Moving in

“Well, here it is.  Case of ala home!  Ya know, this’ the first time you’ve been here,” Rainbow Dash greeted Quill as she followed Applejack into their house.

        “Yeah, it’s my first time here, alright,” Quill replied uneasily.

        “Hey!  Quill, my room’s upstairs and AJ sleeps with me.  Scootaloo’s room is across from ours and the guest room is at the end of the hall, next to the bathroom.  AJ said she’s gonna tell you the rules, though, she’s good with that stuff.  Ah’m headin’ out for a quick fly ‘round the town.  Gotta keep these flanks toned up for after the baby gets here.”

        Without another word, Rainbow rocketed past the two mares and out the door and into the sky.

        “AJ, how’s she working out her flanks if all she’s doing is flying?”

        “Ah don’t ask, she doesn’t tell?  Now, Ah’m gonna lay down the rules while Ah show you to yer room.  Just follow me and bring yer bags,” Applejack took her hat off and tossed it blindly to a hatrack she’d gotten as a gift from Davenport.

        “Nice toss.”

        “Thanks,” Applejack replied as she began to ascend the stairs with Quill following uneasily.

        “AJ, I know Scootaloo’s still upset with me.  When’ll she be home from school so I can apologize to her?  I really didn’t mean to offend her.  It was a joke I didn’t think she’d take personally.”

        Applejack crested the stairs and took several paces as Quill followed. “That’s Scootaloo’s room and that to the left’s ours.  Yer not allowed in either without permission.  The bathroom’s open as long as the door’s open.  Closed door means ya use yer manners.  Yer a houseguest and we know how ya are,” Applejack said as she stopped and turned to look at Quill.  She smirked.

        Quill fidgeted and looked away, avoiding Applejack’s gaze. “W-what?  I-I’m not going to do a-HENY-Whattheheck?!” she yelped as she jumped towards Applejack while spinning and opening her wings so she wouldn’t hit the orange mare.

        Scootaloo was grinning ear to ear as she shook her hoof dry. “Gotcha back.”

        Quill glared at Scootaloo and was about to sigh in defeat but yelped as she was poked again from behind. “APPLEJACK!” Quill gasped as she took to the air and nearly placed her rump to the ceiling with a frown. “Seriously,” she blushed furiously, “that is inappropriate on so many levels.”

        “Heh, eeyup.  And that’s the next rule.  No more pokin’ allowed in this house.”  Applejack nodded as Quill lowered herself, backside to the wall and a frowning blush on her muzzle. “Now, with a filly in the house and mah sis an apple’s throw away, we won’t be havin’ any nightly visitors, right Quill?  Scoots, go be a darlin’ and go play in yer room… after ya wash yer hooves.  Mama’s gonna lay down s’more rules.”

        Scootaloo smirked as she trotted past Quill and Applejack, her little tail low and her wings exercising as she trotted by.

        “That filly’s gonna be trouble when she hits estrus.”

        “Don’t change the subject.  Almost done now.  So, no havin’ mares or colts over fer a romp, right?”

        Quill nodded fervently. “Not a-one.”

        Applejack nodded and turned to the last room in the hall, opening it with a light shove of her hoof against the door handle. “This’ yer room.  Ah got ya some bedding, basic bathroom stuff, a dresser and curtains.  It’s yer room so ya wanna decorate it how ya want then you can.  You have ta get a job and pay rent startin’ next month.  That gives ya thirty two days ta make rent and,” Applejack let Quill enter the room before she closed the door and faced Quill again.

        “Quill, Ah know we we’re havin’ a good time’n all back last week.  All of us, but Ah don’t want it ta happen again.  Not with Rainbow bein’ pregnant with mah baby.  Not with our trip comin’ up to the north.  We don’t need ya messin’ it all up like before.  I, just…”

        “Hush,” Quill said softly as she placed a hoof to Applejack’s lips, “I don’t want you or Rainbow Dash to hate me, or each other.  Just, let’s see where it goes.  I’ll be right here to listen to you both when you need to talk and,” she giggled softly, “maybe listen for when you’re both having some fun-”

        “Yer not joinin’ in, Quill,” Applejack said wistfully as she took a pace back and away from Quill’s touch. “What Dash and me have, it’s special.  It’s somethin’ that not even Discord could break, and boy did he try with that whole mind magic of his.  Ah told ya how he made me a liar and her fly off fer whatever reason?”

        “Heh, yeah.  And how Twilight gave back her memories?”

        “Yeah, what Ah didn’t tell you was Ah was the first one she looked at.  I saw in her eyes, even before we were a couple, that she missed me.  Now, Ah just don’t know, Quill,” Applejack said turning and climbing onto the bed then lying down on her belly like a content canine, “that’s better.  Um, look.  Ah don’t know what I’d do without her now.  Sure, she can’t buck a tree ta save a life.  She’s still cocky as a colt around a mare in heat and sometime Ah just wanna wring her out ta dry when she tries ta act tough.

        “But then Ah hear her talk, I see her walkin’ more’n more.  Her voice’s takin’ on mah drawl and, I never even told or asked her ta do it.  She’s lettin’ everypony touch her belly and tellin’ ‘em it’s a girl even though we don’t know yet.  She’s just the best thing ta happen to me, Quill.”

        “That so swee-”

        “And when you offered me ta leave her,” Applejack’s voice turned serious, “and Ah thought about it fer that one second.  It tore mah heart out ta think of life without her.  A day without mah Dash is a day Ah don’t wanna be awake for.  If ya try’n get between us, Quill, Ah swear ta Celestia that you’ll be out of our lives fer good, understand?”

        Quill nodded and swallowed hard, remaining silent as Applejack got up and went to the door.

        “Quill, bath time’s at eight and Scootaloo goes ta bed at nine so don’t be late or ya bathe alone, okay?” she said over her shoulder.

        “Y-yeah, got it.”

        “Good, now get comfy fer the day.  Ah’m off to the farm ta finish some chores then Ah’ll be back with lunch fer you and Scootaloo.  Play nice, ‘kay?”

        “Oh, sure!  I love children,” Quill said with a natural smile.

        “Okay then, Scootaloo?  Mama’s headin’ to the farm.  Any troubles, come and get me.  Mom’ll be back soon, too, so be the good filly ya are.”

        “Okay, I’m just playing with Diamond Tiara right now, but she’s gotta go soon to see her dad about some stuff.”

        “Oh, well then ya two have a good playdate.”

        “We are, mama.  Love ya, have an awesome time like Mom would,” Scootaloo shouted from her room as Applejack passed by, leaving the first floor alone.

        Her nerves were a little on edge, but it was the right thing to do by letting Quill stay, right?