Twilight began to read the minute she woke up. She wasn't sure why, or what for, but she felt as though it was the right thing to do.

She'd been thinking constantly about what had been happening. All her concentration had been focused, limited to a social idea that she'd only glossed over before. Romance. Love. Not things her studies really delved into.

Once it happened to her, though, a lot of other things became blurred. Studying like she was usually let her think, regardless of what she was studying. Opened her mind. Kept her focused.

It was yet another beautiful, if slightly overcast, day in Ponyville. Everything around her touched her senses - the smells, sights, and sounds; however, the book floating in a pink glow above her challenged her mind, giving her a different, more substantial feeling. She'd picked up 'Psychologies and Worldviews' from the bookshelf randomly, and popped it open to page three. She'd been reading for... well, hours now.

Her mind took her away. She was numbly flipping through a chapter on cynicism when she heard three sharp knocks on the door.

"You Pinkie pacing again, Twilight?" Spike called.

Twilight sighed. "Reading. And stop calling it that."

"Yeah, sorry, sorry." A brief pause. "You know, you're starting to worry me, Twilight. You've never blown off your job like this before. Are you sure you're okay?"

Twilight's ears pricked up, and her mind began processing the information slowly. She lowered the book onto the bed and walked silently over to the door, swinging it open carefully. Spike was leaning on the banister nearby, looking at her with indecipherable emotion.

Twilight smiled as well as she could. For some reason, she didn't want to do much at all that day, just stay in bed and read. But Spike was right: a responsibility was a responsibility. "Sorry, Spike," she said softly. "I guess I'm having a hard time getting started."

Spike's near-scowl softened. "Twilight, you seem sick or something. Really, are you okay?"

"Well, there's a few things going on," she replied as she walked alongside him down the stairs. "I'll probably cheer up later. I'm just tired, I guess."

Spike looked concerned nonetheless, but shook his head. "Alright. I'm not gonna get caught up in..." he grumbled, walking away into the kitchen.

Twilight was left alone in the library. Oh well, she thought, maybe I can keep reading down here. She looked up and around at the massive bookshelves sprawling across the walls and blinked, tiredness suddenly grasping her. She chuckled at her thoughts, pushing aside the fatigue she was feeling. Her mood was improving already; maybe she hadn't been lying.

A knock at the door snapped her from her subconscious. She turned and trotted to the door, a genuine smile now finding its way onto her face. She opened the door to the local mailmare, um... Curly something.

"Oh, good morning, Ms... um, Curly, right?" she asked cheerfully.

"Yes, ma'am!" Curly replied, and towered herself to the ground. "I've got a small instant-delivery for you, doesn't cost you a dime. Here ya go!" she finished, sliding a wrapped basket off her beck and saluting with a grin before turning on her hoof and taking off.

Twilight watched her fly off into the clouds and looked down at her nicely-sized gift. The wrapping was reflective, all nicely done up with a bow: not the kind of thing that's usually shipped instant-delivery. She gratefully snatched it up with her magic and lowered it onto the table, giggling a bit. She'd have to send a thank-you back.

She trotted up to the desk and called into the kitchen. "Hey, Spike, we got a present!"

"We got a what?" he asked, his head popping out from behind the doorframe.

"Yeah, look! We got a basket!"

Spike walked up, cautiously. "You feelin' better, Twilight?"

Twilight smiled sheepishly. "Kinda. Sorry. I was just over thinking again."

Spike scowled. "Well, stop doing that. The last time you did, we had to call the fire department for no reason then you dictated a whole long letter of apology that gave me a claw cramp."

Twilight stared at him with the 'seriously?' face that she'd recently perfected. "You done, champ?" He nodded, still scowling. She smiled and tore open the wrapping. She and Spike gasped simultaneously.

"What are they?" Spike asked, reaching out with a claw to take one of the small, rolled pastries.

Twilight's face fell quickly. "Spike, don't - don't touch that," she said, batting his hand away without taking her eyes of the basket. The library's silence changed from one of relaxation to one of tenseness in less than a second.

"Hey! What was that for?" he asked, annoyed.

Twilight paid no attention. "Oh, no, this isn't good. This is not good." She levitated the small, square white card over to her.

