In the late evening of Friday night the red headed farm girl was laying on her bed reading a book she'd been meaning to return to the library for a while but still hadn't simply due to having not finished it yet.  She was surprised Twilight Sparkle or Spike hadn't gotten after her for keeping it out so long but she figured they were collecting late fees so maybe that was their plan anyway.  It wasn't that she didn't like reading, she just usually had something else she'd rather be doing or had to get done.  Late nights in bed were her reading hours in the past but after she'd found other, more physical pass times to occupy her when she was still awake that had started taking its place.  Not that she expected to be doing much of that activity tonight.  Her soon to arrive late night visitor and the reminder of what happened last time keeping her from considering it for a while.  When there was a knock on the door Apple Bloom placed a book mark in the pages and closed the novel.  "Come in."

"Evenin'."  Applejack said as she entered her sister's bedroom.  "Ah remembered tah knock this time."  

"Thanks sis."  Apple Bloom said, glad she remembered but not upset anymore about the last time Applejack barged in on her.  It wasn't a great memory by any means but she was well over it now.  "Ready for that medicine?"  

"Yep, let me know if it helped at all back there."  Applejack asked and sat on the edge of Apple Bloom's bed, setting down a paper bag on the floor.  That was an odd detail Apple Bloom noticed, considering last time Applejack had just come in with the container for the ointment.  But when she pulled Zecora's gourd out of the bag and handed it to her sister Apple Bloom didn't think on it any further.  The flannel pajama top Applejack was wearing came off and her sister looked over her back.  

"It looks like they might have gone down a little."  Apple Bloom said, still hating the sight of seeing so many bruises on her sister.  "It's kind of hard to tell cause there's... y'know, so many of them."  She said sadly.

"Okay, no reason tah fret over it.  We'll just keep at it till the suckers are gone."  Applejack said and her sister agreed, applying the ointment carefully to the damaged areas.  The first time Applejack had asked for this she'd been irritated having her night interrupted.  But now she was happy to be the one to do it.  If anything she wanted to keep tabs on the progress of her healing to be sure she didn't over work herself or do anything to make them worse.  

"Y'know ah'll probably have tah go and ask fer a refill of this here medicine from Zecora before you're done."  Apple Bloom said.  "Even if it's workin' ah bet we'll run out first."  

"Oh, yeah, that's right.  Listen ah'd like tah ask ya to steer clear of Everfree Forest fer a while."  

"That's weird, Spike said the same thing.  That Zecora told him that."  Apple Bloom recalled, having planned to listen to her wise shaman friend but still not understanding why.  

"There's a whole bunch a stuff goin' on round them parts with monsters that her and Fluttershy have been workin' with.  Might be dangerous tah go in all alone."  

"Oh, okay.  So how do we get a hold of Zecora if we wanna talk to her?"  

"Just lemme know and ah'll ask one of the girls tah pass the message along.  Fluttershy and Twilight talk to her a lot already."  Applejack let out a sigh of relief.  "Tarnation that feels a lot better.  'Bout wrapped up?"  

"Yep, that should cover all of it."  Apple Bloom said as she corked the hollow gourd and Applejack put her top back on, taking the medicine bottle and placing it back into the paper bag.  "Gonna head to bed?"  

"Well... in a minute.  Ah kinda wanted tah... talk about something else."  Applejack said sounding nervous which got Apple Bloom nervous. 

"It's not about last night is it?"  

"Well... yeah it is."  Applejack answered confirming the red head's worst fears. 

"Ah'm not mad or anything so it's okay sis.  Was an accident an nothing got hurt."  

"Heh, thanks sugar cube.  I do feel better hearing you say that."  Applejack admitted.  "But there's still something else more to it.  Uh... well... gosh this is harder than ah thought it'd be."  Applejack said clearly struggling to bring the subject up.  This didn't sound like anything Apple Bloom wanted to talk about but she didn't like seeing her sister struggle so instead of looking for a way out the farm girl sighed and sat next to her big sister, leaning on her.

"Well ya might as well spit it out since ya brought it up."  Apple Bloom said preparing herself for the worse.  Applejack smiled and put an arm around her little sister, the hug making Apple Bloom feel comfortable despite the soon to come discomfort.

"Ya got a point.  Alright, here it goes.  Apple Bloom, do ya got a boy yer seein'?"  Apple Bloom's eyes blinked in surprise.  

"Nope."  She said matter-of-factly.  "Was that all?"  She asked in disbelief.  

"Well... no but I had to ask that first."  Applejack said, Apple Bloom preparing for more.  "Okay so is there a boy you've been like... eyein' or... jees how do ya say it?"

"Ah'm not dating anyone right now if that's what yer askin'."  Apple Bloom answered.  

