The following evening after Igneous was put into bed and was fast asleep, Rachel and Spike were downstairs, picking up the numerous toys thrown everywhere in the living room.

"For an infant, he sure is a tornado." Rachel commented as she picked up some blocks and put them in a bin she was carrying.

Spike chuckled. "Yeah, most baby dragons are." He responded as he picked up some stuffed animals. Some already have holes and stuffing coming out from the rough playing their son has been doing. "They don't start calming down until sometime in the third year I think."

Her eyes widened. "Wow I knew we were going to produce some little shits but three years? Human babies don't do that until at least two to three years old, we call that the Terrible Twos and Terror Threes."

Spike laughed, shaking his head.

"Were you ever like that?"

Spike set his bin down for a moment, still chuckling at her comment and thinking. "I was raised by ponies, only getting into mischief when I was a bit older… however, I do vaguely remember this one time when I was a baby I had a moment with mom."

"Oh?" Rachel stops cleaning, leans over on top of the couch to look at him.

"Yeah, apparently they were trying to get me to eat vegetables. Something about me eating rats made them gross out so mom tried to get me to start eating pony food. I wasn't having it." He explained.

His eyes wandered over to her figure, seeing the arch of her back, looking over her rump that stuck out a little from where Spike stood. Her tail idly swished and her wings were relaxed. Licking his lips as thoughts ran through his mind.

"Uh Spike?"

"Huh?" Spike tore his gaze away from her backside and looked at her face. "Oh sorry, what did you say? I got a little… distracted." He smirked.

Rachel giggled."Well that's not a surprise, but what happened when you were a baby?"

"Hmmm? Oh! Oh yeah, right." Spike smiled. "Well, from what I remember and what I've been told, after they try to get me to start eating pony food, I wasn't having it. I had the idea if the food was gone, I wouldn't be forced to eat it, so baby me ended up torching mom's garden. Six times I think."

Rachel hoots at that. "Six times?? So you wouldn't eat your veggies??"

Spike chuckled and shrugged. "That might be an exaggeration but it was what I was told. Like you didn't get into mischief when you were little."

She snorted, straightened up her posture. "Didn't really start my mischievous deeds until I learned archery. With how my father was, little me wanted nothing more than to please him. After I learned how to shoot, it was when I started to act out to spite him… that didn't go well."

Spike recalled what she told about him, how he ended up dying as she went to claim her scepter. Good riddance.

"Still, our little one is mischievous, I wouldn't have it any other way."

The two smiled at each other as Spike approached her. His eyes briefly lingered on the ring around her neck before looking back at her golden eyes. "The only good thing your father has ever done was having you."

Rachel shrugged. "Ehhh debatable."

"I'm serious. You're the reason I'm home. After everything I did. Everything I said, you brought me back, you took up the mantle, fought in this damned war, you bore me a child." He stepped closer, hand brushing up to hers. "I screwed up so much… but you were patient, you stood by me, loved me with my flaws, I'm eternally grateful… I barely scratched the surface of my gratitude."

"So far you're doing good." She said,

"I know there's still more I can do." He pauses for a moment, making sure Iggy was still asleep.

Rachel shows off her signature roguish grin, her hand grasping onto his. "Why don't you show me right now?"

Spike closes the gap between the two of them. His hands on her waist before delivering a sweet kiss.

Moaning softly against his lips, Rachel wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing her body against his. Wings flexing softly as emotions stirred between the two.

As his claws explored her back, his lips and teeth grazing her neck, listening to her sweet sounds, another sound echoed past his ears. Spike glanced up and his heart began to race.

Seeing the deformed image of Rarity standing in the corner, watching the two with a low moan. Flashes of memories of Spike over her, his jaws tearing into her belly and sternum. Tasting her blood and internal organs, crunching on her bones.

You don’t deserve this life….

Spike squeezes his eyes shut, trying to block the voices and image out of his mind, he focuses on his mate.

He hoisted her up, Rachel let out a surprise gasp before being carted around the living room before being set down on the couch.

