Tending a Blossom

The stormy weather brewing above Vera's head was a mimicry of the conflicting thoughts passing through her mind as she and her sisters were walking home. No rain was falling just yet, but one could smell it coming, rich in the air as well as the stronger winds that were blowing by her and her siblings on either side. While Aloe was busy on her phone, Lotus was content to walk amidst the quiet. Their arrival at the house had yet to bring Vera out of her thoughts until Aloe spoke.

“Have you enjoyed your birthday, Vera?”

Aloe's voice snapped the mare out of her musings to look to the pink mare across from her. They were inside their home now; the end of the day clear as rain began to fall to the waiting earth below. It took but a moment to right herself and answer her sister.

“It has been a pleasant day, Aloe.” She assured her with a practiced smile; Vera's birthday had been wholesome enough. Taking the day off, the three had gone out together to celebrate as a family, shopping at some of the stands while partaking in some of the autumn events together. It was unexpected to see them both invest so much time for her, and she did appreciate them for making it a day for her.

...but where was Rumble?

It was a question that had stuck with her throughout the day. When he had not rang their phone number or came by himself in the morning, she had reasoned that it was likely he was just too busy that morning to stop by. At the time, she'd joked to herself he was prepping her birthday gift still. But as time passed, her concern grew. Cracks began making their way through the woven confidence he had helped establish in herself. Vera only hoped it would not show on her face, as she didn't want to make her sisters suspect something was wrong.

“I have been wondering all day, you know?” Lotus said as she set her bags on the dining room table. “Where was your friend Rumble? Surely he knows of your birthday?”

“I am sure he does. He had mentioned it to me yesterday, in fact. But perhaps he has been busy with another odd job?” Aloe replied. “He is only part-time for us, after all.”

“Maybe, sister. He has been a welcome presence for us all, however. His help has made things go much smoother with the labor he does.” Vera said.

“Better still that you found yourself a running mate on those early mornings. I was half expecting you to start dragging me out of bed for that.” Aloe joked from her seat at the table. Lotus walked to the kitchen to deposit the leftover food they'd brought from the restaurant Vera had picked to dine at for lunch.

“Yes, because Celestia forbid that we interrupt your snoring slumber, sister.” Lotus interjected, making Vera shake her head. “Though I must admit I am grateful too. The recipes you have been learning from him are a nice change of pace from the standbys we are used to.”

Vera smiled and looked down to her glass. It was true; Rumble's appearance into their lives had been beneficial for them all. Not only was he a helpful hand for busy days at the spa, but he had a positive impact on their lives outside it as well. Vera now had a reliable partner to exercise with and keep her going on days she sometimes struggled to get going. On top of that, he had shared with her some of the self-taught recipes he learned to cook for himself when Thunderlane was out of the house and takeout wasn't desired. She was truly grateful for the time spent together; it was a breath of fresh air she didn't know she'd been needing.

A sudden crack of thunder made her jolt in her seat, looking out the window at the rain falling beyond the glass. It was apparent the weather teams had many storm clouds to empty today, judging from how quickly the onslaught of rain and wind had appeared.

“At least this birthday didn't occur on a chaotic day. My last birthday had us dealing with that bugbear thing that flew into town.” Aloe commented. She stretched her arms above her head, yawning before relaxing with a sigh. “I believe I'll retire to my room for tonight. I need my beauty rest for tomorrow.”

Vera raised an eyebrow. “Another date?” she questioned.

“Mmhmm. A mister Caramel offered to take me out to dinner this past Tuesday. He seems pretty cute.” Aloe stood up while Vera remained seated, keeping her thoughts on her sister's dating habits to herself. “Happy birthday, Vera!”

The pink colored mare left for her upstairs room, leaving Vera at the table with the few bags of goodies and things she'd gotten while they'd been out together. Lotus was unseen at the moment, busy in the kitchen. Sitting alone at the table seemed to only reinforce the lonely feeling that had planted itself in the back of her mind. Had Rumble come by for her birthday, she'd be probably out with him to continue celebrating, maybe out at the market or in some cozy little restaurant, the two in their own booth and laughing and…

Vera paused, realizing how firmly her hands were grasping her glass she'd gotten when they'd arrived home. Her mind chalked up her responses to fatigue; maybe it was best she turn in for the night as well? 'That has to be it. I'm just...tired.'

“Lotus? I'm going to turn in as well. I'm feeling a little worn out from all the walking we did.” Vera called to her other sibling.

