Free Fall Into Happenstance

He felt her more than heard her, as she quietly moved her head on his chest. He took a moment to slowly open his eyes, as the bright sunlight rained down upon them. His body was a wreck, but he wasn't going to let her know it. His muscles ached from the tight grip he held on her last night to keep her warm; his neck kinked in his determination to keep her nuzzled as close as possible all night. But more evident, was his lack of sleep. He probably fell asleep a few hours ago, but he couldn't really tell. His mind last night was a blur of activity, from thoughts of now and into the future. He didn't want the night to end, and sleeping, well, that would have made it end too soon for liking.

"Good morning, sleepy head." he smiled back down, kissing her forehead with the slightest of movements.

Slowly propping herself up against him, Rory returned his kiss with another; this time on the muzzle. A soft smile graced her face as she looked down at him, the golden glow blending brilliantly with the colors of his long mane. She looked down at him for the longest time, racking her brain for the right words to say; anything to express the multitude of things she felt... but to no avail.

"Were you able to keep warm last night?" She asked, noticing slight bags under his eyes.

Light nodded as he squeezed her tight against him, closing his eyes once more as he buried his muzzle into her neck. "Very much so." was all he could say, her scent and touch slowly sending him back off to dreamland. He wasn't planning on falling back asleep, but he was just far too comfortable. He knew he should be heading back to town and getting settled in, but he was incredibly hesitant at giving up his little moment in heaven.

Grinning wider, she nuzzled just below his right ear. She was reluctant to move from where she lay, but with a night's passing without her returning home, she knew her sister would begin to worry. Giving a playful tap of her hoof on the tip of his nose, Rory attempted to stand. She was still shaky, but she managed.

"As wonderful as this is, we should head back to town. My sister will wonder where I am, and I don't want to worry her more than I probably already have." She blushed a little, her grin a bit sheepish.

Opening his eyes again and nodding, he slowly made his way to his hooves. "I completely forgot about her...." he said, starting to unfurl his wings, giving them a stretch and a quick preening. "I do hope she goes gentle on me as she does seem a bit...feisty. That and I just left all my stuff sitting in your floor with no explanation...I hope she doesn't think I foal-napped you or something." he said to her with a slight grin.

Shaking her head, Rory turned away for a moment to concentrate on her featherweight spell. The spell was becoming easier the more she cast it. "I think she'll be alright. She's done far worse than this in her lifetime. She's reckless. And besides, she'll have to go through me to get to you." She made a ridiculously silly 'war face' before winking at the stallion. "Come on, let's get going."

Hoisting her on his back once she cast her spell, the pair made their departure from their special place to pick up where they left off in the city. The journey, while uneventful, would always be special to Light. Not just from the memories of their insanely short time knowing each other, but the physical closeness and utter trust she placed in him to carry her there.

Arriving back at her house, Aurora climbed off as Light once again stretched his wings before folding them up. "Well, here goes nothing..." he said to her.

Tidying her mane a bit, Rory unlocked the door and let herself in. Stormbringer, who'd fallen asleep on the couch stirred at the sound of her sister's keys in the door. The lavender pegasus rubbed her eyes for a moment, sitting up to see what the noise was. Suddenly she snapped out of her stupor at the sight of her sister and the strange stallion entering the house.

"Where have you been all night?" She asked.

The unicorn cringed slightly, shutting the door behind them as Light entered. "We were out stargazing last night, Storm. I'm sorry if I worried you."

Storm raised an eyebrow once more at Light Heart, and it didn't take her long to figure out what they'd really been up to. She gave a surprised look to her sister, the corner of her mouth slightly upturned. "Well then... at least you came back in one piece. But you..." She turned her attention back to Light. "You should have at least said something. Coming to my house and just whisking my sister off into the blue!" She threw her hoof into the air in a mock display of indignation and appall.

Rory huffed, stamping a hoof down on the wood floor. "Storm, this is our house, remember? And for Celestia's sake, don't be such a hypocrite." She glared, to which her sister replied with a sheepish grin. Without another word, the pegasus stretched her limbs and made her way upstairs to her room, shutting the door behind her. Light watched the exchange in silence, but he couldn't help but smirk as Storm made her way upstairs. He chuckled as he looked at his lover.

Shaking her head, Rory pushed any irritation from her mind. She was determined not to come down from the high she was on the night before. "See? That wasn't so bad. Now what would you like for breakfast, dear?"

"Can I have you?" he asked with a silly grin on his face, half-serious, half joking as he had to admit that her determination with Storm in defense of him was a bit of a turn on. "You are cute when you are angry." he said, giving her a playful nudge with his nose to her cheek. "But in all seriousness, I'll have whatever you're having. And, don't forget, you haven't broken the news about me staying here yet."

Blushing with a smile and a sigh at his remark, Rory trotted into the kitchen and began levitating various instruments and ingredients. She mixed a slew of sugars, butter, and cinnamon in different containers, while she mixed a doughy substance. Once the dough had firmed, she broke it into small chunks, coating it in the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Once she dumped it with the melted butter mix into a bundt pan, she slid the confection into the oven and set the timer.

"That's going to have to bake for at least half an hour. Why don't we take some of your things upstairs?" Rory suggested, gesturing to Light's belongings still sitting by the front door.

Nodding, Light made his way over and tossed the bags across his back once again. Looking to the stairs, he turned back to Rory. "I guess I'll keep my things upstairs in your room, but where am I to sleep?" he asked, genuinely curious what she had in mind for his sleeping arrangements. He knew where he wanted to  rest his head every night, but he wasn't going to assume.

"I had intended to offer the couch... but the topic is open for discussion once I tell Storm." Daintily making her way up the steps with Light in tow, she pointed to the room at the far end of the hall where the front of the house was. "That's my room. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable and I'll wrangle the pegasus in the other room." She winked and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, turning tail and letting herself into her sister's room.

Rather than hear what was obviously going to be an interesting argument, Light entered Aurora’s abode and shut the door behind him. The purple in the room caught his eye quickly, and gazing at what appeared to be her artwork on the walls, he dropped his pack neatly in the corner of the room and made his way to her bed. Sitting on it, he could hear their discussion picking up a bit as he decided to just make himself comfortable while he waited for the sparks to settle. Laying on one of her pillows, he immediately recognized her scent, and a warm smile crossed his face as he found himself subconsciously nuzzling the pillow ever so slightly. He was oh so very tired...

After about twenty minutes, Rory exited her sister's room, a smug smile on her face. She made her way down the hall to her own room, peering in to see Light burying his face in her pillows.

"Well, you can stay. You have your choice of the couch or a bed." She smiled at him and walked over, nuzzling the side of his neck.

Turning his face up and obviously half awake, he grinned back her her "If I take the bed, does that mean I will have a snuggle buddy, or will said previous bed owner be taking the couch?"

