Chapter 10: The Suspicion

"What are you doing back here?" Cup Cake asked her husband.

"Well, while I was taking the day off I started to think about the shop more and more, and I realized instead of worrying about it, I figured I should just come back. So, here I am."

"Well, that's quite noble of you, honey. Perhaps you can take over up front?"

"No problem. I'll just set the twins down upstairs first." Carrot Cake did so and returned to the front of the shop. Cup Cake retired to the kitchen and saw Pinkie Pie haphazardly handling a bag of flour.

"Pinkie Pie, you're adding too much flour for the cupcakes," Cup Cake said. Pinkie Pie blinked and stared at the dry mixture in front of her.

"Oh, sorry," she said, returning her gaze to the recipe card to see where she could correct the mistake. Twilight's assertion that she wanted to talk had been troubling Pinkie Pie, making her lose her focus.

"Why aren't you up front anymore?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Carrot Cake came back from his time off and graciously took over up front."

"Oh." Pinkie Pie looked down at the floor, feeling a tense wave of worry wash over her.

"Is everything all right?" Cup Cake asked.

"Everything's fine."

"You seem distracted."

"I'm just having an off day."

That kiss was still bothering Pinkie Pie. It had seemed to come out of nowhere, and seemed totally reckless for Carrot Cake to even attempt. Why in the world had he done that?

"Well, we're about to finish up for today," Cup Cake said, "so maybe a good night's sleep will help you. Oh, but you're going to Twilight's after this, aren't you?"

"Uh-huh."

"Any idea what that's about?"

Pinkie Pie had a hunch that it was something to do with Carrot Cake.

"No idea."

"Okay." The two returned to their tasks. Carrot Cake popped his head in to see if everything was okay. He saw Pinkie Pie look at him with trepidation, a quivering lip and fearful eyes, and his stomach squirmed with guilt. There had to be a way to make it up to her. The longer she felt this way, the more likely it was that Cup Cake would catch on and start asking questions.

"Are we still good back here?" Carrot Cake asked.

"I think so," Cup Cake said.

"Okay then." Carrot Cake popped his head back out. Cup Cake turned to Pinkie Pie, who seemed to be staring off into space.

"Pinkie Pie?" Cup Cake asked. Pinkie Pie shook her head and blinked at Cup Cake.

"Yes, Mrs. Cake?"

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine."

Cup Cake's gears were turning in her head. She latched on to an idea.

"Is there something wrong between you and my husband?"

Pinkie Pie froze, beginning to stutter, not knowing what to say. She started to feel clammy and avoided eye contact with Cup Cake.

"It is, isn't it? Did he do something to you?"

"Not at all, Mrs. Cake."

"Then why are you so upset with him?"

"He…"

"He what?"

Pinkie Pie started shifting her eyes, but then finally chose to just dive headfirst into the preparation of her batch of cupcakes.

"He got angry at me for messing up a wedding cake that was almost finished," Pinkie Pie said. "He shouted at me and threatened to fire me before I started crying. He apologized, but things have been kind of squirmy ever since."

"I don't remember anypony ordering a wedding cake."

"It was on your last day off."

"Oh? That's odd. Usually Carrot Cake would tell me about an order that important."

"Well, I guess this one slipped his mind."

"Very well. Sorry for pestering you."

"It's all right." Pinkie Pie breathed a sigh of relief, having fended off Cup Cake's scarily suspicious questions. She hoped she wouldn't have to do any more of that.

So focused was Pinkie Pie on her work that she was surprised when Carrot Cake announced that they were closing the shop. She cleaned up the ingredients and went to the front of the shop to tidy up. Cup Cake and Carrot Cake were out there too, but none of them talked to each other, each choosing to focus on their work instead. The three of them worked efficiently, and the shop was in tip top shape after only twenty minutes. Pinkie Pie excused herself to head toward the Golden Oaks library, where she would find out what Twilight wanted to tell her.

Pinkie Pie's head buzzed with the possibilities during the short walk there. She couldn't think of anything in particular that seemed realistic, though, so she was unsure of herself when she knocked on the library door. The door sparkled with a purple aura and opened to reveal an anxious-looking Twilight.

"Come in quick," Twilight said, stepping away from the door to let Pinkie Pie in. Pinkie Pie entered and sat on the couch next to Twilight. Twilight wasted no time in delving into her news.

"I saw Carrot Cake with the twins outside at around noon today," Twilight said. "He said he was going to the park, but he was heading in the complete opposite direction."

"He was?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Yes. So, I figured if he was lying to me about where he was going, he must be up to something suspicious. So I started to follow him, and—"

"You followed him?"

"Well, yes. I had to find out what he was up to." Pinkie Pie chuckled nervously.

"No, you didn't," she said.

"What? Why not?"

"Sorry, Twilight, but I don't think you should be poking your nose into other ponies' business."

"But he's been treating you so weird lately and I thought—"

"What did you think, exactly?" Pinkie Pie asked, staring uncomfortably at her friend. Twilight squirmed in her seat and leaned in close to whisper to Pinkie Pie.

