'So, which one to go with? The Apple family one, or the more traditional one?' Applejack thought to herself as she stood between the stove and the dining table in the Sweet Apple Acres farmhouse. Behind her on the stove, a cast iron pot of broccoli and carrot cheddar soup was simmering to perfection, next to a pot of boiling corn on the cob. In front of her on the dining table, sat two picnic quilts; one was an orange and white one, patterned with apples; passed down for two generations and had seen its fair share of meals. To the right of that, was a far more traditional red and white checkered picnic quilt, like one would see dotted around Ponyville's outskirts on a beautiful summer day. Behind the pair of blankets, was everything else she had put together for this little picnic; a large bowl containing an apple pecan salad a pair of wood and iron mugs, and a ceramic jug containing a fresh and hardened batch of her family's famous cider.

If Rarity saw her right now, she probably wouldn't be able to believe her eyes. Because here Applejack was, fretting over every, last, little, detail, for a change.

The fourth generation farmer wasn't averse to such practices, especially if the occasion called for such attention to detail. And indeed, this evening, she wanted everything to be perfect.

It had been six months since Twilight's coronation in Canterlot. Aside from the Princess of Friendship, and she supposed now the Princess of Equestria, no longer residing in Ponyville, life had gone on pretty much normally for her. Crops still needed to be planted and harvested, and the thing about crops is they didn't really care how the world was ending this time. Luckily, since the attack on Canterlot, life had been mostly peaceful. She saw everypony at least once a month in Canterlot or Ponyville for the Council of Friendship, where they not only had a day of fun that Twilight had almost always meticulously planned out, but they also discussed matters of national importance, as each of them had a hoof in ruling Equestria as Twilight's friends. But among all of them, the pony she had seen more of than anypony else, was Rainbow Dash.

Applejack felt her cheeks warm as she pictured the Wonderbolt in the flight jacket she had taken to wearing more often during these chillier autumn months. Whenever her thoughts lingered on the pegasus, her heart would begin to thump harder. While it hadn't always been like this; she had to admit that these feelings for her best friend had been around for quite awhile. It wasn't until her brother married Sugar Belle that these feelings now came along with these subtle physical side effects. Now Rainbow was coming around more and more often, pretty much whenever the Wonderbolts weren't on tour, and she had always offered to help her out around the farm, usually getting a meal and the guest bedroom as compensation for the longer days, like zap apples and cider season. Her visits were getting so frequent that AJ was ready to put a bag of bits down on her spending more time in the farmhouse than her own house.

Applejack turned back to the stove and gave the thick creamy soup a final stir before setting the heavy lid down on the pot, and brought it over to the table, and finally decided on the apple-patterned quilt, putting the red and white one back into the bottom drawer. With that decision made, she took the food out to a small cart waiting just outside one dish at a time, making sure each item was properly and snugly placed so it wouldn't tip or spill on the ride up to the hilltop. Once everything was secure, and she gave the small cart some short test rolls, she was confident none of the items would shift or fall, and she hooked herself up to the front, and trotted off into the orchards. It was a short five-minute pull to the hilltop that overlooked most of the farm, and halfway up the climb, she was surprised to see Rainbow sitting there already waiting for her, wearing that same flight jacket. Big Mac and Sugar Belle were in town on a dinner date, and Granny was gone all week visiting Goldie, so the two mares quite literally had the place to themselves.

"Heh, was sure I'd be waiting on ya." Applejack said as she pulled the cart up next to the single tree on the top of the hill.

"Well, what can I say? I'm pretty hungry, and it didn't help that I could smell it from all the way up here." Rainbow replied.

"Why thank you very much, compliment accepted." Applejack said, grabbing the picnic blanket as Rainbow came over to help unfurl it, getting even closer to the inviting aromas.

"Smells even more amazing right next to it."

"Wait 'til I take the lid off."

She put the pot in the center of the blanket, while Rainbow set out the bowls and silverware. While she was thinking they'd eat across from each other, Rainbow had different ideas, and set the two places right next to each other. Once she noticed, Applejack doubled her efforts to not have the blood rush to her face again. Once the salads had been portioned, she lifted the lid off of the cast iron pot, and Rainbow was nearly salivating as she took her seat in front of her bowl. She wasn't sure what she wanted to start into first; the inviting-looking salad, or the steaming soup as it was ladled into the bowls. Her choice became even harder when the jug of cider came out.

"Go easy on this, I got the hard stuff out tonight." Applejack warned, as she corked the jug after two mugs had been poured.

"Well, let's dig in." Applejack said once she had taken her seat next to Rainbow. As the sun began to inch towards the treeline, the pair of ponies found themselves switching between the two dishes, going for a moist, crunchy bite of salad, then when the chilly evening air got to them, a few sips of the hot creamy soup was all that was needed to warm them back up.

"Hey AJ, you haven't even touched your cider yet. Looking to spend the entire evening sober?" Rainbow asked, who had gotten through about a quarter of her cup so far.

"Nah, I just... I've got something to say, and I don't want to get cold hooves, or blame it on the cider tomorrow. The truth is, Rainbow, I've got a confession to make."

