Author's Note

Additional story tags for this chapter: Sad and Tragedy.

On That Night

Tuesday night six o'clock p.m. May thirtieth...

Megan was watching out the window of her house excitedly as the car carrying her girlfriend Brianna came up the driveway. Her mother laughed and said "My someone's eager to see her tonight."

Megan blushed and replied "Yes mom I'm really eager to see her. I've been waiting all day to give her the present I got for her last week. I hope she likes it."

Megan's mother gave a warm smile "I'm sure she'll love it Megan, after all you worked really hard to be able to get it for her."

Megan was about to reply when a new voice broke in "Yuck! More girly stuff!" The voice belonged to her brother Danny who was always whining about how mushy Megan and Brianna were together.

"Now Danny." their mother said "What did I tell you about teasing your sister and her girlfriend?" She said in a strong motherly tone.

The red head deflated and turned his eyes to the floor "You said not to do it mom." he replied

"Good." their mother said "Now go and wash up for dinner."

"Yes mom." Danny replied while slinking out of the living room.

Megan shook her head at her brother's antics and moved to open the door one second before Brianna was about to knock on it. Megan giggled at Brianna's shocked expression as she stood there with her hand raised to knock on the door. Brianna was holding a small box wrapped in red wrapping paper and looked at Megan. "How do you do that?" She said sounding confused.

Megan giggled and replied "I was watching for you from the window silly."

"Oh." Brianna said sheepishly as she entered. "Hello Mrs. Williams." she said warmly

"Hello Brianna, are Bob and Karen coming in?"

Brianna shook her head "They decided to go out to dinner tonight and see a movie. They are really happy to have some time for each other tonight. With daddy working so much in last few months they haven't had any quality time together for a while."

Megan's mother returned the smile "Well that's good to hear, they deserve it. We'll have dinner in a bit, we're waiting for the pizza to get here and when we're done with that we'll have the cake and you girls can open your presents. Megan has been waiting to give hers to you Brianna, she's very excited about it."

Brianna turned to Megan and handed her the wrapped box "I hope you like it Megan, it took forever to figure out what to get you."

Megan smiled "I know I'll love it Brianna, you got it for me after all." Megan replied before leaning in a kissing Brianna.

As they kissed there was the sound of small rapid footsteps coming into the room. They separated and Brianna turned just in time to catch Megan's baby sister as she launched herself at Brianna "Brianna!" Molly said happily "I'm so glad you're here!" she said hugging Brianna.

Brianna hugged Molly "Hey there squirt." Brianna said "Has Danny been giving you trouble again?" She said while putting Molly down.

Molly nodded "He keeps teasing me and making fun of me." she replied

"Oh for heaven's sake." Megan's mother replied "I am going to have to straighten Danny out again."

"Or Megan can set him straight." Brianna said

Megan now wore a thoughtful expression "I think I know of a way we can set Danny straight." She said with a hint of mischief in her voice.

"Megan." their mother said in a warning tone.

"Oh don't worry mom, we won't tease him too badly." Megan replied with an uncharacteristic smirk.

Her mother's face softened "Alright Megan, just don't go too far okay?"

"Of course not." said Megan

She looked at her girlfriend and sister "Okay now here is what we're going to do..." Megan said as he whispered her plan to the two of them.

While they waited for the pizzas to arrive Megan, Brianna, and Molly offered to "help" Danny get ready for the party. Danny swallowed hard as he realized that he had nowhere to go.

Twenty minutes later...

Danny came running out of Megan's room after having been unceremoniously dragged into the room yelling for his mother.

What she saw when Danny came out of his sister's room was either amusing or very becoming, she could't decide which.

"Mom! Save me!" Danny comes running in dressed up in a suit and tie his hair slicked back. "These harpies grabbed me and started using me as a living Ken doll!" he said

"Danny Williams!" she exclaimed "You do not call your sisters and Brianna harpies. Now go sit down at the table dinner is here."

