You could have sworn your jacket was boxed up in the closet. Where else could it have gone? You distinctly remember putting it away last year, right alongside your knit cap and gloves...and yet, there's an empty space there now. If you can't find your jacket, things are going to be unpleasant, to say the least. Not enough time to have Rarity make a new one, either, especially on such short notice.

You call out to Rarity, who's busy sorting through cold-weather gear with Fluttershy in the hallway.

"Hey, baby? Have you seen my jacket anywhere?"

"Have you tried the box in the closet?" she yells back.

"Yeah, it's gone! But all of my other stuff is still here for whatever reason!"

"I'm sure it'll turn up somewhere, darling! I'll keep an eye out for you!"

You grumble and go back to the storage box, pulling out what remains -- a dark red and gray knit cap, a pair of thick, black gloves, and a red scarf. At least it's something. They join a folded set of clothing sitting at the bottom of a backpack -- though it's less of a backpack and more of a drawstring bag with shoulder straps. At least it fits.

Most of the morning has been spent digging winter clothing out of boxes and drawers, all in preparation for something that was literally decided upon without any previous planning -- a trip up to the Frostvalley Meadows area.

When you woke up this morning, the onset of a mild hangover throbbing away at your temples, taking a trip wasn't even something you'd have remotely considered. Given the events of last night, and the drunken threesome that nearly took place, you spent a good couple of hours downstairs by yourself while the girls slept, drinking an ungodly amount of coffee in an effort to ease the headache away. It didn't work -- you ended up with a throbbing headache and a jittery caffeine rush. You're pretty sure you would have worn a hole in the floor if you paced back and forth any longer.

When they finally woke up, you were relieved to find that they didn't seem to remember most of what happened after you got home. That, or they've simply chosen to not speak about it.

Rarity was delighted when you presented them with some breakfast after they'd had the chance to regain their bearings; nothing too fancy, just a couple of omelets and some spiced home fries.

While you were eating breakfast, Rarity brought up the idea of taking a day trip somewhere. It would help set your minds at ease for what is sure to be a busy week, she said, what with the Hearth's Warming Eve celebration just a month away, not to mention the inevitable rush at your construction job to complete as many buildings as quickly as possible before snow starts falling. Her suggestion was a short trip up to the Frostvalley Meadows area, which sits at the base of the Swayback mountains. The name sounded familiar -- it was the same place that she'd mentioned as making the bottle of wine you all uncorked in celebration of finishing the half-off sale day. Apparently they have a few small cottages they rent out for a modest price, and it comes with a free wine tasting and tour of the vineyard...though you're not sure exactly how many grapes you're likely to find in nearly freezing temperatures.

Still, it sounded like a nice little escape, and the relatively short distance meant that you could be back in the early morning, just in time to head off to work. Even if it involves waking up earlier than you'd prefer.

As a result, it's been a mad dash to recover the packed-away winter clothing for yourself and Rarity. At least it's been easy for Fluttershy; as a pegasus, she's practically immune to temperature variations, except for extreme hot or cold. Even so, Rarity insisted on giving her an extra scarf and set of snow boots. They went into a pair of saddlebags...saddlebags that are otherwise filled to the brim with Rarity's winter outfits. You tried to tell her that three jackets, a sweater, four scarves, two sets of snow boots, three hats, and a pair of leggings just might be a bit excessive for less than twenty-four hours, but you knew it was pretty much a losing battle from the moment you mentioned it. I simply can't go without a matching ensemble, she said. Oh well. She's carrying it anyway, and she somehow managed to squeeze it all into a pair of moderately-sized saddlebags.

Which brings you to your current situation. Somehow, you've managed to lose your red jacket over the course of less than a year. If you didn't know any better, you'd swear it just walked out on its own. You push the box away with a quiet swear and shove it back into the corner of the closet, then step out into the hallway to see how the girls are doing. At least they've had better luck than you have.

"Did you find it, dear?" Rarity asks as she levitates a hat onto her head -- a small, fuzzy, round little number with off-white wool wrapped around it.

"No, and I looked freakin' everywhere for it..."

"Hmm...have you tried Sweetie's guest room? We may have put it in the extra closet and forgotten about it."

You give a shrug and step into the spare room, flicking on the light. Sweetie Belle hasn't been by in weeks, but Rarity keeps her room immaculately clean and tidy just in case. Several drawings and art projects dot the walls, little gifts from Sweetie to her big sister. Hanging over the bed is a tacked-up set of cursive letters spelling out Sweetie's name, made from stitched-together bits of fabric on a gold background. Rarity made it for her several years ago, when Sweetie was still just a young foal, and it's been up there ever since.

Off to one side of the room is a set of sliding double doors, which you pull open in the hopes of finding your long-lost jacket. Not that you haven't had to face the cold before -- Celestia knows you had to put up with many a freezing hour standing in formation during basic training at all hours of the night -- it's just that you'd rather not put yourself through it again if you can avoid it.

The closet is mostly empty, just a few old dresses of Rarity's and some stacked boxes of old memorabilia. Tucked away in the corner, though, is something that catches your eye. Something red. Something definitely not made to fit a pony.

"Oh, thank god. Finally!" You pull out the jacket and sigh with relief, eagerly putting it on to see if it still fits. It's just a tiny bit tighter around your chest and stomach than it used to be...maybe Rarity was right about going by Sugarcube Corner so much...

"Hey, honey, check it out! You were right, it was in the closet in here."

"Fabulous!" she exclaims. "Bring it out so we can take a look, won't you?"

You close the closet back up and flick off the light, stepping into the hallway.

"What do you think? Still looks good, right?"

"I'm surprised it still fits you, darling! I wasn't sure if it would still be properly sized after a year. You understand. Turn around for me so I can check for any damage."

You do so, brushing the dust off your shoulders and chest as you turn. You're a little alarmed when you hear Rarity gasp. That can't be good...

"Something up, babe? Is it ripped or something? I didn't get a chance to look at the back of it."

"Oh, no...it's not...not ripped or anything." You can hear her hiding a laugh behind your back, and even Fluttershy sounds like she's doing the same. Yep, this is definitely bad.

"What? What's so funny?" You crane your head around to try and get a look over your shoulder, but you can't see anything obvious.

"I do believe your jacket may now be the property of Sweetie Belle!" Rarity bursts out laughing, having to cover her mouth with a foreleg. "Though I must say, darling, you look simply fabulous with rhinestones!"

"The hell...?" You whip off your jacket and turn it around...and notice two large, cursive letters written out in small, purple and blue gems: 'SB'.

"Oh for cryin' out loud! Come on!"

Your reaction only makes them laugh harder, though you can't find anything but annoyance at the current situation.

...okay, maybe it is a little funny. But come on, that was your favorite jacket! Hell, that was your only jacket! And now you're gonna be forced to walk around for god-knows-how-long with Sweetie's initials emblazoned into your back. Wonderful.

"Oh come now, darling! It's not that bad! I must say, I'm rather impressed with Sweetie's ability to arrange them so neatly!"

"It's very, um...sparkly." Fluttershy adds with a giggle.

Sparkly. That's great. Just great!

You stuff the 'sparkly' jacket into your backpack while mumbling to yourself in annoyance, hoping you won't have to actually use it.

"You've been needing a new jacket anyway, dear. Now you simply have a better excuse, hmm?"

"Yeah, thrilled to have an excuse. Just thrilled. I gotta wear this out in public now? No way, hon. Not happening."

Rarity waves a dismissive hoof as she floats the last of her clothing into her saddlebags.

