Framed

by ZOMG

Rating: teen
Tags: Romance, Rarity, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash
Length: 5268

Rarity lures Rainbow Dash into a trip down memory lane.

Rarity lures Rainbow Dash into a trip down memory lane.

Editing and proofreading assistance provided by Cryosite.
Prereading assistance provided by Jondor and Timaeus.

Art by someyellowpony. Can be found on their tumblr here.

Published 2015-11-17 15:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-11-17 15:50:01 UTC

Making Our House a Home

A stack of picture frames lay on the table, neatly arranged by size, shape, and favor. Pictures were scattered, in no particular order, in front of the mare seated at the table.

Rarity sipped quietly at her tea, humming a nameless tune as she waited for her loving wife to exit the shower. After such a long day of training, flying high above the Canterlot skies, diving and performing feats that always left her heart pounding in her ears, Rainbow Dash had worked up quite a sweat, as usual, and been banished to the shower.

After years of marriage, it was nothing more than practiced playacting. Rainbow came home and draped her sweaty, smelly body over Rarity’s back, holding tight and nuzzling as she pretended to ignore Rarity’s shrieks until a towel was floated over, ready to snap at her rump.

It always awed Rarity just how quickly Rainbow could go from lazing about and teasing to darting away from her wrath, howling with laughter the entire way.

It’s like looking after Sweetie and those little friends of hers. She laughed as she took a sip of her tea. How ever did I fall so hard for that mare?

She let her eyes wander over the pictures displayed before her, memories of years past flitting through her mind with each image. Standing next to Rainbow after she’d won first place at a fashion expo; Rainbow proudly wearing the gold medal from an extreme flying competition, with Sweetie and Scootaloo standing atop her back; and, of course, her favorite of all…

Rarity closed her eyes and licked her lips. She could almost taste their first kiss together, just by thinking of that night. The scent of ozone hanging thick in the air as they rested in her Boutique, waiting out the weather team’s storm. Rainbow’s coat dampened with sweat and rain, her beautiful mane matted against her body…

She hadn’t been able to control herself at the sight. Propriety threw itself out the window, demanding that she move forth with her plan sooner than expected. Warmth had spread throughout her very being as she pressed her lips to Rainbow’s that night, stealing the coveted first kiss. The look of shock, Rainbow’s mouth hanging low and the rosy blush on her cute muzzle had been just too precious! But the moment that expression shifted, when pink tongue licked at blue tinged lips and those magnificent eyes shone with hunger, Rarity knew she’d won.

With the bait set, it had been up to Rainbow to give chase. Oh, did you ever, dearest. The memory of that night alone was precious, but the picture made it all the more special—even if she found out later that Sweetie had snuck downstairs to take a picture when she was supposed to be sleeping.

Rarity shook her head and laughed. Naughty little filly, that one.

She allowed herself a small smile as the sound of water hitting the shower floor stopped and the cadence of hooves on tile floor reached her ears. Knowing Rainbow, she’d towel herself off as quickly as possible, forgoing the need to brush that beautiful coat, mane, and tail in favor of bounding down the hallway, taking a flying leap to try to tackle Rarity into what she so lovingly referred to as—

There was a thundering of hooves down the hall, the rustle of wings unfurling to give a few quick flaps. “HUG ATTACK!” Rainbow shouted as she launched herself into the air at Rarity, hooves outstretched, like a cyan missile.

Oh, not today, darling! Rarity’s horn flashed, sky blue magic wrapped around her love and caught her just inches away from her goal.

Rainbow snorted and flailed her hooves, making swimming motions as if she could fight through the magic to make it that last little bit. “Gah! Let go, darn it! I’m gonna get you—grr—eventually! Just friggin’ accept it!”

“Oh, hush, Rainbow! You’ll have your hug!” She sat Rainbow down and held her close, letting her aura dissipate. “I’d just prefer that you not tackle me this time, especially after I so painstakingly organized all of these.” She gestured to the pictures with a hoof.