Spike climbs on top of her, claiming her lips, hands roaming her side and outer thighs.

Rachel moaned deeply, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, her legs wrapped around his waist. She could sense how tense Spike was.

When she came up for air, she pants a little. "Spike..? Are you okay?" She asks, concerned.

"I'm fine," he lied. Spike glanced up to see that ghastly image was closer to them. His heart continued to pound as his guilt was coming closer. His eyes fluttered before looking down at his worried mate. "I just want you." He muttered before continuing to touch her. His lips and teeth nip along her jaw and neck before traveling south. His hands sliding up under her shirt, feeling her scaled stomach.

As Spike went to grope her breasts, he was interrupted by a loud, angry shriek and a bright purple flicking glow.

Both of them stopped to turn and stiffened. Seeing their enraged baby dragon standing just mere feet from the two. The baby was on fire, the cabin was on fire.

Igneous had a look of death and was staring right at Spike and continued to shriek at him.

"Oh shit!" Both of them shouted as the two jumped up. As Rachel went and scooped up the flaming, shrieking child, Spike handled the other flames.

Even though the majority of the cabin is Dragonfire proof, it's not double scepter magic baby proof.

Igneous clings to his mother as she works on patting the flames out. "Iggy! Seriously little dude, why??" Rachel asked him as she worked on him.

Spike watches the fire for a second before waving his hand, deciding to use a bit of the Blood Staff's magic and the flames quickly are blown out.

"Please tell me you saw the look on his face?" Spike asked with wide eyes. Hoping he wasn't going crazier.

"I see the death glares, babe," Rachel assured him. Iggy tried to lunge at Spike with a hiss, his tiny claws out and tried to slash him, but Rachel held him tight. "Whoa, whoa, killer!" Rachel hissed at him.

Spike stared at Iggy with disbelief. How could something so tiny have this hatred and anger???

"I-I am so sorry, I'm going to try to get him down." Rachel said as she quickly carried Iggy out. "Seriously, why you so angry??" Rachel could be heard saying that to Iggy.

Iggy glared at Spike as he was carried off. Flipping him the bird before disappearing.

"You have got to be shitting me." Spike gasped.

How do one react to an angry baby???

He rubbed his face. "What did those two fuck bugs say to my son about me???" Spike groaned.

And right as he was about to get it on with his mate too!

However… with what he was trying to do to her… it was probably for the best. Spike lowered his hands as he looked over to the corner. Rarity wasn't there anymore.

Physically, she can't hurt him, mentally other the other claw…

And using Rachel as a means to distract himself from that bitch. It wasn't right.

He touched his head and muttered. "What is wrong with me…. "

Morning comes around. Spike had been up earlier and was preparing a meal for his mate and himself when Rachel came in.

"Morning," she yawns tiredly. She had dark circles underneath her eyes.

Spike turns and sees her getting on a barstool. "Hey, wow you look exhausted."

"I am. Igneous did not want to sleep. I think I finally got him down like an hour ago." She said as she rubbed her eyes. "Had to make sure he was actually asleep before coming down."

Spike sighed softly, setting a plate of food down in front of her. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"I'm sorry for Igneous trying to burn the cabin down." She responded with another yawn before picking up the fork and began eating. "Thanks for making breakfast." She said tiredly.

Spike studied her for a moment. "How about I take care of Igneous for the day while you get some sleep?" He offered.

She drops her fork and looks up at him. "Uh you do remember he wants to rip your face off? I don't understand why he's being volatile towards you but is it really a good idea?"

Spike nodded. "Obviously this needs to be nipped in the bud before it gets completely out of control. What Iggy and I need is to bond. Some father/son activities the two of us need. You're doing an amazing job with him, but it can't all be you." He said. "I have him, you need to sleep. I know how you get when you don't have proper sleep. Can't really have you run ragged."

Rachel raised a brow at him. "Are you sure? I'm okay with handling Iggy until he calms down around you."

