Spike and Twilight by Anti-Pony (2011/1/26)

	Spike woke early, before Twilight as had become the usual in the last few months. He was older now, a little bigger than her... looking like a miniature version of the dragon Twilight had confronted years before... well and truly in the last stages of his teenage life... It would still take years for him to reach adult size, but he was an adult for all intents and purposes, matured. At least, it would be years, if he hadn't stopped growing, or rather, if Celestia's spell had not had that effect. But he still cleaned up diligently around the house. Truthfully, they were well past the point where he'd stood up to Twilight, she finally clicked how much he did, and compliments on his work were no longer nonexistent. Not only that, but since then they had gotten closer and talked more and more. She'd confided so much in him.

	He knew as soon as he moved Twilight would wake up, and as he looked at her, peacefully sleeping next to him, he really didn't want to disturb her. There would be the same routine... but Fluttershy was coming over soon and he had to get ready for work... now that he was big, his part in the Winter Wrap Up would be a lot bigger. Plus Twilight was in no condition to organize anything so it would take ages this year...

	Spike took a deep breath, and tried to gently slide out of the bed. It never worked, immediately Twilight would open her eyes just a little, and yawn... mutter something. Like clockwork, she began to stir.

	"Spike? Hey Sweetie" She smiled, and he smiled back, and leant over to kiss her forehead. Any second now she'd do it. As soon as she moved... every morning for some months now...

	"Morning Twilight. Sleep well?" smiling at her, anxiously waiting... Twilight was always like clockwork, even now... just a matter of seconds until...

	Twilight went to move herself out of bed. Obviously she couldn't, her middle was too big now. For a brief moment a sleepy, confused Twilight stared at her midsection, then looked away from it and continued trying to get out of bed.

	Spike sighed, she had been in denial pretty much since the day they'd seen the doctor... he quickly moved into his regular position, sliding closer and getting his arms around her "Whoa, slow down there. Come on Twilight, you know you can't get up anymore... just relax."

	She looked at him indignantly. "I know, you're not pregnant, you've been telling everyone for months and months..." he started, the routine so very ingrained in his head. She really had... and every day this started again.

	"Dragons and ponies can't..." she interjected.

	"Breed, I know, but we've been through this. Celestia said it was part of the spell, so we could start a family. It's a gift. Come on Twilight, it's not like you regret this right?" He smiled, he had this speech down. It had been damn awkward the first time... she'd been so happy, then this... and there was a 50-50 chance of this ending the way he was hoping.

	Twilight looked away, dejected, blushing... "Of course not... I love you, we..."

	"We're the closest friend each other has, we like how the other looks, and the rest of that." Spike couldn't help smirking a little... this speech never changed, and it made her smile when he pointed that out. Today was no exception. Even bed bound, Twilight was running on a schedule.

	It was all true all well of course. Years of them annoying each other and being there for each other... even when he was young and stupid, he could remember complimenting her and trying to support her... then the day Rarity sat him down and gave him the relationship talk... you can't base it off looks, you need to be close friends, etc... it had all sort of snapped into place. He walked home wondering how he'd never realised how much she meant to him... it had been the best day of his life. He knew the best and worst of her, and she knew him the same about him...

	 "Spike... do you think I'll be a good mother?" Twilight was looking down again, biting her lip... her face a look of worry. She always did this... one moment she was insisting she couldn't be pregnant, then bam, it was the mother question...

	"Every morning you ask me that" he slipped his hand under her chin, and lifted her face up towards him, gently. She still kept looking away, "And every morning I tell you how well you did this and that... remember when Snips and Snails brought the Ursa into town? How you just gave them a look and they apologized."

	He grinned, "Come on, look me in the eyes Twilight, we're getting to the best bit of the story." She paused, and looked into his eyes. "And then you gave them moustaches. Remember how happy they were? Some ponies would've just smacked them or something... but you made them apologise just by giving them a look, then made them cheer up to boot. That's mothering talent Twilight. And I got a thousand of these stories... like when..."

	"You should probably go to work... they'll need you out there" Twilight smiled, albeit a bit half heartedly. Spike got up, and grabbed his tools. He knew what was coming next. She hadn't given him quite the right responses... out of the two ways this always went, today was going to be one of the option two days.

	He waited for the inevitable sound... and then there it was, and his heart sunk a little... Twilight's sniffling... immediately she tried to insist she was alright, but he knew better. Spike put his tools back down, checked the door was unlocked for Fluttershy, and came back over to the bed, ignoring Twilight's insistence that she would be fine.

	Spike sat next to her, and began gently pulling her into his arms, holding her against his chest. "Come on, don't fight me... I'm not going out today Twilight, you know that."

	She had gone back to looking away, tears running down her cheeks... this had been horrifying for Spike the first night... they hadn't even realised yet that she was pregnant, let alone that it had something to do with it. But he had gotten increasingly good at this.

	Once her head was against his chest, she began to calm down. Spike held her tightly, and took the brush from the night stand, beginning to brush her mane gently and slowly. Twilight listened to his heartbeat quietly.

	"It's ok Twilight. We love each other, right?" She nodded, sniffling. "And we're best friends, right?" Again, the little pony nodded, wiping a hoof across her nose. "And nothing bad is happening is it?"

	"I know... I just..." She sniffled, and sobbed a little more.

	"Look in my eyes Twilight, stop looking away" Spike sighed softly "Are you worrying something might go wrong with the baby?" Twilight shook her head, and he gently turned her up to look at him again. She quivered in his arms. "We know what's causing this now, and you'll get through it. You've got to be due soon." She blushed, briefly glancing at her middle.

	Spike pressed his forehead against hers, staring into her eyes, "I love you Twilight Sparkle. I promise, everything is going to be alright. And don't argue, I'm not going." Twilight stopped, having been about to interject again, and smiled a little. She kissed him, and for a while it felt like it was never going to end. Ultimately, the sound of Fluttershy entering the house broke the kiss.

	Fluttershy stared for a moment, until Spike realised he was not covered by the sheets... and as he blushed and covered himself, she rushed into the kitchen and mumbled something about getting them breakfast.

	For the rest of the day Spike would hold Twilight in his arms, and Fluttershy would assist him in caring for her. In time, Twilight would have their baby and recover, but for now she needed him, and he was determined to be there for her as always.

https://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/01/story-anti-pony-story-series.html