February 14th. Valentine's Day or Hearts and Hooves Day depending on which world one existed in, the holiday was meant for lovers or as an excuse to wait until after the holidays to get special chocolates on sale.

It had been a tense few days since I'd returned from the brief battle. I'd been in a frenzied daze for those few days, going back and forth from my home where I took care of my wife to the hospital to check on Scarlet. I had told Ember about what had happened before providing the council with the smoothbore matchlock rifles I'd taken from the battlefield. I promised that, when I could, I would provide them with instructions on how to create firearms of our own. Flintlocks, revolvers, I didn't intend to be caught with our pants down again.

Malcom came back a few times, helping to check on Scarlet and telling me that, despite her being in a medically induced coma, she was more and more likely to make a recovery. That didn't stop me from feeling anxious. Zecora was there to comfort me, which made me feel incredibly guilty since I felt that it was my job to take care of her during her pregnancy. The Mane Six had prepared several care packages for us all, for which I was grateful. Even Gemini tried to help in her own gruff way by putting me through the ringer during our training sessions. That barely helped since all it did was make me sweatier, angrier, and too tired to move. Not that I let that stop me.

I woke that morning much too early for any sane person to be awake. The sky was still dark, not that that made any difference since it was still winter. Zecora and Gemini were sleeping on either side of me, just as they had ever since that first day back, their presences not only keeping me warm but keeping me sane and grounded. I looked over at Zecora, who was wearing nothing but a bikini top and panties. Her stomach was just starting to bulge. I turned next to look at Gemini. She had taken to wearing one of my t-shirts to bed along with the booty shorts. She looked absolutely adorable when she slept, a far cry from the warrior Lycan I knew when she was awake.

"I've never really tried to get to know you, have I?" I muttered, feeling like a total heel. I lay on my back again, looking up at the ceiling. Outside, I could hear the slight wind as the forecasted snowfall fell around Ponyville.

"Fuck it," I whispered. I knew I wouldn't get back to sleep. Instead, I decided to surprise the two here with breakfast. Slowly and quietly, I got up and headed out of the room, heading downstairs.

The fridge was fully stocked not only with local ingredients, but with ingredients from Pendragon's local Walmart. A couple of days ago I'd taken about a thousand dollars worth of bits into the other world and Jackie had graciously driven me into the city to do some shopping. I'd done it because I'd hoped it would help distract me. It had worked, but not as much as I'd hoped. Still, seeing Earth food products in the fridge again was something I found a bit comforting, even if a lot of it was the Great Value brand. I grabbed a carton of eggs, breakfast sausage, bread, bacon, butter, strawberry jam, and cinnamon sugar.

When I opened the cupboard for the bread, however, I was met by the light blue eyes of a certain pink Earth Pony. Sadly, her mane and tail were nearly flat and she had a somber expression on her face as she gave me the bread. I took it and put it on the counter before I reached out and helped her out of the cupboard. I ran a hand through her nearly straight mane. "Thanks," I said softly.

Pinkie hugged me tightly. "She'll be okay, I know it," she whispered in my ear.

I smiled. She'd been saying that every day since I'd gotten back. She'd come visit every day with a mug of my favorite coffee and some sweets which I ate even though my appetite wasn't quite there. However, today, she sounded much more sure of herself. Some of the spring had come back to her mane today, too. "Your Pinkie Sense told you that?" I asked.

She nodded as she hugged me tighter. "Today's special," she whispered into my ear before she buried her face into my neck.

I smiled a bit more and hugged her more tightly. "I hope you're right," I said. "Today is Valentine's Day, after all."

"That's the human version of Hearts and Hooves Day, right?" Pinkie asked as I put her down.

"Yeah, named after St. Valentine," I explained as I began to prepare the ingredients.

"Is it about love?" Pinkie asked again as she stood on her hind legs and grabbed the egg carton.

"Lots of couples on Earth enjoy the day together, or at least in America," I explained. "Some single people tend to call the holiday an excuse for the chocolate industry to sell more," I added with a snort of amusement.

Pinkie smiled a bit. "Nothing wrong with extra chocolate," she said as she began cracking the eggs into a mixing bowl.

"I certainly can't complain," I said as I grabbed a tray for the bacon. "I've lost a lot of my unhealthy fat since I became an alicorn/human mix."

Pinkie looked at me carefully, then walked up and poked my stomach. She nodded. "I kinda miss that little pouch you had," she said as some of her mane and tail began coming back.

