Adagio walked through the front door of the apartment and was met with an overload of savory smells. Sunset smiled as she pushed Adagio in.

"I wanted to make you something special both for your first day at work and for doing such a good on the research," Sunset said happily as she took her jacket off and laid it on the back of the couch.

"I, uh, thank you," Adagio stammered out not sure what to say; feeling a mixture of being touched, confused, and guilty. Sunset had shown her such kindness and yet she was keeping so much from her and was even planning on stabbing her in the back. Adagio hated feeling this conflicted. She much preferred the days when she could watch people die in front of her and not care (or even take enjoyment out of it).

"You deserve it. You got a job and I've gone all over the reports you've made for me - very thorough. Almost too thorough. You've pretty much chronicled every cannibalistic attack on the planet. I'm very impressed. So I wanted to do something special. I made a meal of everything you said was your favorite. I debated on candles, but thought that might be going a bit too far."

"Yes, I'm not a big fan of wax," Adagio deadpanned as she took her coat off and laid it beside Sunset's.

"Ha. Ha. You know what I mean," Sunset teased back. "Now sit down. I'll get our plates ready."

Adagio sat down at the table as Sunset brought out two restaurant style plates. The food was perfectly presented and having eaten so much of Sunset's cooking; she knew it would taste perfect as well. Also true to her word, it was everything Adagio said was her favorite: roast duck, glazed yams, fried potatoes with peppers and onions, and baked corn.

"This looks amazing Sunset," Adagio said, truly struck by the thoughtfulness of the meal.

"Thanks, but the proof is in the taste. Hopefully I did well," replied Sunset as she sat down.

Adagio took her fork and got a piece of the duck. She placed it in her mouth was instantly overcome with how delicious it was. "Oh my GOD Sunset! This is perfect." She quickly took another bite.

Sunset just looked at Adagio and smiled. She hadn't known where taking her in would take her; but Adagio proved to a diamond in the night. In fact only her relationship with Twilight was stronger. She had grown to adore Adagio and liked having her around.

The two ate in happy silence. Words would come. They always did. Their conversations where never forced. And in the like, their silences were never awkward. They had grown to simply be around each other. It was Adagio who finally spoke first.

"This might be a bit much, but is there any dessert?"

"Of course silly. Peach pie."

Adagio shook her head and smiled. "And to think, about a week ago I was starving. Now look at me. I think I've gained twenty pounds."

"You needed to," Sunset said from the kitchen as she got two plates of pie ready.

"Well, I don't suppose I'll get this every time I come home will I?" As soon as Adagio finished saying the sentence, she stopped and her eyes got really big. That word, home it was so strange, so foreign. Even back in Equestria, she had spent most of her time moving, roaming; and once here, in this realm, she had never felt connected to any place. But now, she said that word so effortlessly.

Sunset, too, was surprised. Hearing Adagio call her apartment home felt weird at first. But then it started to feel right. "Yes. This is your home; as long as you want it." She then walked back to the table and handed Adagio her pie.

"Thank you." One would be forgiven for thinking Adagio's thank you only referred to the pie. But she and Sunset both knew better.

"You're welcomed." Sunset sat down and then asked, "Next Saturday night, we're all staying at Rarity's. We're having a strategy session. Would you like to come?"

Adagio looked down at her plate. "I don't know."

"Sonata will be there. She's been doing well. Her and Pinkie have become inseparable. I know she would like to see you again."

"Will Aria be there?" Adagio had been curious about her former Sirens. For over a millennia they had been inseparable. None being out of the other's sight ( at least not for long). This had been by far the longest they had been apart.

"Uh, probably not. According to Applejack; Aria is doing just enough not to get kicked out. But she sticks to herself. That and she and Applejack hate each other."

"I'm not surprised. I could tell you so many stories about that girl. Sonata got peoples' guards down; Aria slit their throats."

Sunset winced. "I hope you mean metaphorically."

Adagio looked into Sunset's eyes and shrugged.

"You know, it's so hard for to remember the person you used to be. I just see who you are now. Oh well, are pasts are not today. And you are not that person anymore."

Adagio looked down again. In fact she was exactly that same person. "Maybe I should just check in on Aria instead."

"Well, I'd prefer you to join us; but ok."

Adagio raised her eyebrow and shot Sunset a quizzical stare. "Really? You trust me to be alone with Aria?"

Sunset smiled. "I do now."

Adagio smiled back and could feel her throat tighten. She would not cry. She refused to. But it took all she had. "Um, well, I guess I should come along. I mean this is a strategy meeting and I guess it would be good if I was there to explain what I've found."

Sunset reached out and took Adagio's hand. "Thank you."

The two held hands for a while until the both realized simultaneously that they had been holding on much longer than normal friends would. Both blushed and withdrew their hands.

****************************************************************

Shimmer laid in her bed, staring at Adagio's number in her phone. She had been attracted, even strongly, to new girls before; but this was different. She felt drawn to this one in way she had never felt before. Sure she was awe strikingly beautiful, but so were many others. Shimmer herself had been told she was before. Adagio, however; it was like she was a magnet and Shimmer was metal. Undeniably drawn to her by the very forces of nature themselves.

She had been debating for hours if she should text her first or let Adagio make the first move. She didn't want to appear desperate or creepy but she also didn't want to seem uninterested either. Finally she decided to type a short message just to get something out.

She typed, "Nice meeting you today. Hope we can do it again soon." She hit send and immediately regretted it. Even if Adagio responded, agreed; how long could she keep pretending she was the other Sunset Shimmer? What if she met the other Sunset and realized they looked slightly different? This was bad.

She put her phone down her night table and would try to force herself to fall asleep. As soon as she was on the cusp of succeeding, her phone started vibrating. Hesitantly she picked it up and saw it was from Adagio. It was short, sweet, and made Shimmer smile. It simply said, "Me too."