I don't remember much if I dreamed, the sleep was too peaceful to recall much else. A cool summer's evening spent in the confines of a warm embrace, it was strange to me, but lovely. I had almost forgotten with whom I had fallen into this peaceful slumber, but she was not the type to go unnoticed for long.

“Goo-ood morning, Applejack!” Her voice roused me in a start, and I covered my eyes as she turned the light on and nearly blinded me. I heard her kick the bedroom door wide open, and I had not even realized she left until she stormed right back in, “Rise and shine, beautiful! It's looking like a wonderful day out!”

“Rainbow?” I grumbled groggily as I noticed the darkness emanating from her bedroom window. I wiped my eyes as I watched her rushing over to me and climbing back onto the bed, “It ain't even dawn yet.”

“Of course not! You're leaving at dawn. Here, have some breakfast.” Rainbow Dash shoved a plate full of warm food into my hands, and I squinted to see it clearly. A glass of orange juice appeared in my hand as I blinked, and I was overwhelmed with the deliciously homey scent.

“Why're y'up so early? You're never up early.” I asked her as I cleared my throat, trying to sit upright against her headboard or crooked pillows.

“I don't usually have a reason.” She climbed right over me and sat there between my outstretched legs, which were still under the blankets. Her expression was hopefully ecstatic, and she grinned at me as I placed the plate on my lap.

“Well, al'right.” I agreed as I took a sip of the orange juice, which surprised me with its cool and flavourful nature. I noticed something particularly interesting about it, “Hey, this is just orange juice.”

“Well duh, what were you expecting, some hoity-toity tea?” She laughed as she made herself comfortable there between my knees, resting her hands on me as she watched the plate shift as I did.

“Ah mean, there ain't no vodka in it.” I clarified, and she seemed proud to agree.

“Of course not silly. Like you said, it's not even dawn yet.” Rainbow reminded me as she gestured a nod to the window and kept her eyes on mine. Her smile never even hinted that it was going to fade, she just eagerly watched me.

“Are y'feelin' al'right, sugar cube?” I found myself asking sceptically as I broke a smile of my own, noticing the arrangement of food she had laid out on my plate. It was adorable, actually, she had cut a piece of French toast in half and arranged each half-edge like a closed eye, using the bacon to complete the smile underneath. It looked something like a jack-o'-lantern.

“Never better, A.J.,” Rainbow Dash confirmed as her fingers strummed over my legs absently, “I just wanted to spend the morning with you. Is that so bad?”

“Ah never said it was bad; surprisin', maybe.” I admitted as I touched the crust of the toast, and she watched me lift it between us without a hint of her own appetite, “Y'eaten already?”

“Yeah, I had like four of those French toast things,” She bashfully grinned, rubbing the back of her head, “I had to eat all the ones I burned trying to get it right.”

“That's a lot o'work to put into a breakfast.” I suggested, but she waved the comment away, for once, modestly.

“It was nothing.” Rainbow Dash said as she squirmed out from between my knees, hiding some remnants of flushing in her cheeks. She got up off the bed and started towards the bedroom door from whence she came, “When you're finished up, come on downstairs, okay?”

“You bet.” I nodded as I bit off the corner of one of the French toast pieces, feeling my mouth begin to salivate as the sweet cinnamon topping touched my tongue.

I hummed out loud as I enjoyed it, and I could feel my lips curving up into an uncontrollable smile. It was delectable, so sugary and sweet that it woke me up better than any pot of coffee. I leaned back against the headboard and sighed contently, closing my eyes for a few seconds to enjoy it all. I could get used to waking up like this.

There was something very different about her this morning, something very familiar. She was acting much more, I don't know, herself. She was cheery and playful and physical, not brooding or moping or dwelling on things past. Something told me she was getting better, and I loved it.

I couldn't wait to scarf down my breakfast, though it was a shame to eat it all so quickly instead of savouring it, and rush downstairs after her. I felt the cool morning air on my chest as I realized my top few buttons were undone. I had a habit of loosening up my shirt in the night, as I preferred being cool while I slept rather than hot. I leisurely did them back up as my bare feet tapped against the hardwood steps. Living there over the past few days made me much more comfortable in that house, even if it was still just a shell of what once was.

I slowed as I reached the last few steps, my fingers trailing down my wrinkled shirt and absently tugging on the hem as I noticed the boxes by the door. They were not closed all the way, and they seemed to be stuffed with bottles. Ignoring them for the time being, I stepped into the foyer and peered around the corner, looking into the kitchen.

I saw Rainbow Dash in there, next to these lines of empty bottles along the counter that were being packed into another box similar to those at the door. My eyes lingered on her body, which for once was fully dressed in clean clothing. Her hair was brushed, and if I tried to listen carefully, I could hear her musing some tune. I noticed her shaking something out into the sink, and stepped closer.

“What's all this?” I asked as she turned to face me, stepping out of the way so that I could see her emptying some clear liquid into that kitchen sink. She smiled warmly at me instead of watching her beloved poisons slip away, “Is that what Ah think it is?”

