Whats love got to do with it?

A cool breeze slowly crept through the apple orchard bringing a slight chill with it. It was starting to get later on in the summer causing the leaves to slowly change in color. Most of the orchard had been buck by the Apple family throughout the summer and only a few acres of trees were left to harvest as it would be that winters store of food. With the Zap Apple harvest right around the corner, this would be the last of the regular apple harvest for the year.

Earlier in the week Applejack had asked Midnight for his help in the fields so that everything could go smoothly while harvesting. Applebloom and Granny Smith were out of town to visit some relatives in Manehatten, while Big Macintosh was spending far more time with Fluttershy. They had been going out now for almost a year, and Midnight could tell that things were starting to heat up between the two. With Big Macintosh trotting back to the farm on several occasions, he noticed an extra spring in his step on more than one occasion. But with how quiet both of the ponies were, and how easily Big Macintosh got angry on certain subjects. Midnight thought it best to let him be and only give him a smirk ever so often.

Applejack was in the process of bringing out a wagon load of bushels to load the apples in as they were bucked from the trees. She looked up to see the position of the sun in the sky and knew it was just past eight in the morning. She looked around giving a sigh as she had not seen or heard from Midnight since the prior day when she had asked him to help her out today.

"Now where in Equestria is that dern fool, Ah told'im teh be here early so we can git this done quick and have the rest of the day to relax." She sighed shaking her head in annoyance as she trudged along the tree line, giving her cart a kick to toss a bushel out as she passed by a tree that was ready to buck for the winter harvest. As she crested a small hill however she was greeted by a soft thud in the distance followed by a few more lighter thuds.

"Now don't tell meh he got out here before ah woke up this mornin?!" She spoke in surprise as she crested the hill and saw the dark Alicorn kick another tree sending more fruit to the ground. "Well ah'll be." She chuckled as she approached Midnight.

"Morning AJ, figured I'd cut your workload a bit and get an early start. Figured a farm gal like yerself would get up at the crack'o'dawn. Its about eight now ain't it?" He said before giving a little grunt as he bucked another tree sending more fruit to the ground.

"Ah normally do sugarcube, but tehday is different. This is the last harvest of the season a'side from the Zap Apples the we're gonna git here in another few weeks. So ah figgered ah would take meh time tehday." She smiled as she brought the cart up to Midnight and unlatched herself from it.

"Pretty cool today, looks like we won't work up to much of a sweat." He smirked as his horn lit up, floating several bushels from the cart to nearby, and then floating all of the fallen fruit into them.

"Yea, ah appreciate yer help tehday. Everypony in the Apple home up'n'left me teh fend for the farm. Mah brother has been getting a little extra friendly with Flutters lately, the dern fool is really gettin'is'opes up about her. Ah think he might ask her the big question purty soon." AJ chuckled. "An ah think Applebloom has found'erself a coltfriend as well." She smirked seeing Midnight stop mid kick as his wings fluffed out at the thought.

"Applebloom has a coltfriend?" Midnight asked giving AJ a glare.

She gave a grin as she walked over to him before turning and bucking the tree he stopped mid buck on sending apples falling to the ground. "Well now ah cain't really say fer sure. Ah did overhear her talking to the crusaders about a colt she was interested in. Seems he is a pegasus and a purty smart one at that. Little fella has been flying a bit longer than Scoots by a good two years. Ah've not met'im mahself but ah'm sure AB will show up with him eventually." She gave a chuckle seeing the look of horror on Midnight's face.

"AJ I swear if yer messing with me, ah'm guna stuff yer mouth full of these apples." He groaned.

"My, my, a might overprotective of them fillies are we?" She proded giving a smirk.

"Those three fillies are more like my daughters than I would care to admit. I love them all so much that I would be devastated if I would to ever see them cry." Midnight sighed taking a seat under the tree that had just been bucked.

"Hey now, no need fer that. Ever'lil filly an colt has teh grow up sooner or later." AJ smiled giving him a nudge in the arm.

"I prefer the latter." He chuckled back giving a saddened smile. "But that doesn't mean I can't still help them crusade to get their cutie marks.: He gave a determined smile.

"Ya still got a few more years afore they start going out on dates Night. Ah'm sure that you'll help them get their marks in time. Just don't rush it like they want to." AJ chuckled as she got back up. "Now get yer tail in gear, we gots a lot of trees teh buck, and the sooner its done, the sooner we can have a drink."

Midnight smiled to her giving a nod as his horn lit up just before his hooves hit another tree sending the fruit falling to the ground but was quickly snatched up and placed into a couple bushels before he jumped to the next tree doing the same.

As time went on and Lunch arrived, AJ had been catching herself watching the Alicorn work. Bucking trees left and right while using his magic to catch the apples and place them gently into the vacant bushels so that they would avoid being bruised. She continued watching him as time went on. He building up a sweat as the stench of it filled the air. the sweat rolling down his frame and matting the fur to his body causing his muscles to stand out. At one point though he stopped as he noticed her staring at him for just over a minute and decided to have some fun by giving a stretch to show off a little.

*CRACK*

"AAAAAH!" He shouted out in pain as he fell to the ground, his right wing half way folded out as it twitched.

"NIGHT!? What's wrong?" AJ sputtered as she was knocked from her stare.

