Author's Note

Chapter contains: Human/Humanized, Incest, Unrealistic Anatomy, Harem/Polygamy

Need

“So what are you gonna do when spring comes around?” asked Apple Bloom, looking up at me.

I tore my gaze away from the ceiling of our treehouse and looked down at her. She was lying next to me on the mattress, her arms wrapped around me and her head resting on my shoulder. My sisters and I would often lie together like that for a while after lunch, sometimes even taking a short nap before heading back out to the orchard for the afternoon. Despite the fact that the three of us were buck-naked under our quilt, we typically wouldn’t get up to anything sexual; we just liked the feel of our warm bodies rubbing together. By the time we finished the day’s work, then spent the evening “relaxing” in Buttercup’s bedroom, we were typically exhausted, so we rarely risked tiring ourselves out unnecessarily during the day.

“Oh...I don’t know,” I said, ruminating on what I could do to take advantage of the springtime weather that would be coming in a few weeks. “I was thinkin’ about maybe goin’ down to the swimmin’ hole every once in a while once it warms up. Y’know, for old times sake. Y’all could come with me if you want.”

Apple Bloom gave me a knowing look. “You just wanna see us in our bathin’ suits, don’t you?” she said with a grin.

“I mean...that’s not the only reason,” I said sheepishly.

Apple Bloom chuckled, giving me a peck on my cheek. “That sounds like a great idea,” she said, snuggling closer to me. “I’ll be sure to wear somethin’ extra special for you.”

“I’ll look forward to it,” I said, holding her close and giving her a kiss on her forehead. “How ‘bout you? You got any plans with your friends?”

Apple Bloom let out an exasperated sigh. “I wish,” she said. “It’s hard enough findin’ somethin’ Sweetie and Scoots will both wanna do, but these days, we barely have enough time to just hang out. When we’re not busy with our chores or school, we’re typically helpin’ folks with their cutie mark problems. Don’t get me wrong, we all love doin’ it, but...it can be a lot of work sometimes.”

“You know I love how much you care about others...but you really should take some time off now and then,” I said. “I don’t wanna see you work yourself to death.”

“I know, I know,” said Apple Bloom. “Thankfully, I only have a few more months of school. After that, I’ll have a whole heap of free time on my hands. I can’t wait till I can spend more time hangin’ out with my friends...and my family.” She and I looked into each other’s eyes and smiled, leaning in and pressing our lips together for a gentle, loving kiss.

“How bout you, AJ?” said Apple Bloom when we parted. “You got any plans for the spring?” I turned my head and looked over at Applejack, who was lying on my other side, looking up at the ceiling.

“Oh...plantin’ the new saplin’s, resprayin’ the orchard, doin’ the thinnin’ later on...” said Applejack absentmindedly, not even bothering to look over at us.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean,” she said. “Not work! What are you gonna do with your friends? I bet Pinkie’ll throw a party to celebrate spring comin’. You gonna go to that?”

“I suppose so,” said Applejack in an uncharacteristically lackluster tone.

Apple Bloom and I shared a look, both of us immediately recognizing Applejack’s “I’m worried about something, but I’m not going to talk about it because I have to be the rock” attitude. Luckily, both of us knew exactly how to get her to open up. We grinned mischievously at each other, silently nodding in agreement of what to do. Apple Bloom and I simultaneously leaped upon Applejack, pinning her beneath us with our combined body weights. Before she could defend herself, Apple Bloom and I both sent our fingers to Applejack’s armpits, digging our fingers into the smooth, tender flesh and tickling her mercilessly. The sound of Applejack’s hearty laughter filled the room as she wiggled and squirmed beneath us, helpless before our assault.

We didn’t keep it up for very long, just enough to make sure we had her undivided attention. When we finally pulled back our fingers from her skin, Applejack lied beneath us with a smile on her face. As she caught her breath, we both wrapped our arms around her and planted a smattering of little kisses on her face.

“C’mon, AJ, tell us what you’re thinkin’ about,” I said.

“Yeah, or we’ll keep ticklin’ you until you do!” said Apple Bloom.

“Alright, alright,” chuckled Applejack. “I’m sorry, you two. I...I don’t mean to keep things from you.”

“We know you don’t,” I said, giving her a peck on the lips. “Just tell us what you’re worryin’ about. That’s what we’re here for.”

“Well...I’ve just been worryin’ about...about Mom,” said Applejack.

“Oh,” I said. “How have...how have things been goin’ with her?”

“Not too good,” said Applejack. “I swear, sometimes it feels like she’s doin’ it on purpose. I get wantin’ to find someone special to share your life with and all, but...that woman’s bein’ choosier than Rarity in a Manehattan shoe shop.”

“Tell me about it,” said Apple Bloom. “I feel like I’ve tried to set her up with half the single men in town, but every time, she manages to find some excuse why she can’t go out with ‘em. ‘Oh! So-and-so is too busy with his work; I ain’t makin’ him waste his time on me!’ Or sometimes it’s ‘He’s so young; he should be with a woman his own age, not someone like me!’ It’s so annoyin’. And I know for a fact that she’s friends with most of ‘em, so it’s not like she don’t like ‘em.”