“Every bottle of vodka in the house? Yeah.” Rainbow Dash said with an embarrassed grin as her stash stretched out across the counter and stacked up by the door, “I emptied them all out, I don't need the temptation.”

I blinked with surprise as I approached her, not even trying to count them all, “Really?”

“Yes, really. I told you that I would change, and I am a woman of my word.” She nodded with a laugh as the bottle was emptied and she placed it in line with the rest, running her damp hands along her pants.

“Ah can't believe it. Ah'm so proud of you, Rainbow. That's great.” I told her with approval and certainty, letting her finish drying her hands and walk over to me.

“You said that you wanted me to be sober. Well, I want to be sober too.” Rainbow Dash reminded me as she met my eyes, even though she was a mite or so shorter than myself, “I don't want to forget the things we do together, I love it all too much. I mean, we've done a lot of awesome stuff together this weekend, from fighting over that chair at the front door to playing football in the living room, from you throwing me into the bathtub fully clothed, to you letting me sing to you. I don't want to forget that stuff.”

“Ah don't want you t'forget it either.” I agreed softly, my eyes caressing hers.

“Right. I want us to be, like, adults or something, and laying in bed together and remembering all these times together, just like we did this weekend when we recalled all those goofy things we did as kids, you know?” She chuckled at the idea, and I narrowed my eyes as I ran over her wording.

“In bed?” I questioned playfully, and she faked a pout to silently guide me back on topic, “Yeah, Ah'd like that.”

“Over the past year, I have never been so sober as I am right now.” She stepped into my personal space and took my hands in hers, holding them between us as her brilliant pink eyes caught the emerging dull sunlight from the far window, “And I have you to thank, for everything. For, for coming over here every week when everyone else gave up, for always being gentle and supportive, for cleaning me up time and time again, for locking me in here with you and for forcing me to understand what I had been doing. So, so thank you, Applejack.”

“Y'give me too much credit, honey.” I blushed at the attention and shuffled around a bit, though she would give me no space to do so.

“Look, you were right.” She admitted, which was very unlike her, and squeezed my hands in her own, “I've been spending way too long just, just sitting in this place and dwelling on how it used to be, and, and I didn't even notice it all crumbling around me. I've been blind and stupid and selfish, not letting you in and not dealing with all this. I mean, I knew I couldn't possibly drink myself into this hallucinogenic state where suddenly it seemed that they were all back; not for lack of trying though.”

“What're you sayin'?” I furrowed my eyebrows and asked, knowing that there was something to this little speech of hers that she was trying to get out. Something important.

“I'm saying that, Applejack,” Rainbow Dash swallowed, keeping my name on her lips and letting out a hot breath of air as she summoned her courage, “I want to change. I want to be that girl that I used to be, but, but not the same, you know, better. I want to find my purpose, my motivation, hell, my muse. And I want to grow up. I want to be someone deserving: someone deserving of Scootaloo's admiration, someone deserving of my father's respect, even if he doesn't agree with all of my choices. And, Applejack,” She leaned closer as her fingers brushed against mine, her eyes entirely set on me, “I want to be someone deserving of you.”

Rainbow Dash reached over and touched my cheek gently, her hand no longer shaky with fear or intoxication. Shifting her toes against the ground and going up on her tip-toes to cover the height distance between us, she pressed her lips against mine. Her other arm slipped around my neck as she pulled the kiss deeper, the heat of honesty trapped in our mouths and shared so intimately. I closed my eyes to feel her there before me, around me, against me.

This kiss was different from the one we shared less than two days ago. This one was not aggressive or forceful, nor did she try to wrestle with my tongue, though I would not have minded so much. She did not taste like vodka, there was no haze over our eyes, and I was not quite so terribly surprised. It was perfect and passionate and simple. I might not even hesitate to say I enjoyed it.

I raised my hands to place them on or around her, but I was not certain if that was all right. After all, she had just began to recover, I should not tamper with that. Despite my own urges, be they formerly unknown to me, I reluctantly held myself back and only allowed myself to move my lips against hers.

I realized it as she stood in my arms and I in hers, I was in love with the girl. I was, I really and truly was. I could feel my heart fluttering and my mood skyrocketing through the roof. It was not something I had ever considered before, especially when she had been dealing with such substantial issues, but now it stood before me plain as day just the way she herself did. The kiss, however, did not seem to last long enough, but in its brevity sparked some indulgent desire to press on or chase her.

Her lips released mine, but she did not pull away or move from our embrace. I could feel her there, barely and inch apart from me, and I knew without even looking that she was smiling at me. I couldn't help such a thing myself, and as if on cue the two of us opened our eyes and saw each other. Rainbow Dash huffed a quick pleased sound as her eyes traced my expression, and she bit at her now rosy lips.

“Stay.” A word escaped her, and though it was so quiet and gentle it struck me to hear.

I opened my mouth to say something, before I realized that I had no idea what to say. I wanted to stay, I really did, but that was not something that I could promise her. This weekend had been life-altering for the both of us, but as it ended I remembered that I had obligations, I had responsibilities. I felt her body in my drumming fingers, and had not remembered when I rested my hands on her waist.

