Rarity lay on her window seat, gazing up into Luna's beautiful night sky.

Every year, as it grew nearer and nearer to Hearth's Warming Eve, she would always find herself doing this, always thinking the same thoughts.

Sometimes, she would have to wait there night after night, waiting for what she needed to happen.

The white unicorn had lost track of time. She could've been sitting there for an hour and it wouldn't matter. All she wanted was to see a shooting star.

And oh; there it was.

Her eyelids slid shut and she whispered her wish as it fell.

She wished for exactly the same thing each year: to find true love.

Granted, she could get most stallions to do favors for her with a bat of her eyelashes and a few read that as a sign that she wanted to go out with them, but she wanted a gentlecolt who loved her for her personality and not just her looks.

Nopony had ever found her interesting enough to become her coltfriend, not once they looked past her beauty.

Never before had her wish come true, yet she still wished for it every year, each time foolishly letting hope flutter in her heart.

"Rarity?"

The unicorn jumped at the sudden noise; she had been so lost in thought that she had forgotten that Spike had been there, helping to clean up Carousel Boutique.

"Sorry if I startled you, but I was wondering whether there was anything else I could do for you." He said with a sheepish smile.

Rarity smiled too. She couldn't help but admire how persistent he was when it came to helping her out. He always took on every task he was given, and always completed it with the utmost care. He had always been such a good friend to her.

"No Spike. You've already been such a help today, and I imagine Twilight will be wanting you back at her castle." She pulled him into a hug before continuing. "Thank you ever so much."

He returned the hug affectionately. "No problem."

After a couple more seconds in each others hooves - or arms in Spike's case - they broke the embrace and Spike walked out the door.

As it shut behind him, Rarity gasped; she hadn't made him a present yet! Hearth's Warming Eve was two days away and she hadn't made one of her dearest friends a gift! It was too late to start now...she would have to do it tomorrow.

Sighing, Rarity trailed up to her bedroom and lay down on her bed.

She really wanted to make him something special, to repay him for all the times her had so generously helped her out.

What would she make him? She wasn't sure. But it would come to her eventually. That's what always happened.

---

It was one day away from Hearth's Warming Eve, and Twilight had just finished decorating her castle. She took a step back and admired her three-hour-effort on this one celebration.

It was no doubt her favourite holiday, so she had been extra careful to make everything absolutely perfect.

She was just about to pick out a book to read for the remainder of the day when she heard the elaborate doorbell that Rarity had installed ring.

The alicorn princess sighed, then opened the door to none other than the white unicorn herself.

Rarity immediately grasped hold of Twilight's head and said, "Twilight! Whatever am I to do? Hearth's Warming Eve is tomorrow and I haven't made any gift for Spike!" She paused to check that the aforementioned dragon wasn't anywhere within earshot; luckily, he wasn't. "I haven't a clue what to get him Twilight! Please help me!" She sobbed dramatically onto her friend's shoulder; the matter had really gotten to her by that morning.

Twilight laughed and rolled her eyes. "Rarity, you're over thinking this. You know Spike; he'll love your gift, no matter what it is."

"But that's the problem! He would love anything I gave him, even if it was bought from a tacky shop. I want to get something special for my little Spikey-Wikey!"

Twilight sighed again. "Fine then. Take a look at the facts here: you want to get something special for Spike, correct?"

"Well, that was what I intended to imply." Rarity replied sarcastically.

"Then all you need to think about is what Spike would really want from you. Like, really really want from you."

She hoped her friend would catch on, but Rarity only tilted her head in confusion.

Twilight groaned, threw her face into her hoof, and pointed her wing at a plant she had placed on one of the walls of the castle.

Rarity gasped. "Oh! Oh! I get it you! Thank you so much!" The purple alicorn was about to reply, but Rarity had already galloped off.

---

"Spike, stop ripping open all your presents!"

It was Hearth's Warming Day and Twilight had invited the rest of the Mane 6 to her castle to exchange gifts and have a festive party there. They were all now ripping open their gifts from one another and thanking the respective ponies.

"Why not? It's more fun that way; you should give it a go, Twilight. You know, instead of taking forever to open just one." Spike replied with a laugh.