"Yes mom." He said heading towards the table.

Megan and Brianna emerged from Megan's room with Molly, the three of them were laughing a little about Danny's predicament. Megan and Brianna just smiled as they sat together and began to get their pizza. To further add to Danny's dismay they proceeded to do cutesy loving little things like kissing and feeding each other while talking and giggling.

Danny just grumbled under his breath and his mother just smiled and said "Oh Danny you look so handsome. I don't really see what the problem is."

His mother's compliment naturally caused Danny to perk up a bit. "Thanks mom." He said brightly.

"Yeah Dan-o, you're looking really sharp son." His father said causing him to perk up more, until the next part came. So who's the lucky girl?" He asked in a teasing tone.

Brianna smirked "Oh?" she said "You didn't know? It's that girl Surprise he's always hanging out with."

Danny stuck out his tongue "Surprise is my friend, it's not like that Brianna. We're not into all of that girly stuff, like having a relationship and all of that other stuff. I just don't understand how you and Megan can be into all of that stuff."

His father laughed "One day you'll find that special girl and you'll understand it too."

Brianna smirked again "Oh he and Surprise are already there I can tell. I mean really they are always getting into trouble together and playing pranks together. It's so obvious that he has totally got the hots for her."

Danny froze and stared at Brianna like a deer in the headlights while Molly laughed so hard she fell out of her chair.

Their father got up and helped Molly get back up "Are you okay kiddo?" He said looking at his youngest daughter.

"I'm okay daddy." Molly replied

After dinner came the cake, the bad singing, well not all bad on account of Megan, and finally the gifts. Brianna was the first to open hers, as she unwrapped the small box clad in silver wrapping paper and opened it she gasped with joy at what she saw. A silver heart shaped locket rested in the box, upon seeing it Brianna squealed and hugged Megan "Thank you so much Megan! I love it!"

With everyone, even Danny smiling at Brianna's gleeful response Megan said "Here let me put it on you Brianna." as Megan opened the small lock on the necklace Brianna held up her long black hair and Megan slipped the chain around Brianna's neck and locked it in back so that it would stay put. Brianna let go of her hair and looked at the locket she now held in her hand. "Open it." Megan said softly

Brianna did as she had been asked and inside there was a picture of them on their very first date nearly a year ago. Brianna smiled at the memory, they had just gotten together and went to a new shop in town called Sugarcube Corner where they got a chocolate milkshake that they'd shared with each other. It was a simple date but it meant the world to both of them.

"Okay!" Brianna squeaked happily "Here's my present for you Megan." she said handing her the red wrapped box.

Megan unwrapped the box and opened it, she smiled at it's contents; a red heart shaped locket rested in the box. "Brianna I love it." Megan said joyfully. She looked at Brianna "Help me put it on?"

Brianna nodded and they repeated the earlier process to put it on. Once it was secured Megan opened the locket to find the very same picture of them contained within. Megan turned to her girlfriend and kissed Brianna for a long minute before leaving her breathless. As Brianna caught her breath Molly awwed and Danny rolled his eyes. The rest of the night went quietly as the two had time to themselves in Megan's room until Brianna's parents came to get her.

Megan walked Brianna to the door of her family's Ranch house. The two of them had spent their birthday together and Brianna couldn't stop admiring her gift from Megan. "Thanks for the locket Megan, it's really nice." Brianna squealed happily.

Megan Smiled at at her girlfriend. "You're welcome Brianna, and I'll have something even better for you for our anniversary next week."

Brianna smile and blushed a little "We already had our birthday party together Megan." Brianna laughed "it is kinda weird though, I mean what are the chances of us having our birthdays one day apart?"

Megan cracked a smile as she escorted her girlfriend through the door and outside to where Brianna's parents where waiting in their old town car. "It happens more often than you'd think Brianna." Megan replied "Anyway I'll see you at school tomorrow and don't forget to call me when you get back home okay Brianna?"

