Three... two... one! The clock turned 5pm, meaning Mana would be here soon! I sat up, wiping any tear residue off of my face, and opened my bedroom door. About a second later I heard a knock at the door, Mana! I ran downstairs, almost falling from my impatience, and bumped into the door. I opened it quickly... it wasn't Mana. "Hello, Rose! Is your Mom here?", I sighed, "Hey, Candy. Yeah, come on in". Candy was wearing a black t-shirt with two diagonal purple stripes across the chest, a knee high skirt and heeled shoes. Her darkish pink hair was cut roughly into a punk style, leaving it to hang just below her jawline, "What's wrong, sweetie?". I shrugged lightly, "Nothin', where's Mana?", Candy went down on her knee, bringing her voice to a whisper, "Is it Frost?". I reluctantly nodded, Candy exhaled knowingly, "Such an invasive prick, er, person. Sorry for the language, hon. Why, whats he done this time?". I beckoned her inside, shutting the door behind her quietly, "He keeps trying to be my dad when I don't want him to, he won't let up about it. He even told my Mom I told him to stop it". Candy scoffed sarcastically, "Wow, just when you think a guy can't get more pathetic. Don't worry, Rosie, it's just you and Mana tonight, isn't it? No Frost. Whats he doing by the way?". I shrugged, "Something about a Cloudsdale Tavern. Either way their both gonna end up drunk and bouncing on the bed", Candy blushed and scowled, "W-What!? Bouncing on the bed... oh... that son of a...". Candy's whisper was now an agitated hiss, "He shouldn't be doing that with a child in the house! Don't worry, Rose, I'll make sure there won't be any se- bouncing on the bed tonight", I nodded appreciatively, "Thanks, Candy. Fortunately they only bounce for a few minutes. Mom starts complaining about something about being short or that its over too early some nights". Candy blushed and stifled a hearty laugh, I giggled a bit, adults look funny when they laugh. The living room door opened, releasing a large whiff of perfume. "Oh, hey, Candy! When did you get here?", Mom and Candy hugged tightly, "Just got here, Snow. Ready to go yet?". I sat on the bottom step of the stairs, "Yeah, just got to finish my lipstick, do you like the red?", Candy nodded, "Yeah, its a good shade of red, almost like crimson, er, dark red". Mom seemed to be a bit agitated, "Yep, it's... it's good. Where's Parasol?", Candy shrugged, a small, nervous blush on her face, "She said she'd be here at 5 but I've yet to see her". Frost came in from the kitchen, "Oh, hey, Candy. How're you doing?", Candy folded her arms, "Fine... say can I have a quick wordwith you?". Mom looked at me, a small scowl on her face, "Uh, sure, Candy". Candy stepped into the living room, Frost followed, obviously scared out of his wits, "Rose? What have you said to Candy?". I shook my head, "Nothing, Mom. I didn't say anything, maybe Candy just doesn't like Frost", Mom went down on one knee in front of me, "Rose, Frost is not as bad as you make him out to be. At first, I played your abhorrence for him as jealousy, or resentment since you didn't have a dad at the time. Now my patience is wearing thin with you, don't I have a right to be happy? You weren't the only one hurt when your Dad left... his departure cut a lot of us deeply". Mom's body sagged a bit, did she still like my dad? "Mom? Are you okay?", a small tear rolled down her cheek, but Mom brushed it off, "Y-Yes, I'm fine. J-Just stop talking badly about Frost, okay? I like him, so he's staying. Maybe if you let him in you'd see that he's not a bad guy". Frost came out of the living room, his face bright red and his lip trembling. Candy was behind him, a small smile on her lips along with crossed arms, "Now, Snow. I've talked to Frost, and he says that the two of you won't, *ahem* bounce on the bed while Rose is still awake. Do you agree that