AppleJack blinked in surprise for a moment when she opened the door the bathroom door and found Cheerilee standing there, one of BigMac's flannel shirts hanging off her frame. The two stood in silence for a moment before Cheerilee smiled at her.

"So?"

"Thanks," AppleJack smiled back. "Worked out just fine."

"I'm glad," Cheerilee nodded as she walked into the bathroom after AppleJack stepped out. "Have a good night."

"Night," AppleJack said with a nod over her shoulder as the door closed.

AppleJack closed her bedroom door with a soft click. She looked over to her bed where the sleeping form of Rarity lay tucked under the covers. A smile spread across her lips as she watched her sleep. After a bit she walked over to the clothing she'd pulled off of her. Kneeling down she picked up the soft fabric. Moving the dress around she looked at the back of the dress and sighed.

"Doesn't look too bad," she mumbled softly before laying it out on top of her dresser.

She then looked at the panties Rarity had been wearing. She smiled and shook her head at the delicate lace in her hand. True she could never bring herself to wear pink, but that didn't mean she didn't like it. The way the color stood out against Rarity's porcelain white skin, it always made her smile.

Moving back over to the bed she sat down, and continued to watch her best friend sleep. The slow rise and fall of her chest, the top sheet barely covering her ample bosom. Reaching out she brushed a few strands of Rarity's hair back from her face. She smiled before moving her hand down pulling the sheet away.

It was at that moment Rarity shifted in her sleep murmuring something in her sleep before rolling over to try and get under the covers. Applejack smiled and slid into bed beside her. She lay on her back and looked up at the ceiling. This whole thing between her and Rarity had been going on for a while now. Closing her eyes she recalled that first instance.

"Rarity!" Applejack hollered as she knocked on the door for the third time.

Today had been one of their spa days. It was strange enough that she would miss it, but now that she didn't seem to be in the boutique Applejack was getting worried. She headed around to the back fishing out her keys. Rarity had given her a spare key a few years back so that Applejack could look after her cat Opal. Turning the key in the lock she opened the door and looked around the kitchen. No one was there.

Frowning Applejack closed the door behind her, and moved towards the stairs that lead up to Rarity's apartments. Her heart began pounding in her chest something wasn't right. Rarity's car had been outside she should be here. Biting her lip as she stepped onto the landing she could hear a soft scratching sound. Looking down the hall she could see Opal scratching at the door at the end of the hall, the door to Rarity's designing room.

If Applejack had thought her heart was pounding before it was going like a jack hammer now. Applejack all but flew down the hall. Nearly knocking the door from the frame as she barged in. Scanning the room she soon found the woman she had been seeking. Slumped over a drawing desk was Rarity.

"Rarity!" Applejack called out running to her.

"Mhguh," was the response Applejack got when she shook the fashionista.

Judging from the bags under her eyes this was probably the first sleep Rarity had had in awhile. Applejack frowned as Rarity slowly regained consciousness. She blinked up at Applejack her eyes slowly focusing on her.

"Applejack?" Rarity's voice was soft. "Wha-what are you doing here?"

"Rarity," Applejack looked Rarity over as she turned to face her. "You feeling ok, Sugarcube?"

"What are you doing here?" Rarity asked with a yawn. "Our spa day isn't until Thursday."

"Rarity," Applejack said softly. "Today is Thursday."

"WHAT?!" Rarity spun around to look at the calendar on the wall. "Th-th-that's not possible!"

"Rarity!"

"It can't be Thursday already," Rarity exclaimed her eyes wide with shock. "I've got so much to do!"

"Rarity!"

"I've got to finish these designs," Rarity muttered to herself turning back to her desk. "I still need to finish making orders for the new silks."

"Rarity!" Applejack moved closer to the other woman trying to get a hold of her. "You're scaring me."

"Oh, what am I going......." SMACK

The sound of Rarity's glasses skittering across the floor filled the silence after Applejack slapped her across the face. Applejack looked down at the shocked look on Rarity's face. Her porcelain skin was already starting to turn red.

"Applejack?' Rarity's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry, Rarity," Applejack responded her voice shaking at her own action.

Applejack was pulled from her thoughts when she felt some warm press against her arm. She glanced down and smiled softly at the sight. Rarity had moved back to her and was snuggling up against her. She reached down and gently placed a hand on the bare skin of her back. Slowly rubbing her thumb against the delicate skin she gazed upon her Rarity. Shaking her head softly at the thought. No Rarity wasn't her's. They were just doing this to keep her stress down.

"Good night, Sugar," Applejack whispered softly and leaned down to kiss her forehead before closing her eyes to go back to sleep.

Rarity stirred slightly. She stretched her legs out gently rubbing them up against Applejack's enjoying the sensation of skin against skin. She reached over and frowned slightly as she felt fabric against her fingertips. She opened her eyes, and pouted as they adjusted to the light. Applejack must have gotten up at some point, she was wearing a shirt. Deciding to push her luck she slowly slid her hand under Applejack's shirt and sighed when she felt the muscle.

"Oh I just love this," Rarity whispered to her self as she slowly rubbed her hand along Applejack's firm stomach.

She so badly wanted to go lower or higher, but she knew that could wake Applejack up. If Applejack woke up and caught her doing that well she would be in the not fun kind of trouble. She sighed as she snuggled up against Applejack's warm body more, and reflected on when things had changed between them.

"Applejack?' Rarity's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry, Rarity," Applejack responded her voice shaking at her own action.

