The soft crunch of hoofsteps upon fallen snow sounded out through the frozen air, the yellow mare walking towards the blanketed cottage with a paper bag in her teeth. She would've flown, but she didn't much care for the cool air beneath her wings when they could just as easily be tucked warmly at her sides. She turned up the walkway, smiling in the knowledge that the indoors were finally close within her reach.
Fluttershy turned the knob with a forehoof and gently pressed herself against the door, swinging it aside. Feeling the welcoming gush of warmth envelope her, she set the bag down on the carpet and quickly closed the door behind her. She sighed happily, proceeding to remove her furry blue boots by sliding them off one at a time, each with their sister hoof. She then bent her head downwards and picked them up in her teeth, placing them neatly together in the corner by the door for next time.
Her ears perked up at the sound of little paws scampering in her direction, a smile curving its way across her lips. She flicked her light pink mane away from her face and turned to the source of the pattering, her eyes settling warmly on the little mass of milky-white fur as it bounded towards her - a little clumsily, but with great enthusiasm. She giggled as the bunny proceeded to hop excitedly in place just a few hooves away, clearly happy to see her.
"Hello, Angel," she said sweetly.
She took a step nearer and lowered her head next to the lovable lump, giving him an affectionate nuzzle which he happily returned. He had only recently gotten to the point where he could really start to move about, and it was a delight to the pegasus to watch him as he continued to grow. The little bunny abruptly pointed a paw at the bag which Fluttershy had brought, and the honey-hued mare gave him a little nod, smiling affirmingly.
Angel bent down onto his tummy, facing the spot where the bag sat, his little tuft of tail sticking up in the air before he pounced, leaping into it. Fluttershy laughed softly as she watched the form of the bag contort and flick slightly side to side, the chuckling of a curious baby bunny sounding out from inside it as he took stock of the items within. After a few moments, the two little tips of his fluffy ears became visible over the paper rim, and a paw shot up out of the bag accompanied by a triumphant chattering. He was proffering a large thin hardcover with a colorful illustration on the front.
Unfortunately, Angel had leaned a bit too heavily against one of the sides of the bag and the whole thing toppled over. Fluttershy quietly gasped, but there was a stirring within the bag and the bunny's form soon became visible as he briefly grunted and strained to push the book out of the bag. He slid it along the floor towards her with his paws before collapsing in a heap just short of the item of interest, his ears falling over his face as his appendages splayed out tiredly upon the carpet. He blew at one of his ears, only for it to fall annoyingly back into the position it had been before.
Fluttershy giggled, picking up the book with a forehoof. "You want me to read you this one?" she asked warmly.
Angel looked up, his sour expression turning happy and enthusiastic, his ears falling behind his head as he did so. He nodded excitedly.
"Alright, then." Fluttershy leaned down, scooping the little bunny up to cradle him in her free foreleg, continuing to hold the book with her other hoof. Angel Bunny snuggled against her chest as she fluttered over to the couch, setting him and the book carefully onto a seat cushion before wrapping him up in his favorite blue blanket. Once she was satisfied that he was all nice and cozy, she settled gently by him on her haunches, picking up the book in her forehooves.
"Let's see now," she began, opening the book to the first page. Angel hopped in a mass of blanket onto her lap, sitting up on his hind legs to see the illustrations. "The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Trotter."
---*---
"... Blackberries for supper. The end."
Fluttershy looked down at the bunny in her lap, his eyelids heavy and his little ears limply drooping, his small form sluggishly leaned against her fur. She smiled. Her little cotton ball was all tuckered out it seemed. She set the book aside, closing it quietly before carefully taking the bunny into her forehooves.
Angel Bunny released a small, inaudible yawn in her grasp as she fluttered up the stairs and towards her bedroom. Passing through the hall and then the corresponding doorway. Once inside the dimly-lit room, Fluttershy set her sights on a wicker basket with a cushion inside, the whole of which sat perpendicular to her own bed. She eased down from the air and onto her hooves before gently placing his blanketed form into the basket. He didn't open his eyes, now seeming quite fully asleep. She softly ran a fetlock along the top of his head as he slumbered, casting him an adoring expression as she did so.
"Goodnight, Angel," she whispered lovingly.
Stifling a yawn, Fluttershy realized that she herself was quite tired also, and she crawled into her own bed, wrapping the colorful quilt around herself. She released a contented sigh and eased her head into the pillow, her eyelids slowly lowering to a close. A moment or so passed before she heard a soft, high-pitched whine. She immediately opened her eyes and peered over the edge of her mattress. Gazing up at her were the sad eyes of her bunny, looking as though she'd abandoned him.
The mare's gaze softened. She reached down with her forehooves and pulled him up and onto the bed, sliding him over to herself 'til he was against her body. She kept a foreleg draped around him, and Angel Bunny nuzzled into her chest, relaxing upon feeling her fur against his, a peaceful expression overtaking his features. Fluttershy leaned down and kissed the top of his head before easing back down onto her pillow. With the warmth of the blanket and each other in the tranquil silence of the bedroom, both pony and rabbit were soon... fast asleep.