Leaning forward, Rainbow glanced over the pictures with a raised brow. “What did you pull all these out for? Would’ve been a lot easier if you left ‘em in the frames so we could just hang ‘em up!”

Always the quick solution to an issue so she can go right back to something more fun. “We don’t have enough frames or space, dear. We talked about this.”

“Yeah, but, I see a lot of wall,” Rainbow said, sweeping a hoof around the room, “just beggin’ to be used for stuff.”

Rarity turned and fixed her love with a flat stare. “Rainbow, I would love to hang everything up, just to show everypony who walked into our lovely little home the happiest days of my life spent with the mare of my dreams, but we’re not going to clutter everything up! You and I are going to sit down and decide what gets hung.”

“Meh. Fine!”

Quirking a brow, Rarity aimed a smirk to Rainbow. “I see that little smile there, darling.”

“Shaddap, I’m always smiley when I’m hugging you!” Pink tinged cheeks and ruffling feathers said otherwise.

So very expressive.

However, that didn’t mean she was letting Rainbow off the hook. “Well, if you really don’t want to join me, I could decide by myself.” Sighing theatrically, she floated a rather cute picture of Rainbow, taken just seconds after she’d been surprised with a kiss. “Perhaps this one! I think this should go right above our—“

Rainbow snatched the picture out of the air. “Nuh-uh! No way! You’re not turning this place into a ‘look how mushy and cutesy we are’ display!”

Hook, line, and sinker! “Well, then, I suppose you’d best give your input, dear! That said, I’ve been thinking of something for the rest of them.”

“Uh… what?” Rainbow tilted her head and drew back to look Rarity in the eye. “What did ya do, find a spare one of your folders? We still gotta find a place to store ‘em, ya know.”

“Heavens no!” She laughed, her horn flashing blue again as she levitated a large book out from under the table, the words “Our Most Precious Times” were written across the face in neat script. “I thought it might be a good idea to put the rest in an album.”

Confusion fled, Rainbow fixed her with a flat stare. “You can’t seriously expect me to do something that mushy, Rares. Come on, just look at the title! I think I need a bag of insulin to handle that much sugar!”

To her credit, Rarity didn’t rise to the barb as she might in the past. Years spent as friends and lovers had given her a bit of a tolerance to Rainbow’s sometimes-hurtful sense of humor. Besides, if she started yelling and huffing, she was just letting Rainbow win.

Distraction and misdirection were Rainbow’s  game, though with far less finesse than most employ.

That was all fine and good. Rarity had an ace up her hooves.

Her bottom lip quivered and her deep sapphire eyes teared up. She brought her hooves together as if she were a little puppy begging for scraps off the table and whimpered. “Rainy…”

“No!” Rainbow turned away, folding her hooves across her chest. “Nuh-uh! You’re not using the cute filly eyes on me, Rarity!”

Another whimper, accompanied by the tinkling of magic. She picked a picture off the pile and floated it over, just in front of her love’s muzzle. “But, you look so nice in this one, Rainy! And in so many others! How could you ask me to pick and choose?”

“You’ve got a better eye than me, you’ll figure it out!” Came the reply, though Rainbow paused to regard the picture. “And the word is ‘awesome’—I look awesome in this one, and you’re an eleven out of ten, as usual.”

“But, Rainy!” Rarity dragged out the last syllable, wrapping her arms around Rainbow’s shoulders in a tight hug. “You look ‘awesome’ in all of them! Except the ones you look beautiful in! I want to show both!”

“So pick the ones you like, I’ll give ‘em a look, and then I’ll decide.”

Ah, stepped just the way I wanted you to! “Oh… okay.” She slowly withdrew her hooves, letting them fall to the table with an audible thump. Sticking out her lower lip in a cute pout, she gave a tiny whimper. “I just wanted to be sure I didn’t miss any you liked, darling.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the little flick of Rainbow’s ear.

