In all of my preoccupation with the dinner, I had completely forgotten that that the Pegasi had scheduled a small winter storm for this evening to give everyone a brief taste of the winter before the snow began to fall, so by the time Spoiled had recovered from the shock of having her husband basically kick her out of her house for a week, the wind was blowing hard and rain was blasting the windows. I thoroughly apologized to the catering service Ponies and told them they could stay in any spare room on the second floor that they wanted. I even let them use my landline to contact anyone they needed to, like family or roommates or their boss. I even gave each of them a generous tip for their trouble despite their protests.

Finally, after the Ponies had made their calls and gone to their beds, I decided I needed to deal with Spoiled Rich, who was sitting on one of the couches in front of an unlit fireplace. She was staring off into space, a distant look in her eyes. She'd put her jacket on already and had her purse slung over her shoulder. I wanted nothing more than to get out of the clothes I was in and into what I normally wore to bed (which was nothing but boxers), but my conscience was getting in the way of my desires. There was absolutely no way I could let her go out in that night long storm to head to the inn. She'd get soaked it would be more likely that she'd get sick.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead with my fingers again. Leaning against the wall in the dining room, I slid down it and groaned slightly. Zecora was immediately by my side, nuzzling my face. "My love, don't look so down," she said. "You were the perfect gentleman."

Despite myself, I smiled. This was the first time Zecora had used the human equivalent to gentlecolt, and it felt nice to hear something from Earth, especially from the love of my life. "I'd just hate to see a family broken apart over this," I said. "At least, not without them trying to work it out."

"Back in Farasi, divorce is more common than it is here," she said. "Sometimes it's better for a couple to separate."

"I know that," I said. "But still…"

"Besides," Zecora said as she straddled my lap and put both her hooves on my shoulders, looking at me with a serious look in her eyes, "I saw the look on that stallion's face. He does love her."

"Sometimes, love isn't enough," I said as I wrapped my arms around her gently. "Is it bad that I'm more worried about Diamond Tiara and how she'll react to this?"

She shook her head, then leaned her head against my chest. "It is not wrong to care for a filly. The thought of that just seems silly."

I chuckled softly and stroked her mane. "I suppose not…" I sat there with her for a bit before adding, "This night was a total shitshow."

"Dear, don't worry. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I know, but even so…"

Suddenly, her lips crashed into mine, her tongue easily slipping past my defenses as she wrapped her forelegs around my neck. I made a startled and decidedly non-manly noise before I recovered and kissed back. After a good ten seconds, she released me and gazed lovingly into my eyes with her own. "Jethro Bethridge, you are an incredible stallion. Yes, you have faults, and one of them is how you beat yourself up, as you put it, over things that aren't your fault. This evening wasn't a disaster because of you. It was a disaster because of the mare out in your living room. You were the perfect host and never once spoke out of turn. You never rose to Spoiled's taunts or challenges. Now, get this through your skull. You. Did. Nothing. Wrong." She tapped my head for emphasis with each word.

I chuckled softly and took her hoof. Bringing it down, I kissed it gently. "You know just what to say, my love. Thank you."

"Anything for you." She ran a hoof gently through my head. "Now come along. There's a certain mare out there that we should deal with."

"We?"

She snorted and nuzzled my face. "I'm not leaving you alone with her. That…" she took a few deep breaths, ones that were tainted with barely restrained anger, "…mare…insulted you to your face many times tonight. I wanted to buck her so hard in the face and break her nose."

"Well damn, don't do that," I said, then smirked. "Besides, she's probably got a head as hard as a rock, and these legs just barely healed." I reached down and stroked her thighs affectionately, giving them both a squeeze.

She jumped a bit, eyes wide. "Not now, dear," she scolded me with a twinkle in her eye as she slid off of me. Not standing up and getting off of me. Sliding.

I shuddered as she did so, then stood up. "Let's go, sweetie."

Zecora and I both walked into the living area. Spoiled was still sitting in the same position she'd been in when I last looked. My marefriend and I both sat opposite her on the other couch. I folded my hands in my lap as I looked at her, and Zecora simply sat on her haunches like any normal equine would.

Spoiled's eyes were still unfocused and I could see her lips moving, but no words came out. It looked like she was repeating something over and over, but I wasn't enough of a lip reader to understand what she was saying. Looking over at Zecora, I saw her eyes narrowed as she, presumably, tried to read Spoiled's lips as well. Finally, she turned to me. "She's talking about her mom, or maybe she's talking to her mom in some daydream. The conversation doesn't make much sense."