“Ah-Ah can't.” I eventually stuttered out, though it was painful to say. She did not take it as an answer, though.

“Just for today. You can miss school once, can't you?” She asked me carefully, raising an eyebrow daringly as I chewed it over.

“Well,” I stifled a groan as I felt her arms rest around my neck, her chest brushing against mine in an oddly appealing way, “Y'always did tell me t'loosen up about that stuff.”

“Hell yeah!” Rainbow Dash cheerily agreed, teetering on her heels and her toes, shifting around in the embrace like she wanted to feel it all over her, “You really know how to make a girl happy.”

“Don't go there.” I grumbled with a chuckle, turning the conversation back at her, “Ah think you're just a bad influence.”

“Mhmm, maybe so.” She smiled and agreed, spinning the two of us around so her back was to the foyer before she started pulling me after her. “So, how does this sound: you, me, a little ice cream, a little nostalgia, and maybe, if you're lucky,” Rainbow Dash licked her lips as her eyes looked at me up and down, “A little something else.”

“Ah don't even wanna know what you're thinkin' right now.” I told her as I shook her off, playing coy as I walked around the couch and sat down into that same spot I spent most of the previous day lounging in, “But if y'mean a little work 'round the house, gettin' them cobwebs outta the corners, screwin' in a few o'them loose handles on your cabinets, then yeah, count me in.”

“That's a horrible way to spend an afternoon of playing hookey, you're a workaholic—like, physically ill, you know that?” Rainbow Dash told me as she flopped down after me, slinging her arm over the back of the couch and around my shoulders.

“Oh, y'love me anyway.” I smirked as she forced a sarcastic laugh, sitting up to grab one of the controllers from the coffee table she then tossed into my lap.

“Here, let me show you a little something about skipping school, mkay?” She shook her own controller at me and winked as she reached out and poked the power button on the television remote, bringing it to life.

She sure did know how to waste a morning, I'll give her that much. I suppose all her hanging around here for the past year had something to do with that, but she always was a slacker. Seemed pretty different than myself, granted, but it seemed to work for the both of us: me to keep her focused and her to help me relax. For once, I did not feel guilty about avoiding my responsibilities, she made me feel better than classes or work ever did.

We played several of her video games, and I think she even let me win a few times, not that she'd admit it. Silly girl, too proud to even admit humility. As the fragments of dulled sun finally stretched across the living room floor, permitted to do so since she herself had pulled the curtains back to let it in, the morning had entirely escaped us. We got around to watching a bit of television while we ate some of that promised ice cream, which was freezer burnt and awfully sweet, but seemed to do the trick.

I managed to convince her to help me fix up a few things around the house, including some squeaky hinges that had been bothering me since I arrived. She whined the whole while, but whether she meant it or not she still kept by my side, complaints and all. We finished gathering up all the empty bottles and stacking the boxes by the door, which I promised to help her take out to the recycling depot sometime soon. Now the front door seemed rather cluttered, what with the dining room chair and all those boxes stuffed with things she no longer needed.

I lingered on the sight of that front door as Rainbow Dash took our dirtied dishes to the kitchen. It seemed so strange to me then, that I might have thought for a moment I had to force myself to stay here. Now the weekend was over, and I could easily move that chair from in front of the door, but I didn't want to. I did, however, find myself checking my watch a few too many times, and it seemed even someone as dense as her took notice.

“Late for something?” Rainbow asked as she leaned against the door frame between the foyer and the living room, raising an eyebrow and casting a smug expression over at me.

“Not yet,” I told her, and she silently questioned what that could have meant, “Listen honey, Ah can skip school, sure, but Ah did make a promise t'be somewhere shortly.”

“And where might that be?” She wondered, though she didn't seem as interested in where as she did in why. Perhaps, more so, why it was more important than hanging around here.

“Every second Monday's the only day that all the girls have a few hours t'see each other.” I explained to her as I stood up, and she nodded as she understood, though it made her a bit uncomfortable to hear, “And this Monday's gonna be a mite special, actually.”

“Oh?” Rainbow Dash leaned back and tilted her head to me as I approached her.

“Yeah. See, this Monday, Ah'm bringin' a guest, a very special guest.” I hinted with a smile, and her confidence immediately melted away to make room for uneasiness as she understood what I intended.

“No way, Applejack. No freaking way.” She denied with certainty, pushing off the wall and walking over to the door, eyeing the chair that still rested under the door knob. “I am not some charity case to show off, you know.”

“Where'd y'get that idea?” I wondered seriously as she drifted away from me, crossing her arms and rubbing her elbows a bit, “Ah don't think of you that way, believe me. Ah just thought maybe you'd wanna see everybody, Ah mean, they missed you. We all did.”

“The only person I see standing here is you, A.J., looks more like you're the only one who really missed me.” She turned around sharply and glared at me, though her anger was not with me.

“You're gonna hafta see them eventually,” I reminded her as I put my hands on my hips, looking blankly at her childish display, “Besides, it's best t'get you outta here for a spell.”

“I am not going.” She spoke defiantly, and I sighed slowly as our gazes clashed between us.