"Okay... that's okay, ah just was wonderin' cause... yer growin' up fast is all."  She felt her sisters arm around her shoulders hug her a little tighter.  "Ah still think of ya sometimes as my sweet little innocent sis' but yer not just a little kid anymore.  Almost a woman in a couple years."  

"That is how it works."  Apple Bloom said with a smirk at her own joke.  "Look sis' ah'm not like doin' stuff with boys or anything like that.  Ah don't even know who ah'd like to date."  

"Okay then."  Applejack said, letting out a breath she'd been holding in.  "Really, there ain't a boy that's been chasin' after you?  Kinda hard tah believe."  

"Ah think they're scared of me.  Or scared of you and Big Macintosh."  Apple Bloom said.  "Ah dunno why but just haven't been asked out and haven't asked any boys out."  

"That a fact?"  Apple Jack asked.  "Well it's not a big deal, but y'know, it's gonna happen one day.  Ah just wanted tah be sure that no boy did anything that would... take advantage of my lil' Apple Bloom."  

"If they did ah'd knock 'em out."  Apple Bloom said and made a fist, the sisters laughing together.  The conversation was still awkward but it wasn't as bad as she had expected it to be.  In fact it was kind of nice.  Applejack was just making sure that her sister was being taken care of and not being seduced by some boy looking to get a taste of some fresh apples. 

"Alrighty then.  Ah won't keep you up all night with this but just know that if ya wanna talk to yer sis' about this stuff then ya can ask me.  Ah'll be open to anything ya wanna know."  Applejack assured.  

"Never doubted it."  Apple Bloom answered and her sister kissed the top of her head.  

"That's my sweet lil' sis."  The farmer said and got ready to stand up, feeling her foot hit the paper bag by her feet.  "Oh... um... that's right.  There was one more thing."  Apple Bloom looked down at the bag curiously.  "We uh don't have tah talk about it.  Don't wanna make things anymore awkward than they are.  But a woman has needs and y'know... can't ignore 'em."  Standing up from her seated position on the bed Applejack took the bag that no longer had Zecora's medicine in it and placed it on Apple Bloom's night stand.  "So uh ah got a recommendation from a friend as tah how tah... safely deal with that kinda stuff.  Don't gotta tell Granny 'bout this neither, keep it between us girls."  Applejack explained, her cheeks almost as red as the apples she harvested.  Picking up the gourd of medicine she headed for the door and said good night to her sister, leaving her with the mysterious package.  

"Well now that was weird."  Apple Bloom said as she looked at the bag on the night stand and wondered what exactly she could have been left with.  Standing up and walking over to it she opened up the top of the bag and looked inside.  "What the... heck is that?"  Reaching inside Apple Bloom pulled up a small cylinder shaped object that was completely red, the top was curved and the bottom was flat.  She looked it over a little bit wondering what exactly it was for before finding that the bottom portion had a small little switch on it.  Turning it on she felt the object suddenly start to hum and vibrate, making her let it go in surprise and drop it on the bed where it continued to hum pleasantly.  Seeing it laying on her bed vibrating suddenly made it click in her head what this was for.  "Holy Horse-Feathers."  

Picking the vibrator up again Apple Bloom switched it off and looked it over.  She couldn't believe it, her sister that was shy when it came to talking about just dating went out and bought her a sex toy.  A real one, not just some improvised item from around the house.  It was a little weird getting it from a relative.  Maybe though she could separate that kind of thought apart from what she was intended to do with it?

Flipping the switch again and feeling it hum lightly in her fingers the farm girl let out a sigh.  "These is too much to deal with for one night."  Turning it off Apple Bloom put the toy back in the bag and wrapped it up, sticking inside one of her dresser drawers.  She wasn't going to rule out trying this new toy but for right now she needed a good night's sleep to clear her head.  Maybe later when she was more in the mood and needed something more than a book to sleep.

**********

After getting back to her room Applejack let out a breath she'd been holding in and put her hand over her eyes.  "Thank Celestia that's finally over and done with."  Even though she'd resolved to have this conversation with her sister tonight AJ didn't feel any less stressed going through with it.  Especially that ending.  "Good golly, what's she gonna think when she opens that bag up?  Maybe I should have stayed and explained myself?"  Making sure Apple Bloom understood what was acceptable and wasn't with a woman and her body was the point of their talk but she felt like she'd barely scratched the surface.  If anything her little sister had more control during the conversation than she did.  Walking over to her bed Applejack fell onto the mattress and stared at the ceiling in the dark.  "Ain't no goin' back now.  Guess if she wants tah grill me on it further she can do it tomorrow."  

Mission accomplished she supposed.  The invitation was out there that she was okay to talk to about these sorts of things, even if she was terrible at it.  Worse came to worse she could always ask Rarity to step in for her.  She somehow seemed able to handle these things better than AJ herself.  Not that she wanted to admit she couldn't deal with whatever her sister might require but she was certainly not an expert on the subject.  Speaking of which, Applejack opened up the drawer of her night stand and pulled out the orange vibrator she'd purchased for herself.  "Can't believe ah went and did something this crazy."  

