Spike knew that baby dragons were clawfuls; he knew he himself was a bit of a clawful to his adoptive parents and Twilight growing up. He would help some dragons and their egglings sometimes when he goes to the Migration. Flurry Heart was a bit handful when she was a baby and he helped babysit her from time to time….

Igneous here, was making him appreciate all the other parents and his brother a bit more. It's one thing to watch over and babysit other creatures’ kids, it's a whole new ball game when it’s your own kid.

Chasing the baby all over the cabin, trying to keep him inside - the guards helping was a nice addition but it was still hard to try and catch him when he got the zoomies, trying to keep him calm and not blow everything up with his awakened abilities.

Spike also noticed something over the past couple of days, Igneous does not like Spike getting close to Rachel. Everytime Spike would try and do something for his mate, Igneous would just either scream or wail to the point that Rachel would have to go and tend to him since nothing Spike would do would calm him down. Normally babies love Spike…

He didn't know what to do.

At the moment Spike was sitting outside on the back patio, looking out at the crystal garden (something he himself added to the blueprints when ordering the remodeling). In his left hand as his old phone Rachel kept and had continued to pay to keep it on for him until he got back, and in his right hand was a piece of paper with a number he was supposed to call.

Normally he wouldn't bother talking to shrinks but it's one of the requirements he has to follow if he ever wants to earn back Rachel's trust.

With a deep sigh, he turns his phone on, waiting for it to boot up. His lock screen wasn't really special, just a picture of a waterfall. When he unlocked it and came to the home screen, he stopped for a moment.

The home screen was of him and Rachel. The first ever photo of the two together. Spike smiled in memory, the two sitting at the bar on the cruise ship. Several hours after he got into a fight with three assholes, his eye blackened from getting a basketball to the face.

He gazed as the smirk Rachel had, that same cocky, roguishly smirk he sees to this day, even in her new form. Seeing her human form then and the dragoness now: not much has changed. She was beautiful then and is beautiful now.

However, he almost didn't recognize himself. His scales were lighter back then. So much has changed since the cruise.

Especially now he's a father.

Sighing softly, he dials up the number given to him and waits. After a couple of rings, it was picked up.

"Hello, this is the Clinic, I'm Secretary Poppy Breeze." The secretary speaks.

Spike cleared his throat. "Uh yes hi, my name's Spike, I have a call appointment for Dr. Rosemary. " he said.

"Okay, gimme one minute." She said, A moment later she came back. "Okay I'm transferring you to her line right now." Then there was a click.

And another voice came on.

"Good afternoon, this is Dr. Rosemary, I've been expecting your call, Spike." The therapist said.

"I didn't think therapists do over the phone sessions." Spike mentioned.

"It's still a new concept but it's better for those who can't make it to the office. The rules still apply with Client Confidentiality, whatever we talk about here stays between us. Are you in a place where we can talk?"

Spike nodded. "I am."

"Okay, let's get started first. We can stop anytime you want. Now, how are you feeling?" Dr. Rosemary asked.

Spike shrugged. "I feel good. Feel great."

"Uh huh," her voice indicated that she didn't believe that.

"It's an adjustment being back home." Spike said.

"What were you doing when you left?"

Spike paused at that. "I… I made a mistake, didn't Rachel tell you? She's the one that gave me your number."

"She mentioned that you had left a dangerous situation. I am well aware of what happened to you, but make no mistake, it will not have any effect on our sessions.” She assured him.

Spike muttered softly to himself, quietly to where the therapist couldn’t hear him.

“Okay, now for this session, it’s to get to know you."

Spike let out a groan.

After that long session was over, Spike headed inside. His head pounded, having to go down memory lane, felt like nothing was accomplished.

He tracks down his mate and child to the little recreation room. An added surprise he has put in the blueprints where Rachel to draw and there were other activities others can do.

However, there was one of the guards there. Something told him to slip away but watch.

"What are you talking about?" Rachel asked. She looked rather annoyed. Iggy was on the ground, playing with finger paint and paper. Both of them had paint all over them.

"Listen, what the Dragons need is a strong leader. You need someone who is strong for you, not some asshole who is basically a flight risk." Underneath the dark armor, the male dragon was a copper color with blue piercing eyes. His horns were twisted and pointed up. His earfins had some aquatic features.

Reading his body language, Spike noticed he was trying to come onto her. He clamped his muzzle to prevent himself from growling.

"And lemme guess, Thrasher, it's you?" Rachel asked, arms crossed.

