A long while later, the two of them lay intertwined in their bed, drenched in sweat from both the summer heat and their own exertions. Rainbow held Fluttershy tightly against her, joy mixed with hatred for herself flowing through her. She looked down at Fluttershy, admiring the way the sunlight glittered in her aqua eyes. Her gaze shifted to the sparkling butterfly clip that had somehow stayed in her mane despite all of their best efforts, and reached up to gently touch it. "What happened to us, Flutters?" she asked, genuinely regretful that she had caused her love so much pain.

Fluttershy froze in her embrace, and a tinge of fear crept into her eyes. "I don't know," Fluttershy replied softly. "It just felt like you didn't want to come home any more. Like I was a burden to you. I sent you letter after letter while you were away, and you just... stopped replying." A hitch crept into her voice as she continued. "A-And w-when Angel... Y-You d-didn't even come h-home..."

Rainbow grimaced. The plucky rabbit had passed away the previous summer, while Rainbow had been in heavy touring mode. With all of the stops they had made across the country, Fluttershy's letter informing her had missed her by two months. When Rainbow had finally received the news, she'd been too exhausted and drained to completely realize what Fluttershy was going through, figuring that the rest of their friends would be able to help her out, and that she'd be home in another month for a break.

Definitely not her proudest or most loyal moment.

Rainbow let out a big sigh, leaning back and resting her head on Fluttershy's pillow. "I'm sorry, Flutters," she said. "I... I don't really have any excuses for what I did then other than I just wasn't thinking." She spread her hooves wide, and Fluttershy took the opportunity to snuggle into her side as Rainbow spoke. "When I came home, I just wanted to fly, you know? Flying around town, without running drills or practicing a routine or putting on a show. Flying for myself, not for anypony else." She was quiet for a moment, putting a hoof around Fluttershy. "I... guess I lost sight of the fact that you're not that big on flying. And once I lost that, it just went from there and I lost sight of... well, us."

Fluttershy was silent in the wake of Rainbow's confession, her only reply a gentle squeeze. After a time, she felt Rainbow's lips on her forehead, followed by her voice. "I screwed up and I know it, Flutters. I'll do better at spending more time on the ground with you from now on." She could hear the smirk creeping into Rainbow's voice as she continued to speak. "Hay, you're the reason I came to the ground in the first place, so you'd think I'd be a little happier about being there."

Fluttershy felt the blush creeping up her cheeks, and she squeezed Rainbow a little tighter, nuzzling her chest as she drank in the scent of her fur. "I... " she began, swallowing as she forced the words out, determined to do show the pegasus she loved more than anything that she could be brave. "I... could fly with you more often, too... You... could teach me... I-If you... don't mind, that is..." Her voice trailed off as her face felt like a furnace and her mouth clamped shut.

She felt a hoof on her chin, slowly lifting her head up to find herself looking into Rainbow's excited eyes. "Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked slowly, a grin creeping across her face. "You really want me to teach you to fly better?"

Fluttershy, lost in Rainbow's excitement, could only nod silently. Rainbow's grin blossomed into a wide smile, and she wrapped Fluttershy in a crushing hug. "Thanks, Flutters," she whispered. "I won't let you down."

Fluttershy smiled as her blush receded, and she playfully punched Rainbow in the chest. "You'd better not," she said, a twinkle of mischief in her eye. "You owe me for everything you've put me through these last couple of years."

Rainbow's face fell, and she opened her mouth to apologize once more, but a new, bright voice coming from behind and above them interrupted her. "Don't worry, Fluttershy. Dashie's gonna take good care of you. She's already made a really good start of it."

The two of them stared at each other for a brief moment before turning as one to look at the window behind their bed. There, hanging partway into the room with her forelegs resting on the windowsill and suspended by her middle by a large bunch of balloons, was Pinkie Pie. Rainbow's mouth dropped open, and Fluttershy's face immediately flared bright red once more. "P-P-P-P-Pinkie?"

Thats just pinkie being pinkie (￣^￣)