//------------------------------//
// In Which You Sit at a Bed 
// Story: Unintended Outcomes 
// by Stegtorn 
//------------------------------//

	You lead her across the thick red carpet of the lobby. She stops you just before a long hall way on the left, "right here." She pushes open the door, marked with a triangle and the number three. Fleur doesn't enter, however she very suddenly turns around and hops up, placing her hooves on your chest and planting a passionate kiss right on your lips.


-Twilight Sparkle, Canterlot Castle-


"Princess Sparkle," a guard says gruffly, bowing as you look at him.
Your snout scrunches up, you're still not used to that. Celestia sees this a smiles warmly, you'd like to think she understands.
"Yes?"
"Anonymous has arrived again, he will be staying at Hotel 13 for some time before his train comes."
You shoot a hopefully, pleading look at Celestia. So many times you've had to turn down Anonymous because of your duties.
"Princess Celestia?"
She looks to Luna, who's expression remains aloof.
"Shortly, Twilight, I promise."
Hope reinvigorates you, widening your eyes and making your hooves shaky. The guard bows again before dismissing himself. You hardly pay attention to what Celestia or Luna are saying, all your attention is too focused on seeing Anon. Finally the time comes, and Celestia allows you to leave and you're off, racing down the spiraling stairs to your carriage.
"To Hotel 13," you say to the driver, a smile curled across your face.
It's been far to long since you've last seen him. You've had your apology written for a month now, he doesn't deserve to be ignored for so long.
The carriage pulls up and you hop out forgetting all regulations, leaving the carriage door wide open. Through the glass door and into the lobby you go, floating inches off the ground with sheer joy. You see him! Anonymous in the flesh. W-with a mare...her lips pressed against his.
Her body pressed against her, conforming to him. You start to choke up, unable to comprehend the scene. You can't let him see you, you can't handle it. With a chest full of lead and tears clouding your vision you run back to the carriage, ordering the driver to take you back to the castle.