Shaking her head, she smiled. "I'll be damned if I get ousted from my own bed. I guess you'll just have to make sure not to toss around too much." She was about to lie down when her timer went off downstairs. Rolling her eyes, she sighed. "I'll be back in a moment." She quickly left the room, and tended to the hot breakfast downstairs. It needed some time to cool, so she set the piping hot pan on a trivet and made her way back to her bedroom.

Entering, Rory closed the door and found a comfortable spot next to Light, wiggling her way under his forehoof. "You didn't sleep well, did you?" She asked.

Shaking his head, he snuggled up against her. "I was too busy making sure the love of my life was safe and warm, and maybe I was a bit giddy about how wonderfully lucky I am to have you in my life."

Rory smiled wider, pulling a blanket over them with her magic as she nuzzled under his chin. "You should rest, we'll have brunch when you wake." Her curtains were semi transparent, but they still blocked out a good amount of sunlight so that her room stayed dim.

He didn't know how long he was out when he finally opened his groggy eyes. She was still asleep, her now familiar rhythmic breathing comforting him as he brushed a hoof through her mane. He didn't want to wake her, but he knew they shouldn't be sleeping again so soon.

Gently nudging her with his nose, he smiled down and kissed her forhead. "Good morning again beautiful."

Rubbing her eyes, she blinked a few times before realizing she was in her room. Looking up to Light, Rory smiled and greeted him with a kiss. "Good morning again to you, dear. Though I'm sure it's closer to afternoon at this rate. The sun was a little higher in the sky than when they first ventured home, though Rory wasn't too worried about sleeping in on a weekend. "Would you like to come downstairs for brunch now? Or would you like me to bring it to you here?"

He chuckled, and helped her out of bed as well as himself. "No no, no need for me to be lazy. I should probably start going out to take a peek at jobs anyway. But first things first...food in the belly sounds amazing." He said, a lot more chipper now with some rest in his system.

"I wholeheartedly agree.” She opened the door to her room and led them downstairs to the kitchen where her baked confection, now probably a little chilled was sitting. Rory retrieved two small plates from the cupboard and brought them to the table with her. "So about job hunting... I know we were joking before, but if you can't find any nursing positions open here, there is always Cavatelli's."

Light didn't waste his time digging in, not really caring if it was warm or not. "We'll see I suppose, I just don't think I have it in me to work in food service. I love cooking, don't get me wrong, but I don't think I would find a fulfilling job in a restaurant unless it was my own." He said, tone turning more serious as he chomped a bit on the sweet treat. He smiled after the first bite, nodding his head "Delicious hon."

Rory prepared two glasses of water for them and began to munch a bit herself. She didn't eat much, as her appetite seemed to have vanished suddenly.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find something well suited for you." She idly swirled the water in her glass, thoughts drifting back to the night before. She glanced out the kitchen window towards nothing in particular.

"Everything OK hon? You seem distracted..." he said, resting a hoof on her thigh and giving it a gentle rub as he took another bite.

Snapping back with a quick shake of her head, she smiled. "Oh, yes I'm fine. Just lost in my thoughts. I do that from time to time." She finished her water and placed the empty glass in the sink. "So, you really think job hunting on a Saturday is a good idea?" The unicorn asked, making her way back to the table.

He gave her a worried glance before another light squeeze and nodding. "Great thing about hospitals and some doctors; they have good hours. It can't hurt to get an early start. Unless you got something else planned?" He said, raising an eyebrow and giving her one of his patented sweet smiles.

She grinned in reply. "Not any real plans for today, to be honest. I could just paint while you are out and about. Unless you'd like for me to accompany you?"

He kissed her on the cheek and stood, making sure to wipe his mouth first. "You should get a bit of time away from me, don't want to spoil you, ya know." he said with a devilish grin. "Besides, I don't know how long this will be and I am kind of curious to see what your creativity will dream up. I still have yet to see you in action...well...other than a hoof and some clouds.

Looking down with face flushed, Rory smiled. "I'll paint something then, while you are out. Would you like to take a canteen or anything with you? If you'd like to get cleaned up, the shower is upstairs to the left. The linen closet is inside the bathroom."

Light chuckled and made his way to the door. "Implying that I stink? I"ll be fine hon. If I am not back before dark, send a search party...probably got lost!" And with that he made his exit and wandered out into the town, no real destination in mind other than the hospital he was at for the conference earlier in the month.

Once Light left, Rory set about cleaning up around the kitchen and her room before dragging out her painting supplies. Turning on a CD with her special drawing playlist, Rory immersed herself in her work, mixing splotches of paint on a palette and spreading them about her canvas. Her painting consisted of mostly dark colors; blues, violets, and grays. She painted for a few hours, non-stop, completely engrossed in the subject matter.

It was near dark when he finally returned back to her place. Forgetting to ask for a key, he gently knocked on the door, feeling awful for having to disturb her; or Stormbringer for that matter. He did his best to hide his look of disappointment, but was unsure of how well he would be able to cover up his feelings.

Rory had long since finished her painting and put away her supplies to make dinner. Storm ate and retreated to bed, leaving Rory to wait up for their new room mate. Upon hearing the knock at the door, the unicorn's ears perked up and she quickly trotted to the door and flung it open. The smile that was on her face, however, began to fade when she took note of Light's dejected demeanor.

"Light Heart, are you alright?" She asked, concerned, as she ushered him in and shut the door behind him.

The stallion gave off a quick huff of a laugh before entering the house, his nose leading the way as he sniffed something tasty "Huh, I guess I really do have a hard time hiding things...well, maybe from you at least..." he said with a half-smile, as she always found a way to make him forget about the insignificant things.

She cocked an eyebrow at him, trotting to the table and preparing him a plate of casserole. "You just seem a bit off is all... did you find anything?”

He sighed and plopped down hard on the couch, knowing there was food ready to eat. It smelled wonderful but his appetite was shot. "Nothing. Not a thing. Well, I wouldn't say that. The hospital HAS an opening, several in fact. But when they found out a stallion nurse was applying, their attitude changed." He looked at the door, the anger in his eyes evident. "Maybe I am just reading too much into it, but I dunno, I am usually pretty good at reading ponies."

Rory set the plate on the coffee table in front of them, sitting beside Light. "You mean you think they won't give you a position because you are a male nurse? That's... bizarre. I would think male nurses would be more valuable, seeing as you'd be more able to lift patients." The unicorn frowned, rubbing a hoof gingerly on her companion's back.

Light Heart raised an eyebrow "Those are called orderlies, and they actually had the gall to ask if I was applying for that position." He sighed, laying back on the couch. "Whatever. I still applied, but now I don't know if I even want to deal with that hassle. It's funny because I haven't felt like this since college, but you kind of expect it there. And it's not so much as being a male nurse, it's more of  'why not a doctor?'"