"Hah!" I couldn't help but laugh a bit more genuinely now. Unlike the goofy pink party pony I'd known since coming to this world, THIS version of Pinkie had embraced her role as the Element of Laughter in other ways ever since I'd come back. It might be better to call her the Element of Smiles, because while I hadn't had a hearty laugh ever since returning, she'd succeeded in making me smile when very few others had. Genuine smiles. "I don't miss it," I continued as I began laying the bacon on the tray. "I feel better since losing that fat."

Pinkie smiled a bit and nodded. "I feel better after getting some more meat on my bones, as Captain Gemini calls it."

"Yes, well, that's because lots of guys like a bit of junk in the trunk," I teased back, a smile unwillingly forming on my face.

"And do you?" Pinkie asked with a smirk of her own forming on her face.

"Don't start," I said sternly, but with some amusement.

Fortunately, Pinkie had picked up on the amused part of my words because she turned towards me and wiggled her behind very much like a cat ready to pounce. "Make me," she teased back.

I finally laughed. All of the emotions I'd been holding back strangely came out in a loud explosion of laughter. I leaned against the counter as burst after burst of laughter came rolling out of me. Tears streamed out of my eyes as the laughter became intense. When I finally looked back at Pinkie, all of her fluff had come back to her mane and tail. Her smile was genuine but still full of compassion as she walked up and hugged me again. "Feeling better?" she asked.

I paused, standing up and feeling my chest. I did feel better, to be honest. "Yeah," I said, hearing the surprise in my own voice. "Did you do something?"

"Just my job," Pinkie replied sincerely as she released me and went back to scrambling the eggs.

I nodded and went back to preparing the bacon. My heart certainly felt lighter. Sure, I was still very worried and scared for my girlfriend, but I felt like I had more strength to face whatever happened. When I put the bacon in the preheated oven, I walked over to a closet and pulled out three large baskets. I put them on the table and nodded. Pinkie was immediately standing on the table, looking down and sniffing at them like she was a puppy. She looked at me. "Who's the third basket for?" she asked.

"Gemini," I said, "but don't worry, I have these for the rest of you." I walked to the closet again and pulled out smaller baskets, each ones that I had personalized for the Mane Six, Celestia, Luna, and even some things for Spike. The latter wasn't Valentine's related, but I figured he would enjoy it. The shopping trip to Walmart had been a very productive one and I was glad that Jackie drove a decent sized Ford truck.

I pulled out a basket that, ironically, was My Little Pony themed. I handed the Pinkie Pie one to Pinkie. Inside, I'd packed it full of different candies and chocolates along with a few dessert recipe books. She took the basket eagerly and looked like she wanted to explore the contents right there, but she paused, put it aside, and went back to helping me make breakfast. I was a bit surprised by this, and she must have picked up on it because she replied, "I know when to be serious, Jethy. At least, I do now." A haunted look appeared on her face.

I understood immediately. "Too Many Pinkie Pies got to you that badly?" I asked softly.

She shuddered. "There's a time to be fun and a time to be serious," she said. "That episode…well, let's just say that I had a long talk on the phone with my family about it."

I nodded. I knew that the Pie family had gotten a landline telephone set up in their house so they could keep in touch with their daughter, and it was nice to hear that she had that access to her family. She'd told me that she called them once a week now, although in the beginning it had been multiple times a day due to sheer excitement and happiness. "I'm sorry about that," I said soberly.

Pinkie looked at me, then walked over on her hind legs and put her forehooves on my chest. "Don't apologize," she pleaded, her eyes glistening and a warm smile on her face. "I know I've got a lot of growing up to do."

I ran my hand through her now poofy mane. "You're perfect how you are," I said.

"But I can always be more perfect," she replied with a giggle as she went back to scrambling the eggs. She began seasoning the eggs with salt and pepper. "Do you like your scrambled eggs any specific way?" she asked.

"They way they are is fine now," I said. "I make my eggs in a rather unique way, and this breakfast is for the others."

Pinkie nodded and grabbed a large skillet from the cabinet. After spraying it with cooking oil, she placed it on the stove and turned it on. I had already put the bacon in the oven and now I was preparing some bread to make toast. Seeing that made me chuckle a bit at the memory of a certain episode of the show. "I wonder if it's a Unicorn thing," I said.

"If what's a Unicorn thing?" Pinkie asked.

I chuckled again. "There's an episode of the show where Sweetie Belle tries to cook for Rarity but burns everything, even juice. And from what Spike's told me, Twilight isn't that good at cooking. Although Rarity's a pretty good cook, so maybe it's just me."

