Growing Affections

Applejack was confined to her hospital bed for a week due to the amount of fumes she had inhaled. Jake was there when he wasn’t working, spending countless hours talking and laughing with Applejack about their lives. Over the course of the week Applejack began to notice her increasing feelings of affection towards the normally stoic human. She felt more than just the average debt of gratitude towards the human who had sacrificed his own safety for her own, no, she felt a connection with him on a deeper level. She would ask him every time when he visited how she could repay him and he constantly refused, until the night she went home.

As Jake and Applejack walked side by side down the winding road from Ponyville Hospital to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack could walk just fine but Jake asked to escort her just in case anything happened. She happily agreed, having gotten to know the human over her week confinement in that godforsaken hospital bed. She trotted at a slow pace, savoring the evening air as it ruffled her mane and fur lightly. Her stetson hat was long gone having perished in the fire. She had cried when she had heard of its demise, it being the last reminder she had of her parents. Jake had been there and held her close, her tears staining his shoulder and arm as he ran his hands up and down her back and through her mane, comforting her immensely. Applejack hardly knew him, yet she was so attached to him, he understood her, liked her, found her attractive, well, he hadn’t said that out loud quite yet.

She walked close to Jake’s side, her head brushing up against his elbow. It was things like this that dumped truckloads of butterflies into Jake’s stomach. As lame as it may seem, he never really had much experience with girls or mares in this case. So why was he so attached to her? Maybe it will become clearer in the future.

Applejack broke the silence halfway through their walk.

“So Jake, what did the doc say again?”

“Well AJ, the doc said you oughta rest for at least a few weeks until your lungs are fully healed and you should check in with me at the station when I’m bored...” Jake said with a smile.

Applejack gave him a playful sock in the arm.

“Maybe I just might there big boy. With all the attention you gave me, I’d say you had a huge throbbing crush on me.” Applejack smirked.

Jake’s face became bright crimson as he averted Applejack’s gaze.

Applejack stopped in her tracks. No bucking way he actually had a crush on her.

“Wait, do ya really have a crush on me?” Applejack asked.

Jake just nodded sheepishly.

“How long?” Applejack questioned.

“Around a week or so?” Jake smiled.

Applejack grinned from ear to ear.

“Well I’ll be damned, whoda thunk it?” She chuckled as she trotted back up to the human and dragged him along to the farm. Once they arrived, Applejack took Jake to a secluded hill in the South Orchard, far from prying eyes.

The hill overlooked a beautiful orange and pink horizon that glowed with beauty.

“Why’d you take me here AJ?” Jake asked as he plopped himself down beside a now seated Applejack.

“This is my special place. My happy place. My own personal haven from all of life’s troubles. I wanted to escape with you for a little bit and just lay with somepony special.” Applejack said.

“So you want to cuddle and watch the sunset?” Jake asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Yeah, but when yer here, it’s just a lot more magical. Away from anything that can cause strife. A place to share with somepony you love.” She almost whispered the last part.

“I never took you for a poet AJ.” Jake smiled.

“Shut up, lie down and watch.” Applejack commanded.

Jake obliged and laid down on his side. He watched as the orange mare sat and curled herself up to his chest, feeling her warm and soft body finally make contact with his once more after hours of longing. Jake took his left arm and wrapped it around Applejack’s middle. She let out a happy sigh as she put her ear to his chest and listened to his now elevated heart rate slow to a calm tempo that was almost hypnotizing.

“AJ.” Jake broke the silence.

“Yeah sugarcube?” She looked into his green eyes, sparkling in the waning sunlight.

“I wanted to give you something.” Jake said, removing his arm from her torso and reaching into his backpack that he had with him. Applejack was shocked at what he produced.

In Jake’s hand was a slightly singed but perfectly intact brown stetson hat. Applejack took the hat in her hooves and looked at it in shock.

“H-how? I thought you said it perished in the fire?” Applejack looked at Jake.

“Well, I went back to examine the damage and as I was walking through the orchard, your hat was sitting in a clearing away from the fire. I patched it up a little bit for you, thinking you might want it back.” Jake said.

“JACOB HARTMAN YOU WONDERFUL SOUL YOU!!!” Applejack cried, tears of happiness flowing from her eyes as she wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug.

Jake rolled onto his back and pried the mare off of him and looked her square in the eyes.

Her hooves came to rest upon his chest as tears still dripped from her eyes.

“Jake. I am going to repay you and I don’t care if you say no anymore. Nopony can do this much good without reward.” She said through sobs.

“You know what? How about a date? Right here, just you and me tomorrow night?” Jake proposed.

“Ya know, I think I’d like that a lot Jake.” Applejack said.

“I think know what else you’d like a lot.” Jake grinned.

“Oh? And do tell what would that be?” Applejack asked.

“This.” Jake whispered as he put a hand behind the mare’s head and pulled her to him in a tight embrace. Their lips met eagerly and both their hearts screamed with passion and relief. They parted their maws and let each other’s tongues explore their mouths eagerly. When oxygen was finally needed, they parted and took deep breaths in unison, staring into one another’s eyes with hunger.

“I love you Applejack.” Jake whispered, kissing her on the nose.

“And I love you Jacob Hartman.” Applejack cooed as she returned the favor.

Jake got to his feet and took Applejack back to the farmhouse. It was dark now and Jake took the flashlight from his belt and lit the way. When the pair reached their destination, Jake opened the door for Applejack and ushered her inside. She was greeted by Apple Bloom and Kate’s assault of hugs and kisses and a bear hug to rival her own by Big Mac.

“Remember to keep an eye on her. She can’t strain herself until her lungs are fully healed alright?” Jake smiled and winked at Applejack.

“Eeyup.” Mac said in his usual fashion.

Jake was about to leave but before he could do so, Applejack tapped him on the arm and he turned around to face her. She stood up on her hind legs, wrapping her front hooves around Jake and kissing him deeply again. When they broke apart, a set of gasps were heard in the kitchen.

“I DARN WELL KNEW IT!! YOU OWE ME TEN BITS KATE!!” Apple Bloom cheered, jumping circles around a quite disgruntled Kate.

Jake looked at Kate and smiled as she pulled a few gold coins out of her pocket and handed them to Apple Bloom.

Jake then looked back to Applejack, who still had a bright crimson blush on her face.

“I’ll bring the guitar that Taylor gave me as a welcome present. Is that ok?” Jake asked Applejack.

Applejack’s face lit up.

“I’ve always wanted to hear how the guitar sounds. Please?” She pleaded.

“How could I say no to that face?” Jake smiled as he hissed her nose before leaving for his home at the fire station. He had some planning to do before tomorrow night.