A steady stream of light raps drew Twilight's attention away from her book, her head rising to level her gaze at her bedroom window. Another gust of wind, pattering her window with a flurry of snowflakes, the sounds brought a smile to her lips as she focused her attention once more on the book that lay in front of her. She'd been sat on her bed for the better portion of the night, flipping through book after book and having a bit of difficulty devoting her attention to any one for very long. She didn't mind, this was a perfectly good way to spend a lazy Sunday evening in the winter, cozy in her bed without much a care or concern to focus on.
Until a much louder series of beats came at her window, Twilight found herself jumping slightly as she jerked her head around, eyes affixed on the source of the noise. She settled rather quickly at the sight that met her, magenta eyes staring right back at her, and a hoof gesturing toward the latch on the inside. Twilight giggled softly as she half stood before hopping down from her spot on the bed, she quickly found herself missing the warmth of her bed cover however, the cool air nipping at her as she trotted over to the window, her horn lighting up as she undid the latch and a much cooler burst of air flowed into the room.
"Took you long enough." Rainbow lightly teased, smiling down at the lavender alicorn that greeted her.
"Save it and get your butt in here, it was already cold before I opened the window!" Twilight was more than eager to retreat back to her warm spot.
Rainbow slowly guided in, her chromatic mane seeming to flow every which way, the wind had not been kind to it. Twilight giggled again as she noticed this, quickly shutting the window and shaking her head.
"Forget your hat, sweetie?"
Rainbow rolled her eyes playfully, fluttering down and placing herself right next to Twilight.
"Don't need to get all geared up for a five minute flight, babe." She teased, roughly nosing through the other mare's mane, ruffling it in the process and chuckling as she hopped up into the spot Twilight had been laying in moments ago, much to Twilight's dismay.
"Rainbow! Stop! You're covered in snow, you'll get the covers wet." The plea was, of course, a bit late, but she felt the need to at least voice her disapproval.
Dash, for her part, was thoroughly unconcerned. She waved a hoof dismissively before tapping the spot right next to her.
"It's snow, Twi, it dries pretty quick." She twisted her head to the side, flipping her damp mane away from her face, before turning her attention back to the alicorn who was now pouting up at her. "Come on over and I'll make it up to you."
Twilight huffed, causing Dash to giggle, which caused Twilight in turn to pout harder. She didn't object, however, and quickly hopped up into the bed, settling next to her marefriend.
"You're such a jerk sometimes, you know- EEK!" Twilight's wings shot out in surprise, her body pulling itself away from the newfound source of cold and wet currently assaulting it; Rainbow Dash. She rubbed herself right up against Twilight, smiling contently as she pressed her cold and damp coat up against the warmth and dryness of Twilight's. She draped a foreleg quickly around Twilight's neck, pulling her back in and letting out a hum, rather pleased with herself.
"Babe, you're so warm."
Twilight scowled at her terrible, terrible marefriend. The utter fiend, sapping her warmth while getting her coat cold and damp with rapidly melting snow, a terrible sin that would most certainly require her to atone.
“I was.” She grumbled, turning her head away from Dash. “I was also very comfortable.”
“Mhm, don’t worry, I’m sure your Hearth’s Warming gift will make up for it.”
Twilight’s ears perked up a bit at that, she leaned a bit closer to Rainbow Dash, her tail twitching once. “Oh? Is it that good?”
Dash nodded, nuzzling into Twilight’s mane. “I sure hope so.”
“What’d you get me?” Twilight was a grown mare, but the question practically came out as a squeak, a wide grin plastered on her face as she looked expectantly up at her marefriend. Dash, for her part, shook her head.
“Nuh-uh Twi, that’s not how it works. You gotta wait until tomorrow morning like everypony else.”
“Come on!” Twilight whined playfully, leaning in and planting a quick kiss under Dash’s chin. “Gimme a hint!”
“Nope.” The lavender alicorn’s ears lowered a bit, a pleading smile creeping across her face. “No hints, not even if you do make that adorable face. Have some respect for the rules.”
A loud huff escaped the alicorn princess. “Oh, you’re going to lecture me about the rules? Miss ‘I got caught trying to peek at my gifts the last 3 years running’.”
Rainbow lifted her snout up into the air. “I was inspecting them.”