Expression unchanged, Rory sighed. "Well, why not a nurse? It's none of their business why you chose not to be a doctor. I don't see why it should matter." She huffed a bit, blowing her bangs up and letting them fall back into place. If there was one thing she disdained in the professional world, it was gender roles.

Light put his hoof on her leg. "Dear, I don't give a flip about what people think. It's when they actually take it to this level that it infuriates me. I do not feel insignificant, not one bit. The truth is, I aced my MCAT's. I could have easily been a doctor if I wanted to. It just...didn't feel right to me."

Aurora sat back, making eye contact. "That's my point. There shouldn't be an issue, and folks shouldn't stick their muzzles where they don't belong." Reaching forward to hug him, Rory gave Light a quick kiss on the cheek. "Well, I'm sorry things didn't go as you'd hoped... but welcome home."

She smiled, reluctantly pulling away. "Come on, why don't you at least try to eat something. Maybe you'll feel better?" She nudged the plate closer to him. "It would be a lie to say I wasn't worried, but I think this small snag won't matter in the grand scheme of things. You'll find work; remember this is just the first day you looked. There are more opportunities tomorrow."

He shook his head as he forced a bite into his mouth. He had zero appetite, but he didn't want to be rude. "I did some poking around at the hospital, inquiring with some of the staff who seemed to be legit...said the market is thin and wished me luck. The hospital was the only place. Maybe I can see WHY those positions are open..."

Rory's brow furrowed once more in thought. "I don't know... I'm not sure how that field works as far as hiring and resources." Her ears drooped slightly and her shoulders slumped.

Light grunted and rubbed her leg, taking another bite before pushing his plate away. "Sorry hon, you're right. One bad day, and there is always tomorrow. I suppose if I have to lower my standards and be an orderly, well, a job is a job."

Her ears righted themselves, though she still sat slumped over. "Maybe there will be opportunities for you to move up on the ladder afterwards?" She asked hopefully. She wasn't sure if she was convincing him or herself more.

"Yeah.." he almost mumbled, knowing full well just how far he would get in that position. "I am sorry hun, just don't have much of an appetite. Please don't take offense, it was amazing, really." Looking around, he tried to really take in his new home, for the first time honestly. There was nothing of his here, other than a few necessities packed away in 'their' room. That fact didn't bother him, but the fact that he felt like he was going to become a dependent burden did. He shook his head and changed the subject "How was your day? How did your painting go?"

Sensing he was just trying to take his mind off of the stress by changing the subject, Rory felt she had little choice but to go along with it. "Oh, I painted a few small canvases to hang in my room. I was ready for a change. Would you like to see them?"

Light nodded enthusiastically, genuinely interested in seeing her work. From what he saw in her room of her previous paintings, he knew she was quite talented, but to see something recent...it made him a bit excited. "Of course I do!"

Smiling as she stood, Rory trotted upstairs to retrieve the paintings she left to dry on her floor. She was quickly back downstairs again, two small canvases and one mid-sized one floating around her, all facing away from Light. "No sneak peaks, there is a set order." She winked.

Revealing the first of the small paintings, the unicorn smiled. It was a simple painting, seemingly just a night sky. But there was something special about two of the clouds towards the top center of the canvas, and a bigger and brighter star between the two of them that seemed to outshine all the other stars in the image.

Light Heart stared at the painting for a moment, squinting before realizing what it was. “Is... is that us?”

Rory nodded. "Yes and Alpha Cognatio between us. I've been unable to push the images from that night out of my mind. To be honest, my sketchbook is full of doodles that remind me of our first meeting." She set the first canvas aside, revealing the second canvas of the same size. This one was more abstract. "This curve here is the wind, and these two shapes are to represent us... cloud carving. I couldn't replicate that image of Luna no matter how many times I tried... so I opted for something more abstract.

Light was just taken aback; blown away at how much of an impact that night made on her. "Rory....." was all he could manage, putting a hoof on her back. "I can't get the images out of my head either....but you...you can. This is amazing." He kissed her forehead, and smiled "Don't worry about replicating it. It's in our heads and hearts...and those will last a lot longer than a canvas  I think."

Face slightly flushed, Rory pushed onward, levitating the larger canvas to them. "This one took me nearly the full two weeks you were gone to paint. It took a while before I was happy with the colors... but I hope you like it." She turned the canvas to reveal a portrait of the two of them flying together for the first time. "I had to kind of take a few liberties with this one, as I couldn't actually see us flying..."

Light just sat in place, losing all control of his rear appendages. He couldn't take his eyes off of it. He reached out a hoof, not touching it, but simply tracing the outline of her body on it. "Rory....." he said, tears welling up in his eyes. "This....I..." he couldn't form words, he didn't know what to say. He was shocked at when she started it, and how much that night meant to her. It was all he thought about for those two weeks, and to know she was working on this...it was beyond words. His watery eyes turned to tears as he wiped a few away.

How did she know that the image he burned into his mind that night...was almost identical to what she painted?

Gingerly placing the canvas down, she turned towards the stallion and carefully pulled his face back towards her with a hoof. She sat there for a long time, just staring into his eyes, not speaking. She was remembering; all the feelings she felt over the last few weeks resurfacing, memories playing through her mind over and over again... "Meeting you was the single most important event in my life thus far. You've left such a profound impact on me that I've been drowning in inspiration to create art. Life has been so much clearer since that night..." She paused, a few tears springing to her own eyes. "I... I'm having trouble gathering my thoughts... or rather telling you..." She looked at him once more, letting the tears freely fall. "I somehow have this feeling in the pit of my soul... that even if I can't find the words to say, you know what my heart is saying."

Pulling her into an embrace, his tears stopped but the watering didn't as he nearly squeezed the life out of her. "Of course I know what your heart is saying, and I am sure that you know what mine is saying. After all, we traded them, remember?" He smiled warmly as he fondly nuzzled her neck "I am finding words with you are near meaningless, except as ways to express affirmation of what’s in my heart. Every beat of it reverberates pure emotion, feeling....love. It washes through me like a tidal wave, making everything in my life seem miniscule and insignificant except for what I love the most; you."

He leaned back slightly, turning her face to his gingerly before kissing her; a slow, gentle, tender kiss. "Why use words, when we can use every other sense we have, and let our hearts speak our words for us through them."

Aurora squeezed as hard as she could, not really wanting to let go of him. "Why use words?" She laughed. "Because I love the sound of your voice. It is a great comfort to me. Each chord resonates, making my ears ring... and I can feel it's vibration in my chest. You are not only speaking to me, you are speaking from within me. Even if I know what you will say, or want to say... it's still such a joy to hear the words come from your lips."

