Soon enough, the Farm came into View. Carter was limping, but he hid his pain behind a smile as he carried scootaloo on his shoulders. He'd formed a bond with her as they'd talked about growing up without parents.

"how'd you become an Orphan Courier? What happened to your mom and dad?" asked Scootaloo. Applejack looked shocked.

"Scootaloo! Ah don't thin it's too polite ta ask things like that!" she said, Glaring at the filly. Carter just waved her off.

"It's alright AJ. Been a long time. It don't hurt no more." He said. "Buncha bandits burned my town. Me and a few others got away while the adults fought'em off. I was already 15 at the time, and with no family to hold me I drifted away. After that I got a job as a courier, Delivering mail and packages. Not as easy as it sounds when Bandits and monsters and Sandstorms are common."

Scootaloo grinned. "Aw that's pretty cool! Did you lose your leg fighting a big ugly monster?" she asked full of excitement. Applebloom and Sweetie bell joined in, Asking him to tell the story. Carter finally gave in. (he'd always been sucker for a cute face.)

"All right, I'll tell ya. No. I didn't fight a monster. I lost my leg gettin Aj and her friends home." Carter noticed how Applejack slumped at that. She turned her head away as they continued walking. Carter was no genius at guessing other's emotions but he could tell guilt when he saw it.

"Applejack, Don't you feel bad about yourself." he said sternly. "You and the others are the best Friends I've ever had. Besides, I consider a leg a fair trade for the companionship of a bunch of pretty girls." Said Carter with a mischievous grin. Applejack thumped him hard enough he had to pull his hat from over his eyes. Blinded as he was, he hadn't noticed the blush run across applejack's features. The Orchard came into view, And the Cutie mar Crusaders split off, waving goodbye as Carter and Applejack Continued towards the house.

Carter's stomach growled as they passed under the trees, and Applejack kicked a tree just hard enough to drop one bright red apple into her palm. "Here ya go Pardner! One sweet apple acres apple. Better than the Junk you ate in yer world." said applejack with a smile. Carter accepted and bit into the apple eagerly. His eyes lit up as the sweet, Untainted juices of the apple filled his mouth. He proceeded to Eat the apple like a starving man, before throwing away the core with a satisfied sigh.

"That....Had ta be the best thing i'd ever eaten." Carter said after a moment. "Mind If I snag another?"

Applejack just shook her head and smiled broadly. "Sorry sugarcube. Jest wait till we git ya to the house. ah'll bet supper is near fixed up about now. Granny is one mean cook." as they got closer to the house, The smell of fresh baked tarts and Apple casserole filled the air. Carter began drooling uncontrollably, much to Applejack's amusement. Soon enough, they were spotted by a massive, red fellow with blonde hair and freckles. He dropped an entire hay bale and hustled over to where Applejack and Carter stood.

"Big Mac!" shouted Applejack as she ran over to him. They met in the middle as Carter Struggled to keep up, resorting to his cane to move faster.

"it's good ta see ya big brother" said Applejack with a smile as she patted the much bigger Mac on the back.

Big mac smiled and coughed out "Eeyup" as he tried to recover his breath. Small or not, Applejack was strong. He noticed Carter and his eyes glanced at applejack curiously as he switched his cud to the other side. Applejack had long since become a master at reading her brother's Expressions and automatically Launched into explanation.

"That's Cart-Courier Shield. He Helped me outta the trouble that kept me away for the last two weeks." she said. Big MAc gave her a once over and then looked at carter. He walked up to the shorter stallion and looked into the ice blue orbs, seemingly searching for something.

"...." Big Mac just stared Carter in the eye for a moment.

"...." Carter stared back, Unflinching despite his height disadvantage.

"So ya saved mah sister?"

"Yup."

"that how ya got hurt?"

"Yup"

Big Mac eventually grunted and nodded. He looked over at Applejack and Grinned. "Eeyup" Applejack Blushed and Swatted at her brother.

"git back ta work Ya Varmint! Don't be botherin' mah guest!" Shouted applejack, Blushing heavily as Big Mac walked away chuckling . Carter just Cocked an Eyebrow.

"So...You gonna tell me what that was about?" He asked Tipping his hat back.

"J-Just don't worry 'bout it none. a Little Joke Mac pulled on me." replied applejack, walking ahead so that Carter wouldn't see her face. Carter just shrugged and followed. He was becoming more accustomed to the Prosthetic, But it still hurt. However, His pain was forgotten when they entered the beautiful old farmhouse. Carter had half expected to find what he'd always found in homes and buildings. Decay, old blood, and mildew. He was pleasantly surprised when everything looked worn, but clean and maintained. the smell of food and life filled his nostrils, and he felt some tension melt away.

