It's been a long, hard day of work.

Normally your job at the local mill was mundane and consistent, but recently a special order from a wealthy client has put you and your colleagues into overdrive, working long hours of overtime and pushing the large log-cutting machine to its limit. Like the mill, you also felt at your limit.

Finally arriving at home, you plop yourself down in your favourite chair by the fire and sink into it, trying not to think about the workload that awaited you tomorrow. You should probably get up and fix yourself something to eat eventually, but for now you're content to let your eyelids drift closed, the warmth of the fire lulling you into a hazy state of pure comfort that only relaxing after a long day of work could bring you.

Having no plans with rowdy neighbours or nosey family, you look forward to spending the rest of the evening off. Perhaps you'll order in some food and retrieve that book you've been putting off since the grind at work had started. A hot bath sounded like a nice idea, too. What better way to wash off the weariness and fatigue from your sore bones after a long day?

The fire crackled as you watched the flames lap at the air, thinking about hot tea and those special biscuits you had saved in the cupboard for a special occasion, when a knock at the door interrupted your lazy stupor. You frown--you certainly weren't expecting company and didn't want it.

You debate letting whoever was outside stand there, perhaps by some miracle coming to the conclusion that no one was home despite your chimney clearly billowing smoke, when another, lighter knock came to the door. With a grunt and a grumble, you pry yourself from your comfortable chair, missing it the moment you were no longer attached, and dragged yourself to the door, ready to come up with some excuse as to why you couldn't accept company, how you were so terribly busy with some thing or another, and it was best they come back at another time. A time preferably so far in the future you needn't worry about it anytime soon.

As you pull open the oak door and ready your excuse, you're greeted by nothingness. Just the street before you, a cool autumn breeze, and the usual sights of sleepy Ponyville. You begin to expect some prank, when a little voice startles you from below.

There, standing at your hooves and much shorter than you are, is cute little Ruby Pinch, the daughter of one of your neighbours. The unicorn foal stares at you with emerald eyes and cracks a small smile.

"Hello mister! I got locked out of my house and I dunno where my Mom is right now. I was gonna wait but it's getting awfully cold. Do you think I could wait here?"

With those adorable eyes and that smiling face that seems impossible to disappoint, you step aside.

"Sure." You grumble, already feeling your evening plans wash away because of your lack of willpower in seeing something so cute. "Don't see why not."

The filly showers you in thanks and quickly rushes in, sweeping past your legs to plop herself down in the living room, by the fire, in your favourite chair. You suppose now was as good a time as any to make tea and fetch those biscuits.

You knew Ruby well enough. Her mother, Berry Punch, was when of the chattier gossips that you knew around town and always had a thing or two to say to you when you passed. Fortunately, the Spiced Wine she sold at her stand in the market was some of the best around, so you tolerated her occasional chats about what other mares were saying, the latest drama from the marketplace, or the new stallion that Daisy was sucking mouths with down at Sugarcube Corner.

It wasn't an unfamiliar sight to see Ruby by her side, helping with her stand or playing with friends nearby. She was a happy foal but a sheltered one, always near to her mother. In fact, the frequency of which you'd begun chatting her up while you waited in line in the market with little else to do had lead you to have some fondness for her.

"I'm going to make some tea and biscuits. You want some, Pinchy?" You called as you entered the kitchen that was connected to the living room. The filly stood on top of the chair and peeked over the top, giggling at your little nickname for her. No one else called her that, but she seemed to like it well enough.

"Sure!" She beamed. "My hoofsies are just starting to warm up, or I'd offer to help."

You wave it off. 'No chance you'd allow a guest to make tea, you tell her, to which the foal plops herself back down. With the water boiling, you place your special biscuits available only in your hometown of Canterlot onto a plate. Normally you wouldn't allow just anyone to share these, as they were extra special., but Pinchy was a cute little thing and you appreciated her smile. Why not share?

Moments later you return to the living room and set the tea and snacks on the coffee table, taking a seat on the significantly-less comfortable sofa, though you won't say as much to your guest. Ruby grabs her mug of tea quickly, despite you cautioning that it's still hot, and settles it in her lap, cradling it in her forelegs, simply enjoying the warmth it resonates.

"So," you ask, "any idea when you're Mother is coming home?"

"No clue," the filly frowns and you immediately regret bringing it up. You'd never seen her look sad before and it really toyed with your heartstrings. "I think she's off on a business trip in Canterlot or something. I was supposed to get a key for the door but I forgot."

Wanting her to cheer up, you immediately reach forward and give her cheek a little pinch. It has the desired effect and she brightens up, giggling and shaking her head.

"It's okay, PInchy. You can stay here all night if you have to." You're already regretting this decision, as any plans to relax tonight are now awash, since you'll be looking after a little foal instead, but what else were you to do? You couldn't simply leave her outside in the cold.

You munch on a biscuit thoughtfully. You'd known this foal for some time but only in passing conversation. You'd never been over to her house or she in yours, but you'd always known her as a precocious girl who talked to you like someone much older. Perhaps she was more self sufficient then she let on? Maybe your evening plans didn't need to be sacrificed, but adapted instead.

She see's you looking thoughtfully at the fire and squirms in her chair, confirming your suspicions of maturity when she pipes up.

"I wasn't interrupting anything when I came over, was I? I'm okay here if you have other stuff to do."

"Well," You begin, rolling over the options in your head, "I was just thinking..."

"I was just thinking about taking a hot bath. It's been a very long day."

"Oh." Ruby nodded. "A hot bath sounds super nice. I can't wait to get home and have one. It sure was cold and windy outside."