Light chuckled lightly and kissed her again, this time a little less passionate but heartfelt; he couldn't kiss her any other way. "You keep this up love, we are going to have a repeat of last night if you know what I mean. You are already irresistible to me, but you keep plucking my heartstrings like that..." he trailed off with a grin as he stood finally, taking the dishes into the kitchen. "I'll pack away the leftovers and clean. The least I can do."

Rory nodded, standing and levitating the canvases. "Thank you. I'll take these back upstairs. Is there anything else you need before I head up there?" She trotted to the base of the staircase, pausing to wait for a reply.

Light smiled, nodded and took a long look into her eyes. Why did everything seem so small and insignificant when she was around? "No, I got what I needed. I'll see you upstairs when I am done?"

Rory smiled, batting her eyelashes. "Sure thing, Captain Kraft." Without another word, she silently made her way up the stairs. Rounding the corner of the bannister, she paused again, letting out a sigh. She glanced up at the various photos of her and her parents and sisters, smiling and letting her mind wander... it had wandered too far and she shook her head, clearing her mind before returning to her room.

Light scoured around the kitchen and found some proper containers and took care of cleaning duties. During this entire process, his mind wandered, as it always did when he was doing trivial tasks. He thought of everything...past, present, and future, the latter making him smile as a wave of tingles shot through his body. Cleaning the counters, he turned off the lights, locked the door, and retreated upstairs. He knocked on the door to her room with a chuckle "Can I enter?"

Rory had just begun to hang the first canvas when she heard him knock. "What's the password?" She snickered, hammering the first nail into the wall as quietly as she could.

"Velveeta" he replied, keeping the door shut playing her little game.

Failing to suppress her laughter, she used her magic to open the door. "Access granted!" She hung the largest canvas on the nail and turned to greet him by throwing her hooves around him in a warm embrace.

Light Heart grinned. “Did you miss me already?” He asked, nuzzling into her neck.

Nuzzling back she replied "Missing you shouldn't be the only occasion in which I'd hug you." She let go and turned back to hanging the smaller canvases. "Would you mind spotting and letting me know if these are evenly spaced or if they hang straight?"

"Of course!" he said, going through his back real quick and pulling out a toiletries while she adjusted the pictures. "You know Rory, I didn't say anything earlier, but that picture of us....that's exactly how i envisioned it. The pose, the angle, the colors....it's almost a spot match to the mental image I took. That's why I reacted the way I did."

She grinned, holding an extra nail in her teeth. It was all too easy for her to forget she was a unicorn sometimes. After fumbling to speak, she removed the nail and set it on the dresser she was hanging the pictures above. "This is strange, but I actually get that a lot. I've had clients accuse me of being a mind reader... but I really am just a stickler for detail. And I try so hard to really capture the essence of every request I am given."

"Yes hon, but I never GAVE you any details. Reading well into descriptions is one thing, but this....we never discussed it." He chuckled and finally just shrugged, motioning his hoof to the right a bit to let her know to shift the portrait. "I guess it shouldn't surprise me afterall. But I will admit, it's going to be very hard to keep surprises from you...so try not to hang around inside my head too much."

She just shrugged, face flushing once more. "Well... I can't say I'm surprised either to be honest, but it's still a lot of fun to discover how much alike we truly are. And I promise not to lurk too much in your brain." She chortled. Shifting her final painting into place with Light's direction, she returned her tools and extra nails to a small toolbox and slid it underneath her bed.

Light took the liberty to retreat to the bathroom, brushing his teeth and washing his face up a bit. "Well as long as you're in there, see if you can organize it a bit. It's kind of a mess. Be mindful of the furballs in the corner and the cobwebs...some of it doesn't get used much."

Cackling, Rory stepped into the bathroom to brush her teeth in the sink adjacent to the one he was using. "Alright, I'll do a little dusting, but I am not touching any cobwebs." She shuddered.

Finishing up, he leaned on the doorway to the bedroom, waiting on her to finish. "Just put everything back where you found it. I don't need my legs all switched up or my ears crossed....man that would be awkward..." He was just rambling at this point, and didn't know why other than the fact that he was just...happy.

Replacing her toothbrush and daintily wiping her mouth, she shut off the light and returned to her room. "Aww, and here I thought I'd get to have a bit of fun making you go cross-eyed or something!" She teased. Walking to her desk on the far side of the room, she lit a few candles and sauntered back to her bedside, flipping on the small lamp on her side table and simultaneously shutting off the main light overhead.

Not knowing what her normal nighttime routine consisted of, Light just made himself comfortable as he made his way to the far side of the bed. Snuggling himself under the covers, he propped up his head on the pillow and just took in her beauty in the dim light. "So much in two weeks...." was all he could say quietly, thoughts pouring through his head as the day was winding to a close. "Makes me think where I would be right now if I took a different route through the city two weeks ago...."

Smiling she nestled under the covers next to him, taking a small sketch pad from the drawer in her nightstand. "Do you often think about 'what if's' like that? Sometimes I do... but I can't really say I've ever really regretted not doing something a certain way. Not even flunking out of my first college." She smiled, turning to a blank page near the end of the sketchbook and doodling with a pencil.

Light snuggled up next to her, but left her free to continue sketching. "Often? No not really Just a few times in my life. School, my parents, you....come to think of it I guess that's about it." Using a hoof under the covers, he started to idly trace shapes into her coat. "No, I don't regret anything I do...mostly because if I do something wrong, I try to learn from it and not make that same mistake again. And I have made some doozies of bad decisions."

She raised an eyebrow, but continued doodling various shapes, one of which was Light's cutie mark. "I thought you said you excelled in school? But I suppose you could be referring to not taking the path of a doctor... and parents? We all make mistakes growing up hun, I've been into plenty of scuffles with my own folks." She smiled "I'd like to meet your parents eventually, if they’re half as wonderful as you are, I think we'll get along just fine.”

Ears dropping, Light stopped his tracing for a second. "My parents died about ten years ago love."

Her eyes grew wide and her own ears set back half in embarrassment, half in sympathy. "Light... I'm so sorry... I-"

He resumed his tracing, voicing choking up a little bit. "It's alright hun, you didn't know and I never say much about it. They died in an accident when I was sixteen at the weather factory."

Feeling a lump rise in her throat, Rory put her sketchpad down too look at him. "That's awful hun... you were only sixteen?" She shuddered at the thought of growing up without her parents. "What... what did you do?"

Ears twitching, his shape drawing became a bit more erratic, and he pressed a bit into her fur "What did I do? I refused to believe it. I never went to their funeral. I never visited their gravesite. I never even read about what the accident was or was about. I lived with my uncle for two years until i finished high school, pretty much locked away in my room in study and reading." He realized at this point he was almost digging into her fur. Rory winced a bit as his hoof pressed a little too roughly, but didn't make mention of it. "Sorry..." he said meekly, ears back against his head as he retreated his hoof.