"I followed him to see where he was going, and he went into the doctor's office. I think he was taking a paternity test." A dead weight plummeted in Pinkie Pie's stomach. The only reason Carrot Cake would do that would be to find out if his wife was cheating on him. And what if she had? Carrot Cake would no doubt be angry and further disconnect from her. But what would that mean between him and Pinkie Pie? And then there was that kiss to think about. If he couldn't stand his wife, would he come after her? The thought made her heart race and her limbs tremble, and she started to take short, rapid breaths.

"Are you all right?" Twilight asked. Pinkie Pie took a few deep breaths and chose to ignore the question.

"Twilight, I think you're going way overboard on this," Pinkie Pie said. Twilight looked into Pinkie Pie's eyes and saw her trepidation. She sighed and turned away.

"I was just trying to help…" she said. Pinkie Pie placed a hoof on her shoulder and smiled at her.

"I know you mean well, Twilight, but you can't go following ponies like that. It's a silly thing to do and it could get you in real trouble. I was following you and the others while you were planning my birthday party, and I almost ruined the surprise for myself."

"That's not the same thing at all."

"You get my point. I'm just saying that you don't have to watch out for me. What's going on between Mr. Cake and I is just between us. I don't want you to get involved."

"All right, then I won't. But has anything happened between you two that I should know about?"

"Twilight…" Twilight sighed and lowered her head into her hooves.

"Sorry, I know I'm being too nosy for my own good. I just want to make sure you're okay."

"Twilight, I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me."

"All right, Pinkie Pie. I believe you."

"Thank you. Was there anything else you needed to tell me?"

"No, I think that was it."

"Then I'll see you later. Thanks for trying to look out for me. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome." Pinkie Pie let herself out of the library. Twilight laid herself on her back and stared at the ceiling. Pinkie Pie had reacted quite badly when she had told her about the paternity test. There must have been something going on between her and Carrot Cake that Twilight didn't know about. What could have happened? Was he hitting on her? Did he confess that he had feelings for her? What if they kissed? Twilight gasped, and covered her mouth with her hoof.

No, no, no, Twilight, you're reading too much into this. Pinkie Pie said you shouldn't get involved, and so you shouldn't get involved. There must be something more productive you can do with your time. But Princess Celestia hadn't sent her any assignments lately, and you could only re-shelve the library books so many times. Maybe Spike would have some ideas.

Relax, Twilight. Pinkie Pie said she'll be fine. Just let it go…

Carrot Cake laid in bed next to his wife. She touched his cheek with her hoof and smiled at him. Carrot Cake returned the affection only halfheartedly, but Cup Cake did not notice this.

"Why did you come back to work? You deserved the time off, and Pinkie Pie and I were doing just fine."

"Well, the twins were getting cranky so I needed to put them to bed, and I figured I might as well go back to work if I was coming back here."

"That's not exactly what you said earlier." Carrot Cake averted his eyes.

"That was part of it, too. I guess I'm married to my job."

"No, silly, you're married to me." Carrot Cake chuckled.

"Pinkie Pie said you had an altercation with her over a wedding cake the last time I was out. Is that true?"

Where did that come from? Carrot Cake thought. He decided he needed a bit more context about why this absurd story had come up.

"What did she say was the problem?"

"She said she had messed it up somehow and you shouted at her and threatened to fire her. I couldn't believe it when I heard it, but she was really out of it today because it was bothering her so much. I had to pry it out of her, though. At first she wouldn't tell me what happened. She didn't even say it was you until I asked."

If Cup Cake is already asking Pinkie Pie about me, then I'm in trouble.

"Well, it was a pretty big mistake, and it really delayed the order, so I got frustrated and I snapped. I would never fire her though, and I hope she knows that."

"I think she does, deep down," Cup Cake said. "You were the one that fought to keep her, after all. Does she know that?"

"I have told her that. I'm sorry, I know it doesn't make you look good, but she was wondering about it and I had to tell her the truth."

"I understand." Cup Cake stroked Carrot Cake's face and looked into his eyes. He was still looking away from her.

"Do you still love me?" she asked. Carrot Cake looked directly at her with terror in his eyes.

"Of course I do, honey. Why are you saying that?"

"You won't look at me when I'm talking to you. I feel like you're barely there when I'm with you, or if you're present it's because we're fighting. I don't want to keep living like this."

"I'm really sorry. I didn't realize it was bothering you so much."

"It's all right. I'm just being my usual paranoid self. I guess I can still trust you."

This is bad…

"I'm glad you still think that, honey," Carrot Cake said. Cup Cake kissed Carrot Cake on the cheek, and then on the lips. When she pulled away, she eyed Carrot Cake lasciviously.

"I don't really feel like it tonight," Carrot Cake said. "I'm sorry."

"Oh." Cup Cake looked like she was about to cry, but she held it in. "Good night, then."

"Good night."