“Al'right,” I raised my hands passively as I let her have her way, pushing past her as I went over to the door, “But Ah am. Ah guess I'll see y'later, then.”

“Wait,” Rainbow Dash raced around me and got in front of me, standing between me and the door, “I don't want you to go.”

“Ah don't belong t'you.” I reminded her coolly as I tried to get past her, but she moved in front of me again, her reflexes sharpened by sobriety. I grunted as she did it once more, she was not one to give up so easily, it seemed.

I went to grab the chair, but she knocked my hand away, hurrying to make it impossible for me to move it. She plopped down right on top of the leaning wooden thing, despite how it creaked a bit with the pressure of her weight on only two old legs. I gave her an incredulous stare and shook my head, though she responded by sticking her tongue out at me and crossing her arms once again. I clapped my hands against the sides of my jeans and narrowed my eyes at her.

“What in the hay are y'doin?” I asked monotonously, watching as she kept her balance quite well.

“I don't know. Probably acting selfish and ridiculous. I just want you here, with me,” She chewed at her cheeks inside her mouth as the words came out, “They don't deserve you as a friend, you know that?”

“What's that s'posed t'mean? Of course they do, y'lunatic, they're our best friends. Just 'cause they ain't good with serious stuff don't mean they ain't good friends.” I tried to explain as I leaned down over her, watching her pout.

“But,” Rainbow Dash shifted, and the chair beneath her groaned a bit, “What if they don't want to see me? What if I make them uncomfortable? I mean, look at me, I'm a mess.”

“We all get a little messy sometimes,” I smiled as I started, reminding her of little facts about those very friends, “Like when Twilight is late for assignments, like when Pinkie Pie thinks we don't wanna go t'her parties, like when Fluttershy meets new people or tries t'get over her insecurities, like when Rarity loses anythin' an' assumes it's the worst possible thing. Like me, when Ah try an' do a whole harvest alone, or like you, whenever y'don't win or don't get your way.”

“Yeah, I guess none of us are so well-adjusted.” Rainbow Dash nodded and snickered a bit.

“So get off'a your butt already.” I held my hand out between us, offering her help up from that odd, tipped back position that seemed uncomfortable and dangerous.

She returned my warm smile and clapped her hand against mine, clasping it as she moved to get up. However, that chair there was not quite so well-adjusted either, it seemed, because as soon as she tried to get up off of it, the old thing creaked and slipped against the floor. It fell out from under the door knob and plummeted to the ground, the back cracking against it as the legs knocked up from underneath it. As it fell, I quickly lifted Rainbow Dash off the dangerous thing and held her there barely upright an inch or so from myself, wrapping my other arm around her waist for support. The legs of the chair kicked up and weaved between our own legs, pinning us in our position.

Our surprised expressions mirrored each other, and in unison we looked down at the now fractured object beneath us. The back of the chair had split through, and there was a scratch on the door from where it had fallen. Still, the legs of the chair somehow managed to run between our ankles and knees, without hitting us at all. We both huffed a few wary laughs as we manoeuvred our way out of the mess, picking up the poor broken object together.

“I guess we couldn't stay locked in here forever.” Rainbow Dash muttered with a small smile as we leaned the chair against the wall, and for some reason it seemed that both of us regarded the object with some kind of reverence.

“Nah, Ah s'pose not.” I agreed with a nod, my eyes trailing that old dining chair affectionately. “Al'right, you go get dressed while I pack up the truck.”

“Aye-aye,” She gave me a lazy salute as she went up to her bedroom to get socks or shoes or whatever she needed.

I pried that front door open at last, but instead of being blinded by the sun as I would expect from a summer day, I was greeted with a warm summer rain. Not that it bothered me, seeing as how my wide-brimmed hat kept it out of my eyes. I hoisted up a few of those boxes and carried them on out anyway. The empty bottles made small specks of musical notes as the rain hit them, and I found it oddly charming. It only took a couple trips to get all of the boxes, and I returned once more to grab my dufflebag, which I shoved back behind my seat.

By the time I returned to the house, Rainbow Dash was coming down the stairs. She had put on one of her old leather jackets, something she used to be known for wearing when she wasn't in her athletic gear. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs in the foyer and looked out the front door, noticing the rain. By then, I was already damp from the trips to and from the truck, but I realized then that it was possible she had not been out in the rain for a good long time.

Rainbow Dash used to love the rain, it never troubled her one bit. She'd always run right out there, telling me she was looking for the rainbows. Twilight even got around to telling her how to find them, what conditions permitted them to be made, but Rainbow Dash always said that you couldn't peg that kind of natural beauty to science. Now though, she just stared at it and kept her hands in the pockets of her undone jacket.

“It's raining.” She told me dully, as if I didn't notice. I smirked a bit as I stood on the mat just outside the front of the door.

“Y'know? Ah think you're right.” I said sarcastically as I raised my hand as if to catch the falling drops.

“Smart ass.” She scoffed at my remark, moving another few paces until she was just inside the doorway, though she looked uneasy about going any further. “I don't know about this, Applejack.” She tried to make excuses, but I was not about to take any.