"Then why don't you join me? Plenty of water for the two of us." You smile softly, trying to hide the awkwardness inside. The question seemed an easy one, and she was very clearly still cold. It wasn't even abnormal for family members in Ponyville to bathe together, but you and Ruby certainly weren't family, so perhaps it was a little odd to ask it of her. Just when you'd begun to second-guess yourself in asking something so bold so suddenly, the filly begins to nod.

"Oooh, that sounds like fun. I'd really really like that!" She smiles extra wide.

"Then it's settled!" You blurt out a little louder than you'd planned to. "I'll go get the water ready."

You get up from your seat as she sips some more of her tea, letting out a soft sigh. The bathroom was upstairs, next to the only bedroom. Stepping up the bathtub you begin to turn on the water, making sure it was extra hot. After a day like today you felt like you needed it. The water filled the tub and left it to the perfect hot temperature you were looking for. You were already looking forward to the bath. Having your cute neighbour join you was just a bonus.

You turn around to call for Ruby only to see she's already waiting near the door. She trots past you and peeks over the edge to test the water.

"Ooh, you like it really hot, too, huh? My Mom says I'm crazy but it's the best like this. Sooo relaxing." She beams at you one more time, then hops over the side of the bathtub and into the water.

You had little other choice than to join, and climb in from the other end. Immediately a problem presents itself: your bathtub was not big enough for more than one pony. Sitting on your rump with your hind legs splayed out before you, you sink below the water, practically forgetting about your companion until you bump into her rather embarrassingly. Your hind legs have reached the other side of the tub. Ruby sits in the only available space left, between your legs.

Ruby barely seems to mind as she soaks into the water next to you. Her little body sinks below the surface and leans back. With what little space you have, she leans back against your chest and puts her weight on you. Her eyes close, enjoying the water, the warmth, and your proximity.

No words are exchanged but you realize that you're enjoying your closeness to her just as much. You leans back into the water and feel her coat pressing into yours. Both of you lie still until the water stops moving. The room is silent save for the concessional shift of a hoof and the sound of breathing. You could have sworn at one point that Ruby had fallen asleep, but you didn't want to wake her.

Minutes pass and you're simply too comfortable that you don't want to move, but Ruby is the first to break the silence. She lets out a yawn and sits up.

"Can you wash my mane?" She tilts her head back to look at you and you meet your gaze.

"Sure Kiddo," you say, unable to deny her anything. She slips under the water to get her mane wet as you reach for the shampoo and squirt it onto your hoof. She emerges, dripping wet with her mane clinging to her head in such an adorable way that you let out an audible 'Awww'.

She doesn't react to your outburst so you choose to ignore it, instead reaching out to touch her head and run your hooves through her mane. She sighs and leans into you as they move in gentle circles, caressing her scalp and taking great care around her eyes. When she was good and soaped up, you instruct her to sink back below the water, helping her to rinse the soap off. She comes back up with a smile.

"And my back?" She wiggles her tush and you realize you're too far gone to refuse anymore. You nod, and reach for your body wash. Probably not the scent she's used to but it won't be overpowering, either. Hooves move up and down her back, between her shoulders and along her forelegs. You help her to rinse off, before moving to her lower parts, and before you even realize what's happening your hooves are on her rump, then her tail, helping her to wash everything off. She stands up and flicks her tail at you as you wash that, too.

As she swishes her tail and you help her to clean in what should be a tender, cute moment, your eyes are glued instead to what's between her legs. The pert little tailhole and her petite, puffy pussy, nestled between her ample thighs. No matter how hard you try to look away you are drawn by it. Then the impossible happens.

You'd more then finished washing her back. Her tail was rinsed off like the rest of her. Following the natural progression of things, she lifts her tail and displays herself for you.

"Here, too?" She asks innocently.

Of course you'll proceed. It would be rude not to follow through with such a request. You've already washed the rest of her, so you have to finish the job.

Your hooves, barely feeling like they're in your control, reach up and touch her thighs. You stroke them carefully, up and down either leg until they meet in the middle after a few strokes. You dare to push it further, reaching out with a hoof, touching her vulva, cupping her outer lips, feeling the warmth between them.

Ruby squirms, but barely makes a sound. Her body doesn't seem resistant, so you choose to continue. Reaching for the soap, you start to wash her thighs, then make your way back to her crotch. Your hoof rubs in slow, methodical circles, really lathering in the soap. Getting her privates wet. You pay as much attention to her tailhole, her tail hiked up high. When she's thoroughly soaped up you pull your hooves away, and she plops back down in the water.

Wanting to make sure to rinse her off, your hooves dip below the water, curling around her front. They slide over her thighs, between her legs, and start their slow, methodical rub again. Small circles around her fillyhood, rinsing out her fur.

You look up and realize Ruby is blushing. She's barely squirmed but her eyes are firmly shut.

Author's Note

Au revoir, filly fans.

This is it, likely my final story here. It's a little something I was sitting on for quite some time with plans to expand it into a CYOA but it quickly became complicated and overwhelming so it sat collecting dust in my unsubmitted folder.

I think what remains really holds up on its own, with an open ending that leaves some imagination to the reader. It's a bit of a cliffhanger, and a cold cut one at that, but it is a bit reminiscent of how I ended Adolescence, don't you think?

Anyway, my thoughts on the matter aside, if you weren't satisfied I'd love to see your interpretation for what happens next, or maybe three weeks from now, or maybe the next day; take it and do with it what you will. It's yours now. Just be sure to credit me for inspiration, original work, whatever. Post a link and I will read every one of them.

Au revoir, filly fans. It's been real.