"Ah' don't believe I've seen y'all before, new ta Ponyville?" She was oddly welcoming. At least I found it odd, but then again I'm not exactly sure if I'd react the same way if strangers were to show up at my home with luggage.

I looked to Rose, who seemed a little nervous and quite hesitant. "Yeah we're new.. But we um, we came- I mean, I'm here to see you." Rose blushed as she staggered to get her words out.

The orange mare seemed puzzled.
"Uh, me?"

I nodded instinctively and cursed myself in my mind for volunteering. "As it turns out miss, Rose here might be Granny Smith's third cousin, thrice removed."

The orange mare cracked a smile. "Well shoot, why didn't y'all just say so? Granny is inside, why don't y'all come in so we can talk. The name's Applejack, by the way."

We followed Applejack away from the barn to her family's house, where she welcomed us in the door and sat us down at a table.

"So you're tellin' me that she was left with an alcoholic father and no mother? While her brother was on vacation and you were.. well.. where exactly?" Applejack questioned me as we stood outside of her house talking.

"I don't believe that's any of your business, miss. But if you truly want to know, I was on a final business trip in the city."

"What kind of business trip, if ya' don't mind me asking? Ah'm still havin trouble trying 'ta figure out what sane stallion would just leave his mate back there, knowing what's goin' on." She raised a brow in my direction, and I let out a sigh.

"Is this really necessary?"

She nodded in response, not taking her gaze off of me. "You can stay out here to talk a bit, Granny's still tellin' her about the family line.. ah still haven't figured you out."

The tone of annoyance in that last part made me smile like a smart aleck.
"Not everypony does. I'm just not all that easy to read."

This clearly was starting to aggravate her, or at least I thought it was upon seeing her adjust her stetson. "Ah'll figure you out soon enough, outlaw."

"Outlaw?" I turned to look at Applejack, wondering what made her think to call me that.

"Yep. Outlaw," She returned the look with confidence. "Trying to escape your past. That's why y'all are moving here, ain't it?"

I was most definitely impressed, but wasn't going to let her know it. I didn't want to give her too much credit, so instead I just sat down on my haunches against the wall of the house.

"Yeah, sure.. You've got me."

"Oh, ah-.. Ah'm sorry, ah didn't mean anything bad by it, sir."

After a second I shrugged, still not looking up at her, but rather just off. "I guess shit just happens, huh Applejack?"

She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but instead just closed her mouth and took off her hat.
After a minute of silence, I spoke up. "You know.. You have a beautiful mane."

Applejack blushed and looked at me a little surprised. "Excuse me?"

"Surely the stetson isn't just for the sun?"

She nodded and kind of looked away. "It's complicated.. Ah'm sure you'd understand, family."

I looked up at her. "I do, but not from personal experience. When you're around somepony, better yet in love with somepony who's lost a lot, it tends to rub off on you.. Sometimes even a little too late."

Applejack nodded seeming to understand.
"I reckon they'd be done talking by now, if ya want to come in."

I got off my hooves and followed her inside. "I appreciate it, Applejack."

She shrugged and headed up stairs, leaving me to wander into the kitchen where Granny Smith and Rose were seated at a table.

Rose was beginning to talk about what happened to her family- i.e. why we were planning on becoming residents of Ponyville. I already knew that this was about to get personal, so I leaned against the doorway in preparation for what would either be a short talk, or a brief monologue.. Maybe an in between phase, assuming she'd already explained how her brother isn't of full blood.

Rose acknowledged me out of the corner of her eye, but continued to talk.
“My mother, Lily Briar, died when I was a filly. It hit us all pretty hard – but nopony was affected by it quite as badly as my father, Mr. Bush.”

She frowned slightly and her gaze seemed to wander in thought.

“He's a heavy drinker. Wasn't before ma passed, but now it's all he knows. It took his good side away completely. The stallion who used to call me his little filly is long gone, and hopefully he gets the help he needs.. But I don't think that'll ever really happen, if I'm being honest with you Granny.”

Granny Smith smiled and placed a hoof over Rose's, resting on the table between them. "Don't let it get ya' worked up deary, no pony is perfect."

Rose's gaze is met with mine finally, and Granny doesn't hesitate to turn and look me over again, for the second time since I've gotten here. The first was when I left to let them have some alone time.
I was starting to wonder if Granny Smith wasn't checking me out, which although was a flattering idea- it made for a creepy thought. I knew with certainty that she was just sizing me up, making mental notes to decide whether she thought I was worth Rose's time.

Something in her eyes told me that she knew I wasn't exactly always a nice pony, and that I might've had a bad past.
She wasn't wrong, either.

The Bank Job was the last of my 'incidents.' In fact, it was the only one that I felt comfortable doing. Everything else I didn't really want in on, but with influence it was hard to say no or back down.
Especially with a gun to your head, both literally and metaphorically.

"Eyep, I think I can allow you to become part of the family." Granny Smith finally determined and Rose giggled lightly.

It was at this point that a young filly came galloping down a staircase, as if ready for an adventure. Bad timing would prove to be more powerful than her little legs, as Rose's brother came back inside from a walk with Big Macintosh just as she reached the door.
"In a rush Applebloom?" Granny smiles.

Applebloom backs away and looks up at the pegasus, deaf to her grandmother. "S- sorry, sir.."
The pegasus chuckled lightly and assured her that it was no inconvenience as he made his way over to me.

"I'm leaving soon."

Rose looked at her brother as he spoke, concerned. "So soon? Can't the city wait another night?"

The pegasus sighs and leans against the dining room wall. "No, I'm afraid not. It's time for us to split ways and finally start our own lives. I love you sis, you know that." He came over to hug her briefly before trotting to the door, thanking the Apple Family for their hospitality on the way out.

"Just like that, huh?" Rose said as she looked up at me.
Celestia that look.. That damned look. Makes me weak every time, and now I'm left to feel like the asshole for not stopping him from going.

"I suppose so, nothing more left to say.." I hugged her gently and let go shortly thereafter.

Granny Smith looked at us, from one to the other. "Don't either of you have a place to stay yet? Ya just got here right?"

The reality dawned on us that we hadn't even looked at houses. In the heat of the moment, we just hopped on the train and left. "Well, sh-" I had to take into account the filly in the room. "I mean, darn- we didn't even think about it until we got here. Spur of the moment, you know what I mean?"

Granny grinned wide at us. "You two can sleep in the barn for the night!"
"What?" Big Macintosh's eyes widened and he looked at Granny. "But- but"

"I'll have no buts!" Granny exclaimed, and Applebloom giggled.
"Just no playin' around, ya hear?"

Without a second to think, Rose and I accepted her offer graciously.

"Good, Applebloom would you be a dear and get them some blankets?" The filly nodded and went up the staircase, returning shortly with a pile of folded blankets on her back.

Big Macintosh, still assessing the situation, looked at all of us and sighed. "I'll sleep on the couch tonight."

Author's Note

Sorry, this chapter was a bit of a drag to get done. Schooling is keeping me busy, and although I have a lot of ideas for this story, it's just a matter of time and motivation. This story will get finished, but I'm not sure how long it will take. Stay tuned, because I'm not going anywhere.

Also, a little foreshadowing for some future insight about Cross's past.

Especially with a gun to your head, both literally and metaphorically.