Fluttershy was getting antsy. She paced around the living area. It was the end of the week and she had yet to hear from Discord. He never did call to check in. Her gut squeezed.

Ever since that cup of blood Chrysalis gave her, she hadn't eaten. Not from lack of others being around, but simply she busied herself too much to just keep her mind off her friends.

She worked at the shelter, fed the animals in the park, even went swimming in the lake to see what she could find.

She looked to the clock, '3:00pm.' She saw. Her phone went off and when she looked, it was RainbowDash calling.

"Rainbow?"

She answered. "Hello?"

"Hey, Shy. Can Pinkie and I come in? You are home right? We checked your usual hang out spots and didn't see you. We,uh, wanted to talk? If that's okay?" Rainbow sounded unsure.

Fluttershy wasn't sure herself. But...both Rainbow and Pinkie were close to her. Rainbow and her had been friends since forever, back in kindergarten when Fluttershy was the tallest girl and was picked on for that and her shy demeanor. Pinkie and her met back in elementary school when Fluttershy invited the straight haired, sad looking girl to a sleepover. It was one of the first brave things Fluttershy had done and she was proud to have. Ever since Pinkie discovered parties, she'd had a nack for it and when middle school hit, her hair turned super curly. Rainbow would joke saying the parties put spring in it. She loved them both, this last year and a half had just been a strain.

"Okay. I'll be to the door in a bit."

She wasn't sure what they wanted to talk about. If it was to apologize to Twilight, she'd have to decline.

She opened the door and sure enough, there was Rainbow in her work out wear and Pinkie in something crazy and fun.

"Hi, girls. Come in." She moved to the side and they did.

Fluttershy herself was in leggings and a long tank top, she wore makeup to cover scars.

She ushered them to sit on the couch and she went to get them drinks. Rainbow looked uneasy and Pinkie looked guilty, her usually curly hair looking wavy.

She grabbed a soda for Rainbow and some pineapple juice for Pinkie.

"So what did you girls want to talk about?"

She sat in a big chair.

Rainbow held the can, apparently going first. "I was right there. Why didn't you say anything?" She looked hurt.

So that was what it was about. "They already left. I didn't want to ruin everyone's fun time because of something a couple creeps did. I had it under control...for the most part. To be honest...I don't remember much after talking with you."

Rainbow went to answer, but Pinkie jumped up and ran to Fluttershy, wrapping her in a hug. "I'm so sorry that happened, Fluttershy! At one of my parties too!"

Fluttershy patted her back. "It's fine now-"

"Stop saying that, Fluttershy! Just because it wore off, doesn't mean you're alright. Dammit, Shy, you've always been like that! Just let us..." Rainbow's yell broke off into a watery whimper as tears gathered in the usually spunky girl's eyes.

Fluttershy didn't like seeing Rainbow like this. She understood, though. She wouldn't want them doing the same.

She smiled sadly.

"I...it's really okay now."

Rainbow got up, "How is it okay, Fluttershy?"

She was getting heated and Fluttershy was getting panicked. She didn't want to deal with it over again. She took a deep breath. "Rainbow. Really. At least this time I was coherent enough to help clean and make it back here before anything happened."

"What happened here?! And "this time"?!"Rainbow yelled.

Fluttershy maneuvered her hands past Pinkie and shook them rapidly, trying to get Rainbow's attention. "No, no, no, Rainbow, you misunderstand. I was trying to say that I could be fine enough to make it back. I'm perfectly safe here." She only realized how true those words were then. She was SAFE there.

Rainbow looked at her skeptically, about to bring up the other half of her question that Fluttershy didn't acknowledge.

"What about Twilight seeing that big guy touching you?" Pinkie piped up, moving away from her hug.

"Wait, what? I thought sideburn guy was it?" Rainbow cut in, shrugging her shoulders and looking to Pinkie.

Pinkie looked to Rainbow and tilted her head, confused.

"What?"

Silence.

Fluttershy looked between them. "Um...what are you guys talking about?"

Rainbow took out her phone and seemed to mess with it for a moment. Pinkie looked over her shoulder. "Ooohh. That. I just ignored it."

Fluttershy got up and walked over. "What is it? What are you looking at?"

Rainbow bit her lip. "Uh...you'd tell us if you were dating anyone, right, Shy?"

Fluttershy blushed so pink it matched her hair, maybe darker. "W-WHAT? D-dating?! I-I-I'm not DATING anyone!"

