Flashes of lightening lit up the evening sky over Ponyville from the scheduled storm. The town was silent and seemed to be devoid of life as the populous took shelter.

Except for one lone figure running as fast as he could through the downpour. His suit was drenched and he was soaked to the bone, but Spike didn't care. There was only one thing on his mind...

Twilight had run off crying...

His friend was hurt, and he had to find her, "I don't know what the hell you did, Pinprick" He snarled to himself, rounding a corner, "But you better pray long and hard to Celestia that we never cross paths again!"

As he went on his search, his thoughts drifted back to how this all started; just a few days had passed since his date with Rose. He had only really gone on a couple of others since then. One had been with a somewhat shy, but friendly mare named Tough Break. They went to a movie and she kissed him on the cheek in the end, so all in all a pleasant time.

The other one, though...

He felt like kicking himself for not realizing then something was off about Twilight when he came home after agreeing on a date with Linked Hearts. Something was eating away at her, that much was true, but she'd just assured him it was simply a research project that was being difficult.

'It..it's ok, Spike. Just something I'm working on that just just isn't cooperating all that well.' She laughed, though it sounded hollow and forced, "You know how temperamental some projects can be."

"Um, Ok, Twi. If you're really sure."

He should've pressed a little harder for answers, tried to talk...but he didn't..

He picked up the pace.

Knowing her, there was really only one place she would've gone to.

Yes.

Why the hell did she say yes!?

She'd been so desperate to deal with these feelings, these emotions, that lurched into the foreground ever since Spike had ended his crush. She thought she had the answer; get a coltfriend.

That was the solution. It had to be!

She had ran into him during a shopping trip. A fellow unicorn by the name of Pinprick.

It had been innocent enough; a little bit of small talk at first, then growing to a nice conversation. He was so charming..he managed to make her blush like a schoolfilly for Celestia's sake!

"You know, Twilight..I'd be honored if you'd go out with me tomorrow. Dinner, perhaps?"

Why did she say yes?

How could she have been so stupid?

Her tears flowed freely, soaking the pillow she hugged for some form of comfort

"Say that again?"

"I have a date tomorrow, Spike!" She said, trying hard to hide the obvious nervousness with excitement, "My first ever!"

He should have been PROUD of her! He should have been happy for her!

Twilight-bookish, adorkable, little Twilight-was going on a date.

So why had his gut feel so numb when he saw her smile like that. Why did hearing her say it cause something in his chest to knot up!?

"Hey, Twilight, I got an idea. My date with Linked Hearts is around the same time Why don't we make it a double?'

"A-a double date?"

"Yeah. That way you know you got a friend nearby just in case."

Whether it was to calm himself down, offer her a measure of comfort, or both, he didn't know; just that his offer seemed to help her.

The date...The numbness and knot returned with a vengeance..

It had started relatively fine. Pinprick seemed like a nice stallion, just...something about him being there with Twilight made Spike uneasy.

Linked Hearts, though, was rather clingy. She seemed intent on always being between him and her. He had made a note to let her know she had no reason to act like that.

The four made their orders and Pinprick excused himself for a minute.

Their food arrived a little while later, but he still hadn't gotten back. Twilight chose to go see what was keeping him

Celestia, he'd never forget the look on her face as she ran out of the restaurant...

"T-Twilight?" Spike could only watch as she took off full run out of the building. Even from that distance he could see her fighting back tears.

"I'm sorry, Hearts, but I'm gonna have to cut this short." He scrambled to get out of his chair.

"Excuse me!? Where do you think YOU'RE going!? Sit back down!" She ordered, grabbing his hand that was still on the table.

He stared at her, "What!? Didn't you just see what happened?"

"Whatever she did to screw up her date is her own fault! Now get back in that chair! I told a lot of my friends I was hooking up with Ponyville's only dragon and you are NOT making me out to be a liar!"

"No." He replied coldly, tossing a handful of Bits onto the table, "Twilight is one of my best friends. You, however, are just a date. One that, as of now, I'm done with."

The treehouse quickly came into view, spurring him on, "Please be ok...!"

She should have known why he asked her out. Her, of all ponies, even before she went to look for him and finding him and a friend of his laughing in a back corner....

"Dude! I can't believe you did it!" Pinprick's friend laughed with him, "You actually got Princess Celestia's personal student to go out with you!"

"Was there any doubt?" The blue stallion said, a smug look on his face, "A few smooth words and she was eating outta my hand."

"You really gonna go for it?" The other stallion asked him.

Pinprick glared at him, "Don't be stupid! Of course I'm gonna bang her! She's nothing to look at but you have any idea what it'll do for my rep when ponies learned I did the Princess' very own student!?"

A trophy..that's all he wanted. Just something he could brag out.

As if retaliation, her mind began bringing up images of one person who had been there for her for as long as she had known them, a person she had been through thick and thin with for years. Someone who saw her for her, not just Celestia's student.

The one who, contrary to the belief of some, took care of her instead of the other way around, laughable as that notion was; making sure she ate, got outside, and spent at least a little time with others

Who always tried to make sure her studies never consumed her, who always kept her company since childhood...

"Twilight!" The door slammed open, revealing a drenched and panting..

"Spike..?" She said softly from her spot on the couch, trying to blink back her tears. Before she could say anything else, he had crossed room and engulfed her in his arms, not giving a damn about tracking in the water or mud.

"What-what were you thinking!?" He buried his face in her mane, his voice trembling from inside it, "I was scared witless..!"

"I'..I'm sorry!" She whimpered, switching her embrace from the pillow to him, "When I heard what..what he said, that he just wanted to sleep with me so he could brag about it..I couldn't think..." She hiccuped, "It-it just hurt...!"

His eyes flashed menacingly, though she couldn't see , "Pray long and hard, Pinprick, long and hard."

Once he calmed down a bit, he tightened his hold a bit, "It's ok, Twi. Pinprick's just that, a little prick."

Twilight giggled slightly at the insult he had turned the name into, her mind still bringing up images of the two together, reminding her of how he had been one of the only good things in her life, making her heart beat faster, helping to gradually burn away the pain and sadness. She felt her face head up and flush as she thought of the once little dragon who helped with her work and anything else he could, now grown into the handsome young drake whose embrace she found herself snuggling into.

It was then she felt the pieces fall together: how warm and happy she felt with him that one morning.

That she couldn't think of him not being there with her anymore, and how it hurt seeing him dating and the possibility that he'd leave some day.

How she wanted him to be near always, to never get him go, to hold him, hug him, to feel his comforting embrace and warmth...

To love him...

That was it.

To love him, to be loved BY him.

And possibly..maybe...

"S-Spike..?" She asked softly.

"Hm?" He moved to look at her, only to find her staring up at him with a mix of hope, trust, and something he recognized intimately.

Love..and a hint of desire..

"Will..will you touch me...?'"

Author's Note

Big, big as in 'OH SWEET CRISPY BUDDHA IT'S COMING THIS WAY!" big, props to DragonPony for helping ensure this chapter came out in one piece.