"Hmm…" We sat there for a few minutes before my worry about her mental state grew enough that I decided to try and snap her out of whatever funk she was in. I stood, walked over and gently reached out to shake her. "Mrs. Rich…?"

"GAH!" She jumped in shock, then quickly looked around the room before she locked eyes with me. Her face contorted into a mixture of anger and fear. "Get away from me, you freak!" she shouted, jumping out of the couch and standing much like a cornered cat. In fact, the fur on her back even was bristling like that of a cat.

I stood and backed away; hands raised disarmingly. "Mrs. Rich, please calm down," I said. I pointed to the window. "You can't go out in that weather, not now. I have no intention of hurting you or anyone else in town. I can Pinkie Promise if you want. Or swear by Celestia and God."

"You Everfree monsters never tell the truth! You're all liars! Just like that Zebra bitch you're fucking-!"

I instantly reacted, raising my hand and slapping her. It wasn't hard enough to do any permanent damage, but it would sting like a motherfucker for a while. She stumbled back onto her haunches, anger replaced with fear. I knelt so I was face to face with her despite my desire to loom over her threateningly. "You can insult me all you want, but you say one fucking word against my beloved Zecora and a slap will be the least of your worries!" I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. "I'm not your enemy, Mrs. Rich," I said in a more even tone now.

"Lies…anycreature from the Everfree is a monster!" she said, sounding more terrified than angry now.

"Does that list include the Princesses?" Zecora asked as she walked up beside me.

"W-What?" Spoiled looked at Zecora in confusion.

"Does that list…include…the Princesses?" Zecora repeated, making sure to pause for emphasis. "They lived on the edge of the Everfree Forest over a thousand years past."

"Th-That was a long time ago! That doesn't count!" Spoiled said, her anger returning.

"You have no room to speak," Zecora said, and I heard her anger begin to surface. As she spoke, her voice continued to grow angrier. "All evening, Jethro has treated you and your family with the proper respect due to a guest in his house, and you throw it constantly back in his face with petty insults. I held my tongue because my coltfriend asked me to, but I can't keep silent anymore. Spoiled Rich, you are the monster here. You've filled your daughter's head with lies and have manipulated a good stallion into falling in love with you all for the sake of monetary gain! You never loved him! You loved his money! You trapped him into marriage by having his foal! Without Filthy Rich, you'd be as rotten as spoiled milk! Oh wait, you ALREADY ARE!"

Spoiled tensed up, looking in terror at a now enraged Zecora, who was panting hard in rage. Hell, I felt a shudder run down my back. I made a mental note never to make her angry like that. I put a hand on her withers and massaged the area, but kept my eye on Spoiled. In a low and even voice, I said, "The way I see it, you have two choices here: go out into that massive storm and risk getting drenched or injured in the wet and biting cold, or spend the night here. I have plenty of empty rooms here. But keep this in mind: the way you raise your daughter will impact her, and right now the impact is completely negative. Depending on my mood tomorrow, I might let you stay in this house for the week your husband gave, or I might not. If you decide to stay, any of the first floor bedrooms are free, and my bedroom is on the second floor directly at the end of the hall in case you need anything." I stood, and headed to the stairs. Turning back one last time, I gave her a level gaze. "Now, what will it be, Spoiled Rich?"

"I still can't believe you got that angry," I said as the two of us lay in bed a half hour later, myself in my normal boxers and Zecora pressed up against my bare skin, one foreleg over my chest and her muzzle buried in my neck. Outside, the storm raged on, but the two of us were safe and warm in bed. A single white candle was lit on the endtable on my side of the bed, giving us some light before we went to sleep. "If we were alone in the house without so many guests, I'd be making you scream another way," I added in a deep voice.

With her other foreleg, she pulled the covers over us and pressed herself even closer to me. "It had to be said, my darling. I will never let anypony talk about you like that without doing or saying something about it.," she said stoically, before reaching up and sensually licking my neck.

A shiver ran down my spine and I gasped as she did so. "Zecora…"

She giggled and snuggled up closer. "Not tonight, I know," she said. "But very soon. Promise me."

I put one hand on her flank and squeezed. Her fur was extremely comfortable and her warmth spread from her body to mine. "It's been too long since we last made love, yes. And speaking of that, I just remembered I never told you what was bothering me at the Gala."

She slowly crawled onto my stomach, Zebraloafing on top of me. "I was wondering when you would get to that."

I stroked her mane and watched her close her eyes in satisfaction. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled and began. "Zecora, we've been dating for a couple months now," I said, "but there's something I've never really discussed with you. It's about…the future. The dinner tonight brought it back to the forefront of my mind. Well actually, it's two things I guess."

