Seven Days

Sleep had taken time to find; concern about Applejack’s welfare and the worries that plagued the beautiful blonde a potent mix at keeping drowsiness at bay. What had eventually come was a restless, poor substitute for actual recovery that hardly felt like sleeping at all; only a periodic check of the clock that lay on the nightstand offered any sign that the night was steadily moving on.

Adagio awoke as the last shrill sound of the rooster faded off into the darkened world of early morning, the boisterous sounds of Abbot’s dawn call finally enough to bring her from a miserable slumber into the awoken world. Returned to consciousness, she felt as though sleep had passed her by- or perhaps only just begun. Her mind dragged, her body felt heavy, nothing seemed to function as it should. If she had not been elsewhere, a part of her mind would have considered it a hangover.

“Heaven’s sake,” Adagio murmured, stretching herself out and forcing body to rise from beneath the comfort of the covers and into the coolness of the morning. She took her time to see herself together, no haste in her actions to be found whatsoever; if one was this drowsy, best she come to life slowly. “That was miserable.” Another long stretch as feet landed against wood; ooh, to take her time and actually see the body awaken! What a miserable start to the day, she didn’t even know what Granny and Applejack would ask of her today-

Applejack! Downstairs, left on the couch so as to not struggle with the pain of maneuvering up an entire flight of stairs; she’d been more or less content with some painkillers and a little bourbon to help ease pain until she could reach the doctor come sunrise-

Whatever decorum she was supposed to possess was left behind the moment Adagio flung herself from the bedroom, down the stairs in a flash and out into the living room only to find that the once-occupied couch was empty and bereft of life. What on earth had happened?

“Oh, good morning!” Sugar Belle, senses roused by the sound of rushing footsteps, had exited the kitchen to find the source of the commotion and espied her newest friend amidst the clatter. “Don’t worry, she’s fine. She and Big Mac got up early this morning so they could be at the doctor’s first thing.”

“How was she?” Adagio demanded.

“Kept waking up through the night, is what she told Mac,” Sugar Belle answered. “Her foot’s still really sensitive, I guess. And as per usual, she keeps trying to pretend like it’s not a big deal and just push through it. She’s a tough girl.”

“Yeah, she- she is…” She hadn’t been invited along? Been asked to bring Applejack herself? Hopefully none of them had been trying to shunt her out of the issue so that she wouldn’t be in the way-

“She asked me to tell you good morning, by the way,” Sugar Belle added, pausing from her whisking only to speak a little bit longer. “And that she loves you, and hopes that you’re not fretting too much about her. If she wanted you to help with anything today, she didn’t say it. If you want to fill up your time, mind helping me get the grocery list together?”

Anxious for anything that would occupy her mind, Adagio was made occupied by the formation of words upon paper; Friday, it seemed, was the shortest day in the Apple family’s itinerary, and was best put to use as a restorer of supplies rather than any hard work. The pantry needed to be refilled, the fridge and freezer had contents that would be missing, and any other odds and ends that had come about during the week needed to be marked down. Adagio hadn’t been one to keep track of such comings and goings, especially when so out of the loop to such specific needs. What lay before her once she was done was a rather sizeable list of needs and necessities that would see the farm sustained for a little while longer.

“It’s budgeted for. Big Mac, Applejack, and Granny work on the yearly income for a long while before they’re willing to buy anything,” Sugar Belle said. Perhaps she’d taken note of Adagio’s pause, a small pressure put upon lip as the heady host of words began to sink in. “This farm’s never come close to going under ever since Granny’s been in charge of the money, and they won’t mess it up now.”

“Is- it’s not, like, tight, or anything,” Adagio muttered, “Is it?”

Sugar Belle shrugged. “We all learn how to do different things to help keep us afloat,” the sweet woman answered. “Darning socks, knitting, self-repair… anything we can to do look after ourselves. And when you know how to fix things yourself, that’s a little more money you can save.”

It seemed like good logic; self-sustainment was never a poor course of action, especially when life skills were developed. But Adagio found herself wondering if the budget had kept account only for four rather than for another mouth to feed. “Umm… I’m not-” A small flash of Apple Bloom’s accusation of her own self-absorption came into thought. “I’m not making this worse, am I?”

Sugar Belle regarded her companion, pausing in her making of pancakes. “You mean, like eating away at the budget? No, of course not! Don’t be silly-”

“Did they plan for me?” Adagio countered swiftly. The possibility that this was a lie was rather large.

The frizz-haired girl began to falter, steam immediately lost in the face of this challenge; apparently she hadn’t expected anyone to call her bluff “Well… I mean, they always plan for buffer space…”

Adagio felt a thrill of shame and focused on the eggs before her rather than the misery that beckoned for her to feel sorry for herself. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help,” she eventually murmured. “I know my being here is a big surprise. If there’s anything I can do-”

“Oh, don’t feel bad or anything! You make AJ happy by just being here!” Sugar Belle cried, seemingly appalled by the thought of this sorrowful Siren being left miserable by such a revelation. “She’ll be fine, this farm always has been! Honestly, Applejack getting hurt is a harder hit than you showing up- and they even plan for injuries, too! And once you get into the swing of things and know how this whole place works, you’ll be able to help out wherever you can, which will make you so awesome to have around!”

Unlike their last period of camaraderie, Adagio knew better than to try and argue against such a relentless optimism. A smile of gratitude and a small shove that set Sugar Belle to giggling was all she could manage before returning to her work; the rest of the family needed feeding, and there was work to be done after that. Best just to see to it rather than try to argue. Besides, Sugar Belle was so certain- would it be so bad if she went along with those hopeful thoughts?

Breakfast for four was an easy task, though her time within the pantry and its numerous items took her quite some time- and more than a few questions in need of answers. The spacious place clearly had been built with greater items in mind for days long gone and now found itself put to use for vast quantities of goods, the likes of which Adagio hadn’t encountered yet. The amount of cooking ingredients alone was enough to make one stagger; was all their food made from scratch here? Adagio hadn’t seen a brand-name meal once yet in this family’s household. No wonder Applejack always looks so good.