Pinkie pursed her lips thoughtfully. "I can teach her some things," she said.

"Funny, I was going to eventually help her with her Christmas present," I said.

"You were?" Pinkie's eyes sparkled.

"Hey, I'm a Cutie Mark Crusader," I said. "Besides, those three fillies are the absolute cutest."

Pinkie giggled and nodded. "They're so earnest," she said.

"Nothing wrong with that," I said.

I heard a nearby door open and someone stepped in. Turning, I saw Phlogiston walking in with Aurora in her arms. Beyond the door to Aelyssia I saw sunlight. Phlogiston looked around and smiled. "Making breakfast this early?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said. "I couldn't sleep."

Phlogiston's smile faded and she nodded. "That Pegasus is strong," she said. "She'll pull through."

"She's not a Pegasus anymore," I reminded her. She and Ember knew about Scarlet's unusual change to an Anthro Alicorn.

Phlogiston nodded again. "Forgive me, I forgot," she said. She looked down at the young Princess who was squirming in her arms. "This one couldn't sleep at the castle," she said.

Aurora looked around, saw me, and reached out towards me, babbling incoherently. I walked over and took her in my arms, supporting her head. "You still like sleeping here?" I asked softly.

"Baah! Babrrr!" Aurora replied before she sniffed the air. A smile formed and I saw something in her mouth that hadn't been there before. Teeth.

"Either that, or she's teething," I said, looking over at Phlogiston.

The elderly Dragon nodded. "That too," she said. "She'll have the rest of her teeth in another couple weeks."

"Dragons grow fast, don't they?" I asked as I rocked her back and forth in my arms.

"They have to," Phlogiston said. "In the early days, or so I've heard, Dragons needed to grow up fast or risk dying to the elements."

I nodded. "Well, hopefully with the growth of our nation, we can give the future generations a prosperous empire in which they can be safe and prosper."

Phlogiston nodded and took Aurora back. "Hope you don't mind if I put her to bed back in her old room," she said.

"Go ahead," I said.

After the elderly Dragon nurse left, Zecora and Gemini came down the stairs, each wearing bathrobes. They saw me and Pinkie and Zecora smiled tiredly at us. "Good morning, Pinkie, Jethro," she said. "Why are you two up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep," I admitted as I went back to put four pieces of bread in my new toaster that I'd gotten from Walmart.

"Same here," Pinkie said as she continued cooking the scrambled eggs.

Zecora looked at what we were making and smiled again. "Looks delicious," she said, "at least, the vegetarian portions."

Gemini sat at the table and lay her head on it, groaning. "I hate Mondays," she complained.

"Everyone who works does," I replied as I walked over to her and placed my hands on her shoulders. Before she could complain, I began massaging them.

She shot up in her chair, eyes wide, then she shuddered and moaned softly. "That's…Oooh…" She lay back down, letting me massage her. The growling noises that escaped her told me she was seriously enjoying it.

Zecora came over and sat next to her, holding her slightly swollen belly. "Thanks for cooking breakfast," she began, "but we could have done it for you."

"I needed something to distract me," I admitted as I found a pretty big knot in Gemini's left shoulder and began working at it.

"Oh my dearest," my wife said gently as she reached up and put a hand on my side. "Scarlet will be perfectly fine."

"Nnng, she's a tough bitch," Gemini groaned despite the massage. "She'l be fiIInnne!"

I smiled. I knew Gemini wasn't insulting Scarlet. "I know, you two," I said as I stepped away from Gemini. When the Lycan whined and looked back at me, I pointed to the kitchen. "I got bacon in the oven that I can't ignore."

She huffed at that and lay her head back down on the table, closing her eyes. I gave Zecora's back a rub before I went to the closet and grabbed their two baskets. "I don't know if you two have any sort of holiday like the Ponies do on this day, but Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, or Happy Valentine's Day."

When I set them down, Zecora was the first to look into hers. I'd given her plenty of dark chocolate since she preferred that to milk chocolate. Not only that, but I'd gotten a bunch of flowery bath bombs for her as well as a few books written by the Audubon Society about flora. Finally, I'd gotten her several plant seeds ranging from flowers to vegetables as well as a metal water bottle that could keep liquids cold or hot for extended period of time. She turned to me, her blue eyes shimmering. "Thank you, love," she said with true gratitude.

