//------------------------------// // Who with benefits? *REPOST // Story: They grow up so fast "literally" // by zootxjanice //------------------------------// Sunrise was slowly making it's way into Spike's slowly opening eyes. There wasn't much, as a figure's head was blocking some of it through the window. He slowly stood up with a stretch of his arms to see who was out there. After creaking the window open, the figure turned around to reveal Applejack. "Applejack? It's like, almost six in the morning. What are you doing out here?" Spike asked rubbing his eye. "I usually watch the sunrise before I start handlin my early work. Why don't you come join me?" Applejack suggested patting a spot on the balcony post she was leaning on. Spike shrugged and hopped out of the window and leaned on the spot next to her. "So, you ready to see Twilight face to face?" She asked softly. "Yep. I'm gonna have to face the music sometime. I just hope we'll still remain friends." He said with a hint of doubt in his voice. "Well why wouldn't ya?" She asked a little surprised. "Well, it's just that when she was done doing...you know, she said that she loved me. I don't even know if she meant like a friend, or an assistant, or anything!" Spike exclaimed confused. Applejack had remembered what Twilight said to her, but she couldn't tell him. "How about...as a boyfriend?" Applejack asked causing Spike to laugh. "Good one Applejack. Why would Twilight suddenly want me to be her boyfriend?" He asked with sarcasm. "Well, you two have been spendin an awful lot of time together, and considerin your age, it could be bound to happen." Applejack said receiving widened eyes from Spike. "Wait wait, are you saying that me and Twilight could end up...dating?" Spike asked receiving a shrug from Applejack's shoulders. "That's ridiculous! She and I both know that I'm in love with Rarity!" Spike said with slight anger. "And how's that workin out for you?" Applejack asked sternly, causing Spike to lower his head. "Now look sugarcube, I ain't sayin you two will go bein friends with benefits or whatnot, but what I am saying, is that there's obviously a reason why she was cloppin over you." She said putting a hand on his shoulder. "Yeah I guess you're right. Wait, who with benefits?" Spike asked going back on her sentence. "Friends with benefits? It's for ponies who have...certain needs fulfilled from a friend without any romantic feelins." Applejack explained. "Certain needs?" He asked. "Yeah I don't know if you wanna start diggin around in this subject. Let's just say two ponies share the same bed, and they still remain friends." She said, sparing him details. Suddenly a mental lightbulb went off over Spike's head. "Oh my Celestia, that's the solution! Me and Twilight will be friends with benefits!" Spike said happily. Applejack's eyes widened. "Umm, I don't think you understand the concept." Applejack said unassuringly. "No no this is perfect! If me and Twilight keep sharing the same bed, then things won't be weird!" Spike said excitedly. "Wait, what do you mean by 'keep sharin the same bed'?" She asked with an eyebrow raised. "I got to go get dressed so I can head back over there, thanks Applejack!" He said before running back inside the window. Applejack was still trying to follow what he meant. "Okay I'm still gonna need an answer on which bed you're sleepin in!" Applejack yelled going after him. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inside the Golden oaks library, Twilight was sitting at the kitchen table drinking some tea. She was staring out the window deep in thought, as she wondered if Spike would ever return. Suddenly a creak from the front door was heard. She got up from the table to go see who it was. "Hey Twilight, you home?" A voice called. She could have guessed it was Spike before looking down in the lobby to see that it indeed was Spike. She gasped before running down the steps to tackle him in a hug. "Oh Spike, thank goodness you're home! I thought I'd never see you again!" She said happily into his chest. "It's okay Twilight." He said warmly. "No It's not! I drove you away, all because I sleep clopped! Oh what kind of a friend am I?" She asked turning away. Spike grabbed her arm and turned her back around. "Twilight Sparkle. You are a great friend. I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you. I consider myself lucky just to even know you! You could never drive me away." He said with a hand on her cheek. Twilight looked up at him with a warm smile. "Thank you." She whispered hugging him once more. His stomach suddenly growled. "Sorry, I guess I skipped breakfast to run over here." He said sheepishly. Twilight giggled