Spike's already-substantial worry grew when he saw Twilight reach her hoof to her mouth, as though in shock. It finally overflowed when he saw her eyes begin to water. "Twilight, what happened? What's the note? What's going on?"

The silence in the room was screaming with suspense. "...Nothing, Spike. It's nothing. Um, I-I have to go-"

"I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong, Twi! You have to help me help you!"

"I don't need help!" she shouted.

The minute she saw the look on his face she regretted it. She sat down in front of him and leaned forward, wrapping him in a hug. "I'm sorry, Spike. I - I don't think anypony can help me. If you have to know," she continued, looking into his eyes, "I'll tell you later, but I really have to leave. I have to clear something up between Pinkie and I. It - I don't know how long it'll take. Sorry." She gave him a quick nuzzle before climbing to her hooves, grabbing the basket in her magic and note in her mouth and trotting briskly out the front door.

Spike was left sitting alone on the floor. He sighed and stood, muttering something to himself. He didn't want to see Twilight like this. He wanted to help. But he couldn't.

He looked vaguely around at the empty library, before walking off to try to find something useful to do.

Pinkie had gone to bed early last night. She knew why, but she wouldn't let the conscious thought pass her mind. Until that morning, of course. By that morning, the phrase 'I'm so stupid' bounced around her head like there was no tomorrow.

By ten-thirty, she was sitting on one of her couches with Gummy, just thinking. Her body told her that she was bored and should go outside and - and do something, but her mind wouldn't let her.

Stupid guilt, she thought bitterly to herself. Stupid Pinkie. I knew something was wrong. I knew it. I was going too fast. Stupid Pinkie. Stupid guilt.

She changed positions on the couch, getting herself comfortable. What would Twilight say? Stop beating yourself up, maybe. I don't know what she would say. I can't believe-

She jumped when she heard the knock on the door, loud and sharp. She was just able to catch Gummy before he hit the ground.

She shook her head and stretched, and walked over to it, ready to keep up appearances. She put on a friendly smile, and swung it open with a characteristic Pinkie flourish.

The minute she did so, she froze. Twilight was standing on the stairs, holding her basket and smiling softly. Pinkie was confused. She expected her to be - to be - well, something other than happy.

In less than a second, Twilight had put down the basket, reached forward, and caught her marefriend in an embrace. She reeled back for a moment before realizing it was a sincere hug. A real one, one with warmth and joy and genuine love. She looked down at the basket and at the back of Twilight's head before closing her eyes and returning it.

It was unexpected and confusing, but fantastic. Like a surprise party, if it was done right. Pinkie could feel her marefriend's heartbeat. She held her tighter, breathing in the smell of her shampoo. She giggled as Twilight pulled away.

"Pinkie -"

"Strawberries," she murmured, giggling again.

"Pinkie," Twilight repeated. Pinkie's eyes snapped to focus and she looked back at Twilight, the memories of her accident coming up fresh in her mind. She blushed deeply and turned away, mortified.

"I-I'm really, really sorry, Twilight," she stammered, not daring to look into her eyes. "I - I didn't want - I mean, um - I - you - I didn't mean to be -"

"Pinkie!" Twilight interrupted, laughing. "You talk way too much. Look, it's okay, seriously. It's not your fault. I guess I just... I guess I just overreacted. I'm sorry. Just don't be too hard on yourself." She smiled warmly, encouraging a smile out of Pinkie, too. "Come here. Can I have a hug?"

Pinkie's smile widened, and she leaned forward, throwing her hooves around Twilight. She didn't want it to end; she just wanted to be standing there, holding her marefriend, forever. The world was silent, and Pinkie could feel Twilight's heartbeat, hear her breathing. A slow tingle rippled through her spine. She sighed happily, and leaned back, taking almost all of Twilight's weight off the ground. She heard her giggle, and the most perfect truth she'd ever felt popped into her mind.

It doesn't get any better than this.

After a minute or two, though, as with every other good thing, it ended. Pinkie stepped back and looked down at the floorboards, still smiling. "Thanks."

Twilight giggled. "What did I do that was thank-worthy?"

