It's been a long time since you've had such a sleepless night. Between your heart pounding in your ears and the constant nightmares -- on the rare occasion that you actually managed to drift off to sleep -- you really couldn't have slept more than two or three hours total. When the alarm rang to get up for work, you felt physically ill.

Rarity hadn't joined you all night, and still wasn't home by the time you left the Boutique. That worried you more than anything. You'd had your share of minor arguments or disagreements since the start of your relationship, just like any other couple, but few have been as vicious, and none had ever resulted in her leaving for the night. Even when you had a heated argument back when Cashmere first showed up, you'd at least made up later that night. No such luck this time.

For the entire morning you've felt like you're in a haze, barely noticing the cold, biting wind that keeps threatening to topple your new construction project. You've paid just enough attention to keep from getting yourself, or anyone else, hurt in the process.

But even as you trudge through the ankle-deep snow, cursing the pegasi for covering your work area, your mind is elsewhere. You wonder where Rarity is, where Fluttershy is. To hear from neither of them by now is more than a little worrying. Yesterday's events replay over and over, from the spa to the very moment you watched Rarity walk out. Things you could have said, should have said. It's so hard to care about putting up drywall when the love of your life hasn't even bothered to contact you since yesterday.

"Are you feeling alright?" Whip-Smart's voice catches your attention. You turn to look at him, carrying a piece of drywall over your shoulder. "Far be it for me to speculate on such things, but you seem rather distracted this morning."

"I'm fine," you answer with a dismissive shrug. The hefty section on your shoulder lands with a wet 'thunk' as you set it down alongside the others.

"Are you sure? Normally you're quite talkative, but you've said nary a word since we started." As much as you like the brick-red unicorn and his stylish winter trench coat, his Rarity-esque refinement is starting to grate on your nerves. It's only making you think of her even more. "You know, if there's something on your mind, it's always best to simply discuss--"

"I said I'm fine," you interrupt him, raising your voice enough to get the point across. "Just...don't worry about it, Whip." He tries to keep eye contact with you, but you find it hard to meet his silver-eyed gaze. "Didn't sleep last night. That's all."

"I see..." It's obvious that he knows you're full of shit. You carry on anyway, hoping he'll let it go. "Very well, then. I suppose such things do happen. Try to be careful of where you place the supplies, however." He points a hoof to the drywall section you just set down. It's not sitting next to other pieces of drywall, but lying on top of a mound of insulation that's spewing fiberglass under the weight of it.

You swear and pick it up again, taking a look around to make sure you get it right this time. Long Haul is giving you a questioning look from the other end of the site; you ignore him and dump the offending segment where it belongs, blowing your breath into your cupped hands in a futile attempt to warm them. Even with your sweatshirt and jacket it's still bitingly cold, and in your stupor this morning you forgot to grab your work gloves. Too bad no one else has hands, or you'd bum an extra pair.

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"Quite alright." You toil in silence for a long time, grabbing lengths of plywood as they're floated over to you by unicorn magic. The sound of your hammer echoes through the construction site. A loud clattering of wood beams pulls you out of yet more thoughts; you take a moment to refocus, but Whip-Smart is insistent on talking to you.

"So," he says carefully, "I can't help but notice that you haven't stopped by father's shop lately. After your ecstatic display of approval last week, I must admit to being quite puzzled."

You mull it over, trying to find some way to dismiss his worries without telling the whole story. "Yeah I know, I've just been busy lately. Even though work's been relatively slow we've had a lot of things to take care of at home. Rarity's always asking for help with her designs. That sort of thing." You clear your throat and go back to your work.

"Ah, of course. I imagine that would keep one quite busy." He looks at you over his small, rectangular glasses. "Still, I do hope you haven't forgotten the necklace. Father is quite proud of it, and I'm sure he's just chomping at the bit to see your reaction."

"Of course I haven't forgotten!" you snap at him. "I've been waiting months to get that damn thing finished! But it's not as easy as--" you catch yourself mid-sentence, taking a deep breath to calm yourself. "It's...not as easy as I thought it would be."

Whip-Smart looks up at you sympathetically, the cold wind blowing his white-and-silver streaked mane and tail. You slump down on a stack of plywood, head in your hands.

"Fuck. It wasn't supposed to go like this..." You whip your hard hat off and toss it into the muddy slurry, feeling utterly dejected. "I had this all planned out, man. That necklace, the time of year, even the specific date and time...and now it's all gone to shit."

He thinks for a moment before responding. "I see. I take it your relationship with Miss--"

"Rarity."

"--Rarity has encountered a bump in the road?"

"You have no idea, man. No idea."

"Hmm." Whip-Smart rubs his chin, adding, "I wish I could offer you some advice, my friend, but I'm afraid my meaningful relationships with the fairer sex could be counted on one of your hands. With most of your fingers missing."

You wave dismissively. "Forget it. It's not something I can shunt to someone else, anyway. But do me a favor, would you? Tell Aegis it might be a while, and I'm sorry for keeping him waiting."

"Very well," he answers with a firm nod. From somewhere around you, a sharp, shrill whistle blares. You glance at your watch -- lunch time. "If you've any concerns you wish to bring to my father, please, do not hesitate to do so. He is a very understanding stallion, I assure you."

You reach into the muddy, melted slurry and pull out your hard hat, bashing it against the plywood stack to knock as much gunk off as possible. "Thanks. And, uh, sorry for snapping at you like that. Shit's FUBAR, as you can probably tell."

"It's what?"

"Nothing, old Army slang."