this is a good course of action for the innocence of your child?". Mom looked at Candy with a confused glance, "Bouncing on the... oh, riiiight. Um, o-okay", Mom was blushing vividly with her mouth slightly open, "What? Why does everyone always feel embarass when people bounce on the bed?". I heard three knocks from the door, please be Mana, please be Mana! The door opened... Mana! I charged up to him and jumped on him, "Mana!", Mana hugged me tightly, "Hey, kiddo! Sorry I'm late! Oh, hello everybody. Hey, Candy", Mana leaned on the doorway with his arm held over his head in a funny way. Candy giggled, "Hey, hon. I'll be back home at about three, is that okay?", Mana nodded, still looking funny, "Sure, babe". I blushed and covered my face while Candy giggled, "Stop it, Mana. You can't pull off the whole swaggering thing!". Mana laughed lightly and stood up properly, "I can pull off anything to do with swagger. Why, are you jealous?", Candy looked at him with a playful glare, "Not as much as you think, love". Mana rolled his eyes and entered the house, going down on his knees to talk at my level, "So, Rosie! Whats the plan?", Mom and Frost went back into the living room, leaving Candy, Mana and I in the hallway, "Ooh! How about we eat first? I'm starved!". Mana nodded, "Definitely, I'm hungry too! Lets go out for dinner, though, even though I'm a master at everything, I'm not so good with cooking", Candy laughed in agreement, "I know that. Hey, Rose, did you know Mana once burnt a microwave meal?". Mana blushed a bit, "Yeah... thats why we're going out for dinner", Candy knelt beside him, taking hold of his hand firmly, "Oh, Mana, you know I was just playing. You're an okay cook for a man", Mana smiled warmly, looking aside into Candy's eyes. My heart skipped a little at the way they looked so madly in love, "I like you a lot, Candy", Candy giggled playfully, "I love you, Mana". They kissed for a moment, both smiling happily. Mana turned back to me, "So, Rosie! What do you wanna do after eating?", I thought for a moment, "Lets play Silent Hill: Origins! We could play it on the highest difficulty and take turns after we die!". Candy rolled her eyes playfully, "How child-oriented", I shrugged, "I'm mature, I can handle it". Mana nodded, "Yeah! My little girl can handle anything, ain't that right, Rosie?", (Heh, he called me his little girl), "Yup!". Candy looked a bit quizzical, "My little girl? Is there anything you'd like to tell me, Mana?", Mana sighed, "I've... adopted Rose as my surrogate daughter". Candy gasped, "Mana! You know we can't do that! Snow would be furious!", Mana growled, "I don't care if Snow gets angry! Crimson...", he cut off mid sentence, his anger quickly dissolving into sadness. Candy looked at him with sad eyes, before pulling him into a hug, "You still miss him, don't you, love?", Mana nodded silently, a small tear trickling down, "It sucks not having him around. Rosie...". I looked up at him, "He wanted me to give you something before he left for Canterlot", Mana reached into his pocket, before pulling out a small amulet that had a black kite-shaped object at the front, "He wanted you to have this so you remembered him. He also wanted me to be your surrogate dad,because I was the only man he could trust to bring his daughter up". Dad did love me! I took the amulet from Mana, quickly placing it around my neck. As soon as I put it on I felt a sudden rush of happiness and warmth, as if from a fond memory, "It's a black diamond, Rosie. The most rare diamond in existence. I gave it to your dad, and he gave it down to you. Cool, huh?". I nodded, "It's wonderful! Thanks, Dad...", Mana ruffled my hair, "He loves you so much, kiddo. So do I", Candy hugged me tightly, "Me too, sweetie". I felt loved, "I love you all too! Now, Mana, lets go eat. I wanna show off my new priceless necklace!", Mana