softly. "Okay, I'd better give you some of my toast then." She said leading him in the kitchen. Spike sat down at the table as Twilight put two more pieces of bread in the toaster. "So, did you have a good time at Pinkie's sleep over?" She asked sitting down. "Yeah, I'm just lucky I didn't have to go to the hospital after our pillow fight." Spike said sarcastically. "So I take it everypony else had a good time?" Twilight asked stirring a teabag in her cup. "Yeah. Although I think Fluttershy spent the night in the bathroom crying." He said unsure. "DING!" Went the toaster as toast popped out. "Ooh! It's ready!" Spike said excitedly as he jumped out of his chair. "Guess somepony's energetic." Twilight said sarcastically. "Well, I was up earlier with Applejack. We were actually talking about you Twi." He said putting the pieces of toast on a plate. "You were?" She asked confused. Spike nodded his head as he sat down. "Yep. She suggested that there was a reason you were...y'know clopping yesterday." Spike said causing Twilight to nearly choke on her toast. "O-oh yeah?" Twilight said uncomfortably sipping her tea. "So I think I've come up with the perfect solution. Would you like to be friends with benefits?" As soon as Spike asked, Twilight did a spit take. "WHAT?!" She asked shocked. "Yeah, I figure since we're already sharing a bed, we can do that, and still remain friends!" He said causing Twilight's mouth to be opened wide. "Spike are you listening to yourself?!" Twilight asked angrily. "What? What's the big deal?" He asked confused. "Spike. Friends with benefits don't just share the same bed, they also have meaningless sex!" She explained. "...WHAT?!" Twilight nodded slowly. "B-but Applejack didn't say that! She just said that they take care of special needs that, ohhhhh..." He said catching on. "Aw son of a mare Spike! Don't scare me like that!" She exclaimed. "I know, I know, i'm sorry. I'm such an idiot!" He said as he palmed his face. Twilight's anger slowly turned into sympathy. "Oh come here you goofball." She said standing up to extend her arms. Spike accepted her invitation with a gentle hug. "I love you." She whispered. "What? What'd you say?" Spike asked pulling away slightly. "I said...'I love juice'!" She quickly covered up. "Oh. I love juice too." He said cheerfully. "Well, I'd better get this cleaned up." She said referring to the tea she spat out. "Want me to help?" He asked feeling bad. "Aw, what a gentleman. But I think you should get another set of clothes from Rarity. Just in case." She said grabbing a dish towel. "Well, if you say so. Alright, I'll be back in a while. Bye Twilight!" He greeted as he ran out the kitchen. Twilight gave a dejected sigh. "I wish you'd stay longer." She said softly. ~CAROUSEL BOUTIQUE~ Rarity was just finishing sewing a dress when she heard a knock on her bedroom door. "Come in!" She said in a sing-songy voice. Spike peeked his head through the doorway. "Is this a bad time?" He asked. "No not at all Spike. Come right in." She said setting the dress aside. "Let me guess, you need a new set of clothing?" She asked turning around. "Well, yeah." He said rubbing the back of his head. "Well, no problem at all. Any requests? Sleep wear, or swim wear, or something?" She asked as she was getting some material. "I just need a casual, formal outfit." He said. "Well have a seat and I will get right on it." She said giving Spike the idea to sit on her bed. "So, any particular reason you need this outfit?" She asked drawing a layout. "Well don't tell, but I'm planning on taking Twilight out for dinner tonight." He said causing Rarity to slash a line with her pencil. "Really? Wow, I never expected you to take Twilight on dates often." She said causing Spike to blush. "No, It's not a date or anything, I just...feel like doing something nice for her is all." He said half lying. "Well nonetheless, I think it's a very nice gesture." Rarity said putting white fabric in her sewing machine. "Thanks. I've already decided where I'm gonna take her. I know this awesome spot by the lake that's great for watching sunsets. "Ooh, sounds romantic!" She teased. "No no no, I told you, this is a completely, non romantic, outing." He said annoyed. Rarity rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say dear." She said starting on some black fabric. ~BACK AT THE LIBRARY~ Twilight was casually lying on her stomach, reading on the second story deck. "Hey, thought you'd be out here." Said a voice behind her, which was Spike's. "Oh, hi Spike. Just catching up on some reading." She said looking back at her page. Spike then climbed out the window to join her. "Hey so, I don't know if this is a weird