"Ah. Well whatever the case, don't concern yourself with apologies. We're all allowed our outbursts at times. No harm done." Whip-Smart levitates the yellow hard hat from his head, floating it alongside him. "If you care to join myself and Quick Fix for a bite, we'll be over behind the foreman's trailer."

You nod, but don't give a verbal answer. He trots off, leaving you without anyone to talk to. Now that he's gone, of course, you realize that you'd much rather be able to just get everything off your chest, but your pride doesn't let you head over and join the guys. Instead, you simply pull your lunch pail from behind a stack of wiring and open it up, grumbling as you search through the contents -- a peanut butter sandwich that's gone soggy, a half-eaten orange you threw in as an afterthought, and a bottle of lukewarm Sparkle~Cola.

You sigh at the miserable food; Rarity usually makes your lunch before you're awake, neatly packing the sandwich in parchment and adding a nice little selection of fruits or snacks, along with an ice pack to keep your drink cold. Sometimes she even writes a little note and sticks it under your wrapped sandwich, wishing you well or telling you how much she loves you.

Something about your sad little lunch hurts more than any word could ever come close to, and despite your best efforts to fight it off, you find yourself sniffling back tears as you force yourself to eat. You look around to make sure no one is watching you, finding not a soul in sight. It feels like your stomach is trying to tie itself in a knot, completely destroying any semblance of hunger you may have felt.

You force down a few bites of your sandwich before giving up entirely, burying your face in your hands and quietly sobbing to yourself.

This is all my fault.

Rarity, Fluttershy, the necklace, all of it...it's like fate itself is conspiring to destroy your plans. If only you'd talked to them sooner, if only there was some way to take it all back, to stop Rarity from taking Fluttershy in at all. If only.

There's a loud, wet sound of booted hoofsteps as someone makes their way toward you. You quickly wipe your eyes and lower your hard hat, hoping they won't notice your reddened eyes.

"Fuckin' mud, I swear..." The gruff pony trudges around the corner, his steps stopping a short distance from you. You grip your bottle of cola and wait for him to leave. Of course, he doesn't. You know who it is before you even look at him.

"You look like hammered shit," he says by way of introduction.

"Hey, Pipe," you mutter. "Feel like it, too."

"No kiddin'. You're even uglier than usual, heh heh." He points a hoof at the spot next to you. "Mind if i join ya?"

"I'm not really feeling like conversation right now, man." Pipe sits down anyway, letting out a dramatic exhale.

"Ahhhh, feels good ta sit down, ya know?" He takes a look at your half-eaten sandwich and frowns. "The hell is that?"

"It's a sandwich," you monotone.

"No shit. What I mean is, the hell kind of lunch is dat for a workin' man? You tryin' ta starve yaself or somethin'?"

You grumble at his attempts to cheer you up. Any other time it would be welcome, but you just want to be left alone right now. "Listen, Pipe, I'm not really in the mood right now. Nothing personal." He nods slowly.

"Uh-huh. I see. So ya don't need to talk to ol' Pipe about anything?"

"No."

"Hmmm. Because dat's not what Whip-Smart said. Da guy seemed pretty sure dat you was in a bad way."

"God damnit," you grumble. "When the hell did construction workers get all touchy-feely and shit..."

"I think you forget where you're at," he chuckles. "And who you're workin' with. Like I always say: You guys ain't just my employees, you're my family. Dysfunctional as shit and probably likely ta sell yaselves for twenty bits and a cheap beer, but family none-da-less, heh!"

You let out a deep breath and finally make eye contact with the gruff, brown earth pony. "You're not gonna let this go, are you?"

"Not on ya life," he replies matter-of-factly.

"Fine. But no one hears about this, got it?"

"Of course. I ain't one ta go gabbin' ta all da guys, pal. But I don't mind helpin' 'em out, either. You included." He eyes the sad remains of your lunch box, asking a quick, "you gonna eat dat?" at the half-eaten orange. You shake your head. You're not really hungry. "Eh, your loss." You look up at the light flurry of snow drifting down across the town, your sour mood not helped any by the thought of more snow to trudge through.

"So," Pipe continues, loudly chewing on the orange wedges, "what's up? I thought you was done with all dis Cashew--"

"Cashmere."

"--Cashmere bullshit."

"I am. We managed to talk some sense into her. It's a long story," you shrug. "That's not what I'm worried about, man."

"Ah. I see. Well, congrats on dealin' with da crowned queen bitch herself! 'Bout damn time, huh? But, uh...if it ain't her, dere's only one udda thing it could possibly be. A more...personal problem. Am I right?" You sigh, deciding to cut straight to the point.

"Pipe, Rarity walked out last night." He stops chewing orange slices and stares up at you with wide eyes.

"She what?!"

"Walked out. Just like that. I haven't seen her since then." You kick a frustrated boot at the mud. "Fucking hell, can't I just have some drama-free normalcy?"

"Whataya mean she walked out? I know you and da little lady have been at odds over dis whole thing with--" he lowers his voice, "--with Flutterbutter or whatever her name is, but is it really dat bad?"

"Fluttershy," you chuckle despite your mood. "Jesus, Pipe, you're terrible with names. Anyone ever tell you that?"

"Yeah, yeah, thanks for the support, smart-ass. But seriously, what's happenin' with you two? Or three, I s'pose."

"Look, I'm not gonna bullshit you and waste your time, so here's the short version: The three of us were at the spa yesterday and Fluttershy said she, well...loved me."

"Ohhh...and what'd you say?"

"I, uh...I told her I loved her too." You cringe as you tell him, making it very clear what you think of that particular lie.

