Desperate Measures

The potato casserole went over really well with the family. It was surprisingly easy to make, being just corn, potatoes, sour cream, cheddar cheese and a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup, with corn flakes covering the top. Kurt was especially pleased, because the meal he had enjoyed so much was being presented as Seascape's creation, which endeared her to his family and made his budding relationship with her feel more legitimate.

After dinner, they all had their showers again, and once more, Guin came into Jack's bedroom when she was done. "Hey."

Jack turned and smiled. "Hey, Guin. Great meal. How are you feeling?"

"A bit scared, actually," she admitted, coming to sit next to him. "Kind of proud, too. And angry, and sad and flustered... and then even more scared."

"Ambivalent?"

"What's that?"

"It's when you're feeling lots of different emotions at once."

Guin nodded.

Jack wrapped a hoof around her shoulder. "Do you remember what I told you to do when overwhelmed?"

"Focus on just one problem at a time?"

"That's right. What's bothering you a lot right now?"

"That unicorn."

Jack sighed. "Yeah, he's really bothering me, too."

"I want to stop him."

"Yeah, me too."

"I think I have a way, too."

Jack raised his eyebrows. "Do you?"

Guin nodded. "I love you. All of you. Jenny has been my best friend since I was four."

"Since you were two," corrected Jack.

"As far back as I can remember, and even further back, apparently. And Kurt's been great, too. He's been the closest thing I've ever had to a brother. Even when my gran was still around, I spent so much time over here that I feel like I'm part of your family."

"Sounds good, but what does this have to do with the other?"

"I'll come around to that," promised Guin. "And you... You started this whole thing. You're the reason I still have all of my stuff. You're the reason I still have my gran's house. You came in and saved me from being taken away and dumped in some orphanage. I owe you everything."

Jack shook his head. "You don't owe me anything. I was just doing what I knew was right. It was something that had to be done. I couldn't just let you suffer like that..."

Guin sniffed. "What I mean is, I'd be lost without you. All of you. And I can never make it up to you, no matter how hard I try. But that doesn't mean that I don't want to try."

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to do that. You protected me, now I want to protect you. And the best way I can see to protect you is to make this marriage less of a sham and more legitimate. He can't prove that our marriage is a sham if it isn't one."

Jack sighed. "Guin, we can't. It's too much. I don't want to hurt you."

"So don't. If he has his way, it's all going to be much worse. If it's a real marriage, he'll go away."

"I don't think he will. He doesn't seem the type to give up."

"So we file a report with the guards. If we can prove that our marriage is real, he'll have made two false claims against us, and we'll have a strong leg to stand on saying that whatever his third claim is will be as unfounded as the first two. Didn't you say he was outright harassing us? And also, he tried to run off with Seascape's toddler. The guards have had to step in twice."

"Three times," corrected Jack. "If, and only if, we can prove our marriage isn't a sham, then we will have a leg to stand on. But we have to prove it, first."

"So, let's do it."

"Do what?"

"Prove that our marriage is real."

"But it's not."

"So, let's make it real."

Jack sighed. "Marriage is a lot of work, Guin. It takes a lot of experience that you don't have, and it takes a physical toll that I don't think you're ready to face."

"You mean the sex?"

Jack winced at that. He hadn't been aware that she knew anything about that. "Y-yeah..."

"Seascape told me about her first time, and how unpleasant it was. She said she was envious of me because I could have my first time with you, a far more gentle stallion."

Jack took a deep breath. "I'm not going to do that. Not now, not for a long time, probably not ever. I don't want to hurt you."

Guin squeezed his hoof. "I don't want to hurt you, either. I don't want to be the reason your family is broken apart. I don't want to be responsible for you losing Jenny and Kurt. I don't want you to start drinking again. Even if it hurts me, it'll be nothing compared to what would happen if I ended up being the reason we all have to part ways."

She was in tears now, and Jack was holding her a bit closer. He gently rubbed her back, trying to calm her down. "Let me tell you my point of view," he whispered. "Your first time will be very memorable. It always is. Everypony remembers their first. If we were to do as you're asking, then your first time becomes an obligation; something you were forced into doing. From that point on, you'll always see it as a chore; something you have to do because you have little or no say in the matter. It'll be something that has to be done. And it should be with the stallion or mare that you choose, not an old fart like me. Do you see what I'm saying?"

Guin sniffled and nodded. "But..."

Jack shook his head. "We'll find another way. We'll find a way that doesn't see you giving up your innocence. I will not use you as a shield to protect myself. I'm the one that's supposed to be protecting you. Don't worry about this right now. I'm worrying about it enough for both of us. You run along to bed, now."

Guin looked up. "Don't I sleep in here?"

"I set up your bed in Jenny's room. While you were out, I took the time to unload the cart in the garage. Your bed, your bookcase, your wardrobe; it's all in Jenny's room, which the two of you now share."

Guin hugged him just a bit tighter. For a moment, she was quiet, but as she pulled away, she smiled softly up at him. "Thank you, Mis-- Jack."