Author's Note

WARNING: This chapter contains ADULT content and griffon female on griffon female!

If you are not comfortable with this, do not read.

Love is a Garden filled with Passion Flowers...

When the music ended, Gabby had pulled back from the kiss and warbled happily. She'd curled up her talons cutely and wiped at her tears, and Gilda had helped her, gently kissing them away and purring in return. Gabby's soft smile as she was preened, was pure gold to Gilda. Joining in with her own trills and chirps, for a moment they shared in the little song. The rhythm was all off, but it wasn't really meant to have any, as each griffon's noises were their own. A special sound meant only for them and whoever was chosen to be shared with. They'd then spent the next hour or so basking in each other's company. Wings shuffled across backs, each hen leaning into each other, beaks nibbled at fluff, and kisses were shared as much as Gabby was comfortable with. Gilda had gotten a little bold a couple times, stealing a kiss, or licking Gabby's cheek fluff more firmly, loving how Gabby would hiss, purr, or growl in response.

She wasn't the only one being bold either. Gabby had leaned in to nip and bite at Gilda's shoulders a few times, and she got a few in return for her efforts. This also helped prove that Gabby did in fact like being bitten. The blush and gentle "ahs" that escaped her lover was a wonderful reward to hear. Kneading of claws on bedding and fur, nibbling of necks and napes, kissing in various degrees of intimacy and in multiple places, nipping of shoulders, lots of purring, and a healthy smattering of excited warbling took place.

This all had a rather humorous side effect on the hens, who occasionally caught the other subconsciously getting into a "presenting pose." The typical position a griffon hen took to allow a male to breed. It was also noticed that Gabby did it a lot more, and Gilda chose to voice this.

Gabby had blushed pretty hard and adorably hid her face under Gilda's wing. "It's a submissive trait of mine, okay? You're bigger than me." She peeked an eye out from under the feathery appendage and stared at Gilda. "Is it so weird that I want to... want to be mounted by the bigger hen?"

Gilda's arousal had spiked at the statement, and she'd almost stood up immediately to physically show how much she agreed with the idea. She hissed slowly, closed her eyes, and deliberately reined in her desire. "You... want me to be the dominant one?"

Gabby watched her for a moment and then nodded softly. "Mhmm, is that okay?"

Gilda frowned and kept her claws busy as she played with her head feathers, letting Gabby slip back out into view. "I mean, sure! I do prefer that so it's all cool, and I want to do that... a lot, actually." Gabby blushed even harder, if that was possible. Her cheeks could win a ripe tomato contest with how red they were getting. Gilda lowered her claws once her feathers were straight again, and she trilled softly, showing her anxiety. "But don't you think it would be a good idea to, I don't know... let you mount me first?"

Gabby tilted her head a little. "Um, I don't see why, I'm not dominant..."

Gilda nodded and chuckled, resting her claws on Gabby's. "I ah, I know that, but..."

Gabby then purred as Gilda got back into the presentation pose for her, and her purring only increased in volume as Gilda's tail slipped to the side of her rump. The bigger hen blushed, lowering her head onto her forelegs. Her voice stayed soft. "I figured... ya know, with the history you have, and the fear of being mounted... you might want to have some semblance of control for once... take things into your claws."

Gabby blinked and her cheek feathers and neck ruff fluffed out slowly. It was a really considerate gesture on Gilda's part, to keep that in mind. She licked her beak slowly. "O-oh..." Her eyes tracked up from Gilda's scrunched tail base, to her mid back, between her wings, and then her neck ruff. Her claws kneaded into the nest bedding and her tail flicked erratically as ideas formed in her mind.

She trembled, and pointed to Gilda's back. "I um...could, could I try?" She whispered. Her voice almost failed as she asked, struggling to actually get the question out with confidence.

Gilda felt her heart pace quicken, and she nodded with a gentle smile. "S-sure... I think I'd like that."

Tenderly, and ever so cautiously, Gabby let her instincts take over. Her trills and chirps became nervous but excited. She stood and began rubbing against Gilda's neck fur, nipping and preening at the larger hen's scruff. Her nibbling wasn't exactly well timed or placed but to be fair, neither females had ever been... here, before.

This was new territory for both of them.

Gabby slowly began licking along Gilda's right wing, the leading edge structure of her wing armature being tickled with little nibbles and nuzzles as Gabby gently slipped her forelegs over top of Gilda's shoulders. The larger hen closed her eyes, sucking in her breath and humming in pleasure as her lover touched her. She let herself drift more into her instincts as well, the continuous touches of Gabby's advances made it all the more simple to react accordingly.