"Do you?"

"That's just it; I don't. I mean, I care for her a great deal, yeah, and I'd be lying if I said sharing a bed with two attractive mares hasn't been fun, but...well, you know. So I told Rarity last night after dropping some, uh, not-so-subtle hints that Fluttershy should try and find someone on her own. Basically, Rarity caught on to what I was doing and I ended up admitting the truth -- that I don't feel the same way about Fluttershy that she does. It...it didn't go so well..."

"Ahhh, geez," he sighs, covering his face with a hoof. "I take it Miss Rarity don't wanna hear none'a dat about her best friend, huh?"

"To put it lightly." You fidget with your muddy hard hat as you speak. "And with Hearth's Warming so damn close, I feel like I just royally fucked everything up, you know? God damnit..." When Pipe doesn't say anything, you continue. "It's like I told you and Dazzle -- none of this is making it easier to pop the question to Rarity. I had all these plans for the 'where' and the 'when', but that's all gone to shit."

"Hey, come on, now. It ain't like you ta give up dat easily! If it was, you probably wouldn't be workin' here, right? Pal?" You simply grunt in response. "Look, bud, da missus and I have had our fair share of arguments over da years. Nothin' like what you're goin' through, granted, but still, dis shit happens. Ain't no one livin' a perfect, stress-free life, alright? Just roll with da punches. Dat sorta thing."

"Yeah, easier said than done..." You sigh, asking, "So what am I supposed to do about Fluttershy?"

"Whataya mean?"

"You know, the whole mess we're in? The very reason why I'm eating a shitty lunch and feeling sorry for myself?"

"Oh, dat," he shrugs. "I dunno."

"You don't know?" To say you're surprised is putting it lightly. "This is the part where you're supposed to dispense your sagely wisdom and shit. Come on, man, don't let me down!"

"Sagely wisdom?" he laughs. "I think maybe ya take me for smarter than I really am!"

"Oh come on, Pipe, you've always been pretty good at giving words of wisdom. You're my go-to. If I wanted by-the-book answers I'd go to Twilight, but I go to you because you have practical answers. And so does Dazzle."

"I appreciate da vote'a confidence, but believe you me: Ain't no one around here gonna be able ta make ya situation any easier, pal. Least of all me! I mean, shit, I've been barkin' up dat threesome tree for twenty years!" You give him a look that very clearly shows you're not in the mood. "Right, sorry. Just tryin' ta alleviate da mood, ya know?"

Pipe rubs the stubble on his face, giving a quiet 'hmmmm' as he does. So far, you feel precisely zero percent better about your situation. After a long moment he nudges you with his elbow.

"Just give da little lady -- or ladies -- some time. Everyone gets fed up and pissed off once in a while, and from da sound'a things, it ain't just you dat's caught in da middle of all dis. Maybe Miss Rarity just needs some time ta think. Try not ta worry too much. These thing have a way of sortin' demselves out." Quietly, he adds, "Hopefully..."

"Hopefully?"

"Look, pal, I'm doin' my best here, but I ain't a fuckin' soothsayer, alright? So, uh, dat's my advice, for what it's worth."

Your first instinct is to tell him it's no advice at all, that just waiting for something to happen isn't something you even want to consider. But the more you think about, the more you realize it's probably the best you're gonna get. He's right -- no one else can help you out. You have to settle things yourself.

"Yeah...thanks. Guess I've just been looking for an easy way out, when there really isn't one." You add a quick, "Oh, and sorry for snapping at you. Between you and Whip, I must look like a real asshole with a short temper."

"Dat's because ya are an asshole. And an ugly one at dat!"

"How kind of you, Pipe," you chuckle. "You know what they say about people in glass houses."

"Pfft. Me? I'm a fuckin' runway model compared to you! What with yer lanky arms and dat short hair'a yours. Ya ain't even got a tail!" He slaps you on the back with a hoof, laughing at your banter. "No use feelin' like shit all day, right? I know you're in a fucked-up situation here, but these things work demselves out. As sickeningly adorable as you two act around each other, I ain't worried about it too much. But, you know...good luck all da same, pal. You're a smart guy, you'll come up with somethin'."

He lifts up a muddy hoof; you take a moment before bumping it with your fist.

"I hope so, man. Guess there's no point in worrying about it at work."

"Exactly. Now, you gonna be able to focus for da rest of ya shift? Because da last thing I need is ya gettin' hurt."

You shake your head. "I'll be fine. Safety first and all that."

"Good!" he states loudly, standing back up. "Because da assholes at da company HQ want dis shit done yesterday. Fuckin' pencil pushin', shrimp-dicked, do-nothin' pricks...uh, pardon my French."

You slap him on the back and stuff the remainder of your pitiful lunch into your lunch pail, stretching loudly as a whistle blows to mark the end of lunch. With a considerable amount of effort you force yourself to push the issue aside for the rest of the work day.

After all, you figure, getting yourself killed would probably throw a wrench in things. Just a little.

==========

"Ah, good, you're home." A refined voices catches your attention the moment you close the front door and step onto the sales floor. "I realize you must be quite dirty from work, so do not be shy about taking your time to freshen up and grab a drink. Or some such."

You make a left and head to the living room area, finding Rarity sitting on the couch with Fluttershy. Your heart soars at the realization that she's back -- then immediately plummets again when you figure out why she's accompanied by her friend-turned-lover. You stumble over your own words to find the right thing to say, settling for a friendly "Hello, girls."

"Hi," Fluttershy responds quietly.

"Uh, hey, honey." You offer Rarity an awkward smile, which she only modestly returns.