The half-conscious smile, alive of its own doing, faded the moment the Siren became aware of her drifting thoughts. She hadn’t meant to think that. Or had she? Besides, it wasn’t as though it was a lie; Applejack was attractive. Green eyes that shone with a bright light, straw-colored hair only helping to add to their glow; tall, a sweetly shaped face that always seemed to hold good countenance, and all those muscles she possessed! Strong arms that could make you feel so safe within, those abs- those delicious, delectable abs…

The imaginings were too strong to resist. Powered by memory of a night far too long ago, Adagio’s vision was made murky and filled by the images of a beautiful girl who’d been so nervous and hesitant in her first time- yet so eager to please, driven by natural desire to ensure her partner was loved and cared for, inviting her into a better life and not once pretending to be something she wasn’t-

“How are we looking?”

The leap she took was a good few inches off the ground, Adagio giving a swift shriek as she whipped around to find Sugar Belle standing at the threshold of the pantry. Her own fright came soon enough, the unexpected sound of terror causing the sweet-faced girl to leap back from the source as though it might bring about harm.

“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you!” Sugar Belle fell away from her fear and quickly moved to laughter; she’d only come by to check because of Adagio’s constant uncertainty on the matter. “Goodness, you scared me!”

“You’re fine- I just got a little lost for a moment,” Adagio said, hoping there was no flush on her cheeks that could give away any further reasons why. “Umm- you’re out of beef broth entirely, I didn’t see any…”

“Well, just write it down on the list. I guess this one will be a little larger than last month’s,” Sugar Belle murmured. “And everything’s gotten a little more expensive lately, too.” A little further consideration on her part before simply shaking her head. “Well, it’s up to Granny what we get. Just go and give it to her, OK?”

The delivery had been easy enough, though Adagio now found herself rather task-less. Her entire time here upon the farm had always been spent amidst one duty or another, all the way to the sun’s setting and sometimes a bit beyond. What was she supposed to do now? With little more than to ask Sugar Belle if she needed-

The creaking ream of sound alerted her to movement at the front door, the shuffle of feet and muttering of low voices arriving only moments after. Her heart pulsed as she recognized the fairer and lighter of the two whispering spirits; Applejack was back!

“Hey! Sorry for not waking you up this morning,” Applejack greeted. From about the corner did Adagio rush, finding herself met by Sugar Belle coming from the kitchen to greet her returning husband and catching the two siblings speaking amongst themselves. “I figured you might wanna sleep a little longer, since working with the animals and all can take a lot outta ya. We were both up real early since the doc’s a fair bit away.”

“It’s fine- how is everything?” Adagio said. Just seeing Applejack standing there was enough to make any efforts at frustration be rendered pointless. She was here, in good spirits, and whole- save for the dark-blue cast that now wound itself about her left foot. “Oh no…”

“Ah, it’s only for a little while,” Applejack replied, a bit bashful as she tried to wave away any concerns. “I’ll be fine. Just a small fracture, thankfully.”

“Enough to sideline her from working for three weeks,” Big Mac said, grinning as he added, “and she won’t be able to work out in the orchard cause of it. Watch, she’s gonna try to go for a run for some made-up reason.”

“I can still help out,” the blonde protested. Not one to simply sit out on the sidelines, the thought of being even the slightest resemblance of dead weight was intolerable. “Just cause it ain’t in the orchard don’t mean that I’m just gonna lounge around.”

“And what did old Doc Mead have to tell ya?” Granny asked, making an appearance from her bedroom to assess the situation. “Doubt he gave you the green light to keep going along.”

Protesting against her brother was one thing; teasing banter and friendly arguments had been their norm ever since they’d been young. Raising a stink with Granny was about as advisable as diving with pissed-off sharks while covered in steak sauce and Applejack knew better than to even try. “Umm.”

Granny raised a solitary eyebrow. “Be honest, now.”

Defeated before she’d even raised a hand, the farmgirl could only sigh. “No work for the first three days, gotta try and keep weight off it. And gotta take some painkillers before bed, too.”

“Then do that. Adagio, go get her set up on the couch-”

“Oh, I- Granny, I was going to vacuum up the living room today,” Sugar Belle interjected. “It’s been a while since the furniture got cleaned, too. I mean, I can put it off…”

“Nah, I’ll go back to my room and keep out of your way,” Applejack said, turning towards the stairs and promptly receiving a glare from her elderly matriarch. The suggestion to not be independent so early was obvious. “Umm… Dagi, would you mind-”

“Oh, she’s got a pet name, now,” Big Mac remarked.

Applejack went pale, Adagio went red, and Big Mac laughed at them both because of it. It had been an easy slip of the tongue, hardly anything to remark upon were it not for the apparent growth of familiarity that continued to rise between the two young women.

“Stop being children. Adagio help her out,” Granny ordered. “Big Mac, do what you can out on those fences today, but don’t try to work overtime. Apple Bloom and I are going to the grocery store once she’d done checking on Little Bits.”

“Yes, ma’am.”
As though hands had been united and told to break, Adagio and Applejack were left alone at the foot of the stairs as the rest of the family was suddenly off to what work awaited them. Hesitation came between them for only a second longer, Applejack again making towards the first step of the stairs- and then finding Adagio by her side.

Her hand about the woman’s waist and body just below arm, Adagio couldn’t completely hold back a tremble. Oh my gosh, she is so strong. The feeling of such potent muscle beneath her hand was intoxicating as though safety had become physical form. This girl was beautiful and strong, so willing and capable of providing so much of a good life that any fear she had of being incapable of it was rendered moot; for half a moment, all Adagio wanted was to beg Applejack to take her away and make her a bride, render her little more than a doting spouse whose whole heart was bent to the farmgirl’s will.