She looked more concerned now at me. "What is it? Whatever it is, we can overcome it together."

I took one hoof in my hand and squeezed. "Well, it's about possible future events for the two of us. And…well, maybe more than two…" I muttered.

"So you are considering the idea of a herd?" Zecora asked.

"That's a whole other conversation," I said quickly. "But one thing I wanted to discuss was…our future together. For example…marriage."

Her eyes shot open completely and she stared at me in shock. "Are…you proposing to me now?" she asked breathlessly.

"Not right now," I said quickly. Noticing the slightly disappointed look on her face, I quickly amended, "It's not that I don't want to, but my parents taught me that marriage should be properly discussed between a couple before the question is asked. I wanted to discuss that, and something else, with you."

"Jethro Bethridge," she said tenderly, putting one hoof on my cheek, "you know how deeply I love you. I've never felt this deeply for anypony, anyzebra, or anyone. Spending a lifetime with you would make me the happiest mare in the world. But I know how humans like to take more time than any Equestrians do. I'm patient. I'm willing to wait and talk more about any fears or worries we have together."

I smiled widely. "How did I get so lucky to have you as a marefriend?" I asked.

"Harmony smiled on you," she replied.

"Either that, or God's just being extremely generous," I chuckled as I held her closer in a well-received and reciprocated hug.

"So, what was the other topic?" she asked after a minute of silence.

I inhaled again. "Well…what are your thoughts on having children, or foals I guess?"

There was silence between us, then Zecora slowly moved her head away from me, looking me deeply in the eyes once more. "Being a mother, huh…?" she said thoughtfully and almost wistfully. "I do admit, the thought has crossed my mind these past couple of months. Tell me your thoughts."

I looked back into her eyes. "I've wanted to be a father for years," I said. "To have little children of my own…to love and cherish and teach…"

Zecora must have heard the worry in my voice, because she asked, "What's wrong?"

"I would want any children to be biologically mine and yours," I stated. "I'm just worried that, since I'm human and you're a Zebra, that we might not be able to have one together. And if we did, what would it appear as? Zebra? Human? A mix? And how would they be regarded by the Ponies or any other race?"

"You're worrying too much again," Zecora admonished, poking at my forehead. "I think I see a permanent frown here."

I exhaled slowly and nodded. "Sorry…"

She smiled warmly. "You'll make a great father; I just know it. You think about their future even before they're conceived."

"I'd think the same thing if we were back on Earth," I said. "I want my children to live happy lives as best as they can."

"And so will I when the time comes," she said confidently. My eyes widened in slow realization, but before I could say anything, she smirked. "Yes, Jethro Bethridge. I want to have foals with you someday. If possible. And if not, well…"

"Adoption is an option," I said. "And I'd love them as if they were my very own. I do still want children that are biologically mine, but you're right."

She pulled the covers closer and kissed me deeply. "Come, my love, it's been a long evening. You deserve some good rest."

I wrapped her in my arms and wings. "Agreed…" I cast a dreamless sleep spell on myself, blew out the candle and closed my eyes, falling asleep to the warm snuggles of my marefriend and the smell of extinguished candle…

One thing I knew about the dreamless sleep spell was that not only did it grant a sleep without any sort of dreams, but it also was a good sleep aid. Every time I used it, without fail, I woke after at least eight hours of restful slumber.

So it came as a complete surprise to me when I found my eyes opening wide in the middle of the night. Zecora was by my side now, curled up beside me in a manner similar to a cat. Her breathing was soft and regular, and just watching her made my heart warm up considerably.

I lay there for a while, listening to the noise of the rain hitting the window. Since there was less light pollution in Equestria than on Earth, I was staring into pitch blackness, much like

That was, until I heard a loud noise from downstairs.

I sat up fast, immediately on alert. Zecora was awake as well, eyes wide. A part of me felt a sense of pride when she moved closer to me, presumably for my protection. "Did you hear it too?" she asked.

"Yeah. I'll go take a look," I said as I threw the covers off, grabbed the pajama's Rarity made for me, threw them on quickly and moved towards the door. Quietly, I opened the door and listened. It didn't take long for another noise to reach my ear. A whimper, and a sob. I held up a finger, lit it up in the standard light spell, and stepped outside. "Be right back, sweetie," I said to Zecora.

"Be careful," she whispered after me loudly.

Giving her a thumbs up, I slowly headed downstairs, following the sound of soft sobbing. The light from my finger illuminated the large staircase ahead of me. The sound of sniffing grew only louder as I approached the living room. I risked a little more light, only to find Spoiled Rich, right where I left her, curled up on one of the couches, tail covering her eyes, weeping bitterly.