This whole thing had been because she was worried Apple Bloom was struggling with her emotions and desires but maybe Applejack had to admit she was also having the same problem.  It had been a long time since she'd been on a date with a boy, even longer since she'd done anything as physical as kiss one.  To call her out of practice would be an understatement.  Even trying to be flirty with Iron Guard earlier today had felt like she was stumbling through the process and they only found common ground because he was related to a farmer.  Without that she would have been this awkward farm girl trying to chat it up with a man from the city.  Pinkie seemed to think she had done fine but Applejack wasn't so sure.  She didn't have the confidence that her baker friend seemed to emanate with every word and motion.

Did Pinkie actually invite that guard back to her place tonight?  She wondered how that had gone down and if she had the confidence to bring a man back to her home.  Sure Applejack was living in her family's place and having a man over would be decidedly more difficult for her than Pinkie.  Not that Pinkie wasn't living with a family too but it wasn't her own and she had her own space to live in apart from them.  Applejack wanted that kind of confidence in dealing with the opposite sex.  Having men over wasn't really her goal but if she couldn't manage a conversation how was she ever going to have a family of her own in the future?  Besides a wife should be able to perform her duties in all areas of the home, including the bedroom.  

She'd switched the toy on somewhere in her train of thought, feeling the vibrations in her hand.  It was kind of intimidating despite wanting to try it out.  Turning it back off Applejack let out a breath and moved her body around on the bed to be more comfortable on her back.  Not easy with the bruises but she'd learned to manage so she could sleep at night.  Letting her legs lay apart she rubbed the toy between them and just got used to the feeling of it against her clothes.  The pressure was good as she let herself relax and just rub the length against herself.  Her fingers were usually enough to satisfy her when she needed that private attention but this did feel more natural, like what her body really wanted.

She thought about Iron Guard as she rubbed herself, but that was a little embarrassing to even imagine.  A guy she just met that was attractive but who she had little connection with.  Putting the two of them together wasn't easy in her mind and she had to let the thought go if she wanted to continue.  Maybe it was a worse thing to imagine but instead she thought about Pinkie and the guard she'd been flirting with, Spear Head.  How they seemed to be more naturally compatible than she had with anyone.  She'd mentioned that she planned to give him a cupcake later.  One that was "real sweet".  Did that mean she was planning to go all the way with him?  Applejack let out a breath as she realized she was applying more pressure to herself with the toy.  

This was working for her even though it was shameful to admit.  Not that she had to admit such a thing out loud to anyone.  Besides her body was already telling her she wanted this physical satisfaction and she was too far along to deny it.  Feeling warm Applejack took a moment to undo the buttons on her pajamas and expose her chest to the air, rubbing herself with the toy again.  It made her recall how Pinkie had gone to the effort of wearing such a revealing top when they went out.  She was clearly more prepared to speak to a man that day, Applejack having dressed the same as she always did.  Spear Head hadn't missed any opportunity Pinkie had made to display her low cut shirt either.  If she had invited him back she was sure they were getting attention.  

Her left hand rose up to her breast and began to rub it gently, squeezing it with her palm and pulling her fingers up to her nipple.  Her fingers squeezing and pulling upward to simulate what it might feel like to have them sucked.  She let out a little breath and applied the toy harder between her thighs.  Her legs spreading apart further as she fantasized about two other people having sex.  Of her friend having her breasts sucked and played with.  Applejack wet her fingers and used them again on her breast, moving to the other to pull and moaning lightly.  

It wouldn't stop there, right?  They'd do more, wouldn't they?  Probably... probably get even closer with their bodies.  Putting the toy down Applejack used her hands to remove her pajama bottoms down to her thighs, using her feet to help pull them off further.  It felt good to have her legs exposed to the air and she spread them apart again, pressing the toy against her panties now as she played with her breasts.  Her mind going back to what the two imaginary lovers with faces she knew would do next.  Moving the toy around with her hand she pressed the tip against her panties and rubbed it further.  Mouth open as she pictured Pinkie being teased by the guard's cock in her mind and threatening to go inside of her.  Such a passionate and naughty thing to do together.  It wouldn't stop there though, they'd have to feel what it was like inside.  To experience that level of closeness.  

Pulling her hand from her breast Applejack moved it down to her panties and pulled them to the side, pushing the toy against her pussy and teasing the entrance.  She was so close to pleasure that if she went too fast she felt like it would overflow.  Closing her eyes she went back to her fantasy, seeing the man in her head penetrate her friend.  It looked good, she could picture their faces enjoying it.  Wanting to feel that pleasure too Applejack slowly pushed the toy inside of herself and let out a gasp.  The vibrator felt larger than she had expected.  His cock was bigger than she had anticipated.  Still it didn't stop her from enjoying the slow thrusts into her body.  Applejack letting out little moans as she pushed the toy in and out of herself.  

