I'M BACK! I am SO SO SO sorry for my disappearance. The writing muses that be made me take an unwilling sabbath due to the fact that they didn't give me inspiration for MONTHS! But now I am back and with more ideas than ever.
Because of the lateness of this chapter, as I promised there is sappy romance and it is longer. Not as long as I had hoped, but oh well...
Enjoy!
I do not own MLP.
Fluttershy carefully placed the handmade scarf into the gift box. She was proud of herself. It was perfect. She just hoped that Discord though so, too.
She glanced at the small note that lay next to her present. She picked it up. How could she be so naive? Discord would look at her like she was a child when he read it. Telling him her feelings in a note, just like a little schoolgirl. Fluttershy just needed to add the check yes or no boxes.
The woman started tearing it to shreds, but saw her feelings expressed into words. She smoothed out the paper. She had just put as much work into this short note as she did the scarf. No. She wouldn't give it to him, but she couldn't destroy it either.
Fluttershy set the note aside and finished wrapping the scarf. With one last ribbon, her eyes fell on the note again. Fluttershy walked over to her dresser and pulled out the journal she had been keeping since she woke up. She laid a kiss on the paper before slipping it between the pages, where it would stay until the end of time. A sigh escaped her lips as she closed the drawer.
"What has you sighing, my dear? I hope it isn't me."
Fluttershy jumped at the sudden voice. She turned to the man in the doorway, a hand over her heart.
"Discord! You scared me half to death! What did I say about sneaking up on me?" she nearly shouted. An amused look glinted in Discord's eyes.
"I did knock. You were just too busy sighing to hear me." Fluttershy blushed to her roots, turning a deeper pink than her hair.
"Is there something you need?" she asked quietly.
You, Discord thought. "I just came to ask if you want anything special for dinner tonight. Since it is Christmas Eve."
Fluttershy smiled, glancing at the package on her bed. "I am fine with anything, as long as you don't go overboard on the hot sauce."
Discord pouted like a small child. "You don't like my secret ingredient?"
"You nearly left me without taste buds when I tried your "Secret Ingredient Stew". I am pretty sure that I nearly drank all of the water in the county."
Discord smirked. "I told you milk and bread helps, but you didn't listen."
"Fine then, I am cooking."
Fluttershy stormed past Discord, who stood there smiling at her. She was so cute when she was mad. He heard pots and pans bang and clatter in the kitchen and winced. Discord knew that Fluttershy wouldn't purposefully ruin Christmas Eve dinner just to get back at him, but anything could be going through that pretty little woman's head.
He turned and picked up the box on the bed. It had his name on the carefully wrapped paper. He had an overly childish thought to peek at what is was, then rewrap it so no one was the wiser.
"Discord! You had better be not looking at what I got you! Because if you are, I will never ever speak to you again!"
Discord grinned mischievously. "Oh really? Well then I better rewrap it and place it under the tree so I can act all surprised tomorrow morning!"
He heard a pattering of feet then a wooden spoon flew passed his head. The man ducked and held up the wrapped box as a shield.
"I didn't open it! See! Stop throwing things at me!" Fluttershy glared at him and walked to retrieve her spoon. Discord walked out the door to place the box under the little tree setup next to his fireplace. He placed it next to Fluttershy's gift from Rarity, probably an original dress or outfit made by the diva. He had gotten presents from all of his friends, but he was the most excited about Fluttershy's.
He took out the small box that was in his pocket and opened it. The simple gold chain necklace with a small aquamarine sparkled in the firelight. Discord had bought it earlier that day with the intentions of giving it to Fluttershy the next morning, as a token of his love
"Discord?"
The man jumped, the box falling from his hand to the wooden floor. Fluttershy stared at the small thing, before bending down to pick it up. Discord could see the gemstone sparkling in her eyes. Tears formed in the corners of her teal eyes. Fluttershy forced a smile on her face and handed the box back to him.
"The woman who receives that is a very lucky woman." Before Discord could put in a word, Fluttershy returned to the kitchen. "Dinner will be a couple more minutes."
The rest of the night passed in tense silence. Neither knew what to say. After their Christmas Eve dinner was finished and everything was cleaned and put away, they sat down outside and stared at the stars. Fluttershy started shivering after a while.
"I'll get you a blanket."
"No, I will just get a jacket."
Discord stopped Fluttershy from standing up. "I'll get it for you."
Fluttershy sighed. "It is in my closet, and could you get my gloves as well? They should be in the table by the bed."
Discord nodded and went inside. He found the jacket easy enough, but the gloves eluded him. He opened the drawer and placed Fluttershy's journal on her bed and dug around. A soft rustle of pages and crunching made him look at the journal. Angel had opened the book and was chewing on a loose piece of paper.
He picked up the rabbit and wrestled the paper from between its teeth. "Come on, stupid rabbit. Let go!"
Angel seemed to roll his eyes and let go. Discord put Angel back in his cage, and went to return the paper to the journal. His name at the top of the paper caught his eye. He read the first few words and then collapsed on the bed.
Dearest Discord,
I didn't know how to tell you, but I want to say from the first day that we spent together, I have felt safe and wanted with you. You make me feel happy. You always know how to make me smile. Even when you tease and joke around, it makes me happy. You are a wonderful man and talented. You put of yourself into everything you paint or draw, and it is beautiful.
I realized these things from that first day, and that is when I realized that I love you. Even if I remember who I am, I know that I will always love you.
Forever yours,
Fluttershy
Discord stared in awe at the note. She loved him too. He knew his feelings and had hoped that they were mutual, but this was so much better. He carefully put the small note back into the journal and found the gloves. The rest of the night, Discord couldn't suppress his smile. When Fluttershy asked what had gotten into him, he said, "Just the Christmas spirit, that's all." Fluttershy left for bed not long after, and Discord made a beeline for the shed outside.
He dug around the old boxes until he found the right box. He ran a hand over the dusty top and opened the flaps. Inside were special mementos that belonged to his parents. That old scrapbook Dad couldn't get rid of. The dented coffee tin where Mum kept her button collection. At the bottom lay what he was looking for. He pulled out the music jewelry box. He ran his thumb across his mother's initials and opened the lid. Soft music played, bringing tears to Discord's eyes. Mum would always hum the melody when she put on her jewelry. What Discord was looking for was neatly placed next to his mother's pearls. He picked up the diamond ring with the matching wedding band. It might have to be resized, but Discord's mother had been so dainty that it might already be perfect.
Discord pulled one final item from the box. He smiled at the framed picture of his parents.
"Hey Dad. Hi Mum. It's been a while. I came to get Mum's ring. I found a wonderful woman, and I plan on marrying her. You would love her, Mum" Discord chuckled. "She bakes, cooks and sews all while giving me attitude and stubbornness that you said I needed in my wife in order to keep me in line. Dad, she loves the outdoors and animals. She works at the shelter. She even brought home a devil in the guise of a rabbit named Angel. Ironic, I know.
"I love her. I was stubborn and didn't admit it to myself for a long time, but now I want nothing more than to have her in my life for as long as I live. If you were here, I know you would love her as much as I do, and if I could I would march straight to her parents and ask for her proper. I wanted to tell you both. One day, when we have kids of our own, I can be as great a parent as you both were."
Silence rang in the shed. Discord packed up the box again, and slipped the ring into his pocket. He wiped away a stray joyful tear as he locked the shed behind him.
So the necklace was originally the ring, but I then noticed that Discord didn't know how Fluttershy felt yet, so I pushed back the ring hunt and added the conversation with his parents.
Please review! I love reading all of your comments.