Pinkie began to laugh at Fluttershy's reaction.

Rainbow was not as easy. She sighed and handed her phone to Fluttershy. She looked uncomfortable.

Rainbow being uncomfortable made Fluttershy uneasy. She grabbed it and pressed play on the video. She went stiff as a board, the color draining from her face.

It was video, luckily no audio, of Sombra walking into her room the night of the party. It showed their easy body language that spoke of their familiarity to each other. Then when Fluttershy went up and kissed his cheek. Luckily the side she bit on was the opposite but to anyone else, or the camera, it looked like she was giving him hickeys. Him grabbing her hips as he winced, again, a face associated with something more naughty than what happened. Even how she held him, kissed his cheek the second time and how she smiled and he smirked.

To anyone else, it looked like something lovers did. It wasn't what it looked like.

At all.

She loved Sombra, just not like THAT.

She opened and closed her mouth like a gasping fish. She tried explaining herself, but she didn't know how. Really, she could lie. But not only would she feel bad for lying to her friends, she'd feel bad dragging Sombra in.

"You...might want to swipe over to the right to see the other thing...before speaking." Rainbow added. She could hear Pinkie making a noise too. They apparently knew something she didn't.

With a shaking hand she swiped, tears almost coming to her eyes at the video. This one was of the slumber party. It was shakier, taken off a phone vs what the previous video was taken on.

The audio suddenly blared, making Fluttershy jump.

It was her screaming her head off and by the limited moonlight in the room it showed the incident of Discord coming in, trying to calm her, her friends pulling her away, her screaming for Discord.

She swiped again when it stopped, Rainbow not stopping her.

It showed the shakier one again, same night, but it showed Discord sitting on the couch with a whimpering Fluttershy in his arms. He was shushing her, running one of his large hands through her hair, the other petting her hip where it was holding her against him. He was trying to reassure her it wasn't real. The nightmares weren't real.

Her lip began to wobble.

She did it once more, at Rainbow's soft hand gesture.

This one was a picture. It was of the night of the party again. She was home. Discord was close, his hands cupping her face that looked so small compared to him. She saw the worry etched in his brows. His mouth was open, most likely talking. Her hands were lose against his wrists and she could clearly see the glazed over look in her eyes from the drugs. It sent a chill down her spine.

She remembered what that looked like in a mirror.

Rainbow reached her hand out, meaning it was done.

Pinkie was close, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

She looked to Rainbow, her lip a bit wobbly, but she refused to cry, even though she wanted to.

"What was all that? What was the meaning of it? Who the fuck took those?!" The more she asked, the louder her voice became.

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck. "You said you weren't dating anyone?"

Pinkie rubbed her arm. "So Twilight was right?" She asked.

Fluttershy froze. She looked to Pinkie. "What? Twilight said something?"

Pinkie didn't grin. She looked away.

Fluttershy pulled out of her grasp, Pinkie reaching out. "Don't...don't do that, Fluttershy. She...Twilight said you must've been taking after that Chrysalis lady and-"

"She sent us these videos and the picture. She sent it to all of us. And...I don't know for sure, but she might've showed it to Dean Celestia. That's why we wanted to actually ask you if you were dating. We kinda wished you were." Rainbow sounded so guilty.

Fluttershy felt like laughing. "So...hahaha...so it's better if I was dating one of these older guys? It's better than...what? Let's see, if-haha-fuck! If Twilight sent those. If Twilight said I was taking after someone she called a "gold digging harlot", then that means-hahaha! You two think it'd be better if I was DATING someone 2-3 years or 6-7 years older than me vs me being a WHORE to them? Versus me FUCKING them? What's the difference?! And neither of you are mad at HER for taking those obviously without my consent? Really?" Fluttershy was gripping her hair and looking at Rainbow and Pinkie in shock.

Rainbow put her hands up placating. "Shy, no, just...please, we don't have much information except for these and what we've witnessed. You've...changed. Ever since you came back one day, and even then, you weren't yourself. Then we hear you moved in with people we didn't know. Then you get hurt so bad we thought you were going to die. Then you began to be so stand-off towards us and defensive to these people we didn't know. Then Twilight showed us these and we could only..." she trailed off.