“That’s what I’m sayin’,” said Applejack. “It’s like she don’t wanna be with someone again, but we all know she does. She’s still holdin’ herself back, and I don’t know what to do about it. There’s only so much we can do for her. We can find her a nice man, but in the end, it has to be her decision. She already wants it, but she has to...she just has to let herself go for it.”

The three of us were silent for a moment, our brains churning over the question of Buttercup’s romantic life. Up until that point, I had been letting my sisters take charge of the effort, feeling that their womanly perspective would make them better suited for the task. As I lied there ruminating, however, the spark of an idea popped into my head. “I think...I have an idea,” I said.

“What is it?” asked Applejack.

“Well...this may be a stupid suggestion, but...do you remember what we did when...you were tryin’ to help me find someone?” I said.

“Oh,” said Applejack, blushing slightly. “You mean when...we went on our first date together?” While it had only been meant to be a “practice date” at the time, in hindsight, we both recognized it as having been our first outing together as more than brother and sister. Even if it had not gone very smoothly, Applejack still had an adorable romantic attachment to that day; she had had a fondness for sunflowers ever since.

“Yeah,” I said, blushing as well. “I mean...it did get you to...open up a bit. It got you to...consider bein’ in a relationship. Didn’t it?”

“Well...yeah. It did,” said Applejack, smiling at me. “It made me realize how nice it could be to...do stuff like that. It made me realize...what I really wanted.” Applejack placed a hand on my cheek and leaned in, giving me a gentle kiss on the lips. “But...do you really think that’ll work though?”

“I bet it will,” said Apple Bloom. “If he was able to get you thinkin’ about romance, he could probably do it for anyone. No offense.”

Applejack looked over and glared at Apple Bloom for a moment before chuckling. “Why you little...” she said, pulling Apple Bloom closer and giving her a big kiss. Apple Bloom giggled and kissed her right back, the two of them fighting to smother each other in smooches. Not to be left out, I leaned in and joined the battle, which only made me a target as well. After a brief, but energetic make-out session, the three of us parted again, smiling and giggling at ourselves.

“So what do you think?” I said. “Should we give it a try?”

“Definitely!” said Apple Bloom, looking to Applejack for approval.

“Sure thing,” said Applejack. “If nothin’ else, at least we can give Mom a real nice time. But...what are we gonna do for her though?”

“Well,” I said, “I did have one idea...”

I grumbled irritably as I fumbled with my necktie, struggling to reign in the horribly tied strip of fabric. I had spent the past ten minutes trying to tie it properly to no avail. I really shouldn’t have been surprised at my own incompetence at the task. I could probably count the number of times I had ever had to wear a tie on one hand, and every one of those times, I had relied on my mother to help me. On that particular night, however, asking Buttercup to help me was the one thing I could not do.

My sisters and I had decided that Buttercup and I should have our practice date on that day, about two weeks before the end of winter, a day when the local weather team had decided to give us fair weather with no new snowfall. We knew that Buttercup would not be able to fully relax and enjoy the experience if I took her somewhere in public, so we had opted to put together a little something there at Sweet Apple Acres. It had taken a fair bit of work to get everything set up, but we wanted the date to be special, something to really shock Buttercup out of her romantic slump. Even after all the preparations we had done, we had still had to convince the woman herself to participate. She, of course, had been hesitant to do something so romantic with one of her children, but in the end, we had managed to convince her by stressing that it was merely practice, and that we would not take it further than she was comfortable with.

At that moment, Buttercup was upstairs in her room with Applejack and Apple Bloom, who were doing their best to prepare her for our outing. I could hear their muffled conversation echo through the floorboards to the living room, where I was busy doing my own preparations. To be honest, I didn’t think I looked that bad. I had showered and shaved and managed to get my hair looking about as nice as it could reasonably get. My suit fit me comfortably, and even filled me with confidence for what I was about to do. It had once belonged to my father, and while it had been in my possession for a very long time, that night would be the first time I had both a need to wear it and the ability to fill it out properly. Now, if only I could tie my gosh-darn tie, I thought to myself.

I was in the middle of another attempt to wrangle the knot into place when I heard footsteps descending the stairs. I whipped my head around to look, breathing a sigh of relief when I saw that it was only Applejack. She was dressed in a long wool skirt and a nice sweater with her signature hat on her head, a nice middle ground between her normal, practical apparel and something fancy.

“Hey,” she said with a smile.

“Hey,” I said with a much less confident smile. “How’s it goin’ up there?”

“Well, Apple Bloom’s just finishin’ up her makeup now,” she said. “I had to stop her from goin’ overboard a few times, but...I think it turned out real nice. I think you’ll like what you see.”

“I bet I will,” I said.

“How ‘bout you? You ready?” she asked.

“Almost,” I said, quickly trying to finish with me tie. Applejack chuckled, walking up to me and gently brushing my hands away. I watched her as she effortlessly undid the sloppy knot I had tied and quickly re-tied it in the proper fashion. “Uh...thanks.”

“Don’t mention it,” she said.

“Where’d you learn how to do that?” I asked.

“Mom taught me,” she said. “She said she always had to help Dad with his. She thought it might come in handy if I ever needed to help you.”