"As I was saying," she continues, "I understand you'll most likely want to change out of those dirty work clothes. Whenever you're ready, Fluttershy and I will be down here. I believe it's time we discussed some things."

Shit. You knew this was likely to happen, you just didn't think it would happen so soon. "Alright. I'll, uh, just be, like, fifteen minutes. I guess. I'll meet you down here."

"Very well."

You turn and head back toward the second floor stairs, but not without giving a glance over your shoulder. The two of them are already discussing something; you shake your head and trudge upstairs, not feeling in any particular hurry to get changed and face the music. You weren't really overjoyed to get the Ice Queen treatment from Rarity -- you've only ever seen her like that once before -- but you suppose it beats screaming rage. At least she's never been that angry. Not with you, anyway.

Not even a hot shower can take your mind off the impending confrontation. Still, you take your time with it and try your best to calm yourself. Easier said than done. Whatever the outcome, you're pretty sure this isn't going to be easy.

A short time later you head downstairs and make a left into the kitchen, downing an entire bottle of Sparkle~Cola and shoving what's left of some reheated pasta into your mouth. It still tastes better than the sad excuse for a lunch you didn't even finish.

As you approach the living room you're overtaken by an immense sense of impending doom, like you're being lead in front of a firing squad, only without the courtesy of being blindfolded first.

Calm down, you think to yourself with your pulse pounding in your ears, she's not unreasonable.

Neither of them say anything for a moment as you step forward, plopping yourself down in the recliner opposite them. Fluttershy's eyes are already glistening with moisture; it's obvious she's been crying. Nothing's been said yet, and things are already a little awkward.

"Feeling better?" Rarity finally asks you. You nod. Slowly. "Good. The reason I've brought Fluttershy along with me is because, well...I believe you know the reason why." You nod again. No point in saying anything just yet. "The situation between the three of us has obviously become quite complicated; I would be lying if I said that I hadn't expected some apprehension and difficulties to come from such a thing, but we now find ourselves on the precipice of a -- potentially -- very hurtful and unpleasant departure from the way things have been as of late. And I believe I speak for all of us when I say that I would like to avoid such a thing if at all possible."

Rarity stares at you for a few, long seconds. You meet her gaze, which slowly softens into something resembling the Rarity you know and love. Even if there's still an edge to it. She lets out a deep breath and drops the grandiose way of speaking that she tends to slip into when she's upset.

"Darling, there is no other way to resolve this than to simply talk to each other like adults. As we all should have done long before things got so out-of-hoof."

You sigh and speak up. "Alright. But how do we 'resolve' this, exactly? I mean, this isn't something that we can just dismiss and pretend never happened."

"I know. And I don't intend to treat it as such. Thus, I believe we should all simply take a few moments and speak our minds about the current situation. Then we shall see where things progress from there. Fair?"

"I suppose so," you agree. It's gotta start somewhere.

"Good. I believe Fluttershy should speak first. This is, after all, ultimately about her place in our lives." Fluttershy sinks down into the couch with a sad squeak, not wanting to be the center of attention. You already feel like crap without her having said a single word.

"Fluttershy, darling, please don't be afraid to say what you feel in your heart." Rarity runs a hoof through her pink mane, planting a soft kiss on her cheek. "We're all adults here, we can get through such tribulations. I promise."

"Okay," Fluttershy says quietly. She brushes a long length of hair from her face, flicking her tail nervously. "Umm...I don't really know what to say..."

"Just say whatever you feel, my dear."

"I, um...alright." Fluttershy sits up straighter, taking a long, deep breath before continuing. "Well...I-I guess I want to say that...that I still love the both of you. No matter what. And I promise that will never change, because I've seen the wonderful pony -- and person -- that you both are. All of this time that I've spent with both of you has been the happiest time of my life. I wouldn't change a single second."

"But," she looks at you, "I understand that that feeling may not be one you share." You cringe inwardly. Here it comes. "Rarity told me everything. She said that you don't...you don't love me like you love her..."

"It's not that simple," you interject. Rarity puts a hoof up to stop you.

"Please, let her finish."

Fluttershy continues after a brief pause. "I know that you and Rarity have a wonderful future together, and it makes me so happy to know that she's found her very special somepony, even if he's not one," she laughs quietly. "That's why I was so apprehensive about joining you. I didn't want to come between the two of you...but now it feels like that's exactly what's happened. And I feel terrible about it..." She sniffs back a tear, her voice shaky. "I just wanted to share in that wonderful, loving feeling. Maybe I made the decision to join you and Rarity too quickly..."

Rarity speaks up. "Perhaps we've taken things too quickly in general. I feel absolutely terrible that we have to even have this conversation, and I wish we'd have been more open with each other," she eyes you, "but...I am not without fault in this. I think I was too blinded by pride to see that last night. Seems to be a pattern of late." Her face contorts into a self-disappointed frown. "It would seem in my rush to comfort my long-time friend, I've ended up driving a wedge between us."

"It was pretty sudden," you add. She nods slowly and sighs.

"I know. In less than twenty-four hours we'd gone from a confession of long-held feelings to sharing a bed. By anyone's standard that's not entirely, oh...reasonable, I suppose. And for that, I feel I must apologize. But you understand why I did so, don't you?"

"I understand completely," you answer. "'Shy's been your friend for years and years, it's only natural that you'd develop some sort of feelings for her. But still..."

"You barely offered more than a few words that day. If you had so many reservations, why didn't you speak up?"