Spike shook his head. "You sleep, lemme handle our son. I'll have the other guards to help out if it really gets out of control, you focus on you."

Rachel tiredly stared at him, wondering if it was a good idea, given how Iggy was towards his father. A cycle she knows has to break. "Oh, okay, if you say so," Rachel said as she picked the fork back up and began eating once more.

After a few bites, she looks back at him. "About last night, I'm all for fooling around. I even initiated it, but I couldn't help but notice you were… Off, during our moment. You okay?"

Spike nodded. "Uh yeah, something just came to my head, nothing for you to worry about." He smiled, trying to pass it off as nothing. He didn't want to add more to her than what she had already done for him. "I'm fine, really."

Rachel raised another brow before the call to bed rang and she got up. She cleans off her plate and rinses it off in the sink before walking over to Spike. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. "Spike, don't bullshit a bullshitter. I know the game well, I've played it, you've seen me play it, but whatever it is, I'm all ears, whatever trouble you're in, you have help. You don't have to tell me right now, just don't keep me in the dark for long. Now I'm off to sleep, don't be afraid of getting me up if Igneous is too much. Love you."

Spike didn't say anything about that. He patted her arm before she let go and disappeared out of the kitchen and headed upstairs.

He sighed after she left, knowingly that she was right.

Spike shook his head as he put the plates up and went into the living area, making sure that he had everything ready for him and his son to do. Within reason since Iggy is still an infant.

“Toys check, games check, guards on standby in case we head outside check.” Spike muttered as he marked off the list he had in his hand.

When he heard rustling in the nursery, he knew it was game on.

Spike pockets the list before quickly racing up the stairs. He gets up there just in time to see the nursery door swing open. He hears some grunting and just barely sees the legs kicking and swinging. Seeing Iggy landed on all fours with an oof sound.

Iggy goes to crawl out when he stops to see his father and scowl.

Spike puts up a brave smile. “Hey, kiddo.” he greeted.

Igneous hisses at him before making a mad dash to the master room to his mother before he was being scooped up. He starts making angry sounds.

“Uh uh, your mother is sleeping right now. It’s you and me for a few hours.” Spike said.

His son glared at him, he would be intimidating but it just made him look even cuter.

“Oh don’t give me that look, it's going to be fine, we’re going to have so much fun to do today.” Spike said as he carried Iggy downstairs. “Mom needs to sleep, I can tell you from experience that your mother without rest isn’t exactly what you want to see.”

Igneous blew his fork tongue at him, trying to wiggle out of Spike’s grasp but he couldn’t. He tried to claw at his arms, but his needle-like claws didn’t break the scales.

Spike smirk. “Having problems?” he slightly teased as they came down to the living room.

He set the infant down in front of a bunch of toys and games before sitting on the ground himself.

"So, what are we going to play today?" He asked.

Igneous just glared at him.

Spike sighed. "If you think I'm here to hurt your mom, no I'm not. What you saw last night was… uh… just 'us' time." He tried to talk to him to see if he understood. He doesn't know if the infant does or all he hears is gibberish. "I would never hurt her or you."

Spike then picks up a random toy with sounds and buttons. He shows it to his son. "See? This is entertaining, right?"

Igneous watches the grown dragon play around a moment before being handed the toy. He cooed softly and made critter noises as he began pressing buttons and things began moving and sounding off.

His attention to it lasted about two minutes before he quickly got bored. Iggy drops the toy and goes to look at the other toys.

Spike then starts to go into the process of going through each toy with him, trying to keep him as much entertained as possible. But Iggy either doesn't want to play or gets bored too easily.

When Iggy got enough, he crawls away.

"Hey, where are you off to?" Spike asked.

Iggy stops to point at the stairs before getting on all fours and begins heading up.

Presumably going for his mother.

Spike grabbed him as he was on the fifth step. Igneous made angry noises.

"Now, now, it's okay, we'll just find something else to do."

Igneous starts to smoke, his purple eyes glowing.