question but, are you doing anything tonight?" He asked sitting down in the same position next to her. "Not that I know of, why?" She asked not taking her eyes off her book "Well, I was wondering if maybe you'd wanna, have dinner with me tonight?" He asked nervously. Twilight suddenly looked at him in surprise. "You mean, just the two of us?" She emphasized. "Yeah. It'd be my way of apologizing for earlier." He said recalling the events from before. "Oh come on. You don't have to do that." She said reassuringly. "Aw come on please? It wouldn't be part of my dragon code if I didn't make it up to you." Spike said now on his knees. Twilight sighed. "Well, if it means that much to you, then fine, I'll have dinner with you tonight." She said looking back at her book. "Great! I-I mean, yeah, cool...see ya!" He said running back inside the library. When Twilight made sure he closed the window, she suddenly jumped up in excitement. "YesyesyesyesYES!" She squealed with excitement. "Oh my gosh! It's already the afternoon! I have to choose something good to wear!" She yelled frantically as she ran back in the library. ~LATE AFTERNOON~ Spike was pacing the floor in the lobby wearing a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up halfway, black tie, and black pants. He was nervous about how tonight would go. His nervous thought was suddenly hightened by who was coming down the stairs. Twilight was slowly walking down in a sleeveless, white collared shirt, along with a pink button up vest, dark purple skirt, and white boots covering half her legs. Spike was staring blankly at her. "Ready to go?" She asked Spike, who was still staring at her. "Spike? You alright?" Spike suddenly came out of his trance. "Uh, yeah. Sorry, you just look so...pretty tonight." He said slightly blushing. "Aww, and you're the most handsome dragon I've ever seen." She said softly. Spike chuckled nervously. "Well, we should uh get out of here huh?" He asked opening the door for her. "Let's." She said grabbing his tie, and dragging him out the door behind her. When they were a couple of feet away from the Library, Spike suddenly wrapped his hands over Twilight's eyes from behind. "Whoa! What's happening here?" Twilight asked with a chuckle. "Well, you didn't think I wouldn't surprise you, now did you?" He asked smugly. "Gah, I hate when you're mysterious." She said annoyed. "Relax. We're almost there." He said still covering her eyes. They walked a couple of more minutes before Spike said anything else. "Okay, after I let go, don't open them until I say, okay?" He asked the annoyed mare. "Fine." She said with a tone. Spike let go and ran in front of her. "Okay, you can open your eyes...now!" He said causing Twilight to open her eyes and gasp in surprise. Before her was a sight of Spike in front of a checkered blanket with a picnic basket, and behind it was the Ponyville lake, glistening under the orange sky. Twilight put a hand over her mouth, about to cry. "Oh no, please don't cry. I didn't think the set up was that bad!" He said frantically. He was interrupted by a pair of arms wrapped around his neck. "This is the the nicest thing anypony's ever made for me." She lightly sobbed. Spike lightly grabbed her head and put it into view with his. "Us. I made it for us." He said wiping her tears away. After he escourted her onto the blanket and sat her down, they spent the next ten minutes enjoying the food that Spike had prepared for themselves. After that they enjoyed the sunset. "Wow Spike, that's so beautiful." She said sitting next to him. "Yeah I'm glad I picked this spot. Man this town is so great, I don't care what anypony says." He said looking at the sunset with her. "Well, I'm glad I can always count on my Spike to show me a good time. Thank you." She said gazing into Spike's eyes. "You're welcome Twilight." He said putting his arm around her shoulder in a half hug. They both stared at the almost setting sun. "Hey, can I ask you a question?" She asked breaking the silence, Spike nodded his head. "Do you ever feel that, Rarity might never take your feelings seriously? Oh my gosh I offended you." She said sounding afraid. "No no, not at all Twilight. I mean, with Rarity, I feel like we have a strong connection, but with the way things are going, I just don't think she'll wanna start dating anytime soon, especially not me. So no, I don't think she'll take my feelings seriously, but then again, who would?" He asked before lowering his head. Twilight felt the upmost sincerity for Spike, which is why she brought his head up to face her. "I would." She said before grabbing the sides of his head and pressing her lips into his in a long, passionate, kiss.