As he walked home he wondered if he should tell any of them about the signals he thought he was getting from Bon Bon. He knew that at very least Lyra would a furious and the other two would probably just get suspicious and angry. Though that's if he was reading the candy mare right.

Which was why he was so hesitant to say anything in the first place because he didn't know if he had read her signals right. He shook his head since with a little help from Lyra, who only helped out of paranoia, he learned how to read Bon Bon well enough. So he knew that he hadn't misread the signals and was just thinking of excuses for why he hadn't told anypony yet.

The real reason is that he thought he could handle the situation because of how he knew that at very least how Lyra would react. He gave a sigh and figured saying anything could wait until after the auction and his date with whoever won were over. Though he knew he should tell them sooner rather than later since he really didn't need the headache right now, especially since he still had to deal with Rarity who was in perfectionist mode.

"Hey Brandon, did you get the candy?" Lyra asked as he walked through the door making him give a small laugh as he tossed the bag over to her.

"Candy? Can I have a piece?" Dinky said popping her head out of the kitchen.

"Sure no problem," Lyra said waving the little filly over to sit next to her.

"Hey Dinky, it's nice to see you again. Is your mom in the kitchen?" He asked hoping to see the mailmare.

"Yup, Lyra made a mess and tried to clean it up. But she only made it worse!" Dinky said as she reached into the bag.

"Hey, I thought you promised not to say anything!" Lyra said giving the little unicorn a poke to the side.

"Alright, you two play nice." He said giving them a smile as he walked into the kitchen.

As he stepped into the kitchen Derpy was washing the dishes from lunch and seemed to not be aware of him just yet. Which he stayed quiet as he was hoping to surprise the grey mare though he couldn't help but keep his eyes on her plot. She seemed to be swaying her tail back and forth in a rhythm as she hummed.

"Aaahh!" Derpy flew to the ceiling clinging to the pan rack after he gave her rear a little pinch.

"Heh, sorry couldn't help myself there." He said as she gave him a glare.

"Is everything alright in there?" They heard Lyra call.

"Everythings fine!" Derpy replied. "Just got a little surprised is all!"

"Again, sorry didn't mean to scare you like that. I just saw the opportunity and took it." He said giving a cheeky smile as she flew down.

"Hmmph, just don't pinch so hard next time," Derpy said giving him a peck before returning to the dishes. "So, how was your visit?"

"It was alright, got some candy if you want any. Though you'll probably have to wrestle it from your daughter and Lyra." He said making her give a little chuckle.

"Nah, last time it took me two hours to get all of the chocolate out," Derpy said through a blush formed as he gave her a smirk. "I appreciated the offer to help from both you and Lyra."

"You are very much welcome, and besides you're sweet enough as it is." He said making her roll her eyes.

"Anyway, don't you have to get ready for the dress rehearsal tonight?" Derpy asked making him give a little sigh. "I know Rarity can be a bit difficult sometimes but you did agree to it."

"Yeah and it was you who convinced me, though I do appreciate why you convinced me." He gave her a little peck though another headache started.

"Oh no, not again! Lyra get Brandon's headache medicine now!" Derpy yelled out, and they both heard hooves running to the bathroom.

"I-it's fine really." He said rubbing his temples.

"Are you sure? I mean either way you're taking your medicine. But are they getting any better?" Derpy asked.

"Yeah, at least it seems like they are." He said before Lyra came running in with his medicine.

"Seriously another one though?" Lyra asked a little out of breath as he took the bottle of pills and popped it open.

"Yup but I do think they're getting better." He said after taking one and sitting down.

"Are you sure you aren't like developing magic? I mean when you started to grow wings you kept getting back pains." Lyra said making Derpy nod.

"That was partly because I tried to keep them from growing. Also, Dr. Hayseed did a lot of tests to make sure. These headaches are just normal, if somewhat painful." He said giving them as confident of a smile as he could.

"Alright, just making sure. But are you okay to go tonight?" Lyra asked, though by now Dinky was peeking in on them to see what was going on.

"Yeah, I'm sure, especially now that I took my pill." He said looking at the little filly who when she realized she had been caught ducked behind the door.

"Then I guess we should get ya ready. Hey Muffin?" Derpy called making the filly come in.

"Y-yeah moma?" Dinky asked a little nervously.

"Didn't you say you wanted to go to that sleepover that Sweetie Belle was having?" Derpy asked making Dinky's eyes widen in excitement.

"You mean I can go?" Dinky screeched and gave her mom a big hug.

"Yup, just pack what you need my little Muffin. Do you remember how to get over to her house?" Derpy asked making the filly roll her eyes.

