 As I leaned back into my chair, watching the sun rise I thought about how lucky I had been. Finding a pony like Maple was probably the best thing that had ever happened to me. Somehow she makes me feel like I have a real home here. Lately though, she seemed to be acting strangely. She was being distant and kept pulling away. Even the last few days she had stayed over at her relatives, today was going to be her first night back. 
Despite my worries, when I caught sight of her coming down the road my heart leapt. Things just haven’t been the same around here without Maple. As she neared the house, I got up and greeted her with a hug. She tensed up a little and just halfheartedly returned it, which put a knife right into my chest. I picked up her bags for her and got her settled back in. It was quiet for the rest of the evening, a stark contrast to what it had been like before. 
Breakfast had gone by in much the same way, silence and tension. I wanted to ask her what was wrong, but Maple never was one to cooperate when she was in a mood. She had gone to the attic after eating and hadn’t come back down, that was three hours ago. Enough was enough, I think standing with fist in the air, and Maple was going to tell me what’s wrong if she wants to or not. 
Knocking on the door, I announce that I am coming in and swing the door open. It’s hard to make out anything as the only light on is a tiny little night light in the corner. After a few seconds I spot Maple hanging from one of the rafters wrapped up in her wings. Taking a seat underneath her, I search for something to say. 
“Maple, I don’t know what’s wrong but I’m worried about you. I know you’ve been there for me in the past and I’d like to be here for you now, but I need to know what’s wrong.”
She offers no response to this, except to shift uncomfortably. 
“I know you like to handle things your own way, but this is affecting me too. I’ve been worried sick about you, and with the way you’ve been acting I’m worried about us.”
At this she seems to shiver, and tightens her wings around herself. Not much chance of getting anything out of her right now, maybe tempting her with her favorite pie later would work. Standing up, I plant a kiss on her forehead as I prepare to leave for the kitchen.
“Just remember that I love you Maple, and I’m here if you need me.”
I make it to the door, but no further as I’m tackled from behind. As I flip over, Maple is face to face with me. Before anything can be said, she leans forward and kisses me for what seems like hours. As she pulls back, I can see she’s been crying. She rests her head on my chest and gets comfortable.
“I’ll tell you later, just let me enjoy this for now, please.”
Never being one to deny Maple anything, not that she’d let me, I just stroke her mane and lay there with her until we both drift off to sleep.
I awake sometime before nightfall to find that Maple had already gotten up. Standing up proved more difficult than usual, due to the flying pony tackle and impromptu hard wood nap. As I descended the stairs, trying to work the kinks out of my back, my nose is assaulted by a variety of smells coming from the kitchen. Though she was never a very good cook, it was good to see her active again. 
Maple turns around and smiles, something that makes all the pain in my back worth it. 
“Hey, I made some dinner for us. So sit down and get to it before it gets cold. It’s not often I feel like cooking, you should be honored.”
There was the Maple that I fell for; though it seemed from the smell her cooking hadn’t improved any. Dinner went by pleasantly; she told me all about her trip to her family’s place and all the gossip that went along with it. She seemed happy for the first time in a long time and that seemed to make the food taste better, despite the constant screaming of my taste buds of how wrong I was. 
After dinner we sat around and played games like we used to when I first moved in. I admit, I was a little upset that after all this time I still couldn’t beat her in Hyperspace Hyperwars, a fact she loved to rub in my face. Eventually we settled down on the couch to enjoy the sunset. It was a great idea to have that big ass window put in, glad I thought of it. 
Suddenly, and rather violently, I am shoved down onto the couch. Maple standing over me with a look in her eyes seen only once before, the best way to describe it would be… lewd. Before I can manage a query as to this sudden attempted struggle snuggle, she places a hoof over my mouth. 
“Shhh, no talking or questions right now. I’ve gone without for a week, so this is going to happen. Besides, I know you like it.”
Well, can’t exactly argue with a proposal like that, especially since when the lady is right, she’s right. 
She begins kissing from the neck down, clothing proving to be nothing more than momentary annoyance. Soon enough she has all of my clothes strewn about the room, something that is quite amazing seeing as how I didn’t feel half of it being removed. 
She continued going over every inch of my body with her mouth and tongue until I was ready to burst. Glancing back at what her handiwork had caused elicited a sultry chuckle from her.
“Oh my, it seems you want this to happen just as badly as I do, you naughty boy.”
She straddles you, your little stallion massaged by her as she begins to gyrate and tease me. Soon the both of us are covered in her juices, and I can see she’s very nearly there. Without warning I pick her up by her flank and impale her on my mighty steed. She lets out a surprised screech and tightens around me, her walls massaging my entire length. Before she can regain her composure, I move her onto her back and begin thrusting into her. She moans in pleasure as she wraps her hooves around my neck and waist. 
“Ah, yes! Right there, harder! Harder!”
Doing as she says, I thrust into her with reckless abandon. Soon her face is one of sheer ecstasy, completely lost in the moment. I can feel her tighten and convulse around my member rapidly.
“I’m about to…”
I cut her off with a deep, passionate kiss as I thrust forward again, reaching my own limit. I empty myself into her as I feel her own juices flowing over me. We lay there, embracing each other for the longest time. I pull back from the kiss, and brush her mane out of her eyes. She has such beautiful eyes. I begin to withdraw from her, but she wraps herself tighter around me.
“Not yet, I want to stay like this.”
Conceding, I pull the blanket off the back of the couch and throw it over us. As we drift off to sleep together, I feel as though I finally have my Maple back. 