“Come on, honey, Ah'm right here.” I stepped one foot into the doorway and extended my hand to her once more. She looked at it for a moment like she was trying to figure it out, which only brought an adoring smile to my face, “Ah can wait all day, unless y'want me to carry you on outta there.”

She sighed inaudibly as she made up her mind, and grabbed the door knob in her hand as she took the last step. Her hand landed in mine, which was damp and flushed from the rain and exertion. I led her out the door, which she pulled shut behind her as she willingly followed me. The slight overhang from the roof above her was short, and she walked out from underneath it hesitantly, blinking a bit as the rain touched her face. I smiled as I dragged her faster, pulling us into a jog towards the truck.

Leaning her head back, she looked up at the overcast skies, rain tapping against her cheeks and lips all the while. Gradually, I saw that same old endearing grin slide across her face; as if her lips were made of sugar and rainwater knew best how to melt them. She left everything else behind in that dark old house for me, for me and this magic in the air, be it rain or something less scientific.

I pulled the passenger's side door open for her and helped her in, closing it up after her before going around to my own side. I jumped up the foot or two distance the truck had above the ground, and landed in my seat. It all fell quieter as I closed my own door, and the rain danced around us making images and tunes on the wind shield. She still seemed rather out of her comfort zone as she adjusted in the seat, avoiding my eye line. I suppose being in a vehicle again after what happened, and after spending the past several months indoors, it was a little unnerving.

“Hey,” I spoke as I reached over and put my hand on her thigh, commanding her attention, “Relax, Ah thought that was what you're best at?”

“Maybe this wasn't a great idea.” Rainbow Dash argued, though she did not seem invested in one side or the other. The more she thought about it, looking around the truck and the big wide spaces around her, the more uneasy she got. Her hands fidgeted in her lap, and she shifted around in her seat several times before her voice cracked out in that high pitch of hers, “I can't do this.”

“Yes, you can! Here,” I said back, leaning over and pressing down the lock in the door, watching her eyes widen with mild fear or shock. I climbed further over her, grabbing the seatbelt from behind her shoulder and pulling it across her body, clicking it into the buckle, “Now stay put.”

“Are you kidnapping me?” She asked in disbelief as I turned on the truck, which roared and shook beneath our seats.

“Ah reckon Ah just might be.” I affirmed as I put it into gear, driving us away from that familiar house that had kept her captive long before I arrived.

“Are you going to drive me to some vacant lot and rape me too?” Rainbow Dash growled, though it seemed like she was being more playful than aggressive.

“It ain't rape if y'beg me for it first.” I smirked as I crossed my hands over each other two or three times to get a full turn around the block.

“Oh, listen to you with the jokes!” She cried as she threw her hands up before sinking into her seat. She did not seem angry with me though, as she looked back over and seemed to trace me with her eyes.

I knew that she was the kind of person who needed a bit of a push once in a while, and it seemed I was right. The further we went, the less uncomfortable she became. I reached over and touched her shoulder, squeezing it supportively as she nuzzled me in acceptance. I couldn't do it for long of course, as the manual transmission called for my commands loudly. Due to the old truck's heaving, each time I changed the gears we both shifted a bit in our seats, which felt almost intimate between us.

Rainbow Dash sat up a bit when she caught sight of herself in the side mirror, and cranked her arm around as she rolled down her window to get the rain water off of it. She leaned closer as she reached out and knocked some drops of water off the mirror itself, staring at her reflection all the while. She reached up and touched her once multi-coloured hair, something entirely unique about her that she seemed to have let slide. Now her dark roots had grown in, and it bothered her again.

“Jeez, I can only imagine what the girls are going to say about this.” Rainbow Dash furrowed her eyebrows as she ran her fingers through it with dissatisfaction.

I watched her carefully as she seemed so upset about it, when I was struck with an idea. I reached up and grabbed the brim of my Stetson, which was only slightly damp as it was good in rainy weather, and picked it up. I leaned closer to her and pulled it over her head, knocking it right over her eyes as I did. She was surprised as she pushed it back up, looking over at me with grateful eyes.

“Now no one can see them roots o'yours.” I told her passively as I glanced at her, before checking my rear-view for passing cars, which reminded me of something that dangled right in front of our faces, “Besides, y'match my air fresh'ner.”

“Your—?” She started to ask, but the memory came back to her as she noticed it hanging there, and this great big smile spread across her face as she did, “You still have that thing?”

“O'course. It's cute, ain't it?” I asked as I flicked it, sending it spinning around in front of us, “And it reminds me of a certain someone.”

“You think I'm cute?” Rainbow Dash asked deviously as her grin spread, and she leaned closer to see the blush on my face.

“That ain't what Ah meant!” I denied as I watched the road, squeezing my hands on the steering wheel until she stopped snickering. I shook my head back and forth as I released a small smile, loving our familiar banter.

It wasn't a particularly long drive to where I was meeting the girls, which was in the parking lot behind the library on campus. Granted, not all of us went to that college, but it was an adequate meeting spot regardless. I was surprised that I had got in at all honestly, my grades were nothing to write home about, but I was a hard worker.