Brianna stuck her tongue out at Megan "I swear you worry to much sometimes Megan, but yeah I'll call you when I get home. And I'm really looking forward to that sleep over this weekend."

Megan pulled Brianna into her arms and said "We don't need to do that this weekend Brianna, we have our anniversary next week and I would like to do some planning for it. Okay?"

Brianna pouted as she returned Megan's embrace "Ahh, I want to be with you though." she smiled again "It's way more fun that way." she said as she gazed into Megan's blue eyes.

"You still need to ask your parents about that Brianna, and I would really like to have some surprises ready for you for next weekend. "Megan replied as she leaned in. As their lips met Brianna felt the euphoria return as strongly as the first time she and Megan kissed. It was hard for her to believe that it had been nearly a year since they first got together.

The two girls parted and said goodnight before Brianna headed to her parent's waiting car. As she got in she could see Megan waving from the door step, Brianna waved back before her father began to back up the car and turn it around for the trip down the dirt road back to the main road into Canterlot.

"So did you have a good time princess?" Asked her father.

Brianna beamed "I did! Megan got me a locket too." she laughed "It's funny how we both had the same idea."

Karen laughed "That's because you two are so in love that you're on the same wave length dear."

"Still, it's hard to believe my little girl found true love in the sand box. I'm just sorry I won't be able to scare the tar out of some poor suitor coming to take you to a dance." Her father says with a chuckle.

"Daddy!" Brianna squeaked indignantly "You are about as scary as a kitten, an extra fluffy kitten with a ribbon on it's ear." she stuck out her tongue at her father.

Karen's laughter renewed as she chided her husband of fifteen years. "Well look at it this way Bob she'll have a long and happy marriage to Megan when they are old enough."

"MOM!" Brianna squeaked again her face turning red.

"That's true, and I know I will still get walk my little girl down the aisle on that day." said Bob

Brianna's face turned even redder. "That will be a nice day." She said in a small voice. Brianna looked out of the car window quietly for a while as they headed back into Canterlot. She thought about things for a while and then remembered something as they approached a park near their house. "Oh yeah since you guys got that business dinner this weekend so I wanna stay with Megan on Friday and Saturday Night."

"I'm sorry princess but we have to go out of state for that so we planned to take you with. We already have the plane tickets, we intended to surprise you and take you to Disney Land before the meeting. Our flight is the day before." said Bob

"When did this happen? I mean I really don't want to go out of state without Megan. It'll suck to be apart from her." Brianna huffed

"We've been planning this for two weeks. It was going to be a surprise." said Bob

"Well It's not a very good one. I'll be bored out of my mind without her there. Well some what anyway. It's just... Ugh!" Brianna replied her frustration mounting. "What's the point if we can't go together!" She finally shouted.

"I'm sorry princess but that's just how it is. Maybe you can buy her a souvenir?" said Bob

Brianna screamed and as the car stopped at a red light she threw off her seat belt and left the rear driver's side door. She ran across the street and into the parking area of the nearby park where she stopped. She stood there for a few moments fuming and not really understanding why she was feeling this way. Their anniversary was next week and they would be back before then, she knew that much because here father wouldn't want her school work to be disrupted. Besides he was very good at what he did and got the best results, it's not like his bosses would jerk him around or anything.

Brianna began to calm down when she heard Megan's voice calling her. Only her name was spoken to her. This left her confused until the sound of sirens and screeching tires broke her out of her stupor, she had only a moment to react by turning and raising her arms before something glanced off of her left forearm and hit her in the head. She fell to the ground and her phone fell out of her pocket and landed on the the black top of the parking area. She was barely conscious when she heard a police officer say "We've got one down outside of the car! Call for an ambulance!" She could also vaguely hear her phone ringing before a policewoman noticed it and picked it up to answer it.

The rest was a hazy blur as the paramedics rushed her to the emergency room at Canterlot General Hospital. The rest was blackness until she awoke...

