THIS STORY CONTINUES FROM PICKING UP THE PIECES
 
>After finishing your breakfast, you leave Scootaloo to get settled into the basement.
>Leaving the bakery, you head toward city hall to see the mayor.
>Maybe she can help you get your house built.
>You're not entirely sure if she's the right person to see about it, but you can't think of anyone else who could help.
>It's been a few hours since you and Scootaloo first walked through town, so everyone is awake at this time of day.
>Of course this means more stares.
>You pay them no mind as you trek toward the mayors office.
>The nippy fall air causes you to shiver, slightly.
>You'll need to buy a jacket, soon.
>Eventually, you find the mayors office.
>Compared to the rest of the town, it's actually quite bland looking.
>Must be going for a more professional look.
>When you get closer, you also realize just how tiny it is.
>As you open the door and duck inside,  your head actually touches the ceiling.
>Seems to be a theme, that.
>A pony sits behind a desk, in front of you.
>She must be the secretary.
>As you approach, she looks up at you with a disinterested look.
>"Ya hear to see the mayor, toots?"
>Wow her voice is annoying.
"Um. Yes, I am."
>"D'ya got an appointement?"
"No, I didn't know I'd need one."
>She gives an irritated sigh.
>"Please have a seat over there," she says, pointing to the corner of the room.
>There aren't even any chairs there.
>"The mayor will see you when she's ready."
>Wth few other options, you go stand and wait.
 
----
 
>No less than three hours later, you finally leave the office.
>Talking to the mayor only took a few minutes.
>The rest of the time was spent just waiting around while the secretary shot dirty looks at you.
>The mayor herself was pleasant enough to talk to, at least.
>She had a warm personality, even if she did seem a bit distant.
>More importantly, she was actually able to help.
>She told you she would notify a contractor as soon as she was able.
>Thankfully, the estimate was also much lower than you were expecting.
>The house would cost more than normal since it would be built for your height, but still well below how much you had.
>It seems that when some of the builders can use magic, it cuts down on the cost of labor.
>Still, she told you to expect two months at the very least.
>Hopefully Pinkie lets you stay that long.
>Maybe you can help her out in the bakery or something.
>Anything so you seem less useless.
>Before you can make it too far, you heard someone call for you.
>"Hey Anon, wait up!"
>It sounds like Rainbow Dash.
>After a quick look around, sure enough, she's flying down toward you.
>Once again, she stops and hovers a few feet in front of you, but this time she looks much more relaxed.
>"So, how did it ago? Was she happy to see you?"
>You nod with a small smile.
"Yeah, she was."
>"What happened last night? I looked all over but couldn't find you."
" Sorry. I ended up sleeping with Scootaloo."
>"WHAT!?"
 
----
 
>Wow, that was smooth.
"No, no! Not like that!"
>Rainbow Dash is in your face in an instant.
>"Explain yourself. Now."
"Alright, alright!" You said, taking a step back.
"Just give me a bit of space."
>She crosses her front legs as she stares at you.
"After dinner, when I was heading home, I saw two stallions following her."
>Rainbow's expression softens into a concerned look.
"I chased after them, and found them harassing her at her house. I started to leave, but she asked me to stay with her. So, I did."
>Rainbow Dash had a troubled expression on her face.
>"I gotta go, Anon. I should talk to Scootaloo."
>She starts to fly off toward Scootaloos house, but you stop her.
"Wait! She's not there!"
>She zips back over to you.
>"Then where is she?"
"The bakery."
>"Why is she at the bakery?"
>You can feel your face redden.
"She's staying there will me until my house is built."
>She raises an eyebrow at you.
>"And where will she stay when it's finished?"
>You're definitely blushing now.
"I, uh. I offered to let her live with me."
>Her expression is hard to read as she hovers there, staring at you.
>Suddenly, she swoops in and hugs you.
>Pulling away, she's smiling, and has tears in her eyes.
>"Thank you."
>With that, she flies off.
 
----
 
>As you open the door to the bakery, the bell lets out a merry jingle.
>Within a second, Pinkie is beside you.
>You're never going to get used to that.
>"So?"
"Hello to you, too. And so what?"
>"So how did it go, silly?"
"The mayor told me she would make the proper arrangements. I just have to pay for it."
>You unconciously swallow nerviously.
"She said it would probably take at least two months, though."
>"Well, that's not so bad!"
"Two months is a long time, though. Are you sure you're ok with us staying so long?"
>Pinkie gives you a quizzical look.
>"Of course! You two are my friends. You can stay as long as you need!"
>She flashes you a  wide smile, and hops back off into the kitchen.
>You're left standing there, awkwardly, in the midde of the room.
>It's odd to be treated so nicely.
>Shaking the thought from your mind, you head down the stairs to the basement to check on Scootaloo.
 
