Spike carefully knocked on the door to Rarity's work room."Rarity? Can I come in?"He tried turning the doorknob and found it open.Rarity was sitting at her drawing desk, idly twirling a pen and staring off into space. She was surrounded by dirty tissues, indicating she had cried as well. Spike silently slipped inside and closed the door behind him."Rarity?"She whirled around."Huh?! Oh!...It's just you. Thank goodness."She wiped her eyes. Runny makeup had given her face the appearance of a very sad pantomime. Spike approached her slowly, unsure how to start. He glanced over Rarity's shoulder and noticed that her newest design sketches mostly consisted of big, frowning faces."I see Manehattan's got a new trend. Reflecting on themselves then, huh?"Rarity gave him a wide-eyed stare, but then slumped back with a sigh, making herself even smaller than she already was in comparison to him."Yes", she whispered.Spike frowned, but then continued:"You'd think they'd have learned a thing or two from Coco Pommel. City like that can't exist on mistrust alone."He glanced towards his wife."How's she doing anyway?"Rarity looked up at him, surprised."Coco? Oh, she's doing well enough. This line is actually supposed to appear beside hers at the New Yoke Spring Festival, but...well, I might be a little distracted.""So I see," Spike noted. He descended on all fours and laid down beside his wife."For doing well enough, she's still causing you quite the trouble", he murmured.Rarity stared at the floor."I didn't mean to burst out like that", she said, "but you know...""Bad memories", Spike finished for her, "I know."His wife turned around to face him."What should I do?"Spike silently stared into her eyes."For now...nothing. I've already explained the situation to Lavender, but she'll need some time to fully process it. And you too, I think."He gave Rarity an encouraging smile."Don't be too harsh on yourself."Rarity sniffled for a moment and then snuggled to her husband's side."But...I just thought I raised her better than that", she mumbled.Spike smiled and hugged her."You did, really! She just didn't want to upset you.""Yes, but...why couldn't she just tell me? Her lying to me upset me more than knowing she'd been in a fight.""Yeah...I think that much is obvious", Spike mumbled, "even to her."He shifted his weight."Why did she have to fight in the first place?", Rarity muttered."Because another pony attacked her", Spike replied. "And I think we both know the reason for that too."Rarity gave a deep sigh."Yes..."They both stared out the window, silent for a long time. Troubling thoughts that none of them wanted to utter circled the room.Had it been right? Had they made a mistake in conceiving a child, knowing full well it would meet with little approval of their surroundings? There was no answer. It had been the ultimate expression of their love, the biggest joy they could ever feel. Lavender was their daughter, against all odds and obstacles. But sometimes it was hard.The silence crept on.Finally Spike shook his head and sat upright, startling his wife."Nahh, you know what? All this dwelling on the past isn't doing us any good. And it's making me hungry. I think I'll make us pancakes."Rarity glared at him, dumbfounded."You know how much our little princess loves the stuff. Maybe she'll be willing to initiate peace negotiations", Spike continued. "Although", and here he smiled mischievously at Rarity, "you'd better fix yourself up. You look like a mime who's been caught in a hurricane."He grinned as Rarity's mouth fell open, unable to comprehend what she'd just heard. Then she punched him in the side."Spike! How dare you say something like that to a lady! Bad dragon! Bad! Where'd you pick that up?""It's hereditary.""What-""I got it from our daughter", Spike grinned.Rarity punched him again, smiling this time."You big, silly lizard! You'll apologize this instant or there'll be no pancakes for you!"Spike rolled over and put his head in her lap."But I want pancaaakes", he whined."Spike, behave yourself", Rarity tried to say, but was cut off as Spike buried his mouth in her belly, chanting:"Puh-puh-puh-pancaaakes!"Rarity squealed with laughter as she tried to push his head away.In her room, Lavender smiled at the sound.--------------Follow up toand