A Very Merry Rarijack Christmas Fic

I wrote this and planned to post it properly as a story but I don't really feel like it's got much to it that makes it worth the laborious process so, as something of a gift to anybody who goes through the trouble of reading my blogs, this here is for you. And also might break a few site rules.
So yeah, a full, 3500-ish words of Christmas themed Rarijack! Chock full of that awkward present tense that I do so love! (Also briefly features my 'sona, Lazy Bones but only briefly, I promise.)

An Incredibly Clichéd Christmas
“Hey, AJ! There's somepony at the door for you!”
Applejack eyes widen beneath her Stetson as she snaps out her thoughts.
“On Hearths Warmin' Eve?” She says in disbelief as she rises out her seat, placing her mug of spiced cider aside before she trots over to the front door then ushers her younger sister towards the warmth of the fireplace, flashing her a smile before looking to a face that is only slightly familiar.
It's a stallion with a light blue coat and a mane in a mess of shades of the colour, partially hidden by what can't be mistaken for anything but a Hearts Warming hat. Applejack has to look down at him a tad, the bright eyed stallion appearing to be something on the short side.
“Howdy there, what can Ah do for ya' on this Hearth's Warmin' Eve?” Applejack quips with a welcoming grin and the stallion smiles crookedly back.
“Actually, Miss Apple, I'm just here to deliver something,” He replies before reaching into his saddlebag and rooting around.
“Ya' playin' Saddle Clause this year or something?” Applejack quips, her interest piqued and the stallion chuckles.
“Something like that, ma'am,” He says cryptically before he pulls out a letter and offers it to Applejack. She takes it with a curious frown.
“Do ya' work for the postal service? Ah ain't seen ya' around much, Ah think,” She asks and her visitor glances away.
“Only on Hearts Warming, ma'am.”
“Ain't ya' got someplace to be for the holidays?” Applejack questions and the would-be Saddle Clause turns his head away then sighs gently, his breath condensing as it hits the chilly air and just for a moment, his eyes are sad.
“No... Not really, ma'am...” He says honestly before he shakes himself out, shrugging off the morose air then he smiles slightly and trots back a step off the porch. “But not everypony has to be lonely on Hearths Warming!” He adds with cheer.
“... You're Lazy Bones, aren't ya'? ...Ya' ain't lookin' so sleepy as usual,” Applejack calls after him and she watches in amusement as the stallion does a full spin as he skips backwards, the snow coating his fetlocks as tiny flakes sit on his hat.
“It's Hearths Warming, ma'am! It's impossible to be sleepy!” He declares with a wide and hearty smile. “Merry Hearths Warming to you, Miss Apple! Be sure to open the letter as soon as possible! I'm pretty sure it's important!” He adds before he turns away and gallops off into the night back towards Ponyville before Applejack can even think to offer him in for a drink.
She watches him go with a bemused smile, shaking her head gently.
“Always had 'im pegged for a strange one...”
She looks down to the letter in her grasp then pushes the front door shut, unwilling to let in any more of the cold to the warm farmhouse and she notes the lack of address on the envelope. She's about to tear it open when a voice interrupts her.
“Nopony told me that apple sauce was flammable, Mac!”
“That's 'cuz it ain't!”
Her eyes widen in horror and she tosses the letter to the side and darts into the kitchen to save their side dishes from certain doom.
She's so thankful that the blaze is small that she forgets all about the letter...

She is slicing an apple, as she often does in the kitchen and it's nice because it's just her and her thoughts and it's calm and quiet. Granny, Mac and Bloom have already headed to bed but not her. Nah, there's things to do and she likes to stay up the night before, whipping up a few extra little things to sweeten the following day.
She hums merrily to herself, her thoughts running over the rest of the evening and she smiles ruefully. The fire had only charred a batch of apple sauce, nothing that couldn't be fixed quick enough and it'd sure added a bit of excitement to the evening... That stallion was a funny fella though, jus' droppin' by like that, interrupting her internal moping and giving her-...
Applejack goes still then looks over to the door and from where she's stood she can see the letter sat on the little table by the door. She places her knife down on her chopping board then wipes her hooves on a tea towel and trots over to it.
She spends a moment eyeing it like before then she picks it up and carefully tears it open with her teeth with tidy ease.
It's a card, as should be expected in the season, and on the front is a piece of mistletoe and a nice scenic little setting with light snowfall and... is that the Ponyville Park gazebo?
“Huh...”
Applejack flips it open and finds very little, much less than what she was thinking she'd find. Her brow furrows in confusion at the words.
If you're familiar with the place on this card, and would care to gift me generously with some of your time this Hearths Warming Eve then I ask that you meet me there, tonight at midnight.
If you wish, that is...
I'll be waiting.
- x -
Applejack stares at the card.
“What?” She murmurs in confusion before her eyes raise to the clock on the wall opposite. It's five to twelve. If she leaves now, she'll probably be a little bit late as it is but then again- “Why the Heck am Ah even considerin' goin'?”
She knows why, of course. Because it's the holiday season, a time for kindness and giving... not to mention that itch of nagging curiosity which will surely eat at her for the rest of her lift if she doesn't go.
But then again, she's worried about who it'll be. The script is neat and curled and kind of feminine looking, a delicate script that seemed to be more fitting of nobility than anypony in Ponyville. Not to offend at all but nobility is something that Ponyville citizens were generally not... Ignoring Twilight but then she was royalty and that wasn't the same thing. The closest thing they had to nobility was probably gonna be Ra-
The clock chimes the hour.
Applejack's eyes widen.
“... Darn...” She mutters and her eyes lower to the card before she groans her irritation and tugs off her apron then grabs her jacket and scarf from a hook nearby and yanks them on before tugging her Stetson down over her brow. “Ah'm gonna regret doin' this.”
She steps out into the icy night and closes the door quietly behind herself before she rolls her shoulders.
“Ah must be nuts...” She says with a slight smile before she breaks into a gallop, kicking up snow as she races along the familiar road to her town with something like nervous excitement and curiosity bubbling in her chilly hooves as the cold air bites...