"Yes moma, and thank you!" Dinky yelled as she ran not only out of the kitchen but out of the house.

"Well, that was nice of you." He said giving her a smile.

"You didn't think I wouldn't at least come with you to the door after another headache no matter what you said?" Derpy asked making him give a sigh.

"Hey, I wanted to walk him by myself!" Lyra complained.

At that, the two mares helped him get dressed, though it was really unnecessary, but they insisted on it. Though the only part he needed help with was his shirt and vest and that was mostly because he still found it difficult with his wings. After he let them look him over and gave him a few compliments, though he could have done without Lyra's teasing, they started their way to the Community Center.

"I heard that Joc was in the line up this year," Lyra said making him roll his eyes and Derpy gave a little aww.

"That guy is with a different mare every week." He muttered.

"You're one to talk mister I have three marefriends!" Lyra said sticking her tongue out.

"Yeah, but at least I'm consistent." He said sticking his tongue back at her.

"Hey now, if you two wanted to Prench kiss then you should have done it before we left," Derpy said making all three of them bust out laughing.

Though they were starting to get close to the center so they managed to calm themselves down. Once they got to the door the two mares gave him a kiss on the cheek before going off to do something to pass the time. Granted once he stepped inside he wished that they would have come in with him.

"There you are! It's almost time for the rehearsal, and don't forget that you're the main event for tomorrow!" Rarity said, but the tone she said it in made him give a gulp.

"This is going to be a long hour." He mumbled.

"Please don't make that face tomorrow. We are raising money for the school this year, and I need all of the bachelors to look their absolute best!" Rarity said and then started to push him to the stage area where all the other stallions were waiting.

It was, in fact, a very long hour as in it turned into a two and a half hours but Rarity finally let them all go when she was satisfied. As he walked out of the doors he looked around to see if Derpy or Lyra was waiting but didn't see either of them. But he did see Tallia walking by with what looked like a baby harness with her egg strapped in it.

"Hey Tal! How are you doing?" He asked after walking up to her.

"I'm about as good as always, how bout yourself?" Talia asked. "Oh and you look nice, I heard you were one of the bachelors."

"Thanks and I'm doing pretty good," He answered.

"Ah, still thinking about what happened to you in Canterlot?" Tallia asked making him realize he had been rubbing his throat a little.

"Yeah, I guess I'm still a little paranoid about it." He replied moving his hand down to his side.

"Can't blame ya there," Tallia said. "But at least you're safe here, even if they haven't caught the guy yet."

"So to change the subject is Ginger still in the dog house?" He asked giving the griffon a little smile.

"Sure is, trying to steal my Ice Cream! Just because I laid the egg doesn't mean I still don't have my cravings!" Tallia yelled a little making him laugh a little which made her smile. "Well, at least I was able to put a smile on you. But I have to get going, I have all the house keys and I'm thinking about letting him back in tonight."

"Whew, I'm just glad that I'm not on your bad list right now." He said after he laughed a little more. "But alright, I'll see you around and tell Ginger he still owes me five bits!"

After that, he started to make his way back to his house thinking about taking some of Zecora's medicine she had given him. Though most of the bruising was gone it still felt a little raw and sore. The doctors said it would be for a little bit due to the force that had been applied.

He shook his head to make himself stop thinking about it for now and continued his walk. Though as a nice little breeze came through his wings started to ruffle a little, so he decided to fly a little bit. As he took off the ground he couldn't help but look at the sky, it was supposed to be a thunderstorm tonight.

According to Rainbow, it was going to be a big one at least in terms of thunder and lightning. Though it was only going to last for a few hours later tonight before the weather team pushed it along to the next team. The wind was already picking it up which allowed him to glide a bit further than he normally would have made it.

"I'm back!" He yelled as he entered the house a little out of breath.

"About time, I mean doesn't Rarity know that you guys have lives!" Lyra said popping out of her favorite seat to give him a hug.

"You know how she can get Lyra, besides all proceeds are going to the school this time," Derpy said after putting down a movie reel.

"Did you two just finish watching a movie?" He asked a little disappointed for missing out on it.

"Yeah, sorry but we decided to watch it and make a little date out of it. Kind of figured you'd be there longer than what we first thought." Lyra answered. "But don't worry, next time we'll let you watch it with us."

"So, what did you two end up picking though?" He asked a little curious, especially when their faces went a little red.

"It was one of those really cheezy romance movies based off the book our club just got through." Derpy was the one who answered making him give a little laugh.

"You mean the series with... Oh, what's his name? Fabio? Flabio?" This made the two mares crack up a little.