Pinkie smiled. "Well, you know, I was kinda afraid that, um, you'd be mad or something. I didn't think you'd - you know, forgive me so quick. I shouldn't have - I mean, I didn't mean to -"

She was interrupted by a hoof on her lips. "Pinkie, seriously. It's okay. You're being waaay too hard on yourself. It's just me. I just don't think I'm - I don't think I'm ready, you know?" She smiled after a short pause. "If anypony should be sorry, it should be me. I overreacted, and it - it just caused guilt. And I didn't mean it. Okay?"

Pinkie nodded, and chuckled.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just - I said I was sorry, then you did, then I did, then you did." She chuckled again. "Nothing. You wanna come in? We could have some of those 'ancient logs'." She giggled. "That doesn't sound right."

"I wish I could," Twilight replied, laughing, "but I promised Spike I'd try not to be long. Maybe we should just try again later. Here, I brought the basket back," she said, motioning to it with a hoof.

"Keep it," Pinkie said, smiling. "I still have a few left in the fridge."

Twilight shook her head. "No, I couldn't - I mean, you already gave me a basket, like, a long time ago, I don't wanna-"

She was interrupted as well, by lips on her lips. Pinkie had leaned forwards and kissed her, placing a gentle hoof on her cheek. It wasn't long, but it seemed to give both of them a feeling of closure. She smiled as she broke off, and stared into her marefriend's lavender eyes, just thinking. "Keep it," she repeated softly, before stepping back into the apartment and closing the door behind her.

When she heard the click of the door, she turned around and sat down, leaning against it and sighing happily. It wasn't every day something worked out so perfectly. The silence in the room felt... right. Quiet. Content. She could feel her eyelids growing heavier by the second.

Her sudden lethargy certainly wasn't helped by the monotonous snore of Gummy from the kitchen. She yawned and closed her eyes, running through her memories with a smile on her face.

Twilight was left standing alone and mildly shocked on the steps outside Pinkie's apartment. She shook her head and smiled, pausing only to pick up the basket before turning to make her way back to the library.

"I'm still giving back the basket," she murmured as she left the cul-de-sac.

The streets were busy that day. It was like all the inhabitants of Ponyville were out and about. As a cool breeze swept through the tiled streets, Twilight could see why. Or, rather, feel why. It was such a perfect day to be outside.

As she passed around the corner of a restaurant, her nose picked up a familiar smell. Apples... she smelled again. No, not the cupcakes, but definitely apples. Maybe Applejack was -

Yup. She caught a glance of an apple symbol on a freshly-painted, nicely carved wooden board. AJ's set the apple stand up somewhere new. She grinned, thinking again of those delicious cupcakes, but shook her head quickly. Those things just wouldn't get out of her mind.

She trotted over to say hello, and worked her way through a particularly tight spot of crowd. When she was finally able to walk freely over to her friend, she noticed a few more familiar faces: Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were already standing next to Applejack, deep in conversation.

"No soliciting, please," she joked as she approached the group.

"Oh, hey, Twi!" Dash said, thankfully not in an embarrassing position again. "Come join the party. Now we're only two short."

"Ah'm sure Rarity's locked up in her boutique, workin' as per usual fer a weekday," Applejack commented. "No idea where Pinkie's at. How ya doin', Twi?"

"I'm great, actually. The weather improved a lot since this morning."

"Yeah, I just got off work," Rainbow said, grinning egotistically. "Ten seconds flat, am I right?"

"Oh, I remember that!" Twilight replied, laughing. "Anyway, I was just talking to Pinkie. I'd be surprised if she left the house today. She seemed tired."

"Oh, no. Do you think she's not feeling well?" Fluttershy asked.

"Ah'm gonna send her an apple pie."

"No, no, no, I don't think she's sick. There's just been... stuff going on." She paused, before taking a quick glance up at the sun. "Oh, it's almost one. I've been out for almost an hour. I better get back to Spike. Can you wrap up a strudel real fast, AJ?"

"Yeah, no problem, Twi," she replied, beginning to shuffle with a bag behind the counter.

There was another short pause. "...You know that if anything happens, you can come to us and we'll help you out," Dash said, breaking the relative silence around the apple stand.

"Definitely. We're still your friends, but... sometimes, stuff just happens," Fluttershy added, smiling warmly.

Twilight clicked her tongue. "Aw. Thanks, girls," Twilight replied as Applejack returned from behind the counter with her order. "I should get going," she said, dropping the bag into the basket. "Bye!"