An elderly lady walked into the parlor and smiled at Applejack. "Hooee! these old bones aren't what they used ta be! Yer home just in time fer supper. ooh, Who's yer handsome stallion friend Applejack! If I were forty years younger....Ah well. Howdy stranger, I'm Granny Smith. yer welcome ta join us fer super. Made plenty fer everypony."

Applejack facepalmed and blushed as Carter laughed.

"I'm Courier Shield, and i'd love to join you for dinner. thanks!" he said with a grin as he walked into the dining room and sat down. Granny Smith stopped Applejack short.

" Ah kin see whut's goin on here Aj. Ya haven't blushed this much since ya were a schoolfilly. But be careful, He's a wanderer. a lot like yer grandaddy, rest his soul. Ya'd best be prepared for heartbreak when he wanders away and don't come back... Now hurry up and jump his bones 'cause Ah wanna see my great grandbabies before I get called home"

Applejack just pulled down her hat to hide her face and steeled herself for a dinner full of obvious and embarrassing Matchmaking.

*****30 minutes later*****

Applejack couldn't believe it. How THICK is this guy? Granny smith Had basically been hinting at how single AJ was single and even Bic Mac had conspired against her, Taking a seat that forced her to sit next to Carter. Applebloom had caught on quick and even started talking about how nice it'd be to have another big brother, Especially a tan one with cool glasses. So far Carter hadn't seemed to notice, instead focusing on the delicious spread in front of him. He ate like he'd been starved his whole life (and honestly, he may have been). Applejack had lost her appetite and wandered outside to watch the sunset, Unable to take the embarrassment and heartache any longer. As the sun sank into the horizon, Applejack Tried to remember when she'd first started having feelings for the Courier.

A couple of days after Carter had rescued the girls, they were in Freeside. Carter had a delivery to make to the Followers of the Apocalypse, and He wanted to get them some decent Gear from Mick and Ralph before they set out. Applejack had seen Carter give out the last of his Rations to a couple of starving kids, And he plugged a giant rat so they could get the meat. She'd seen a small, Sad smile on his face. She knew that smile. It was the smile Granny smith had when she had to break the news of their Parent's death to Applejack and Bic Mac. A smile that said "I wish I could do more." She supposed that seeing how Hard he worked, and How Honest he was in his transactions had started the feelings, But seeing him put others, Especially children, before himself had ignited the embers. Didn't help matters that he was funny, Good company, and Family-Oriented. Applejack sighed. She was so caught up in her mind she didn't hear the Hoofsteps approaching.

"Hey..." said Carter, Snapping AJ out of her trance.

"Howdy" Aj Replied, Keeping her eyes on the Horizon.

"So...What was all that at dinner about? I can guess what they were hinting at but.....well, I wanna know how you feel about it." Said Carter, Fidgeting slightly. He knew His looks weren't stellar. In fact, he could be described as gaunt.

Appplejack Sighed again, but a small smile formed on her lips. "might be hope for the buck after all" she thought. "Well...Ah'll just come out with it. I like ya. A lot. You gave up a lot to help us out. First it was yer time, then yer leg, and finally yer home and everypo- everybody ya ever knew. To top it off, Ya act like it was a clear choice! I can even tell yer not lyin' either..." Applejack Trailed off, Tears in her Emerald eyes as she wrung her tail.

Carter just wrapped his arms around her and held her. "I may have joked about it earlier, But I didn't lie. After so long bein' alone, You four are more precious to me than life itself. I just didn't press any further because...well... I didn't wanna ruin what we had with feelin's ya didn't return." carter said. his whole face reddening with blush. "Ya might not believe me, But I don't have too much experience with women. Not many folks want their daughter with a courier, and a lotta women don't wanna wait for ya or join ya while ya travel. Eventually...I guess I stopped tryin'. Hurt too much, y'know? But.... If you want.... I could try Again....with you" Carter said, Applejack could tell from the heat radiating off of him that he was blushing, and she was too. But her answer? She turned her face to his and kissed him, Passionately and hungrily enough that he fell backwards. They held each other tightly for a few moments, lips interlocked, until Granny smith Called out.

"YEEHAWW! I'm gettin' Great grandbabies!" Big Mac just rolled his eyes

"Eeyup. he said, chuckling.

"D'aww" Said Applebloom from behind Mac's leg.

Applejack and Carter parted , Both Blushing Furiously

"I'll uh, Go set up the guest room....You...You go take a Shower or somethin" Stammered AppleJack

"Yeah...Right...Got it" Returned Carter with a dazed smile. Maybe Equestria won't be so bad after all.

Author's Note

Alright! Another chapter done! As always, criticism is appreciated! hit me with you're best shot, come on! Be cruel if you have to, in fact, I DARE you.
Also, Things look like they're Heating up on the Apple farm, But will Carter be up to the challenge of Equestria's strange , If necessary, mating habits? Colloqiually known as the "Herd"?~whiskey