But then reality returned to her senses and saw things made right. She was still a person, capable of all the sorts of wrongs and failings that any other human could be; the thought that she could be a prize of a spouse was preposterous, especially when so much of her nature was bound to the worst of human nature. To be bound to Applejack’s side was still, no matter how many ways she tried to convince herself otherwise, a bad idea. Best to just tend to her and then let the feelings die.

Or maybe not. “So I’ve got you alone again,” Applejack said, the grin on her features suggesting that she was in good humor. “Taking me to my bedroom, too. I didn’t know I could be this smooth.”

Oh brother! Applejack earned a swift dig in the ribs for such a measure, even though such a maneuver was rewarded by little more than laughter. “You’re too confident in me,” Adagio said.

“I might be,” the beautiful farmgirl admitted, “But I still think you’re too hard on yourself.”

“And what makes you say that?” Adagio asked as they reached the top of the stairs.

“Well, Granny didn’t kick you out on day one, for starters,” Applejack answered, “So I guess that matters. Cause if she thought you really were awful then she’d have tossed you right from the moment she saw you.”

“You’re all too nice, that’s all,” the Siren replied as they entered Applejack’s bedroom. It was a space she knew intimately even if she wasn’t willing to say so; the simply kept room, the comfortable colors that adorned the bed, the rather grand mirror and seat that had lasted for generations long past them both. She knew this place by heart, so much of it bound into indelible memories that would never be smeared by anything foul or horrible; they lived on by their own merit.

“I mean…” Applejack released herself from her beloved’s grasp, taking to standing on her own feet as she staggered over to the bedclothes that lay atop her tussled sheets. “Granny hasn’t thrown you out yet. That’s a good sign.”

“She’s too nice, that’s all,” Adagio countered.

“Big Mac and Sugar Belle don’t seem to mind you too much. I know Mac had his doubts,” the farmgirl continued, “But he doesn’t mind having you around. His girl likes you, and that’s enough.”

“But that’s stupid. I’m-”

“And even Apple Bloom told me yesterday that you were great with the animals. And that you weren’t just this horrible person that she thought you were. That maybe you were just a person who’d done a lot of rough stuff, and had a lot of-”

“Applejack! For goodness’ sake, listen to me for a bit!” Her vexation at this continued, if not incessant, praise was going too far. Applejack’s vision of her had to become unclouded even if she raised hell by doing so. Keeping the young woman half-clothed by the force of her emotions, the beautiful Siren pushed forward before the expression of frustration upon Applejack’s face made her lose all nerve. “I’m not- I’m not this good person. Maybe your sister was right, OK? It’s like you’ve stopped caring about what I’ve done with myself- all my life. Don’t you remember what I’ve done to you and your friends? Or what I took from you? I don’t understand why you pretend like it never happened, or that it just doesn’t matter. I’m still that person. I’m still just as surly, and- and miserable, and foul, and… I am not a good person. I’ve never known how to be.”

It was so much akin to her outburst only a few days before, though the fire she had possessed that day was nowhere to be found just. Instead it was a panic, a fear in her heart that made the beautiful woman certain all her efforts to convince them both were failing; Applejack really was going to win her over and make all of her reasonable objections be pushed to the wayside! What on earth was she supposed to do when all of her just wanted to swoon? She might just be stupid enough to let Applejack remain loving the one woman in all the world who might just be her worst possible match.

But rather than falter and break beneath the weight of this latest emotional outburst, Applejack held her ground; half-clothed, with still a simple t-shirt on and one unbroken foot now held within a pant leg, she did not fade from the assault of her love’s intense objections. “You know,” she began in a small voice, “You can be all of that. And then be a good person, too. It doesn’t have to be both.”

“You can’t be a leech on human life and be a good person,” Adagio reminded her. So much of her wanted to just focus upon the beauty of Applejack, how those thin lines of hair fell across her face like blades of wheatgrass upon the sun’s great light. She was intoxicating! “How do you expect me to be someone good when I don’t know how to?”

“Well… you’d learn how. You’re even learning how already,” Applejack said. “Sugar Belle wants you to be her new sister. And Apple Bloom doesn’t think you’re too horrible, so long as you keep working on yourself. You just… act like if you have flaws, then- then it means you can’t be any good. But everyone has failings, we’re all trying to fight against ‘em. Maybe that’s what makes us good or bad; so long as you keep trying, not who you are after knowing they’re bad.”

Adagio hated the argument that lay before her; this was something she didn’t know how to counter, much less fully comprehend. It was too easy to accept, too difficult to argue against, and damn well too willing to extend grace towards the unworthy. Applejack was willing to accept her unacceptable qualities so long as she –at least outwardly- pretended to be decent? It didn’t make sense. “But- the whole thing could still be a lie…”

The gorgeous blonde grinned; the idea of real falsity passing her by was something beyond the realms of the genuinely absurd. “You think you could really- really- fool me with a lie?” She mused. “Come on, now.”

It seemed a little less preposterous when she’d first thought of it. “Well…”

A satisfied grin was upon her lips even as she gave a vicious yawn. “Heaven’s sake, today felt early,” Applejack muttered. “Wanna relax with me for a bit? I feel the need for a nap all of a sudden.”

The bait was blatantly obvious, but for one who stood upon ground so shaky it might well be enough. She was weak-willed for so many reasons, unable to say no; sliding in the bedsheets beside the girl she loved, Adagio marveled at just how comfortable- how right her presence felt when it was alongside Applejack. There was nowhere else in the world that she belonged, even if she tried to think otherwise; it was just impossible to resist. So many of her deepened nights in the lonely dark had been spent reminiscent of those moments she had spent within Applejack’s grasp, wondering the numerous what-if’s that might have been if she’d simply stayed instead. To be within it again was a blessed hurt that pained her spirit just as deeply as the comfort rang true.