“Are you sure? I had thought to try and whip up a little dessert for the birthday girl!” Lotus called back, peeking her head out from the doorway to the kitchen. “I was going to try for a cheesecake, like old times!”

“Thank you, but I'm really alright.” Vera reassured her. “Go ahead and fix some though. Tomorrow may beg for plenty of it. For now, I think a good book will do me well tonight.” Vera went upstairs as well, aiming for the comforts of a soft bed and an illusory fantasy brought on by it's paperback container. The hallway was quiet, no noise coming from Aloe's closed doorway. Only a small beam of light peeked out from under the door, but it soon clicked off when Vera passed by.

Inside her own room, Vera felt a comforting sense of ease pass over her. This was her own private domain here, a place where nopony wrench it from her. Her wallpaper was a soothing light blue, with a few decorative art pieces she'd found in the marketplace for a good deal. To one side sat a personal bookshelf and work desk beside it, where sometimes she found herself crunching numbers when the workload at the spa was too much to finish in just one day. She was fortunate enough that of late, the desk had seen little use. But work was the furthest thing from her mind right then.

Closing her door, she locked it before retrieving one of the novels she'd been interested in reading of late. The recommendation for the author came from one of the local book club circles that circulated romance regularly, and Vera certainly had a weakness for the dramatic stories. The one she'd picked up in particular told the tale of a pegasi guard that'd fallen for a mare he'd saved from misfortune on his patrol in the Crystal Empire. Of course the plot was more intricate than that, but Vera knew that like most readers of the genre, her real interest lied in the romantic exchanges between the strong, rough guard and the feminine but passionate mare. Opening to where she'd left her bookmark, the birthday mare settled onto her bed and resumed where she'd left off.

But as the minutes clicked by and the pages turned, the satisfaction and interest of the well-written tale did not take hold. Something still nagged at the edge of her mind, and the realization only crystallized that something into a more present force, enough to make Vera pause and stop reading. She couldn't even recall just why it wasn't sticking. In fact, when she'd first read how Sharp Prism had drew Scarlet to him after saving her life, she'd been left daydreaming of being in much of the same situation.

Here and now, however, Sharp and Scarlet hardly drew in the attention she once had for them. It was as if Sharp's character had suddenly become unappealing. What had changed?

'It's not Rumble.'

Her internal struggle voiced itself finally, and it made Vera sit up with a sudden start that the book fell aimlessly to the side. “Stop it!” She whispered to herself. “He's fine!”

'He could be lost. Or hurt. And it worries you. You want him here.'

Vera tore her eyes away from the foot of her bed to the window. Outside, the rest of the world lay beyond the rain-splattered glass window, hazy and greyed from the turbulent winds blowing through, carrying the storm clouds above on their way. A spurt of panic shot through her as her mind envisioned Rumble lost in such an awful storm. Trying to fly to reach her home for her birthday, only for a gust of wind to blow him aside, or worse…

She shook her head and tried to do away with such thinking. He is fine, she told herself. He's just...busy elsewhere. He couldn't make it here. And that's not his fault, no matter how much fun it'd be to have him here.

'Of course it'd be fun. After all, somepony you like so much would certainly make the day a lot better. Especially since he likes you so much too.'

Memories came to mind for Vera of how Rumble always smiled at her when they were together. It didn't matter what they were doing: running in the morning, chit-chatting on the off chance of running into one another on the street, or when he offered to help at the spa. It was like she was his own small slice of goodness. In a way, Vera could suspect he was harboring possibly deeper feelings than he would let on. But she was older than him, and surely he'd want more of a mare his age than one like herself? But he always complimented her, even when her sisters were around…

A sudden thumping at the front door brought her out of her mind's depths and back into reality. Somepony was there, and if she could hear the knocking from her room, they must be needing inside urgently. Exiting her room, she quickly hurried down the steps as she heard the door open.

“Yes, who is-oh my!” Lotus exclaimed from the front. Her exclamation only hastened Vera, who appeared behind her sister. She too gave a gasp at the figure hunched over in the doorway. His mane was flattened down from the heavy rain outside, his clothes soaked. But his figure and coat color gave him away instantly.

“Rumble!” Vera reached forward and drew him in, the stallion nearly stumbling from the unexpected pull as Lotus shut the door behind him. “What are you doing in this storm? It's so awful out!”