Iggy sensed what his mother was feeling, causing him to look up. Seeing the look on her face before looking at Thrasher. He got to bond with the guards during their time here. Normally he would like him but he looked confused because his mother doesn't like him.

Thrasher hummed. "Maybe. You're highness, you're beautiful, strong, you need someone who could... fulfill your needs." He reaches up and brushes her hair out of her face.

Only to have Rachel latched on his wrist and crushed him. Thrasher snarled and tried to pull back, only to have her kick his leg, forcing him down on his knees.

Iggy gasped, seeing his mother did that.

"The only reason I'm not beating the shit out of you for trying to undermine me and your Dragonlord is because my child is in the room. And I really don't want to scare him."

"I can." Spike emerged. Glaring at Thrasher and steaming. Rachel smirked, seeing him entering and Thrasher paled. "Honey, is this guy bothering you?"

"He is." She said as she threw Thrasher's wrist back.

"Mind if you take Iggy out for a moment?" He asked.

"Oh what the fuck this pussyfooter here is going to do?" Thrasher growled.

Rachel and Spike share a look before she grabs Iggy. "Okay baby boy, time for a bath." She said with a light tone. Iggy cooed confusedly as she carried him out.

She goes past Spike and gives him a kiss. "Try not to damage this room, kick his ass."

Spike smiled before watching the two leave. His expression darkened before turning towards Thrasher.

After that session with the therapist, bringing up things of his past, he was going to enjoy this smack down.

And to teach this other dragon a lesson about how to not underestimate Spike and to not mess with his mate!

To cover up the sounds of the fight, Rachel played some fun, kid friendly music and turned the volume up high and distracted the baby with bath time.

The fight didn't last long, having to order the two other guards to drag the mangled Thrasher out and far from the cabin.

Spike finds them still in the bath. Seeing Iggy splashing the bubbles of the water with a playful squeal, Rachel trying to shield herself from getting wet with a laugh.

"Uh sorry about that." Spike said as he stood at the doorway. His knuckles were scraped from beating the other dragon up, but it appears he didn't really sustain any injuries.

Rachel looked at him from over her shoulder. "If Igneous wasn't in the room, I would've done it myself, you're good." She said. "You okay?"

Spike nodded. "I am now. Has that been happening a lot?" He gestures to Thrasher who was not here.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Yeah it has. Some males believed they could charm and force their way up the ranks by getting with me."

Spike grunted at that.

"You have no clue how many fuckers I had to beat the crap out of them to get it to their thick skulls that I will never go against you." Rachel admits. "The last one happened roughly before I had given birth. I couldn't physically fight him, but I did practice my magic on him."

"I'm sorry you have to go through all of that."

She waves her hand. "It's okay." She said before raising her hand out to him. "Come here."

Spike smiled softly before shuffling over to the tub and kneeled next to Rachel.

He grabbed one of the squeaky bath toys, gave it a good few squeaks to get Iggy's attention.

Iggy sees the two and reaches out of the tub to get it. Spike playfully tickled him and he laughed.

Rachel rubbed Spike's back as she watched. "See, you're doing good."

"Thanks," Spike responded. He did figure that Iggy was behaving well because his mother was in the room but will take this as a win. Loving how his son was currently responding to him.

"How was your session with Dr. Rosemary?" Rachel asked as she grabbed a cup, filled it with the soapy water and poured it over Igneous's head, hearing him coo and purred as he was getting washed.

"Not how I thought it would go," Spike sighed softly. "Are you sure this therapy thing will work on anything?"

Rachel nodded. "I was skeptical too when I started, but trust me, it does help. If it doesn't work out between the two of you, we'll go and look for someone else. You're not broken."

"Damaged maybe." Rachel reached over to and flicked his nose, causing him to scrunch up his face. Iggy giggled at his father's look.

"You're not even that. We all have baggage, we all have a way to deal with it. What might help is to find a purpose."

"You two are my purpose." Spike looked at her. "You two are my everything."

Rachel smiled and kissed his cheek.

Igneous splashed water at the two, causing them to wince and laugh.

"Hey you!" Spike splashed at the baby, causing Iggy to squeal and splashed back.

The two went back and forth before Spike redirected and splashed Rachel.

"Oi!" Rachel laughed.

The bathroom was filled with squeals and laughter and splashing all about.

Author's Note

Oooh the plans I have for Iggy and Spike

Think Looney Toons/Tom&Jerry shenanigans.