It was so much better than her fingers.  Different in the way it hit her inside but she loved every inch of it.  The farm girl laying her head back and panting as she slid the toy in and out of her wet pussy, picturing the two lovers fucking in her mind.  Having a man inside was such a great feeling, so warm and comforting and exciting.  They'd go all the way wouldn't they?  Pinkie was brave, she wouldn't let herself be held back by anything.  She'd enjoy every bit of love making that she could get.  With this image in her mind Applejack's head laid to the side as she moved faster and faster into herself.  She wanted to feel a climax, not just hers but his too.  Wanting to feeling him release everything into her.  Pushing the toy inside deep Applejack flipped on the switch and let the vibrator move inside of her.  

She had to let go of her panties and cover her mouth to prevent the shout that came from the orgasm running through her body.  Her muscles a mixture of pleasure from the sudden jolt between her legs and the pain of her back muscles clenching up from the feeling.  Keeping her hand over her mouth she used the toy against herself until she felt that the climax had passed, slipping it out of her pussy and letting it lay on the bed next to her thigh.  Pulling her hand away she stared up at the ceiling for a while, catching her breath from the wave of pleasure she'd desired for a long time now.  Once her breathing returned to normal she smiled to herself.  "Might have to thank Rarity for this one."  Applejack whispered as her body relaxed on the bed.  Pinkie was owed some thanks too for making her come out today to visit the guards and giving her what she needed to see it through to the end.  Though she'd keep that part to herself.  

A handful of tissues and some rearranging of herself on the bed later, Applejack was on her way to pleasant dreams.  Hoping everyone else was as happy as she was with today's strange events that lead to this night.

**********

In the dark of the upstairs bedroom of the library pleasant sounds of comfort could be heard as Twilight felt Spike's hands massage her shoulders and back.  The invitation to her bed to apply the medicine didn't surprise him after the last few times he'd done it.  In a way he was happy to be the one to apply to her.  To bring her comfort and help relieve the pain she felt was a blessing to provide.  Sure it also involved seeing her nearly naked every time he did it but that was just an additional requirement of the job.  It wasn't like he hadn't seen her this way before.  Tonight the were even both wearing their underwear below the waist so it was a bit more calm than before.  

"Thank you Spike, I think you got everywhere."  Twilight said calmly on the bed, her faithful assistant plugging up the gourd that contained the medicine and putting it aside.

"Okay, do you feel better?"  

"Much."  Twilight answered, stretching out her arms and legs on the bed with a yawn.

"Glad to hear it.  Um... if you need anything else, I can get it for you okay?"  Spike offered, not really sure what she might request of him after last night.  Though he'd already resolved to himself that it was okay to do whatever was asked of him.  As long as he was making the ones he loved feel happy then it was all okay.  

"Actually... can you lay down on the bed Spike?"  Twilight asked, sounding a little hesitant.  He didn't know what she was planning but Spike did as he was told, Twilight turning to face him when he did.  She stared at him in the dark for a while.  "You're growing up into a fine young man."  

"Uh... thanks?"  Spike answered, not sure what she meant by that.  He wasn't that old really, just a little bit more than most of his friends in the village that weren't older than him already.  The compliment was nice though, especially from her.  So when her arms reached out and pulled him closer Spike didn't hesitate.  Instead going where her hands guided him gently.  Which had his head resting against her breast.  "Twilight?"  

"I used to hold you like this when you were little."  Twilight answered and pet his hair.  "Back when it was Celestia that was mostly taking care of you.  But sometimes it was me and we'd just cuddle like this."  He wasn't sure what she was talking about but the feeling of being pressed to her chest made him feel warm and comfortable.  The sound of her heart against his head.  His own arm going around her lower back to carefully avoid the bruised areas he'd just treated.  "Do you remember?"  

"I dunno."  Spike answered honestly.  It sounded right to him but he was probably too young.  "I guess so... we're always together so yeah.  It feels right."  

"It does feel right."  Twilight answered and nuzzled her cheek against the top of his head.  She made him feel so relaxed so quickly.  "I just wanted to feel it again.  While I still could."  

"What do you mean?"  Spike asked, though kept his position against her not wanting to leave it.  

"You're going to grow up one day then... well, you won't need me like you do now anymore."  Twilight admitted, still petting his hair.

"Twilight, I'll never stop needing you."  Spike said lazily against her.  "You're the most important person in my life."  

"Thank you Spike."  Twilight said and kissed the top of his head, Spike unable to hold back the smile that came from it.  "But you're going to get older and eventually you'll have a wife.  Children as well.  We won't be able to live like this forever you know."  

