Hi, everyone! I am SO SORRY for not updating earlier! It's just been happening a lot. In life in general. And now I'm doing NaNoWriMo as well, but then I suddenly felt like writing more about these two. It's not the best chapter, sorry 'bout that... But I hope you like it. And thanks for reviews and help. :) Enjoy!

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It had been a splendid birthday party. Pinkie always made sure that nopony could forget the parties she arranged. This wasn't an exception. But still Twilight Sparkle wished she could forget it. She wished she could forget every little detail about this party. Every dance, every word – if she only, only could. The only good thing about it was spending time with her friends, and the outcome of it all. Almost.

Spike had avoided her the whole week. He hadn't nearly spoken to her. Well, he bought breakfast and placed it in the kitchen – but then he was gone again. Out wandering on his own. She had asked around (how could she not?), but nopony knew. Not even Rarity!

And at the party… She even trembled by the thought of it. But she had to tell the tale. Now that she had already started. The ink was ready, her feathered pen and the empty scroll.

The only thing that wasn't ready was her heart.
~~

"Miss Twilight! Hurry up! We're gonna be late!"

"I'm coming, Braeburn! I'm coming!"

She was wearing a green dress this evening, with a new hairdo Rarity had made for her. Before she ran through the doors she grabbed her wand, and placed it in her hair, as a part of the hairdo. And that was heridea, not Rarity's.

Braeburn stood outside, waiting for her. He looked rather charming; there he stood with a couple of roses reached out to her. He was wearing a black vest and red scarf to get some colours into his outfit. She couldn't help herself from smiling.

"Thank you. They look lovely," Twilight said. She took the bouquet when he placed it in her hand with a matching smile.

"Not as lovely as you, miss," he replied, as charming as ever. "But we better get going! You know my cousins. Always followin' the clock."

Twilight chuckled, before she nodded.

"Suppose so."

They walked all the way to the Apple's farm. It was lighted up with the most beautiful lights she had ever seen, almost like firework. Braeburn had been there earlier, of course, considering he lived there for the moment. So she couldn't see much awe in his eyes.

"Let's go in, shall we?" he suddenly mumbled, but his accent just didn't go with the words. It made her giggle, but she never told him the exact cause for her giggling. It was for the best.

Inside it was like a boiling soup, full of different shapes and personalities, brewed to make new friendships. She could see people shaking hands and getting to know each other, and among the massive crowd she could spot Big Mac, with a huge grin in his face. Though, she almost waited for him to say "eyup". It was a classic, after all.

Still, she was looking for somepony else. Somepony who meant a lot to her.

But she couldn't see him anywhere.

"Hey, there they are!" Braeburn led her towards the other girls, but Twilight just couldn't concentrate on being social. She wanted to see him, wanted to know he was all right, had a good time, could smile – but he wasn't there. He just… Wasn't.

The evening went on. They danced. They had fun. But she always felt like something was missing. Applejack had brushed it off, Rarity always brought up something else to talk about, and everypony else didn't seem to notice her worrying. Nope, as good, ol' Big Mac would say.

It wasn't before the last dance, when the evening came to an end, that something sparked. Braeburn wanted to dance with her, and she had to say yes. It would be rude to turn him down after all his kindness.

"You look lovely, Twilight. I'm mighty sorry if I've repeated that too many times," Braeburn said with a gentle voice. "But you really do."

Twilight, blushing, raised her head to look him in the eye.

"Thank you, Braeburn," she whispered. The music in the background made her shaky, it felt like she was going to collapse in any minute. She couldn't really describe it. It just felt like there was so much expectation in the air tonight from him. From everypony.

"Twilight," he suddenly forced out from his lips. "Do you…"

She loosened her grip on his hand, but he tightened his on hers.

"Do you feel it?" Twilight laughed nervously, looked around. Everypony was dancing with his or her special someone. "Do you?" he repeated.

"Feel what?" she said, fast, scared.

"This…" He came closer to her face. "Feeling…"

She had read about it in old, romantic novels. Seen others do it, even her parents. Seen it at the movies back in Canterlot.

He wanted a kiss.

Braeburns lips were awfully close to hers. Her heart raced for its bare life, making her stand unsteady. She knew it was expected; that she maybe should to avoid hurting it – but it just wasn't right. It wasn't right. Her heart screamed this to her, wanted to make her turn her head the other way. She couldn't. She froze.