I chuckled. “I guess she was right,” I said. “She really does know what she’s talkin’ about, doesn’t she? I’m so glad we have someone like her to look after us.”

“You can say that again,” she said. “She’s done so much to help already, for you and for us. She’s been teachin’ us so much about...how to be a good woman to a man. I never realized how...unprepared we all were for this. It’s always seemed so simple, but...it turns out there’s a lot more to this than I thought.”

“More than any of us thought,” I said. “We’ve always said that we’d be fine as long as we had each other, but...it’s nice to have her on our side too.”

“It really is,” she said.

“And thanks to her, I know I’ll always have a woman around who knows how to make a delicious dinner,” I said.

“Oh, stop,” said Applejack, blushing slightly. “She’s only been showin’ me a few things.”

“Well those ‘few things’ you made the other night were scrumptious,” I said. “I wish you’d make dinner more often.”

“Well...maybe,” she said. “But...I gotta let Apple Bloom take a turn too.”

“Did I hear someone say my name?” said a voice that was clearly Apple Bloom’s.

Applejack and I turned our heads and looked towards the stairs, which Apple Bloom was descending. She was dressed in her normal winter clothing, her hair bow looking as cute as ever atop her head.

“Hey, sis,” I said, smiling at her. “How’s Mom doin’?”

“She’s almost ready,” said Apple Bloom as she reached the living room. “She’s just gettin’ her shoes on. And before you ask, no, I did not put too much makeup on her.” Apple Bloom walked past us towards the door and began slipping on her boots and coat.

“I didn’t say anythin’,” said Applejack indignantly.

“You were thinkin’ it,” said Apple Bloom. “Anyway, I’m all done with her, so I’m gonna go ahead and run down there. You two gonna be good up here?”

“I think we’re set,” I said. “Thanks Apple Bloom.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” said Apple Bloom. “We still got the whole night ahead of us.” When she was ready to head out, she quickly walked over to me and gave me a peck on the cheek. “Good luck, big guy. Give her a good night.”

“I will,” I said confidently.

“Good,” said Apple Bloom, seemingly satisfied. “See you in a few.” With that, she left us and headed out the front door, quickly going to where she would be needed next.

Applejack and I looked back at each other, smiling silently for a moment. “Well...I’d better go upstairs and help her finish up,” said Applejack.

“Yeah,” I said, my short burst of confidence already fading.

Seemingly sensing my feelings, Applejack leaned in and gave me a quick kiss on my other cheek. “You’ll do fine,” she said. “I know how much you care about her and...I know how well you treat the people you care about. All you gotta do is show her that. Just show her what it’s like to have a man love her again. I know you can do it.”

“Thanks, AJ,” I said. “Don’t worry. I’ll give it everythin’ I got.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” she said. “Good luck, sugarcube.” Giving me one last smile, she turned and walked back upstairs.

I watched her go, then turned my attention back to myself. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm myself. I needed to be at the top of my game, I told myself. That night, I couldn’t afford to be the romantic novice that I really was. If I was going to play my part successfully, if I was going to rekindle the romantic flair in a mature woman who had already been in a loving relationship for many years, I had to be a man worthy of her attention. I had to be strong and confident, while also being kind, gentle, and caring. Buttercup had said that it would take a special sort of man to get her interested in romance again, so that was the man I needed to be, if only for one night.

That was what was going through my head when I heard two sets of footsteps approach the top of the stairs and slowly descend them. Of course, when I got a good look at Buttercup, all of that bravado that I had been working to build up instantly vanished. Her wide, sloping curves were squeezed into an elegant orange gown, which I immediately recognized as the one my sisters and I had gotten her for Hearth’s Warming. The silken material fit her like a glove, hugging her voluptuous body closely. Her feet, which peeked out from underneath the dress, were clad in a matching pair of orange, short-heeled shoes. Her creamy, feminine arms, left bare by the dress, extended down to her hands, which were painted in a matching orange polish. The small window in the bust of her gown displayed a titillatingly small amount of her pale pink cleavage. Her voluminous hair, which she normally made little effort to style, had been elegantly coiffed, appearing even fluffier and softer than usual as it flowed down her back. Her plump lips had been coated with light pink lip gloss, her already rosy cheeks had been dusted with a hint of blush, and her long eyelashes had been smeared with a respectable amount of mascara.

Buttercup looked up and locked eyes with me, freezing in place on the stairs. Staring into those beautiful blue-green eyes, I saw a swirling mixture of emotions. I saw the lingering hints of joy, as if she had just been smiling and giggling at something. I saw definitive anxiety and trepidation, the cause of which I did not need to speculate on. There was embarrassment as well, the ever-humble woman presumably feeling self-conscious about the grandiose situation we had put her in. While it was faint, I also saw the unmistakable trace of love, the same love I had seen in those eyes every day of every year of my life. I could only hope that she saw in my eyes the same love, the love I had felt for my beloved mother since the day I was born.

While the moment felt to me like it passed in an instant, in reality, it must have taken a bit longer, as Applejack eventually felt the need to interrupt. “Uh...Mom?” she said, leaning down from where she stood, a few stairs above Buttercup.