"Maybe..."  Spike said, feeling his hand tighten around her back.  "But even if... even if we can't you'll still be part of my life."  

"I don't know about that Spike."  Twilight said solemnly.  He didn't understand why she was thinking this way.  Was it because he was going on a date with Rarity?  She seemed fine with that before so why all of this now.  

"I do."  Spike said, keeping his head against her chest now as if this was needed to keep their connection.  "I do because no matter how old we get and even if you get married and I get married and we all do to people we've all never met before it doesn't matter.  Because I'll still always be there when you ask for me."  

"I don't own you Spike."  Twilight said sadly.  "You don't have to be there at my beck and call.  I want you to be your own man."  

"Well then... as my own man, I'll always be there.  Because no matter what happens you're the closest family I have."  Spike said and hugged Twilight tighter.  "I don't care what it's called but you're still the person that I have to have in my life.  Otherwise I... I don't know what I'd do without you!"  After a while they laid there together in the darkness, Twilight still stroking his hair and Spike holding her as if letting her go might mean letting her go forever.  

"Alright.  I guess no matter what I don't have to worry about losing my faithful assistant."  Twilight said and nuzzled his head.  

"You bet."  Spike said feeling relieved.  "Why would you even worry about that at all?"

"I've just been thinking about... a lot of things.  The future.  The present.  What the world is like, what it'll have in store for us.  I just don't want you to be hurt if not staying by my side is better for you."

"There's no way that could be better for me.  I'll always be there for you Twilight.  Anything for you."

"Anything... for me."  Twilight said carefully, wrapping her arms around him gently.  It was the kind of embrace he could stay in all night.  "Thank you Spike."  

"You're welcome Twilight."  Spike said, feeling proud of himself.  He didn't understand what was going through her mind but if she felt better than he felt better.

"Well I suppose before we go to bed we should take care of that little problem."  Twilight said and moved her thighs to rub against the erection that was currently pressing against them.  Spike let out a surprised noise from the touch and Twilight giggled a little.

"Oh, that again.  If you don't want to we can... just ignore it?"  He had mostly been doing that himself.  Though even with how comfortable she was making him it was difficult not to become aroused pressed against her body.  It made things all the more awkward after declaring they were family but when it came to physical things they weren't really, were they?

"No no, it's better to take care of it.  Just lay on your back."  Twilight said and Spike did as he was told.  

"O-okay but... weren't you not supposed to touch it anymore?"  Spike asked, wondering where the line on this sort of thing fell anymore.  

"Maybe.  But I was touching it before with just my hands the first time so I don't think it's such a big deal, right?"  Twilight asked, unbuttoning his boxers and pulling out his cock.  It was true that she was helping him sleep before like this and neither of them had thought it was wrong so why would this be worse than what they did last night?  

"Well... if you think so."  Spike said, enjoying the feeling of those soft hands on him.  Maybe she was right.

"Just lay back and enjoy yourself okay.  Faster it's over the sooner we can go to bed."  Twilight said up to him with a wink.  He felt himself twitch in her hands at that wink in the dim light and Twilight seemed to notice it too.  Her slender fingers coasting up and down his cock slowly as she smiled and watched him move while her hand worked.  Spike's breathing grew heavier and his eyes were moving between her hand, her exposed chest and her face.  "Feeling good?"  

"Y-yeah."  Spike answered, Twilight looking his way while her hand continued to stroke him.  "Wh-what... about... you?"  

"Oh I'll be fine."  Twilight assured him.  "I don't need help sleeping tonight."  She assured him, still smiling in that lovely way that made his body shiver under her touch.  "Maybe you could cuddle with me in my bed tonight?  I'd like the company."  

"It's... it's good!  It's good by me."  Spike answered, feeling himself come closer to his climax from the sound of her voice and the feeling of her touch.

"Okay then.  We better make sure you don't make a mess of the bed then."  Twilight said and lifted her other hand up.  Effortlessly with her magic she brought over her towel from the bathroom and laid it on his lap.  "There we go."  

"Twilight..."  Spike moaned, feeling himself get closer.  

"That's good Spike, right on time."  She leaned closer to him and kissed his cheek.  That was all it took for Spike to take in a deep breath of air and groan, cumming against her hand and the towel.  Twilight watched as she squeezed his seed out, feeling it drip around her fingers but still smiling all the same.  Her hand continued well after he was done and then pulled it away to look at his work.  "Well looks like you were ready to go tonight."  

"Maybe, yeah..." Spike said sleepily as Twilight cleaned up the mess with the towel, being sure to get every drop off of his erection and her fingers (some of which took her lips to lick clean, a detail he didn't ignore).  When it was all done she floated the towel to the floor with her magic and pulled Spike into another hug.  Spike returning it as he was happy to be in this comforting position again.  Though one question was on his mind.  "Say Twilight?"