Gemini looked into hers next. Unlike Earth canines, Lycans could eat chocolate without harming themselves, so I'd gotten some for her, but I'd also gotten her a few packs of jerky, meat sticks of various flavors, and a sturdy pocket knife. Not to mention another of the same water bottle. She looked at me, then waved a paw. "Thanks," she said tiredly.

"Not a problem," I replied with a wave back.

"Don't I get a water bottle?" Pinkie asked a few seconds later as she went back to her basket to search through it.

"Yes, Pinkie," I said with an amused eye roll. "You all got one."

Pinkie pulled out hers, which was pink and had her cutie mark on it. It was part of a set that included the Mane Six and the two princesses. She held the metal cup in her hooves, examining it and opening it up. "Oooh, a straw," she said as she looked at the metallic interior. She closed it quickly and returned to the eggs. "Thanks, Jethy."

"You're welcome, Pinkie," I replied.

The two of us worked in silence. She handled making a large bowl of hot and steaming scrambled eggs while I took care to make sure the toast was perfectly browned and the bacon perfectly crispy. I also made the breakfast sausages in another skillet.

When we finished setting the table, the sky outside was just beginning to turn from black to a very dark blue. I brought up a plate to Phlogiston who accepted it gratefully. Silica and Scoria, who had taken it upon themselves to be my personal guard, also came down and I set places at the table for them. The six of us sat around the table eating quietly. I made sure to eat a good meal despite not feeling very hungry. I didn't want to lose any strength. None of us talked, but it wasn't a tense silence. It was, at least for me, a comforting silence. One that gave me time to think while performing the mundanity of eating.

My thoughts, while initially primarily focused on Scarlet, drifted back to my new empire. I'd made sure to keep up to date with events back there. The council had brought several recommendations on members to add to Ember who had passed the information to me. I'd focused harder to read them and after hearing the council's opinions on them, said that I would like to meet them. That was happening tomorrow, and I'd already taken out my interview suit out of habit, setting it down on a chair in my room.

The city had begun to grow bigger and several dozen more Dragons had arrived from across the former Dragon Lands. The council had finally begun giving out housing to the refugees while at the same time expanding the military strength. The latter had only increased since I gave the report of the attack. Several of the more intelligent Dragons had been assigned to figure out how the matchlocks I'd captured work and find a way to duplicate them, although I had promised to introduce more advanced firearms to them in the near future. I'd already asked Jackie to order some books about guns from Amazon and I'd paid her for them already. They were scheduled to arrive in a few more days.

I was surprised to hear that Applejack had been going back for a couple of hours a day to use her Earth Pony magic on the fields. She'd been only growing grass there and healing the ground, but nearly all of the farmland was green with grass. When I'd asked the council about potential interest in farming, the response had been about what I'd expected. Not many Dragons felt the call to become farmers, so I suggested either offering some foreign Dragons who lived in Equestria dual citizenship and some perks for moving to Virynth Atheos to help establish farms or to hire Dragon farmer consultants to help others who lived here to help. Sunset had helpfully suggested using some ancient farming books she'd found in the library, and I'd approved of that idea immediately.

Something else that had further surprised me was that Rarity had taken in a Dragon female apprentice to learn how to make new clothes for the population. Seeing Smolder of all Dragons behind a sewing machine and trying, with a frustrated expression, to sew simple clothes nearly made me snort, but the secret tea party loving Dragon looked so determined that I could only praise her determination. I'd told Rarity that I'd personally cover all costs involved in her training, including payment. Rarity had tried to protest, but I told her that I was investing in not just the future of a Dragon seamstress, but in the future of my Empire. She had still argued despite that and we came up with a compromise. I would pay eighty percent of everything and she'd cover the rest.

My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp rapping on the front door. I turned to it, confused who it could be this early. The doorbell rang next, and I wiped my mouth with a napkin. "I'll get it," I said.

"Your Grace, you should let us get it," Silica said.

"If that was an assassin, they wouldn't be so brazen as to knock," I said.

"They could count on that," Scoria argued.

I paused, considering. After a moment, I nodded. "Come with me, then," I said.

The two Dragon guards didn't like that, but they grabbed the weapons that were leaning against the table and followed me. When I opened the door, my heart nearly stopped because Nurse Redheart was standing there. "Hello, Mr. Bethridge," she said.

"Did…Did something happen?" I asked, fear creeping into my tone.

The smile that formed on Redheart's face caused my heartbeat to increase. "Sir, she's awake."

"Before you ask, I feel like shit," Scarlet said no more than five minutes later as I sat by her side, holding her hand tightly in mine. Her voice was weak, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "That…that bullet hurt like a bitch."