Slowly, Rainbow turned and leveled Rarity with the same flat stare from earlier. “Rares, don’t even start that game with me. You know the stuff I like, and you know I love the stuff you make. I go to your Boutique on my off days, I help out, I model your dresses happily. I’m pretty sure I’ll love whatever you put up. Besides, this is more your bag, anyway.”

“B-But I wanted this to be our home, not just mine.” Practiced routine kept her from breaking her facade. With an exaggerated sob, she caught Rainbow’s foreleg in a tight hold and buried her muzzle into her shoulder. “I want your favorite memories on display, right next to mine!”

“Yeah, but… but…” Rainbow chewed on her lip, tearing her gaze from Rarity’s watery eyes. “Oh, fine!” She huffed and threw her free hoof up. “I’ll do it!” Cracking open an eye, she fixed Rarity with a sideways glance. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

Rarity perked right up, abandoning the act and snuggling into Rainbow’s side. “I knew you’d come around, dear! This’ll be so much fun!”

“Don’t push it.”

Grinning smugly, Rarity released her hold and sat up, only to find herself trapped in the soft, feathery embrace of Rainbow’s wing.

“If I’m doing this, I get hugs.” Her wing tightened around Rarity, bringing her close almost possessively. “Deal with it.”

“Oh, if I must!” She replied, throwing a hoof across her forehead in a mock swoon while wrapping the other around her love’s barrel. “Now, let’s see, what can we find here—Ah! This one!” Her aura engulfed a picture of the two of them, sharing a beautiful purple scarf in the middle of winter just a few short years ago. “Remember this? Our first Hearth’s Warming Eve together!”

Rainbow leaned over to inspect. “Oh, yeah! I remember that!” Her scowl gave way to a small smile, her gorgeous eyes softened at the image before her. “You asked me to walk with you to that café down the street from the Boutique, and I forgot a scarf so you made me share.”

“Yes, I just couldn’t bear to see you so cold. Your wings looked like they were going to freeze!”

“Heh, yeah, and you wouldn’t take no for an answer, no matter how many times I talked about pegasus magic.” Rainbow eyed her, a smirk playing upon her lips. “I think you just wanted to keep me close and snuggle.”

“I cannot deny that was a part of it! So,” she said as she hovered a frame over, placing the picture atop it, “how about this one? We can hang it up over the couch.”

“The couch-couch or your fainting couch?” Rainbow winced as a bit of magic tweaked her ear. “Okay, okay! Yes, over the couch is fine! I was just teasing, Rares!”

Turning up her nose, Rarity huffed. “That’ll teach you to ruin a moment!” She turned the frame over and remove the backing, gently slipping the picture inside. Once it was in, she held it up for Rainbow’s approval. “Well? Still like it?”

Rainbow hummed, narrowing her eyes and closely inspecting the picture again. “Y’know, I gotta go against your idea to put it over the couch. It’d probably look better over the mantle, especially during winter.”

Hmm, somepony’s been paying attention to thematic décor. Setting it to the side, Rarity began scanning through for the next one to consider. “What next? Perhaps something in the summer for contrast? There’s a picture of us with the girls at the beach… er, somewhere…”

“Yeah, that’ll be a good one, but look, Rares, check this one!” Rainbow Dash nudged her shoulder. “This is the first flight show you came to see with me! That’s gotta go up somewhere on the wall!”

Rarity shook her head and sighed, though her lips tugged upward into a small smile.“We only have so many frames, love. And I, for one, would prefer not to advertise a day in which my mane was anything less than perfect.”

“Oh, come on!” She threw her hooves up and tossed the picture into the air, only to scramble and snatch it before it hit the ground as if it were a precious stone. Almost reverently, Rainbow placed it back on the table before taking up her cause. “This is totally perfect in every other way! Look! There’s you, looking about twenty different kinds of awesome in that Wonderbolts scarf you made, and you’ve got this look, this… it’s like when you’ve got one of your ideas! And you’re looking up at them like I am! No way are we leaving this down! It’s a winner!”