"Yes Spike?"  

"What about your medicine tomorrow night?"  

"Oh don't worry, I can just use my magic and a sponge."  

"Oh... okay."  Spike closed his eyes resting against her breast.  Not questioning why she hadn't done that previously instead of having him apply the medicine all the nights before.  

**********

There's a saying about those that prefer to hide in the dark.  That what goes on under the moon only Luna knows.  It was meant originally as a warning for those that dare tread around in the night without protection, away from the safety of towns and cities.  In the dark anyone could be robbed, killed, eaten or who knew what else.  However over time it was eventually adopted as a phrase meant for those that preferred to get up to mischief when they didn't want to anyone else to see what they were doing.  As far as Ruby Pinch was concerned if Luna was watching what went on at night she was either into some kinky shit or just didn't actually care what humans did to each other.  Her bet was on the latter.

At this time of night the park in the village was abandoned aside from the occasional teenagers who were hanging out well past the hour they should have been in bed.  Lucky for Ruby the teenagers that were getting up to mischief were herself and the boy she'd come here with.  It wasn't a school night anyway so staying out late wouldn't have much in the way of consequences for her later.  Not that she would have said no if it was the middle of the week, she'd done this so many times she understood where things were going.  After spending the evening with a boy and having him suggest they go for a walk they'd usually end up some place like this.  He was attractive at least, one of the jocks at school that she'd been with before.  Even though she'd come all this way, to the point she was sitting on one of the family sized tables for outdoor dinners while he was pressed up against her and kissing her neck in that hungry way boys do when they really want to fuck, she just wasn't into it.  

"You ever wonder if she's really watching us?"  Ruby asked out loud, her voice a little hazy from some of the drinks she'd had earlier tonight.

"Someone's watching us?"  The boy asked in surprise, looking around himself.

"No.  You think I'd be like this if I knew someone was watching?"  Ruby said, feeling annoyed he didn't get what she was saying.  "I meant Princess Luna."  

"Princess... Luna?"  He asked, really confused about why she'd stopped him for this.  

"Yeah like, they say under the moon only she can see what you're doing.  Do you think that's true?"  It was kind of an odd question.  The boy looked up at the moon and back at her again, only to shrug at the idea of it. 

"Probably not.  That's like a thing people made up to advertise going out to bars and stuff like that.  Why would she watch us?"  

"Yeah... I guess no one really is watching out for us at all."  Ruby said, her voice trailing off at the thought of it.  He seemed to take that as an invitation and moved back to kissing at her neck, his hands slipping down to feel beneath her skirt.  It was obvious he wanted sex and she knew with how she was feeling right now it wasn't going to feel good.  Still if she just gave in to him maybe he'd leave and then she could be out here alone.  Nothing was worse when someone you didn't really like stuck around afterwards to pretend like they wanted to talk with you.  Only thing worse than that were the ones that did leave when you wanted to talk to someone.

His fingers started to hook into her panties and she didn't resist it, letting him pull them towards himself over her hips.  

"You kids having fun?"  A female voice suddenly said spooking both the teenagers as his hands left her skirt at lightning speed, turning to see who spoke.  "Looks like I interrupted something, didn't I?"  

"Mom!?"  Ruby shouted in surprise seeing the raspberry pink haired woman who was standing so close to them it was amazing she'd snuck up without either noticing.  Her arms were crossed and there was a bottle of open wine in her hands as she looked at them.  Slipping off the table and sneaking in a hand pull through her skirt to pull her panties back up, Ruby looked on in a mix of astonishment and anger.  "What are you even doing out here!?"  

"Walking my daughter home, what else?"  Berry Punch replied to her Ruby.  "Looks like I arrived just in time too.  Is this really the guy you're spending your night with instead of going to bed?"  She said as she looked the boy over unimpressed.  The guy on the other hand seemed much more shocked than Ruby had been, caught in the act by her own mother.  Even though Berry had a reputation for being a woman that both enjoyed drinking and spending her evenings with men she didn't know as well.  She could see the debate going on in his face as he was trying to decide the best course of action.

"You know... I can walk her home myself."  He said in reply to Berry's insult of him earlier.  "Don't you have a bar to be at right now?"  There was a cocky tone to his voice and he earned a glare from both Berry for his words and Ruby from the insult to her mother.  She wasn't exactly proud of the things her mother did either but she wasn't going to let someone else bad mouthing her like that.  

"Who are you to- !"  Ruby began in anger but her mother raised her free hand up to stop her daughter from talking.  Berry Punch smiling in a way that was uncommon to her daughter.  It was both very sober and very certain.