He manages to slip out of Spike and begins running around the place with angry shouts, fire bursting from him.

Spike yelped before chasing after him and putting fires out as he could.

And this goes on for a while, making the bottom half of the cabin covered in soot.

One of the guards comes in and stops to see the baby having a rage out. "Sire, do you need help?" They asked.

"Nope! We just got a bit of a misunderstanding. We're good!" Spike says as he tries to catch the infant but he just slips out of his grasp.

He continued to chase the baby before catching him as he was going up the stairs again.

Igneous starts to fuss and cry once he was caught.

Spike recalls how Rachel would get him to stop and starts rocking and bouncing him, making shushing noises.

It only seemed to aggravated the child more.

"Uh, uh,what to do, what to do?!" Spike looks back and forth the area as he rocked the baby in panic.

He carries the baby to the kitchen. He goes to the fridge and opens it. There were a couple of bottles of milk for the baby left from Rachel's pumping.

"You hungry??" He asked the baby before grabbing the bottle and nip out. Spike heats it up with his hands and offers it to Iggy. "See??"

Igneous still cries but he does grab the bottle. He waves it in his hands before he finally puts it in his mouth and began drinking it. Giving Spike a moment to silence.

"You were hungry, weren't you… " Spike said tiredly as he watched his son drink.

Giving himself a moment to think, Spike dug into his pockets with one hand and pulled out his phone. He quickly pulls up his brother's number and makes a call.

Advice was needed.

After a few rings, Shining picked up.

"Hello?"

"Shining, hey it's Spike," Spike responded as he held Igneous.

"Oh hey, I didn't know you had your old phone. How's fatherhood going?"

"It's uh, going great, trying to have bonding time with Igneous right now." Spike said. "But uh… can you like give me some advice? I'm trying everything and yet this kid doesn't want me around."

"What you mean?"

"He's been a little aggressive to me but sweet to his mother. I got him now to calm down but it'll only last so long before he rages out again." Spike groans.

Shining couldn't help but chuckle at his dispense. "Yeah, first time father's have a harder trouble than the mothers. Flurry Heart was a whirlwind if you remember. Where's Rachel?"

"I'm having her rest so I got him. What do you do to get Flurry to like you?"

"Just keep doing what your doing. A bond is creating memories, keep showing that you'll be there for him. He may have attachment issues with Rachel being gone for a bit to find you. So he may be a little jealous."

"Jealous?? How? I'm his father."

"And mate to his Mother. He's probably afraid she'll leave again for you so he's acting out. Keep doing what your doing, no books can replace experience. Each baby is different. It's not a walk in the park but it's worth it. Igneous will get over this in time. You got this, little brother."

Spike smiled. "Thanks."

Iggy stops drinking the milk before seeing the phone. He babbles as he tries to reach out for it.

Shining Armor giggled. "I gotta get back to what I was doing. You got this, Spike. Talk to you later."

"Yeah, you too." Spike said as he clicks off. He sighed as he sees Iggy reaching out for the phone.

Humming, he hands him the phone. Iggy puts it in his ear and babbled as if he's talking to someone.

Spike smiled before putting him over his shoulders and patted his back as Iggy pretended to talk.

A few good pats and Iggy let's out a fiery burp. Spike laughs. "Nice one."

He then throws the phone with a grunt.

Spike just picks the phone up with his tail. "Are you feeling better?" He asks.

Igneous only responded with a yawn.

He carries Igneous to the downstairs crib and puts him in it. "Wore yourself out, huh?"

Igneous tried to deny it but yawned again as he sat down. The baby wormed on his back before he settled down and closed his eyes.

And finally starts sleeping.

Spike watches to make sure before silently cheering. Trying to not make noise as he threw his fist in the air in triumph before slowly backing away.

After taking a moment to go and relieve himself in the bathroom, Spike goes upstairs to check up on Rachel.

He quietly goes to the second floor and goes down the hallway to their bedroom.