"At least it's not too terribly cold out at the moment. You should be fine with a long-sleeve shirt. Once we start getting higher in elevation, however...well, at least the vineyard and surrounding area should be relatively quiet. Don't fret it, darling."

You sling the backpack around you and pull on the straps, making sure it's tight. Although it's supposed to be an uneventful taxi wagon ride up to the winery -- and thankfully not a pegasus taxi -- there's still a bit of a walk to the location itself. The last thing you need is to have the straps chafing.

"I'm ready whenever you girls are."

"We'll be just a moment, I want to make sure we've brought everything necessary." Rarity checks over the contents of her saddlebags, going through a mental checklist. It's mostly clothing, but half of one bag has a moderate selection of food tucked away. That way, she says, you can have everything ready to prepare dinner later on. You're hoping the vineyard has some fresh items available, but you can make do with what you've got. At least the cabin has full electrical appliances, even if you're going to have to rely on a fireplace for warmth. Rarity assures you it won't be as bad as you think; you're willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. After all, she's the only one who's been up to the place before.

"I have to admit that I'm a little excited," Fluttershy says with a soft smile, "I've never been around Frostvalley Meadows. I've seen it from Cloudsdale a few times, and it always looked very nice. Very green in the spring, though I've never seen it in the winter. I imagine it's probably snowing decently up that way. At least, that's what I'd assume. The weather team tries to keep that area at least partially covered with snow during the winter so that the animals will know to keep hibernating."

"So do we have everything? I'd prefer to get there before it gets dark, or it's gonna be freezing before we can even start up that fireplace." Patience. Not exactly one of your virtues.

Rarity finishes looking through her pink saddlebags and levitates them across her back, clasping them shut with a soft 'click'.

"I believe so, yes. We'll lock up the Boutique and make our way to the taxi center...shouldn't be more than a fifteen minute walk, if we hurry. Hopefully there's one available to take us all that way."

You make your way downstairs with the two mares in tow, giving the Boutique a once-over to make sure all of the lights are out and the appliances are turned off.

"I realize this is short notice, but I think we'll have a marvelous time. I'm relatively sure that there will be a cottage available; not many ponies know that Ruby and Cabernet even offer such a service. Besides, it will make for a nice change of scenery, don't you think? We haven't seen snow in quite some time."

"Could be nice, yeah. At least we don't have to shovel our way out of it like we did after that blizzard last year. That was a pain and a half."

"I thought you might enjoy that part," she replies with a grin. "Now, let's not delay, hmm? Hopefully we can make it there by midday."

==========

Frostvalley Meadows.

It certainly lives up to its name; less than half-way there you were forced to throw on your (now fabulous) jacket, lest the freezing cold turn you into a large popsicle. You helped Rarity into her extensive winter outfit, thankful that the passenger wagon had some spare room so you could stretch your arms out without bumping into anything. To say that she was well-prepared would be putting it lightly -- her full ensemble consisted of a large, white, two-piece jacket that fully covered her all the way down to her hind legs (complete with a fuzzy collar around her neck), black leggings, bright red elbow gloves tucked into the arms of her jacket, and a matching set of black snow boots. As always, she finished it off with a hat -- the fuzzy hat she was trying on earlier.

If you had to describe it in one word, it would be 'classy'. It reminds you of the winter fashions worn by the glamorous movie starlets of the forties.

"How do I look?" she asks as she bounces a curl of purple hair with a hoof.

"Like you're ready to step into movie screen," you reply with a smile.

"Always a flatterer," she giggles quietly. Rarity nestles her head against your shoulder and sighs with relief, enjoying the cold air and the beautiful scenery. You have to hand it to her, it really is stunning up here. There's a layer of snow, a few inches deep at most, just as you'd expected, but the bare branches of the trees at lower altitudes have given way to vast expanses of evergreens and towering pine trees. Running alongside the unpaved road is a small stream, maybe a few feet wide; it quietly babbles as you travel along with it.

"I have to admit, you were absolutely right, baby." You run your fingers through the lengths of hair not covered by her hat.

"Hmm? About what, darling?"

"It's amazing up here. Really beautiful. Doesn't hurt that I've got a couple of equally gorgeous mares resting against me," you add with a quiet laugh. Fluttershy is still passed out against your other arm, having fallen asleep nearly half an hour ago. The cold doesn't seem to bother her in the least. You haven't seen her shiver or fidget even once.

"Aww, thank you, dear." She leans up and gives you a kiss before nuzzling back against your arm. "It is quite nice up here, isn't it? The last time I was up here was for a business trip. I'd been hoping to obtain a few bottles of wine for a get-together with some of Ponyville's more well-known business ponies, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the owners of the winery were simply marvelous ponies in their own right. I wonder if they'll remember me..."

"Is that the same trip you got that nine-ninety-seven wine from?"

She nods, continuing, "Indeed it is! Ever since that day, I've been wanting to take a full trip up this way to enjoy the scenery. Now that you're in my life, I believe I have the perfect excuse to do so. After all, what's better than sharing something with the one you love?"

"Nothing that I can think of," you answer, wrapping your arm around her waist and squeezing her against you.

"Really? Nothing? Are you sure about that...?" She asks with a wry grin, gently biting one of your fingertips and flicking her tongue over it.

"Well...maybe one thing." You hope the pair of stallions pulling the wagon aren't watching her flirt with you.

"Hmmhmm, I thought so. You know, this provides us with a unique opportunity. I've always wanted to be...intimate...near the warmth of a fireplace. Shame the Boutique doesn't have one." Rarity lowers her voice just above a whisper and leans in closer. "Perhaps we can make the most of our situation tonight, hmm?"

"I think I'd like that," you reply, running your hand down her jacket and slipping it into her lower leggings. You can't quite reach anything sensitive, but you're pretty sure you got your point across.

"We'll call it a date then, darling." She gives you another kiss, longer and slower this time, pulling back with a loving smile sooner than you'd have hoped for. "It's still a ways to the vineyard, dear. Why don't you just close your eyes and catch a nap? I believe Fluttershy has had the right idea for some time now."

You can't argue with the idea. You glance up at the two earth ponies pulling the passenger wagon, who are busy talking amongst themselves as they make their way up the winding road.

Not finding much else to do, you shut your eyes and lay your head against Rarity's, the gentle bumping of the wagon lulling you to sleep in a matter of minutes.

==========

"Rise and shine, darling." You feel a pair of hooves gently nudging your shoulder, causing you to wake up with a slight jump. "My apologies, dear, I didn't mean to startle you. We're finally here."

You stretch your arms out and yawn, rubbing your eyes to wake yourself up. The wagon has stopped, the two stallions up front excitedly talking with Fluttershy as she hovers just in front of them, gesturing wildly. Probably telling them a story of one of her adventures.

You take a look at your surroundings through half-closed eyes, squinting against the midday sun. The dense pine forest has opened up to a large, circular, snow-covered farm area with dozens of tiers of growing space. Innumerable short, wooden posts are spaced out along the tiers, lengths of wire stretched between them, many of them covered in dark red grapes and shriveled leaves. They don't look dead, just...frozen.

A large building -- you'd guess it to be the processing and storage building -- sits nestled in the center, right alongside a smaller home. Plumes of white smoke waft up from the chimney, and you can see the silhouettes of a pair of ponies in the windows.

Finally, off to one side, a row of three small, rustic-looking cottages are spaced out in a line. Two of them are obviously occupied, but a third sits dormant. Good to see that the trip wasn't for nothing.