Twilight’s deadpan expression and slightly raised brow were none too convinced.
“My marefriend is a high profile public figure, who knows what dastardly creatures out there could be plotting against her!”
“Uh-huh, plotting against me.”
“It happens! Booby traps, Twi.”
“Booby traps. For me. In your Hearth’s Warming gifts?”
Dash shook her head gently. “Nopony would ever expect it, the perfect crime.”
Twilight rolled her eyes and hopped off of the bed once more. “Well, since you already soiled that warm spot, what do you say we move to the living room. It’s warmer in there, I can make us some hot chocolate.”
Her marefriend clearly needed no further convincing, leaping off the bed and taking much of the covers down to the floor with her, bringing another pout to Twilight's face. Dash quickly flicked a wing underneath them, lifting it quickly and flipping the covers back over onto the bed. Twilight was less than pleased that her well made, warm and comfy bed was now a heap of damp messy laundry for her to do. Before she could voice her displeasure, however, Dash was already out of the room and headed for the couch.
“Rainbow Dash you dry yourself off before you get on that couch!” She received a barely audible hum in response, which she hoped was an affirmative and not a dismissal.
Twilight trotted out of the doorway after Dash, her horn lighting up as she shut the door gently with her magic. She made her way leisurely to the kitchen, peaking out of the entryway into the living room. No Rainbow on the couch yet, bringing a smile to Twilight’s face. At least the couch will stay warm, she thought to herself, her magic opening a cupboard to her left. She levitated out a large tin, decorated with a hoof-painted logo. ‘Sugarcube Corner’s Own’, Pinkie had given all of her friends a bit of the Cake’s homemade hot cocoa mix as an early Hearth’s Warming gift. Well, one of many early Hearth’s Warming gifts, Pinkie Pie couldn’t ever wait a whole month to give just one gift, so she always made sure to stock up on plenty of smaller surprises for all of her friends that she could disperse whenever she was feeling pent up from the secret keeping. Twilight flicked a match across her horn, the ember sparking to life as she lowered it toward the stove top, turning the dial until she heard the hiss of the gas releasing. With a ‘poof’ it was lit, the blue flame licking up at the air.
She floated a pot over onto the burner, turning to flick the fridge door open, retrieving a half gallon of milk, then setting to work preparing the hot cocoa for her and her marefriend. Rainbow Dash was just now walking out of the bathroom, a towel draped over her back. She had done her best to dry herself thoroughly, teasing her marefriend was fun, but as she was drying herself she began to wonder if perhaps she had genuinely upset her. She seemed kinda pissed there when she was leaving the room, her brow furrowed as she thought back on what happened in the bedroom, I hope I didn’t ruin our night. As she rounded the corner and entered the living room her worries were put to rest at the sight of a grinning Twilight hard at work on a pot of hot chocolate. Dash smiled at the adorable display, a moment later Twilight turned and met her gaze.
“Oh good, you’re done drying yourself! You can go ahead and take a seat Dashie, I’ll have this finished in just a minute!” Dash nodded and trotted over to the couch, utilizing a wing to gently drape the slightly damp towel over the back of a chair on her way. She plopped down in the middle of the couch, letting her head drop back and sighing in content. It was much warmer in here, maybe because there were no windows in the middle of the castle. She still wasn’t quite used to the castle, having spent so long visiting Twilight in the Golden Oak Library. Getting to visit your girlfriend in a castle was pretty cool though, as far as Dash was concerned. She smirked, recalling her departure from one particular Wonderbolt’s training session shortly after the Castle of Friendship had sprouted up. Yeah, I gotta get going guys, you know, gonna visit my marefriend the Princess, you know, in her castle. She was interrupted from the memory by the sound of said princess trotting into the living room, levitating two steaming mugs of delicious chocolate flavored beverage. Rainbow dash wasn’t quite sure what hot chocolate was actually made of. Chocolate, she guessed, but how they turned it into powder that turned into something you drink was one of life’s great mysteries. She would bet all her bits that Twilight knew the answer to that, some sort of science thing. She decided against asking her ultimately, sometimes the magic was in not knowing.
“All dry?” Twilight asked, a bit wary. Dash snickered.
“All done pouting?” Twilight responded by poking her tongue out.
“You’re going to tease me after you already bullied me?”