“I love you,” Applejack murmured softly, “You know that, right?”

“And I always will,” Adagio said as she let her eyes close; sleep called to them both for a little while longer, and too good was her position for it to be ignored. Maybe, in a time when she felt brave enough to admit as such, she might just return the affection with equal measure.

They slept only a spare few hours, but it was enough to bring upon her spirit a warmth that came from only the deepest contentment. The world outside had grown more comfortable and brought some of its loveliness to the confines within; the delicately lit bedroom shone with the sunlight from beyond the thin curtains, Adagio’s eyes looking about to find it all so tranquil and at ease. There was so much of this view that seemed so similar to what had come before, even the taint of guilt that promptly tried to shimmy its way in and ruin so much of this peace. But the sleepy Siren’s contentment was not to be defeated so easily; Applejack’s grasp was not about her, for in their slumber she had turned about and awoke to see her beloved there before her eyes.

It was enough to soften even the most potent heart of stone. Applejack, that unbreakable, undefeatable paragon of effort and labor, was so innocent when she slept; freckles beneath her eyes seemed to glimmer now that her emerald stare was held dormant, like sparkles of sugary dust across a coating of bronzed skin. There was so much sweetness in her, so much of a goodness that could not be defined by any words of the world. She was honest, yes, and good also- but what made her so deeply wonderful was beyond Adagio’s capability to describe nor understand.

For a moment, only just the slightest sliver of time that could be found, she looked upon the fair farmgirl as though she were her bride. And how deeply did that moment linger in her heart, to feel like it transpired across an eternity.

Perhaps she sensed the gaze that pierced into her own, for the dim eyes of Applejack fluttered, and the drowsy delirium of entry into the conscious world was apparent within her shining green. “That feels better,” she murmured, her sleepy features brought to life within a newly formed smile. “Sleep alright?”

“I think so,” Adagio replied, too enamored with the beauty of their solitary peace to do anything but lean forward and see her farmgirl’s lips kissed. “How’s your foot?”

“It don’t hurt too bad right now. Guess the painkillers are working alright.”

“Good.” The idea came into her head, and for a moment she hesitated. “Would… feel like something to eat?”

A small start from the farmgirl. “You- wanna bring me lunch?”

Adagio wasn’t at all sure it was a good idea, but she gave a nod all the same. “You probably shouldn’t be going up and down the stairs a whole lot right now,” she said. “Come on, let you girl take care of you today.”

The slip had come without intent, without knowledge the words had been on the tip of her tongue. For a split-second, the Siren feared she’d made a terrible mistake to promise something she wasn’t at all certain she could be. But then came the softened delight in those green eyes, crinkling into a smile born right from the heart. Though perhaps she was not the best candidate for such a role, Applejack had no qualms in keeping her there.

“Only if you make something for yourself, too,” Applejack replied. “Thank you… what do you want me to call you?”

Adagio, already on her feet and heading towards the door, was left confused by the question. “I don’t- you mean like, a pet name, or something..?”

“Is- is just ‘Dagi’ alright?”

She’d been granted a nickname. The thought that someone was treating like a cherished girlfriend and it not being a game or roleplay was not something she’d beheld before. So many times she’d donned the role as though she were onstage, or for the benefit of another’s ego so that they might endure a night not quite so shamefully. But now it was… an intimacy. A choice of words and names between two people alone, and granted to no one else. For a woman who’d spent so much of her life in the midst of sexuality, this experience was a novelty.

Adagio bit her lip, trying to hold back the smile, but only ended up finding herself giggling for half a million different reasons. “I don’t think I’ve ever really had a nickname before,” she remarked. “Yeah… yeah, Dagi works fine. But only from you!”

Applejack glowed. It was a strange, miniscule victory but one that she’d clearly wanted to have. Even if it was only for a few days more, she had a girl. “Thanks- Dagi.”

“You’re welcome… Sweets.” A quick rush out the door before she could change her mind, Adagio flying down the stairs before the silliness truly overcame her. It was getting so easy to fall into the role now. She enjoyed it, enjoyed being the reason Applejack smiled; the lovely farmgirl deserved so much better, but Adagio was the reason she smiled! How could that not fill her heart with gladness?

When feet made contact with the ground floor, Adagio was met with the serenity of an unusual quiet. There was little sound of clutter or activity in either the house or out in the farmyard, a stark contrast to the constant movement and life that Sweet Apple Acres seemed to consistently possess. With a glance out the window, she saw that no sign of anyone was found anywhere. She hadn’t been asleep for that long, had she? A quick glance at the nearby clock mentioned only three hours; where had everyone gone to?

A partial answer arrived when she walked into the kitchen; Sugar Belle sat at the table with a book in hand, quietly reading while the bright light of the oven streamed forth to bear testimony to its use. On sight of the beautiful Siren came a smile and a wave. “Hey, where have you been?”

“Umm… napping. A little bit,” Adagio muttered; there was a small flush to her features, wondering if she’d committed a wrongdoing by spending time with her farmgirl.

“Ooh, good idea. I can’t wait to get a little shut-eye once I’m done with these cookies,” Sugar Belle remarked. “Something to go along with dinner tonight, we try to have a really nice meal every Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.”

“Oh. OK. Where- where is everyone?” The Siren inquired.

“Apple Bloom and Granny went into town to buy groceries for the week,” Sugar Belle answered. “They left a little bit ago, so they’ll probably be gone a couple of hours. Big Mac is in the cottage, I was actually about to go over there soon as I’m done.”

“Would I be in your way if I made anything?”

The sweet woman shook her head. “Only if you needed the oven right this minute. Applejack say what she wanted?”

“Umm- no, actually. Any suggestions?” Adagio asked.

“You ever made a croque monsieur before?”

