked behind him and saw his wife had wrapped her hooves around him while they were sleeping, he smiled at that and thought "Aww she looks so peaceful, I better let her sleep.", moving ever so carefully as to not wake his wife. He was making good progress until his wife decided otherwise and tightened her grip, stoping Shining Armor dead in his tracks. He tried moving again... Nothing. Another attempt... Still nothing. Once more for good measure and the next thing he knew, he was tucked in tight and face to face with a drowsy alicorn.

"Honey, why do you have to be up so early? You still have time to stay with me and your daughter.~" Cadence said in a whiny voice as she gestures to her quite rotund midsection, trying to get her husband to stay in bed. Shining Armor understood that Cadence hated how she was always left alone in the mornings and never got any real snuggle time with her husband, but he has a job to do as captain of the royal guard and that is a job that can't be put on hold. He let out a sigh as he tried to explain to Cadence what he had to do today.

"I know we don't get much time together in the morning sweetie but I have to be down in the barracks for the recruits final test." He told his wife as he began to move again, being stopped by Cadence and pulled in closer until there muzzles we're almost touching.

"But I want you to stay with me and the baby, we need you." She complained as she squirmed in place, pouting that she wasn't getting her way. Shining Armor didn't like having to choose between his pregnant wife and work, it always made him feel sour when he had to choose one or the other, but he had a job to get to so he played the sweetness card to persuade Cadence into letting him go.

"Cadence, I'm gonna be honest with you.. I hate having to choose between you and my job, but if I'm not down there to do that, I'll have to answer for it myself. So please, can you understand that I have a job to get to and let me go?"

He answered in the sweetest voice he could muster, looking into his wife's eyes. Cadence wanted to keep him here with her, but she understands that he takes his job seriously. So with a contented sigh and a somber sounding "okay~", she let Shining Armor go to let him go start his day while she rested a while longer.

A few minutes later...

Shining Armor was walking around his and Cadence's personal quarters after finishing the first half of the recruit's final test, when he heard crying coming from his bedroom. Curious, he pulled up an ear to listen in on what was going on.

"Why can't we just be together in the morning?!?! He was always there for me, but now since I got pregnant, he's not even trying to stay with me and love me! Maybe it's because I'm pregnant. He doesn't love me because I'm bigger than I used to be!~"

Hearing that coming from his wife made Shining Armor's eyes go wide and his blood run cold as ice. He knew what was happening because he saw his mom go through it when she was pregnant with Twily... Her hormones were starting to flare up. His mind went into overdrive as he hastily opened the door to see his wife laying on dozens of pillows with used tissues littered everywhere and tears in her eyes.

"C-Cadence, I'm here honey, w-whats wrong?!?" He asked his wife as he readied himself. Cadence immediately looked agitated and went on a tirade about how Shining Armor wasn't there for her, listing every reason she could that Shining Armor should feel bad. Shining Armor knew that he had this coming from the get go, but it came at the cost of his ears as he had NO IDEA that Cadence could use the RCV (Royal Canterlot Voice) with such ease. Once the tirade was over, his ears were left ringing for a bit, rendering his hearing useless, until he rubbed his ears to stop the ringing just enough to get to hear himself speak.

"C-Cadence, I understand that you feel like I don't love you, but I do! I wouldn't have anything else on my mind besides you all day. And besides, she wouldn't be here if I didn't love you."

Shining said, pointing directly at Cadence's tummy. Cadence followed his cue and looked down, realizing that he was right about their daughter, she wouldn't be here if he didn't love her. He continued to speak.

"And I can't believe you would think that I don't love you because you aren't as slim as you used to be! As a matter of fact, I love you more now that you're bigger!"

Now that was something that Cadence did not expect Shining Armor to say. She didn't even realize that he actually liked her being this big, but to be completely honest, he had been much more affectionate with her over the time she ever since she got her baby bump and as she got bigger. This made her calm down and listen to her husband.

"Really?"

"Yes, of course." Shining said as he sat next to Cadence in her pillow pile.

"This big round tummy of your's is the main reason I love our time together, and not just because of who's on the inside~"

He said in a sultry voice as he took the tip of his hoof and glided it down her side. Cadence's wings shuttered as the sensation drove her nerves to near exploding with pleasure. She bit her lip as she looked at her husband, her mind racing with what things he might do.

"So, does this mean you're going to stay with us?"

Cadence said softly, rubbing her belly as her daughter made her presence known with a rub to the inside of her mother's barrel. Shining only nodded as he put a hoof on Cadence's belly.

"Hm, don't worry you two, I'm not going anywhere."

Suddenly, a guard from the barracks walked in and took a bow before speaking.

"Sorry to interrupt you your highnesses, but the guards in the barracks are waiting for their test to resume." The guard said to the couple. Shining and Cadence looked at each other before Shining Armor cracked a small smile before turning to the guard and speaking.

"Have my second in command take over, she has the details for the test. Because right now, I'm going to have some quality family time."

He said, giving the guard a wink so he would get the message. The guard's eyes widened quickly as he caught on and gave a "yes your highness" before closing the door behind him as he left. Now that they were alone, the royal family got comfy as the got ready to have their quality family time. And as Shining and Cadence locked eyes, Shining Armor spoke the sacred words to get things started.

"Now, where were we?"

Author's Note

Thank you all for all the support on this story! As a newbie to the whole lurve month thing, this is an absolutely amazing turnout for how much traction this story has gotten so far! I was so excited to see the positive feedback to it that I wanted to do an audio recording of me reading it, but alas, I have not the resources to do so. ( Maybe I could get an audio reading from someone willing to ) But either way, thank you for your positive attitude towards me and my work, adios everyone!