"Isn't it gorgeous?" Rarity asks, stepping down from the wagon.

"Yeah it is. I wasn't expecting it to be so...big."

You step down and grab your backpack, then help Rarity secure her saddlebags to her back.

"It would seem they've expanded since I was last here! There were only two cabins then, and maybe half as much growing space. Farmland. Whatever they call it. The owners must have been quite successful! Oh, maybe they can give us some pointers!" she adds with a soft laugh.

"You folks enjoy your trip?" one of the stallions asks, temporarily unhitching himself from the yoke.

"That we did, my good sir," Rarity answers with a polite nod. "It was quite the pleasant journey. Do you gentlestallions get out this way often?"

"Once in a while. Not many ponies know about this place, it seems. Nice change of scenery, you know? Beats trips into the Everfree Forest again, I can tell ya that! At least we get hazard pay for that, though."

Any job with an occupational hazard of 'eaten by hydra and/or other mythical creature' probably isn't something to be taken lightly.

"Anyway, just wanted to see if you folks needed any help with your bags or something. It's complimentary."

"I appreciate the offer, but I think we can manage. It's just a one day trip, so we packed light."

"Relatively..." you add quietly. Bringing enough winter clothing for four ponies isn't really 'packing light'.

"Alright, just making sure. You folks sure were quiet on the way up here, usually we get passengers who just can't stop talking. Not that my brother and I really care, mind you, it's just nice to have a change of pace. You understand." The unhitched pony gives a look at the wagon wheels and undercarriage, lightly kicking them with a leg to make sure they're still tight.

Now that you give the two ponies -- brothers, apparently -- a better look, they seem vaguely familiar. One of them has an off-white coat with tan hair, and the other has a pure white coat with orange hair. And they both have yellow eyes. Almost like...

"Sorry if this seems like an odd question, but do you guys know a stallion who works construction? Looks a lot like you?"

The still-hitched pony looks over his shoulder at his brother, arching an eyebrow.

"Wait, you mean Fix? Yeah, he's our older brother by a few years. You know him?"

"Well I'll be damned! Yeah, I work with him. He's a good guy. Never knew he had any brothers, actually."

"Well, it's complicated," the hitched pony says, kicking a hoof at the partially-frozen dirt. "We don't see him much, he's kinda been doing his own thing since before we finished Talent School. But yeah, that's cool that you know him. Tell him we said hi, would you?"

"Yeah, sure thing," you tell them. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry or anything."

"Nah, don't worry about it. You and your mare friends here just have a good time. You three are friends, right?"

Friends? Friends with benefits, maybe...

"That we are, darling," Rarity interjects before you can say something you'll end up regretting. "We've known each other for quite a while. We're very close."

Understatements, another of Rarity's talents.

"That's cool, even if you're a weird-lookin' creature, tall guy." The unhitched brother jabs at you with an elbow and laughs. The hitched brother shakes his head and sighs at the joke.

"You're one to talk, you ugly bum."

"We look almost exactly the same, ya feather-brain!"

"Maybe, but you're still the ugly one."

They both laugh, the unhitched brother working his way around the wagon to the yoke.

"Alright, we'll just collect the payment and be on our way. It'll be a flat sixty bits, if you don't mind."

You fish through your coin pouch for the appropriate amount, adding ten extra bits for a tip. You're about to hand him the amount, but realize that you're not sure what to do with it.

"Uhh...do you want me to, like, leave it in the wagon, or...?"

"Coin pouch," he points to a small bag hanging from the yoke near the passenger wagon's front as he slips the collar back around his neck. "Just drop it in there."

"Ah, right. I left you some extra for the pleasant trip, you guys are the smoothest taxi ride I've had in a long time."

"Thanks, pal!" The hitched one bumps his brother's hoof with his own, smiling at a little extra income. "We'll leave you to your business. You folks have a good time, alright? If you ever need a ride in the future, feel free to ask for us. I'm Pathfinder, and this is Flat Out. We're usually around during the day."

"Definitely. Thanks again, guys." Rarity and Fluttershy wave as the brothers pull their wagon around, the brighter-coated one -- Flat Out -- rearing up with a shout before they rush off. You watch the wagon take off down the road, only turning away once it goes out of sight.

"Such nice stallions," Rarity says, adjusting her hat.

"They were very friendly!" Fluttershy stretches her wings out before tucking them back against her sides. "They were telling me about the time they escaped a manticore, they've been through a lot of dangerous places. I, um, told them that we helped a manticore who was in trouble...they were a little surprised."

She grabs a pink and green scarf from a saddlebag, wrapping it around her neck with a satisfied smile. It's the only piece of winter clothing she's put on so far -- pegasi must have one hell of an immunity to weather, considering how wrapped-up you and Rarity are.

Which reminds you, you're glad the brothers never got a chance to see your back...

With the wagon gone, you're struck by how incredibly quiet it is up here. It's an almost absolute silence, with just the soft breeze blowing through the trees and the crunch of snow under foot. Or hoof. 'Serene' would be the word you'd use to describe it. Even though Ponyville is a relatively quiet place to begin with, this is on a whole other level.

"Quite the sight, isn't it?" you ask, your breath coming out as a cloud of vapor.

"Quite the sight indeed, darling. What do you think, Fluttershy?"

"It's very nice, yes." Fluttershy points a hoof at the house sitting in the center of the vineyard. "Is that where the owners live? We should probably go talk to them if we want that cabin."

"Right. Does everyone have their belongings?"

You pat your backpack, confident that you're not missing anything.

"Everything feels like it's here, hon."

"Fabulous! I already know Fluttershy and myself have our things, so let's not waste any more time, shall we?"

Rarity and Fluttershy walk just in front of you, Rarity's booted hoof prints making a path for you to follow. They excitedly point to things around the area and laugh as they share a story, one you're only half paying attention to, the other half of your mind preoccupied by how strikingly similar the forest reminds you of your old home and the summers you spent up north with your grandparents. Take away the vineyard, and it would be an exact match.

"--cited to be here! Why, if I can secure some sort of distribution deal with them, and obtain a vendor's license, I could offer wine at the Boutique!"

"Wait," you interrupt, "you're gonna turn the Boutique into a fashion-store-slash-wine-shop?"

"It's just a thought, darling." Rarity shrugs and keeps walking, probably working out how to make such a thing feasible even as you speak. She'd probably make it work, knowing her. Still, it's probably just a spur-of-the-moment thing, a little idea she'll come up with and then forget about soon after.

Maybe.

The three of you approach the snow-frosted house in the center of the vineyard, the large, red door decorated with painted grape clusters and vines over white, ornate letters reading 'Fiddler's Run Winery'.

"Should we just walk in? Or do we knock?" You're pretty sure it's a business, but it's also clearly a home...

"Better to play it on the safe side, darling."

Rarity knocks three times on the door, waiting for a reply. When there is none, she knocks again, but louder. That seems to do it.

"Come in!" a mare's voice shouts from inside. You push the door open and allow the girls to step in first, shutting the door behind you as you follow them. You take a look around and let out a low whistle at the sight.

The interior is cozy and small-ish, with a vaulted ceiling decorated with fake vines and grape clusters. The entire place is painted a wine-red color, and there's a pleasant, subtle smell of fruit permeating the air.

"Oh, my! Would you look at all those bottles?" Rarity points a hoof at a wine rack that takes up two entire walls, with a set of stairs leading down to what you presume to be a wine cellar for the more expensive selections.

"There must be dozens of wines here! How wonderful!"

You can feel your coin pouch getting lighter already.