Adagio had not, and the Siren soon found herself guided through a simple, yet deliciously inviting sandwich recipe by her bright-spirited friend. As Sugar Belle continued in her baking efforts, she continued to find moments in which she could lend the ginger beauty a helping hand. It was all too easy to make mistakes with an unfamiliar meal, but there seemed to be no concoction Sugar Belle could not master. With her own cookies sitting atop wire trays to cool, the pair of companions were able to see the splendid dish made ready and fit for eating.

It was little more than bread, meat, some cheese and a simple sauce; Adagio had put the sandwiches together by hand, yet now found herself positively drooling over this new accomplishment. The heat made the scent positively radiate across the room, beckoning for her to take a bite. “Ooh, I hope Applejack likes it.”

“She loves this sandwich,” Sugar Belle replied. “There was a sandwich shop she used to go to in town a lot during high school and she’s loved it ever since. I like to think mine is the best version she gets, but I bet she’ll say yours is better!”

“Hardly!” Adagio’s protest still came with a smile and she did her best to ignore the gentle laughter of her companion. It was too good a thought to think that Applejack would prefer her handiwork to anyone else’s. “Thanks so much, Sugar Belle.”

“Of course! We’re friends, there’s no way I wouldn’t help!” The frizz-haired woman said. “Now, I’m in the cottage if you need anything, OK? Hope you and Applejack can enjoy a little more quiet time together!”

Oh, heaven help me. The implication of potentials was all it took for her emotions to override the sensible portion of her brain, imaginations and buried desires spurned to life by the simple words of a sweethearted woman. Adagio watched Sugar Belle stride towards the front door, back to the private quarters she shared with her husband, and wondered if those warm words she’d spoken had been intended to hold something a little more within them. Had she truly meant just that: a little time in the quiet of the house, together as a couple that shouldn’t be? Or was she deliberately leaving so that she and Applejack might…

She even mentioned Apple Bloom and Granny would be gone for a few more hours, Adagio recalled. Perhaps Sugar Belle really was trying to play matchmaker between the two; considering her friendliness for the two of them, and the eagerness she seemed to possess to persuading the Siren to remain at the farm, it might even be likely. But- Should I even try?

“Ooh, that smells good. That- no way.” Applejack gawked at the plate that now carried her scintillating meal, fresh cheeses and steaming meat held within oven-toasted buns and beckoning for her to come and have a taste. “How- who told you I love these?”

“Sugar Belle.” Adagio handed the eager woman the plate and tried not to delight so heavily in the expression Applejack now bore; her cooking –albeit, by someone else’s guidance- was making her happy! “Sounds like the rest of the family is out and about somewhere.”

“Really? Where’s Big Mac?” Applejack inquired, taking her first bite and ensuring it was a massive one.

“Back in the cabin. And Granny and Apple Bloom are out grocery shopping, apparently,” Adagio said as she answered all further questions. “Do y’all always make Fridays your short days?”

“I mean… if we can,” Applejack answered. Words came infrequently, now that she was deep in the midst of her meal and eager to enjoy it; the call of food had awakened her appetite and found it to be ravenous. “You never know what a day’s gonna end up like. But me and Mac have always wanted to have more time with the family if we can help it.”

“What do y’all do on weekends, usually?”

“Simple work. Tidying up, a quick go-through the orchards and see if there’s anything that needs fixing. Nothing heavy-duty, if there’s nothing big that needs us. But if something comes up or we can’t get done during the week, then… well, who else is gonna get things done?”

Perhaps it was her antiquated state of mind that had made her think otherwise; maybe an urban concept, a lack of understanding she had possessed which had always made seem farm life so simple and quaint. Only a few days had she spent with Applejack and her family, yet that was all it had taken for her preconceptions about the rural world to fade away; she’d worked her own fingers to the bone, known weariness, come away from a long day’s work exhausted and it wasn’t even the end of the weekday yet. Considering that Applejack had been taking part of this life for several years now, she couldn’t quite fathom as to how she accomplished it.

“You really work hard,” Adagio murmured. Her eyes fell to the singular sandwich in her grasp and pondered just how much effort she’d put into it; a drop in the bucket compared to what this wonderful blonde beauty did for her family every single day. Despite the toil she’d given since her arrival here, it was all totally inconsequential. Applejack could perform every facet of this life without even blinking, and all on her own. Now wasn’t that remarkable? “Don’t you give yourself a rest? A little break?”

Applejack stared at her as though her words were another language; for a time, all the two did was eat and let the silence settle about them until only empty plates and full bellies could be found. “Who else is gonna get it done?” She asked. “I mean… Apple Bloom knows the trade, but she’s not quite got the endurance that Mac or I do. Sugar Belle’s always looking after the house, and Granny… we’ve gotta get it done. Bills don’t pay themselves. And we’ve been racking up a few lately.”

“And you seem to just barely get by…” So much effort; so much blood, sweat, and tears that helped keep this vast and beautiful farm afloat. Applejack’s love for this place was obvious, flowing out through every action and word so potently that even she wished to see it made better. Perhaps –someday, somewhere- there would be a role for her within this place if she wished for it. “But- aren’t farms supposed to be rich? Everyone relies on you! Whole companies would want your orchards!”

Applejack’s expression turned sour, memory doing its work and turning the present into a bitter taste. “A couple of people have tried to buy us out, actually,” she murmured, “But we always say no.”

“No? But- the amount of money-!”

“They wanted us to move out. And give up the house, too. They’d turn the whole place into something… something-” Whatever words Applejack’s anger could conjure were not worthy of being spoken, the furious fixation upon her face not spoken aloud and instead left to die rather than poison the air with its influence. For one who could seemingly make the world appear so sensible and organized within her view, the lovely woman was struggling to find her tongue again.

Adagio had no connection of understanding upon which to lean, but Applejack’s fury was enough to make her see that this place was important enough. Adding to that, would she have found it a safe haven if it had been within the city’s walls? A simple suburban home, the likes of which she’d poisoned so many times before? Here, so far from influence and the venom of her own making, she’d found a sanctuary; maybe that was a reason of her own to understand Applejack’s anger.