Her hind legs bent and her rump raised several inches up off the bedding, as if expecting a guest in the vicinity. Gilda's wings relaxed and slowly fanned out on either side of her nest, laying low to the ground in a nonthreatening manner, spurring Gabby to become bolder. Gilda trilled and then moaned low in surprise as Gabby haphazardly bit down on her nape scruff, tugging on the extra fluff, and suddenly clambered onto her back. The smaller hen struggled at first, hissing into Gilda's feathery neck as she positioned her hips and feet. Her forelegs slipped into the crook between Gilda's knee and her side, and she fully flexed her talons open before squeezing onto Gilda's pert nipples.

Gilda gasped as Gabby thrust forward.

Hissing softly through her beak, she lowered her head in pleasure as Gabby's vulva ground against the base of her rump and tail. A short cry of pleasure was let loose, shoving her hips back against that soft underbelly. Gabby responded by biting down harder and tightening her grip. The sensations of being mounted were wonderful, her body shivering as Gabby moved atop her.

Gabby thrust again, snarling into Gilda's scruff, her eyes closed as her vulva was parted by Gilda's rump, her inner folds contacting fur. Arousal grew for the both of them as the friction increased.

"A-ah!" Gilda's eyes flew open and she clapped claws over her beak as the sound of pleasure escaped her. It felt... good! Gabby wasn't touching her sensitive areas by humping, but the feeling of being humped was... new, and Gilda liked it.

"D-did you enjoy that?" Gabby gasped out. Gilda couldn't speak, merely nodding frantically. She chirped excitedly a few times and her eyes fluttered shut as the thrusts got harder, Gabby refocusing on her task at claw.

The two hens weren't even in heat and the sensations were amazing! Feeling Gabby's weight pushing down onto her rump, the warmth of her belly and teats on Gilda's mid back, the firmness of Gabby's bite on her scruff wasn't so painful as it was blissful dominance. Claws stroked over Gilda's teats, squeezing the little nubs in different patterns and Gilda wanted more, she NEEDED more!

The grinding and thrusting increased in tempo and firmness as Gabby got into her rhythm, her near soaked vulva lips occasionally slapping into Gilda's back, ruffling and matting the fur as the hen reached her climax quickly. The friction of pushing her vulva into Gilda's warm back fur drove the smaller hen to orgasm. She screeched out a staccato of chirps and screeches into the nape feathers of the larger hen as her hips shuddered and spasmed. So lost in her own pleasure, Gilda failed to recognize that her thoughts had shifted. This tom must be really new if he'd gotten off on her damn back! She hissed and immediately felt her anger flair. Her partner had missed their mark completely! They'd cum before they were even inside her body!?

She snarled deeply and shoved her rump back her partner's groin, seeking out that sensation of pleasure her body knew it needed, and a firm SMACK of rump on crotch came out from between them. It startled Gabby out of her pleasure, apparently. screeching in surprise, she let go of Gilda's nape immediately, and leaped off her like she'd been the one bitten. Gilda reacted instantly of her own accord and whirled around, a blur of motion as talons raised to fight off the damn tom who had one job and that was to plunge his dick into her vul--

Gilda froze mid swipe, her eyes widening as her mind caught up with her arousal. That's not a tom... that's Gabby... Gabby? ... Yeah, Gabby...

Said smaller hen was crouching, her front end low and her hackles were raised for a potential fight. She hissed up at Gilda with her own claws bared. Several seconds of heated dominancy swirled between the two hens as they glared at one another. Tails twitched energetically, scents lost their density, and feathers slowly lowered as they came back down from their primal states.

Eventually, the red haze and pleasure died down and both hens lowered their claws. Gilda immediately warbled nervously, backing away from her friend. "I... what... what was that?!" She flexed her claws, looking at them like they'd betrayed her.

For a moment there I was about to slash the crap out of Gabby!

"I... I think it was our natural instincts, or something akin to it?" Gabby whispered, "I've seen brief glimpses of it... at the festival of... life..." She was open beaked panting and her tail was flaring up and twitching as she came off her orgasm high. She shuddered and hissed in pleasure, her rump jutting forward a few times as her body calmed down. Clutching her chest feathers with her claws, she flopped to the bed. "Um...I-I think we shouldn't do that... again. At least not for a bit..."

Gilda felt inclined to agree and simply slumped her body at the edge of the nest. Her own pleasure was ebbing away. "Wooooow." She hissed, clutching her head. "That was... far more intense than I thought it'd be. It was something else in my head too, for a couple seconds I thought you were a tom."

Gabby warbled a light chuckle out and rubbed her chest. "Yeah... I enjoyed parts of it, but I don't think I fully like being on top as much as you'd hoped I would. I'm definitely the submissive one." She blushed, and trilled out a little song and Gilda tilted her head in curiosity. The notes were pleasant, and gentle. "I ah, I like it that way... I think."

Gilda nodded as their emotions leveled out, and the room fell into quiet. For a few minutes She worked on realigning her thoughts back into a normal flow. In the moment, her mind had conjured several toms she knew from around town, several of them never even considered attractive to her! She made a gagging noise and began preening her chest feathers. If any of those toms had even suggested she let them mount her, she most certainly would have clawed them.