“Bullied? Is that what we’re calling my romantic gesture?”
“You can perform romantic gestures without making me wet and cold!” Twilight set the mugs down on the crystal coffee table in front of them, climbing up onto the couch and pouting at Dash.
Rainbow chuckled, gazing fondly down at the mare she loved. “I still remember the first time I saw that pout.”
“Oh, I remember too,” Twilight couldn’t resist smiling at the memory. “It was right after you ruined my mane.”
“Your memory’s going Twi, that was the second time I saw that pout. The First time,” Rainbow began, leaning down to press her nose up against Twilight’s, earning a giggle from the alicorn. “Was when you were giving me grief for not having the clouds already cleared away.”
Twilight didn’t bother trying to argue the fact, she also didn’t want to give Rainbow the satisfaction of admitting she was wrong, so she opted to end the conversation right then and there as she closed the distance between her lips and Dash’s. Dash leaned into the kiss, humming happily, her lips curling against Twilight’s in a grin. Rainbow was the one to break the lip-lock, eager to dip into her hot cocoa now that it had a bit of time to cool. She leaned over to the table, dipping her muzzle right into the mug and loudly slurping up a bit of the warm, rich beverage, Twilight tried her best to give a disapproving look but her giggling gave away her good humor.
“You really are something else Rainbow Dash.”
Dash lifted her face from the mug, dripping hot chocolate onto the coffee table. “Would you settle for anything less?”
Twilight leaned forward, hooking her forelegs around the back of Dash’s neck and pulling her over, the pegasus found it hard to maintain her balance and, entirely accidentally of course, collapsed on top of Twilight, smiling down at her.
“Dash, do you ever think about the future?”
“Yeah like, you think they’ll ever have robot butlers like in the movies?”
Twilight brought the pout back to her lips. “Come on Dash, be serious! You know what I mean.”
“Sorry, Sorry,” Dash nuzzled down at her marefriend. “I knew what you meant, you gotta be more specific though.”
“I guess I’m not too sure myself,” Twilight fidgeted a bit beneath Dash, the pegasus shifted her weight a bit lower to give her marefriend a bit more squirming room. “I’ve just been thinking about it in general. This is my fourth Hearth’s Warming here in ponyville, and my third with you.” The bookworm smiled wide, lifting her head and leveling her eyes with Rainbow’s, a light blush gracing her cheeks.
Rainbow smiled back, resting her head on Twilight’s chest. “Yeah, it’s crazy how it’s been that long already. I get what you mean, it’s hard not to think about it.” The pegasus let out a soft yawn. “I’m a little tired now, maybe we can talk about this more tomorrow?”
“You promise we can talk about it tomorrow?”
“Don’t worry Twi,” She placed a kiss on the alicorn’s cheek. “We’ll definitely talk about it tomorrow.”
By mid-morning the next day Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack were all gathered in the castle together. They would always divide their time up between all their loved ones and friends the best they could, but the bearers of the elements always had their own personal get together, just the six of them exchanging gifts and spending a bit of time in each other’s company. Everypony was in good spirits, as was to be expected, though Twilight couldn’t help but notice just how giddy Pinkie was. Sure, she was Pinkie Pie, giddiness was to be expected at the very least, but there was something different this morning. Before Twilight could ponder on it any further, the subject of her thoughts was obscuring her vision, mere inches from her face. Twilight smiled.
“Hello again Pinkie.”
The pink pony already had a smile plastered on her face, but it grew just a bit bigger as she looked at Twilight. “Oh, hi Twilight. Hope I’m not bothering you!”
Twilight shook her head. “You’d know if you were bothering me, Pinkie.”
Pinkie nodded enthusiastically at that. “Mhm, you’d say something like ‘personal space, Pinkie’ or ‘Pinkie Pie our faces don’t need to be touching for you to speak to me’.”
“You must have got us all something really good this year, huh?”
Pinkie tilted her head. “Aren’t my presents good every year?”
“Oh Pinkie, of course! I just mean that you’ve been really excitable this morning, even by your standards.”
Pinkie let out a gasp, clapping both of her front hooves over her mouth before letting out a frantic muffled giggle. “Nuh-uh I’m not- well- Twilight,” Pinkie stumbled a bit with her words, seeming to pause to think for a moment, an uncommon occurrence in conversations with the energetic pink pony who seemed to not have much of a filter when it came to speaking to others. After the pause she simply smiled at Twilight, and the alicorn was almost positive she could see moisture forming in the corners of her friends eyes.