and Candy laughed, "Okay, kiddo, lets just stay a bit so I can say goodbye to Candy". I nodded, "Okay, Mana! I wanna see Parasol before we go as well". Mana sat down next to me and Candy sat on his knee, which made Mana blush profusely. Candy rested her head on Mana's shoulder, "Awww! You and Candy are so cute!", I ruffled Mana's hair tauntingly which made Candy giggle, "Believe me, Rose, he's a big softie at heart. For Hearts and Hooves Day he treated me so lovingly! What did you do again, my love?". Mana was blushing all the way to his ears, "A... bouquet of flowers... chocolates...", he reduced himself to mumbling. Candy giggled warmly, "Oh, Rose, you should've seen him. He bought me some flowers, chocolates, a candlelit dinner. Then top it off he bought me some fancy massage oils and spent four hours just letting me relax while he just cuddled and massaged me". Mana was looking down, his face completely red, while Candy and I giggled, "Mana, what a soppy guy you are!", I mimicked his voice, "Hey, Candy, why dontcha just laid down and I'll make you feel so goood cos I'm a loooove machine". Candy and I burst out laughing while Mana was utterly embarassed, "Okay, okay, I get it...", Candy composed herself slightly, still giggling in short bursts, "Oh, don't be like that, Mana. It was a wonderful night that I'll never forget". Mana looked up at Candy, "Really?", she nodded, "Of course, my love. It was magical". Candy gave Mana a gentle kiss which Mana returned, it lasted a little longer than what I was comfortable with. "Ahem!", the two jumped at my throat clearance, "Ah, yes, sorry, Rosie. So, yes! Um, Silent Hill, food and stuff!", Candy stood up, pulling out her phone, "I'd better check where Parasol is, you two go play upstairs". I ran upstairs with Mana following me, "Lets go into my room, Mana! We can play on my PSP!". I opened my bedroom door and invited Mana inside, "Welcome!", Mana stepped inside and inspected the interior, "Cool room, Rosie! So where is your PSP?", I began searching around, looking everywhere until I remembered, "Oh! My Mom still has it, I think! I'll go get it! Wait right here!". I ran back downstairs, passing by Candy who was talking idly to Parasol over the phone, and opened the living room door. "Mom, do you have my PSP?", Mom and Frost were cuddling on the couch... ew, "Yeah, I do, hon. It's on the kitchen counter". I walked into the kitchen, still grossed out by their incessant cuddling and kissing and... blech. I took my PSP from the counter and switched it on, unable to fully savour the 'Start-Up' tune, running for the living room door. I pushed through it and rann upstairs, tripping for a moment, before continuing the run until I crashed through my bedroom door and onto the floor, "Oof, Mana! I got the...", Mana was looking down at a card in his hands. The Fathers Day card! I leapt up and tried to take it from him, "Wait,
Mana! Thats for Fathers Day!", Mana picked me up quickly and hugged me tightly, albeit silently. I wrapped my arms around his neck, incredibly happy that he liked it, "It was meant for Fathers Day, Mana", he nodded, still hugging me tightly. "I know, I-", his voice squeaked as if he was crying. I stroked his mossy green hair, "I'm so happy you like it! I can see that you like it, right?", he nodded again, before clearing his throat, "Ahem, y-yes, I do. Its very, very sweet. I love it, Rosie, thats going straight onto my wall when I get home". A warmth similar to pride radiated in my chest, "Come on, Mana, don't be happy-sad, be happy-happy", Mana laughed, "Yeah, sorry, kiddo. It's just... it was so sweet and such a surprise that I felt a little overwhelmed, heh". I heard the door click downstairs, so I pulled away from the hug, "That's probably Parasol". Mana nodded, his face a little red, "Lets go see her, then I'm taking you out for something to eat".