Buttercup blinked, snapping both of us out of our respective trances. “Oh! Right,” she said, lowering her gaze and continuing her trip down the stairs. A few seconds later, she reached the bottom and stood before me, meekly clasping her hands before herself. She looked up at me and gave me a timid smile. “How...how do I look?”

A smile slowly spread across my lips as well. “You look...you look amazing,” I said, struggling to find the words to describe the breathtakingly beautiful woman before me. “Absolutely incredible.”

Buttercup blushed and looked away. “Well...those two sure did a number on me,” she said. “What with my dress and...my makeup and all.”

“No,” I said, firmly but softly. “It ain’t all that.” I stepped up to her and took her hands in mine, squeezing them gently. “It’s you. It’s all you. It’s always been you. You’re so beautiful...Buttercup. Sometimes I just forget...how beautiful you really are.”

Buttercup blushed even harder, but looked up at me and smiled widely. “Thank you,” she said. Her eyes wandered south, running over my upper body. “You look so handsome.”

“Thanks,” I said, looking down at my suit. “I’m lucky it fits me so well. I just hope...he wouldn’t have minded me havin’ it.”

“Of course he’d have wanted you to have it,” said Buttercup, raising a hand and placing it on my cheek. “He wouldn’t have wanted it to sit in the closet forever. It’s got a lot left in it...and I’d say you do a good job of bringin’ it out.”

I raised a hand and placed it on hers. “I’ll have to take extra special care of it then,” I said, smiling back at her.

The two of us must have been lost in each other’s eyes for an awkwardly long time, as Applejack once again felt the need to interrupt us, this time by loudly clearing her throat. I looked up at her, then quickly looked back at Buttercup, who pulled her hand back. Applejack was right, I realized; we didn’t make Buttercup go through the trouble of dressing up just so I could gawk at her all night.

“So...shall we?” I said, trying to sound as naturally suave as possible.

Buttercup smiled and nodded, then followed me over to the front door. I helped her don a light coat, enough to keep her warm for the few minutes we would need to get to where we were going. When she was ready, I offered her my arm, which she gladly took hold of and held tightly. I looked over at Applejack, who was standing by the front door, and saw her nod her approval. She reached out and opened the door, holding it open for us. I gave Applejack an appreciative nod as Buttercup and I stepped through the doorway and out into the barnyard beyond.

The chill night air wrapped around us, its sudden embrace feeling remarkably refreshing against my warm skin. Overhead, the dark sky was decorated with a blanket of stars and a large, crescent moon that bathed the land in a pale light. A thin layer of snow covered the ground as far as the eye could see, barring those places that we had manually cleared. One of those places was a short path that led from our front door to a wooden cart parked a few yards from where we stood. It was towards that cart that I led Buttercup, walking slowly and steadily so that she would not trip in her heels.

Applejack followed us out of the house and closed the door behind us, pulling her own coat around herself. She followed behind us as we approached the cart, stepping up to the back where we had set up a small stepladder. The cart was the same one we typically used to haul apples to market, but could very easily be used to transport people as well. A long, low crate acted as a makeshift bench large enough to seat two people comfortably, even if one of those people was a woman as well-endowed as Buttercup. When we reached it, I held Buttercup’s hand as she carefully stepped up into the cart, trying not to take notice of how snugly her dress clung to her sizable rear end. I followed her up immediately after, taking my seat next to her and signaling to Applejack that we were all set.

Applejack nodded and moved towards the front of the cart, taking her place between the long handles that jutted out of the front of it. She took hold of the handles and, with a mighty heave, lifted it back onto its wheels. It took her a moment of effort to get the thing moving, but once we started rolling forward, the inertia did most of the work. While a lesser woman might have had difficulty acting as our chauffeur, Applejack was used to hauling that cart when it was piled high with fruit. Compared to such a load, I knew that the weight of two people would feel as light as a feather to her.

“You still haven’t told me where we’re goin’,” said Buttercup.

“Not far,” I said. “As much as I’d have loved to take you into town, we got the feeling you’d probably prefer something a bit more...intimate.”

“I can’t wait to see what you three have planned for me,” said Buttercup.

“I can’t wait for you to see it either,” I said.

Buttercup and I smiled at each other, then slowly came together and shared a short, but loving kiss. She grasped my arm once again and held it as we slowly trundled out of the barnyard and into the orchard beyond. Applejack skillfully maneuvered us through the snow-covered trees, taking us along the route we had planned out earlier. As we went, Buttercup and I enjoyed the sights of the sparkling sky and the stark beauty of the boughs overhead. When a sudden breeze caused Buttercup to shiver, I put an arm around her and held her closely, and she snuggled up against me.

It took us only a few minutes of rolling through the gentle slopes of the orchard before the cart finally reached its destination. The clearing that we arrived at was one that both I and my sisters were intimately familiar with, the three of us having spent many hours there rolling around in the grass together there. It had taken quite a bit of work to transform the unremarkable spot into one suitable for a romantic getaway, but I for one was pleased with the results. The blanket of snow covering the frozen grass had been largely cleared away, making space for the large gazebo tent we had hauled out of the attic and set up there. The tent, which we normally brought out for family reunions and other such social functions, was square in shape, roughly twenty feet on each side, and had walls all around to keep out the elements.