----
 
>The room looks a little different from when you left.
>Scootaloo's pictures were now hanging on stone wall of the basement.
>There are also more blankets on the floor next to the old ones, doubling the width of the makeshift bed.
>Scootaloo herself is pulling her pillow from her bag when she happens to notice you.
>"Hey, you're back!"
"Yep. Settling in well?"
>"Mm-hm!" She replies with a smile.
>She carries her pillow over to the bed and plops it down.
>It's muddy and you can smell it.
"Uh, Scootaloo? Don't you think you should use something else?"
>"But that's all I have." Her face falls after saying it.
>You open Pinkie's cupboard and search for an extra pillow.
>Finding one, you snag it, and close the door.
>You knock Scootaloo's filfthy pillow away with your foot, and place the fresh one down.
"I'm sure Pinkie won't mind you using this until we can get you a new one."
>She doesn't reply.
>She still looks pretty sad.
>Better change the conversation.
"Aren't the beds kind of close?"
>Ok, not THAT, you idiot.
>She immediately blushes and begins to stammer.
>"O-oh! Well, I can move-"
"No, no! It's fine. I just... everything is happening at once, you know? It's just so different than what I'm used to."
>There you go, mentioning prison again.
>You should stop doing that.
>"So... what's in the bag?"
>She points at the bag with your apple brandy.
"Let me show you."
 
----
 
>About an hour later, one of the bottles is gone.
>You're pretty tipsy, but Scootaloo is trashed.
>She has a startling low tolerance for alcohol.
>Must be because of her small size.
>Still, you wish you had known ahead of time.
>You wouldn't have let her have so much.
>She's swaying all over the place, and can't talk without slurring.
>It's not very late, but she should probably sleep this off.
>You wobble slightly as you climb to your feet.
>Maybe you're more drunk than you thought.
>She lets out a "woo" as you scoop her up in your arms.
>You lay her as gently as you can down on her side of the makeshift bed.
>"Thank you, Anonymous." She slurs slightly, with a small sigh.
>"You're a good friend, you know that?"
"I try my best." You reply with a smile.
>"You're my BEST friend. You never adandoned me like my other friends..."
>She begins to tear up.
>Oh boy.
>Better try and stop this before it begins.
>Sitting down beside her, you roll her onto her back.
>You gently rub her belly and hum a tune to her.
>You don't know any lullabies or anything, but you try to hum something relaxing.
>Her tears stop and she begins to relax, a content smile on her face.
>Within minutes, she's out like a light.
>Slowly and carefully, you lean over and give her a kiss on the nose.
"Sleep well."
 
----
 
>You head up the stairs to the bakery as quietly as you can.
>Pinkie is sweeping the floor as you enter.
>Must be past closing time.
>She waves when she sees you.
>"Heya, Anon!"
"Hey, Pinkie."
>"Where's Scootaloo?"
"She's, uh... she's asleep."
>She frowns.
>"So early?"
"Yeah, she was pretty tired."
>She narrows her eyes at you.
>"Have you been drinking, Anon?"
"I had a little to drink, yes."
>She stares at you for a few more seconds, before instantly returning to her cheerful nature.
>"Okie dokie, then! Say, I was just making dinner. Wanna join me?"
>You consider declining, but you haven't eaten since this morning.
"Sure, that sounds nice. Just no candy or anything."
>"Pfffft. Candy for dinner! You're silly, Anon!"
>Not the reply you expected from Pinkie, of all ponies.
>You take a seat at the small dinner table.
>A few moments later, she carries a tray in.
>On it are two plates of macaroni and cheese, two salad, and two glasses of what look like soda.
>She places the tray on the table and takes a seat across from you.
>"Here you go. Dig in!"
>You nod, and take your portion of the food from the tray.
>The food is very good.
>Seems Pinkie's cooking ability extends beyond just baked goods.
"I just wanted to say thank you, Pinkie. I'm more grateful than you could know."
 
----
 
>She gives a quick giggle.
>"It's just mac and cheese!"
"No, I mean thank you for everything. Taking me in. Helping Scootaloo. It just means a lot to me. To us."
>"It's no problem at all, Anon."
"Well, still. You're a good friend."
>She flashes you a smile before going back to her meal.
 
>Finishing your dinner, you push your plate away and get up from the table.
>You offer to help with the dishes, but Pinkie insists she can handle them.
>Defeated, you head downstairs to the basement.
>Scootaloo is still asleep, sprawled sideways over the blankets.
>She is NOT going to have fun in the morning.
>Oh well, nothing to do now.
>You may as go to sleep, too.
>As gently as you can, you move her to her own side of the bed.
>She didn't even stir.
>Dead to the world, that one.
>Laying down beside her, you lightly rest your hand her side.
>She's warm, and unbelievably soft.
>Her calm, steady breathing is strangely relaxing.
>Within minutes, you're out, too.
 
----
 
>You open your eyes to find pitch darkness.
>It'd probably be a good idea to put a lamp or something down here.
>Letting out a yawn, you notice a familiar pressure on your chest.
>Reaching up to investigate, sure enough, you find Scootaloo, curled up on your chest again.
>It's pretty warm in here, so it can't be because she was cold.
>She must just like it, there.
>That's fine; you don't mind it.
>You absently begin to stroke her mane.
>She sighs softly, and gently nuzzles your chest.
>She's fond of doing that.
>Once again, you don't mind.
>A thought begins to form in your head, though.
>What does she see you as?
>A friend?
>Or more?
>She certainly seems close to you, but at the same time, she's never flirted with you or anything.
>And more than that, what do you think of her?
>You clear the thought from your mind.
>This is something to think about later when you have a clear mind.
>And also when she's not laying right on you.
>It'd be easy for that to sway your opinion.
>Right now, she's here with you, that's good enough.
>You gently run your fingers through her hair until sleep takes you again.
>You can't see it, but there's a smile on her face.