Well, maybe not all of them... a couple of the ones that she'd thought of were okay... The moonlight coming through the window alerted Gilda that it was rather late, her beak deciding to help with a sudden yawn. She stretched slowly, purring openly as a couple pops and cracks were heard. As she arched her rump up into the air, a trickle of Gabby's orgasm slipped down her back and she shivered in pleasure.

"Mmm I almost forgot." She murmured, catching Gabby's attention. Twisting in that way only felines could, Gilda leaned down and began licking her fur clean, in slow drawn out drags of her tongue.

Watching her lover's neck ruff fluff out once more, and seeing Gabby's rosy cheeks as she warbled in enjoyment were icing to the cake that was Gabby's taste. She was musky, but sweet, a hint of something else mixed in, a mystery wrapped up in this strange flavor, but a good one all the same. Gilda let slip a little trill of pleasure as she smoothed her damp rump fur back down.

"Gabby, you remember when I said at the hospital that you smell good? You got all flustered and bothered about it."

Gabby, who had lay down on her side, blushed harder and her tail curled around her paws. She mumbled a "yes" as she tried to hide her beak in her wing joint. Her eyes never went out of view though, raptly watching her Rose lick clean her mark she'd made. Gilda lapped up the last of the fluids and grinned, slowly stroking the sides of her beak in a lustful growl.

"Well you taste even better, my Song."

"EEP!" And just like that, Gabby's head shot under her wing and the hen let out several chirps and trills of embarrassed enjoyment. "G-gilda! Don't say stuff l-like that!"

Said hen didn't let up though, "I think I will, ya know what else?" She whispered playfully. Gabby shook her head under her wing.

"Nu-uh, I don't wanna heard your lewd compliments!" The mirth in her voice betrayed that lie, though, making Gilda's heart swell with joy.

She scooted closer and nipped Gabby's wing gently, making Gabby shiver and jolt her head back up. "H-hey don't bite th-mmph!"

Using the opening, Gilda shot forward, locking beaks with the startled hen, purring into the kiss as Gabby's eyes fluttered shut with a moan that petered out after a second. Tongues slid over each other as they reached out and locked claws together once more. The kiss lasted a little longer, Gabby actually pushed forward for more as Gilda went to pull back, but eventually the pair separated, Gabby panting slightly with a goofy but genuine smile.

Gilda slipped free a set of claws and gently scratched under Gabby's beak, loving how Gabby's eyes slowly closed and she purred back. "I think I want somemore..."

Gabby mumbled out a shaky "O-ookaaay" as she was gently pushed by Gilda, onto her back. Reflexively she spread out her hind legs, Allowing Gilda access to her hindquarters so she could...

Gabby blinked as her senses came back around, "U-um Gilda, this isn't the right position, what are you about to--AAAHH!!"

She screeched as Gilda dragged her tongue from the bottom of Gabby's vulva, to the top, in one firm lick.

Shivers jumped up and down Gabby's body as pleasure danced across her nervous system. Tingles, jolts of amazing sensation, and shudders of bliss had the smaller hen in heaven as Gilda gripped her thighs and went to work. licking, nibbling, kissing, and sucking at Gabby's entrance.

"I--Ahh!-Gild--Ahah! W-wait that- Oh! Aah! FFFFFUCK, Gilda!"

Gilda reached over with her claws and gently scraped them over Gabby's nipples, the four nubs hard and pert from the attack. Gabby's back arched suddenly and she cried out, "You--ahh!... You crazy--AahH!!" Gabby panted, her claws shooting down to clutch the sides of Gilda's head as the eagle hen suckled deeply into the dark folds of her lover. Gilda felt a thrill of arousal go down her own spine as Gabby pulled her as close as she could into her loins. In an attempt to quiet herself, Gabby shoved her own wing shoulder into her beak and clamped down, muffling her cries of ecstasy.

"Mm! MmM!! MAAH!!!"

Several moments of squirming, wing flapping, leg flailing, growling, yelping, whimpering and panting moans from her smaller lover, and Gilda felt her own damp loins begging for attention.

It's now or never, and I'm not waiting any longer! Pulling away from Gabby's vulva with a sloppy smacking sound that made Gabby gasp, arching her back again, Gilda quickly clambered up on top of the smaller hen, startling her as she was mounted.

"Gilda w-what are you--" Gabby's mouth fell open, completely slack with lost words, as she felt Gilda's own soaked vulva smash down against her own in a wet slap of carnal movement. Gilda growled and gripped Gabby by her shoulders, leaning down to lock her in another kiss of passion, The hen beneath her scrunching her eyes shut, moaning deeply, and reaching out to clutch the bedding with both talons, tearing the fabric in her claws as Gilda ground their sex's together firmly. The carnal pleasure racked their bodies with shivers and twitches of excitement, Gilda lashed her tongue across Gabby's in a dominant display of control, before she broke the kiss and nuzzled her mate.