Applejack pulled us up to the tent and slowly brought us to a halt just outside of it. She quickly retrieved another stepladder we had left nearby and brought it over to the back of the cart. I stood and climbed down first, before taking Buttercup’s hand and helping her disembark as well. When we were both standing on solid ground yet again, I led Buttercup over towards the flap that acted as the tent’s entryway. As we approached, Apple Bloom pushed aside the flap and stepped out of the tent. She was dressed as one would expect the waitress of a classy restaurant to dress, her outfit consisting of a modest knee-length skirt, blouse, pantyhose, and flats.

“Good evening,” said Apple Bloom with a smile. “Welcome to Ambrosia. Do you have a reservation?”

“Yes,” I said. “‘Anon’, party of two.”

“Excellent,” said Apple Bloom. “Allow me to show you to your table.” She grabbed the tent flap and held it open for Buttercup and I as we walked inside.

The air inside the tent was warm and cozy, thanks to a few space heaters we had strategically placed in the corners and left running for a while beforehand. Most of the area was covered by a large wooden dance floor which also typically featured in our family reunions. I had seen many a lively square dance performed on that floor over the years, but that night, it would serve a much more romantic purpose. In the center of the dance floor was a wooden table draped in the fanciest tablecloth we could find and accompanied by two wooden chairs that somewhat matched the atmosphere we were trying to create. The whole “restaurant” was lit by the light of a series of tall candelabras we had found in the attic, which provided illumination dim enough to feel romantic, but bright enough to not feel moody. Off to the side, a record player sat on a small table, filling the tent with the melodious notes of slow, romantic string music.

Buttercup gasped and stopped short as she saw what we had put together for her. Her wide eyes darted about the tent, trying to take in every detail at once. “You...you three did all this...for me?” she said.

“Of course we did,” I said softly. “We wanted to do something special for...the woman we love so much.”

Buttercup chuckled and shook her head in disbelief, then looked up at me with a smile. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you so much.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” I said. “We just got here.”

Standing nearby, Apple Bloom cleared her throat. “Miss?” she said politely. “May I take your coat?” I helped Buttercup shed her coat and handed it to Apple Bloom, who hung it on a nearby coat rack.

Apple Bloom then escorted us to the table, which she proudly proclaimed to be the best seat in the house. Buttercup moved to pull out her own chair, but I quickly stepped forward and did it for her. She seemed surprised at the gesture, but quickly recovered and lowered herself into the seat. I helped her scoot herself in before walking over to my own chair and sitting down. There were two place settings on the table, complete with silverware, wine glasses, and our attempts at elegantly folded cloth napkins. A short candle in the center cast its wavering light on Buttercup’s face, giving the already beautiful woman an enchanting aura.

“Thank you for joining us here tonight,” said Apple Bloom. “My name’s Apple Bloom. I’ll be your server this evening. Can I start you two off with something to drink? Perhaps you’d like to try our famous sparkling apple cider?”

“What do you think Buttercup?” I said.

“I think that sounds lovely,” said Buttercup.

“Alright then,” I said. “Two glasses of your finest cider, please!”

“Excellent choice, sir,” said Apple Bloom, barely managing to keep a straight face. “I’ll be back in just a moment.” She stepped away from the table and calmly walked off towards a small table at the side of the tent.

“I can’t believe y’all would go through all this work just for me,” said Buttercup. “You must’ve spent hours settin’ all this up.”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” I said in a joking tone. “This is the finest restaurant for miles around. It took me months to get us a reservation here. I’m surprised you’ve never heard of this place before.”

Buttercup chuckled. “Of course,” she said with a smile. “Silly me.”

Apple Bloom returned to the table carrying two menus under her arm as well as a bottle of the aforementioned cider, which had been made right there at Sweet Apple Acres. “Here are your menus,” said Apple Bloom, setting down the bottle on the table and handing each of us one of the menus we had hastily thrown together. “We have a wide selection available tonight, so please feel free to take your time deciding.” Apple Bloom lifted the cider bottle and poured each of us a glassful while we opened our menus.

The “wide selection” consisted of only three categories, with only a single dish listed under each. There were the “Appetizers”, consisting solely of grilled zucchini; the “Entrees”, steak; and the “Desserts”, apple pie. Upon seeing this, I almost giggled, in spite of myself. I had known that Applejack was going to be in charge of preparing the meal, but I had not known what exactly she had in mind for us. I suppose it should have come as no surprise to me that she had chosen to stick with her strengths: grilling and baking. I could almost picture her standing before the grill out behind the tent, already preparing our meals.

Not wanting to ruin Buttercup’s immersion, I stroked my chin and pretended to consider my “options” carefully. “You know...I think I’m in the mood for some...grilled zucchini,” I said, “followed by a nice juicy steak, and then a slice of apple pie for dessert. How about you Buttercup?”

To her credit, Buttercup played along, managing to keep herself from giggling at the whole affair. “You know...I think I’m feelin’ the same way,” she said. “I’ll have what he’s havin’.”