The alicorn was being ever so careful not to tear the wrapping paper of her presents. As she it finally came off her first one, she neatly folded the paper and set it aside triumphantly. Then, she looked around to see that her friends had already torn their way through almost all of their gifts with no regards to the pony who would be clearing up the shreds later on.

With a roll of her eyes, Twilight copied their way of opening presents. She ignored the fact that she was just spreading more mess as she began to see how it was much more fun.

Once all of them had finished unwrapping their presents, Pinkie started up some music and got everyone to start dancing. That is, except for Spike.

He had counted his presents. There were only five. He could easily tell which came from which pony, which meant he obviously noticed that Rarity's was missing.

That very same unicorn noticed he was sad, and decided it was time to put her plan into action.

---

"So, where are we going exactly?" Spike asked for the umpteenth time.

Rarity smiled and replied simply, "If I told you that, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?"

The unicorn was happy with herself for finding such a unique and special gift for her friend. She didn't know why she hadn't thought of it herself; the dragon's crush was obvious to anypony. It wasn't like her to forget small details.

She shook her head; everypony forgets things. Still, she hadn't been her usual self that recently...

Even she couldn't deny she had sort of freaked out a little too much over Spike's gift. Why had she been so nervous? Some of that nervousness had even lingered; she was worried that he wouldn't like his gift. It was plainly true he had a certain...admiration for beautiful things, such as gemstones and herself, but that was the same with most other stallions. They took one look at her and fell in love with her beauty, and not the mare inside. Long story short, they had a crush - much like the little dragon himself. Maybe he just thought she was pretty. Maybe he wasn't looking for something like this. Maybe...

Much as she tried, she couldn't quell these doubts.

As they arrived under her selected tree, she knew it was too late to turn back now.

"Okay, now I know where we are, but why are we here?" Spike asked.

After taking a prolonged, deep breath to calm herself, Rarity looked solemnly into the little dragon's emerald-green eyes.

She smiled and looked as relaxed as she could. Instead of giving a vocal answer, she pointed upwards with her hoof.

His eyes widened sparkled with excitement as he saw the mistletoe.

Rarity was hesitant. She knew he would never make the first move. No; she had to be the one. He looked so happy; she didn't know why she had doubted him. She should've put more trust into Twilight, for she had spent a lot of her life caring for him. Of course she would know about these things.

However, as that set of worries were swept away, new ones replaced them: would she like it? Would it be awkward and weird kissing her friends? Would this jeopardize their friendship that had seemed so strong, yet now threatened to break? No, she had to do this. Do this for him. For Spike.

She gazed at him. She was very nervous. On the contrary, she was also undeniably anxious, now that she thought about it. He was so kind and generous, so noble, and just downright adorable! He was everything she wanted in a stallion, so why wouldn't it be enjoyable?

Sighing a little, she made the decision to just get it over with; if it was awkward, she could cut it short; if it was alright, then what harm would that do?

Grabbing Spike in her fore hooves, she pressed her lips against his.

Both of them were very surprised. Spike, because he was kissing the mare of his dreams and she was kissing back and, as for Rarity, well...it felt wonderful! It was everything she had imagined kissing somepony she loved would be liked. And that was another thing; feeling his lips upon her own, her heart was set a-racing and emotions stronger than she had ever felt before bubbled to the surface.

Oh, sweet Celestia it felt good. And would've gone on for a lot longer, had it not been for the fact they both had to breath so therefore broke apart.

Rarity held him tight in her hooves, smiling down at him.

He smiled back, looking both fulfilled and extremely happy, then said, "I love you, Rarity."

Once again, the unicorn was hesitant to respond. She had always envisioned confessing her feelings for someone in a romantic setting, like on a picnic blanket next to a river, or a romantic candlelit dinner at sunset.

And now, in a collection of dead trees, a grey sky and a cold temperature, all those dreams of the setting and conversation leading up to the confessions being perfect and fairytale-like just didn't matter anymore.

Those three words her had uttered felt warm in her heart and, what's more, they felt right.

After kissing him on the forehead, she replied, "I love you too, my little Spikey-Wikey."