"I'm yours Gabby. Don't you ever forget that, I'm your Rose, ...and you're mine. You are my Song. I'mma prove that right now, screw waiting!" Gilda clamped her beak down onto Gabby's shoulder and snarled into her fur and feathers. Gabby lay beneath Gilda, staring half lidded in wonder, at nothing in particular, in complete shock as pleasure and arousal crashed through her body. Gilda had mounted her and was pushing her into the bedding, thrusting and grinding their vulvas together like tomorrow was no longer just around the corner. The friction alone after the first few thrusts had Gabby over the edge.

Talons left the bed in a flurry of speed as Gabby latched her claws around Gilda's back and dug them into the fur between Gilda's shoulders. Her hind legs clamped against the larger hen's sides and she screamed.

"A-AAAHH!!! G-GILDA YES!!!"

Gilda, lost in the pleasure, kept thrusting, the hot wave of Gabby's orgasm fluids slathered her own vulva and Gilda wasn't far behind after that. Her thrusting picked up, her snarls increased, and her clamp on Gabby's shoulder tightened. She scrunched her eyes shut as thoughts of the amazing hen beneath her swam through her head. Wonderful little moments from their past that she'd let forth with their bond deepening.

Ice cream in the park after a hard day of work, followed by sharing the same cone after she'd dropped hers.

A playful dough fight in the bakery when she'd first opened, and then mutual grooming.

A gentle evening of cuddling close when Gabby had first shown vulnerability and needed comforting during a thunderstorm. It had been the first time Gilda had seen Gabby hide under her wing.

Their first kiss...

All these memories and more surged to the forefront of Gilda's mind and her heart pulsed with joy as tears leaked from her eyes. The pleasure peaked, and she let go of Gabby's shoulder, screaming with her mate, her own orgasm over taking Gabby's as she pushed as firmly into her lover as she could, as close as she could get. Gabby screamed again, the feral sounds powerful but true as they mated.

The sound only died out when the need for air became stronger, little trills and chirps of joy took over, as the two panted. Gilda lowered her head out of exhaustion and love, touching her beak to Gabby's and softly rubbing into her lover.

"G-Gabby... I... I claim you. You are my mate... from now, and forever... more."

Gabby let her own tears of joy flow, she cupped Gilda's cheeks and pulled the bigger hen in for another kiss, short but sweet. She then wrapped her arms around Gilda's neck and pulled the hen close, tucking her head under Gilda's chin, sniffling into her neck feathers, but confidently whispering.

"I'm yours... my Rose. I am finally yours and I always want to be."

Gilda purred as loud as she could, and nestled down completely against the hen, making sure to watch Gabby's reactions, but to her surprise, Gabby only clutched harder, and got closer. Spreading her wings out, she carefully curled them down around Gabby, a primal reaction griffons did to protect their mates.

"I love you, Gilda. I always have... you've been there for me when I needed some one most." Gabby whispered, her claws shakily kneaded into the nape feathers of Gilda's neck as she spoke. "I w-wanted to say that for so long, I don't know why it was so hard." Her shimmering cerulean eyes looked up into Gilda's golden ones. She smiled, hiccupping as she smiled. "But now I can. I can tell you how much I love you and I don't ever want to lose that opportunity."

Gilda kissed her once more, her own claws resting on either side of Gabby's head, kneading into the fabric of her...no... their nest.

"You won't ever have to hide it again." She whispered. "I'm here for you no matter what. You need a wing, or a shoulder, or a kiss, or just need me nearby, seek me out."

Gabby choked out a sobbing but happy warble, and nestled tightly against her lover, and Gilda rest her chin atop Gabby's head, purring deeply.

"I love you Gabby, My Rose." Gilda whispered.

Gilda let her eyes close slowly, the feeling of their heartbeats mingling together, yet another memory Gilda never would forget.

"I love you, my Song."

The following day started off very, very late, to say the least.

Gilda woke blearily to the gentle nibbling's of a beak in her chest feathers, instead of the sun peeking through her window. She cracked a sleep crusted eye open and glanced down to find Gabby was warbling quietly, smiling softly as she preened her lover. Gabby's talons were kneading back and forth into her chest, the little pricks of her claws tickling Gilda. Somewhere during the night, Gilda had shifted off of Gabby and spooned the smaller hen to her belly, as the two slept.

Grover's wings, why haven't I done this sooner?

She purred loudly, making the hen look up. Only a hint of worry appeared in her eyes, before Gabby smiled more, leaning up to rub her beak against Gilda's with a purr of her own. "G-good morning." She whispered.

Gilda responded by grunting and burying her head into one of the many pillows. "Mmphh". She still purred though, and Gabby giggled.