Off to one side is a low-set counter with a register set out, a wine-red earth pony occupying herself with some unseen task.

"Welcome to Fiddler's Run Winery! What can I do for you dears?"

Rarity's eyes light up as she sees the mare, happily trotting over with you and Fluttershy in tow.

"Ruby! Oh, it's been so long! How have you been, darling?"

Ruby eyes her inquisitively, trying to place a name to the mare who so obviously recognizes her.

"You must forgive me if I can't quite place your name, dearie...you seem very familiar, though." She strikes you as a classy mare, probably in her forties, judging by the small wrinkles just below her eyes. Her wine-red coat is complimented by her bright magenta eyes and mane, the latter held in place with a small, white headband that reaches from ear to ear. On her flank is a cutie mark of a pair of crossed wine glasses, each glass filled partially with red wine. About what you were expecting, actually. As cutie marks go, it seems to match her chosen profession very closely. She's also just a tiny bit chubby, like Mrs. Cake. To top it all off, her voice sounds distinctly northern.

"Oh, think nothing of it. It has been a few years, after all. It was in mid Spring's Bounty, I purchased a few bottles of wine for a get-together. I believe you said you wanted to attend, but were unfortunately too busy with your winery. Does that ring any bells?"

"Hmmm...a bit, but I'll be a hay seed if I can remember. Just a moment." Ruby turns and yells behind her. "Cab! There's a few customers here you might remember! Don't sit back there like a bump on a log, dearie!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm comin'!" a stallion's voice replies.

"Sorry, Cab's a bit of a grump sometimes."

A slightly older pegasus steps in from the back, a clipboard clenched in his mouth.

"Customers, you say? Well I'll be. It's been a while since we had more than one or two folks sho--"

His eyes widen as he takes a look at you, nearly dropping the clipboard.

"Nice to meet you, sir," you say with a nod, hoping to put him at ease. He quickly recovers his senses and places the clipboard on a box, nodding in return.

"R-Right. Sorry about that, son. Never seen your type around here before. I'll be a gryphon's uncle!"

"Don't worry about it," you reply with a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of your neck. A year and a half, and it's still hard to introduce yourself to new ponies. Probably always will be. At least he didn't try to call the guards on you. That's happened more than once...

Ruby taps him on the head with a hoof.

"Don't stare, Cab. He's still a customer, after all."

"Right, my apologies. What can I do for you folks?" From the looks of him, you'd put him in his early fifties. A bit of an age divide, but nothing dramatic...provided you can accurately place pony ages, that is. It's hit or miss.

He's slightly thick, like his wife, but he's much more muscular, almost buff. For a pegasus, he looks like he does a lot of manual labor.

"Do you recognize this mare, Cab?" his wife asks. "I feel just awful that I can't remember her name. She say she's been here before."

"You can't remember because you're going senile, you old hag." He laughs and nudges Ruby, who rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm the old one. You've looked in a mirror lately, right?"

"I'm not old, honey. I've still got it." He runs a hoof through his seafoam-green mane, streaked gray with age. If anything, you'd say it makes him look more refined. It matches his light-green eyes, too. Even his coat is still a solid color -- a dark charcoal, but still with a hint of dark green -- not flecked with patches of gray that usually come in around that time. Like his wife, he has a fitting cutie mark: a wine cask, with a stream of liquid flowing out of the front.

"Sorry, folks. The missus here can be a hoof-full sometimes, heh heh. Now, lemme get a look at you, young lady."

He eyes Rarity as he runs a hoof over his chin, adding an 'a-ha!' when he recognizes her.

"Miss...Rarity? Is that right?"

"That's right! Oh, I'm quite surprised you remember my name, Mister Cabernet!"

"Of course! I couldn't forget a face as pretty as yours, madam," he says with a wink and a smile.

Rarity blushes and glances down at the ground, flattered by the compliment. The old stallion's still got it, alright.

Ruby simply face-hoofs.

"I'll be damned if I can remember exactly when it was, but I definitely remember seeing you in here before. Never seen a curled mane and tail like yours, before or since. It's quite distinctive."

"Rarity, that's right." Ruby smiles politely as she place the name. "My apologies. What can I do for you, dearie? You looking to purchase some more wine? We've got quite the selection, just pulled a small batch from an aging cask yesterday! Do you like Pinot Grigio?"

"Oh, I'm a fan of quite a few of your wines," Rarity answers with a polite smile of her own, "but I'm actually here in the hopes that I could purchase one of your fine guest cabins for the day. We plan to be out by early morning, but in the mean time it would be nice to enjoy the peace and quiet of the wonderful vineyard you call home. If that's alright, that is."

"A cabin, hmm? Give me a just a moment, I'll look through the guest ledger. I think we can accommodate you, though."

Ruby pulls a green, leather-bound book from under the counter, flipping it open and looking through a list of names and dates.

"If there's no cabin available, you can always join us. I'll kick Ruby out for you, Miss Rarity, heh heh!"

The wine-red mare kicks a hind leg back, connecting just hard enough with Cabernet's stomach to get a slight 'oof!' out of him.

"Just kidding, of course, hon."

"Of course," she monotones. "Let's see here...cabin one is occupied, as is cabin two...but cabin three is currently empty, and it's not reserved until tomorrow. Perfect!"

"Cabin three will be just fine," you tell her, pulling out your coin pouch. "Mind if we get some details before we take it?"

"Not at all. The standard fee for a cabin is fifty bits, and that includes full amenities. You get full electrical lighting, but there's also some lanterns if you prefer that. There's also a fireplace with some wood already in it, but if you need more you'll either have to pay for it or take an axe and chop some yourself. There's a pile of it sitting behind the cabins, should you feel the need. You'd be surprised how many folks seem to enjoy chopping wood. Therapeutic, or rustic, or some-such. At least, that's what they tell me."

"Also good for the muscles," Cabernet adds with a smile, flexing his forelegs. "Maybe impress a girl, uh...whatever you are. You're sure a tall one, son."

"Human," you correct him. "Couldn't hurt, I'm sure." You don't bother telling him about your relationship, figuring it's not worth the effort.

"Cab, if you keep interrupting, then Celestia help me, I'm going to go insane."

"I'd say you reached that point a long time ago, hon. Married me after all!"

"Yes, against my better judgment, dearie." She laughs and playfully pokes him with a hoof. "Like I was saying...you can go with the standard rate, or for twenty bits more you can get the deluxe package. That includes a free wine tasting of our most popular vintages, as well as a communal dinner with the other cabin occupants and ourselves. That's around seven o'clock, if you're wondering."

Rarity looks up at you with expectant eyes, clearly set on the seventy bit rate. It's more than you were planning, but...well, those big, blue eyes are hard to resist.

"Don't worry about it, darling. I can pay half if you like!"

"And, um, I can pitch in, too..." Fluttershy unhooks one of her saddlebags with a wing, preparing to reach in for some money. No matter how many times you see her do it, the whole 'flexible wing' thing still strikes you as odd. Useful, for sure, but odd.

"Nah, don't worry about it, ladies. I can pay for it. We'll just go out for lunch or something some time. How's that sound?"

"That sounds very nice, thank you," Fluttershy smiles warmly. "That's kind of you to offer."

"Quite nice indeed, darling. We'll make it up to you."

"Right," you set the appropriate amount of coins on the table, "we'll take the seventy bit package. Sounds like a good way to spend the day, or what's left of it."

"Thank you, dearie. Give us just a moment and we'll get your key."

Ruby and Cabernet step into the back, leaving you alone with Rarity and Fluttershy.