Spike quietly opens the door and peers inside the dark shaded room. He could just see the outline of Rachel's figure on the bed. Hearing her deep breathing and moaning in her sleep.

Spike smiled, gazing at her before he retreats, closing the door behind him.

"Best to leave her as is." Spike said to himself.

"Uh, your highness,"

Spike turns to see the guard from earlier.

"Yeah?"

The male dragon points with a thumb. "Uh you might wanna come downstairs."

Spike blinked before following the guard back down and he froze.

The living room was on fire again, the crib was empty, tiny flour claw prints coming out of the kitchen and we're all over the walls. The other two guards worked on putting the flames out.

"How?! He was just napping!" Spike panicked, looking around to find his son.

How can this baby do so much damage in such a short time!?

A diaper gets dropped at his feet.

Spike and the guard look up and see a naked Iggy on the high rafters, just hanging out and giggling in glee at his distruction.

Spike himself started to smoke before taking a few deep breaths to reel himself in. "Igneous, this is quite enough." He tried to sound light as he flapped his wings and flew up, trying to reach and grab him.

Igneous blew soot at him before he started running across the rafters.

Spike sputtered and spat before growling. "Come here you!" He goes after him.

There was a chase, with Spike and the guards trying to catch the infant. Iggy squealed in joy as he ran from his pursuers.

"How. Does. Your mother. Handle. You?!? Get. Back. Here!" Spike says as he chases at him.

But Iggy wasn't listening.

After he leaps and jumps on the couch, he hops down on the floor and charges up the stairs.

Spike quickly follows him up. He looked and saw that the bedroom door was still closed but not the door to the drawing room. Spike scrambles in and stops.

Iggy was on a stool, standing next to one of his mother's unfinished canvas. It looked like a replica of the forest around the cabin with the cabin unfinished.

And his needle claws were out.

"Igneous, step away from that easel." Spike sternly said.

Igneous looks at him dead in the eyes as his claws inches closer to the canvas.

"Igneous, if you ruin that, you're going to be in trouble. Back away now." Spike stepped closer. "Iggy please, that's your mother's."

Igneous continued to glare at him before he went ahead and slashed the unfinished painting. Tearing it into shreds.

Snarling, Spike closes the gap. "That's it, I'm putting you in time out, mister." He picked his son up and stopped.

Igneous was giving him the most evilest smile a baby could muster before inhaling deeply.

And belts out a loud cry, wailing with crocodile tears. His wails reminiscing a cry as if he's being physically harmed.

"H-h-hey now! There's no need for that." Spike said panickin. He tried everything to get Iggy to stop crying but it wasn't working. Iggy was getting louder and louder.

Until Spike felt a dark presence and his scales paled. He slowly and shakily turns his head to the doorway.

Rachel stood there with this intense scary look on her face that made Spike very afraid.

"Rach, I know how bad this looks but i-I can explain." His voice trembled.

Iggy continued to wail, reaching out for his mother.

Rachel said nothing as she entered the room and took Igneous from him. Iggy buried his face in her chest and sobbed.

"Rachel, please I know this is bad, but I didn't -" he was cut off.

"Spike, head downstairs now." Rachel spoke, face still darkened. He tried to speak his case but she cut him off again. "I don't want to hear it, I'll talk to you later but right now you need to head downstairs. Right. Now."

At least Rachel got the authority mother voice down pat.

Iggy peek from her chest as he continues to sob, marveling at the look on his father's defeated face before going back to wailing.

Spike frowned, his earfins drooped. Seeing that if he continues to make his case, it is going to get worse. So he turns and drags himself out of the room and heads downstairs.

As soon as Igneous saw he was gone, he stops crying and nuzzles in his mother's loving arms.

"So that got you to stop, huh?" Rachel grunted and had a growl that made the baby stiffened.

Igneous looked up at his mother and she still had that intense look. He tried to babble and cooed cutely.

"You and I need to have a chat, young dragon." She growled.

Author's Note

Just clearing up that Spike isn't in trouble, make no mistake he isn't at fault with Rachel.