Rainbow Dash kicked her feet up onto the dashboard despite my blank and irritable expression, and tipped that hat of mine over her eyes. She did look pretty sharp all dressed up in her jacket and those ripped jeans, I hadn't seen her so confident in a good long time. I actually had to force myself to look away from her to keep focused on the road. She glanced over at me from under the brim and got the nerve to strike up conversation.

“Your radio broken, A.J.?” Rainbow Dash asked as she gestured at the console in my truck. Honestly, it was not in the best shape, nothing in this old rust bucket was.

“Like everythin' else.” I told her as I changed lanes, checking my mirrors through the slowly passing rain, “What, y'don't like just talkin'? Ah could ask you to sing for me again.”

“Don't push it,” She snickered as she shook her head. I could tell she did have something to say, from the way she kept sucking on her words, but I waited patiently until she found that they tasted good enough to share, “So, you're coming over on Friday, right?”

“Yeah, Ah told you Ah would. Every week, remember?” I agreed as I saw the sign for the college on the lawn in front of the entrance, which I turned towards.

“Good,” She nodded slowly as she watched the scenery pass us by through the much clearer windows, as there was no longer rain pounding on them. Her voice came again though, “Maybe we can do some more work around the house. There's a lot that needs fixing up.”

“Al'right, now why're you the one mentionin' house work?” I asked sceptically as I cast her a glance before pulling onto the main road around the campus.

“Well, to be honest? I'm selling the place, Applejack.” Rainbow Dash revealed, and I was surprised to hear such a thing. She knocked her feet off the dashboard as she sat up and spoke seriously, “I can't live there any more, it's too quiet, too stuffed up with memories. You know?”

“Yeah, Ah understand.” I agreed with a few nods, hoping the subject was not too sensitive.

“I'll get a little place of my own, an apartment or something, and put the rest of the stuff into storage.” She told me as she leaned her cheek on her hand, looking out the window instead of at me.

I played with my cheek between my teeth as I tried to work up the courage to speak again, and found myself glancing over at her incessantly until I did, “Well, you could always,” I swallowed my stomach which had jumped up into my throat, or so it felt, “You could always stay with me.”

Rainbow Dash's attention darted over to me, and her eyes grabbed mine forcefully. At first, I couldn't really tell if she was angry or hesitant or what, seeing as how I had to focus on finding my way into the parking lot. Her voice called to me though, “What?”

“Ah mean, just for a while, until y'sell the house, or find a place, or,” I glanced into her eyes apprehensively, “Until you wanna leave.”

She stared at me as I pulled up into the parking lot, though my attention was more on her than the drive. Finally, some kind of joy tugged at her lips and pulled them up into a smile, “I think I'd like that.”

“Yeah, me too.” I agreed even though I tried to hide the reflective smile that graced my own features.

I pulled into a spot that faced the library, noticing the purple-haired Twilight Sparkle sitting on a bench with her nose in a book. It was no surprise that she didn't notice me pull up, something in those words seemed more captivating to her than real life sometimes. I put the truck into park and leaned my elbow onto the steering wheel, turning to face Rainbow Dash as she recognized the girl a mere several yards away.

"Al'right sugar cube, here we are.” I told her as if she couldn't tell, and she just sort of nodded slowly, “Now, Ah know you ain't the shy type. Come on,” I reached over and unlocked her door, letting her undo her seatbelt for herself. Still though, she just sat there uncertainly, “She ain't gonna bite you.”

I kicked open my own door and hopped out, stepping my trusted cowboy boots onto the cool, wet pavement. I came around the truck to Rainbow's side, and still Twilight didn't even bother to look up from whatever had peaked her interest this time. Rainbow let out a shaky breath as I pulled the door open and leaned into the open window, watching her shuffle out of the seat.

She stepped onto the concrete and tested each foot against the hard ground, her feet not quite accustomed to shoes any more. She didn't say anything or move to follow me to greet our friend, instead she waited for confirmation or something. I crossed my arms over the door as I stood on my tip toes, leaning through the window to get nice and close to her.

“You ain't scared, are you?” I teased her, and she immediately got defensive.

“No!” She argued defiantly as she pouted out her bottom lip, shielding herself behind the open passenger’s door, “I just, look, I haven't been outside my house much in the last few months and now I'm all the way across town with you and, and sober, and going to have to try and be civil and normal and, and whatever.”

“Normal? Who said y'gotta be normal?” I asked her as I raised an eyebrow, and she looked away from me as her hands played in her pockets, “There was a time that me, you, and all o'our friends hung out together without even considerin' it might be uncomfortable. Ain't nothin's really changed. Why y'gotta make this out t'be a big deal?”

“I just don't feel all that close to them any more.” She admitted with a sigh, her eyes coming back to mine as they always did.

“Applejack!” We both flinched as my name was called out, and I looked over my shoulder to see Twilight closing up her book and getting to her feet, waving at me. It seemed that she had not even noticed Rainbow Dash, seeing as how she was standing directly behind me and the truck door.