Fluttershy could admit, she herself wasn't being the best of friends. She wrapped her arms around herself, only for Rainbow to approach and hug her, Pinkie doing the same to them both. "Did you even look for us during last year, Dashy?" She whispered, her hurt feelings still sore but she was simmering.

Rainbow nodded. "For a bit. I even asked my parents for help. We couldn't find you guys so we thought you guys went on a last minute vacation."

"We even looked too. We tried looking on the bright side. I even planned a party for when you guys got back." Pinkie added.

Fluttershy sighed. She wasn't sure how much she was wanting to tell. But she knew she should. At least what she could without going into detail. Rainbow and Pinkie could be trusted. As long as she told them not to, they wouldn't spill.

She pulled away and wiped at her eyes. "Do you guys wanna sleep over tonight? Just you two? I'll have to make everyone dinner tonight and everyone should be home, but I kinda want you guys to meet these people without the other's opinions. Judge for yourselves what you think. I want to also explain a bit-at least what I can-of what happened when my family and I were gone for that year...and why I came back alone." Her voice faded out a bit at that last part.

Pinkie squealed. "Oh, yes! Just like that time in elementary school! Well, not exactly exactly, cause you know, things did change, but you get the idea! I'm gonna go now and pack a bag and tell my aunt and uncle and I'll be RIGHT BACK! I'm gonna bring super fun three amigo sleepover party stuff! This will be so fun! Ohhh maybe I can help with dinner! Wait, no, I'm terrible at cooking! Maybe we can make dessert!" She waved her arms wildly, her eyes glinting with excitement.

It had to be contagious because Rainbow was cackling and already had begun dialing her parents to ask. "Yeah, we'll be back later. What time?"

Fluttershy didn't actually expect clear answers so quickly. She smiled gently though. It was so them, it felt nostalgic. "Depends. Do you two want to help with dinner?"

Rainbow gave a look like Fluttershy was saying they were going to play dress up. Pinkie was already jumping a mile a minute trying to get out of there and decide what she wanted to bring.

Fluttershy sighed. It was a little passed 3:00pm then, their talk not taking too long.

"Hmm...how about around 8:00pm or 9:00pm? They get home late so dinner will be later. Plus then it'll give you both time to take time packing. Oh! Maybe, if you both wouldn't be too busy tomorrow, you can spend the night tomorrow too? We can see how tonight goes first though."

She was getting excited but she had to remember she had other people to ask as well. Her mind wandered briefly back to Twilight. She wasn't sure when she decided Fluttershy was an enemy.

"Hey, Dash, before you go, since Pinkie has, do you know what Twilight has against me all of a sudden? I mean, taking pictures, recording video from a hide-e-hole somewhere in my room. Videoing me having an attack. Bringing up...things..."

Rainbow rubbed her arm. "I'm not sure, Shy. It kinda began when you came to school again. Well, that's not right. I'd say it was when you started acting different, then she got curious and became a bit obsessed with finding out what changed you. Then she saw you lived with Chrysalis and it got way worse. She wanted to prove you were sleeping with older guys or whatever. Maybe it was to get the people you lived with arrested? I'm really not sure, Shy. You'd have to ask her yourself. That's just what I think, and you know we can't just assume. Well, see you later." She waved and with that, Fluttershy was alone with her thoughts again.

She paced, then when she reached her room, to make sure it was picked up, she, in a frantic paranoid fit, tore it apart, looking for any camera or microphone.

Upon finding none, she cleaned up.

She went to the kitchen after, looking around for what to make.

Using the leftover beef from the dinner the night before, she realized she could make stew.

She knew it was summer, but it was about to rain the next couple nights, so she thought making a nice hearty stew would be nice. It'd also be full of nutrients for the others. It wouldn't be portable but hopefully there wouldn't be leftovers or at the least very little.

Maybe she could make homemade biscuits or bread with it. She grinned and got to work.

Fluttershy was so wrapped up in her work and humming what little upbeat tune was in her head, she moved her hips to the beat, with the scent of the stew filling the kitchen, she didn't even notice a certain someone had gotten back as her hands and arms and even some of her face and clothes were a mess of flour and dough and stew juice.

Fluttershy didn't even hear him. She felt large hands against her eyes and her first reflex was to quickly elbow the person. But when she was able to turn out of the hands and open her eyes, she saw it was a chuckling Discord.

"If you're wanting to disable and harm your attacker, Dear, you're going to have to be quicker and elbow harder than that with another move ready when you turn."