I stepped into the living room, and the noise finally alerted her to my presence. She quickly sat up and looked over at me in shock. She looked absolutely terrible. Her mane was all frazzled with strands of hair poking out everywhere, her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, and she was trembling. "G-Go away!" she shouted, but it came out more hoarse than anything.

"Mrs. Rich, there are plenty of beds to choose from," I said, pointing to the hallway. "The couch isn't exactly comfortable enough."

"I'm not stepping hoof into one of-" She immediately jumped as a bright flash illuminated the windows. A massive crash of thunder was heard immediately afterward. I felt it as well as heard it. I watched as Spoiled's ears pinned to their sides almost immediately and she hugged herself close.

Sighing, I walked down towards a large closet in the first story hall. Opening it, I held up one finger to cast the illumination spell, and used my free hand to dig out a large warm blanket and a satin covered pillow. Walking back over to Spoiled, I held them out to her. "If you're not planning on sleeping in an actual bed, at least use these." I shivered, and it hit me just how cold it was in the room. "Jesus, it's cold in here…wait one second."

I grabbed a few logs from where I kept them at the side of the fireplace, arranged them in the fireplace, then grabbed a few pieces of old newspaper that I'd set aside to use as kindling. After placing them around the logs, I grabbed a match, lit it and watched the paper quickly burn away, only for the flame to catch on the logs. After about five or so minutes, the fire was going rather well. I put the fireplace screen back in place and sat on the unoccupied couch. "There," I said, holding out my hands towards the blaze and rubbing them together, "this should last until you fall asleep, at least."

She kept her eye on me, and for the first time I saw confusion on her face. I stared at the fire instead, smiling a bit as I watched the flames rise and listened to the wood crackle and sputter. The two of us sat in silence for a bit. Occasionally, there would be another flash and a rumble of thunder, and each and every time Spoiled would react with a flinch. I didn't say anything about it, just kept on staring at the fire. I didn't even realize that Zecora had joined me until she licked my cheek. Automatically, I readjusted myself so she could sit in my lap and lay her head on my chest. I stroked her mane as the two of us cuddled in front of the fire.

I might have continued to stare at the fire, but I saw Zecora give Spoiled some glances every so often. We didn't talk about anything, and I'd use my telekinetic magic to add logs when the fire began to die. I'd gotten pretty versatile with that spell, and even Twilight was impressed that I was seemingly able to do so much at one time. Half an hour passed, and nobody spoke. I didn't feel the need to, and thankfully, neither did Zecora.

After a good forty-five minutes, at around 1:41 AM, I heard steady breathing from the other couch. I finally turned to get a look, and to my relief, it looked as if she'd finally fallen asleep. I looked down at Zecora, who gave me a knowing nod before getting off of me quietly. "I'll be waiting," she said as she quietly walked back upstairs.

Once she was out of sight, I cracked my fingers, then held them out. First, I opened one of the doors to the first-floor bedrooms, then I encased Spoiled in my magic along with the blanket and pillow. I created a small telekinetic temporary bed underneath her as I soundlessly carried her to the bedroom. Pushing open the door, I pulled aside the covers for the comfortable bed that Luna had delivered to my house, set the older mare in bed, then put the covers around her. A flash of lightning and a rumbling of thunder made Spoiled tense up in her sleep, so not only did I cast the same dreamless sleep spell on her, but I put up a spell I called the cone of silence spell, much to Twilight's chagrin. The sound of the rain from outside immediately stopped and I drew the curtains shut to keep the light out.

Once I made sure Spoiled was comfortable, I walked back upstairs, only to find the candle from before lit once more and Zecora lying under the covers again. She pat the bed invitingly, and after once more removing the pajamas and carefully hanging them up (Rarity would kill me otherwise) I got into bed beside her.

Zecora immediately threw her forelegs around me and gave me a deep kiss for a good five seconds before breaking away. "You did well down there, beloved," she said. "Spoiled was thrown off guard and very confused."

"There wasn't anything to say," I replied. "She's just been kicked out of her house for a week, she's stuck here for the night with two 'Everfree freaks', and she's afraid of thunderstorms. There may be some trauma there, but it's none of my business."

My marefriend smiled and buried her face in my chest, inhaling deeply. "True, my dear. True…"

The tiredness in her own voice made me start to feel sleepy as well. I blew out the candle once more, pulled the covers over us, then gave her one final kiss before the two of us drifted back off to sleep.