"I thought maybe you'd want to sleep in a bit." Gabby snuggled closer, chirping in joy as Gilda reflexively draped her wing over the smaller hen and wrapped her arms around her mid section. Gilda shifted her head until her face and beak were once again visible, and hummed. "What I want to do is repeat last night's antics, breed you all day, all night, and make sure everyone in the town knows you're mine."

Gabby 'eeped' and quickly hid her face in Gilda's chest feathers. She chuckled and preened the top of Gabby's head. "But lets take things one step at a time yeah?"

"Y-yes please." Came the sheepish reply.

A yawn escaped Gilda's beak and she felt the urge to stretch arise. Hmm, should she stretch and dislodge Gabby? Or should she fight it and stay still? Her beak nibbled at a lose feather, dislodging the pesky thing and with a huff of air, she sent it floating out of sight.

Gabby beat her to the answer, by pulling back and stretching herself. Using Gilda's chest and belly as a foundation of course. Gilda smirked as Gabby's paws and claws flexed against her body, her cheeks flushing as Gabby's hind paw pads massaged her teats. She purred in pleasure and caught one of Gabby's legs as the hen went to pull away.

Gabby blinked in surprise, looking down as Gilda began rubbing her teat into the soft fur of her lover's paw. "Oh my... Gilda... do you like paw massages that much?"

Gilda growled lightly. "Mmm, never had one before, but I'm starting to like it." She hummed in bliss as Gabby pushed her other paw against another teat and started kneading back and forth.

"So does this feel good?" Gabby murmured, spreading her toes and gently digging her claws into the belly fur, hiding a giggle behind her wing. Gilda hissed gently and nodded, taking her own time to stretch each limb out, then her wings.

"Absolutely divine." She rest her claws on Gabby's shoulders and leaned in for a kiss, content to stay where they lay, loving her partner for as long as she could. The warmth of their bodies so close to one another was heaven.

Gabby moaned into the kiss, kneading firmly into Gilda's chest, before breaking the kiss and leaning past her head. She lifted her claws up and around Gilda's neck and pulled her close.

"Mount me again... please." She whispered. "I need to feel you once more."

Gilda growled, but obliged, shifting her weight so that she lay atop Gabby like before. Her vulva lips pressed firmly down, and ground against Gabby's own folds. Gabby gasped, moaning out a couple unintelligible words before she rest her head onto the pillow. Half lidded eyes of deep cerulean gazed up at Gilda with love and passion, and a good helping of desire.

Reaching her talons out, she conjoined them with Gabby's. A tender nuzzle and few chirps of comfort were shared before movement made pleasure explode over their bodies, as Gilda began slowly but confidently thrusting and grinding into her mate. Gabby closed her eyes and moaned louder, little growls and hisses escaped Gilda as her primal side tried to take over, but she fought it back down.

Being as pent up at they were, the interaction didn't last long, Gilda started panting just as quickly as Gabby did, each of their bodies heating up as the excitement built to a head. Gabby whimpered suddenly, pulling Gilda out of the moment for a second, worried she'd hurt her partner, but she was surprised when Gabby chirped out in excitement. The hen was shaking, her wings flapping upside down, the primaries gently stroking Gilda's sides with each swing of motion. Gabby's eyes were scrunched shut in focus, her arousal very close.

"F-Faster! Faster Gilda!!!"

She panted with a lustful grin, to make Gabby feel like this? That was the true reward! She thrust harder and faster. Her hips making as much friction between their bodies as possible, the wet slapping noises driving Gilda close as well.

But it was Gabby who came first. As Gilda let more of her primal nature show, and she leaned down to nip her mate's shoulder, Gabby launched her talons out and gripped Gilda's cheeks, firmly locking their beaks in a feral lust driven kiss. Gilda felt a surge of warmth gush against her vulva, and her throat vibrated as Gabby screeched into her mouth, the level of arousal that simple act gave Gilda slipped her over the edge, and she returned the favor, practically snarling into Gabby's mouth as she followed through with her own orgasm.

Shaking, shuddering, and panting, they separated for only a moment to lock gazes, before the kiss was renewed. Moaning into one another, growling through beaks, and sounds of pleasure filled the bedroom for the next hour or so as the two hens spent time exploring one another once more.

They did find out very quickly that if the normal breeding position was taken, their instincts tried very hard to take over. Neither hen wanted to hurt the other, so they tried other poses, the most enjoyable being the face to face one. Gilda got to see the passion and pleasure on her mate's face, and Gabby got to enjoy Gilda looking powerful and in control atop her.

It was nearly two hours later when the two stopped. Flopping against each other in a sweaty, panting, feather-addled mess of bliss. Gabby lay atop Gilda now, her eyes closed as she purred in content. Gilda stared at the ceiling with one arm above her head, and the other resting on one of Gabby's forearms, gently kneading the fur. No words were said for a time, each hen basking in the afterglow of their mating.