"They seem nice enough," you tell them as you stuff your coin pouch back into your pocket. "I'm surprised they remember you, hon."

"As am I! You see? I told you they were simply wonderful. Such a sweet couple, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah, that pegasus guy is quite the ladies man, haha."

"He's certainly the charmer, isn't he?"

"And he's surprisingly...buff. I don't think I've ever seen a pegasus with his build. He must do a lot of work in the vineyard....which is also surprising, since most pegasi I've seen don't do a lot of ground work. Present company excluded, of course." You smile down at Fluttershy, who offers her own in return.

"So, a complimentary wine tasting and dinner, huh? I'm cool with that. Hell, that extra twenty would probably be the cost of just the dinner anywhere else."

"Speaking of which, my dear, it's beginning to look like the food we brought was unnecessary...no matter, we can always take it back home and use it tomorrow."

You lower your voice and bend down slightly, trying to keep from being heard.

"You think they suspect anything about us, babe?"

"About us? I'm not sure what you could--oh, I see. It's possible, of course, but considering how Cabernet reacted when he saw you, I doubt it, darling. Perhaps they're just good at keeping things civil."

"Maybe."

The pair of ponies walk back to the counter, a small, silver key clasped in the mare's mouth.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, it seems Cab forgot to put the key back this morning. And he calls me senile!"

"Yeah, yeah, very funny, hon."

"Here's the key for you, cabin three will be to your right when you exit. There's a small path out that way, it should still be easy to see even with a light coating of snow that seems to be sticking to the ground for the last week. Just follow it and take the right-most path once it branches off. Shouldn't take you but a few minutes at most. Oh! And if you'd like to come to the wine tasting and tour tonight, it starts at six. We'll meet in the side room, just down the hall there and to your left. Dinner is at seven, in the same room. If you've any special requests or needs, feel free to let us know, and we'll do our best to accommodate you. Any questions?"

"I believe that will do nicely, thank you." Rarity nods and floats the key into your hand, giggling quietly as Cabernet shakes his head at the casual display of magic.

"You unicorns and your fancy magic, I swear. Must be pretty useful."

"It certainly has its moments, sir."

"Ah, no need to call me 'sir', young lady. I ain't that old. Just call me Cab."

"You're old enough for two sirs, Cab," his wife teases.

"Horsefeathers! I may not be a twenty-somethin' pup any more, but I can still more than pull my weight around, hon."

"Right, enjoy your stay. Cab and I are always around if you need us. Tonight's actually the start of Ice Wine harvest!"

That explains the frozen grapes. Guess they weren't dead after all.

"We've got some help coming in over the next few days, but we might be able to get you a fresh batch tonight. Doesn't need to be aged like regular wine. Oh, but I've talked your ears off for long enough! Go on, let us know how that cabin is. We'll see you later tonight. Thanks for staying with us, dearies."

"The pleasure is all ours," Rarity says with a curt nod.

Something pops into your head as you're about to leave.

"Oh, I wanted to ask...what's with the name? Fiddler's Run? It sounds like there's something more to it."

"Oh, that? It's an old folk tale, dearie. Fiddler's Run is supposed to be where the spirits of two ponies meet before they're born. Those who do are said to be destined to be life-long lovers and soul-mates. Such a beautiful idea, don't you think? We spent weeks trying to figure out a name for this place, but I think we're quite happy with our decision."

"After all," Cabernet adds, "what's better at bringing folks together than wine? Heh heh. But we've kept you long enough, and I'm sure you don't want to hear an old stallion wax poetic any longer. So shoo, be on your way, kids."

You give them a polite nod and a smile, telling them "It was very nice to meet both of you."

Your turn to leave, hoping they don't know enough about you to make fun of the 'SB' across your back.

"Have a good time..." Cabernet calls out as you open the door, "...lovebirds."

You stop in your tracks, your face flushing red, but Rarity simply laughs and nudges you out the door.

"Don't be so bashful, darling! Come, come, I'm eager to see what this cabin is like."

The snow-covered walkway leads to a dirt path that snakes around to the right, passing rows of frost-speckled grapes and harvesting equipment. Two cabins off to your left emit a soft glow from their windows, plumes of smoke rising from their chimneys.

It's no more than a three or four minute walk in total. You have to brush a layer of snow off the door handle, and the key slips out of your hand once as you try to stuff it in the lock, but you get inside without too much trouble.

"Oh, goodness! What a wonderful little abode!"

The interior isn't too large -- about the size of a modest apartment -- but it's nicely furnished. A pair of reclining chairs sit in the corner off to your left, facing a book shelf and coffee table adorned with a wreath of pine branches. Off to your right is a small kitchen area with basic appliances, with a short hallway leading to the only bedroom and a modest bathroom. Finally, and most importantly, a rustic fireplace sits right in the middle of the cabin, stocked with a few logs for firewood. You immediately set upon the fireplace and throw open the ash guard, hoping that your meager book of matches will be enough to light it.

"Excellent thinking, darling. It is quite a bit cold, isn't it?"

"Yeah, no kidding. With any luck I should be able to..." the first match snaps in half as you attempt to strike it, "...come on, ya damn thing...work with me here..." You strike another match, this one burning brightly, but failing to light the firewood. "Stupid matches...friggin' not working..." With a third and final attempt, the flame finally takes hold and crackles to life.

"Finally!"

"Fabulous, darling! That should keep us quite toasty for a while, wouldn't you say?" Rarity slips her saddlebags off, helping Fluttershy out of hers in turn.

"For a while. Definitely gonna have to chop some wood, though. Two logs won't cut it for the entire night."

Fluttershy happily trots around the area, looking at the collections of miniature pony figurines and winter decorations.

"It's very nice in here, Rarity. Thank you for taking me up here with you two, I truly appreciate it." She pokes a chair with a hoof, smiling as it rocks back and forth.

"Of course we would take you, my dear! I wouldn't dream of having it any other way."

"So, we've got a few hours until the wine tasting starts, right? Any ideas on what to do?"

"I don't know about you, darling, but I plan on exploring the master bedroom! I bet it looks absolutely gorgeous!" Rarity floats her hat over to a coat rack, slipping out her long coat and leggings in a matter of moments. They sit neatly hung or folded next to the door.

"Care to join me, Fluttershy?"

"Sure, Rarity," the pegasus says with a nod. You close the ash guard on the fireplace again and remove your red, sadly-bejeweled jacket, already able to feel the warmth of the fireplace spreading through the cabin. It really is a beautiful little place. You're already regretting only being able to stay for the night -- you could get used to a place like this, as much as you love the Boutique. Something about the smell of a fireplace and the feel of the frost-tinted windows just seems...right.

"Darling, you simply must come in here and see this! It's simply majestic!" Rarity announces excitedly from down the hall.

"Be right there, hon!" you call back. You kick off your boots and walk down the short hallway to the door-less bedroom, passing a pair of winter landscape paintings hanging from the wall.

Rarity and Fluttershy are excitedly talking to each other as you step in. You're immediately struck by how 'cozy' the room feels; there's a glowing lantern in the corner, casting an orange light over the walls and floor, and big, thick curtains hang down over a single, large window

"Isn't it fabulous?" Rarity asks, smiling from ear to ear. "I knew it would be an adorable little place to stay, but I'd no idea it would be this nice."

"It's certainly a nice place, yeah. I wasn't expecting so much...stuff...in one room."