With that, Applejack set her bowl of soup down, took her hat off, and turned completely towards Rainbow, who was still sipping at hers when she saw that she had the farmer's complete focus.

"For the past couple years, I've always thought that it might be up to me to continue the Apple Family lineage, to start the next generation. So I've been kinda halfheartedly waiting for the right stallion to come along. But ever since Big Mac and Sugar Belle got married, I've realized that maybe I don't have to think like that anymore. I don't have to hide from my feelings, and I don't want to hide from my feelings anymore. I can't help but feel that there's something more between us. When... When I'm around you, my whole world lights up. I look at you... and I want to be more than your best friend. I'm... I'm attracted to you, Rainbow Dash."

That final sentence finally forced Applejack's gaze away from the pegasus and towards her mug of cider that had been untouched for the first half of their meal. After she took a sip, or more accurately a gulp, she risked looking back over at the Wonderbolt, who had merely picked her bowl of soup back up and taken another sip, as the farmer's cheek's burned red. When she set the bowl back down, her expression softened as she smiled.

"I was wondering how long it would take for the Element of Honesty to finally be honest with herself." Rainbow answered.

Relief and embarrassment came from separate directions as they washed over Applejack. Grateful that Rainbow hadn't stormed off in shock, and also realizing that maybe Rainbow could read her better than she could read herself.

"Wow... So... Wow. I mean, you feel the same way?" Applejack asked, picking up her bowl of soup again before it got cold.

"Well, the way you look at me, talk to me, especially more recently... I've noticed. I wasn't sure what to make of it, mainly because I wasn't sure if making the first move would have been the right thing to do. I know what family means to you, AJ. I didn't want to make you feel like I was pushing you or rushing you into something you didn't think you wanted, or were ready for or worse, misinterpreting the signals I thought I was getting from you. I needed to wait for you to admit it to yourself." Rainbow said, blushing.

Applejack swallowed, and smiled.

"Well, I'm pretty sure I just admitted it. I'm in love with you, Rainbow."

With that, Applejack slid over to Rainbow, and wrapped her front hooves around the pegasus, immediately receiving a hug in return, and after pouring her heart out, it was one of the warmest, loving hugs she had ever gotten. As they had pulled away, Rainbow didn't go far, before giving the farmer a kiss on the cheek, watching them heat up moments later. She smiled at her, proud that she could still fluster the farmer after all these years.

"And just to give you a straight answer..." Rainbow began, running a hoof along the rim of her cider mug. "Yeah, I feel the same way about you."

Applejack fiddled with the ponytail her mane had almost always been tied into, looking at how majestic Rainbow looked in the fading light of the sunset. But even Rainbow had gotten a light tint on her cheeks from the rather direct signs of affection.

"So..." The wonderbolt began, beginning to fidget with her front hooves. "Is it safe to assume that I won't be staying in the guest room tonight...?"

Applejack's heart began to pound against her chest at the question as the remains of dinner began to get cold on the blanket to their side.

"Uh... Um... Sure... I mean, that is, if you want to stay with me tonight. Do you want to?" AJ stammered, slowly putting her hat back on, as she finished her mug of cider.

"I do." Rainbow said, taking another drink from her mug.

"Well, let's not ignore the rest of our meal because of these feelings being out in the open now. After all, I've got an apple pie being kept warm in the oven back at the house, along with some vanilla bean ice cream." Applejack said, bringing their attention back to the dinner in front of them. The heat emanating from their cheeks made the meal's dropping temperature all the more noticeable, but the food was still good. In a matter of minutes, both of them had absolutely cleaned their plate of salad, and bowl of soup. Afterward, Rainbow helped Applejack pack everything back up in the wagon, and made their way back to the farmhouse. Rainbow realized that this the first time she could remember that the two of them actually had the farmhouse to themselves.

Which of course then led her to wondering how far AJ would want to go with her, if opportunities such as this were so rare. Rainbow wasn't sure if she'd consider herself nervous. Of course there would be nerves, she had never gotten this close to anypony before; not even when the squad got a little tipsy after an amazing show. All things considered, she had saved herself for Applejack.

The two of them got the leftovers put away and the dishes soaking in the sink before AJ pulled out the warm apple pie from the oven, and quickly got it cut and served onto plates. As they sat on opposite sides of the dining table, Rainbow finally decided to break the silence that had fallen over them since pouring their hearts out.

"So, I'm admittedly curious... What makes you so hot for me?" Rainbow teased, though she was genuinely curious.

"Well," AJ began, taking the time to swallow her current bite of pie. "Since I've known you, you've always known what you wanted to be. And seeing you achieve it over the years, there's something endearing about that. You have a confidence that just wafts off of you. Make no mistake, there are plenty of times I've wanted to pin you to the bed and give that attitude a nice check... And there are times where it's just the opposite... Where..."

"Well come on, now you've gotta tell me." Rainbow urged her on.

"Just that, well, there are times that I've fantasized about being on that cloud bed of yours..."

Rainbow blushed, but didn't lose the smirk.