“Alrighty then,” said Apple Bloom, taking our menus back and picking up the bottle. “I’ll get your orders in right away. Please feel free to call me if there’s anythin’ else you need.” After giving us both a smile, Apple Bloom withdrew, giving me a wink when she was out of Buttercup’s view. She walked over to the flap at the back of the tent and exited through it, leaving Buttercup and I alone with only the music, and each other, to keep us company.

We smiled at each other for a long moment, the surreal nature of the whole situation still making us a bit giddy. Before the moment got awkward, however, I reached out and took hold of my glass, raising it into the air. “Shall we?” I asked.

Buttercup followed along and raised her glass as well. “What are we drinkin’ to?” she asked.

“Your happiness,” I said, not missing a beat. “Now and always.”

Buttercup blushed. “Don’t leave yourself out of that, now,” she said.

“If you insist,” I said. “To our happiness.”

“To our happiness,” she said.

Our glasses made a sharp clink as we gently brought them together. We then pulled back our glasses and raised them to our lips, each of us taking a long sip. I couldn’t help but watch as Buttercup’s plump lips wrapped around the rim of her glass, parting to allow a stream of the bubbly liquid to flow inside. The cider was crisp and refreshing on my tongue, just what I would have expected from our family’s stocks. I swallowed, then lowered my glass, returning it to the table.

“I gotta say, Buttercup,” I said as she lowered her glass, “I was so glad when you agreed to spend an evenin’ with me. I had heard rumors that you...weren’t really interested in doin’ this sorta thing. When I asked you to dinner, I expected you to turn me down, but...I’m happy that I was wrong.”

Buttercup thought for a moment before responding, her expression conveying her conflicted feelings. “Well...it ain’t that I’m...not interested,” she said. “I’ve just been...waitin’ for the right man. I’ve been waitin’ for a man that I...won’t feel bad about bein’ with.”

“You mean...you haven’t met a man who was good enough for you?” I asked.

“No, no! Not like that! I just mean...” began Buttercup. She sighed heavily, then began again. “I know who I am...and I know who I’m not. I’m not some pretty young thing burstin’ with energy. I’m...I’m old. I’m old and I’m worn out. I’ve been alone for a long time. If I were gonna be with a man again...they’d have to deal with that. They’d have to be willin’ to...make up for lost time. I just don’t want anyone to have to deal with a love-starved old woman like me; I’d feel bad about it. Especially if they were a...handsome young man like you. You probably have your hands full dealin’ with girls your own age. I’m not sure why you’d wanna waste your time with someone like me.”

Buttercup was looking down at the table as she finished, but when I reached out and gently grasped her hand, she looked back up at me. “Beggin’ your pardon, but...I think you’re wrong,” I said, looking her in the eye. “I think you’re...sellin’ yourself short. I don’t think most folks see you that way...in fact, I know they don’t. I don’t either. After all, you’ve managed to run that apple orchard on the edge of town for all these years, all while raisin’ a family. To me, that sounds like a woman who’s got a lot of strength left in her, and a lot of life too. That sounds like the sorta woman that any man would love to be with.”

“Well...it ain’t like I’m...all alone out there,” said Buttercup. “My children do most of the work these days. Even my mother-in-law does more for the farm than I do. I’m not that important, really.”

“I bet your children would disagree,” I said. “I bet your children would say that...you’re one of the most important people in their lives. I bet they’d be lost without you.”

“My children are all grown up,” she said with a smile. “It’s taken me a long time to come to terms with that, but...I have. They don’t need me as much as they think they do.”

“Then...that’s all the more reason to take care of yourself, ain’t it?” I said. “All the more reason to...do what you wanna do.”

“Well, it ain’t just them I’m thinkin’ about,” she said. “Like I was sayin’, I gotta think about...the person I would be with too. I’m the sorta woman who...likes bein’ loved. I like it a lot, in fact. After all these years, I’ve...I’ve gotten a bit needy. I’m worried that I’d ask for too much...ask for more than a reasonable person could be expected to give.”

“So what?” I said. “Love ain’t about holdin’ yourself back. When you’re with someone...you have the right to ask for their love. And if they aren’t willin’ to give it to you, then that’s their fault, not yours.”

“I know, but...” she began.

“Buttercup,” I said, “do your children love you?”

“Of course my children love me,” she said. “I know they do.”

“What about your friends?” I said. “Do they love you?”

“Well, yes,” she said.

“And your friends and family aren’t fools, are they?” I said.

“Why, of course not!” she said.

“Then you must obviously be a woman worth lovin’,” I said. “If you have so many people in your life willin’ to love you, then it must be worth it. Wouldn’t you say so?”

“I...I suppose so,” said Buttercup, seemingly mulling over the words even as she spoke them.

“I certainly think so,” I said, squeezing her hand and giving her the warmest smile I could muster. “If nothin’ else...take my word for it.”

Buttercup looked me in the eye for a long moment before her lips slowly stretched into a smile. “Okay,” she said softly, squeezing my hand as well.

It was around that time that the back flap of the tent was pushed aside and Apple Bloom reentered, carrying a large silver platter. On the platter were two small plates containing our orders of grilled zucchini. “Here we are, everyone!” she said cheerfully. “Your appetizers, fresh off the grill!” She carefully walked over to the table and placed the plates before us, one at a time.