“My… my Daddy was a wild child,” Applejack began.

The Siren went rigid; out of all things, she hadn’t expected a revelation like this. If she didn’t straighten up and pay attention this very instant-!

“He was Granny’s son. She raised him good, though she’ll always tell you all the ways she messed up instead,” Applejack continued on. “But he was… well, a lot like me. He kept wanting to go places and do things- and when so much of his kin kept demanding he stay here and keep the family farm afloat, he didn’t take to it too well. He acted out- I guess that’s the way to put it. He met my Mom about then, but he just didn’t seem to stop. And so it kept going and going until he made such a fool of himself that he ended up getting arrested.”

Now that was not something she’d ever expected to hear of Applejack’s kinfolk- much less her father! The very idea that Granny’s only child could end up running afoul of the law was something so outlandish that it couldn’t even be conceived of within the human mind. How could one of her children achieve such a thing without Granny Smith not trying to kill them for it? “How- what did Granny do to him?”

Dragged him in by the ear, from what she told me,” Applejack chuckled, recollection of the tale turning her green eyes soft. “Made him remember who he was, put him to work. Didn’t let him go until Daddy was able to stand on his own two feet. And when he did, he walked right into my Mom’s arms; they had Big Mac, got married, and suddenly Daddy couldn’t stand to leave home ever again.” A sparkle in her emerald eyes was there to be seen, those green jewels shimmering beneath the cover of memory and sorrow that so deeply was intermingled with joy. “He was the best man I ever met. E- even Big Mac says he was, and he got more time to be with him than I did. Both him and Mom were amazing; you’d never meet anyone who was so good and kind to everyone.”

Her heart hurt to see it even though so much of her begged to be elsewhere; this was an intimacy that could not be ignored once witnessed, forever able to demand her emotions if such recollections ever came alive again. Applejack was likely speaking of something she’d never said to anyone else in all her life, and Adagio –most unworthy of all peoples- was being graced with the gift of hearing the story be put to life. Before such an honor she could never, ever stand.

“I want to keep that legacy going,” Applejack murmured softly. “That everyone who comes here, they- they can come away a little better. Because of us, because of this place- it’s all for everyone, whoever needs it. Maybe you did, maybe you needed to feel like you belonged somewhere. But I wanted you to feel like it could be your home and that you could just be safe here without anyone judging you. I- I know we messed that up a bit, especially because of me…”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t you ever, ever tell yourself otherwise,” Adagio said with a ferocity that brought the farmgirl’s words to a standstill. Tears were in both their eyes, green eyes locking with their deep jasper pair as softened hands came about a freckled chin. “You’ve been amazing, all of you. I wish I could be part of this place.”

“But- but you can- you could, this is- it could be your home if you want it to…”

“Even after everything I’ve done. To your family- to you,” Adagio reminded her. “Or is this just because I was the first girl who slept with you?”

For a little moment longer, their world was silent as it waited with bated breath for a further answer. “I… it can be both,” Applejack admitted. “Maybe there were other people elsewhere who would’ve been easier to find. But you’re my girl. My girl- and don’t you ever forget it. I made up my mind a long while ago, and nothing’s gonna shake me from it. So either you choose me, too, or I’m a goner forever.”

“You won’t be.” Adagio knew not what she meant; promising riches nor treasures nor loyalty of any kind, she only knew that Applejack’s heart called to her so clearly that any refusal of its beating plea was an impossible thing to ignore. All that she could do was heed, and so before any other word or tear could fall, there came upon those beckoning lips a kiss of unyielding fierceness and love.

The first lasted oh so long; Adagio didn’t allow Applejack to escape her grasp, not even for the air her lungs craved after lips had seen it all flown away. Never, not in all her life, had she so desperately felt the need for another’s touch upon her body; this intense craving was a spiritual thing. Was it the desire to see so much of the farmgirl’s hurt and anxieties fade away by her touch? The longing for the feel of her lips? Adagio knew not, wondering if it might be both. Applejack called for her like nothing in the world could, and so she kissed her.

At last, the sorrowed blonde forced herself to rise for air and set herself free from the Siren’s grasp. A gasp for air came as the one became two once more; falling back against the pillows, Applejack held the expression of one who’d just seen the whirlwind pass before her eyes. One moment, then another, before a fierce shake of her head and the farmgirl found her senses once again. “Adag- Dagi, what on earth-”

“Shuttup,” Adagio hiccupped. Before another word could come to life she was on the bed and atop the girl she loved once again, her hands streaming across that freckled face as she poured out affection in a relentless stream of kisses. It was a roaring flume she couldn’t hold back any longer, so much emotion at a crescendo that all her actions were beyond any thought. Adagio kissed Applejack’s lips, her neck, her cheeks, her forehead, any part of her body that she could find- all of it was in need of worship, even if so many marks were becoming stained by her salt. She needed to see this beautiful, magnificent, wonderful woman adored lest something in the fabric of the world begin to break-

“Whoa- easy, now. Easy…” Applejack’s words at first came through muffled, flesh seeing them kept subdued to the ear. But hands that had been rigid from the shock came to life and came to caress the fine form of a frenzied Siren and gently pull her away from the tumult within. Adagio’s tears fell upon weathered fingers as she was pushed back; held in place, firmly but gently so that Applejack might consider her clearly. “You’re alright. It’s alright, it’s OK…”

“No. No, it is not OK. You deserve this- need this,” Adagio begged, appalled at this lack of understanding. How could Applejack not know that she was overdue for this sort of affection? She needed to be ravished, worshipped, not an ounce of her left untouched by the one she’d desired. Adagio was determined to see this through.

But instead came the chuckle, small and gentle as a familiar grin formed upon those freckled features. “What do you think I’m gonna say, huh? Take a guess.”