"Crap." Gilda finally murmured. Gabby hummed in question, peeking an eye open, Gilda simply kept staring at the ceiling. "If this is what love is like...I'm totally a dweeb for it."

The joke was subtle in it's delivery, but Gabby caught it and started giggling, the vibrations transferring to Gilda's chest. She smiled and glanced down to find Gabby smiling at her in a restful state.

"Mmm well I like my dweeby lover then." She whispered. A sudden twitch from her cheek made her sit up and she started preening her own chest fluff. Gilda looked Gabby up and down and grimaced slightly...They'd gotten sex... stuff, everywhere, and Gilda knew immediately that the whole nest needed washing.

"liking what you see, my Rose?" Gabby murmured as she licked down her belly. Gilda chuckled and rubbed the back of her head feathers with a blush. "Ehh, sort of? I was also noticing that you and I are in need of a shower...or two."

Gabby blinked in that way that say she had the same realization and the two hens looked around at the destroyed nest, the damp blankets, and the torn bedding. Gabby blushed as well. "Ah, yes that would be easier then trying to preen it away, I suppose."

"Preening this away would take a looong time. You want first dibs on the shower?" She pointed to the doorway. "I can get something to eat while you--"

Gabby's claws around her beak quieted her, as the hen purred, and leaned close. She licked along the edge of Gilda's beak edge, teasing the griffoness as she tried to kiss her. "How about we take one at the same time, and then get food together?" Her whisper cooed into Gilda's ear.

Gilda blushed an her neck ruff fluffed out. "O-oh! Yeah, I like that idea way more!"

Hopping off Gilda, Gabby swayed on weak legs, and then froze as the feathers closest to her side unstuck themselves like warm sticky glue and she shuddered. "Ooh that is gross! How did it even get there?!"

Gilda laughed and stood up, ready to comment, when she felt the same thing, only on the mid riff of her chest and fur, the weird squelch of fur separating from sticky feathers made her cringe.

"Ew! That is so weird! Ew! Ew! Ew! She immediately sat down, attempting to preen the gunked up glob, only to recoil as the scent from her body smacked her in the face.

Gabby was grimacing too, gently sniffing her wing pits and gagging. Gilda stood and put her claws on Gabby's rump, startling the hen as she started pushing. "Shower. Shower right now, we reek!"

Gabby laughed as her love tried to force her into the bathroom. "Oh come on it just means you marked me well! I smell like you now!"

Gilda grumbled as Gabby playfully fought her, "Yeah and that means both of us smell like three week old gym clothes! Now get in there and get wet!"

Gilda blushed. That... could have been better worded...

It wasn't lost on the smaller hen either. Gabby paused and slowly angled her head back to look at Gilda with a coy expression, the slyest of smiles on her beak.

Gilda growled. "No. NO! Don't take that out of context or so help me you'll feel the sharp edge of my beak on your rump!"

That spurred Gabby forward. "I mean you said it, Gilda not me."

Gilda grinned. "Yeah and I proved I can make you wetter then the shower can, in only a few seconds."

Gabby's blush was totally worth it. Without another word the blushing hen clambered into the bathroom with her mate and the door closed. While Gabby definitely tried to make shower time fun, Gilda was barely awake, and very hungry, so for now they simply showered, the occasional nuzzle as they chatted. The shower wasn't big enough to hold both of them, so while Gabby bathed, Gilda sat outside and cleaned herself up a little with the help of the sink and mirror. The topic of designing a new bathroom held their conversation for most of the time.

Gabby liked the idea of having a large square shower, with three shower heads, and a glass door, while Gilda liked the idea of two shower heads, and a wall length sitting area. They swapped ideas around until they needed to switch places, and then the topic jumped from subject to subject until Gilda was done.

As they stepped out of the bathroom, slightly damp, kind of dry, Gilda made Gabby blush as she swung her tail under the darker hen's, entwining them together as the pair walked down the stairs. The little touches seemed to be very much appreciated by Gabby, who leaned on her shoulder for comfort as they entered the kitchen.

"So what are you feeling like for food?" Gilda asked as Gabby split away to sit at the table. Opening the fridge, Gilda immediately frowned. They were a bit low on...everything. Propping her chin up on curled talons, Gabby let her eyes dart around as she thought.

"Hmm, do we have any steaks? You are really good at making those!"

"Ah no, we ran out last Tuesday."

Gabby hummed, "Any mystery stir fry left over?"

"Nope, ate that yesterday for lunch."

"Chicken and rice?"

"Went bad a few days ago, need to throw it out actually."

"Um..."

The two hens fell silent for a moment before they looked at one another.

"Take out then?" Gilda asked sheepishly. "I know it isn't exactly a romantic meal but uh, we kinda need to go shopping, like, really soonish."

Gabby giggled. "Not everything has to be romantic Gilda, but the gesture is appreciated. Let's go get burgers or something, we can catch the next train to Ponyville."