“I’m just really, really happy Twilight.”
Twilight decided not to press any further, she was sure Pinkie just had a really good surprise in store. She leaned forward and nuzzled at Pinkie’s cheek.
“Well, I’m happy too Pinkie. I think it’s just about time to start exchanging gifts.”
Pinkie nodded, biting her lip lightly as she scurried off toward the table that supported a pile of colorful wrapped packages. As Twilight followed Pinkie she noticed everypony else seeming to take the hint, all of them hurrying over excitedly. Applejack trotted alongside Rainbow, both of them engaged in a rather polite indoor race. Fluttershy and Rarity walked over together, Fluttershy was speaking excitedly in a hushed tone, and as she stopped her and rarity burst into quiet giggles. Twilight giggled along, unable to hear what they were talking about, but overcome with a warmth deep in her chest, her love for all of her friends. She could feel a bit of anxiety nipping at her mood, something she was trying her best to push to the back of her head. She had never really had friends at all before coming to ponyville, certainly no substantial friendships outside of her close bond with her brother. He had been her only confidant, and even then she had always been at least a bit reserved with him. This, what she had with these five ponies, was something new. Something unexplored, something that research could only tell one so much about. It was a little scary.
Twilight couldn’t imagine her life without her friends, outside of Ponyville, even though she had spent the vast majority of her life in Canterlot this was the place that she felt was home. Even so, she saw her and all of her friends moving forward with their lives day by day. Rarity was expanding her boutique to new cities, Rainbow was building a reputation and coming into considerable fame as a promising new performer for the Wonderbolts, Applejack and Fluttershy were finding success here in Ponyville, but even Pinkie now was talking about her dreams to open up her own bakery somewhere new. She knew none of her friends would abandon her, deep down she knew they would all stay close no matter where life took them, but she felt uneasy as time marched ever forward. What if, just maybe, they all simply grew apart. What if these new connections were severed just as easily as her old connections in Canterlot. Sure, she had reconnected with her old friends a couple years after leaving Canterlot, they even kept in touch pretty regularly now, yet it wasn’t anything like what she had with the five ponies in this room with her right now. What if she were to lose that.
“Alright everypony!”
Pinkie Pie’s rather loud announcement shook Twilight from her thoughts, and she couldn’t be more thankful for the fact. She could feel the onset of a panic attack at the corner of her mind, she needed a distraction.
“Who’s ready for their Pinkie Pie present?”
The pink pony swept up all the gift boxes she had wrapped herself and marched her way over to her friends. Twilight happily accepted hers, setting the package down in front of her and unwrapping the bow with her magic before setting in to tear the wrapping. A grin spread across her face as she set eyes on the colorful box in front of her, adorned with an image of 2 fillies with exaggeratedly excited expressions. ‘Super Slime Laboratory’ a green, gooey font announced on the front. Twilight giggled excitedly, looking up at Pinkie.
“Pinkie Pie, I haven’t played with one of these in ages! You’ll have to come over when I break it out. You, me, Spike and Rainbow are going to have a field day with this!”
Pinkie giggled along and hopped right over, pulling Twilight into a tight hug. As she pulled away Twilight noticed Rarity making her way over, having just given Fluttershy her gift. A small green box with a flawlessly tied blue bow floated in front of Twilight, she took it in her own magic and smiled at rarity. No tearing required for this one, she undid the bow and lifted the top off, gasping softly at the gorgeous necklace inside. A thin silver rope chain with a warm, golden-yellow gem hanging at the end.
“Imperial topaz, it compliments your coat quite nicely, I think.” Rarity explained with a soft smile. Twilight pulled Rarity in with a foreleg, hugging her close.
“Rarity it’s beautiful! Oh my gosh this must be so expensive, Rarity are you sure-” before she could continue fretting a hoof pressed gently against her mouth.
“Twilight, you are very welcome. It will look stunning on you.”
Twilight nodded and affectionately rubbed her cheek against Rarity’s.
“Thank you.”
“Alright,” Applejack’s voice interrupted the two, Rarity playfully rolling her eyes at the interjection. “Rare already went and upstaged me but I suppose I ought to still show you my measly offering.”