Humming, Rarity eyed the picture carefully. Memories of a bright sunny day in the Canterlot Cloudiseum—box seats courtesy of her new business partners, Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis, as celebration for the rapid growth and success of her new boutique. Asking the attendant to hold her camera while she threw her hooves around Rainbow’s shoulders and held her tight, the soft kiss Rainbow pressed against her cheek in return.

Forget the mane. Little imperfections just made it all the more candid, the emotion more real. “All right,” she said, quickly wiping a hoof against her cheek to chase away a stray tear. “It can go up in the living room—that’ll be our summer portrait.”

“It was spring, Rares.”

“Hush, darling. I’m being sentimental.”

Rainbow snorted, but didn’t disagree. Instead, she pulled Rarity in tight and nosed into her mane. “You smell nice,” she muttered. “Chocolate rose? High end stuff—my favorite.”

“Very good, dear.” Rarity laid her head against Rainbow’s chest. “You’re getting better at telling my perfumes.”

“Yeah. Can’t help it, really—every time you wear it makes me think of that first night you came up to my old cloud house. Remember? We got Twi to enchant your shoes, I made dinner, then we went to the bedroom…” she trailed off to plant a kiss on Rarity’s forehead, right at the base of her horn. “The spell wore out, so you had to lay on top of me all night—” Another kiss, soft and lingering “—all wrapped up snug in my wings.”

“R-Rainy!” Her eyes fluttered shut, she bit her lip to hold back a shuddering breath. “Rainy! Not now, we’ve got—“

Rainbow chuckled, shifting her hooves up to hold tighter. “Your fault. You know how much I love that scent. Reminds me of all those times we’d sleep over when it was AJ’s turn to watch the Crusaders.” Though she couldn’t see it pressed against her wife’s chest as she was, Rarity could hear the playful grin in her voice as Rainbow nosed into her pristinely brushed mane. “What was that game we played? Commander Hurricane rescues the fair Princess Platinum, wasn’t it?”

A squeal tore from the back of her throat at the feeling of Raibow’s teeth nipping at her ear tip. “Rainy, please!” she gasped. “H-Help me finish first, then we’ll have all night!”

“Mm, convince me.” Soft lips pressed against her ear, a lingering kiss. “Sell me the idea like it’s one of your dresses, and I’m a customer in the boutique.”

Easier said than done. With every nip, every nuzzle, every sweet nothing whispered, Rainbow expertly chipped away at her resistance. Practiced ease, so many summer nights spent by the lakeside and winter mornings cuddled up in bed for warmth. Rainbow memorized each and every way she could bring a blush to her cheeks or a squeak from her throat as if they were a flight routine.

Perfection.

But that worked both ways. Rarity swallowed a moan, forcing herself to speak. “D-Darling,” she whispered huskily. “If you help me finish this up, I’ll wear the costume.”

Rainbow froze, her lips barely a hair’s breadth from Rarity’s ear. “Your Princess Platinum costume?” A warm, wet tongue brushed against her ear, hot, breathy chuckling washed over the side of her face. “You better not hold out on me, Rares! Or else…”

A shiver ran down her spine. Never doubt Rainbow’s threats, a lesson she’d learned many years ago. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” She swore, flying through the motions of Pinkie’s rhyme with practiced ease.

Rather than grin at the oath, Rainbow sat up straight, her eyes darting around the room in search of any sign of bubble-gum pink mane. “You realize you’ve invoked her promise,” she hissed. “If you go back on it in the bedroom, she’s gonna pop up right there next to us!”

“Oh, hush!” Finally managing to free herself, Rarity gave a light slap to Rainbow’s hoof. “Don’t be ridiculous—Pinkie is all the way in Ponyville, minding Knock Knock and Who’s There with Party Favor. She hardly has the time to come gallivanting out to Canterlot on a whim!”

Rainbow merely raised an eyebrow in reply, before shaking her head and chuckling darkly. “You are so gonna get it once we’re done here. You don’t even know.”

The pearl white coat stuck up on the back of Rarity’s neck, a mix of anticipation and fear. She gave an awkward cough and lit up her horn to float another picture over. “What about this, dear?” she asked, shoving it in front of Rainbow’s muzzle.