The 'stuff' consists of a large chest at the foot of the bed, a nightstand off to one side of the headboard, a small bookshelf, and a three-tiered curio stand littered with trinkets and decorative figures. You would have been happy with an empty room and a bed -- everything else is simply a nice extra addition.

Best of all, and arguably most importantly, the bed is big. Really big. A king size, at least...and covered with the thickest, fluffiest blankets and pillows you've ever seen; a dark red blanket sewn with gold thread, over top of a pair of flannel sheets and a second, thinner blanket. Even the pillows are huge, easily big enough for two ponies each.

"Now this is what we need at home, baby." You fall onto the bed with a satisfied sigh, feeling your body sink into the blankets.

"Do we, now? I shall have to see for myself, in that case. Do make room, darling."

"There's plenty of it," you say, patting a spot next to you. Rarity climbs up on the bed with a small hop, spreading her legs out as she rubs her back against the fabric.

"Oh, my...this is quite comfortable..."

"Told you."

"Fluttershy, darling, you simply must join us. It's like lying on a bed of clouds...though I suppose you could attest as to what it actually feels like to lie upon a bed of clouds, couldn't you? Hmmhmm."

Fluttershy stares at you from the foot of the bed, a long length of hair covering part of one eye.

"Oh, well, I suppose I could come up there if you want me to." She lifts herself into the air with a quick flap of her wings, landing softly on all fours against the blanket. You see her raise her eyebrows as she feels it against her coat and skin, lying on her stomach beside you with her long, pink tail hanging over the side of the bed.

"It's not a cloud, but it's very close!" she says with a giggle. "Ruby and Cabernet must be very trusting ponies if they put such expensive things in these cabins..."

"They do strike me as the trusting type, yes. Though I imagine those who can afford to stay here regularly aren't too concerned with affording things like expensive blankets."

Rarity nuzzles up against you, throwing a pair of legs over your chest and thighs. She exhales deeply, a look of blissful content on her face.

"I'm glad we could make this trip on such short notice, my dears. Even with my optimistic outlook of things to come, I must admit to being quite concerned with the near future. She-who-shall-not-be-named notwithstanding, it would appear we've all got a busy week ahead of us."

"That we do," you reply. You run a hand through her long, soft mane as she talks, closing your eyes and enjoying the moment with the two mares you care deeply about, especially the one who is still unaware of her status as your future wife...provided Aegis can finish that necklace. It feels like it's been dragging on forever. And it's certainly not any less expensive.

"That's exactly why I thought this little trip would do us some good. Going for a few...well, more than a few...drinks with Applejack and Rainbow Dash is always fun, but that's more of a social gathering. This? This is far more intimate and meaningful. Wouldn't you agree?"

Fluttershy nods and smiles warmly, tucking her head between your arm and chest. Sandwiched between two beautiful women...not a situation to complain about, that's for sure.

"This is the first time I've ever been to a place like this, Rarity. Um, with others. In this kind of situation...you know what I mean."

Rarity laughs softly with her friend, sticking a hoof out and holding it against Fluttershy's.

"I'm glad you could share it with us, darling. I know things have been rather strange since this whole thing started taking place, but I think we've handled it rather well so far. I think I speak for both of us when I say that we've grown quite fond of you, my wonderful man to a greater degree." She looks up at you and smiles. "It's been quite the journey, wouldn't you say, my love?"

"Absolutely, hon." You turn your head to look at Fluttershy, her teal eyes staring back at you. "To say I was nervous at first would have been putting it lightly, but ever since you moved in with us I've slowly come to the realization that I was just worrying over nothing. Rarity cares for you as a friend and as something more, and I love her immensely. She wouldn't have brought you into our lives if she thought you would cause a rift. I see that now. I've always trusted her to do the right thing, and she's never let me down before."

She grins with adorable embarrassment, glancing away for just a moment.

"I know I've said it before, but I really want to thank both of you for being so kind. I'll admit that our situation is a little, um...unique...but I've been very happy since joining you. Honestly." You feel her run a hoof up and down your arm as she speaks. "It seems like that night on the couch, after the sale day, was so long ago. Or maybe it's just me," she adds with a quiet laugh. "But yes, I can't imagine being anywhere else right now. You've shown me affection like I'd only previously hoped for, and all because you didn't want me feeling upset."

Fluttershy bites her lip and blushes lightly under her yellow coat.

"I, um...I hope this isn't too forward, but...I think I love both of you. Not just as good friends -- I still consider you to be my best friend, and I always will, Rarity -- but as somepony, and someone, I genuinely care about."

She blushes even harder, burying her face into the pit of your arm.

"Yeah, I love you. Hmmhmm..."

"Awww, that's very sweet of you, darling!" Rarity gives her a big smile and runs a hoof through her hair. "I'm absolutely overjoyed to you hear you say such a thing. We love you as well! That I promise you from the bottom of my heart."

"I feel a lot better now," she says with a relieved laugh. "I wasn't sure how you'd react..."

"We weren't going to be upset, if that's what you thought, my dear."

"Oh, no! I didn't think you'd be upset, just...well, um, I'm not sure how I thought you'd react, actually. Maybe...surprised?"

"Darling, you've slept in our bed several times a week for the last month and a half. I think we're beyond being 'surprised' by now." Rarity giggles quietly and glances up at you, wanting to make sure that there's nothing clouding your mind still. "Something on your mind, darling?"

"Not really, babe. Just taking it all in, I guess. Nothing to worry yourself about, trust me." You grasp Fluttershy's hoof in your hand, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I'm still not quite at the same level with you that I am with Rarity, Fluttershy, but I'm slowly getting there. Like I said back when we were talking on the couch during that rainy day: it's just going to take some time. So while there's still a little bit more for me to get used to, I really think I've become close to you as well."

You run your hand up her foreleg and rest it on her shoulder, playing your fingers through her soft coat.

"How's that sound?"

"That sounds just fine. Thank you for being honest with me, I know it's taken a long time to get to this point, and I truly appreciate it." She laughs softly and rubs her nose against yours, saying, "I can see why Rarity loves you so much, you have a good heart."

She looks away for a moment as she chews on her lip, thinking something over.

"Um, I feel embarrassed to ask, but...would you...would you be okay with kissing me? It's nothing serious, of course, just, um...I think it would be nice. You don't have to."

"Are you sure? I mean, I wouldn't mind, but...you know. It feels kind of strange still..."

"Go on, darling," Rarity says just above a whisper, kissing your hand. "There's no need to be bashful. As long as she's been with us, I don't think a kiss would be unwelcome in the least. Just try to relax."

"Alright," you say with a nod and a light smile, "I think I can do that. We'll just see if we feel something, okay?"

"Okay," Fluttershy smiles in return and pushes herself up on a foreleg.

You run your hand along Fluttershy's cheek, feeling her press into your touch. She exhales softly, smiling nervously and glancing away now and then, but slowly closes her eyes and leans in. Her soft lips press against your own, cautiously, as she makes sure you won't reject her. You give a slight push to encourage her, and she opens her mouth slightly as she tilts her head and kisses you more sincerely. She's incredibly gentle and warm in her approach, and for the first time since she started joining you and Rarity -- a time that seems so far behind you -- you truly feel at ease with her being this intimate. You're not nervous or worried in the least, and no one is suffering from too much alcohol; it's just you, the woman you love, and the mare you've grown increasingly close to. It feels genuine and welcome.