"Because I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, honey." You sit forward in your seat. "We've known each other just short of two years now, right? And in all that time, you have never, ever lead me down the wrong path. Not once. God knows your sense of judgment is better than mine! So when you brought up having Fluttershy join us, I figured you knew what you were doing. And to this day I believe you had good intentions, but...maybe we should have slowed down before taking such a big step. That's why I'm here right now -- to slow down and talk about things before they get out of control again."

Fluttershy has been listening intently while you and Rarity talk, occasionally kicking a nervous leg or fussing with her long mane. You catch her gaze and keep sincere eye contact as you continue.

"'Shy, I am so sorry for leading you on. I truly, sincerely mean it. I feel like absolute shit for doing so, and I would not blame you for a single second if you were pissed off at me. Nothing I can say can make up for it, I know that. I can only hope that, like Rarity, you can believe me when I say that I had nothing but the best of intentions. Things just spiraled out of control, and I have all of these plans and hopes for her and I, but I kept putting it off and putting it off, and as I did so the relationship between you and I just kept growing more intimate and I couldn't bring myself to hurt you."

You laugh bitterly at yourself, adding, "and look what's come of it now. You are a beautiful, amazing, caring girl, and you deserve to be happy. You deserve someone who loves you for who you are. And I'm sitting here, pouring my heart out, because I genuinely do care for you, so much." Fluttershy's eyes are red with tears. Your voice cracks as you try to keep yourself from joining her.

"I wasn't lying when I said I love you. I love you as a wonderful, close friend. I'm just not in love with you. Do you know what I'm trying to say?" She doesn't say anything, simply looking away. "I'm so sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I'd avoid hurting you even one tiny bit. You can be upset -- and you'd be completely justified in feeling that way -- but if nothing else I have to tell you that I do care for you more than I can possibly express in words. It's just not in the same way that I care for Rarity."

You're suddenly hit by an idea, something that might just help get your point across better.

"Rarity, could you give Fluttershy and I a few minutes alone?"

"Hmm? Oh, of course. Are you all right?" She asks, sounding slightly confused.

"I'm fine," you answer. "I'd just like to talk with her in private if you don't mind."

"Very well. I shall be upstairs if you need me." She runs a hoof over Fluttershy's arm to comfort her. "It's okay, my dear. We'll get this worked out. You'll see." With a soft kiss she steps down from the couch, the sound of her quiet hoof-falls echoing through the living room as she heads upstairs. You take a moment to make sure she's actually gone, and not just listening around the corner.

Fluttershy still hasn't said much. You get up from your chair and stand beside her, asking if you can sit next to her. She agrees with a nod.

"Look...I never wanted things to turn out like this. All of those moments that we've shared -- the wonderful dinner together, our time at the cabin in Frostvalley Meadows, all of it -- those were real, sincere moments. And I don't regret a single second of it. Okay?"

"Okay," she answers quietly. You think for a few seconds to try and find the right thing to say.

"You remember when we were having dinner, and I told you that I had some big plans for Rarity? Well, I thought that maybe I could show you what I meant. I'm not just leading you on, I really do have something planned. And if you're okay with it, I'd like you to join me to see for yourself. It's just a short walk from here."

She looks up at you, puzzled. "A short walk? I don't understand. What does that have to do with your plans for Rarity?"

"You'll see. I don't want to spoil the surprise, just on the off chance that Rarity can still hear us. Is that alright?"

"That's fine." She thinks for a moment, adding, "I'm actually a little curious about it. But, um...shouldn't we talk about, you know...us?"

"We will," you answer with a soft smile, "but I think seeing this will help show you better than I could possibly explain on my own. Maybe it'll help put things into perspective, for all of us." When she agrees you head to the base of the stairs, shouting up to be heard.

"Hey, hon, we're gonna head out for a bit." Rarity pokes her head around the corner.

"Heading out? Where to? I hardly think this is the time for such a thing."

"We're just going to talk in private, get some air. Alright?"

You can tell she's less than thrilled by the idea, but she relents anyway. "Oh, very well. But don't be gone too long, we really need to finish our discourse before long."

"We'll be back soon, promise." You quickly throw on your boots and jacket, stepping out into the cold evening air. It's already starting to get dark, the sky glowing dimly orange at the peaks of the distant mountain range. Fluttershy takes her place beside you, trotting along rather than flying. You're just happy to be outside and in the fresh air again.

"So, um, where are we going?" she asks.

"Ever heard of a place called First Sight Jewelers?"

"N-No, I don't think so..."

"It's run by this guy named Aegis Shield, real gentleman. Gentlestallion, whatever. Anyway, he's holding something for me that I've been waiting to see for a long, long time now. Months and months. About as long as you've been with us, actually. I thought maybe if I showed it to you, you'd understand my apprehension. I know it's asking a lot, but just give it a chance, okay?"

"Okay. Whatever it is, it sounds very important."

"And expensive," you add. "Still haven't finished fully paying it off..."

"Oh, my. Does Rarity know?"

"I don't think so, no. At least, I hope not. So, uh, just keep this between us, would you?"

"Of course I will," she answers with a light smile.

"Thanks." You pass by Town Hall, past the vendor carts and businesses lining the streets. The snow crunches under your boots, coming up to your ankles in places. Fluttershy carefully treads through the snow, sometimes following directly in your foot steps to keep from running into a deep patch.

"I, uh...I'm sorry about yesterday. When we were eating dinner, I mean. I shouldn't have pushed the issue so hard."

She looks away for a moment, contemplation evident on her features. "It's okay. I know why you said it."