She just stared wide eyed. "Discord? I didn't even smell you come in." Her voice was quiet. She felt that lump in her throat. She hadn't realized how much of her running off was also to distract herself from any bad thoughts about Discord's whereabouts.

She remembered the picture of him holding her face. She wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the fond, amused look he was giving her.

She reached up, her still being trapped between him and the counter, and cupped his face to mirror how he had, the best she could. Her hands though, couldn't even cover half the span his could.

She saw him blush at the gentle treatment.

"Y-you can, uh, smell me when I come in? Hehe, my Dear, that's..."he awkwardly stuttered out.

A breeze blew by from the cracked open window and Fluttershy got the full brunt of his scent. It had changed but not any less appealing.

Without thinking about it much, her teeth throbbing, the bitter venom pumping through her teeth and dripping onto her tongue, instead of cupping his jaw, she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him down more.

She drank Chrysalis' blood out of necessity. That was 4 days ago.

"You should either finish first or turn it off if you want a meal." He was still blushing a bit, how Fluttershy pressed herself against him and pulled him down, it was more intimate than what he was ready for.

She whined in her throat but turned to finish dinner, or at least get the rolls rising and the stew simmering so the flavors could meld together. Her throat felt scratchy, her hand shook, and she knew her eyes had to be at least red.

Friends m the corner of her eye she could see Discord helping. He was forming the rolls as she worked on the stew. She noted more wounds on his hands and her eyes widened at the fresh blood coming from his side.

"Discord! Your side-" she began but he waved her off.

"I just got hurt at work was all. It was stitched, but your elbow opened them, I assume. I'm very much looking forward to this dinner, so maybe if I tell you a bit more about myself, you'll continue cooking? Deal?" He said in a tone that didn't even reveal a fraction of whatever pain he could've been in. She could see the blood slowly pooling against his shirt and the hem of his pants.

She gulped. She wanted it, but she nodded. More than wanting the blood, she wanted to check his wound. But hearing about him was worth her patience.

"I should probably ask what you want to know, first. Then I'll know what I can avoiding telling." He chuckled.

She gasped, turning to him, her teeth still sensitive. "That's not fair!"

He reached over the island, him of course being big enough, and caressed her cheek with his flour and dough dusted hand. "It is. I realized, while away, that I don't know much about you either. I know some things, as you to me, since we live together, but I know there's things we both want to ask."

She was beyond embarrassment and tilted her head into his hand, but again, she nodded and sighed. She knew he would bend whatever truth he had to if he wanted to avoid a straight on answer to something. Despite her hungry state, she had to be smart. "What EXACTLY, in full detail, like name, occupation and position do you work?"

His eyes widened at her wording but he quickly snickered. "Very smart, my Dear. But, I suppose a deal is a deal." He removed his hand and continued his work on the bread. "I hope this doesn't change your view of me. Also, any information we gather is between us, okay?" He winked.

She nodded, unsure but she trusted him.

He sighed, almost nervous. "I work the Underground. Weapon trade mostly. I work as muscle most the time. Others it's to tweak out my work's weapons so they can't be easily used. Most underestimate my strength, though most are deterred by my size alone." He didn't look her in the eye for a while, maybe waiting for her response.

She had a feeling that wasn't all. "What else? There's more you do...right?"

He looked at her with wide eyes. "Yes. But I stay away from THAT part as often as I can."

She simply looked at him. Waiting for him to continue. He noticed and sighed. "THAT part has to do with drugs. When they do use me for that half of work, it's muscle. That only. I refuse to do anything else."

She was silent, trying to process. Her precious Discord worked in the Underground. That's why he left for days and sometimes came back hurt. "You don't...you don't do more...right?" Part of her was admittedly scared. Not of him. But...the only thing she knew of that world was the part her family was dragged and torn through.

"What do you think I do, Fluttershy?" His tone was quiet.

"I don't know, Discord. That's the problem. Your turn." She looked away, focusing-supposedly-on the stew. He knew she was listening.

"What EXACTLY happened to your family?" She heard the water go, he must've been done.

She jolted at feeling his hands in her hips, his back body warm as it hovered near her back.