The unicorn’s eyes moved direction a few times as she lost herself in thought, trying to find the words to say... how do you comfort someone about something that's already passed?

"So... when did you finally come to accept it?"

He shrugged. "They are dead and gone. I don't know. I even have a box that was left for me in their will. I haven't opened it. In fact, I don't even know where the key is anymore. I haven't even been back to their....my....house in  Cloudsdale in five years."

She frowned, taking one of his hooves in her own. "You don't want closure? At all?" She was mortified she'd even asked about his parents, somehow wishing she already knew and didn't need to bring up any painful memories. "It's not really my place... but running from something like that..."

Frowning a bit, he rolled over, snuggling his pillow close to his face, ears tight against his head. "I guess I don't..." He didn't know what more to say, he was a bit angry but didn't want to lash out at her. "I don't think about it. If I don't think about it, it's not an issue." he said flatly.

Biting her lip to hold back tears, Rory silently returned the sketchpad to it's proper place and shut off the bedside lamp. She lie there on her back for a while, staring blankly at the ceiling unsure of whether or not she should move or speak.

Finally, she worked up the courage to turn over and place a hoof on his shoulder. Reaching up, Light cupped it in his own, pulling her closer to him but not turning back. He had no tears for his past, but he had tears for her. "I'm sorry hun, it's just not something I am used to talking about. I didn't mean to hurt you..." he said quietly.

"It's alright." She whispered. In truth she was fine, just taken aback by his reaction. "I'm sorry for ruining your evening... I hadn't expected things to turn quite so sour..." She sniffled, wiping a few tears from her eyes.

Finally turning back over, he cracked a small smile as he wiped the rest of the tears from her eyes, kissing one of them that wandered down too far. "Questions cannot ruin my evening, and you have done absolutely nothing wrong." He kissed her nose and sighed a deep sigh, resting his head under her chin on her chest. "Perhaps you are right though....I just never think about it."

She let out a heavy sigh. "I can understand that it was traumatic... but I can't imagine never knowing... never putting it to rest." She kissed the top of his head and began stroking his long mane, letting the strands fall lazily over his shoulders before gathering it again. "I'm not suggesting we go tomorrow straight to Cloudsdale... but if ever you feel you ought to close the door for good, just know I'll be there for you."

"Mmmm" he nodded ever so slightly, just enjoying her touch on his mane and coat. "Just...not anytime soon. Not only do I have more pressing issues to deal with, I just....want to enjoy the feeling, right here, right now." Leaning his head down, he planted a few kisses on her chest. "But I know you'll be there for me...I would expect nothing less and I wouldn't want anyone else there with me."

She smiled then, burying her face into his mane. She inhaled deeply, taking in the familiar and comforting scent, her memories flooding back once more. "I won't argue with simply enjoying your company." She rubbed a back leg on one of his, casting a glance upward through her window to the clear night sky beyond.

He could sense her thoughts almost as much as feel the change in her body posture. "Thinking of something love?" he said, using his hooves to trace both of her cutie marks, knowing exactly every curve of the intricate pattern that made them up. He couldn't help but continue to kiss her chest every few seconds.

She laughed "My mind is a tangled mess. I didn't know it was possible to remember and think about so many things all at once." She nestled in closer, turning her gaze towards him. "What are you thinking about?"

Light blushed a bit, but was sure she wouldn't see it. "Truthfully? Last night...one particular part to be exact." He stopped kissing her, but instead used his nose to nuzzle into her, taking in her touch and smell as he melted into her fur.

She rolled her eyes back into her head as she let her eyelids shut, and she took a deep breath. "Do you realize just how important that was to me?" She grinned.

Light continued what he was doing, sensing she was at least enjoying or comforted by his attention. "Considering the circumstances, I would say so. But, it never hurts to hear it."

"I've never felt what I felt last night ever in my life... there is such a raw and unrefined power you hold over me... your every touch, your every breath... every syllable that falls from your lips... it's like fire. I feel this warmth in the deepest pit of my soul, and it is so great that it flows and dances throughout my veins." She leaned in, kissing his neck and nipping at the base of his ear. "And I cannot seem to get enough of it."

The feel of her teeth on his ear was like like a spark igniting a flame of desire in his body. His nerves instantly went on high alert, but what got him more though, were those words. They struck one of those strings attached to his heart, and it filled him with a wave of euphoria. "Your touch, your words, your smile, and your eyes; those things fill me with a feeling I have never felt before. At first, it filled me with joy, serenity, and contentedness, but last night, it filled me with something else; desire. When I laid you down on that cloud, after our dance, the raw emotion that flooded through me not only brought those feelings of happiness, but also feelings of passion, lust, and want. I have never felt both sets of feelings before for a mare, and what happened last night, was nothing short of exquisite. Our first time was not only something I will remember for the rest of my life, but something that solidified my love and need of you into my life. For that brief moment that night; my world was perfect."

Lower lip quivering, she brought his face to hers for a soft kiss, letting her hoof trace the curvature of his spine and wrapping around to his chest; inhaling as much of his scent as she could.

"It still feels like a dream you know..." he said softly, closing his eyes and losing himself in her touch.

She let out a heavy sigh, pausing to look up at him. "A dream? No dear, this is far, far better than a dream." The unicorn brought her hoof up to touch Light's lips, drawing a line down his chin, neck and ending on his chest. "I can hold you and feel you... I can see you so clearly... no, this is not a dream. This is home... this is heaven."

Light smiled as he stifled back tears from her words that struck another one of those chords and he gave her cheek a gentle lick before nipping on the base of her ear and whispering softly. "You didn't let me finish love, I meant to say a dream come true..." Meanwhile, his eyes spoke what his lips could not, expelling that emotion and passion building up inside. Nurturing love, overwhelming desire, and unbridled passion to be one with her again. This truly was heaven to him.

Her mouth opened as if she were going to speak, but instead she smiled and shook her head. Her eyes bored into his; an endless space she was drowning in, and she didn't fight it. She let everything he was overtake her, drinking his essence like a fine wine; letting it run over her palette and savoring every moment. "You are determined to kill me, Captain Kraft. If you keep this up, my heart won't be able to survive."

Her gaze was the catalyst needed to cause a few tears to find their way out of his eyes, finally unable to contain what was welling up inside of him. Those beautiful eyes, her very namesake, he realized were the key to unlock that of which he has kept inside the vault of his heart; his undying love. He knew this was her, he knew this was the one. With her, time was meaningless. His mind raced with the visuals of a  lifetime of memories, experiences, and adventures with her that have yet to take place, yet he knew they were coming. And at that end of that long tunnel, he saw her, standing tall and beautiful, behind her, a dark night sky with a cloud tinged in blue.