Humming, Rainbow gave it a once over. “Hey, that’s the Crusaders’ Cutceñera!” She took hold of the picture, smiling fondly as she held it out for both to enjoy.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle beamed back at them through the picture. The trio of fillies bound each other in tight hugs, Scootaloo had her wings draped over the other two as if trying to show off to everypony in the room that they were her friends. Hers and no pony could take them away.

A wry grin crossed Rarity’s muzzle. Memories of mornings spent trying to coax the Crusaders out of bed, fighting tooth and hoof against the deceptively strong grip in those wings once they finally grew and matured. How Rainbow would lean up against the doorjamb, snickering as she tried to convince the little filly to release her captive friends—who would simply giggle and lay in bed, not offering the slightest bit of resistance to their plight.

“They’re coming over this weekend, right?” Rainbow asked. “Sweetie and Scoots, I mean.”

“Yes. And Apple Bloom as well.” She stifled a giggle at the mock groan Rainbow let out, and lightly smacked her leg. “Now, don’t be like that! You know you love it when they visit!”

“Like I love a stubborn feather while I’m preening.” Her grumbling was in stark contrast to the merry twinkling in her eyes. A visit from her surrogate little sister meant more than she liked to let on.

As she might say, she had an image to maintain.

“So, then, we’re in agreement? Good.” Wrapping her magic around a polished wood frame, she lifted it to hold behind the picture. “I think this one would go nicely with it, don’t you? Gives it a bit of a homey, family atmosphere, wouldn’t you agree?” At Rainbow’s nod, she deftly slipped the picture into the frame and set it off to the side. “Lovely. Any place in particular you’d like to put it?”

“If we’re hanging it, I’d say we can put it up in the living room or near your desk. If it’s got a stand on the back…” Rainbow tapped a hoof against her chin. “We could put it on the nightstand. Or over the couch, since the Hearth’s Warming picture went over the mantle, that might fit the ‘homey-ness’ you’re going for.”

With a happy squeal, Rarity stole a kiss. “And you say you don’t have an eye for décor!” she purred. “I think somepony’s been holding out on me!”

A blush tinged Rainbow’s cheeks. She quickly ducked her head and snatched a picture off the table. “H-Hey! Let’s get back to that picture thing!”

This time, it was Rarity’s turn to have a picture shoved in her face. She reared back, squinting to make out the figures shown. Slowly, a warmth spread through her chest, a tiny smile made its way across her muzzle.

There she was, her mane brushed and conditioned extra so that it shone in the light. A beautiful white dress graced her figure, billowing out behind her, with lace imprints of her trio of diamonds and Rainbow’s storm cloud and tricolor lightning bolt gracing her flank. Rainbow’s dress pure white with silvery trim, flowing and fluffing like one of the clouds she pushed and guided through the sky, their cutie marks joined on hers as well..

Rarity closed her eyes and smiled, letting her mind wander back to that day. She could see it.

Beautiful. Ponyville had been host to many mixed-culture weddings, but the town had gone all out for theirs. The weather team had mixed a thick fog and guided it to hang over the aisle. Unicorns ushers lined either side, their horns alight to guide Rarity and her father on their way to the altar, where Rainbow Dash and Princess Twilight Sparkle stood, the latter garbed in full regalia for her duties presiding over the affair. Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie each stood off to the side, garbed in wonderful dresses of her creation—matching white with silver lace, but with their own individual cutie marks displayed rather than hers and Rainbow’s conjoined.

Ponies they’d met in their travels came from far and wide to celebrate their special day—Princesses Celestia and Luna sat side-by-side in the front row, just a few seats down from her parents; Princess Cadance and Prince-Consort Shining Armor were in the row behind them, each wearing bright smiles and holding hooves; Coco Pommel and Sassy Saddles were on her side as well, the fashion mares happily chattered about their craft the night before.

