"It feels like years since I've been here..." Rainbow mumbles as we walk up the stairs towards my room. Its the middle of a weekday so we're the only ones home.

"It was miserable without you y'know. I couldn't go two seconds without thinking about how much I missed you."

"I know the feeling..."

"What did you do for those three weeks that you were gone?" I ask as we both fall onto my bed. I pull her into my side and she scoots around until she's comfortable.

"Well, when I first got there, I was in shock. Suddenly I was with you, then the next thing I knew, I was sitting in Twilight's library. They all surrounded me, all of them were so happy... I broke down and had to lie that they were tears or joy, but really, I was broken. I spent the next three weeks hiding in any place I could be alone. Then my friends decided to throw me a party to welcome me back. I decided to go, thinking that I would need to accept the fact that you were gone forever. I was actually starting to feel a little happy again when you burst in suddenly. In those few seconds, I was the happiest I've ever been in my entire life."

"And I can't describe the joy I felt when I saw you standing there Rainbow. I may show it, but I rarely say this... I love you Rainbow Dash." I say as I pull her onto my chest.

"Y-You used my full name. You never do that." She says with a small smile. Her eyes are glossed over with tears that are beginning to form. The next thing I know, her lips are pressed into mine, and I don't even know how long we stayed like that.

When we finally came up for air, it was because I heard the front door open. I rush down stairs, and see my mother walking in.

"Mom!" I run up to her and embrace her suddenly.

"Matthew! Oh my god, where have you been!?"

"Its a long story, I'll explain later when everyone is here. Just know that I wasn't in any danger... not this time."

*Christmas Eve Morning*

"Oh, fuck! How could I forget!?" I yell to myself as I pace around the room.

"Forget what?" Rainbow stares at the calendar that I was looking at just seconds ago.

"Today is Christmas Eve! That means tomorrow is only the best holiday ever!"

"Well, what is it?"

"Its this holiday where everyone comes together, friends and family, and you exchange gifts with each other, as well as just enjoying being with the ones you love. I can't believe I forgot to tell you about it."

"That sounds awesome! So, I should get you a gift?"

"You don't have to do that Rainbow. It is your first Christmas after all, you shouldn't have to get me anything."

"Maybe... Anyway, I'm going to play with Emily out back. You wanna come?"

"Nah, I need to... do something. I'm going out, I'll see you in a little bit." I say as I slip on a jacket and grab my keys.

"Wait, you're going out alone? I'm coming with you then." She says as she perks up and gets into some kind of defensive stance.

"I'm not going alone, I'm going to pick up Alex and we're going to go... never mind, you don't need to know." I say with a mischievous smirk as I head down the stairs. Rainbow tries to protest from behind me, but I'm already outside before she can finish. I hop into my truck and lean back and let out a sigh. That was a lie, I'm not picking up Alex, or anyone for that matter. I need to get Rainbow a gift, and I can't let her come with me if I'm doing that.

I start the engine and head towards a shopping district downtown. I turn into the parking lot of a mall, and hop out of the car. I take in a deep breath, then let it out and watch the steam come from my mouth. Even though its Florida, it can still get really cold here. I walk slowly through the parking lot, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be watching me. I can't be too careful nowadays with some gang that has it out for me. I reach the front doors which open automatically, and make my way inside. I take my hood off and rub my hands together for warmth.

"Okay, where to start?" I mumble as I walk into the middle of the mall. "What do you get for a pegasus with a serious ego problem?"

I look from shop to shop, and I can't find anything that would really be perfect for her. If I'm gonna do this, her gift has to be absolutely perfect, or nothing at all. I eventually come across a little shop on the far end of the mall, and I enter. I don't remember ever really seeing this place before. It seems to have just a bunch of different stuff, without any real theme to it.

"Excuse me." I say as I walk up to the cash register. And older woman comes out from the back, and gives me a warm smile.

"Ah, Merry Christmas! How may I help you?"

"Uh, I was looking for the perfect present to get my girlfriend, is there anything in here that would make a good gift for her?"

"Well, is you describe her, I could probably help you out a little better."

"Oh, well, she likes sports, and she loves anything with a rainbow on it. She can be pretty cocky, but also has a sensitive side that she likes to hide."

"I see, so she is not one who likes the girly types of gifts?" The woman says with a light laugh.

"You could say that. Sometimes I forget that she's even a girl with the way she acts. But sometimes... she can be so amazing and down to earth. She deserves nothing less than perfection."

"We have some jewelry, but other than that, nothing really comes to mind that would fit the description of your sweetheart."

"Oh... well thanks anyway." I say glumly as I walk out of the store. Just as I'm about to leave, the woman stops me in my tracks.

"Did you ever think to give her something that cannot be bought?"

I don't even turn around to acknowledge her, but her words echo around in my head as I continue walking. Maybe that would be the best thing to do. I've checked pretty much every store in this place, and nothing would be good enough for her. The only problem is, I still don't know what to do for her. I try to think about something that she wants, and an idea pops into my head.

I pull out my phone, and make sure nobody is watching, and open the portal app. I aim it a wall, and think of Twilight's library. I run through the opening in front of me, and disappear into a flash of light.

*Later That Night*

I stumble as I come to a stop after teleporting in front of my truck in the mall parking lot. I spent the entire day in Equestria getting the perfect gift for Rainbow. Twilight was a major help to me by using her princess status to help me out. Tomorrow morning, I'll reveal the gift to Rainbow, and hopefully she'll love it. I toss the gift into the passenger seat, and make my way back to the house.

When I pull into the driveway, I spot a speck of blue and other assorted colors waving at me from the roof. I tuck the gift under my jacket, and wave back as I enter the front door. I hide the present under my bed before going out and making my way to the roof.

"What are you doing up here?" I ask as I lay down next to Rainbow.

"Star gazing, waiting for you to come back. You took a long time, what were you doing?"

"Oh, um. Nothing important, just handing out with Alex y'know?" I say with a poker face. I guess she falls for it because she turns onto her side and places a leg over my chest. Her wing spreads out over the leg as well as my chest like a blanket. We look up at the stars together, enjoying each others company and warmth.

"Is... that star getting closer?" Rainbow mumbles as she looks up at the sky.

"That's not a star!" I quickly throw myself on top of Rainbow as the meteor just barely misses us and makes contact with the ground in the backyard. "Holy shit, that was way too close." We make our way to the ground and I pick up the meteor. Inside is a single note which basically wishes Rainbow a happy Hearth's Warming Eve, which I guess is their version of Christmas.

"Can we go inside now? Its getting cold, even for me." Rainbow asks. Both of us are shivering now that we aren't holding each other. We make our way back inside where we sit on the couch in the living room. We watch some old Christmas movies on the TV while Rainbow lays on top of me like a blanket.

"Those are a lot of gifts." Rainbow mumbles as she looks over at the Christmas tree in the corner of the room.

"Yeah, probably for Emily. I don't get much anymore now that I'm not a kid."

"Well." I yawn. "I guess we'll see tomorrow."

A few minutes later, Rainbow falls asleep on my chest, and I can feel her breath through her nose blowing on my hair. I get up and carry her back to my room, where I place her under the covers. I change into a pair of shorts and make my way under the sheets with her. I turn off the light, only for a leg to wrap around my check a minute later. I turn my head to see Rainbow's face just inches from mine.

We fall asleep with our lips pressed together in a warm smile.