"No, my love, I am not determined to kill you. I am determined to spend my life forever with you..." he said softly, brushing back her mane as he pulled her face close to his. His lips pressed against hers, slowly parting them as a hoof slid behind her neck, pressing her gently into him as he lost himself in the bliss of that electrifying connection that only true love can provide.

Her eyes opened wide for a brief instant, then her eyelids slowly drifted down as she leaned into the kiss. A small moan managed to escape her trapped lips. The moment lingered on and she found herself tangled up in him; their limbs, tails, and tongues intertwining... seemingly melting together. She finally broke the kiss to catch her breath, gazing once more into her lover's eyes. There were so many things she wanted to say and to ask...

"You realize looking at me like that is just making me want you more..." he said with a sly smile, the need for her bursting at the seams.

She returned the smile, placing a hoof gently over his lips. "And do you realize that desire is mutual?"

The unicorn shuddered, trying to catch her breath. Once her panting became lessened, she opened her eyes, giving him a look that screamed satisfaction. The corners of her mouth curled into a smile as she looked down on him, a few curls draping back over her right shoulder. She didn't want to spoil the moment with words, so she did what she'd been instructed the first night they met; she closed her eyes once more, burning the image of him smiling up at her into her mind.

Light laid his head back, taking a slow, deep breath, and felt the emotional and physical exhaustion set on, as all the stress he had built up today exited with his exhale. "I love you, Rory" he said a little more than a whisper, already fighting the verge of sleep.

The look in Aurora's eyes softened, noticing Light's eyelids were growing heavier. She gently laid her body to rest on him, pulling the blanket over them both as she did. "And I love you, Light Heart." She whispered, resting her head under his chin, she stroked his long mane once more. "If it's alright... I'd like to fall asleep like this."

"Mhm." he grunted quietly in acknowledgement, resting his hooves on her mane. He turned his head to the side ever so slightly as sleep fell over him. His last thought; her smiling face, those beautiful eyes, and the understanding that no matter what hardships they will face, he will always have a home in her heart.

The days turned into weeks, and those days got no easier on the job front for Light. Applications were turned in, but no interviews could be found anywhere in Hoofington. The hospital, while last on his list, was looking to be the final hope for him.

A thought weighed heavily on his mind as he meandered  down the aisles of a flower shop he had come to frequent. Picking out a certain flower, he chatted up the shop owner, exchanging a few laughs and stories. He came to know her well, mostly because he couldn't shut up about his other half. Often times he made her swoon in jealously, others cry in happiness over what they shared. He insisted on paying for today’s purchase, but she insisted he take it as a gift. He gave her a quick hug, thanked her for her kindness, and made his way back home.

Despite all the extra time she'd been spending with Light Heart, Rory managed to excel in her classes, ending the semester on a high note. She'd been gearing herself up for her final semester before graduation, pulling together pieces for her portfolio and trying to get a head start on her senior show and exhibition. It was still months off, but there was much to be done.

She did what she could to try and help Light feel better about his job situation, and even Stormbringer felt genuinely bad for him. As much as they both knew he felt like a leach, neither of them felt as though he were.

Today was very much like the day before, starting with a smile and a kiss from Light Heart, and full of various homely tasks while Storm was away at work. Rory had set to work calculating supplies she'd need to finish her portfolio for her show; the living room turning into a temporary art studio housing all her most prized works (except the three hanging proudly in her bedroom).

Entering the house, Light smiled to Rory as he made his way to the kitchen, keeping quiet until he put the small bouquet into a empty vase he pulled from inside a cabinet. Setting it down on at the middle of the table, he carefully centered it before making his way to her, giving her his customary kiss. "Another day, same old story. This time at least with a happy ending..." he said with a smile, nodding to the flowers. It was a tiger lily, prominently surrounded by a few smaller flowers and some baby's breath. "Fairy Floss at the flower shop sends her regards, and insisted I take it. She said I've been eyeing it for days now, but I think she just felt bad for me..." In fact, he was eyeing it for days, he just couldn't justify spending any bits on it.

Looking up from her sketches, Rory's face lit up when she saw the beautiful arrangement waiting for her. Standing, she gave Light a kiss on the cheek, nuzzling just under his chin. "Thank you, they are beautiful. I'll have to stop by and thank Fairy Floss in person sometime." Taking his face in her hooves, she gave him a reassuring smile. "It will come, in time this will work itself out."

He sighed, flopping on the couch. He hated this feeling. He has worked hard, almost all his life ever since his parents passed. He felt simply...useless. "I think I have a decision to make Rory. But I want your opinion first, since it affects us both." Sitting on the couch slowly, she nodded as a sign for him to continue.

"I need to face reality, and that reality is that if I don't get a job soon, I am going to go insane. So that means sucking it up and pursuing the hospital, or lowering my standards and finding another job , in what I hope is something temporary."

She took his hoof in hers, making eye contact. Her tone of voice was calm and serious. "Sweetheart, I understand this is difficult... but which do you think you'd be most at peace with? On one hand, you don't seem too keen on working as anything but a nurse at the hospital; and I understand that. The other hand, you don't want to feel as if you are going to become trapped in a job that's below your qualifications." She paused, trying to choose her words carefully.

"If you do take a temporary job, remember it is just that; temporary. Whatever the case, you have my support and my love."

Light nodded slowly as he began to speak. His tone wasn't angry, frustrated, or excitable, he was simply indecisive. "That is the thing, it's all just confusing. I want something that will challenge me, keep my mind moving and my hooves active. So settling for something outside what I know and love is tough. If I settle for lower at the hospital, I can try and fight my way up, but there is no guarantee."

He took a deep breath "But there are other possibilities. Two, in fact, but they are risky and might cause a bit of pain in the long run. I could fight the hospital for unfair hiring, assuming I push for the nursing job and fail to get it. Or, I could go back to school, or learn a new trade..."

Her brow furrowed in thought as she pondered this for a moment. Finally locking eyes with him again, she spoke "Honestly? If you want a job at the hospital as a nurse, I think you should pursue that. Don't let their narrow mindedness put you off from doing what you love most, and from helping those who need you. I know that it will be difficult, and take a great amount of courage, but you know something? I think you have it in you. I know you do."

He put a hoof on her leg and gave it a bit of a squeeze, rubbing the back of his head with his other. "I just hate conflict. It's not that I can't deal with it or avoid it, but I feel like I am not myself when I am pushed. I get angry, short, and sometimes I think just plain... well, rude. But it's only because I am adamant about what I am fighting for. I dunno..."

"I don't like conflict either, but this is eating you alive. I think you should put your hoof down, as much as you don't want to. Go for the nursing position, and if they don't give it to you, then we'll figure out what to do. But only then. There is still hope that they'll give you the job you want, even if it seems strange to them." She smiled once more, bringing his hoof up to kiss it. "And as difficult as it is, always remember that it doesn't matter what some pompous ponies think of you. Just know that when you come home, I'll always be here waiting for you."