"Doesn't matter now, we made it through the entire movie," Lyra said taking a deep breath. "I mean I could barely stay interested in the book, but the movie takes it to a whole new level."

"I kind of liked it," Derpy muttered.

"Hey, we all have our own taste. Just can't believe Bulk Biceps was the one who suggested it." He said remembering the stallions first meeting was a little over two weeks after the book club had started.

"He may seem tough because of the muscles, but he can be really girly sometimes. Did you know he's scared of Butterflies?" Lyra said making him raise an eyebrow.

"You shouldn't be gossiping about that," Derpy said making the unicorn roll her eyes before receiving a poke to the side.

"Oww, that hurt a little," Lyra whined making him and Derpy give a little laugh.

"Maybe next time you just won't gossip about somepony's fear." He said giving her a kiss on the nose.

"Yeah, yeah but it's getting late I think it's time to hit the sack," Lyra said giving a yawn. "You staying the night Derpy?"

"No, even though Dinky is at a sleepover tonight I want to be home in the morning to make sure she makes it back okay," Derpy said making him give a little pout.

"I was looking forward to having both of you in my arms tonight." He said giving her his best sad eyes.

"I really want to but..." Derpy said before giving him a long kiss. "I need to get home to make sure everything is okay too, at least for the storm even if it'll only be a few hours."

"Alright, see you tomorrow then." He said quietly in her ear tracing his finger down her wing making her shiver.

"G-goodnight you two!" Derpy said before giving Lyra a little peck and left.

"So that leaves us all alone tonight," Lyra said giving a smirk. "Now let me help you get undressed."

"Don't start it Lyra, I'm exhausted and I need to take some of that syrup for my throat." He said giving the now pouting mare a pat on the head. "Maybe next time, and um, maybe we could find some private time for us."

"Hmm, that would be nice to feel those hands all over my body again. Though I guess they'll be over me tonight anyway." Lyra said turning to the hall where the bedroom was, and as she walked she turned her head and gave him a wink as she moved her tail just enough to give him a peek.

Almost instantly his wings stiffened making the mare give a little laugh before she went to the room. He let out a little groan of frustration as he had been feeling pent up a little, but knew he had to drink the syrup. Which drinking it would knock him out, so after he got his wings to loosen up he took off and folded his clothes.

He went into the bathroom and started to look in the medicine cabinet and brought out a half-full bottle of syrup for his throat. After taking the necessary amount his throat feeling almost instantly better, and he gave a big yawn. Going to the bedroom and opening the door he saw that Lyra had already fallen asleep.

Crawling into bed and wrapping his arms around the green unicorn he again let out a big yawn. Though he laid there for a little bit looking at the beautiful mare before him. She was his first real best friend here, not that he didn't appreciate Twilight and them, but it was felt good to get close to someone like that.

Now, look at where they were in their relationship, even if it did get really rocky there for a little bit. But he was grateful for everypony in his life from his friends to all three of his marefriends. He just couldn't help but feel like he was really lucky, and as he closed his eyes he gave the sleeping mare one more kiss.

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"Aaahhh!" He had woken up in a cold sweat as thunder rumbled above.

"B-brandon you okay?" Lyra asked a little groggy but she had been woken up by him screaming.

"Y-yeah, fine just go back to sleep." He answered rubbing her head as she laid back down.

He waited until she was fully asleep again before he quietly got out of bed and went into the bathroom. This is the first time since he started taking the syrup that he was just woken up like that, this time he didn't even feel it was a nightmare that did it. But he couldn't figure it out until another loud thunder rolled across the sky after some lightning feeling as it shook the house a little making him flinch.

After that, it hit like a ton of bricks. the lightning and thunder were like it was when he fell from the sky. But why after so long did this fear come out? He had been through a couple of thunderstorms here throughout his time here, so why so suddenly was he scared of them now?

Then it once again hit him like a ton of bricks as he remembered how close it was until his one year anniversary of being here was. That had to have of been it because it was just him being stressed over it or something. But at the back of his mind, he knew that wasn't entirely true, even if he didn't know why.

"Brandon?" Lyra asked from the door.

"I-I'll be there in a minute!" He called trying to calm himself down, looking into the mirror. "Just get through tonight and tell her tomorrow."

He then opened up the door to see Lyra still a bit groggy but giving him a concerned look, and after reassuring her he was fine they went back to bed. After laying down another loud clap of thunder rolled across the sky and he put all of his strength into not reacting to it. As she went back to sleep he stayed awake for a little while wondering what was really bothering him.

Author's Notes:

Ah, it's so good to be back into writing again. Hope you enjoyed and remember to smile, smile, smile!