“Little bit of water isn't gonna stop me, you know. We've run in the rain before.” Rumble said, smiling up at her as he straightened. It was only when he was standing properly that Vera could see he was holding something in his hands. A small brown package, with a little red bow, was somehow mostly dry despite it's soaked carrier. He held it out towards her, making her blink.

“Happy birthday!”

Vera snapped out of her surprise and took the package, setting it aside before returning to him. Lotus had gone and fetched some towels to help him dry off, which he took. “I remember you now. You are the young man who has been helping to clean up the spa some nights. Rumble was your name?”

The pegasus nodded at the blue masseuse, taking the offered towel and roughly rubbing on his head and mane first. “That's right. I've been helping Vera here with some of the side jobs and errands to keep you all going. It's been pretty nice too.” He added. When he'd finished toweling off his head, he passed it back to Lotus before taking Vera's towel she'd been holding to try and strain his clothes of what moisture still clung to him. “I'm sorry for the mess. But I had to get over here.”

“You didn't need to risk yourself like that. I know pegasi have to watch getting wet in this kind of weather, or you might catch the flu.” Vera said. “You could have waited until tomorrow, or-”

“Nope.” Rumble cut her off, making her stare as he looked to her. “Tomorrow isn't your birthday, today is. Can't give a birthday gift when it's not the birthday, now can I?”

Vera shook her head. “Still, you told me flying in such weather is dangerous for you. Didn't your brother get hurt in such conditions once?”

“Yeah, he did. Which is why I didn't fly in from the south. I circled around to come from the west.” He answered.

The eldest Blossom sister was left unable to remark, caught between relief and being upset at his risky behavior. In the end, she forgave it for the sake of seeing him safe and sound back with her. “Come, sit down.” She urged him, leading him to the sofa in the adjacent room. Vera led him by his hand in hers until he sat down, whereupon his visage crumbled into relief as he sank back against the comfortable cushions.

Vera nodded at seeing him sit down and relax before turning to Lotus. “Do we still have some soup to heat up?” She asked.

“Of course. I will go fix it while you attend to our guest here.” She replied, giving a nod to Rumble before vanishing into the kitchen. Vera fixed her attention on the pegasus once more, seating herself beside him as he sat there with closed eyes. Staring at him, Vera could see once more a hint of the handsome visage she was sure Rumble was steadily growing into: his smooth complexion was unmarred save for the remaining drops of rainwater from the steadily pouring rain outside, and his soft lips were parted as he breathed slowly.

So fixated on his appearance, Vera nearly forgot the gift he'd brought her. With him comfortable, she went to it and sat back down with the plain-looking box in her grasp. The mare pondered on opening it later, once he was more awake and present to see it. But a light tap to his shoulder didn't stir him; she realized he was asleep now, continuing to breathe lightly in the same pose he lay in. She smiled and shook her head, remaining beside him as she unwrapped her gift. When the wrapping and bow were removed and the box opened to reveal it's contents, Vera at first stared in curiosity. But comprehension stunned her as she beheld the gift he'd brought her.

“Is he asleep then?” Lotus' voice snapped Vera back to reality, and she looked up to see Lotus standing in the doorway, arms crossed under her bosom as she watched her.

“Y-yes. He must be exhausted.” Vera replied. She turned her eyes back to his gift. “...how did he?...”

Lotus approached her and looked at the small, carefully preserved packing bag that was within the box. “What is that? It looks like a few leaves.”

“This is...Betulina Barosma. It's an herb that we don't have here in Ponyville.” Vera answered. “Or anywhere near here. It's...a very rare herb.” She added, looking up to Lotus.

“Oh? How much do you suppose it cost?”

“You can't buy it. You have to find it. That's how well-hidden away it is.” Vera said. “Even Zecora has spoken of it, when I have stopped by to look for herbs I cannot locate myself. But how did he...” she trailed off, laying the preserved greenery in the box before looking at the sleeping Rumble.

“He must have traveled far, to find it and bring it to you.” Lotus' remark drew a nod from the older sister before she got up. Leaving Rumble where he lay, she went upstairs to place the box somewhere safe to keep it out of any harm's way. Internally, her mind was still reeling at the idea of Rumble gifting her such a thing. How did he find it? Where? He could have sold it for so much money to buy her tons of gifts, and yet he brought it to her instead. He'd known of it's material worth, from their times discussing herbs before.

It made her pause and rest a hand on her heart, feeling it still beating rapidly from the shock of seeing the herb in her hands. For any herbalist, it was a treasure to find it in their possession. And he'd just...given it to her. He'd risked life and limb to get it to her for her birthday.