He smiled, but sighed again. "I just hope there isn't a legal battle. It is all unknown to me, but I know that if I press this, and if push comes to shove, I am not backing down. Even if that means taking out a loan to pay the fees."

He laid his head against her neck, taking a deep breath of her mane and coat "And I will ALWAYS be ready to come home to you, every single day."

She sighed at the mention of a legal battle. It made her stomach churn. "Just don't get too ahead of yourself... and I pray that a lawsuit is our very last resort, even after finding a different job elsewhere."

"I know, I know. I always just prepare for the worst I suppose." He sucked in a deep breath, exhaled, and smiled. "Right then, tomorrow, first thing, hospital. And I'll be damned if I let them step on me for wanting to do what I love."

She smiled, kissing his cheek. "That's the spirit!" She patted his leg and stood, using her magic to straighten her belongings into a neat pile out of the way. "Now, I think I'll start dinner before Storm comes home from work."

Light, feeling a bit of a burden off his shoulders, quietly stalked her into the kitchen. When she wasn't looking, and relatively safe, he pounced on her from behind, wrapping his hooves around her neck and kissing the back of it. "Thank you for being so wonderful...." he said softly. "Can we cook together? It's been ages since I have helped."

Laughing loudly, she pressed back into him and wrapped her own hooves over his. "Of course you can! I'm afraid it's nothing terribly complicated tonight, though. Just some pasta and vegetables. Would you mind putting some water on to boil?" Her horn illuminated and she took a large pot from the hanging rack overhead and two cutting boards and some knives from the wall adjacent.

Light obediently did what he was told, after chuckling and giving her a playful pat on the flank. Setting about his tasks with her, he did what he could without having to ask, not exactly being a novice in the kitchen "So how has everything been going with your portfolio? I am sorry if I haven't asked much about it lately."

"It's moving along just fine. Most of my final works from semesters past are strong material, and I'm working on storyboarding my senior project now. I have most of the supplies I'll need, but I'll have to head out of town for a few of the remaining ones; the art store here just doesn't carry them. I was thinking of making a weekend out of it, if you would like to come along." She made quick work of her tomatoes, taking great care not to get them (or the mushrooms) too close to the other vegetables.

Light grimaced as he watched the two least favorite vegetables of his being cooked. He gave her a silly face and stuck out his tongue as he moved about stirring the pasta. "I would love to of course, I could use getting away for a bit anyway. Besides, you'll need someone to carry all your stuff, and what better stallion than an art-inept pony such as myself."

She laughed, taking down two separate bowls as she turned the heat down on the sauce she was stirring. She placed the tomatoes and mushrooms in one bowl with garlic and herbs, while she just placed garlic and parmesan in the other. "When the pasta is finished, put half of it in this and the remainder in this bowl." She pointed to each respectively as she took the sauce off the stove and poured half in one and half in the other in the same fashion, before continuing their discussion.

"Well I suppose this weekend we'll make a trip to Saddleworth. Hopefully they'll have the supplies I want."

Light did as he was instructed, and in a way  felt bad that he had to have a separate meal sometimes. But, he really hated tomatoes. "Never been there before, it should be fun. How long of a trip is it?" The idle conversation felt good to him. It was keeping his nerves calm about tomorrow, which he knew he would be worked up about come morning time.

"Not far, maybe fifteen or twenty miles south of us, just at the base of the mountains." Rory carefully stirred the pasta bowls simultaneously with her magic, then placed them on trivets in the center of the dining table. "Would you  mind setting down placemats and plates while I arrange the silverware?" Despite there only being three of them, Rory insisted on always having a nice sit-down meal whenever they were all together. Storm's trips to Canterlot were about to become more frequent with her recent promotion and pay raise, so Rory was making good on all the time they had.

"Is Storm going to be back soon? Assuming we are waiting on her to eat then?" He said going about his task. "She really isn't as bad as I thought. A bit rough around the edges but, I dunno, she's grown on me." The feel of being in a 'real home' hadn’t truly set in for him yet, but something about the table made him pause. He froze in the middle of setting the table, his mind a flurry of activity as he sat there with a plate hovering over the table’s surface, unmoving.

Rory looked up at the clock, it was nearly 6pm. "Yup, like clockwork. No way she'll be here much later than 6 on a Thursday." She retrieved the silverware from the drawer and a few glasses and a pitcher of water. All the necessities floated about her as she turned towards him, noticing his hesitation. Puzzled, she asked "Is... something bothering you, dear?"

Light didn't hear her. In his mind, memories of his parents flooded through him. His father pushing his mothers buttons, her short temper causing her to snap at him in response. Light just ignored it, going about what he always did every night.

He always set the table for them.

When he didn't respond, Rory came closer and set everything down on the table in a pile. "Light Heart?" Her brow creased with slight worry.

Startled, Light accidentally dropped the plate in his hand, bouncing it off the table and onto the floor, shattering it into pieces. "Oh Rory! I....am so sorry! I just spaced out there for a second." He stumbled to the ground, fumbling with his hooves to scrape up the pieces.

"Woah! It's alright! Hang on..." There was a clanging in the pantry on the other side of the room, and when the door swung open it revealed a broom, which Rory levitated to herself and began sweeping the tiny shards that Light wouldn't be able to pick up with his hooves. She didn't notice that a tiny piece had bounced off of her foreleg, leaving a tiny knick below her knee that was barely more than a papercut.

"Are you okay? You were just completely zoned."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just....thought about home, something from my past." He sat on the floor, not quite able to stand yet. "I haven't thought about home in....Rory...you cut yourself." he said, nodding with his forehoof to her leg.

The look on her face showed more confusion as he spoke until she looked down at his remark. "Oh, heh, I suppose I did, didn't I?" She grinned sheepishly but it was soon wiped from her face when she returned her gaze to the Pegasus sitting on the floor.

"I'm sorry.." Light said quietly, ears folding back against his head. "I swear that's never happened before."

Without skipping a beat, Rory set the broom aside and stepped gingerly across to  him, kneeling next to him. She hesitated before asking "W-what did you think about, exactly?"

"Setting the table as a foal....parents screaming at each other. Typical weekday night..." he said meekly, rising to his feet slowly. He sighed. "My parents were always fighting, always arguing...and I was just in the middle of it, if not the unintentional catalyst sometimes." He retrieved another plate from the cupboard and placed it where it belonged, then took a damp cloth to her leg. "Here, at least let me clean it out for you and make sure no fragments got left in there. It's just a nick thankfully."