The next day, we were like a pair of first time lovers. Acting all nervous around each other and giggling like idiots. We showered together and tried to clean the couch as best we could. It would need to be replaced, or at least moved to the attic for future use. Breakfast was probably the best I’ve ever had, despite being just cereal. After eating, Maple went to do the laundry and I tried to clean the carpet. I didn’t have much success; I wonder how much it would cost to have hardwood put in? As I’m getting ready to prepare lunch, Maple calls me upstairs. 
Walking into the bedroom, I can see Maple sitting on the bed. She seems nervous about something, fidgeting about and playing with her tail. 
“What’s up, something wrong?”
She bites her lip, looking like she was trying to find the right thing to say.
“Will you always be here with me, no matter what?”
I’m a little taken aback with the question; this is unusually out of character for her. She used to punch me in the leg when things got all mushy early in our relationship. 
“Of course I will. No matter what, I’ll be right here.”
She sighs, straightening herself out and locking eyes with me. 
“I’m pregnant.”
A moment passed without anything said, Maple looking more concerned with each passing second, almost verging on tears. I was able to mentally slap myself back in time, and gave her the biggest bear hug I could muster, unable to contain the joy I felt.
“That’s fantastic! Is this why you’ve been acting so strangely?”
We broke off the hug so we could speak more easily.
“Of course it is! This is something huge and I didn’t know if you even wanted kids!”
“Yeah it’s huge, and I didn’t, but right now I couldn’t be happier! How long have you know?”
“It’s been about a week and a half. I was okay at first, but then my family…”
I cut her off, and lean in, my forehead against hers.
“Don’t worry about them; we have our own family to worry about now. So, have you thought of a name yet, Mom?”
She pulls back, tears of joy streaming down her face, before she jumps on me returning the hug. It looks like I really do have my little Maple back for good. 

The last couple of years went by in a flash, it seems. From hospital visits, to late night trips for various exotic and horrifying foods, to the scary high libido she had at times that left me in a state afterwards. Not to mention the wedding that caught everyone off guard. Then was the trip to the delivery room, I don’t think I had ever been that anxious before or since. They say birth is beautiful, and it is, but it’s equally horrifying as well. It was worth it though, because once it was all said and done there was my wife with our first child. A healthy little, bat pony, person, thing. Oh who cares what she was, she was Maple’s, mine, and adorable. 
It was rough going early on, trying to parent. Diaper changes, potty training, trying to discipline the little monster. Maple had taken to motherhood quite well, which was funny at times with her tough as nails attitude and refusal to admit she was wrong. That led to many a humorous moment, that you had happily captured on camera for future use. Things were good, and despite a few naysayers, went smoothly. 
I find myself now at my desk, trying to find an ending to a book I’d taken up writing a while back. The sound of little hooves coming up behind me meant one thing. I spun around and grabbed my daughter, lifting her up to my lap. She was her giggly self as she playfully tried to escape the tickle monster. We settled down and she stared at the typewriter on my desk.
“Are you still writing that thing, daddy? That’s so boring, let’s go to the zoo. No, let’s go to the park! I can show you how good I’m flying now! Mommy taught me lots about it!”
She punctuates that by fluttering her wings like a little hummingbird.  She was the cutest thing, but I’d have to talk to Maple about cutting her sugar intake. 
“Okay, Nene, go get ready and we’ll go out.”
“YAY!”
She half runs half flies out of the room to go get ready for a day of fun. Maple comes in after her, shouting down the hall. 
“Don’t fly in the house young lady! You’ll break something!”
Maple comes over kisses me on the cheek. 
“Almost finished? Well it’s about time. Come on, if we take too long who knows what she’ll get into.”
“Okay, just have one more sentence, and then I’ll be right there.”
Maple smiles and trots off after our daughter, and I can’t help but smile as I think back on how my life has turned out. I turn back to my typewriter and put on the finishing touches.

“And they lived happily ever after.”