 Double Diamond, Night Glider, Party Favor, and Sugar Belle had journeyed from their little village and sat on Rainbow’s side, toward the back so they wouldn’t get too skittish sitting near a few of the Wonderbolts’ officers. Namely Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot. Rainbow’s parents, Prism Flare and Firefly, were in a row by themselves, each smiling brightly and hugging one another.

The music began. Many a head turned when she walked down the aisle, her mother’s eyes shone with tears—the little filly she once bounced on her knee had grown up and found love. The little stutter in her father’s step as they approached the altar, how he held her hoof just a bit tighter, almost reluctant to let her go. With a heavy sigh and whispered “I love you, little diamond”, Magnum presented her to Twilight and Rainbow.

Twilight spoke, a mix of jubilation for her friends and sovereign professionalism. “Thank you, Magnum of Ponyville, for guiding this mare on her way this day. Just as you have since birth.” She bowed her head in respect.

Magnum returned the gesture and backed away to take his seat next to Pearl. They sat close, smiling through their tears, while Sweetie Belle bounced in place on her chair.

A slight cough drew Rarity’s attention. Turning, she faced Rainbow Dash with a bright smile. Her hooves trembled and her breath hitched in her throat as she walked forward to her place, face-to-face with her wife-to-be. “You look wonderful,” she murmured, her eyes watery.

Rainbow let out a chuckle, her smile nearly split her muzzle. “I had a good designer,” she replied. “Kind of a perfectionist, but damned if she can’t make dress like a dream!”

The pair shared a giggle, Twilight snorted and hastily disguised it as a cough. She fixed them each with a stern glare, a silent command to save their banter for later, though she couldn’t entirely dismiss her own smile.

But Rarity caught the little tugging at the corners of her mouth. Trying so hard to make it special, she thought. Her eyes met Rainbow’s, those marvelous cerise eyes set her heart aflutter. This is it! The little filly in her squealed and pranced with delight. My wedding day! Ourwedding day!

“We are gathered here today to witness the union of Rarity and Rainbow Dash,” Twilight began, her voice echoing throughout the hall, “two mares whose love is true and hearts are pure. I am proud to say that, for my years spent in this town, I have been privileged to know these two mares and call them my friends.” She paused, looking to the trio standing around the altar as they nodded in affirmation. “I understand that our couple has prepared their vows independently—“

“Oh, Celestia help us!” Spitfire stage whispered, earning a laugh from the rest of the crowd, and a glare from Rainbow Dash.

Even Princess Celestia spared a chuckle, saying, “I’m afraid we’re well past that” before waving Twilight on.

Shaking her head, she continued, “Without further ado—“ she aimed a stern look toward Spitfire, who simply smiled cheekily in reply “—Rarity will recite hers first.”

Rarity’s heart leapt to her throat as Twilight turned and motioned her forward. This was it. She took a deep breath, all the nerves, all the butterflies in her stomach seemed to leave her as she allowed herself a small, fond smile. The first day of the rest of our lives together…

“My beautiful Rainbow, soaring through the sky,” Rarity recited, her vow as fresh in her mind as the day they stood together at the altar, “for years, I’ve marveled at your grace and passion. The way you fly, those daring flips and turns are like poetry in motion—natural gifts combined with an insatiable drive to be the best and chase down your dreams, no matter how far off they seem. If I could bottle that passion, if I could find some way to put even a fraction of it into every stitch of the dresses I make, I would be a happy mare.”

She paused as Rainbow gave a breathy laugh and wiped a hoof across her eyes. She continued, a coy smile playing upon her lips as she leaned back and laid her head on Rainbow’s shoulder. “One look at the prismatic trail you leave in your wake inspires my muse in ways you cannot imagine, and that never-say-die attitude spurs me to new heights no matter how far off my own dreams might seem. I promise never to lose faith, to always hold my head up high and strive toward my goals with you by my side. I love you, now and forever.”

Rainbow’s grip tightened around her waist, letting out a little sniffle. “Dang it, Rares, you’re making me sappy!”