Mana and I headed downstairs side by side, sure enough Parasol was here and was talking to Mom and Candy. Parasol looked up at me, then beamed, "Rosie!", I ran down to hug her, "Hi, Parasol!". She picked me up, (why could everyone pick me up?), and hugged me tightly, "Hey, Rosie, long time no see, hon!". I giggled and kissed her on the cheek, "I know, I've missed you so-so much!", Parasol giggled warmly and put me down, "I've got something for you, hon. But, uh, Snow? Could you turn around?". Mom looked at Parasol strangely, before shrugging and turning around. Parasol reached into her handbag and pulled out a copy of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, before handing it to me quickly, "Give it to Mana quickly! It's for your PSP, kiddo". I squealed quietly in excitement, "Oh thankyouthankyouthankyou!", I squeezed her quickly before turning around and tossing it to Mana, who grabbed it and quickly hid it behind his back. "Okay, you can turn around now, Snow", Mom turned around, still looking confused, "What did you even give her?". Parasol smiled playfully, "Nothing much, its kind of an inside thing between Mana, Rose and I", Mom shrugged dismissively, "Whatever. Anyway, we heading off now?". Parasol and Candy nodded eagerly, "Oh, Rosie! Do you like my *ahem* ensemble?". Parasol was wearing a neat little yellow dress that was glittery with the left strap intentionally gone, leaving her left arm free, with her bubblegum hair free and flowing, "Yeah, Parasol! Its simple, yet so awesome!". Parasol giggled and ruffled my hair, "Such a good review from my lil' fashionista", I turned to Mana, "Time to eat?". He nodded, his stomach rumbling lightly, "Heh, yeah, we'll just wave goodbye to Snow, Parasol and Candy then we'll go eat". Mom opened the door, "Come on girls, lets go! The children want to eat", Parasol and Candy laughed at Mom's comment. Parasol and Mom stepped outside while Candy stood in the doorway, "Oh, Mana~~", Candy held her hands behind her back and swayed her upper body playfully. Mana stepped downstairs and went to meet her, "Have a good time and don't get completely wasted, okay?", Candy nodded, giggling warmly, "I'll try". Mana nodded, smiling happily, "I love you", Candy stood on her tiptoes to meet Mana, "I love you too". Candy kissed Mana softly,
which made Mana blush heavily, but he kissed her back. Mom and Parasol giggled, making a "ooooOOOOOoooo!" noise that usually played on sitcoms when someone kissed. I wasn't very comfortable with public displays of affection, but I didn't mind AS much with Mana and Candy because I knew they both loved each other dearly... Jeez, were they still kissing? Mom sighed playfully and grabbed Candy by the arm, pulling her out the door, "Come on, lovebirds, save it for when you're alone". Candy, Mom and Parasol laughed in unison while Mana just chuckled and waved from the doorstep, "Bye, girls!". I waved with my arm above my head, "Bye, Mom!", Mom waved back, "Bye, sweetie! Have fun with Mana!". We waved for a few more seconds, before putting our coats on, "Okay... Pancake House?", I nodded, zipping my big pink winter coat up, "Definitely". Mana picked up his set of our house keys, (the emergency ones), and closed the door, "Onwards to Pancake House". I walked beside him, "How cool is it that Parasol got me Shattered Memories? I can't wait to play it!", Mana nodded, "Yeah, I hear it's really good! We'll give it a go when we get back". I closed my hand around Mana's, to which he smiled warmly and squeezed my hand playfully.
The sun was setting, meaning the sky had a beautiful red-orange hue, along with a darker shade that showed that night was on it's way. Most of the way we just talked about games, films, Candy etcetera, but one topic was really playing on my mind... "Um, Mana?", he swung my hand playfully, "Yeah, sweetie?". Should I ask him? It is a personal subject, "You know since I'm your surrogate daughter?", (I was proud I could actually say 'surrogate'). Mana nodded, "Yep, what's up?". I walked closer beside him, "Do you think that you and Candy will ever have a baby?". Mana stopped swinging my hand, his expression dropped, "I... well... c-could we not talk about it? I'd rather not". A knife of regret pierced my chest, "Oh, I'm sorry, Mana. If you don't want to talk about it it's no big deal", Mana shook his head, "It's not that, Rosie... its just that... nothing. Y-You wouldn't understand. Oh, and for future reference, can you not ask Candy if we're having a baby?". This sounds serious! "Why?", Mana looked a bit upset, "N-Nothing, Rose, just... I'd rather not talk about it, okay? And Candy wouldn't either". I lowered my head, Mana seemed really sensitive about the topic of children. But I couldn't help but wonder why, "Mana, wh... never mind... sorry", Mana nodded, "It's okay. Anyway, we're here". We stepped inside the