"No, it's not," you insist. "While it's true that I want you to be happy and find someone who cares about you, I should have thought more carefully about bringing it up. It was stupid of me." An orange mare with a yellow mane waves at you as you pass. You return the favor with a smile before turning back to Fluttershy.

"It's just that, well...this was all supposed to be temporary, you know? I was apprehensive to have you join us at first, but I think you're a great girl. Things just became a little too intimate and personal between the three of us, and maybe it happened too quickly to really digest and understand. If that makes any sense."

"No, you're right. It was supposed to be temporary. I've enjoyed being with you and Rarity more than I can possibly say. I think it's really helped not just myself, but, um...heh...Angel as well."

"Really? Angel? I guess I never really thought about it, but you've left him at the cottage quite a bit over the months, haven't you?"

"Mmhmm. Angel is sort of...spoiled, I think."

"No kidding." You would have punted his furry little butt right out the door a long time ago if you were her.

"I do like to get him anything he wants, but he's a big bunny now, and he needs to learn to take care of himself and help out around the cottage."

"And how's that been going?"

"Oh, very well! Um, mostly. Sometimes he gets upset that I'm gone so much...I do kind of feel bad for him. After all, there's only so much he can do by himself."

"No one said you had to abandon your vet business to stay with us, 'Shy. You're welcome to come or go any time you like."

"I know, and I do, but still...maybe I've been absent too much. It's not so bad because of winter right now, but in a few months it'll be time for the spring migrations, and so many animals will be hungry from their hibernations, and...well, you probably get the idea," she giggles. "I'd feel bad about leaving Rarity by herself in the Boutique! She always says that I'm so very helpful, and I enjoy helping her, but..."

You laugh to yourself -- looks like no one told Fluttershy yet. "I don't think you have to worry about that. We found out that Morning Blossom is more than happy to come work with us. She starts early next week."

'More than happy' is putting it lightly. When you told her the good news the day after talking with Cashmere, Blossom was practically bouncing off the walls and squealing in delight. It'll be nice to have her around to help Rarity, even if it means dealing with the perpetually-happy young mare...

"Ohhh, okay." She blinks. "Who's Morning Blossom?"

"Oh, right," you laugh. "Guess you never went with us to Cashmere's store, huh?"

"I went in there a few times just to see what they had. What did she look like?"

"Uhh..pink coat, two-tone pink mane? Braces? Super-bubbly personality?"

"Hmmm..." She puts a hoof to her chin. "I'm not sure..."

"Well, you'll meet her soon enough. Really nice girl. Annoyingly happy at times, but nice. Kinda like Pinkie Pie, only less parties and more braces."

"Like Pinkie Pie?" she repeats, suddenly overtaken by a half-hidden look of dread. "Oh, my..."

"Don't worry," you chuckle, "she's not as hyperactive."

"Oh, okay. At least she sounds very nice."

"We'll see how it goes. Rarity seems excited to have her around, and any help she can get is welcome. But, uh, I think we kinda got off topic here." You jump slightly at the Town Hall's bell tower ringing to mark the top of the hour, though it was less from the bell itself and more from Fluttershy yelping in surprise.

"Sorry," she laughs quietly. "I always forget about that."

"It's alright, no harm done." You search for the right way to bring up the issues at hand, but decide to just be flat-out with it. "Fluttershy, do you want to live with us? Like, long term? Because if that's where this has been headed for all these months, I need to know." She hangs her head and mutters something to herself, an unmistakable look of worry on her face. "I have no problem with you being here for a while longer, believe me. If it helps you, you can stay with us for as long as it takes. But I need to know what you want. Am I making any sense here?"

She nods slowly. "Yes, you're making sense. It's just that, umm...I...I don't know. I'm worried that if I don't leave very soon it will cause an issue. It obviously already has, right?"

"I wouldn't put it like that," you answer, trying to sound comforting. "It's because we all didn't communicate well enough that we're in this situation. Not because of you in particular." Sort of. You wouldn't call it a white lie so much as a half-truth. "So I'll ask you again: What do you want to come from this?"

"I wish I knew for sure..." She looks up at you with her big, teal eyes. "I love Rarity. She's my best friend in the whole wide world and I'm so glad I've been able to share this time with her -- and you, of course. It's been a wonderful few months. And I guess...well, um, in an ideal world we could all be together for a very long time. But I know that's not reality..."

"Hey, don't sound so down about it." You place a hand on her head in an attempt to reassure her. "You've got your whole life ahead of you. Plenty of fish in the sea and what-not, and you haven't even stepped into the water yet." She looks at you, puzzled. "You know, like...nevermind. It's a metaphor. Basically, there's a lot of other ponies out there, and you haven't even begun to look, you know? Somewhere out there is the right one for you. It'll just take some time. Hell," you laugh, "I had to come to another freakin' world to find my ideal woman. And it turned out she was a mare, of all things."

You smile down at her, getting a small one in return. "You'll find someone. You're sweet and loving and very pretty, and any stallion or mare would be lucky to have you. It just takes a little looking and a little time. I know that, right now, it feels like Rarity is the only pony you could ever have feelings for, but that'll pass. Everyone feels that way when they're in love for the first time, believe me. When I was dumped for the first time, I thought I was going to be alone for the rest of my life, and it scared the sh--uh, life outta me. But you move on and find someone new."

"But...Rarity is my best friend..."

"I know. And she always will be. You know nothing would ever change that; Rarity's not that kind of girl. I just don't know how much I can say in that regard. After all, you've shared so much more than anyone else I know of. Rarity loves you with her very heart and soul." You shrug, adding, "I guess you two will just have to play it by ear. I care for both of you more than I can say, but what you two share is on a level I can't begin to relate to."