She took a shuddering breath, reaching to turn the oven on. "Different things. We were...gone...for a year. God, it felt longer. I almost couldn't believe it when I saw a calendar. We were held...in a different areas. Most of the time in a cold, moldy cellar. They'd...they'd make us..." she choked on her words. She took comfort in his hands. "There was a game. "Predator or Prey", is what it was called. You'd pick one, then you'd take your role. We were able to get away with hurting each other, instead of killing, as the name implied. I think it was because the "Boss" had a soft spot for..." She shuddered, letting go of the ladle and scratching at her arms.

She gasped when he kissed the back of her head. "The Game, was only the beginning. Discord...please...do I have to go into detail?" She whimpered, memories bubbling.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry, my Dear. I didn't realize it wasn't just an accident. I'll stop." He wrapped her in his arms.

He worked that world. He didn't know specifically what part of it her family was dragged to or what horrors they faced exactly. He wanted to know more, but at that rate, she was going to go into a panic attack similar to the one at the slumber party.

"I simply help with weapons and muscle for the drug rings. That's all. I refuse to do those things myself, even alcohol. I don't seem like the type, huh?" He tried making it a bit light.

She looked into his eyes and she believed him. "They'd drug us. Especially me, since I'd fight back." Her voice was quiet.

She felt his grip on her tighten and she felt a strange surge of magic but it went away when she felt him take a deep breath.

He picked her up, turning the stew on low. She wrapped her legs around his middle, not sure what he was thinking. He didn't go far, just placing her on the counter, then she was maybe a few centimeters taller.

"That night. The night of the party, you said-more like asked- how long I'd be here. How long until I left you. You're a minx you know." He chuckled sadly at the end.

It seemed he kept trying to lighten it up without going off topic. She gulped, running her hand up the side of his neck. Her legs were still loosely hanging against his side, the one side with the injury, ignored or forgotten. She felt him shudder at her touch. "Fluttershy, what did I say about...touching?"

She could feel his pulse jumping against her fingertips. "Did you ever answer me? That night?"

He shook his head. "I didn't know how. I still don't. I can't promise anything. I can't tell you no, that I won't, because the future is as erratic as possible. I didn't say yes, because it'd be a lie to me too." He looked her in the eyes and her breath caught at the gentle look. "You've worked your way in somehow and I don't like it. I don't like there's someone waiting for me after I leave work. That I have a reason for it."

"Do you...want me gone? Do you truly not like me waiting for you?" She searched and he let out a breathy chuckle.

"Do you want the truth or denial?" He laughed.

"No need. Your answer alone was what proved it. You said you had a surprise?" She wondered if she could veer off topic. It was getting too intimate. It made her body feel odd and hot.

He nodded. "I worked enough to take you and whoever you chose to a beach on the coastline. I thought...some summer fun might do you some good. As long as you take a break once in awhile."

She smiled fondly at him. "You didn't have to. You've already done so much for me. And I have one for you too. More like a question, now that I remember. So, I invited Rainbow-you know, the rainbow haired one- and Pinkie-the really curly other pink haired one- over tonight. I wanted them to meet you guys with their own eyes. Not the ones by a nosy, picture taking, Twilight." She muttered that last bit but he still heard.

"What pictures? Also, wasn't it one of their parties that you got DRUGGED at?" She felt a chill at seeing his eyes beginning to glow.

"They didn't know, Discord. I told you-I think- that I've been drugged worse. They wouldn't have known. I already brought it up to them, don't worry. Please." She touched his cheek. He looked away, angrily. She didn't expect him to be so mad about it.

How much did he care about her?

"What pictures, Fluttershy?" His tone was that deep warning tone that sent a harsh chill through her.

She sighed. "Twilight put a hidden camera in my room and it videoed me feeding on Sombra. Though to the video it looked like I was marking his neck in hickeys. I love him, but not like that." She muttered.

"That all?" He sounded like he was about to laugh about it, but didn't.

She shook her head. "No. Then it was of the slumber party and it was you comforting me back to sleep and then...there was a picture of the night of the party. When you were holding my face in your hands. To them..."

"It looked like you were more than just roommates with these two older guys?" Discord filled in, his brow raised.

She nodded. "I don't care if they assume that kind of stuff. It's not true and even if it was, it shouldn't change my friendships with them. I just feel like if at least one of them knew how well all of you were treating me, then maybe they could convince the others. And Celestia too, if Rainbow was right."

She felt him look right at her. "What do you mean by "and Celestia too"?"

