The Apple of My (Familial) Eye

Braeburn remained conflicted for the next three years. On some days, he could almost forget about it. On occasion, he could push it right to the back of his mind - maybe be roped in by a pretty mare; a kiss or two, a sly hoof where hooves shouldn't go - but never for long. Then he would remember, and be obsessed with his beautiful cousin once more.

On some nights, he would lie awake in bed, thinking what it would be like it he did take her. What it would be like to go to sleep in the same bed as her, and wake up with her too. He still had friends, and a social life, but he had somewhat regressed into a tragic romantic.

So when he was invited to visit for Hearth Warmings three years later, he didn't know what to do.

"Howdy cuz!" called Applejack, waving a hoof to her yellow cousin through the snow. She was standing at Ponyville train station, and the Appleoosa Express had just screeched to a halt. Braeburn had just disembarked, and was looking for his cousins. Applejack was waving wildly to attract his attention.

"Howdy!" her cousin called back over the howl of the wind. he saw her easily - he could never mistake anypony else for Applejack, not with the shade of her coat, or her mane.

No! he told himself, Kin, remember? Kin and no more!

"Braeburn!" called Apple Bloom, jumping up and down and grinning. Once Braeburn approached it was all he could do to say a quick hello to the two fillies before the younger one launched into a series of tales about her friends and her - the Cutie Mark Crusaders - and their various attempts to earn their cutie marks.

"But right now, we're all just learning special skills with Twilight." Apple Bloom told him, she had chattered all the way back from the station, and now the three of them had finally entered the warmth of Sweet Apple Acres' farmhouse. "We go every week." Apple Bloom continued, "Ah'm learning how to make potions." she told him, "It's real interesting, d'y'all wanna see?" she offered. Braeburn smiled at her.

"Ah'd love to, Apple Bloom." he replied truthfully, "But Ah'm mighty tired right now, Ah just wanna rest, okay?"

Apple Bloom was a little disappointed, but she understood. She was a sensible, sweet little filly. She pulled off her pink (to match her bow) scarf and handed it to her older sister before whizzing off to her room. Applejack smiled.

"The amount of energy she's got now, Celestia knows how strong an Applebucker she'll be." the orange mare remarked, pulling off her own green scarf. It matched her eyes perfectly, Braeburn noticed.

"Ah reckon she could give Big Mac a run for his money." Braeburn agreed. He pulled off his saddlebags and placed them on the floor, "Where am Ah sleeping this time around?"

Applejack looked at him apologetically.

"Ah'm afraid you're gonna have to sleep in the barn." she admitted, "We turned the spare bedroom into a place for Apple Bloom to practice her potions. Just  as well we did really," she added thoughtfully, "One of them exploded, took a wall out. If it had been her room, might've taken out two" she waved a hoof, ending the tangent "Anyway, we made the barn all nice and cozy for you. So you needn't worry. It's just a little...inconvenient." she finished.

Braeburn smiled and pulled his saddlebags over his back again, "As long as it's warm, Ah won't complain." he said, "Lead the way, AJ."

She did.

True to her word (as always) Applejack had made the barn as homely as possible. When you entered, there was the normal bottom half, filled with hay and farm tools, but if you went up a staircase on the side, you could see that the top floor had been done up nicely.

Tucked into a far corner was a double bed (which had survived the explosion) and a bedside table that Applejack had made herself from old apple-timber. On the table was a lamp, and another hung from the rafters above. In the walls were pictures of Apple family relatives, some of which Braeburn hadn't seen in years. There was a large wardrobe next to the bed, and beside that, a desk, a chair and a window. Big MacIntosh and Applejack had even managed to get the old radiator working, so it was toasty and snug.

"What do you think?" Applejack asked, turning so she could see her cousin's face. He was smiling,

"Ah think it's wonderful." he said, "Looks very cozy. Ah'm gonna enjoy my stay here."

Applejack grinned, "Ah should hope so."

The evening passed amiably. Braeburn unpacked his saddlebags, had a few minutes to himself (mostly scolding and self-disgust) and then he joined his hosts in the main farmhouse for dinner.

Being Apples, his hosts knew how to cook. Dinner was delightful, and once everypony was done, they waddled into the living room for some after-dinner chat. Once Apple Bloom had said her 'goodnight's and gone to bed, a few mugs of hot cider made their way into the Apple family's hooves, and they sat around the fire, trading stories of what the others had missed.

“And it was just this Hearts and Hooves Day that Apple Bloom and her friends thought it might be fun to set up Big Mac with their teacher, Cheerilee.” Applejack was telling her cousin, “Ain’t that right, Big Mac?”

“Eeyup.” He replied, taking a drink of warm cider, and for a moment, the only sound was Granny Smith’s soft snores.

“Needless to say it all went badly. If mah memory serves, you both ended up at the bottom of a pit, looking like you were about to get married.”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac agreed, his deep red coat changing in shade slightly (not that may would have noticed) as he blushed at the memory.

“Ah remember Cheerilee, Ah think.” Braeburn said, “Ain’t she the dark violet one? With the pale pink striped mane?”

“Eeyup.” Big MacIntosh answered, Braeburn smiled,

“There are worse mares to fall in love with.” He said, smiling as he leant back in his chair and took a long drink of cider.

“Like who?” asked Applejack, “You sound like you’re talking from experience.”

And so, Braeburn launched into a very humorous, and very long-winded tale about a surprisingly persistent mare who had decided he was The One for her. It included several objects being thrown at him in rage or desire (as far as throwing was concerned, it was usually herself when it came to the latter) and a visit from a very protective big brother.

“Sounds like you, Big Mac.” Applejack remarked, grinning. Big MacIntosh looked up at the mention of his name. Applejack turned to Braeburn, “He makes it his job to scare off any stallion Ah’ve ever taken a fancy to. At this rate, Granny Smith’s gonna die a granny.” She jerked her muzzle towards the elderly sleeping pony in the rocking chair.

“What’s that s’posed to mean?” Big MacIntosh asked, his longest speech of the day, (and possibly the week)

“Well,” Applejack explained, “between your scaring off every eligible stallion within three miles, and your shyness, ain’t none of us gonna have foals.”

“I resent that description.” Big MacIntosh said,

“Don’t mean it ain’t true.” Applejack replied, draining her cider mug. Big MacIntosh stuck his tongue out at her, Applejack retaliated by sticking out her own tongue. For a while they looked at eachother darkly, then they broke into grins.

Braeburn smiled as he watched the two of them, still so amiable after all these years. He glanced at the clock, and drained his own cider mug before saying,

“Well, it’s getting late, and Ah reckon Ah’m tired enough to hit the hay now – literally.” He added, “Ah’ll let mahself out, don’t y’all worry.” He stood up and made for the front door.

“Ah’ll walk you out.” Applejack said, “Ah could use a quick stroll before Ah turn in anyway.” She stood up herself and turned to her big brother.

“Night, Big Mac.” She said,

“Night.” He replied, making his way to the staircase. Applejack pulled a blanket over her sleeping grandmother before opening the front door.