Kiss Me Slowly

Applejack heaved a sigh and tugged her stetson lower over her eyes to keep the sun from blinding her. It had been almost a month since her diagnosis, and her entire family plus most of her friends had been informed of it. There was one left to tell, and at the same time she knew she needed to tell her something else as well.

She leaned against the lone apple tree on the hilltop overlooking the farm, waiting. Next to her a picnic lunch was spread out, courtesy of Granny Smith. Winona lay close by, alert to any dangers or visitors, and her sudden happy bark let Applejack know that one of her friends was approaching.

Good. It was about time.

"Heya AJ!" Rainbow announced, dropping onto the blanket next to her. "Sorry it took so long, ran home to shower and change after soccer practice."

"Nah, it's fine, sugarcube." Applejack flashed her a smile.

"Ohhh, a picnic lunch, huh? What's the occasion?"

"I gotta tell ya somethin', but first let's eat this food before it draws in critters. Granny didn't fix this here lunch for every creature on the farm!"

Rainbow laughed and nabbed a sandwich, chowing down hungrily. Applejack ate far more slowly, somehow surprising herself by finishing an entire sandwich and a small sliver of spiced apple cake.

"That was delicious." Rainbow stated at last, flopping onto her back with her arms tucked under her head. "Granny's apple cake is the best ever!"

Applejack leaned back against the tree trunk behind her, gazing out over the farm. She knew she should just get this over with, but somehow she couldn't force herself to shatter Rainbow's moment of peaceful content. Not yet.

"How was practice?" She asked.

"It was awesome!" Rainbow replied, snickering. "Though one of the team forgot to dodge when he should and got slammed by the ball right in a preeeety uncomfortable spot to be hit."

"Tarnation. He ok?"

"Oh yeah, he's fine. Nurse said he'd be back to normal by tomorrow."

Applejack snorted. "Guess he'll pay better attention next time."

Rainbow eyed her. "Ok AJ, enough small talk. I know you didn't ask me out here for a picnic and all just to talk soccer. What gives?"

Applejack drew a breath, tugging her hat lower, fingers lingering on the brim and rubbing it absently. It was time to tell the truth, all of it. No holding back.

"Do ya remember all my health problems?"

"Yeah?"

"Granny finally had me go to the doctor. They did tests an' all, multiple tests, an' well..." Applejack hesitated.

Rainbow pushed herself upright, gazing at her in growing worry.

"What did they say? Did they find what's wrong?"

Applejack's emerald eyes met her magenta ones.

"I...I got acute lukemia. Really advanced they said."

Rainbow paled at this. "That's...cancer."

"Yeah."

"One of my distant cousins had it." Rainbow mumbled. "And he...he didn't make it."

"They started me on treatment to try an' help but..." Applejack trailed off.

"Applejack."

The farmer lifted her gaze to Rainbow's, flinching at her stricken expression.

"Applejack, tell me the truth. Just...how bad?"

"I had another appointment yesterday. T-the doctor said that the treatment isn't working...so..." She inhaled, eyes watering. "He said there's about six months, maybe a year. If I take it easy and not do much."

Rainbow stared into the distance, not moving, looking like she wanted to cry but was fighting to keep it together for her friend's sake.

"The only one I ain't told was you." Applejack murmured, watching the girl she had loved for so long try not to fall apart.

Rainbow's chest was constricting painfully, the thought of losing one of her closest friends....not to mention someone she had deep feelings for. No one knew that, except Fluttershy. She inhaled, the effort sending a sharp pain through her lungs.

"You should spend it doing what you love." She finally said shakily. "Whatever you want to do, AJ, no matter what it is. We'll go on a hike, or camping, or take a trip to explore the world."

"I want to spend it with you." Applejack said softly.

Rainbow blinked. "Well yeah, I mean, that's why I said we-"

"I gotta tell ya somethin' else. If I'm dying I don't wanna spend the rest of my time hiding things from you." Applejack stared into the confused eyes looking back at her. "Rainbow. I love you. Have for a long time. Just never got enough courage up to tell ya. But I'm in love with you. Very much in love."

Rainbow blinked again, breath catching as she took this in. Applejack was in love with her. Her longtime crush actually loved her. She finally mustered up enough wits to speak.

"Applejack, I..."

"It's..ok if you don't feel the same, but I just don't wanna hide it anymore."

"No! I do!" Rainbow winced at her own volume. "I mean, I do. I feel...Applejack, I've had feelings for you for ages. I just never said anything because, well, I was too scared."

"You mean you..?"

"I love you too, AJ. With all my heart."

Applejack threw her arms around her, pulling her over onto her, hugging her as tightly as her frail arms would let her. Rainbow returned it, hugging back for all she was worth, as if she would never let go. She drew her head back and looked into the watery eyes, hesitating briefly, then placed a gentle kiss on the farm girl's lips. Applejack caught her breath, the contact sending an electric jolt through her body.

This just felt so right.

Arms encircling Rainbow's neck, she kissed her back softly, not wanting it to end. Rainbow's lips were soft, warm, and inviting, and she savoured them, able to detect the still lingering taste of apple cake. All too soon they broke apart, and Rainbow leaned her head against Applejack's.

"For as long as we have, for the rest of your life, I will love you." She whispered. "I will hold you and comfort you and just be here for you. I love you."

"I love you too." Applejack sighed softly. "I dunno exactly how long...but I do know I just wanna to spend my time with you. Wanna laugh with you and be with you."

"Then you will be."

"Rainbow?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you kiss me again? Slowly? Somehow it slows time and...I wanna treasure all the time I have with you."

Rainbow had no objections, her lips meeting those of her new girlfriend immediately. And as Applejack wished, they kissed slowly under the shade of the apple tree, lost in each other, not paying attention to time in the slightest.

Slow kisses. These were what Rainbow would remember the most. Not whatever crazy adventures they had, not whatever insignificant arguments, but these slow and tender kisses that felt like pure heaven.

Applejack sighed in contentment as they broke apart yet again, then together they watched the sun slowly fade away down the horizon, their arms wrapped around each other.