She sighs quietly as you slip your tongue between her lips, slowly letting her get used to the sensation. It doesn't take long before she relents completely, opening her mouth as she lovingly kisses you. You open your eyes temporarily and are surprised to see her wings starting to slowly spread out, but you dismiss it as the pegasus equivalent of a nervous reaction. You chance things a little bit and run a hand down her side, grasping her flank gently as she inhales sharply at the feeling. You're relieved to hear her laugh breathlessly right before she tilts her head up to let you kiss down her neck; you can feel her body shudder at the touch of your lips against her skin.

With a final, passionate kiss, you slowly pull away from her, biting her lip gently and tugging as you do.

She opens her eyes and blushes bright red, burying her face in her hooves.

"Oh, my...that was really nice. You're good at that..."

"Thanks," you say with a quiet laugh of your own, "you're pretty good at it too. I enjoyed that."

"Oh, me too...wow. I think I may have got into it a little much there at the end."

Rarity brushes a hoof through your hair and smiles warmly at you.

"That was quite beautiful to watch, darling. To see you feeling so close to Fluttershy warms my heart to no end. You see? I told you you'd come around. She's a wonderful mare. You needn't feel worried in the least."

You pull Rarity closer and kiss her foreleg, wondering how you could have doubted her at all.

"Once again, you were right, baby. Thanks for helping to put my mind at ease over this last month or so. You're amazing."

"It was my pleasure, my love. Perhaps now I needn't worry about you being uncomfortable, hmm?"

"I think we can put that awkwardness behind us, yeah. Mostly, anyway. Small steps and all that." You lift your head up and give her a soft kiss for emphasis. "But now I feel like I need to balance things out and do the same for you, hon." She laughs with you and runs a hoof down your chest, stopping at your belt buckle.

"There will be plenty of time for that tonight, my dear. We've still a fireplace to take advantage of, after all..."

"I'm looking forward to that, baby. Believe me. So," you say to the two mares at your sides, "that still doesn't answer my original question."

"What question?" Fluttershy asks.

"The question of what we're gonna do for the next two hours."

"Ah, of course," Rarity answers. "I was thinking we could take advantage of the gorgeous scenery and fresh air, and do a bit of walking about. I do believe I saw a few paths leading off to different areas from the main vineyard. Perhaps we can go for a nature walk?"

You also make a note to chop some firewood for the night. If nothing else, it'll keep you occupied until the wine tasting and dinner begins.

"A little cool mountain air with two beautiful girls? I think I'm up for that."

You give them both a quick kiss on the cheek and push yourself out of bed, quickly feeling more in the mood for a nice, quiet time with the two best mares you could have ever hoped to know.

==========

Red wine, white wine, Pinot Noir, Chianti...at first, you could tell the difference. Small, subtle differences, but they were there. After almost an hour of them, though...well, the notes of fruit and hints of spice begin to elude you. Now it just tastes like wine. Really good wine, but wine nonetheless. At least it's not enough to feel anything more than a slight buzz from.

"What do you think, darling? Do you prefer the nine-ninety-four Grigio, or the ninety-eight Merlot?" Rarity swishes a small amount of deep red wine around in her glass, expertly smelling the bouquet of...whatever it's supposed to be. IT SMELLS LIKE WINE.

"Huh? Oh, um...I honestly can't say. Maybe you have more of a nose for this sort of thing than I do, hon."

"Nonsense, dear, all it takes is a little time and experience. I must say, I quite like the Merlot -- it has a vaguely citrus-y aroma."

"Uh-huh. All I know is we'd better get some food soon, or I'm going to eat this glass."

She scoffs at the remark, floating her glass over to you.

"I'm going to culture you if it kills me, darling. Now, take the glass. Go on."

You do so, setting your other glass down on a small table next to you.

"What you want to do is tilt it slightly toward you, and sniff it lightly from just above the rim. While you're doing so, try to detect the different bouquets...think of what you can remember of things like chocolate, fruits, spices, that sort of thing. Try to bring up those memories."

Rarity watches with an expectant eye as you follow her instructions. It still smells like wine, but slowly, ever so slowly, you start to pull out and identify the barely-there aromas.

"Anything?"

"Umm...kind of an orange-y smell to it, I think. And something like...oh...a kind of spice, maybe? Like nutmeg or cinnamon. Or something."

You take a sip of the wine, letting it wash over your tongue instead of straight-up swallowing it.

"Yeah...definitely nutmeg. My grandma used to put it on her ice cream; this tastes just like that, in a small way."

Rarity smiles broadly at your revelation, satisfied at both herself for helping you learn something new, and at you for not being so stubborn.

"Fabulous! There, you see? It's not so difficult."

"Yeah, yeah..." you hide a laugh behind your wine glass, taking another taste. Between sips you glance around the room, watching the other groups talk to each other; cabin one's occupants are an elderly couple, who are laughing and swapping stories with the vineyard's owners.

Cabin two, you've come to learn, is actually holding a group of six ponies, mostly stallions, who have come up here to learn the ins and outs of wine making in the hopes of opening their own place one day. They're a nice-enough bunch, consisting of two brothers, their older sister, and a few friends. The sister -- a sky-blue unicorn with a light purple mane -- has been chatting up Fluttershy for the better part of half an hour.

You had a chance to talk with Fluttershy during your trek up and around the various trails leading from the vineyard to the surrounding mountains, including one that ended in a spectacular view of a small lake nestled away between two hills. She asked if you were still okay with her actions earlier -- especially since you hadn't mentioned it again. You reassured her that you were, and that she needn't worry about it. At any point previous to today, that would have been a little white lie to make her feel better. Now, though, you can say it sincerely and without hesitation. It's taken some time, but the moment of intimacy you shared with her has finally felt natural. You're not sure if you'd take that final step just yet, but a kiss was acceptable.

She even brought up last night, and the alcohol-induced lust that nearly pushed you over the edge. You'd been trying to avoid talking about it, hoping it had been completely forgotten, but Fluttershy wasn't nearly as tipsy as Rarity ended up being. So when she acted the way she did, it wasn't so much a drunken urge as it was her own feelings...albeit feelings that were given a tug by some liquid bravery. She apologized profusely for it, but you told her it wasn't something she should dwell on -- at least she was still sober enough to realize that it would have been a mistake to continue. That's why you enjoyed sharing that moment with her earlier far more than the previous night.

Fluttershy occasionally looks away from the pony she's talking to and waves to you and Rarity, smiling as you wave in return.

Ruby taps her wine glass with a small spoon, calling out to the gathered ponies. And you, you're sure.

"May I have your attention, everypony?" The conversations slowly die down, Ruby giving you a polite smile. "Thank you. Would I be correct in assuming that you're all enjoying yourselves?"

You nod in response, raising your glass slightly. The ponies give a chorus of replies, a mix of polite confirmations and joyous -- and likely slightly drunk -- cheers.

"Wonderful! I'm so glad you're all having a good time. When Cab and I opened this winery nearly twenty years ago, we knew we wanted to share it with others. The gorgeous scenery, the fresh mountain air, the exquisite grapes that we use to produce our wines...all of it. We've been having these little get-togethers every weekend for nearly ten years now, and I've yet to grow tired of it."

"That's because you don't have to hear your own speeches," Cabernet quips, causing the gathered ponies to laugh.

"I only give them so I don't have to hear you for a few minutes, my dear!" Ruby prods her husband with a hoof and a smile, adding, "One might even call it the only peace I get these days!"

"Celestia knows I can't even remember what the word means anymore!"

You can't help but laugh at their back-and-forth; you can only hope that you and Rarity have the same playful relationship when you're their age.