Fluttershy doesn't say anything in response, simply nodding. "So...while I'm thinking of it, would you mind if I asked about last night?"

"What about it?" she asks cautiously.

"When Rarity, well, left for the night. What happened?"

"Oh, that..." She bites her lip nervously. "It was, um, kind of a long night. I guess I should start by saying that you shouldn't be mad at Rarity, she was just a little....upset."

"A little?"

"I know, it seemed a lot worse than it was, but Rarity is prone to over-reacting. She wasn't angry -- not really -- she was just a little hurt that, umm...that..."

"That I didn't bring this up sooner," you finish for her. "Yeah, I know. Like I said, I feel terrible about it. What happened, exactly?" You pass by a small drink stand, realizing that you're alarmingly close to First Sight and not much closer to finding out what happened with Rarity.

"Hold that thought. I know it's not something we had planned, but would you like something to drink? Some tea or coffee or something? I really want to try and resolve all of this between us, and it doesn't feel right to just keep on walking like it's something easy to discuss. Does that make any sense?"

"I suppose so," she answers. "And a hot drink does sound good..."

"Perfect," you add with a smile, reaching into your pocket to pull out your coin pouch. "Come on."

The little food stand, operated by a very nice young mare, turns out to have the closest thing to a cappucino you've seen in a long time. You gladly order one, carrying it in one hand and cradling Fluttershy's hot tea in the other. There's no tables, but you find a park bench a short distance away. You wait for her to get comfortable before handing her the tea, getting a sincere 'thank you' in the process.

"Much better." You take a sip of your still too-hot coffee, wincing at the heat. "This could take a few minutes..."

"You can have some of mine," she offers, lifting the cup between her hooves.

"No thank you, I'll be alright. You enjoy that." A cold gust blows down the street, sending a chill down your body. Fluttershy, of course, doesn't even blink. You wish you had pegasus weather tolerance right now.

"So...would you mind if we continue where we left off? I'd really like to know what went on last night, if you're comfortable talking about it."

"I guess so. Where do you want to start?"

"From when Rarity arrived, I suppose."

"Oh. Okay." She takes a sip of her hot tea, letting out a satisfied exhale at the flavor. "Umm...well, I don't know when she left the Boutique, but she came to the cottage at around seven. I was still busy taking care of some of a few wounded animals -- the forest can be very dangerous -- and I heard a knock at my door. Right when I opened it Rarity came storming in. She was clearly very upset about something, but I couldn't get a word in to try and calm her down. She kept saying how she was furious and disappointed, and that sort of thing."

"Yeah, disappointed in me," you grimace. "And furious? Yeah, I'd say that's about right."

"I don't think she meant it," Fluttershy shrugs. "She was just venting. We all have to sometimes."

"Maybe. So what happened?"

"I finally got Rarity to calm down after a few minutes...even though she scared away some of the smaller critters. I asked her what was wrong and she, umm...she started crying." You picture her sobbing into Fluttershy's shoulder, a pang of guilt in your chest. "She wasn't hysterical or anything, but she was sobbing. She hadn't even removed her eye shadow for the day yet, and it kept smudging against my coat. But I didn't mind, I just wanted to help her."

"And then what?"

"I finally got her to talk about what was happening. She said that you and her had had an argument, and that she felt so conflicted. And she told me that, umm...that you didn't actually...you know..."

"I know." You idly rub your coffee cup as you think back to last night, and how you wish you'd have handled it differently. "I'm so sorry. I don't want you to hate me or anything."

"I could never hate anypony," she says matter-of-fact-ly. "Never, ever. It's such a horrible word! You've been so nice and so loving, more than I could have asked for. I won't say that I'm not a little, um...disappointed...that you don't hold the same feelings for me as you do for Rarity, of course, but I understand that she's your very special somepony. But I never thought for a single second that you didn't care for me in some way."

"Of course I care for you," you tell her sincerely, running a hand through her mane as it's kicked up by a gust of wind. "I'd be an idiot not to. Just, you know...as a very close friend. Though I will say I do enjoy when we kiss," you laugh nervously, feeling yourself flush red for a brief moment. She giggles and says the same to you. "I wouldn't be much of a man if I didn't get a kick out of making out with two smokin' hot ladies." This time it's Fluttershy who blushes bright-red, hiding a laugh behind her cup.

"You see? This is what I enjoy; just spending time with you like this. Minus the whole drama situation, of course."

"I do too," she smiles.

"Before we go any further I just want to make it absolutely clear that I do care for you, 'Shy. You're second only to Rarity, as far as the women in my life go, in my feelings for you. I may not love you like I do her, but I still care for you all the same. Okay?"

"Okay. Thank you for being honest with me. And, um, I still care for you, too."

"That's a huge relief to hear, believe me." You place a gentle kiss on her forehead and place your free arm around her, giving her a comforting hug. "So are we good? We've been through a lot together since you joined us, and I don't want things to suddenly turn cold and uncomfortable, you know?"

"Mmhmm, I understand. We can still be very good friends." She laughs quietly and adds, "um, I'd still like to kiss you once in a while. If you're okay with that."

"I think that's just fine," you answer, letting out a deep breath and a relieved laugh. "Glad we got that out of the way." You take a long pull from your coffee, utterly relieved to know that at least one mare in your life doesn't have serious issues with you. The other, though...

"So, uh...what happened with you two after she showed up?"

Fluttershy fidgets in her seat for a moment, clearly uncomfortable with the memory.