“Look, just be yourself, al'right? They already like you; they were your friends, Rainbow. They are your friends.” I reminded her in a whisper as I heard Twilight approaching us.

“I was beginning to think you weren't coming, you're never late. Well, regardless, Rarity should be here with the girls in a few minutes.” Twilight kept speaking as she came up to me, and I looked back at her once more. She stopped a few feet behind me with a questioning gaze, and she tilted her head as she asked, “Why are you standing there by the door?”

“Howdy, Twi.” I greeted her and pulled back off of the door, “Y'remember Rainbow Dash, don'tcha?”

I moved out of the way so that they could see each other, and the two of them just stood there in silence for a moment. Rainbow Dash seemed most uncomfortable, as she shifted around until I closed the passenger's side door. Her eyes hit mine pleadingly, and I smiled warmly before she removed her hand from her pocket, taking mine in her own as if searching for support. I tugged her after me as I stepped over to Twilight, who seemed completely surprised by her appearance.

I nudged Rainbow, and through her nervously faked smile, she managed to speak, “S'up?”

“Rainbow Dash?” Twilight's voice rang out in shock as she looked at her, shaking her head in disbelief, “Is that you? Well, of course it's you, I mean, why are you, how did—?”

“And here I thought you were the smart one.” Rainbow Dash remarked teasingly, and Twilight's face lit up at the familiar hazing.

“I'm so glad to see you!” The bookworm nearly shouted, and Rainbow Dash blinked and tensed her shoulders up as she kept going, “I can't believe you're here, I haven't seen you in, in months!”

“Yeah, it's been a while.” Rainbow agreed anxiously as her fingers moved in mine, and I could feel her palm sweating. I squeezed a little harder until she relaxed, and Twilight's expression shifted to curiosity.

“So,” Her eyes ran along between us as she noticed the hat on Rainbow's head, and her hand in my own. She smiled a bit as it kind of came together, “I guess a lot happened over the last few days.”

“Yeah, A.J. here locked me in my own house and tried to kidnap me.” Rainbow Dash explained with a smirk, leaning against me as she spoke of it.

“Doesn't look like you minded too much.” Twilight added, and Rainbow opened her mouth to make a snotty remark, but found nothing except the rosiness of her own cheeks.

“No, I guess I was just a bit difficult.” Rainbow admitted as she seemed to become more comfortable in the company, “Like that's anything new.”

“Well, how are you feeling? I don't mean to pry or anything, but, are you okay?” Twilight asked nervously, her lack of social prowess showing clear. Rainbow Dash didn't mind though.

“I'm a lot better now, thanks to Applejack.” She swung my hand in her own and brought back that trademark smirk, though her honesty spilled out once more, “I feel like, like I just woke up. Like everything in the past year, and maybe before then, like all of that was some fuzzy dream or nightmare. You know?”

“That's good to hear.” Twilight agreed with a few nods, clutching her book bag tightly. Her eyes shifted from us to the parking lot, which we had our backs to, “Oh, there's Rarity.”

Twilight raised her hand to wave to the vehicle that pulled up a little ways away from my own. Rainbow Dash and myself turned around and peered back, recognizing the vehicle as Rarity's and the occupants as our remaining friends. Rainbow squeezed my hand in anticipation, but I just continued to supportively hold it in my own. One of the doors burst open before the car came to a full stop, and I swear I could hear Rarity squealing from inside about how dangerous that was.

“Rainbow Dash!?” A boisterous and flamboyant voice called, and both of us winced to hear it. We knew what was coming next. “Oh my gosh!”

“Crap.” Rainbow Dash muttered as she recognized the girl who leapt from Rarity's car, a certain bubbly, pink-haired girl who, for a girl who was carrying around a few extra pounds, cleared the distance between them in quick strides. “Nice knowing you.”

Our frizzy-pink-haired friend nearly toppled Rainbow Dash over in her bounding hug, and I could almost hear her spine crack under the pressure. I let her hand go as I covered my mouth to keep from chuckling, but she did not seem quite as pleased. Her eyes met mine over our friend's shoulder, and I could see just how uncomfortable she was in the embrace, if her tense body language didn't give that away already.

“How 'bout givin' the girl a little room t'breathe, Pinkie Pie?” I asked politely as Rainbow flashed me a very grateful expression.

“I'm sorry, Dash!” Pinkie pulled away and checked on the choking girl, who pushed her away, “I'm just so excited to see you! I cannot believe— you're wearing Applejack's hat?” She interrupted her own sentence with a different question, and we both just laughed nervously.

“Pinkie, darling, really,” Rarity's voice chimed in as she and Fluttershy came over to us. Rarity locked her car doors with the press of a button over her shoulder as she went on, “You're going to scare her off doing things like that.”

“I said I was sorry!” Pinkie Pie finally stepped away and Rainbow Dash scurried back to my side, wiping her jacket off as if Pinkie Pie had left cooties on it.

“Well, it certainly is a surprise to have you grace us with your presence,” Rarity beamed as she joined our little circle, her eyes on my still grouchy and uncertain best friend, “It really has been too long, my dear.”