"Charlie horse! Right wing! ON THE JOINT! OH GOD THE PAAAAAAIIIIIN!" He shouted as he lay on the ground trying to move but was temporarily paralyzed from the pain.

AJ rushed over to his side as she spoke. "This is gonna hurt for just a sec Night. Brace yerself!" She shouted as she jumped into the air and landed onto his back directly onto the surrounding joint and began to speed trot in place.

Midnight's mouth shot open as a silent scream began to escape him into the air before his mane and tail flickered out for a moment causing his body to go limp and flop onto the ground. After a few seconds he gave a low groan just as his mane and tail re-lit. AJ quickly moved from his back to his side looking at him in worry.

"Ya alright there big guy?" She asked giving his head a quick nudge.

"That has got to be the worst pain I have ever experienced." He groaned as he slowly stood up, his right wing unfolding and falling to the ground. He looked back as he tried to lift it and fold it to his side but winced in pain. "I think the Charlie horse has grounded me temporarily." He sighed.

"Thats what ya get fer trying teh show off smart flank." AJ chuckled.

"Couldn't help myself when I noticed how long you were staring at me." He chuckled only to get a soft gasp in return.

"A-ah was not staring!" She stuttered as she scrunched her nose up looking off into another direction.

"My my, the element of honesty fibbing. What has this world come to?" He laughed seeing her expression.

AJ let out an annoyed sigh as she turned, heading to another tree to buck.

"Come on AJ, I know you were watching me. I've seen you staring several times since you got here. Why not just tell me whats on yer mind?" He smiled nosing her hat from the back, flipping it over her eyes.

"HEY! Now dontcha start that awright? Ah'm just not comfortable talkin'bout all this stuff." She sighed as her head lowered slightly.

"About what? Relationships?" He asked causing her to stop and stare at him.

"How in the hay do you know that?" She spoke out in slight shock as she watched him trot ahead.

"It's pretty obvious cowgirl. You talked about your brother being in a happy relationship, and then Applebloom finding a possible coltfriend, which I WILL find out who he is by the way." He exclaimed giving a very serious nod to AJ only to make her laugh. "I can tell your jealous of them having found happiness before you." He spoke as he took a seat below another tree that was ready to buck.

AJ gave a defeated sigh as she sat next to him. "I guess I can't keep anything from you can I?" she chuckled nervously.

"Well, almost nothing. I still need to know how you feel about all this. I'm running on best guesses. I can't help if I don't know how you truely feel." He smiled down to her.

AJ took in a deep breathe slowly releasing it. "I don't want to ruin our friendship though in case what I want to ask doesn't work out." SHe sighed once again keeping her eyes to the ground.

"So in short you want to have a relationship with me but are afraid that Rarity and Twilight won't agree?" He smirked watching her look up to him in shock before tears began to slightly welll up in her eyes, a slight nod leaving her.

Midnight gave a chuckle pulling her to his chest and wrapping his wings around her, she giving a gasp from the sudden embrace. She looked up to see him smiling warmly down to her before he spoke.

"I have already talked to them about adding other mares to our already growing family. They both agreed that if it was any of the elements, they would be ok with it." He grinned giving her nose a kiss.

"Ah dunno what teh say." AJ spoke in shock.

"Then how about you say yes to my next question. Will you be my marefriend?" He smiled but was tackled in return as AJ kissed him hard holding him to the ground. After a minute they separated smiling to each other.

"I'll take that as a yes." He smiled before kissing her once again.

"Ah thought ah heard some ponies rollin'round out here." Big Macintosh piped up causing AJ to bolt from Midnight in a panic. Her face red from embarrassment. Midnight just chuckled until he saw Fluttershy standing next to Big Macintosh, her face red as well.

Midnight got to his hooves looking at the two who only smiled in return causing Midnight to grin and move to AJ's side taking a seat. He gave a nod to Big Macintosh who gave him a nod back, a silent conversation being passed between the two.

"AJ, I think your brother has something to tell us." Midnight smiled down to her causing her to look to her brother and Fluttershy.

"As you two know, Shy and I have been dating for almost a year now." He smiled seeing his sisters eyes light up, knowing what the coming information would be. "We have been very happy spending our time tehgether and wanted you to be the first teh know sis, and Midnight too since he's here." He smirked giving a wink to Midnight.

"Ah asked Shy for her hoof just a bit ago, an she said yes!" He smiled widely just before AJ rushed the two pulling them into a hug and crying. Midnight giving a smile as he came up to them as well.

"Congratualtions you two, I couldn't be happier for you." He laughed as he patted the red earth pony on the back.

"Now ah can call ya sis Flutters!" AJ squealed causing Fluttershy to squeal happily back as they bounced around happily."

"This has been a hell of a day Mac." Midnight chuckled.

"Sure has, wait........ how has it been a day fer ya?" He asked while cocking a brow at Midnight.

"AJ is my new marefriend." He chuckled getting a smile out of Big Mac.

"Then that makes us brothers." He snickered in return.

"I thought that only happens when ya marry a mare." Midnight said as he cocked a brow back at the red earth pony.

"Guess ya didn't know this then. When ya go out with an Apple family member and decide teh get serious. Asking a pony teh be yer mare or coltfriend is the same as asking them teh marry ya." He laughed watching Midnight facehoof.

"Twilight is going to kill me." He groaned as he continued watching the two bouncing mares.