I squeezed her hand more tightly. Behind me, Zecora and Gemini were just entering the room. "I'm sorry," I began.

However, Scarlet held up a weak hand and cupped my cheek. "You hush," she scolded me. "Don't you dare blame yourself. It's that fucking bitch's fault I'm here."

I nodded, feeling a hot burst of anger surging up in me. "Yeah, and she'll pay for it," I snarled. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see a worried Zecora looking down at me. I forced myself to relax and shook my head. "I won't do anything stupid," I promised.

"Make sure you don't," Zecora said as she rubbed her stomach. "I don't want our foal to grow up without a father."

I winced at that. "Yoosa point is well seen," I said in a passable Jar Jar Binks impression.

Scarlet burst out laughing briefly before she held her stomach, wincing in pain. "Please don't make me laugh," she begged, "it still hurts like hell."

At that moment, Pinkie came walking in, holding something in her mouth which she deposited on the floor. "Jethy got this for you," Pinkie said with a genuinely happy smile before turning to me. "I'm gonna tell the others that Scarlet's awake."

"Of course," I said. I hugged Pinkie, and then she dashed out of the room.

Scarlet looked at the Valentine's Day basket and I saw her blush. "You got me all that?" she asked, looking at me with glistening eyes.

"Nothing's too good for my marefriend," I said.

"And what about your wife?" Zecora asked, a dangerous grin playing across her lips.

I chuckled and put my hand over her stomach. "Nothing is too good for her, too," I replied.

"Good boy," Zecora said as she patted my head affectionately.

Scarlet, meanwhile, was looking through the basket. I'd gotten her candies and chocolate as well as another five hundred dollar VISA gift card along with a copy of the Kama Sutra that I'd gotten at another store in Pendragon. She looked at me and grinned. "I've been wanting to say this for a while, but oh my God, how horny are you?"

I smirked. "Get better and I'll show you," I said.

Scarlet grinned wider, then winced before she looked up at Gemini. "Have you and he-?"

"Even I know that it's a breach of trust for a pack to be intruded without full consent," Gemini said before she could finish.

Scarlet nodded. "I appreciate that and I'm sure Zecora does, too," she said, looking at the pregnant Zebricorn.

"She has been sleeping in our bed, however," Zecora said. "Only sleeping," she added quickly.

"It's a potential pack member's duty to comfort their prospective mate," Gemini explained.

"I probably would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes," Scarlet said with a nod. "Thanks for helping him."

"I did my duty," Gemini explained again.

"No, you did far more than that," Zecora said. "You were vulnerable with him, and that's a big step for you."

Gemini's face went dark red and she looked away. "By the Guardian, this is hard," she said.

"It is," Scarlet acknowledged, "but worth it in the end."

"Only if I'm accepted," Gemini sighed before she straightened. "No, this isn't the proper place for this. He came here for you, not to talk about me."

I reached out and took Gemini's paw. Her fur was silky soft and smooth. She looked at me in astonishment but I spoke before she could. "I've grown a new respect for you, Gemini Grayfur," I said. "I respected you already, but what you did for me despite not needing to? You've earned a lot more than my respect."

Her eyes lit up, but that was the only sign of happiness in her eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked, clearly trying not to sound excited.

I looked at Scarlet and Zecora, both of whom gave me subtle nods. I stood and took her paw, placing it onto my chest. "What do you feel here?" I asked.

"Your heartbeat," she replied, looking a bit confused, now.

I wrapped an arm around her and gently pulled her closer. "Gemini Grayfur, how do you feel about me?" I asked. "Tell me in front of these witnesses."

Gemini blushed heavily, but steeled herself. "As the old poets wrote, 'Words or howls alone cannot describe the depth of feeling I bear towards thee,'" she began. "'The desire I have for thee is unlike any other I have felt in my years on this world.'"

"And your own words?" I pressed gently.

She looked down, clearly having a hard time putting things into words. Finally, however, she stood up straight and locked eyes with me. "My heart belongs to you, Jethro Bethridge," she said. "Even if you cannot reciprocate, the candle I hold for you will never burn dimly or go out." She huffed and looked down. "That was humiliating…"

I lifted her cheek to face me. Her eyes, a beautiful teal, never looked away from me. I ran my hand through her snow-white and gray striped hair, then pulled her in closer. I heard her take a sharp breath, then her eyes closed. Mine did too, and our lips touched.