“Well! This looks delicious!” said Buttercup; I agreed with her. The zucchini was beautifully browned and seasoned with olive oil and a dash of pepper.

“You two enjoy,” said Apple Bloom. “Your entrees should be done in no time at all.” She gave both of us a smile, then politely withdrew from the tent once again.

Buttercup and I put our napkins on our laps and picked up our knives and forks, our mouths already watering. I cut a small bite and raised it to my mouth, popping it inside. The zucchini tasted just as good as it looked, filling my mouth with its elegantly simple flavor. Both I and Buttercup found ourselves grunting our approval of the dish.

“It is delicious,” said Buttercup as she finished chewing and swallowing. “Who made this?”

“I believe our chef tonight is a young woman named Applejack,” I said.

“Applejack, eh?” said Buttercup. “Well, she’s certainly very good at what she does.”

“I’m not surprised,” I said. “I’ve heard she’s been getting help from a very talented woman recently.”

“Well...that may be so,” said Buttercup, “but I reckon most of it comes right from her.”

“I won’t argue with you there,” I said, taking another bite of the scrumptious dish.

The two of us continued eating our appetizers, going slowly and savoring every bite. As we ate, we made smalltalk about lighthearted topics such as Buttercup’s day, the goings-on at the farm, and what she had been doing with her friends recently. We made a token effort to stay in character, although neither of us particularly minded when we eventually dropped the act. Shortly after we had finished, Apple Bloom returned, collecting our empty plates and topping off our glasses.

She came back again a minute or two later, bringing with her two perfectly cooked steaks hot off the grill. Both Buttercup and I had intentionally eaten a light dinner earlier, so we both eagerly dug in to our meals. Despite the posh nature of the scenario we had set up, the ravenous woman in front of me could not help but display her very healthy appetite, a trait which she had passed on to both of her daughters. While some men might have been put off by watching such a mature, respectable woman gobble down a juicy slab of meat so enthusiastically, I found it endearing and a bit cute how she smiled and grunted her approval as she chewed. I couldn’t particularly blame her for acting that way either; Applejack had worked her magic and prepared us one of the best steak dinners I had ever had.

We kept the conversation going as we ate, when our mouths weren’t full of food, of course. I managed to get her talking about her novels, a topic which she was more than willing to discuss at length with only minimal contributions from myself. To be fair, I did my best to keep up as she went on about the cliche dialogue, the cartoonish scenarios, and unrealistic characters in the paperback romances she had read recently. Those were my appraisals, of course, ones which I kept to myself for the sake of politeness. Buttercup, on the other hand, made no secret of her feelings, gushing over every little detail at length. It warmed my heart to see her eyes light up and her lips stretch into a wide smile as she talked about the things she loved.

Eventually, the last bite of our steaks had disappeared down our throats, and Apple Bloom brought out our last course. Two small slices of apple pie on two small plates made their way to our table and were happily received. I could tell right away that the pie had been baked that day, the apples still possessing the perfect amount of crunch and the crust still light and flaky. I made a mental note to thank Applejack later for all the work she had done that night. I made a note to thank both of my sisters, in fact. They had gone through all the trouble of running the date, all so that I could have a shot at helping Buttercup deal with her issues. With the dinner nearing its end, I knew I would have to keep up my efforts until the very end if I wanted to have an impact on her.

“Hey,” said Buttercup, interrupting my thoughts. “Open wide.” I looked up from my plate to see her holding out her fork towards me, a bite of her warm apple pie stuck on the end of it. I chuckled, then leaned forward and opened my mouth wide. Buttercup carefully guided her fork into my mouth, giggling as I pulled the pie off of it. We smiled at each other as we chewed, unconsciously reaching forward and holding hands.

Our fruity desserts disappeared into our bellies bite by bite, and before long, the two of us had officially completed our meal. Apple Bloom returned as Buttercup and I sat back and rubbed our satisfyingly full bellies. “Did you two enjoy your meal?” she said.

“Oh yes,” said Buttercup dreamily. “Everything was perfect.”

“My compliments to the chef,” I said.

Apple Bloom chuckled softly. “I’ll be sure to tell her you both like it,” she said, collecting our plates and silverware. “You two are free to leave whenever you want, but there’s no rush. Feel free to stick around for as long as you want.” We thanked her before she turned and left the tent, leaving us alone together again.

Buttercup and I gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes, neither of us in any hurry to leave. As I looked at her, I realized that I couldn’t see any of the anxiety or discomfort that I had seen in her face earlier that night. The smile on her lips seemed completely genuine, the smile of a woman who had found peace and happiness, if only for a little while.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “I had a wonderful time.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, “but...the night doesn’t have to be over yet.”

“You got somethin’ else planned?” she said.

“Well, not exactly, but...” I began, trying to think of some way to buy more time with her. My eyes fell on the record player off to the side of the tent, still filling the air with sweet, atmospheric music. I looked back at Buttercup, giving her my best attempts at a suave smile. “Would you like to dance?”

Buttercup chuckled, her smile widening. “I’d love to,” she said.