Because of course she would. She would think of her partner, just as she had the very first night they’d ever spent together, because Applejack couldn’t be selfish and simply take. How she loved would not allow it. “You’re being stupid.”

“I love you,” Applejack breathed, gently bringing her head close and seeing their whole world curtained by ginger waves. “And if we’re gonna do this, I need to make you happy. Ain’t no other way about it.”

The frenzied rush that Adagio felt her clamoring heart demanding was being pushed to the wayside; in this small little world that would house only two had she been flung, wild pulse starting to slow. Her partner’s calm was as soothing to her nerves as the sound of waves upon the beach at night, the sound of rain amidst the spring leaves. Though her guilty conscience demanded she press on, what beckoned for her was too beautiful to resist. One breath, two, three… their secluded realm had brought her to serenity, Adagio able to open her eyes and stare into the beautiful greens of her dearest love.

“There’s my girl,” Applejack murmured, emeralds crinkled by a smile. “Feel better?”

“A little,” Adagio replied. “But- kiss me to make it all go away?”

So Applejack did. A slow, deepened thing that spoke so powerfully of the loneliness and hurt that had come upon her over all their years apart at last fading away. So much yearning for the feel of this Siren within her arms, wrapped tight about that petite waist and holding her close. The sigh of relief from them both that passed by like a dove’s coo, two uniting as one in true, harmonious balance. In the beautiful farmgirl’s arms did Adagio melt, she falling further into that lap as her own grasp came about head and waist. She could be nowhere else in the world, even if the mightiest had summoned her. This, despite the knowledge being only the most momentary flicker, was where she wanted to belong forever.

The union of lips broke apart for a time, a slow release as though the two women needed the moment to look upon one another more clearly. It were like seeing clearly for the first time, no smeared glass or faded eyes to tarnish this loveliness they each beheld- only for the empty space between to be made full once more by a new kiss that was all the more wondrous.

A slight quiver through her form as Adagio pulled away from her paramour’s grasp for a time, only her lips continuing to find Applejack and see that their outpouring of kisses did not fail to continue on. Now was the time to come free from her dress; she pulled at the straps that lay beside her neck and slowly freed herself from clothing’s grasp, the simple undergarments that lay beneath the rust-colored fabric tossed aside just as easily. She was free, free for Applejack to gaze upon and enjoy however she wished.

And yet, her attentions had been so deeply focused upon her own necessities that the actions of her partner had gone amiss. Applejack had done the same, and for the first time in so many unhappy years her body was laid bare. In the midst of a softly lit room, Adagio could at last behold the magnificence of this wondrous apple farmer’s body in all its glory. Oh, how those muscles rippled! There was no flaw to be seen no matter where she looked, each aspect of Applejack’s naked form a marvel in its own right; the strength within, the beauty of those freckles that cascaded down from her cheeks and to just below the breasts like a dusting of cinnamon before fading into carved abs. Her smaller, less shapely bust was flawless for her, befitting her in ways it could not adorn anyone else. No matter where those jeweled eyes flitted to, all she could see were all the things that made Applejack beautiful.

And so very, very unlike her partner. Adagio had not lost her physique by any means; the curves remained, her bust still splendid, everything about her form the zenith of sensuous perfection. But the long days of running in fear had taken their toll in the form of indelible marks. A faded lash on the outside of her left thigh where a knife had pierced deep into muscle, a faint scarring of red across her stomach where a sadist’s dream had been put to life in oil, the right nipple left blackened by a scorching tongue of fire. What was kept hidden beneath the covering of clothing could not be secret any longer, and the start that Applejack gave was enough to give life to shame. Adagio knew she shouldn’t have run, and each mark upon her once-pristine body was proof of it. Her suffering was inconsequential, left to memories long gone. But Applejack deserved someone flawless, and she- she simply…

“I missed you,” Applejack breathed, a dazzling glow on her features as she pulled her Siren back to her lips so that they might kiss once more, and not caring at all when this first meeting was tinged by tears.

It could have been the only gift she was graced that night and still would it have been more than enough to satisfy her dormant longings. In Applejack’s strong arms that provided a grasp so gentle, she could only melt at each new touch. Whether it was a kiss to her lips that saw her heart stop, or a gentle press upon her neck that gave life to moans mattered not; the feel of her farmgirl upon her was all that mattered. Adagio only wanted to know more of this care, return every ounce of it in equal measure, see all of Applejack’s love reflected and made good by her own actions. Upon her mouth was left that sweet coating of orchard fruit? So there would be a nibble of those lips, a slight tingling of tongue that would occasionally dart out so that they might dance. A gentle kiss upon her neck? Adagio rewarded each one with a hickey. If a gentle knead came to her breasts and saw them cared for, so she would reach out and give the farmgirl’s petite mounds a gentle lathering.

She had begun her efforts with the intent of seeing this wondrous woman utterly ravished; Adagio had always called herself a maestro in the art of lovemaking, and not once had she failed to live up to that title. But her burning desire for Applejack had turned her into something weak, easily vulnerable- and oh, how that sweet blonde took advantage of it! As though the long years of separation had been spent refining her finesse, honing craft down to a refined edge that was meant to please only one in the world. For a Siren who had given herself and pleasured so many, this unrestrained love was doing its magic and seeing her made weak.

“You feel just as good as last time,” she gasped, leaning against her lover’s form as Applejack continued to lather upon kisses to her naked body. “Oh, Applejack…”

“I guess I still need practice,” Applejack chuckled. “It’s been a while, but I- I tried to remember what made you happy.”

“No. It’s perfect. You’re perfect,” Adagio insisted, adding her own ferocious kisses to the joyous flow; a deepened plunge into that sweet mouth did she go, her tongue slithering this way and that so as to better enjoy the flavor of what could be found within. This apple of her eye could not possess a single flaw, continuously giving so much love and warmth that needed to be rewarded. Their small moment together on a simple afternoon was something the Siren would treasure forever.