Gilda closed the fridge and blew her head crest out of the way. Her expression turned down for a moment, but then she shrugged. "Meh, sure. Not like we have any major food places here except mine."

Gabby smirked. "I don't think a café counts as a restaurant."

Exiting downstairs, they made it to the door before Gilda paused, looking out into the mid day light. The main road to town wasn't overly crowded, it had the normal amount of griffons milling around, but suddenly she was wary. Gabby noticed and warbled gently. Worry was evident in her tone. "Gilda? What's wrong?"

"I..." Gilda knew exactly what was wrong, and she didn't like it. "You ah...you know how I said I don't care what others think of us being...us?"

Gabby nodded. "Yeah."

Gilda gulped and let her claws drop from the doorway. "I um... I think I do actually care."

A look of hurt crossed over Gabby's face before she looked down. Gilda immediately backpedaled. "No no no! Please don't take that the wrong way, I didn't mean it like that! I want to be with you Gabby!"

Gabby chuckled shortly with forced mirth, rubbing her shoulder. "I know that silly. I'm just not used to seeing you... bothered about that sort of thing. I don't really know what to say is all. Part of me, kind of hoped you really meant that though, it gave me a lot of confidence."

Gilda wanted to say that she did mean it... but part of her genuinely worried what would happen if they were seen holding claws, or entwining tails out in public. In one sense she was fine if the folk in town bashed her for it, that she didn't care about.

But Gabby? She might find a quick way to spend time in jail if anyone tried to hurt her Song.

"I just... I don't want you to get harassed or hurt cause those jerks out there aren't open minded is all." She shuffled closer and opened her arms for a hug, and Gabby slipped close. After a moment of hugging Gilda grumbled. "Fuck I hate this feeling, it's like I'm being judged just for existing or something!"

Gabby nodded, gently picking up one of Gilda's talons and closed hers around the digits. She looked to Gilda and her frown said it all. "Yeah, It doesn't feel very good to have to hide it... I've had a few males try to talk to me, see if they can take me on a date or two, and when I told them I wasn't interested, they get... weird about it. Some made snide remarks about you and I and I might have nearly spent a day in the local jail for it once." She smirked with genuine joy that time. "But I was helped by Grandpa Gruff intervening."

Gilda perked up at the mention of the old buzzard. "That's an idea, why don't we check into the actual laws and such, Grandpa Gruff seems really smart in that department, so he can help."

"Hmm?" Gabby tilted her head to the side. "As far as I know there aren't any laws on this stuff, just natural disdain for it."

She puffed up even more. "Well that'll be good to verify then, cause if that's the case, we have legal leverage!" She then pointed to her confectionary case. "Plus, any of those dweebs out there try to pull something, we can threaten to ban em from the café. No shoes no shit, no service!"

Gabby frowned but didn't argue the point. Having brought herself up to positive standards once more, Gilda opened the door and nodded. "Alright, we go get burgers, we come back, and I'll get the café ready for tomorrow!"

Coughing into her claws and shuffling her wings to help offset the anxious energy, she held the door for her mate. "We just act casual until we have confirmation, you think you can do that for a little while longer, my Song?"

Gabby smiled and shook her head at Gilda's antics. "I think I'll manage. It's you I'm worried about."

Gilda gasped in fake shock, feigning outrage. "Why the nerve, you think I of all griffons can't play it cool?!"

She spun around and puffed out her chest, eliciting more giggles from her lover. She strut by and calmly stared Gabby down. "I am the epitome of cool, calm, and cucumber... or whatever the phrase is, now come on, lets go get food!"

She missed the eye roll from Gabby. "Riiight, we'll see how long that lasts."

The flight to the train station went uneventfully, Both girls played a little air tag, With Gilda winning once again. Then the time waiting at the station nearly had Gilda spazzing out over boredom, until Gabby whipped out that trashy romance book she somehow got back, and Gilda proceeded to devolve into a manic embarrassed fury as she chased Gabby around the building in an attempt to get the book and rip it to shreds.

Gabby was really good at cutting tight corners, Gilda not so much. This had ended with her sprawled on her back and dust covered as Gabby turned a new page and began the horrible smutty tale anew. A couple of the griffons nearby had soured at the scenario but Gilda decided to ignore em. Gabby was having fun, and so was she. That was an odd thing to feel out in public, usually Gilda tried to act calm, but now it seemed like that didn't really matter as much as getting a smile on Gabby's face.

The chase had soon resumed, only to be stopped by the shrill whistle of the train as it rolled into the platform. Gabby and Gilda had purchased their tickets and gotten some seats in a car that was mostly empty, a couple other griffons and a pair of ponies were closer to the front of the car but they left the two alone. Gabby had then in secret whispers, continued telling Gilda the story while the hen played up the act of hating it.