I rose from my chair and casually walked over to her side of the table. Buttercup scooted back from the table and raised one of her feminine hands, offering it to me. I gently took her hand and helped her rise from her seat, then led her away from the table. Despite the presence of the table and chairs in the middle of the dance floor, there was still plenty of open space for Buttercup and I to move around. We walked out to where we would have plenty of clearance to the nearest obstacle, then took our positions. We faced one another, taking hold of each other in a respectable manner, then let the music take hold of us.

Buttercup and I had danced together like that every so often while we had been together, but we had never done so in such a romantic setting. I was meant to be the one warming her up to the idea of romance, but I found myself caught up in the mood as well. It was hard for me not to feel a bit twitterpated as I slowly swayed together with one of the most gorgeous, attractive women I knew, our faces mere inches apart. The voluptuous woman moved with surprising grace and elegance, which only accentuated her natural allure. The way the candlelight played across the shimmering orange fabric of her dress made me think of a brilliant sunset bathing the land in a warm glow. While I certainly was not trying to ogle her, I could not help but take notice of how her ample chest lightly pressed up against mine, pushing the window in the bust of her dress higher.

“Eyes up here, sweetie,” said Buttercup in a teasing tone.

“Sorry!” I said, quickly looking back up at her. She chuckled softly, her smile widening.

I soon lost track of time as we slowly danced around the tent, gazing into each other’s eyes all the while. So distracted were we by each other that we didn’t even notice when the record finally ran out and silence fell over the tent. Buttercup and I continued shuffling along, dancing in time with the music in our hearts. The longer we danced, the more enthralled by each other we became and the closer we held each other. We unconsciously wrapped our arms around each other and brought our faces together, pressing our foreheads against each other. It only took a few more moments of feeling each other’s breath on our faces before we finally gave in and came together for a kiss.

The kiss was a gentle one, befitting of the gentle moment we were sharing together. It almost felt platonic, reminding me of the soft, loving kisses she had given me as a child. Of course, after having shared so many passionate kisses with her over the previous months, it was hard for me to ignore the more romantic feel of the kiss as well. That kiss felt to me to convey every unique flavor of love Buttercup had ever shared with me, be it the love of a mother and son, a friend and a friend, or a man and a woman. I lost myself in the kiss, pouring all of my love into it, just as she did. Our lips gracefully slid across each other, taking over the dance from our feet, which had long since fallen still.

My eyes did not open again until I felt Buttercup’s soft, warm lips part from mine, darting back for a quick peck before withdrawing fully. We stared at each other with half-lidded eyes; I could have sworn I saw hers sparkle.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you,” I whispered back.

The chill night air blew through our hair and across our skin as we rode the apple cart back home, but we could no longer feel its bite. Buttercup and I were huddled together, sitting so close that she was practically on my lap. I had my arms wrapped around her protectively, softly stroking her arms and her hands. Buttercup’s head rested on my shoulder, just as mine rested on her thick, poofy hair. We gently nuzzled each other as we listened to the creaking of the cart’s wheels, the whistle of the wind, and the soft sound of our own breath.

“Anon?” said Buttercup softly.

“Yeah?” I said just as softly.

“Did you...did you really mean what you said earlier?” she said.

“What do you mean?” I said.

“I mean...what you said about me bein’...a woman worth lovin’,” she said.

“Of course I meant it,” I said. “Buttercup, I’ve known you my whole life, and...I’ve loved you every day of that. We all love you so much, and...we don’t regret that...least of all, me.”

“But...I’ve always been holdin’ back,” said Buttercup. “I’ve loved you like a son, but...I’ve never loved you like...like a man. Even now, now that we’re...a bit more than family...I’m still holdin’ back. I admit it. I’m just...scared of askin’ for too much...from you or someone else. I’m scared that if I do that...I’ll scare someone away. I’m scared that I’ll lose someone again.”

I raised a hand to Buttercup’s chin and gently lifted her head upwards, forcing her to look at me. “Buttercup...you have the right to ask for a lot,” I said. “You lost out on a lot. I...I can’t promise you that every man out there would...love you as much as you need. I can’t promise you that they’d all...love you as much as Dad did. But I can promise you this: there’s at least one man who’s willin’ to try. There’s one man out there who’s...willin’ to do whatever it takes to see you smile. There’s one man who...just wants you to be happy again...like you used to be.”

“I think that man has...other things to worry about,” she said. “Other women he should be worrying about makin’ happy.”

“I don’t think it’s a competition,” I said. “And I don’t his women would either. I don’t think any one of them would wanna hold anythin’ back from you. I think that all they’d want...is to love you...love you with all their hearts...just like they always have.”

“But...what if I make things worse?” she said. “I don’t wanna be a burden. I don’t wanna...ruin what you have.”

“You could never do that,” I said. “You could never be a burden. You could never scare us off or drive us apart. You’re what holds us together; you always have been. Through all these years, through all the ups and downs, you’ve always been there. We want you to keep bein’ there for us. I want you to keep bein' there.”

Buttercup held me tight and buried her face in my neck to hide her moistening eyes. “How’d you ever get to be such a good man?” she whispered.

I held her in a tight embrace and stroked her head. “I had really great mom to show me how,” I whispered back.

We continued hugging each other as we slowly made our way back home, each of us wishing that we could stay like that forever.