But even kisses were not enough. Adagio frolicked with her love within that mouth, their joyous play unable to be contained and falling out into the world where slick, syrupy tongues continued to enjoy their ballet, and still was it not enough. She sucked upon that morsel until Applejack was left desperate, worked up to the point of absolute desperation and her gaze put into a bleary haze that could only be called lovesick- and still was it not enough. Adagio turned to her body, placing hickeys and gentle teases wherever she could find a freckle until the farmgirl was a quivering mess left riddled by the marks of affection; petite breasts were licked, nibbled upon, flicked and teased until hardened nipples could hardly take another second of worship without making their mistress scream. And still, it was not enough.

“Hey- easy, Dagi…” Though aroused into a splendid fervor, Applejack’s attentiveness to her beloved’s needs was not willing to falter just yet, and so she pulled away the ginger beauty from her frenzy and brought her back up to find awaiting lips that saw her kissed yet again. “You don’t have to ask for it, OK? Just- however you want to is fine with me.”

Had she really needed permission? Some subconscious fear deemed it so, and Adagio could smile now that that last, great prize awaited her. Sliding herself from Applejack’s lap, but only just, so that their legs might intertwine and see body press together. For only a moment did she bear the sight of Applejack’s pristine flower- more than enough for her to appreciate its beauty. Such a simple delicacy they were, well-trimmed and kept marvelously lovely to the eye; the slight sheen of fluid that had begun to dribble down across darkened folds only added to their exquisite appearance. Countless nights spent apart had not dimmed the memory of their sole union, nor the pleasure that had come because of it. She had given Applejack a joy unlike anything she’d ever experienced, and in return had managed to steal Adagio’s heart.

“I still remember how- how you felt,” Applejack breathed, shuffling closer and pulling her beloved in towards her until no distance between them could be found. “I know that’s silly to say.”

Adagio could only laugh. “And I remember everything about you,” she replied, taking the first stroke and seeing to that first unified rub.

Their reunion all but broke her spirit. Perhaps it was something simple and clichéd, no more unique and wild than any other night she’d spent with a woman before- but the feel, the force, the joy that was Applejack! From only the first few strokes, Adagio found so many of her senses in overload. As though every nerve in her body had been electrified by the merest touch, Applejack’s continuous rhythm was heightened in pleasure the longer it ran. This feeling of her farmgirl all about her, ever-present as folds fell against folds over and over again in that magnificent grind! It could shatter anyone’s resolve, see them utterly rent until their very soul cried out. Adagio wanted to plead for Applejack’s hand right that very instant; become her bride, be little more than a trophy wife that doted upon the farmgirl’s every need and desire until all their days were utterly spent. Even if the world was what she had to sacrifice she would do it! Oh, oh, how she longed to hold this woman close until the end of her days~!

Lest she cry out and reveal herself as the lovesick fool she had been reduced to, Adagio threw her arms about Applejack’s neck and saw those blonde strands brought close, green eyes going wide before she was forcibly kissed and all sounds of shock made silent. Adagio needed someone to hold back her desperate pleadings lest she truly fall forever, and only Applejack would have the strength capable of holding back her cries. Within a muffled, concealed mouth, she could only moan and make sounds of happiness that would satisfy her lover, no words allowed that would eventually come back and bring harm. Instead, what arose between them was a symphony of dampened sound and joyful coos that spoke to their delights. Each new shrouded squeak set Applejack to tingling; every hasty breath was a sound of life to Adagio. Though the friction down below had not ceased for even a moment, the two women saw fit to resume their kissing yet again; tongues needed to frolic, to enjoy every ounce of flavor and softened, velvety delight that they could bring for one another.

Adagio knew not how long they made love together- and how greatly did it make her chuckle when she deemed their union just that. So many times had she reduced an act of ultimate intimacy down to a task, a duty; but with Applejack it was a pleasure, a joy that could not be found with anyone else. She was tended to, cared to, held close and made to feel so safe that no thought of darkness could ever hope to find its way in and corrupt a treasured union. Applejack became one with her, just as she had been kept within the blonde’s spirit so many years ago, and the intertwining made a simple act something heavenly. She went on and on, enjoying every second Applejack gave her; all the way until her body turned tense and began to rock with the tremors that came before the crash of the wave, Adagio gave the very best effort she could. Her own pleasures mattered not to her, not when this wonderful, magnificent rescuer was still not satisfied. Even as the quake came and made her cry out at last, still did she forced herself to carry on lest the tempo fail and no crescendo be reached.

But oh, how did it go on? One brilliant shudder was all she could have expected, but another came just as easily and even brought tears to her eyes. How could one person feel so good, be so magnificent in the craft Adagio had once claimed to master? Applejack had overcome her in every single aspect, loving her so perfectly that there was no way she could have seen her beloved be made right first. Nevertheless, she would push on; not until she heard that wondrous, broken sound of delight that had haunted her dreams.

It did not take long, nor did Applejack restrain her ecstasy, for Adagio would not allow such things any longer. Even if she had begged for reprieve from the orgasm that enveloped her senses, the Siren would have continued until all the happiness one could feel was spent entirely in that singular moment. Only when the weakness fled, when trembling hands that had gone to the mattress so as to steady herself returned back around her waist did she relent from her joyous grind. At last were they both made whole, fire quenched and body allowed to cool, and so they held one another close and allowed breath to fill their lungs once more. Oxygen was needed to fill the void now, at least for a little while longer.

When their senses at last returned to fullest control, two halves of a whole looked upon one another for a time and suddenly found themselves gently laughing as they fell into each other’s embrace. Perhaps there were words to say, stories and feelings to share that would help ease this passing back into the mortal realms; none came, and none were asked for. Maybe they were not needed after all- at least, not now. For the sun still shone outside, family had yet to return back to the homestead and see this quiet space shatter with the sounds of life. There was plenty of daylight left in which they could, if either one felt brave enough, truly speak their mind.