"Oh, so you're lecturing me on where I should be at this time of night?"  Berry said with a smirk.  "Okay kid, I've had about enough.  So let's just cut to the chase.  Literally."  With a sudden swing of her arms Berry's hand smashed the end of her wine bottle against a metal trash can she'd been standing near.  The glass pieces falling away inside and leaving the jagged bits attached to the neck of her bottle with her.  "Now I'm either going to leave this park with my daughter.  Or I'm going to leave this park with my daughter and your balls.  I'll let you decide how it'll work out."  She said, twirling the bottle neck in her fingers while the light of the moon made the edges sparkle.  "Three... two..."

"I'll see you at school."  The boy said to Ruby as he put his hands in his pockets and walked away with his back to them.  Clearly trying to hide any fear after his sudden bold display earlier.  Once he was gone Berry smiled pleased with herself and tossed the rest of the bottle into the trash.  

"Looks like he finally started thinking with the right head.  Shall we go?"  Even as she was asking Ruby was charging past her mother, arms crossed and not looking her way.  "I guess so."  Berry answered herself and followed behind her daughter, the two walking out of the park and threw the nearly abandoned roads together back to their home.  Ruby was quiet for a long time during the trip, not looking up or around.  Just keeping her eyes on the dirt before her.  Letting out a sigh Berry broke the silence.  "You're not really upset I ran him off, are you?"  

"What do you care?"  Ruby asked, not hiding the anger in her voice.  

"A lot."  Berry answered, making Ruby grit her teeth hearing that.  

"First time I've noticed."  Ruby snapped, still keeping her eyes away from her mother.  Before all she had wanted was to leave that park, or at least be there with someone else other than the person she got.  Now that she was leaving she was furious that her mother had been the one to come get her like she was a lost child.  

"Don't pretend you're upset about that boy.  You didn't even remember what his name was, did you?"  While that might have been true it didn't give her mother any right to get in the way.  

"I don't need you watching out for me.  I can take care of myself!"  Ruby said, ignoring the question.  "Why did you even come out here tonight anyway?  Shouldn't you be sleeping it off at home?"  Maybe she wasn't going to tolerate someone else accusing her mother of being a lush but she wasn't afraid to say it herself.

"I... deserve that."  Berry said, looking away from her daughter.  "I know I'm not the best example for you.  For anyone really.  But that doesn't mean I don't care."  Despite her words Ruby didn't want to say it was okay.  Because honestly an apology wasn't enough right now.  It was years too late and words couldn't fix what was wrong with the both of them.  

"I'm sorry I turned out to be a disappointment."  Ruby said with bitterness.  They were words meant to hurt but it was also a mask to hide her own shame at being caught in the act by her mother.

"You've never been a disappointment to me."  Berry replied and Ruby scoffed out loud but was holding back tears.  She didn't want to have this conversation with her mother, she never thought they would.  It exposed too much of themselves to each other and confronting their shame was never something her family was good at.  "I've been a disappointment to you and that's not acceptable for a parent."  

"Better than dad.  Least you're here."  Ruby said, gulp back her tears.  "Can we stop talking about this?"

"Not yet."  Berry said, stopping right before their house.  If they had walked into the door Ruby could retreat to her room and just forget about this night ever happening.  Her mother must have known that, which was why she was keeping her outside.  "I need you to understand something important."  She walked up to her daughter and placed her hands on her shoulders, Ruby feeling a sudden rush of emotion at the physical contact.  It was unexpected and there were tears escaping her eyes that she'd been trying to hide but it was becoming so much harder.  "Ruby I love you.  I love you so much.  I should express it more but I'm just so bad at saying things like this.  I've made mistakes... I've made a lot of mistakes but you were never one of them.  Please remember that.  In the worst times when things are hard that no matter what you're the reason I get up in the morning.  Because I love my daughter."  

"Mom, don't!"  Ruby said as she hugged her mother tightly to hide her face against her chest to stop the tears.  "Please stop, I don't want to talk about this!"

"We have to sometime.  It's better now than later."  Berry continued and hugged her daughter in return.  "I'm going to keep making mistakes I'm afraid.  But I'll keep working hard too so that I can take care of you.  That's what I think about every day.  Because I'm so thankful you're in my life."  Ruby kept crying and Berry let her, stroking her daughter's hair with one arm and holding her tight with the other.  

"I'm sorry."  Ruby said through her tears.  "I'm sorry I've been a bad daughter and that I'm mean to you sometimes and... and..."  

"Shh, that's enough.  You don't need to apologize."  Berry comforted and Ruby pulled her head back to look up at her mother.  Her eyes had such clarity to them, as if she could see through every paper thin wall Ruby had put up to protect her own emotions.  "Just try not to stay out too late anymore, okay.  I worry about you."  

"Okay..."  Ruby said, hugging her mother again.  

"Also please tell me that chicken-shit wasn't your boyfriend."  Berry said and Ruby actually laughed through her crying, hugging her mom tight.  