"Well, Rarity was very distraught. She didn't know what to feel or what to think. I think she had all kinds of ideas about what our lives together was supposed to be like, but obviously that was different from reality."

"Yeah," you add, "that tends to happen."

"I felt so bad for her. Up until that night that we were just finishing up with that sale, I had no idea -- well, no strong idea -- that she cared for me as more than just a friend. And now she was afraid that she was going to lose both of us, and it just tore her apart inside."

Poor Rarity. And here you thought you'd had a bad night.

"She loves you so much. I know you were probably having those terrible 'what-if' thoughts, but, um, Rarity would never, ever even consider leaving you. Not for one single second. Everypony makes mistakes or says something that they shouldn't have. Rarity certainly does."

"I know. I screw up and say dumb crap all the time. I try to minimize it, of course. Every couple has their arguments and their fights -- maybe the fact that we've had so few of them since we've been together has tainted our expectations, so that we feel like fights won't happen. Probably made it all the harder last night."

"Maybe. I've never been in your situation, so I can't say for sure. But, um, as I was saying -- Rarity was just very conflicted. We stayed up most of the night just talking and sharing a kettle of tea. She started off with her dramatic flair, saying how 'in all her life' she'd never felt so terrible about something, but...it's Rarity. You know her as well as I do."

"That I do," you nod. "Flair for the dramatic and all that."

"Mmhmm. Eventually, though, she calmed down and we just sort of...talked about life. What we'd done, where we wanted to go, what we wanted to do, that kind of thing. She kept pressing me for some sort of definitive answer for what I wanted to do with both of you; I think she was looking for an easy answer just as much as you and I were. But I told her I wouldn't be able to say for sure until I'd talked with you about it."

"And what did she do?"

"She was quiet for a long time. I let her have some time to herself in my bedroom -- she fell asleep for about an hour at one point, probably out of exhaustion. When she woke up she didn't really say anything. She just came back downstairs and laid her head on my shoulder and occasionally sniffed back a tear. I did what I could to comfort her. Eventually she said 'I don't know what I'm going to do'. I wanted to give her some sort of answer, but..."

"But you couldn't."

"No," she says quietly. "I wished I could, more than anything. We started talking about when we were younger, back when things seemed simpler." Fluttershy finishes her cup, gently setting it into the trash bin next to the bench. "She talked about you a lot."

You really want to know what she said. "Did she?"

"Oh yes, very much so. She said that the time she's spent with you has been the happiest of her life, and she'd give up every fancy event in Canterlot to spend time with you if she could. Well, mostly every fancy event," she giggles.

You smile at Fluttershy, wishing you could rush home and wrap Rarity in the biggest hug imaginable. Of course, you realize she's likely not in the mood right now. Even if you've mostly cleared the air with Fluttershy, Rarity is another matter entirely.

"I think she's just scared of losing you, to be honest. She's scared of losing both of us. I told her I would never stop being her friend, no matter what happens, no matter how, um, intimate things become. And I told her you would never leave, either. I can't claim to have known you as long as she has, but you have a very kind heart."

"When I'm not being a fuck-up," you add. "Sorry."

Fluttershy gives you a frown. "You're being too hard on yourself. Everypony makes mistakes. Those who love you, though, will always forgive you." She chuckles, adding, "I remember Twilight writing a letter to Princess Celestia about that exact same thing."

"I hope you're right," you reply. "Sometimes it's more complicated than that." You down the rest of your coffee and toss the cup away.

"I don't think it is."

"No?"

"Not at all. Love is about forgiving those you care about." You let Fluttershy trot alongside you as you head around the corner, the colorful sign of First Sight Jewelers just down the road. "That's why I'm not upset any more. I realized that we can still care for each other, even if it's a different kind of caring." She jumps up and kisses your cheek.

Your heart practically melts. Equal parts relief and regret, a lasting guilt for thinking Fluttershy would want nothing to do with you. She is, you have to remind yourself, entirely about kindness.

Which just leaves Rarity. And with just four days left until Hearth's Warming Eve, you hope things go as smoothly with her as they have with Fluttershy.

"Here it is." You wave a hand at the store in front of you, a familiar sight that you hope will be the catalyst of your long-held ambition for a life with the woman you love. "First Sight Jewelers."

"Oh, my...it's very nice..."

"Just wait until you see what's inside." You hold open the door for Fluttershy, smiling as she gasps in awe at the countless precious works spread around the store. A friendly, older stallion trots out from behind the corner, limping on one leg.

"Well Ah'll be. You're back! Ah was beginnin' ta wonder if ya'd forgotten about ol' Aegis, heh heh."

"Not in the least," you answer, a broad smile crossing your face. "I believe you have something for me. Something I've been waiting to see for a long, long time."

"Son, you ain't gonna believe yer eyes." He looks over Fluttershy, seeming to just now notice her. "Oh! Mah apologies, madam. Ah'm so used ta seein' this gentlestallion here by his lonesome that Ah didn't even realize you were there."

"That's okay," she giggles.

"Hmm...Ah don't believe you're Miss Rarity, unless ya dyed yer mane. And coat. And changed yer eye color..."

"No no, I'm Fluttershy. It's very nice to meet you."

"Same, Miss Fluttershy. Not often Ah get such a pretty young thing waltzin' in here!" Fluttershy blushes at the compliment, hiding her face behind the counter.

"Heh heh. So! Ah take it you're her ta see mah pride 'n joy. The fruit of mah labor...and yer bits."

"That I am, Aegis. How'd it come out?"

"Son," he laughs excitedly, "ya ain't gonna believe yer eyes."