Rarity blinked slowly at Applejack. The stinging of her cheek was the only thing telling her that she wasn't asleep and dreaming.

"I'm so sorry, Rarity," Applejack said softly. "You was just acting so crazy."

Rarity reached up and touched her cheek softly wincing slightly. She blinked at Applejack again before taking a deep breath. She sat down heavily on her chair and sighed.

"I should apologize," Rarity said softly. "I'm just so out of sorts right now."

"When was the last time you got any sleep?" Applejack asked as she walked over to pick up Rarity's glasses. As she knelt down the sound of Rarity's stomach raised another question. "Or even ate?"

"I don't recall darling," Rarity answered a deep blush on her cheeks as she kept herself from looking at Applejack.

"That's it," Applejack sighed as she set Rarity's glasses on the desk. "Get up."

"What?" Rarity asked looking up.

"I said get up," Applejack's voice was stern and her grip strong as she pulled Rarity from her chair.

"Applejack...." Rarity tried to protest, but she was far too weak at the moment to do more than whine softly.

"First things first," Applejack said as she pulled Rarity along behind her. "You're going to take a shower."

Rarity didn't argue with Applejack. She meekly followed behind her friend, her hand held tightly in Applejack's strong rough one. She looked down at their hands, then to the back of Applejack's head. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she had no idea why. She followed into the bathroom and watched as Applejack turned on the water for her.

"Take off your clothes," Applejack said as she turned around.

"What?" Rarity blinked in surprise.

"You gotta be naked ta take a shower," Applejack chuckled as she moved closer and placed her hand on top of Rarity's head. "You're a lot sleepier than I thought if you forgot that."

"Oh, of course," Rarity nodded as she began to unbutton her blouse.

"I'll go downstairs and get you something to eat."

"Right," Rarity nodded as she watched Applejack leave.

Stripping off the rest of her clothes she climbed into the tub, and closed the curtain. She closed her eyes as she stood under the warm water. She hadn't realized how tense she had been. The water slowly loosening her muscles. She sighed deeply as she grabbed one of the bottles of perfumed soap she used. Slowly she began washing herself.

Her mind drifted to Applejack as she reached up to her face. The spot on her cheek where she'd been slapped didn't sting anymore, and felt only slightly raised. She shivered slightly even with the warm water when she remembered how Applejack looked at her. Those eyes filled with both concern, and anger. Something about those eyes made her feel just so. It was a moment before she even realized she was touching herself.

"What am I doing?" She asked herself as she moved her hand away.

Turning off the water she got out of the shower. Grabbing a towel she dried herself before wrapping her hair up in it. She grabbed her fluffy pink robe and wrapped herself in it's warmth. The shower had been heavenly, but she was still so tired. She knew she should go and work on her design, but also knew that Applejack wouldn't let her. She instead walked to her room where she found Applejack sitting on her bed a plate consisting of a sandwich and apple slices rest on her lap. Rarity smiled softly and sat down beside her taking the plate when Applejack handed it to her.

"Thank you," Rarity said softly before eating.

The sandwich was heavenly and the apple slices with the caramel sauce divine. She blushed when Applejack wiped away a small amount of the sauce from her chin and popped her thumb in her mouth. Once finished she watched Applejack take the plate from her and place it on her dresser. She thought it strange she had expected Applejack to take it down stairs.

"Darling?" Rarity asked softly as she watched Applejack take off her boots. "What are you doing?"

"What's it look like?" Applejack said she she pulled off her socks. "I'm making myself comfortable."

"Why?" Rarity asked as she took the towel from her hair.

"You are gonna sleep now," Applejack said as she unbuttoned her jeans. "And I aim to make sure that you do."

Rarity was speech less as she watched Applejack pull off her jeans to reveal plain white cotton panties. Standing up Applejack folded her jeans neatly and placed them on top of her boots. She turned back to Rarity and cocked her head to one side.

"What?"

"I...what?" Was all Rarity could get out of her mouth as Applejack walked over.

"Sleep," Applejack said softly as she placed a hand on Rarity's shoulder. "Now."

Once again Rarity could not help but follow what Applejack's stern voice told her to do. She nodded and lay back on the bed. Applejack moved around to the other side and lay beside her. Rarity looked over at Applejack who smiled softly at her as she lay on her side.

"Applejack?" Rarity asked softly as she wasn't sure what to do.

"Hush," Applejack answered softly. "Sleep."

Rarity nodded as she closed her eyes. She didn't know why, but just being like this with Applejack beside her, and telling her what to do she felt so at ease. Slowly sleep to her far beyond her stress.

Rarity look up at Applejack's sleeping face and smiled as she remembered that first instance. She leaned up and kissed Applejack's cheek and nuzzled her neck before sighing contentedly. She truly loved these moments. She wasn't sure exactly when they had started. Maybe they had been there the whole time. Maybe being with Applejack like this had brought those feelings to the forefront of her mind. She knew she wanted more from Applejack than just these little sessions, but she also knew that Applejack was fine with how things were. She didn't want to risk losing this if Applejack didn't want more. For now she was content with the little moments like this. Closing her eyes she focused on the rise and fall of Applejack's stomach as she breathed.

Author's Note

Welp there is the second chapter. There is still more to come so I hope you enjoy. For those of you who know and understand the lifestyle do not worry. There will be open lines of communication between our girls as time goes on. Things might get better or they might get worse. We shall see. "Until the Next Chapter"