“Yeah, guess I took things a little far with the brooding, didn't I?” She shook her head and forced a laugh.

“Nothin' doin'.” I told her as I slipped my arm around her shoulders, holding her tight for a comforting, one-armed hug. She smiled against me as she enjoyed it, and as I released her, her attention turned to the quietest of the group as she looked like she was trying to speak.

“I-I missed you, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy nearly whispered, but Rainbow Dash just smiled and put her at ease.

“You too, Fluttershy. But don't worry, I'm back for good now. A.J. gave me a good hard smack to set me straight.” Rainbow Dash nudged me as I frowned.

“Ah did no such thing!” I argued defensively as the rest of them laughed a bit. Perhaps we were not the only ones who missed our playful bickering.

Still, Rainbow Dash's curious gaze lingered on that meek girl, who played with her fingers a bit and avoided the gaze. With a loud sigh, Rainbow Dash slung her arm over my shoulders, forcing me to lean down a bit to her height. She nodded a gesture to the rest of them, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

“All right, bring it in.” Rainbow Dash told everyone, and immediately they all rushed in. No one ever had to tell those girls twice when a group hug was initiated.

The girls all closed in on us and threw their arms around each other, burying the two of us in the embrace. But even through the mass of musings, cheers and arms, Rainbow Dash's gaze was on me, and she even so much as cracked a smile. Her arm squeezed me tighter as she leaned against me, and I could feel the heat of her body even though others were so near.

I realized it then, the position she had put me in. Here I was on her arm, the same way that Scootaloo had once began to draw us. It made me somewhat sad, but seeing her pleasant expression strangled that uncertainty. I mean, Scootaloo had seen something between us that she liked, that she liked so much she wanted to express to the rest of the world. She just wanted her older sister to be happy, the way she was in that half-coloured sketch. And here was Rainbow Dash, and it had taken her over a year to give Scootaloo exactly what it was that she wanted from her, some joy and self-contentment.

The rest of the girls pulled away before the two of us did, and it seemed in our shared gaze that she knew exactly what I was thinking about. Finally, her arm slipped down my back, running along my spine until she swung it back to herself. I dipped my hands into my rear pockets and swayed on my boots, trying to hide the cheeky, jubilant smile that tried to dare display.

“Well, I suppose a little celebration is in order, then.” Rarity mentioned as she looked around the group, finding us all in our best moods, “How does dinner sound? All of us together at last.”

“I guess I can't get a ride with you this time, Applejack.” Twilight noticed as she remembered that my truck only sat two, “Do you have room for me, Rarity?”

“I'm sure you can squeeze in beside us, Twilight. I won't mind Applejack stick-shifting between my legs for a little while.” Rainbow Dash grinned deviously as I stammered and tried to get the blush in my cheeks under control.

“Oh hush, y'little pervert.” I told her off, but could not stop the smile that was plastered all over my face.

“Yes, I have room, Twilight. Where shall we go, then?” Rarity asked, and for a moment, everyone went quiet. I suppose going out for drinks was out of the question, as this was Rainbow's first day sober. As usual, Pinkie Pie was the first one to screech out an answer.

“Burgers!” She shouted as we flinched, and Rainbow Dash clicked her jaw like she was trying to pop her ears.

“Marvellously quaint and simple,” Rarity agreed as she clapped, nodding as she started stepping towards her car, ushering the other girls after her, “Meet us there?”

“The old joint on fourth?” I called after them, and they all agreed readily. It had been one of our favourite places to eat when we used to go to high school together, in fact, it was pretty near to the school itself. “Burgers work for you, honey?” I asked as I put my arm around Rainbow Dash and led her the very few paces back to the truck.

“Yeah, burgers sound awesome.” Rainbow Dash agreed as she looked up at me with those adorably enticing pink eyes, finally displaying some hope and admiration. She grinned as another few words slipped out, and she nudged against me playfully, “Just promise me your onions and pickles, Applejack.”

I pulled her close and kissed her on the cheek, letting my lips linger on her cool skin, which for the first time in months was also graced by the peeking beams of sunlight creeping out from those clouds she must have thought hung above her head, “Always.”

It was truly remarkable all that we had put each other through over one measly weekend, which was such an insignificant amount of time compared to our entire relationship together. Rainbow Dash was far from fixed, but that did not mean she was not better. I may have had to force her into it, but it was clear to me that she was becoming someone stronger than who she once was, even though I thought such a thing was impossible.

She had been so very afraid of changing, maybe because it felt like she would be leaving behind the people who had been the pillars of her life. Well, three of the four. I mean, she had lost her younger sister, her mother, and her father, but I was still right there beside her. And sure, maybe the structure had fallen apart around her, but I was still standing there. And I suppose that was enough. Something enough to lean on, something enough to support her, something enough to keep her sober.

Author's Notes:

And it's done. At long last, I worked through the whole thing. And I must say, I am kind of happy with it. Which is an odd thing for me, trust me. Took me about ten days to work out, which would have been shorter had school and work not been an issue... But regardless, it is finished!

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you got something out of it! Cheers!