Aurora sat there somewhat dumbstruck. She hadn't intended to bring something like that back to his memory. She let the immediate events replay in her mind again, snapping back to reality when he laid the cloth on her leg. She was about to speak, when Stormbringer walked in, right on cue. "Hey guys, what's for din-" She wasn't facing them initially, then paused when she noticed the mess and the two ponies on the floor. "What the hay happened? Rory, do I need to punch his lights out?" She joked, but seeing a blank expression on both of their faces, she quickly dropped it. "Eh, I'm just going to run upstairs to wash up. Be back in a jif." And she darted up to the second floor.

Rory turned back and mumbled a weak thanks as she stood and began to place the remaining utensils around the table.

Light glanced back toward the stairs where Stormbringer fled up to. "Ugh, perfect timing..." he mumbled, heading to the kitchen to gather them drinks. "Well, that was certainly embarrassing..." he said, angry at himself for spacing out like that. In the back of mind however, he was a bit worried about how that was triggered. Why now?

Rory didn't say much else, deciding to try and let Light settle his thoughts before bringing it up again. His parents were a touchy subject. Storm came back downstairs, and was about as silent as her housemates. The meal didn't last terribly long, Rory not feeling particularly hungry. Her thoughts kept coming back to the disturbing things Light had said to her. She'd seen her parents argue before, sure... but the way he spoke of it...

Tired of the awkward silence, Light cleared his throat and turned his head to Storm. "So I decided that I am going to pursue the nursing job at the hospital tomorrow. So hopefully I won't be such a deadbeat around here." The thought of tomorrow flushed away some of the memories from earlier, filling the pit of his stomach with a bit of nervousness. "Well, crap..." he said silently to himself, annoyed he brought those feelings on.

Storm raised an eyebrow and gave him a crooked smile. "Oh yeah? Well kudos to you, bud. I hope that works out. If it doesn't, I could always try and put in a good word for you up at the factory." She munched idly on a long strand of pasta, thoughts seemingly in the clouds. "Actually, that reminds me... Rory?"

The unicorn snapped out of her stupor. "Uh, yes, Storm?" She asked.

"That promotion I told ya about... turns out I'll be living in Cloudsdale for a few months out of the year. They offered to pay for housing up there and everything. Turns out they really, really need an overhaul in the storm department. You gonna be okay with that?"

Rory smiled slightly and nodded. "I am, that sounds great Storm. I'm proud of you."

Light smiled, stood, and began collecting the dirty dishes from the table "Storm that's wonderful. Sounds like you are really getting a lot of respect there. But considering how dedicated you are to your work, there is no reason why you shouldn't." He shot Rory a quick grin before turning his head back to Storm. Besides, she has me to keep her company, and most importantly, out of trouble." Making his way to the sink, he started stacking them neatly, earning his place lately as the dishwasher of the house.

Somewhat confused at Light's change in demeanor, Rory raised an eyebrow as she watched him tend to the dirty plates. "You finished, Storm?" Rory asked, and upon her sister's confirmation, took the remaining plates from the table, emptied them in the trash, then stacked them next to Light.

He smiled to her as she brought him the dishes and he filled the sink with water, soaping it up. He just wanted to forget about earlier, being more embarrassed and confused by it than anything else He shrugged, mentally at the least, as he rationalized that it was probably just induced by the recent job hunt stress.

Still unsure, Rory simply gave a small smile. The worry in her eyes was still evident, though she didn't say another word about the dish incident. With a yawn, she reached for a dish rag and began drying the dishes. The process didn't take terribly long, and Storm even helped to straighten up the rest of the kitchen. Once the chores were finished, Aurora let out a tired sigh and headed for the staircase. "I think I'm going to hit the hay early tonight. I'm not feeling so well, and I have to be up early in the morning to meet with my academic advisor and pick up my petition to graduate. I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" With a more genuine smile, she nodded to her sister and to Light Heart and made her way up the steps.

Turning to Storm, he shot her a worried look. "Perhaps I'll go check on her, make sure she is OK. If I don't come down again, have a good night Storm." he politely, making his way up to the stairs. He didn't bother knocking as he made his way in quietly. "Mind if I keep you company, love?" he said to Rory, without even looking to see where she was.

Her head was hidden partially by her covers, and she peeked over to see him enter. "That's fine dear. Just lying down for the night." She rolled back over, clutching at the blankets. Her stomach really was tied in knots, most likely a side effect of her late nights working on her portfolio in conjunction with a loss of appetite. She figured it would pass if she rested, hoping to come home tomorrow to relax and actually eat something at a decent time, rather than just waiting for dinner. She smiled to herself as the cookies Storm stashed yesterday crossed her mind. Rory would enjoy a few of those for sure.

Sitting at the side of the bed, not wanting to disturb her, he brushed the side of her cheek with his hoof. "You're not feeling well, are you? I hope it wasn't in regards to earlier. I really am sorry...." he said, a bit panicked he made her physically ill from his sudden loss of reality.

Aurora turned her head slightly to look up at him and smiled. "I'll be okay. I think I'm just overworking myself with my portfolio; I've not really been resting like I should this week. You dropping the plate earlier has nothing to do with this." It was a tiny lie, as she was still a little worried, but didn't want to make him feel any worse than he already did. "You have nothing to be sorry for, dear. I think I really just need that weekend away."

He kissed her on the forehead, still sitting, before standing and tucking her snuggly into bed. "Rest well, Rory. I'll be downstairs for a bit tending to a few things, getting some of my thoughts and paperwork in order for tomorrow. If you need something, just call out to me." He turned to the doorway, stepped out, and looked back right before it shut. He smiled to her, shook his head slowly and said "You really are the most beautiful creature in Equestria. "

He shut the door quietly, turning to almost run into Storm standing right behind him with a smirk on her face. She walked by him, laughing a little "Such a Romeo..." she said as she shut the door to her room.

She smiled at him as he left, resting her head back on the pillow towards the window. Aurora lie there for a while, every so often staring out into the sky overhead. Her mind was filled with things that needed doing; her portfolio production, stepping up now that Storm was leaving for a while, Light's trouble with finding work... the list went on for quite a while. She suddenly thought of her parents, and the fact that they'd yet to meet the stallion living with her. She was sure that would go over terribly, knowing her father. For a long time these things kept circling, until finally, Rory's eyes grew heavy and she began to drift into a light slumber.

Light sat downstairs on the couch for a while, staring out the nearby window into the starry sky. His thoughts were filled with things expected; the trip to the hospital the next day, his worry over Rory's stress and how she’d been dealing with it (or for that matter her hiding how stressed she really was), and his restlessness of having nothing to occupy his time meaningfully. But even more worrisome were the unexpected thoughts; his foray into his past today...things he hadn't thought about in almost ten years. Why tonight? Why now? He wanted to be happy, and these thoughts were anything but the sort. He didn't know when he passed out on the couch, but his eyes shut as he held a pillow lying nearby close to his muzzle. It smelled like her....