-Anonymous, Hotel 13 lobby-

For a moment Fleur wasn't springing something on you, rather you were with Twilight again, sharing the kiss you always did when she came home. It was always the same, and a just a little different from the normal ones, she'd always tilted her head and lean on you, her warm chest pair with yours. Unintentionally your hands drift to her side, you find soft fur, not obstructive wings.
And you were with Twilight for a minute, in the treehouse. Awkward and unsteady, off by a few millimeters. But just as fast as that feeling came it was gone. You push Fleur off you, staggering back. Wiping your mouth you look down at her with a twinge of confusion.
"That is not okay," you say, turning from her.
"I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just..." she lets out a long sigh.
Shaking your head you turn back around to her.
"It's fine. Why did you even do that?"
"I don't get much attention at home," she rubs her foreleg looking forlorn.
"How is that any excuse? Listen, you can't just do that to people."
"I thought you wouldn't mind."
"Whatever. Let's just forget about it," you say hurriedly, wanting to but this incident behind you as quick as possible.
Glancing over at a clock on the wall you find that you've missed you train. Spectacular. Your hand shoots into your pocket, rooting around for bits. A few five pieces, a couple singles. There's about twenty or so in there. No where near enough for a room. You've got a few options. 
Fleur senses something is up.
"Is there a problem?"
You rub the back of your neck, averting your eyes.
"I missed the train. And I've got no money for a room."
"Well, we could always share mine. There's no harm right?"
Swallowing hard, you nod in response. She waves you in and enters herself. Gingerly you sneak in, wondering what Twilight was doing about now. It's kind of late, she should be done with her business. She's probably eating dinner around now. You close the door behind you slowly and gently, as if someone was listening in. Fleur hops up on the bed and lays back, stretching across the mattress, letting out a long content sigh. Awkwardly you stand near the door, your feet feeling as if they were trapped in cement. She waves her hoof at you.
"Lay down, I think we both deserve a rest."
Huh? You take off your shoes and tip-toe toward her. She's smiling uncertainly. This could be strange. She moves over, giving you a nice little space. Laying back, you let your feet dangle over the edge, sinking into the soft bed.
"See, isn't this nice?" Fleur turns to you.
It is very relaxing. It's like some weight has been taken off your shoulders, all that worry and loneliness lifted by a simple lay down on a hotel bed.
She lets out a soft giggle, "I can't tell you how many times I've just laid on this bed and looked up at the ceiling. I've rented this room many times before. "
You do so now, taking your eyes off her and focusing on the eggshell paint above. Nothing is happening, everything's fine. This is nice.
"I'm a little hungry. Want to order some food?" she says, perking up.
Seems she's forgotten her troubles as well.
"Why not?" you shrug.
The room service comes by shortly, bringing in a few platters and a stand. Fleur tips them and places the short bed-table carefully beside you.
Celery, grapes, cheese, daisies, hay, and a few sugar cubes
"Well, what first?"
"Hmm. What do you usually eat first?"
"Celery, then work my way through the hay and daises and save the best for last."
"Sounds like a plan."
You don't mind celery, who does really? But hay, flowers? No way, jack. You bite into a stalk.
"Hey, uh, got any stories?"
She looks up at you quizzically, a stem poking out her mouth.
"What kind of stories?"
"Funny ones? Happy ones?"
Her face scrunches up and her eyes drift up.
"I'm not very good at telling stories."
"Neither am I, but imagine how odd it would be for two not-strangers to share their first meal in utter silence?"
"Okay, let me think. There once was this party, up in some rich colt's oversized house. Please note I was pretty young at the time, and I think it was only my second or so big social event. I still wasn't sure if I was being polite enough, or if I was standing right. I was a nervous wreck. Anytime someone told a bad joke, and their buddies laughed, I'd join in with a shrill banshee cry of a giggle. Oh I was so embarrassed. 	So after awhile Fancy tells me to get some punch to calm down, and as I'm headed toward that big red bowl of juice a waiter comes whipping around the corner, slamming into me," her forelegs shoot up to emphasize.
"So, what happened next?"
She grins, "I tumbled and spun right into the table and my head went straight into the punch. When I came too, everypony was looking straight at me, Fancy had his face buried in his hooves. I had never exited a building so quick in my life."
Just the thought of that sends riotous laughter shaking through you. It's nervous, maybe you shouldn't be laughing at her. But the thought of this sophisticated, elegant mare, drenched in red punch, too much for you. Somewhat surprisingly Fleur joins in, reveling in her own misfortune. You lean back a bit too much, falling straight off the bed, landing hard on your ass, a stalk of celery dropping on your chest.
"You alright down there?" she says between laughs.
You pop up, rubbing your head, "I'm good."
Climbing up on the bed you nearly fall off again, but Fleur catches you.
"That was a pretty good impression of me," she coos.
You shake your head, trying to force back a grin.
After both of you settle down again you tell her about the first time you kissed Twilight. Which occurred on a dark, snowy street; your nose was a little runny, and you were praying you didn't ruin the moment. You almost did when you dropped the books you were carrying, nearly hitting her hooves. Afterward the both of you headed back to the library like giddy school girls, where you shared hot chocolate and talked until dawn, trying out a few new kisses over the course of those comfy wintery hours.
"That's kinda romantic."
"I suppose," you say, it's uncomfortable mentioning this stuff to Fleur.
She nods, scooping up two grapes and a small slice of cheese.
"You eat that together?" you wince at the thought.
"Yeah," she replies with confidence, mouth still full, "Have you ever tried it?"
"No."
She slides you some.
"Nah."
Come on, do it, try it for me."
Fleur holds it up to you, tongue out in effort.
You snort and gobble it up, it's so odd chewing them together. But also fucking fantastic!
"Goddamn, I need more!"
"Attaboy!" Fleur looks triumphant as she prepares you another.

"What about your first kiss?" I say, poking her leg, fingertip lingering for just a second. We were sitting close together, our indents into the mattress forcing us to slide together. She's warm, hot even, your thigh brushing against hers. You feel a need to brush her fur, you want to feel its softness. She grows somber quickly, jaw tightening and eyes looking down at the remaining crumbs of food. 
"I was pretty young, but I looked older for a filly. I was so tall, even then," she said softly. "A colt at my magic school pushed me up against the wall in the playground. I was tall but I wasn't strong, and so I couldn't really stop him when he kissed me. It was quick, but it felt like forever."
"I'm sorry, that sounds so shitty," it feels natural, so I wrap an arm around her, palm brushing against her shoulder, feeling her pelt.
"That means a lot," she lets out a nervous half-laugh, "It's silly but I've always felt deep down that my first kiss was taken from me, you know? It wasn't special like yours. I wanted romance, I wanted to share something with someone I loved. It was. . ." she trails off, eyes getting a little misty. 
You think she's going to try, but she just turns it off, shakes herself almost imperceptibly, and her expression goes blank again. The only reason you can tell she shudders is because you're holding her. You wonder for a moment how much she's practiced switching tears off, and why she can even do that at all.
By the time you turn out the light the moon had long past its highest point. You and Fleur had decided to share the bed. It wasn't as strange as you thought it would be. In fact, for awhile you and her chat in hushed tones, facing each other. For some reason, her eyes are illuminated with a certain happiness and excitement that you could even detect in the dark.
After some time your eyes began to flutter shut and you could hardly stay awake. Movement rouses you enough for you to take a peek. She gets herself closer to you, pressing her chest against yours. You mutter something resembling 'what'.
"Jus' hold me..." she replies groggily.
You don't respond, staying still.
"Please."
After a moment without action you slide and arm around her. In a moment more you're asleep.