"Mind if I ask you the same?" Applejack asked, as she continued into her slice of pie.

"Well, out of all of my world-saving friends, you are the hardest working pony I know. You're never afraid of telling somepony what you think they need to hear, but you're usually not too honest. You're one of the only ponies who can keep up with me, and... Yeah, sometimes I find myself wondering if that includes in bed. So... Might as well stop beating around the bush... Is there anything you want to have happen tonight?" Rainbow asked, as she finished off her pie.

"Well, I'll be honest, while I'd love to just dive right in, I think we should take things a bit slower than that. I just want our first time to not be rushed, ya know? So, as for tonight, just having you under the same blanket will be more than enough. Besides, Big Mac and Sugar Belle never did tell me when they'd be back." AJ told the pegasus, whole smiled in return as they took their plates to the sink and began washing and drying the dishes together.

"That's good enough for me. Gives me more time to figure out how to handle the next night. Because I'm gonna figure out a way to put you in my cloud bed, and show you what it's like, and make your fantasy a reality." Rainbow said, leaning over and giving her a kiss on the cheek. A few minutes later, the last of the dishes were done and put away, and the two ponies made their way upstairs and down the hall, to the last door, with a red apple painted prominently on the center. Applejack turned the handle, and invited the pegasus in.

The room was simple and rustic; nothing but the necessities, it seemed. Just inside, a lasso was hung on the wall next to the bed. In the other corner, another lasso hung next to another hook that Rainbow assumed was for her hat. There was a table with a few books on it, next to a small closet.

Finally, Rainbow's attention was drawn to the neatly made bed. It was a full size wooden frame and mattress. The comforter was a dark orchid, and the pillowcases had apple patterns on them.

Nope, there was really no questioning what line of work Applejack was in.

Watching the farmer hang her hat, remove her mane from the ponytail she almost always kept it in, and climb into bed made her realize how her dinner had settled in her stomach, and how tired it was making her. With a yawn, Rainbow hung her flight jacket on the hook next to AJ's hat, stepped somewhat timidly up to the bed, before climbing up and slipped under the cover.

"Sorry if I seem nervous, but I've never... Slept with anypony before." Rainbow said as she snuggled up to Applejack.

"Naw," Applejack began in a teasing tone. "A sleek, sexy Wonderbolt like you?"

Rainbow knew AJ was just making fun of her, but couldn't help if she was honestly a bit curious.

"Don't get me wrong, some members of the squad do let off some, well, post-flight steam during a night at the bars after a show, but I've never taken part in that... Not that I didn't get an invitation now and then." Rainbow quickly added, not wanting Applejack to think any of the Bolts found her undesirable.

"So... I'm your first?" AJ asked.

"Well, you will be, yeah. You know, apart from my hoof." Rainbow said, giggling lightly. Applejack slugged her playfully on the shoulder, but chuckled at it.

"Yeah, I get that. I can't say I haven't well, indulged in a little, um, 'self-care' after a hard day of apple bucking." Applejack replied, snuggling in deeper and wrapping her front hooves around Rainbow's barrel. "Guess those days'll soon be over."

"Eh, you never know. Who's to say I don't like to watch?" Rainbow asked, getting another blush and laugh out of AJ for her effort.

"You are incorrigible, you know that?" Applejack chastised, squeezing her slightly, feeling her wings ruffle against her chest.

"So, we're like, marefriends now, right?" Rainbow asked, rolling over in place, turning to face the farmer.

Applejack brought one of her wrapped-around hooves up to the back of Rainbow's head, and gently pulled her muzzle towards hers, and their lips pressed together. The kiss was sloppy, and half-unexpected for Rainbow, but she pressed into it after a moment's hesitation, her wings spreading out under the blanket. They held the kiss for a few seconds, and when they separated, Rainbow drew in a quiet breath.

"Well, I'd say what we just did would be a bit awkward if we weren't." AJ replied, lowering the hoof that pressed Rainbow into that kiss, and now lightly ran it along Rainbow's spread wings, making the pegasus shudder.

"I think somepony likes having their wings played with." Applejack whispered, continuing along to the tip.

"And I think somepony looks good with their mane down. You should wear it like that more often." Rainbow said, seeing how Applejack's untied mane was somewhat splayed across her pillow.

"Say that to my face when it's a sweaty, tangled mess after a day working the orchards." AJ retorted.

"You never know, maybe I will."Rainbow said, coming in for another kiss.

Knowing that it would be easier to snuggle her back into Rainbow's chest rather than the other way around, Applejack rolled to her other side, and slid closer into Rainbow, letting the pegasus wrap her hooves around her as they got more comfortable. She reached over to the night stand and turned the small knob to extinguish the bedside lantern, bringing the room's ambient lighting down to moonlight only, before sinking her head into her pillow, and found sleep moments later as she focused on the rising and falling of Rainbow's chest.

Author's Note

Well, here's the start of my Appledash story celebrating my 8th anniversary on this site, admittedly a few hours early. Just didn't want to forget to post it tomorrow.

For eight long years, thanks for reading.

Here's to what could be the next eight.

Love,
milesprower06