"Glory, could you get that for me?"
I hummed softly to myself as I carried the small tray of sandwiches over to the dining room table, making sure the various place settings were properly prepared as Morning Glory walked over to the front door. Five settings in all were set up. One for myself, one for Morning Glory, two for Dawning Dew and her fiance, and one for...
"Cutting it a bit close, aren't we, Dew?" I heard Glory snicker. "And where's Diamond Hue? I thought he was supposed to be coming today."
My ear twisted in the direction of the door, debating whether to put away a place setting or not.
"Afraid his job is keeping him a bit tied up at the moment. So it looks like it's just going to be us mares tonight."
I was sure Dawning had to have been forcing a smile in the entryway. She loved that colt dearly, there was no question. But, there were only so many hours in the day. He really needed to take a bit more time away from work to be with her some nights. With a small grumble, I rubbed my forehead, just under the horn, gently with my hoof as I closed my eyes.
"Well, hurry in here and sit down, Dawning. Dinner is already finished and-" The rest of Glory's little speech was cut off with the sound of her stomach growling in protest. That poor girl, I told her to have a snack if she was that hungry. But did she listen? Of course not."
"Hello M-" Dawning rounded the corner just as I was reopening my eyes, worry quickly filling her eyes. "Is everything alright?"
"Just a bit of a headache, sweetie. Been on and off for a while now. Nothing really to worry about." I smiled as I stepped over to nuzzle the newest visitor to my house. "Give me just a moment, I'm going to clean up the spot I had made for your fiance, then we can get straight to eating. I know your sister is..." I tilted my head playfully, trying to remember the words she had used moments before. "Ah, yes. I believe she said she is 'absolutely famished'."
We all laughed as I quickly removed Hue's place setting and took my seat.
"I wish Princess Celestia would let Sunset come home already," Glory mumbled to herself as she started eating her salad.
My eyes drifted to the empty seat we had kept open since my little Sunny went off to become Celestia's personal student. I was just about to speak up, when I noticed Dew's hoof gently rest on her sister's shoulder.
"She's where she's needed, Glory. The Princess herself told us that, remember? I am sure Sun will come home as soon as she's able to break away from whatever it is she's doing."
I couldn't help but smile, pride swelling in my chest at the thought of my youngest daughter making something of herself, away on some extended mission handed to her by the Princess of the Sun herself. But, it wasn't just Sunset that was making me proud. The two mares in front of me had certainly made something of their lives as well, following in my hoofsteps and pursuing careers in the arts.
"Besides, I somehow doubt you want her underhoof the next time Soarin comes to visit," Dew snickered as a grin crossed her lips.
My ears perked up at the name in interest. "Soarin?"
"I thought we agreed not to get her hopes up..." Glory started to blush a bit under my gaze, before letting out a sigh. "Y-Yeah, Momma... I've... kinda been seeing him for the past few months."
I couldn't keep the smile from my face. "Are things getting serious, dear?"
She looked to her older sister for a moment. "This... I... I don't know, Momma. That's why I didn't want to mention anything. You know what my track record has been like with colts. I... didn't want to get your hopes up."
I started to laugh, before my hoof went back to my forehead for a moment as I winced ever so slightly in pain. This was easily the worst bout of headache's I'd had in at least the past few moons, but I really didn't want to go bother a doctor about them. Especially went they usually eased after a good night's rest. "When Sunset finally comes home, we'll have to pester her about whether or not she's found a special somepony."
"Well, if Glory's finally starting to settle down, I'm sure Sun managed to find herself somepony."
"Hey now!" Glory made an adorable pout for a few moments, before she broke into a laugh and went back to her food.
Our dinner continued in mostly the same fashion after that. One of my girls taking a playful jab at the other, slowly letting little bits of the past week filter out. Unfortunately, the whole time, my headache was steadily getting worse. As much as the idea pained me, I knew the best choice for me was going to be to get some sleep and hope this pain dispersed by morning.
"Well, I believe I am going to retire for the evening, girls. Don't worry about cleaning up, I'll handle it in the morning when I wake up." I smiled at them as I got up to head to my room. "I love you both. Get home safe."
"Love you too, Mom!"
As had become her tradition, Morning Glory finished cleaning up the house, putting away the leftovers from dinner as well as a few other minor things before it was time for her to head to her own home for the evening. But, there was one last thing she had to do for the night, walking quietly into the open door frame of her mother's room. Moonlight filtered in through the window, casting a faint cyan glow around Sunburst Stream, almost as if wrapping her in a hug. But, for the first time in ages, mom seemed to be resting peacefully. Normally, after a night of reminiscing about Sunset, she would tend to toss in her sleep, sometimes crying, sometimes softly begging her little Sunny to come home. But, tonight, she just laid there with a smile.
"I love you, Momma. Sleep well. I'll see you tomorrow," Morning Glory whispered as she gently closed her mother's door. As she headed down the hallway, she could just make out her mother's sleep-mumbled words...
"I love you, Sunny. Always."