small, rectangular, curved building and looked for a seating area. The place seemed a little barren, with only a few people eating there, "Lets take one of them comfortable booths". Mana and I walked over to the booth and sat down, "So what do you want to order, Rosie?". I leafed through the menu and pointed at what I wanted, "French Toast and Pancakes, please. With a hot chocolate, please", Mana picked up the menu, before nodding, "Okay then". Mana beckoned a waitress over. She looked a bit ragged and old, especially with the pack of cigarettes in her apron pouch, "Can I take your order, sir?", she had a really hoarse voice, it made me a little nervous, "Uh, yeah. My daughter would like Pancakes, French Toast and a Hot Chocolate, I'll take the Waffles and a coffee please". The waitress wrote the order down and left without saying a word. Mana still looked a bit upset over what I said, "Mana, I'm sorry", he looked up and smiled weakly, "It's okay, Rose, just don't ask Candy okay? Promise me you won't ask Candy". I nodded, "I promise, Mana". Mana sat up fully, "Good. Oh, what do you want for your birthday?", I shrugged, "I'm not entirely sure. Truth be told I'm not all that excited about my birthday. I already have everything I want", Mana regarded me quizzically, "Since when is a child not excited for their birthday? Is there nothing at all that you want?". I folded the corners of the menu casually, "Nothing that I can think of. Maybe a phone, I don't have one of those. They're bringing out a new Lunar Galaxy L4, but that's about five hundred bits. Maybe a HTC Canterlot? They run PonyDroid 4.2 and have a 1.7GHz proccessor and... stuff", Mana looked at me playfully, "For someone who isn't excited for their birthday, you sure know a lot about something that you just thought of". I giggled lightly, "I guess, I kind of do want a HTC Canterlot, but I just thought of that amongst all the other notable phones", Mana nodded, "Okay, you got it. It'll be a stretch but Candy, your Mom and I could pull together for one". I felt a little tingle of excitement but not much, birthdays just aren't a big deal to me. Mana fumbled around in his pocket for a moment before pulling his phone out, "Check out my new awesome phone!". He placed it on the table and pushed it towards me, "Oh wow! Is this the Celestia Lumia 620?", he nodded proudly, "Uh huh! One of the most powerful phones around and it only cost me one hundred and twenty bits!". I took it and switched it on, the screen was so bright and vibrant, "Oh wow! This is so cool! Do you have Everfree Escape: Mobile?", Mana smiled warmly, "Look around it if you want". I beamed gratefully, "Thanks, Mana!". I went about the phone, admiring the colours, quickness and everything, Mom would never be this fascinated about technology. The waitress came over and put two plates and two mugs on the table, then left silently. Mana raised his eyebrow, unimpressed, before starting his meal, "Thank heavens, I'm starving!". I dove straight in, cutting off a quarter of the fluffy pancake before chewing and swallowing it within five seconds, "This is delicious!". I did this three times, finishing my first pancake within twenty seconds, quickly moving onto my second. Mana took his phone and looked at something, "Just checking the news, kiddo, then it's all yours", I nodded, "Take as long as you need". I almost instantly finished my second pancake, before starting on my third and final one, "We should do this more often". Mana sipped his coffee, wincing a little at the heat, "I'll take you to do this everytime I can, sweetie, I promise", I smiled happily and continued to eat, close to finishing my last pancake. A blue-haired, white-striped Pegasus came over to our table, her face lit up, "Excuse me, sir. May I just say your daughter is so cute!". Mana chuckled lightly, "Well, thank you, Miss. Her name is Rose", she turned to me smiling, but her face dropped a bit when she looked at my face. She noticed my crossed eyes. I blushed and looked away, which Mana noticed, "Excuse me, Miss can you not stare at her like that?". The woman nodded, "Uh, sorry. My name is Gale", she stretched her hand out to Mana, who gingerly took it and shook, "Uh, Mana. It's been nice to meet you, but I'd like to spend some time with my daughter". Gale rested her head on her hands, leaning on the tible, "Sure, but can I just ask you something?", Mana nodded lightly, "Sure, but just one thing". Gale leaned closer towards him, "Do you have a girlfriend?", Mana's face flushed red, "M-Miss, Gale! Can you please leave?", Gale recoiled and walked away, "Jeez, sorry". Mana shook his head, "Some people, you okay, Rosie?", I nodded slightly, "Y-Yeah...". Mana reached over and held my hand comfortingly, "Sorry, sweetie. Why don't we finish up and head home?". I began eating my French Toast with less enthusiasm than before, "Yeah, okay".