"No, he's not.  I don't really have a boyfriend."  

"Really?  No one?"  Berry asked, poking around looking for gossip.  

"Well... there's this one boy that I think likes me.  But he's kind of a dork."  

"Do you like him?"  

"I don't know... maybe?  He's nice to me."

"But he's a dork."  

"Yeah..."  Ruby said, realizing that was pretty shallow but knowing what little reputation she had could be sullied by dating a boy that was lower than her on the popularity scale.

"Well if you like him then you can invite him over sometime.  As long as he's polite."  

"Maybe."  Ruby said, thinking that it was really unlikely she'd ever bring a guy actually to her home.  But if he was nice and it was for like... school or something.  Not sex stuff, then maybe.  "Maybe."  

"Okay then, maybe it is."  Berry said and kissed the top of her daughter's head.  "I'm going to get the trash cans together to be picked up tomorrow.  You can head inside, okay?"

"Okay."  They broke their hug and Ruby felt the rush of emotions seem to pass when they were separated.  It had felt good to get it out of her, to actually talk with her mom for once.  Maybe things could be better going forward?  She didn't really expect either of them to change.  That felt like too much of an unrealistic wish to be achieved, despite what they both might want to change about themselves.  But at least things could be better between them.  Maybe.  Walking into the house Ruby proceeded directly up the stairs, looking to head to her bedroom and crash for the night.  That outburst had taken way too much out of her.

She would have made it to bed and passed out aside from the noise she heard in the house.  It wasn't from downstairs, it was from the hall she was standing in.  A sound faintly coming from her mother's room.  The door was closed but there was certainly something in there... or someone.  Looking around herself Ruby found the closest object she could grab and unplugged a table lamp, carrying it with her to her mother's door.  Sometimes creeps that got too attached to her mom had followed her home in the past.  Berry Punch usually dealt with them without much of a problem but if one of them had snuck in while they were both out she wasn't going to let this guy get away with anything.  Opening the door Ruby snuck into the room and searched for the cause of the noise. 

It was her mother.  She was laying in bed and already asleep, snoring away without a care in the world.  Ruby set the lamp on the floor and walked closer to the bed, not understanding what it was that she was seeing.  But even through the dark she could make out the shape of her mother's face on her pillow, lightly snoring and clearly having been in bed for a while.  She put her hand to her head and shook it as she couldn't understand what was happening.  Did she hallucinate everything that had happened on the walk home?  No, that was impossible!  That boy had been run off in the park.  So... what was going on right now?  There was no way her mom got upstairs before she did.  

There was a metal sound outside as a trash can was moved.  Eyes wide Ruby moved to her mother's window and opened it, sticking her head outside.  Sure enough the trash cans had been put out in front of the house like her mother said she was going to do, except she wasn't down there with them.  Whipping her head around Ruby eventually spotted a woman with long green hair walking down the street.  She was wearing black clothing and seemed to be moving at a brisk pace.  Though when Ruby found her the woman stopped for a moment and turned to look back.  

Her green eyes seemed to shine in the night, even from how far away she was.  Eyes locked Ruby could feel there was something about this woman that was familiar, despite having never seen her before in her life.  Ruby's mouth began to open to call out to the lady on the street.  Wanting to confirm something for herself to be sure she hadn't imagined everything from before.  However a familiar voice spoke up first.  

"Ruby, is that you?"  Berry Punch said groggily as she sat up in bed, Ruby looking over to confirm that it was indeed her mom.  "Is everything okay, honey?"  Turning her head to look back outside the green haired woman was gone.  She'd somehow slipped away while Ruby was distracted in that instant.  

"...yeah, everything's okay mom."  Ruby said as she closed the window carefully.  

"Did you have a bad dream?"  Her mother asked concerned and not knowing how to answer Ruby just nodded her head.  "I'm sorry, if you want you can sleep in my bed tonight."

"Okay."  Ruby said and crawled into bed with her mother.  She was still in her clothes from being out tonight but she didn't care, instead wanting to rest as soon as possible as well as be close to her (real) mother.  "Hey mom."  

"Yes Ruby?"  

"I love you."  

"I love you too, honey."  Berry Punch said as she kissed the top of her daughter's head.  "Sleep in her as long as you want, okay?  I'll make us breakfast tomorrow."  

"Okay, I'd like that."  Ruby said, feeling a little safer being home now.  She didn't understand what happened tonight but felt like whoever she'd met didn't want to hurt her.  If anything it had helped her get out some feelings she had been holding in for a long time.  The kinds of feelings she didn't think her and her mother were able to really talk about earnestly without it breaking out into an argument.  Maybe in the night there were those that were watching out for them?  Princess Luna?  Something else entirely?  She didn't know who or what but she thanked them as she drifted off into a much needed slumber.