She even felt a bit nauseous. She really didn't want to kiss him. No, she didn't want to at all! Why couldn't he look at her, see the fright in her eyes? Couldn't he open his own, discover that she didn't want to go through this? It would be, after all, his first.

And she wanted to spare it for somepony else. Not to hurt him, to be rude – but she just wanted to have this one for herself. For a special somepony that would come along one day.

"Twilight!"

Never had she been happier to hear his voice. Never.

"Great," mumbled Braeburn, with a tone over his voice Twilight never had heard before.

Spike came walking towards them. He stared Braeburn down, there were no words needed to understand that he was warning him.

"Somethin' troublin' you, boy?" Braeburn asked, when the dragonboy remained silent.

"Yeah. Actually, it is," Spike answered, harsh. Twilight was a bit worried about the atmosphere that were brewing. This was not the time. Whatever they argued about, it wasn't time for it now. It was Big Mac's birthday!

"Well, go on ahead – share it with us!" Braeburn exclaimed, a little too loud. More than a few heads turned their way, and Twilight found herself in the middle of it.

Spike stared Braeburn down. Twilight suddenly wished she hadn't heard him at all.

"You couldn't see that she was scared," he mumbled, slowly. Low. Braeburn chuckled.

"Can't you say that a bit louder?" he asked, almost competitive. Twilight Sparkle didn't like this outcome. Or the one that came closer for every breath that was taken.

"You couldn't see that she was scared," Spike said, clear and loud. Twilight could see Applejack turn hear head to them, clearly worried. Pinkie Pie was for once quiet.

"Why would she be scared?" Braeburn asked, not to be rude – he was confused.

Spike looked at Twilight. As if he was searching in her eyes for answers. Why? Didn't he have one already? He seemed so sure, so he had to.

"Because what you crave takes time. You may know all the tricks – but do not assume everyone else does. If you had looked her in the eyes, truly looked, you would see that she was afraid. To put it simple… You could've waited."

Twilight Sparkle couldn't believe that Spike defended her he did. Not that she had wished for this to happen, that he and Braeburn would end up like this.

"Sorry, Romeo," Braeburn replied, insulted by Spike's words. "But why did you take such a close look, then? And why do you think you're right in what you're saying?"

This seemed to light a fire in the dragonboy's eyes. They were certainly burning.

"Cut it out, will ya?" said Applejack, interrupting the boys in their verbal fight. "If ya both care about how miss Twi is doin', ya should stop this blabbering 'bout right now!"

Braeburn wanted to talk back at the cowgirl, but first he took a look at the student. His harsh temperament took its leave, and he regretted his own words.

Spike looked down to the ground.

"Don't worry 'bout it," said Big Mac, his rough voice cutting through the thick atmosphere. "It's time to get back to the daily. Lil' Applebloom still got school tomorrow, and Applejack and I got work to do. Thanks to ya'll for coming, and to Pinkie who got this great party arranged for ol' me!"

Everypony applauded Mac's speech, and Twilight was glad it was over. All she wanted to do was to avoid Braeburn and Spike at all costs. And she still didn't understand why Spike was so overprotective over her. Maybe he just had a period?

Rarity was on her way in Twilights direction, but the student had already run out of the local. If the diva wasn't completely wrong, she had even been crying.

Even more reason to follow her.
~~

Rarity found her friend under one of the apple trees. She had her knees under her chin, tear rolling gently down her face.

"Oh, dear Twilight," she whispered, and sat down beside her. "Oh, dear."

Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes.

"I don't understand why I was so scared. I don't understand!" she yelped. Rarity narrowed her eyes in pity to the young magician.

"Do not beat yourself up, darling. These things are horrifying, even though we do not always realize it ourselves. It's your first, it's special – of course you want to feel right about it."

Twilight Sparkle raised her head. She looked at Rarity with teary eyes.

"Then why did Spike react, and not Braeburn? Or I?"

Rarity did not have a proper answer on this. She couldn't tell Twilight that Spike cared for her more than she knew. She had promised him that the secret would be safe with her. Therefore Twilight hid her face again, sobbing quietly. Rarity stroke her carefully at the arm, just to show she was not alone.