“Deal with it, darling.” She pecked Rainbow’s cheek, lingering to nose up against her. “You looked wonderful that day.”

“Some fancy dressmaker made me something nice, so I figured I’d break it out,” Rainbow said with a nonchalant shrug, the illusion broken by a watery smile. She sighed and closed her eyes, staying silent a moment before she spoke again. “Rarity, like a diamond shining in the light, you dazzle me so. With gentle touch and an artist's’ eye, you make wonders out of silk, lace, and gem. If ever anypony could put the sheer awesomeness of a Sonic Rainboom into art, you did it with each dress you made for me.”

Warmth spread through her chest, Rarity sighed happily, letting a hoof wrap around Rainbow’s neck. “I nearly cried when you said that.”

Rainbow’s hooves squeezed her, soft lips pressed into the top of her head. “Whenever you face a hurdle for your dream, you strive to overcome. While your work takes you to the highest circles of Canterlot’s upper crust, you’ve stayed true to yourself and never forgotten our friends, our home, or our love.” Another pause, a hoof left Rarity’s side to wipe at her eyes again. “I promise never to forget the bonds we shared as friends, then lovers,” she choked, just as she had when reciting them in the hall. “I’ll remain faithful, always by your side, through our triumphs and failures, until the day we leave this world behind. I love you, now and forever.”

They sat in silence together, their vows to one another hung thick on the air. Rarity felt Rainbow lay her chin atop her head, a long, slow breath tickled her mane. “You were so beautiful that day,” Rainbow whispered. “I couldn’t believe I was so lucky to have you.”

Rarity made to reply, but stopped short. Something wet dribbled down Rainbow’s chin, dampening her pristinely brushed mane. She kissed Rainbow’s cheek. “Tears from my Wonderbolt prospect?” she teased.

“Gah! Get offa me!” Rainbow scooted away and turned to hide her face, wiping at her eyes. “I’m not crying! I just—You—My eyes were just leaking!”

Rarity had to stifle a giggle as she watched Rainbow stand and trot into the kitchen, all the while grumbling something under her breath about “Stupid, sexy unicorns” and “I’m not sappy! Awesome mares don’t do sappy!”

“Going to deal with your ‘eye leakage’?” Rarity purred, a knowing smile played upon her lips.

“Yes,” Rainbow replied as she snatched a towel off the kitchen counter. “Stupid things.”

Oh, how very much like the mare I met years ago. Rolling her eyes, Rarity began sifting through the rest of the pictures. “Well, hurry along, dear! I’d like to get this done before we retire for the evening.” Her voice dipped, taking on a husky edge she knew would send Rainbow bounding out of the kitchen and to her place at Rarity’s side, ready to finish their work.

The pair spent the rest of the night huddled together, laughing and reminiscing over old pictures. Stealing kisses, trailing feathers, and holding hooves as the smiling faces of friends and family alike looked back at them, almost as if inviting them to lose themselves in memories of their younger days.

When the last picture—one of the girls hugging a rosy-cheeked Twilight after she’d accepted an award for research on long-range teleportation—was framed, Rarity stood, letting her curly, purple tail trail along Rainbow’s chin as she stepped around the table. With a sway in her hips, she glanced back over her shoulder and licked her lips, crowing to herself at the hunger in those beautiful, cerise eyes.

She turned and raced down the hallway to their bedroom, the empty walls a blur as she fled from her lover’s hooves.

Powerful forelegs wrapped around her barrel and lifted her off the ground. Rarity squeaked as she was dropped onto the bed and quickly pinned. Rainbow’s lips captured hers before she could give one of her witty flirts.

It didn’t matter, she decided. She opened her mouth to allow Rainbow’s tongue entrance, surrendering herself to the heated passion they shared for one another. As intense as the first night together, she mused. And it’ll only grow more so, my love.

Deftly, she slipped her hooves from beneath Rainbow’s, and wrapped them around her neck, pulling her in close to deepen the kiss.

Here’s to more memories to decorate our walls.And some that’ll stay between us.