Rarity shook her head, flicking her tail up at Applejack’s face as she walked away, eliciting a chuckle from the farm pony. She rifled through her saddlebag with a hoof.
“I never been too good at wrappin’, hope ya’ don’t mind.” When she drew her hoof back out she held in it a tattered book, the cover sporting a few tears along the edges, but Twilight’s eyes lit up and her jaw dropped.
“Applejack is that-”
“’The Alchemist’s Almanac’. First edition, cousin Goldie Delicious came across it while I was visiting and I figured I knew a pony that might just appreciate it more than her empty basement- oof!” Applejack grunted as Twilight threw herself against her, wrapping her hooves around her and nearly squeezing the breath right out of her lungs.
“Applejack this is incredible! The information contained in this- the history! The perspectives of so many ponies who made the very discoveries that were documented in this book!”
Applejack chuckled and nosed Twilight’s cheek. “Yeah I figured you might get excited about it. Didn’t realize just how excited though,” Twilight found herself blushing a bit. “I’m real glad you’re happy with it, Twi.”
She slowly pulled away from the alicorn, allowing Fluttershy an opening to approach her. The yellow pegasus was smiling wide as she walked up to Twilight, seeming very excited. She held out a small, unadorned box with her wing.
“You know I’m um, not too good at wrapping either.” Fluttershy giggled. “It’s um- Oh! Well, you should open it, I’ll explain after.”
Twilight smiled and nodded, lifting the top off with her magic. Inside sat an unmarked glass bottle, she lifted it and gave it a shake, eyeing the gelatinous substance inside.
“It’s a feather conditioner, Zecora and I came up with the recipe. It’s very soothing to apply post-preening, keeps everything soft and it has a very nice scent. Oh, and it’s all natural of course. It’s not exactly a priceless book, but I’m sure getting Rainbow to, um, help massage this into your wings will probably end up being a priceless experience-”
“Fluttershy, this is so thoughtful!” Twilight chimed in, her face rapidly reddening as she interrupted Fluttershy’s teasing. “You know learning to preen has been a difficult adjustment for me since I got my wings, this is great. Thank you.”
Fluttershy giggled and nodded. “Of course Twilight.”
They hugged, Twilight leaning in and whispering into the pegasi’s ear. “Do you have to turn my face red at every opportunity?”
“Maybe.” Twilight joined her in her quiet laughter.
As they pulled away Twilight found herself returning to her previous thoughts. She couldn’t imagine being comfortable with this sort of teasing from her old friends, and certainly not from her brother. She shared such a special bond with these ponies, something so close and so special, she was scared of the uncertainty the future held. Where would they all go? What would they all do? Would Twilight’s royal duties eventually pull her off to some distant land so far from her friends that it would take months just for the letters she wrote to even arrive at their homes? There were infinite ‘what if’s and no definitive answers to any of them. Twilight felt herself calm as she looked across the room, seeing Rainbow Dash and Rarity in an embrace after exchanging gifts with each other. Her smile returned, she took a deep breath and tried to put the worries out of her mind. Rainbow promised to talk about this, I’ll bring it up when we get back to the castle, she thought to herself. I’m sure she can help put my mind at ease. Rainbow pulled away from Rarity, turning and meeting eyes with Twilight, and Twilight saw the smile on Dash’s face fade, replaced by an expression she couldn’t quite read. Dash starting walking toward her, her smile returning but carrying with it some extra weight, some hint of anxiety or uncertainty, she wondered if maybe she had made Dash nervous with her insistence to talk about the future. Oh no, what if she thinks that I have something bad to tell her. Twilight fretted to herself. What if she thinks I’m going to break up with her? That’s not what I want! Oh, what if that’s what she wants? She might be relieved because she thinks I want the same thing!
Twilight noticed that Rainbow Dash was now much closer, and giving her a very worried look.
“You okay, babe?”
Twilight took a deep breath. In through her nose, placing a hoof to her chest, then out through her mouth, waving her foreleg outward. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”
“The future?”
Twilight nodded, leaning forward and resting her head against Dash’s neck. Rainbow wrapped a foreleg around her.
“Well, I’ve actually been thinking a lot about the future lately, too.”