He was getting angry and she could feel it running off him. It made her heart race with the magic she could feel pulsing around them. "Rainbow...thinks Twilight told Celestia about the videos. That's why, the day we went to talk to her...she had...actually asked me if you were a bad...influence." Her hunger was acting up again in reaction to the heat he was giving off, making her pant slightly. She saw in his eyes, that her own were red and slit. She wanted his blood.

She tried curling in a bit but it just made her legs squeeze against his sides.

He seemed to be more mission oriented. "What did you tell her?"

Fluttershy leaned forward and rubbed her cheek against his. She needed to do something. For some reason, this was worse than the first time she ate from him. "I said everything was fine. I didn't...want to specify and acknowledge what she was implying towards you. Sometimes...in reality, I feel like I'm the one taking advantage of you guys."

Discord pulled her away as she whined and he caressed her face. "You're not." He chuckled. "Though it seems you don't care at this point. Did you not eat while I was gone?"

She nodded, here eyes hooded. "I did. Sombra at the party. And Chrysalis gave me a small cup a few days ago. That was different than this. Discord, what's happening to me?"

Discord chuckled, observing her. "I'm not sure. I'm not privy to women nonetheless Vampire women. Come on. We'll continue cooking after." He tilted his neck, giving her more access.

Fluttershy felt like she was going crazy. She could still feel his magic pulsing around them and her back was burning.

All of her was.

She slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and nosed at the pulse.

She knew he didn't like it, but she nuzzled around there and through impulse she nipped under his jaw.

From the corner of her eye, she saw his nails dig into the counter, the granite top cracking with colorful veins under his palms. It sent a chill down her spine.

She knew she didn't have to worry about being clean with him. She gave the area a lick and sank her teeth in, but unlike with Sombra, she bit into Discord slowly. She wanted to feel her teeth puncture his flesh and dig into his veins.

She heard him make some noise, but he didn't pull or push her away. As she drank, she moved one hand to rub her thumb against his cheek. She saw he was blushing. She was probably no better.

"That's probably plenty for now, my Dear." He whispered.

Her eyes flew open and she unlatched quickly, causing him to hiss at the pain. Seeing because of her impulsive pull away, it was still bleeding, she quickly leaned down to try lapping up as much as she could. "I'm sorry. I...kinda got lost in it."

He rose a brow at her. "What does that mean?"

She gulped but her eyes landed on his lips. "I-uhm-I don't know." She looked away. "Can I get down now?"

"I'm not dumb, Fluttershy. You know I can't do it. You might not get in trouble, but I would. We're already pushing it." He rubbed his thumb against her bottom lip, wiping some blood that was there.

She gasped. "Please? Just one small one?"

"I don't know why you'd want to." He sighed, looking away.

"I...I keep thinking...I don't want His lips being the only ones mine touched. I want...to know what a wanted kiss...feels like." She said quietly and breathless.

She looked into his still glowing yellow eyes. She didn't see disgust. She saw genuine confusion. She smiled small, though her body was buzzing still. "You have no idea how wonderful you are."

She whispered as she brushed her fingers against his cheek and up his cheekbone.

He looked genuinely confused. Like the thought of someone wanting something like that from him, was baffling. "I think you're looking for things about me that aren't there. I'm far from a knight or a good person. I'm not worth a penny, Fluttershy. You shouldn't associate attraction with what you feed on."

"Will you tell me why you're against it?" She wanted to know his thought process.

She went through Hell during that year. Ever since she saw Him at the school, knowing he had to be keeping an eye on her, she wanted to at least erase his lips from her's. Replace it with a memory of whatever Discord's lips could feel like. She knew she could go to anyone. Hell, if she told Rainbow, she'd probably kiss Fluttershy. But she didn't want just anyone's.

Seeing there was still flour on the counter, she bit her lip. He could get mad at her later. She grabbed a hand full and tossed it at Discord. He jolted in shock and was about to probably pin her to do it back, but as she jumped down, taking the advantage he gave her by backing up, she lightly brushed her lips against his, getting some flour on her lips too, she applied little pressure and hopped down.

She was blushing hard. When she looked to gauge his reaction, he had looked over to her in shock, eyes wide and the deepest blush she'd ever seen on him. It made her feel proud.

She smiled, going to put the rolls in the oven, looking back at him over her shoulder. "When I turn 18, it'll be your turn to kiss me. Now, go get patched up."

She was surprised she could even speak.