"Rarity," a familiar voice whispered shamefully. Twilight fell silent. "Do you think I can have a moment with Twi?"

Rarity stood up. Nodded without a word. With a last, worried look at the student, she left them both.

"I'm so sorry, Twi," sounded Spike's voice. He fell down on his knees before her. "I didn't mean to ruin your evening, your dance – and moment with Braeburn. I really didn't," he continued, quite hasty, stressed. Twilight looked up at him, still wet with tears.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," he said, almost as another whisper. "You really deserve this, and here I go, ruining it all for you…"

Spike hid his face in one of his palms. He groaned, furious at himself. He was about to curse himself, as well, when a hand took his unused one.

"Y-you saw that I was scared. I don't blame you for doing that."

She got a better grip around his hand. She started to tremble.

"I was so scared," she said. "It felt so wrong. Even though he should be the right one, the one to take my heart with storm – it just felt wrong."

Spike put her arms around her when she started to sob quietly again.

"Sometimes we love the ones we shouldn't love – and sometimes not. It all depends on the heart. That's the challenge in life. The heart is the one to decide how we should live."

Twilight Sparkle was glad she wasn't alone. That Spike could give her these words. Some hope. Oh, she was so glad that she had such a good friend like him.

"But Braeburn didn't mean harm in it, that's why I should apologize. Just not tonight," he admitted, mumbling. Twilight Sparkle smiled faintly.

"At least you're going to do it."

Spike gave her a crooked smile.

"Guess so."
~~

"Worst of all, he's right."

Applejack sighed, gathering up the thrash that was left behind after the party. Pinkie Pie was helping out as well, skipping about somewhere else nearby.

"Ya can't be so hard you yourself, cousin. Ya know, these things just happens," Applejack huffed, carrying a pile with plates just a bit to heavy for her. Braeburn came soon to her aid, taking over half of the pile.

"But she wasafraid," he continued. "Ya saw it, didn't ya?"

Applejack felt bad about it – but she had to nod. She was the element of honesty, after all.

"I just feel… That the boy…"

He shook his head.

"He knows her so well. And cousin, don't tell me wrong – ya can see he loves her. I can see it in his eyes. That's why I'm so weary of him. So jealous. Because he gets to be with her, and will always know her better than I'll ever do."

Applejack smiled faintly.

"But don't cha doubt this, Braeburn," she said, carefully. "The boy ain't having a easy time. He loves her, yes, but keeping it a secret for her sake. And I must say, that's a pretty heavy love, don't cha think?"

Braeburn was certainly shocked by this. But then he smiled, just barely.

"I think who deserves the first kiss," Braeburn mumbled. After the plates were put in place, he found his hat with a crooked smile. "My time will maybe come. But not yet."

Applejack looked at him with a slightly tilted head.

"… You're headin' back home, aren't ya?" she asked. Braeburn nodded.

"I fell for her, I admit it. But the look he gives her… I feel like I'll never be able to give her that same look. I just need to give her the chance to see it."

Applejack smiled. Weakly.

"I'm proud of ya, cousin. But I'm also sorry," she apologized. "I should've never made ya come down here…"

"Stop foolin' around, AJ!" Braeburn laughed. "It made me realize a thing or two, and also learn a lot. So don't you apologize."

Applejack seemed relieved.

"Boy, am I glad to hear that!" she chuckled lightly. "Well, better clean this mess up. We'll worry about you leavin' in the mornin', sounds alright?"

Braeburn nodded slightly.

"Sounds great."

He knew it wouldn't be easy. But since it was for the best, he could go through with it.
~~

So here she sat, writing about the evening and the party. About Braeburn and Spike. The two boys arguing about something she couldn't quite understand, only one part of it all.

"You should go to bed," Spike mumbled drowsy from the stairs. He himself went to sleep pretty early, while she kept herself awake. It was nice of him to come check on her.

"I will, Spike. Go back to sleep," she sad, gentle in her voice. He nodded, just as drowsy, and disappeared quickly back into his room.

Twilight Sparkle looked out of the window. The moon was shining brightly. Luna had done another wonderful job.

She had this feeling that something would change. Tomorrow would turn out a way she had not expected. A bit afraid of what she had in wait, she lay down on the couch.

The student fell quickly asleep once her words were guarded in a secret room in her drawer.