'Oh Rumble…'

She could deny it no longer. Her heart hammered as she thought back to how Rumble was always ready to help her, in and out of the spa; how he was mindful of her safety when they were running through the town; how he'd even just smile when she happened to look his way and their eyes would meet...

“He cares for you.”

Vera snapped from her internal reverie and turned to see Lotus standing there with a small smile. The cold shock crossed down her spine and neck with chilling shivers.

“W-what? Don't be ridiculous.” Vera protested lamely.

“Vera.”

“He's just...very kind! And he got it for my birthday! Ponies do that on birthdays!” Vera added, keeping her eyes off of her sister. She was giving her the same stare their mother once did when they were caught hiding something from her.

“Vera.”

“I-It's not like he could actually like me! I'm so much older than him!” The endless flow of excuses did nothing to stop Lotus from approaching her sister, who'd now seated herself on the bed, hands clenched in her lap. “He'd want a younger mare! A more pretty mare!”

“Vera?” Lotus' questioning tone was lost to Vera's rambling.

“I'm just a nopony, who nopony wants to be with! Not like…!” She stopped herself before she continued, keeping the accusing words at bay for the sake of her own rapidly unraveling composure. Silence hung in the room, the only sound being the rain outside. It hid Lotus' soft steps as she came up beside her sibling. When she embraced Vera, the older sister leaned into her.

“You always were one to deny the obvious before you in times like this. He is different from the stallions who see only the skin-deep beauty they obsess over.” Lotus said quietly. “He has been kind, and helpful to you. If his purpose was only to find pleasure, would you not have spotted it by now?”

“...what are you saying sister?” Vera asked, leaning up to look to her sibling. “Have you been watching us?”

“It is hard to miss details right before our eyes, Vera. He is attentive to your every word. When you seek his help, he gives it without a second thought. Though the young man may not know the depth of his own feelings, he surely cares a great deal for you. That is more than what many can say when they wander into things like love.” Lotus answered. “Ask yourself, and put that foolish idea about age out of the picture: would you not relish being with him?”

Vera briefly entertained the notion, for just a moment. To put aside the barriers of friendship and weaving themselves romantically with one another. She imagined going out on a date together, him smiling at her and holding her close. The cover of one of her novels came to mind, only now it was her laid in Rumble's outstretched arms as she clung to his neck, half-lidded eyes staring into his smoldering own…

“Do you see?”

Vera ducked her head. “...but I am not you...or Aloe. So what can I offer that would be so appealing?”

“Have you considered that it is precisely because you are not myself or Aloe that he is enamored with you?”

Lotus' words made her look up again, prompting her to continue. Lotus rested her hand on Vera's, gently squeezing it. “I know that it weighs on you to see Aloe and I be treated to such things as a stallion calling on us. We all want another to notice us like that at one time or another. But those moments are brief, and fleeting. The young man lying there downstairs holds something much more promising, I believe. That is why he goes out of his way for you. Risks his life and limb for you. Not just for the pretty face he sees, but the lovely heart he wants to feel beat alongside his own.”

“You've been reading my books again, haven't you?” Vera asked finally, making Lotus giggle quietly.

“Oh, a dabble or two when I've the time. They can be very entertaining.” She answered.

They sat there together, remaining quiet until Vera finally sat up. Wiping at her eye with a finger, she flicked away the tear that had tried to escape before speaking again. “...do you really think it's worth a try? With him?”

Lotus nodded. “Absolutely. Love is always worth a try, and even better if he has as strong a feeling for it as you do.” Lotus placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, to which Vera rested her own atop it. “You must do it for yourself, if not him, Vera. We won't stand in your way. I would not deny you your happiness.”

Vera sighed and embraced her sister in a tight hug. “Thank you Lotus. I think...I will try.” The weight gone from her shoulders, the eldest sister felt renewed. Her sisters' acceptance aided her, as well as resolved some of the tension and envy she'd been keeping inside. Now she had her own path to follow, and somepony to maybe accompany her if things went the right way. Thinking of that smiling face of Rumble's brought a new vigor to her heart, and Vera left her sister to go back downstairs to him.

The evening found peace within the Blossom household, Lotus and Aloe asleep in their own rooms while Vera lay snuggled on the sofa alongside Rumble. It would make the morning much more interesting to see how he'd respond to waking up next to her, while the mare could take quiet pleasure in sharing his body warmth while they slept.