The three mares watched Twilight trot away, the basket following her encased in a pinkish blur of color. Applejack was first to break the silence. "Do ya think somethin's gonna happen?"

"I hope not," Dash replied, a hint of worry in her voice.

"You're sweet," Fluttershy said softly, nuzzling her marefriend quickly.

Another few moments of silence.

"...Ah'm gonna send the pie anyways."

Twilight walked into the cool of the treehouse soon after, basket floating in tow. Spike walked out of the den to greet her, looking exhausted.

"Hi, Twi," he said. "Everything go okay?"

"Yes, it did, thanks for asking," she replied, scooping him up with her magic and floating him over to her.

"Twilight, this feels funny..."

She giggled. "Here," she said, putting him back on the ground and bringing the basket over. "I got something for my number-one assistant," she said, smiling and pulling out the strudel.

"Seriously? For me?" he asked, grabbing hold of the floating pastry. It was still warm.

"Of course!" she replied cheerfully. "Now, if you don't mind, I'll go work on the returns." She turned and walked into the main room, looking it over. Her eyes scanned the bookshelves, and her jaw practically hit the floor. She blinked twice, and reached a hoof up to rub her eyes.

"Spike?"

Meanwhile, Spike had been enjoying his gift (to the last crumb). "On' secnd, Twlgt!" he called back, before swallowing quickly and following the unicorn into the main room.

She was still captivated by the perfect appearance of the... everything, really. The books were neat and organized, the shelves were free of dust, and the returns were all put back into their proper places. She turned around as she heard Spike's claws clicking on the hardwood.

"Spike, did - did you do this?"

He shifted his eyes left and right. "Yes?" he offered weakly.

"All of this? Without magic?"

"Well, I mean, you keep it so neat anyways-"

"In an hour?"

"In case you didn't notice, I'm totally spen-"

He was cut off by a hug from Twilight. "Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she cried, standing on her hind legs and picking him up off the ground. "How did you manage this? It's incredible!"

"Um - th-thanks?" he replied, still shaken by the dramatic reaction from Twilight.

She put him back down again, and trotted around the room giggling. "How on earth - when - why?" she asked from across the room.

"Well, I was bored, I guess. It's been a bit longer than an hour."

She finished her little joyful parade and slowed to a walk. "But don't you usually sleep when you're bored?"

Spike sighed. The library was, again, totally silent, except for the slow clopping of hooves on wood as Twilight walked back around the room. "...Well... I kinda - see, I just didn't..." he trailed off, rubbing his spines nervously.

Twilight chuckled. "Did you do something wrong, or-"

"Look, I just wanted to help somehow, alright?" He paused, and looked away. "I'm not good at, like, relationship stuff. I mean, I don't even wanna think about it, really. But that's the big thing with you right now. And... I dunno, I just wanted to be helpful somehow."

Twilight was standing next to him, listening carefully. She leaned down and gave him another hug, a less excited and more serious one this time. She pulled away soon. "I'm sorry," she said. "I should've noticed. Some weird things have been going on, I haven't talked to Rarity in a week, I just talked to AJ for the first time today in almost a month, and I should've been spending more time with you. I'm sorry," she repeated, and leaned in for another hug.

Spike accepted it. "It's okay, Twi. I get it. Just take your time, okay? I'll be here if you need anything, though, I don't want to die of boredom in this stu- um - library," he finished, chuckling lamely.

Twilight stared at him with her 'seriously?' face that she'd recently perfected before bursting into laughter. Eventually, Spike followed and began laughing, too. "Ha, ah. We should be getting back to work soon," Twilight said, before thinking better of it. "You know what? You've done so much already. You can take the day off." She giggled. "Oh, that sounds weird, trying to say that to you."

Spike broke into a smile. "You mean it?"

"Yeah. Go ahead, go on over to the Acres or over to Rarity's. I got it covered," she grinned.

Spike smiled again, jumped up to give Twilight one last hug, and ran out the door, laughing.

Twilight smiled as she watched him go. Never seen him quite as happy before, she thought, and looked around the spotless library again. She willed herself not to run around it in sheer joy again. No, legs. Don't do it.

Ah, what the hay.