The kiss was tender and, on Gemini's part, uncertain, but then she wrapped her arms around me, seeming to melt into the kiss. I did so as well, feeling her deceptively large breasts pressing against my chest. I felt my heartbeat increase as she held me tighter while the kiss deepened.

When we broke the kiss, Gemini had a rather stunned expression on her face. She actually reached up and put her hair behind her ear in a nervous tic. "I never thought…that you'd welcome me in," she said, and in that moment she sounded so vulnerable. So small.

I hugged her again, bringing her head to my chest reassuringly. "You do realize that this relationship is going to be hard, right?" I asked. "You're sharing me with a Pony and a Zebra-"

"Both of them are strong," Gemini interrupted, placing a paw on my chest. "They've both earned my respect."

"And you earned ours," Scarlet said softly.

"Indeed," Zecora said as she reached out and put a hand on Gemini's shoulder. "Welcome to the herd, Gemini Grayfur."

The four of us spent several more hours together, and the others arrived a few minutes after Pinkie left. There were congratulations given to my marefriend on her continuing recovery, further congratulations to me upon the announcement that I had included Gemini in my herd, discussions from Rarity about the clothes she had designed for Scarlet's new form, exchanges of Valentine's/Hearts and Hooves gifts I'd gotten for the Mane Six. To my shock and amusement, Spike had gotten some chocolates not just for Rarity, but he got what he called friendship chocolates for his new friends, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The fillies were ecstatic about receiving anything from Spike and didn't even seem bothered that they were friendship chocolates, which was apparently a tradition on this day. Their reactions further made me suspect that all three fillies were starting to develop crushes on the young drake.

After the mares thanked me for their personalized baskets, we continued talking, and eventually the entire day had passed. Just before I was about to leave, Scarlet asked to speak with me and Zecora alone. What she said when the door was closed shocked me.

"You want me to…consummate the relationship with Gemini tonight?" I asked when Scarlet had said her peace.

Scarlet smiled and nodded. "The poor girl's waited long enough for you to come around, you big dope," she said, "and tonight's the best night for it."

"A night alone is what you two will need tonight," Zecora said. "I can sleep in my old house for tonight."

I looked at both of them, worried. I didn't want to leave Zecora alone and the worry I felt for Scarlet only grew, but Scarlet grabbed my hand. "Stop that, whatever you're thinking," she said quietly but sternly. "Don't worry," she added, "when I'm finally out of here and the doctor says I'm ready, rest assured I'm going to be making up heavily for lost time, but for tonight, give that sexy bitch the night she deserves."

I sat next to a very nervous looking Gemini. She was muttering a bit to herself while her tail was wrapped tightly around me. "I've fought off over a dozen warriors at once and felt no fear," she was saying, "and I've trained not only Lycans but now Dragons with no hesitation or worry, but now-" She cut herself off as she looked at me. She was wearing her usual fabric bra and skintight booty shorts. I wore my boxers and a black t-shirt. "I'm scared."

I nodded and ran a hand through her hair. It was very impressive of her to admit that to anyone, especially me. Stop that, I thought, we're in a relationship, now, and that means we can open up to each other as we continue building trust. "We don't have to do this if you don't want to," I said.

She shook her head quickly. "No," she said. "The other two gave me this opportunity, and I won't let it go to waste."

I shook my head as well. "That's not a healthy way to look at it," I said.

"That's not my main reason," she said, ears flat against her head as she looked up at me. "I want this, but I've never been with anywolf before. I keep on thinking that this night is going to be a disaster because I'm inexperienced."

"Gemini Grayfur," I whispered softly as I put one wing around her. "I won't ever think less of you if for inexperience. Lovemaking is special." I lovingly caressed her cheek. "And I'll be honest, I'm a bit nervous, too."

"But you've been with several others before me," she argued, standing and beginning to pace. "You have more experience!"

"But I've never been with a Lycan before," I emphasized, standing to put both hands on her shoulders. I pulled the nervous she-wolf into a hug. To my relief, she didn't pull away. Even more encouragingly, she buried her face into my chest. "I will not force this on you." I continued, "but I do know this: I don't know how it happened, but I fell in love with you just as hard as I fell for Zecora and Scarlet. And I want to show you how much I love you."

She looked into my eyes, her own glistening with tears, but the tears quickly turned from worry to happy. "You're a cruel, cruel human," she said with sudden amusement, her body's trembling vanished. "I want to show you, too." She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer. "I want you…"

Our lips locked…

Author's Note: There will be a bonus chapter tomorrow, a full on clop scene. Like the rest, you can skip it and not miss much.

morbiusgreen