Truth be told she kind of liked the tale. While the stallion was a bit of a fool, his dogged determination to win the mare over was commendable. The mare was quick witted and had a certain flare to her personality that Gilda could relate to. So as the train rumbled out of the station, and the two hours it took to make it to Ponyville shed away, Gilda felt herself scooting closer to her hen.

Not out of urgency to keep her safe, no, to simply be closer to her. To feel her warmth, and see her happiness as she turned page after page of that trashy novel. Being able to say that Gabby was hers, was elation to a level Gilda had never felt before, something unrealized by her.

And Gabby was saying something to her. "S-sorry what?" Gilda asked stupidly.

Gabby smirked and poked her beak, making Gilda go cross-eyed to stare at the claw. "We're here silly, the train car is emptying."

Gilda snapped out of her stupor and looked out the window. When had the trip to Ponyville been so fast?! She blinked a couple times before Gabby started pushing her out of her seat.

"Come on, Casanova, get a move on."

Gilda was sort of pushed out of the car by Gabby, still lost. "What... what did you call me?" She asked, finally finding her legs and getting her bearings. The deck of the Ponyville station was filled to the brim with ponies just getting off from the five o' clock shifts, or just starting their day. A lot of hustle and bustle but not much movement in any particular direction.

Add two dozen griffons to it and the station was packed. Gabby slunk through the crowd like a snake, smoothly slipping around stallions, foals, and mares alike, with a couple 'excuse mes' and a rare apology, but little trouble. For Gilda, she had no problem mostly because her size made the ponies want to move out of her way.

They made it to the main road before chaos struck.

literally.

A huge plume of smoke exploded out in front of them, in reds, blues, pinks, and eggshell white. through the smoke haphazardly made music blared through for a moment, as a towering figure made of multiple limbs from several creatures made his presence known with a loud crackle of chaotic energy.

From the dissipating smoke, three colorful cannonballs blasted out and collided with Gabby, bowling her over. Gabby and Gilda squawked for entirely different reasons. Gabby because she'd been startled, and Gilda because her mate had just been taken down with out so much as a warning.

Said trio was the CMC and they were cheering and hopping around a laughing Gabby as she tried to get up. Gilda felt her heart rate go down, only for the beeping to increase.

Wait beeping?

"hmm this heart monitor does seem to be working after all, nurse Red Heart must be going senile."

That voice could only be--

"Discord! Yes that's me! I was reading your thoughts, and realized you might need a speed up on things! Walk with me birdy!" Gilda whipped her head up and found The God of Chaos himself towering over her with a manic gleeful smile that said too many things and not enough at the same time. He was currently holding a heart monitor that had a tube running down on wires that had some how been attached to her chest feathers with out her feeling it.

Wrenching them off, she growled, and then said growl was instantly stopped by his giant lions paw muffling her and covering her whole face. "Ah ah ah, that's no way to spend this cheerful moment now is it? You finally tied the knot, took an arrow to the knee, found the fish in your pond, felt what it's like to go claws over paws for somepony, or hen in this case, so!"

Before she could react, her world flipped around and she was holding a trophy atop a awards stand with two others, one was Twilight Sparkle, in third place, grumbling, and in second place was Gallus, staring past her with hearts for eyes, at Twilight. Gilda was holding a large golden trophy that just said "FINALLY."

Discord came into view, a snazzy red and gold sparkling suit on, a microphone in one paw and a bouquet of randomly assorted carnivorous plants, which he promptly shoved into her other claw. "Lets hear it folks, she finally got it! The whole kit and caboodle, the charades are over and this dove has flown the coup to land with another lovely bird! That's right she's done the bases and came in for a home run, and what a grand slam it was! Now we need to hear it from the bird herself, who was it that braved the elements, fought through the turmoil and asked the big one, the question to answer all questions!"

He held the microphone to her beak and Gilda blinked in totally befuddlement. "W-what?"

Discord chuckled, "No, what's on second base, lovely, waiting for the pitch you're about to throw me. Now, who proposed to who? It's kind of important."

Gilda blinked and suddenly she was back in ponyville, the stage and lights and other stuff was gone, the bouquet was not. One of the venus fly traps had closed around one of her neck feathers, making weird 'nom nom nom' sounds.

Discord let the suit and microphone disappear and chuckled. "Ah if I could subsist on confusion alone, I'd be larger than the Sun herself. Any who, I made a bet you see, kind of a big amount too betting on who would ask who, ya know. The big question! SO was it you, or Gabs?"

Gilda blinked again, slower this time. She gently pried the fly trap from her neck, set the bouquet down, and then before Discord could react, snapped her claws out and grabbed him by his goat beard, yanking him snout to beak. She snarled loudly.

"YOU BET ON US!?"

Discord grinned sheepishly. "I uh... if it helps you answer the question, know that I definitely bet on you?"

Gilda pummeled him.