Kiss Me Slowly

Brrrriiing!

Rainbow groaned and reached over to her night table, capturing her phone and flipping it on.

"Hello." She managed groggily.

"Rainbow..." the pained younger version of Applejack's voice yanked Rainbow from sleepiness immediately.

"Apple Bloom. What's wrong?"

"Sh-she's in the hospital."

Rainbow knew.

"I'll be there in ten."

Standing at the side of the hospital bed, her hand gently wrapped around the thin, frail one of her girlfriend, Rainbow was fighting back tears with all she had but losing the battle rapidly.

They had shared almost eight wonderful months together. Going places, having parties with their friends, and spending warm afternoons or evenings in their spot on the hill, sharing slow kisses like Applejack liked. Rainbow had watched her grow weaker and thinner and become unable to do much at all except lay there. Rainbow always layed with her, arms wrapped around her fragile body, holding her. And Applejack would fall asleep safe and loved.

She barely registered the presence of her other friends, all of them in tears. Granny Smith and Big Mac were also there, and Apple Bloom was crying by the window. According to the doctors, Applejack didn't have long. She could slip away any moment.

Applejack's eyes fluttered open, bleary gaze taking in each person in the room before settling on Rainbow. Her lips formed a weak smile.

"Sugarcube."

Rainbow leaned closer as the others came up to the bedside.

"Rainbow...let me...have a minute with the girls." Applejack whispered.

Rainbow slipped out, Granny, Apple Bloom and Big Mac following. It didn't take long for the girls to come out, tears streaming down their faces, and the Apple family members went in. They called everyone else back in a few minutes later, and Applejack smiled wearily at her girlfriend.

Rainbow leaned over her, holding her hand. "Hey."

"Hey Rainbow." Applejack convulsed as a harsh cough wracked her body. "Can I ask somethin'?"

"Anything, AJ, whatever you need."

"Can you just...hold me? Like always?"

Rainbow swallowed hard. "Sure I can."

She eased carefully onto the hospital bed, stretching out alongside her girlfriend and gently taking her in her arms. Applejack laid her head on her chest, smiling faintly at the strong heartbeat. The others in the room were desperately trying to hold in sobs at the bittersweet sight.

"I love you." Applejack murmured weakly.

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

With all the heart that was shattering into a million pieces.

"Rainbow?"

"Yeah?"

"Kiss me slowly?"

Rainbow was falling apart internally, but managed to avoid breaking outwardly, gently lifting Applejack's head and softly pressing her lips to hers, kissing her slowly just like always.

Their audience looked away momentarily to give them privacy. Once Rainbow's lips left Applejack's, the others looked back. The farmer had a sweet, content smile on her face as she barely managed to nestle her head against Rainbow's chest, still looking at her face. Try as she might, the prismatic haired girl could not hide the shimmer of tears in her eyes. Applejack managed to bring her hand up to weakly stroke her girlfriend's cheek.

"Shh. 's'ok, sugarcube. Ain't gonna be fully gone. Still gonna be in your heart. Always."

"I know. But...I'm still gonna miss you."

"You'll find me in spirit, in our spot. In the wind that blows. And in the beauty of our sunset, Rainbow. Never forget that." Applejack yawned, voice growing weaker. "I'm mighty tired...reckon I'm gonna take a little nap..."

Rainbow's self control was shattering, tears trickling from her eyes as she watched the emerald orbs of her beloved sweetheart slowly slip closed. Applejack's breathing was shallow, the heart monitor slowing its beeping gradually.

Beep. A pause.

Beep. A longer pause.

Beep. The longest pause yet.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

Rainbow broke completely at the flatline noise, crying as she held the limp form closer to her, the others in the room finally yeilding to their own grief as they all burst into the sobs they'd been holding back the entire time. No one even noticed when the nurse quietly slipped in and flicked the heart monitor off before silently leaving again.

Rainbow sat in the shade of their apple tree, red rimmed eyes gazing out over the landscape as fresh tears dried on her cheeks. She was holding a picture of her girlfriend close to her chest, every beat of her heart seeming so very painful.

The wind rustled through the tree leaves and the grasses, and out in the distance the sun was slowly slipping down behind the blanket of the horizon. Rainbow inhaled, then slowly stood and walked several feet from their special spot. She turned, and stared at the area. In her mind's eye she could see herself and Applejack, laying in the lush grass in the shade, laughing about something. She could see Applejack's cute smile. And most of all she could see them, pressed close together, sharing the slow kisses that seemed to fully stop time.

She turned, gazed at the sunset, and offered a weak smile as Applejack's words replayed in her mind.

"You'll find me in spirit, in our spot. In the wind that blows. And in the beauty of our sunset, Rainbow. Never forget that."

And somehow, through the sadness and pain, she knew it was true. The wind rustled by, and a leaf that was captured by the breeze lightly brushed past her lips, as if Applejack had found a way to give a final kiss to let her know she was ok.