"Oh, but I'm sure you all haven't come here to listen to a married couple go at it like...well, a married couple! You're here for some fine wine and some fine food. We've already got one covered, so how about we bring out the food, hmm? I think you'll quite enjoy it."

On cue, a unicorn and a pegasus walk out from the kitchen area with large trays strapped to their backs, numerous covered platters dotting each one. They start setting the plates out at each seat, slowly making their way around the large, rectangular table.

"Allow me to introduce our son, Ramisco. He's turning out to be quite the chef!"

"Hello," the pegasus says with a nod. "You can just call me Rami, everypony else does."

"The stallion with him is his instructor, Caprese, a wonderful chef who has been with us for many years now."

"Buongiorno, my friends." He bows his head politely, levitating several platters at once into place. "We've a fine selection of dishes for you tonight, ending with a special treat: the first batch of ice wine produced this year! Paired with a fine dessert, of course."

Caprese floats the last of the dishes over and calls out to his apprentice, who has taken off to the back area.

"Ramisco!"

"Yes, Chef?"

"Bring out the wine bottles, won't you? I think our guests should get to see them before tasting them later. After all, you eat with your eyes first!"

"Right away, Chef!"

"Grazie, my boy! He's quite the talented young stallion, you know. A bit thick-headed at times, but talented."

"That's our son, alright," Cab says with a laugh.

"So, esteemed guests, I shall not keep you from these magnificent dishes any longer. Please, please, be seated. Dinner is served! Buon appetito, my friends."

==========

"I never want to see another bottle of wine again. Bleh." You flop down on one of the recliners facing the fireplace, absolutely full from dinner. First there were the appetizers of olive-oil-laced mozzarella and tomatoes, then the side salads, then the main course of thick, hearty tomato soup with brioche, and finally the four-grape gelato with glasses of that sweet, tangy ice wine. And for only twenty bits more? Hell, you may as well have stolen the food!

"Baby, do me a favor, would you?"

"And what's that, darling?" She climbs up beside you and lays back against your chest, being careful to avoid your stomach.

"Wake me up in the morning, after my food coma has passed."

"I've a better idea: you wake me." She lets out a deep breath, both of you too full to move. "It would seem Fluttershy was the only one to pace herself...perhaps I should have followed her lead. But good heavens, that food was absolutely superb."

You look around for the pegasus, but she's nowhere in sight; she's probably headed off to the bathroom to fix her mane. She's almost as fussy about it as Rarity. Almost.

"I've enjoyed this little trip quite a bit more than I'd even imagined, my love. We should really do this again some time."

"I think I'd like that, hon. I'd like that quite a bit."

You tilt your head down and give her a warm kiss, taking her hoof in your hand as she lays against you and watches the fireplace crackle.

It's only a few minutes until you hear the sound of hoof-falls on the bare floor.

"I really want to thank you for today," Fluttershy says, trotting over happily. "I've had a great time with both of you. Hopefully I can make it up to you soon."

Rarity waves her over and you scoot aside as far as you can, letting Fluttershy join the two of you.

"There's nothing to 'make up' to us, my dear! Simply being here is all the repayment we need."

"I know you mean that, but still, maybe some time soon I can take us somewhere or get us something nice. Um, I'm not really sure where or what just yet, but I promise I will."

"You have anything going on tomorrow? Rarity said you were going to be pretty busy," you ask her. She nods and starts listing off the details with a hoof.

"Oh my, yes! I have to bring extra supplies to the larger animals for their hibernations, stock up on winter food for the snow birds, fly a shipment of medicine in from the Caretakers Guild...yeah, lots of things," she giggles. "But that's for tomorrow."

Fluttershy gives you and Rarity a quick kiss before hopping back down. "I should head off to bed, it's been a long day."

"Have a good night, darling! You go on without us, we're going to be out here for a bit."

"Okay, I'll see you in a while. Good night!" Fluttershy walks off, leaving you alone with Rarity in the warm glow of the fireplace. Neither of you say anything for several minutes, simply rocking back and forth in the recliner and occasionally sharing a kiss. It's a shame you have to go back to work tomorrow -- you'd love to stay here for another couple of days.

Rarity finally breaks the silence, running a hoof up and down your chest as she speaks.

"You know, darling...when Fluttershy asked you to kiss her earlier, I was honestly surprised that you did. I would have sworn that you weren't quite at that point yet."

"I thought the same thing, hon. When she asked me, though...I don't know...I guess it just felt like I was comfortable enough with her to finally take that step. Maybe I just wanted to see how things would go."

"I understand, dear. Now that you have...how do you feel?"

"I'm...fine with it, I think. I don't know how I thought it could have been 'bad', per se, but the thought was there. This whole time I've had lips only for you, so to speak," you add with a chuckle. "But yeah, I've been warming up to her, slowly but surely. Today was just a way of cementing that, I think. Doesn't hurt that she's pretty good at it."

"That it doesn't," Rarity laughs. "She's quite the loving mare, isn't she? Once you get past that shy exterior, anyway. I hate to say it, darling, but I told you so."

"Yeah, yeah, that you did, baby. No need to rub it in." You rub your hand through her mane, just waiting for her to object.

"You're lucky we've nowhere else to go tonight, or such a crime against beauty would be punishable."

"What, you gonna tie me up or somethin'?"

"Tie you up? Hmm...perhaps. I must admit, the thought of such a thing is rather...exciting. Hmmhmm." She licks her lips and runs a hoof down your chest and between your legs, smiling as you react to her touch.

"Oh yeah? How 'exciting' are we talking here?"

"Quite exciting, darling. Exciting enough that I think I may have to wait a while until I no longer feel like a bloated grape." She lets out a quiet belch for emphasis. How lady-like!

"Oh, my! I do apologize, darling. I think I'm going to have to visit the spa this week at some point and do a bit of hot-room yoga. Sweating this food away is probably in my best interest, lest I take on the figure of a pear."

"Hot-room yoga? Oh god, that sounds horrible just thinking about it..."

"It's not that bad, dear! I've always believed in putting forth effort to obtain your desired results, and it still rings true as much in beauty as it does in business. Besides, I doubt you'd complain if I learned to be more...limber?" She raises her eyebrows at you with a wry smile.

No. No, you certainly wouldn't complain in the least.

"Point taken," you reply with a laugh.

"Speaking of hot, I should really remove this jacket, shouldn't I? It's getting quite warm in here." Rarity starts unbuttoning her long, fuzzy jacket, but you stop her by grasping the front of it gently.

"Allow me, baby."

"Really, now? By all means, good sir, do go ahead."

It's funny...even though ponies are usually naked anyway, something about removing clothes from her still turns you on immensely. God knows those stockings and garter belts do a number on you.

"I thought you were too tired for this, baby..."

"Yes, well, it's amazing how quickly one can change her mind when she's faced with the prospect of body-shaking ecstasy...."

You slowly work your way down the four large, black buttons lining the front of her jacket, smiling as she matches you by doing the same to your shirt with her magic. You slide the now-open jacket down around her elbows, gliding a hand down her chest and playing against her most sensitive areas with your palm.

"I've got an idea, darling," she says in her most seductive voice.

"What's that, baby?" You smile as you feel her unbutton and unzip your pants, lifting your legs so she can slide them down.

"Let's leave the jacket on for now."

She grinds her body against you and bites her lip, looking deep into your eyes with a look of loving desire.

"I think I like that idea." You pull her against you and feel her starting to mount your increasingly excited self, not wasting any time with foreplay.

Assertive Rarity is your favorite Rarity. Well, one of your favorites...

"I can catch up on sleep tomorrow, anyway."