She put the rolls in the oven, thinking Discord had left, until she felt him lean down, his breath against her neck, and he gave her a kiss on her pulse point. "We'll see who wants to go, then pack tomorrow for the trip." He nuzzled the crook of her neck. She could feel his blush. "I hope you realize what you're getting into, my Dear." He gave one last feather light kiss to her shoulder and she heard him walk away.

Once she knew she was alone, she blushed so pink it was red. She wanted to scream, her lungs felt tight but she couldn't help the smile she broke out in to. She smiled so hard, it actually hurt. She could barely hear the shower starting from upstairs.

Fluttershy realized. She hoped he knew how to stitch up his wound. She never even saw how big it was.

Turning the stew up, she heard the door bell.

It was Rainbow and Pinkie who greeted her and brought their things to her room.

They chatted as they waited for Chrysalis and Sombra and Derpy to get back.

While they waited, Fluttershy had talked to them about, vaguely, with less detail than what Discord got, what happened.

Pretty much she explained, they got taken, held against their wills for a year, her family was killed and because of her smart thinking, she got away.

It wasn't nearly the whole story and she might've underplayed a lot, but she wasn't in the mood to be a downer.

Rainbow had cried and apologized, though she had no reason to. Pinkie tackled her and cried too.

They had their moment. She knew they'd probably chat more later through the night.

When everyone was home, that's when Fluttershy and with the help of Rainbow and Pinkie, set the table. They rarely used it, since rarely anyone was home at the same time.

They all chatted, Pinkie striking up a conversation with Chrysalis and Rainbow actually found out a decent conversation she could have with Sombra. They were talking about what Rainbow could do to increase her velocity on the track.

Fluttershy tried reaching the bowls, the ones she wanted were in a higher shelf. She startled when she felt heat on her back and a long arm reach to grab them for her. Discord smelled so much like himself-of course- it was a punch to her nose and a light blush dusted her cheeks.

"You could just ask for someone-me-to grab things on the higher shelves. I'm guessing you want to invite your two little friends along?" He asked, helping set out dishes.

He was obviously trying to not acknowledge what happened. She went along with it. What happened between them, was their own.

"If that's okay. Just one night isn't going to help them see how wonderful you all are. I know they'll like you guys. Um...how are we getting to the coastline?" She asked.

He chuckled deeply. "Capper, the guy you talked to on the phone, he has a huge RV camper thing. He said we could use it if he could come along. Don't worry. He's not a creep. Unless you're Chrysalis, then yes he is. Hahaha. Don't worry, my Dear. If anyone tries to do anything to you, I'll kill them." He moved to set the bowls and plates down, when he noticed the blush on her face. "My Dear...what exactly did I say to make you blush?"

She squeaked. "N-n-nothing! I'll go serve up the bowls!" She "ran" away, blush still on her cheeks.

She was NOT about to admit that the idea of him killing for her was an attractive thought.

Fluttershy both felt sad and so happy, when everyone was sitting at the table, eating and chatting. Chrysalis stealing the roll Discord had been eyeing, Pinkie trying to break Sombra out of his science oriented mind to try and think creatively. Rainbow talking to Derpy about something.

It felt like a family dinner. Her happiness outweighed what tears might've fallen.

Sombra and Pinkie decided to do the after dinner clean up. She'd ask them once everyone was in one spot.

She was sitting in the couch with Discord, him on one end but his legs propped up and over hers. Rainbow had kept pointing out that Fluttershy wasn't his foot rest, getting annoyed the longer Discord ignored her.

Fluttershy went and gently ran her hand up his side to see if the wound was okay.

He grabbed her wrist, a warning in his eyes.

She nodded. He must've got it well enough. She wondered if they had anything for pain.

When they were all settled, still just talking, Fluttershy then brought up about Discord's idea to go on a vacation.

Chrysalis was game, she had vacation days saved up. Sombra could, he was far along enough in his classes he could do it. Derpy had to decline. She was still saving up for her own vacation to take in the anniversary of her husband.

Rainbow and Pinkie said they'd have to ask their parents/relatives.

All in all, Fluttershy was exceedingly happy. There was that little ball in her gut though, that had to wonder when the ball would drop.

With a tug on her hair, she looked over, seeing Discord try and get her attention. He smiled at her and that little ball of fear, went away.

She grinned back as Rainbow witnessed something she'd never seen.

Rainbow looked to Pinkie. Rainbow with horror and Pinkie with conspiring glee.