A Harsh Life

"Sweet Celestia!" Harshwhinny said as she made her way through the door, holding it open so Spike could run through it with the luggage.

"Sweet Celestia is right!" Spike replied as he set the soaking suit cases down next to the door that belonged to him, the two where both drench in water, the bright flashes of lighting shown through the window's and the loud echoing thunder boomed outside, the 3rd Crystal Empire Equestrian Games has officially ended 5 hours ago, but a snow storm had delayed their train and by the time they had arrived in Canterlot the Storm had already begun. "At least you nightmare is over," Spike said as he made his way into her living room to deposit her luggage, he set everything down on the brickwork next to her fireplace and moved to her window as Harshwhinny rung out her skirt as best she could before following him into the room. "I live on the other side of the city, I'm probably gonna have to build a boat to get me and my stuff home," Unbeknownst to Spike Harshwhinnies ears shot up at that and a smile light her face for a brief moment before she cleared her throat.

"Nonsense," She said firmly, Spike looked back at her "Spike you've worked for me for almost 3 years, your by far the best assistant I've ever had, not to mention the only one who's ever understood what no Ice means,"

"I still don't believe that," He replied with a laugh.

"It's true, 14 assistants in a quarter of the years, always packed my drinks full of ice the first few weeks no matter what I said," She smiled at the memory of Spike handing her an no ice Ice-coffee for the first time before shaking her head, "That said there's no way in Tartarus I am letting you face that storm, I insist you stay for Dinner," Spike rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the wailing storm before looking back at her kind smile, a rarity for any of her staff save him, he's learned how to get a smile out of her over the years, his co-workers revered him for the achievement.

"Just for Dinner?" She practically begged. Spike sighed as he thought it over, the windy wet storm, or the not so windy or wet home of his boss,"

"Just for Dinner," he agreed. Harshwhinny gave him a wide smile and pulled him into a hug, he went a little red faced as the wet embrace before she pulled away.

"Make yourself cozy, I'll go get it started," Spike made his way to the fireplace and, with little effort, set it ablaze before laying on the brick and resting his feet in the flames. Harshwhinny spied on him just long enough to see this before she moved to the kitchen.

"Alright," She thought to herself as she made her way through the kitchen, lighting a Lantern as she did so for some light, "This is it, 2 and a half years of planning and faking yourself out and he's here, it's not really a date but it's dam well better than nothing," Harshwhinny opened her refrigerator and looked through it's contents for something both delicious and time consuming to make, her lack of consistent company had left her stock of food low and not that impressive. "Something, anything," She muttered to herself, silently praying to Celestia for just that. The best she got from it was enough leafy greens and veggies to make a salad, she moved to the Freeze and almost sung a song of relief when she looked inside and found a fresh package of Frozen Carrot Dogs. She pulled them out and moved to her pantry, it was full to the brim and after a moment she pulled out a box of Mac and Cheese that had been sitting there for over a year.

"Guess I did need it after all," She said as she got to work making the meal, it wasn't the best but it might have been a little off putting to Spike if she invited him to her house unknowingly and just produced a 5 star meal, especial since he usually did her shopping for her when she had a full day booked for meeting," It took a about 20 minutes to properly make the Mac, Carrot, and Cheese with a salad as a side but once it was done and the table set she looked out to check on Spike and found he hadn't moved even slightly, she might have assumes he was sleeping if she hadn't known better.

"Soups on?" He asked, giving her a start at having been caught.

"Mac,Carrot, and Cheese with a salad on the side, Water to drink" She said this in her usual business tone, as tho she was trying to sell him on the concept of having it for dinner.

"Told you you'd need it eventually," Spike said with a sly smile.

"Yes you did," She replied as she made her way back to her kitchen and Dinning area, Spike pulled his feet from the warm flames and blew on them for a minute before walking into the Kitchen, without a word he made his way to her sink, reached into the counter under it for a new bottle of soap, and washed his hands before joining her at the table. Spike picked up the fork, Harshwhinny did the same, they both tapped the table once and dug in, after a few moments of eating in silence Spike was the first to break it.

"Did you see Soarin when he was given the bronze medal?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Did I see it? I had the press take a picture of it, he looked so..." Harshwhinny struggled for the words and Spike chimed in.

"...much like a stallion who had bet a years worth of chores if he beat her?" Spike finished, the two fell into laughter as the thought back to the look on his face as he looked up at Rainbow Dashes shit eating grin, the two died down and continued with the meal.

"I suppose Rainbow Dash was who you where hoping would win?" Harshwhinny asked before taking a chug from her drink.

"I have 50 bits that can confirm that as true," Spike replied "I'm sure you like her two, after all it was her who sent me and Pinkie flying through your office window," Harshwhinny smiled as she thought back to him and Pinkie flying through her office building and landing in front of her desk, glued together covered in streamers and frosting and grinning at her guiltily as the Cyan Pegasus flew into the room and rapidly backed out before she exploded with rage at them.

"Worst day I ever had," She replied with a smile "I almost lost it when I found out you where going to start working as my assistant to help pay for the damages, I quickly changed my tune in less than an hour,"

"I am a pretty great assistant," Spike said as he finished the last of his food, "Well I appreciate the Dinner and the temporary shelter from the storm but I really hate to be a bother."

"Ask him something!" Harshwhinny mentally screamed at herself as he got up and swigged the last of the water "Your gonna be alone forever if he leaves, just ask him to stay, do something, anything!" Harshwhinny sat in silence as Spike put his dished in the sink when a grace was sent to her from heaven, Spike let out a sneeze and Harshwhinny seize the opportunity.

"Oh Spike are you alright?"

"Just a little waterlogged," Spike replied with an awkward smile.

"Oh I know you want to go home but I'd feel just awful if my assistant caught a cold from walking about in a storm, why don't you spend the night?"