“Shoot… so, we split the bill in half, or by quarters?” Derpy asked.

“How about... in half?” Rush suggested.

“Yeah, that seems reasonable.” Lyra said. Getting her wallet out, she asked, “How much was it again, Bonnie?”

“Um… Two hundred aaand fifty bits. Plus tip.” Bon Bon said after looking at the receipt.

“Huh.” Rush said. “Didn’t think it’d be that much.”

“Well, we did have sex in here. Bon Bon and I do that every once in a while, and every time we do, we notice that the bill is higher than the cost of what we ordered by about seventy-five bits. It’s probably cleaning costs, y’know?” Lyra explained.

“Huh. That does makes sense.” Rush nodded.

“So hundred twenty five each, plus twenty or so bits for tip?” Bon Bon said.

“Sounds reasonable.” Derpy said.

Rush pulled out his bag and started moving the bits out and onto the table. After a few moments he finished up and closed his bag up, “There we go.” He smiled.

Walking in, the server counted out the money, smiling at the tip. “Thank you for eating here at The Rose Petal. Please, come again!” She said, walking out.

“I think we will.” Rush smiled, wrapping an arm around Derpy’s shoulders.

“I know we certainly will…” Lyra purred out, looking seductively at Bon Bon.

“Of c-course.” Bon Bon smiled, her cheeks reddening a little bit.

“Well...this was nice. I can’t wait for our next lunch… though I hope it doesn’t go exactly the same.” Derpy said.

“Yeah.” Rush nodded slightly. He paused and his face lit up like some idea had just come to him.

“Well… we sh-should get going.” Bon Bon said.

“Yeah, I can’t wait to get home.” Lyra said. “Be safe, you two!”

“We will!” Rush waved. “You two do the same!”

“Bye, Lyra, Bonnie!” Derpy said, watching the couple walk off. Rush looked at Derpy with a large smile on his face, almost too large. “Huh… what’s got you so happy, Rush?”

“Nnnnothing,” He said, tapping the end of her nose, “That you need to know… yet.”

Scrunching up her face, Derpy *hmmphed*, crossing her arms.

“I know you’ll just love it.” He whispered softly, kissing her on the cheek.

Her expression softened, and Derpy spread her wings, wrapping them-and her arms- around Rush, in a soft hug. “If you’re sure, love.”

Rush hugged her back and nuzzled her neck, saying, “Let’s head home, shall we?”

“Yeah… you think Dinky is doing alright, with her babysitter?” Derpy asked.

“I’m sure they’re just fine.” Rush said.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So… what is it that you do, again?” Dinky asked the stallion.

“"Well... I go around, and I stop bad peo- ponies from doing bad things! Or, at least, I try... sometimes, I even take other ponies with me!" He said.

“Wow! Can I go with you one day?” Dinky gasped out.

“Maybe, when you’re older, of course.” He said.

“Awesome! But… how’re you gonna find me?” Dinky asked.

“Don’t you worry about that.” He chuckled. “Trust me, if I come back, you’ll know.”

“Alright… hey, is that mommy and Rush out there?” Dinky said, pointing to the outside of the window. The stallion turned and looked out side.

“It sure does look like them.” He said.

Opening the door, Derpy peeked inside, smiling when she saw her daughter. “Dinky!”

“Mommy!” Dinky squealed, running up to her mother and jumping into a hug.

On the other side of the room, the baby sitter stood there next to Rush, both of them looking at the cute scene in front of them. “Really makes you think, doesn’t it?” The stallion asked.

“About what?” Rush asked.

The stallion looked down, murmuring, “About what could’ve been…”

“Huh?” Rush asked.

Clearing his throat, the stallion said, “Nothing. Just talking about the possibility of past lives, and such.” Looking down at his watch, he mumbled something out, before catching Derpy’s attention. “It’s about time I leave. I hope to see you again, Derpy!”

“Aww, time already? You always seem to disappear right after I see you, everytime… well, goodbye, Sword Hove! Have a good night!” Derpy said, waving goodbye to the stallion.

Bye bye!” Dinky squeaked out from the tight pegasus hug.

“Have a good night, Mr. Sword Hove.” Rush waved.

“Goodbye, Derpy, Dinky, and Rush.” He said, walking out into the night. Derpy could see him look back one more time, a strange look on his face, before he walked off into the night.

“Momma?” Dinky asked.

“Yes, muffin?” Derpy said, turning back to her daughter.

“Who was that man?”

Derpy sighed. “I’m… not really sure… every once in a while, he shows up, and does me a favor… and then he disappears…”

Author's Notes:

Props on anybody who gets it.
All thanks to Patric12345!
~ TOOWC