Wednesday May thirty first eight o'clock a.m. Canterlot General Hospital.

Brianna woke to the sound of a rhythmic beeping and shut her eyes to shield them from the bright white light that greeted them. She slowly opened her eyes again and started to look around the room, the first thing she noticed was the I.V. needle stuck in her right arm followed by the heart monitor she was hooked up to and finally she looked to her aching left arm and saw a cast.

She looked around the room slowly the realization finally coming over her that she was in the hospital. "Mom, dad? What happened?"

"Take it easy, you're in the hospital and you're hurt pretty badly." Brianna looked up to see a tall young woman with pink skin and a head of red and white hair. "I am doctor Candy Stripe, and you are Brianna Drake correct?" She said while looking at the papers on her clipboard.

"Y-yes." Brianna replied "Where's my mom and my dad? Did somebody call Megan? I know she's gonna be really worried too."

The doctor looked at Brianna sadly "Your girlfriend knows about you being here." The doctor took a breath "She found out last night when she called your phone and a police officer answered for you. She is waiting for you along with your family's friend Ms. Ribbon, they are waiting to see you. First however it is my duty to inform you that your parents did not survive the crash."

"C-crash?" Brianna squeaked fearfully.

"Yes, there was a crash involving a drunk driver that lead the police on a high speed chase. He turned the corner and slammed into your parent's car while they were sill inside it." Candy Stripe's voice cracked slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure "I know it's no consolation but the driver that caused the crash did not survive either." Upon seeing the tears in Brianna's eyes the doctor winced "I'll let your girlfriend and Ms. Ribbon in now." With that Doctor Candy Stripe turned and left to open the door. "She's ready to see you both now." The doctor said as she hurried off.

Megan and Ribbon entered the room and moved to Brianna "How are you holding up?" Megan asked as she sat beside Brianna's hospital bed.

"D-did mom and dad really die?" Brianna asked with unshed tears in her eyes.

Megan looked to Ribbon and Ribbon answered "I am afraid so Brianna. It's lucky you weren't in the car too or we would have lost you too. I am so sorry sweetheart none of us wanted this to happen."

"N-no." Brianna said, she sniffled and then began to cry very loudly while Megan held her as best she could. Brianna cried for the better part of of a half hour before she calmed down again. Megan just held her the whole time caressing her cheek and quietly soothing her.

"I am so sorry Brianna." Megan soothed "I'll be right here for you the whole time okay?"

Brianna nodded sadly "What's gonna happen to me now Auntie Ribbon? I don't wanna go to an orphanage, I don't wanna leave everyone." she was sniffling again and hiccuped "I don't wanna leave Megan either. I don't want to go, don't let them make me go away Auntie Ribbon!" Brianna resumed crying.

Ribbon moved to the the side of the bed and spoke to Brianna " I will take you in Brianna, you don't need to be subjected to more grief by being separated from Megan and all of your friends here."

"You, you will?" Brianna said

Ribbon nodded "I will take care of you Brianna I promise." she sighed "Actually you mother, father, and I had things set up in advance just in case something like this happened."

Brianna blinked "Really?

Ribbon nodded "Yes really. I know this is going to be very hard on you Brianna, but I'll do everything I can to make your life better.

"O-okay," Brianna hesitated for a moment "O-okay mama." she finally managed "Thank you."

The blue skinned woman smiled and brushed a stray lock of hair out of Brianna's face. "I'm going to go and take care of some things for a little bit. Don't worry sweetheart Megan will be here to take care of you until I get back."

Megan smiled at her girlfriend "I'm going to call my parents and let them know what happened but I'll stay right here with you the whole time okay Brianna." she nodded to Megan "Good," Megan replied "now get some sleep. The doctors don't know when they will be able to let you leave yet."

Brianna nodded again and closed her eyes and as sleep began to overtake her she could only just hear Megan whisper. "I'll always be here to protect you Brianna. I promise I'll keep you safe from now on."