The lavender alicorn lifted her head at that, coming eye to eye with Rainbow. Wait, she wants to have this conversation right here? Right in front of everyone?
“I’ve been thinking about a lot of things. I’ve been thinking about-” Rainbow paused, seeming to have lost her train of thought, before a smile spread across her face. “I’ve been thinking about when we first met.”
Twilight couldn’t help but smile in return. “You were talking about it last night.”
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was one of the best days of my life.”
“’One of’?” Twilight teased.
“Easily in the top ten.” Rainbow ribbed back, both of them laughing together. “No but, for real Twilight. That day changed my life. You changed my life.”
“Aw, Dash, the holiday’s got you being all sappy!”
Her marefriend looked back at her, still smiling, but that anxiety she saw in her face earlier seemed to have returned.
“It’s not just the holiday Twi. I just, I’ve been thinking a lot. I’ve been thinking about how much things have changed, how much more they might change. I’ve been thinking about all of you and how much you all mean to me.”
As Dash spoke, she noticed their friends had gotten quite a bit closer. Pinkie seemed even more excited now, and she was sure she saw full blow tears welling up in her eyes.
“I’ve been thinking the most about how much you’ve changed my life.”
Twilight brought her attention back to Dash, giggling and nodding. “You’ve changed my life as well, Dash. For the better”
Some of that anxiety seemed to drain from Rainbow’s face in response to Twilight's words, her smile growing brighter.
“You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that.”
There was a lull in the conversation, Twilight slowly leaned forward and pressed her nose to Rainbow Dash’s. “So, do you have a present for me behind that speech?”
Dash smirked. “So you’re just after the present, huh?”
“You know it.” Twilight teased.
“Well, I’m no good with speeches anyway, so you asked for it.”
Pinkie Pie hopped over to Rainbow Dash, jamming a hoof into her mane and procuring a small, extravagantly decorated box. Twilight puzzled for a moment over why in Equestria Rainbow Dash had left her gift in Pinkie’s care, and Rainbow seemed to pick up on that.
“Couldn’t have you opening this one early, Twi.”
She held the box out with her wing and Twilight levitated it over. The box itself was gorgeous, no wrapping, just an elegant white box with a beautiful golden ribbon binding the top to it. Twilight had a pretty good guess as to who had helped Rainbow with picking out the packaging for her gift, but she couldn’t figure why. Rainbow had let Pinkie wrap the rest of her gifts for her, as she did every year, this had to be something big. Twilight figured Rainbow must have dipped into her newfound Wonderbolt’s income to get some sort of extravagant gemstone adorned ring, Rainbow Dash always did love going bigger than everyone else, ‘flexing’ she called it. Twilight was eager to see just how big Dash decided to go this year, undoing the ribbon on top of the box and revealing the white velvet lined inside.
As well as a single cyan feather.
Twilight looked up, a very visibly nervous Rainbow Dash coming into view.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Twi.”
Everything went silent in that moment, Twilight’s thoughts began running laps at a hundred miles per hour. The rest of her life, she thought. She means- that’s implying what I think it is, right? The feather, that’s a pegasus tradition. They exchange feathers to indicate that they’re-, Twilight took in a deep breath, in through the nose. Yet, she found she wasn’t filled with anxiety, she wasn’t on the cusp of a panic attack. She wasn’t scared or nervous, she was happy. She was so happy she didn’t know how to express it, she couldn’t bring herself to speak, but she had to answer.
Twilight bit her lip, nodding at Rainbow Dash.
“Yes? That’s a yes?”
Twilight nodded frantically, giggling as tears began to leak out of the corners of her eyes. She dove forward and pressed her face into Rainbow Dash’s neck, still nodding as she dried her eyes against her marefriend.
“Yes.” Twilight managed to squeak out. “The rest of our lives.”
She felt the weight of another pony press against her, followed by several more, she could feel Rainbow’s forelegs wrap around her and pulled her close. She could feel the cyan pegasi’s chest heave a few times, and she cried with her. Tears of joy, of hope.
Twilight still didn’t know just what the future held for her and her friends, for her relationship with Rainbow Dash, for the fate of Equestria. For now she was content with that, with the unknown. Because as it turned out, just as it had years ago when she first arrived in ponyville, the unknown could hold the most precious things in life.