The wind whips past her and she is sorely wishing that she'd pulled on some boots but at least it isn't a blizzard. None of the weather crew wanted to ruin the holiday for anybody, no matter was on the schedule and Rainbow Dash had been around to make double sure that they got a white Hearths Warming. She'd have been awful grumpy if she didn't get one as much as anything.
Applejack glances around herself as she runs, the exercise keeping her heart pounding and the rest of her mostly warm as she nears the park.
It's quiet out, everybody's already sleeping, anxious for the new day and she knows that she should be too but instead she's out in the freezing cold and picturing somewhere warmer.
She glances to Rarity's boutique as she passes a street and isn't surprised, but is somewhat disappointed, to see the lights out and curtains drawn. Applejack's ears droop and she slows to a brisk trot as she steps through wrought iron gates into what can only be described as some sort of winter wonderland.
The lamps dotted along the path are still lit and shining boldly, lighting up the few inches of snow across the ground and that which rests on the bare trees. The lake is frozen and there is nothing to disturb the silence besides Applejack's own crunching hoofsteps.
Then she spots the hoofprints in front of her own, embedded in the snow and interestingly, and quite reassuringly, smaller than her own.
It's either a small stallion or a mare and anypony who knows anything about the Apple Family will know that if you're smaller than an Apple, don't try anything funny because it won't pay off for you in the end.
Applejack takes the sight of the hooves as something of a sign of peace and so she walks onwards with less apprehension than before and maybe a little bit of an eager bounce in her steps. Then she sees the gazebo and she slows to a halt as she peers at the silhouette across from her. She can see the breathes of the pony but it's a little difficult to make out the rest. She continues her approach steadily and the nearer she gets, the more details she can make out.
It's a unicorn. Applejack can see the horn from beneath the pony's coat hood and the mane is an interesting shape that reminds her very much of-
“Applejack?”
Her breath catches in her throat as the unicorn rises then steps towards her.
“... Rarity?” Applejack murmurs in wonder and her face flushes.
She hopes that the low light hides it from the searching sapphire eyes gazing at her. Then a thought clicks in her head.
“Did you write-” They both cut themselves off having spoken in sync and Rarity steps a little closer to the light, her eyes low and almost shy. It's strange to see her so nervous.
“You first, darling,” She says politely, gesturing with a hoof and Applejack pauses.
“Did ya' write the card?” She questions bluntly and Rarity frowns at her, a genuinely puzzled look crossing her features.
“A card? I didn't write any card... besides the one I gave you yesterday, of course. Why would I give you two?” Rarity points out reasonably and Applejack blushes at not having even considered that.
“Oh...” She murmurs sheepishly.
“So... can I assume that the message I found on my front door wasn't from you then?” Rarity returns and there's a note of something in her tone. Applejack hesitates.
“Naw... Ah was... given a card by Mister Bones. He told me he was deliverin' 'em... busy season an' all Ah reckon,” Applejack says, her voice lowering to almost a mumble and Rarity nods.
An awkward silence overtakes them and the pair fidgets uncertainly for a few moments, struggling to think of something to say. “... Why do ya' suppose somepony sent 'em then?” Applejack adds and Rarity pouts as she thinks, her brow furrowing. There's something about the look that makes Applejack's face warm.
“I don't know... It certainly seems a rather strange thing to do...” Rarity returns before she turns back to the gazebo. “Care to join me for a moment seeing as you're here, darling?” She asks over her shoulder and Applejack smiles.
“Sure... Why not?” She agrees with an easy shrug and, remembering her manners, she shakes herself out then bangs her hooves on the gazebo's decking to shake free the snow and ice. She's careful not to bang them too hard though, Rarity tends to take offence to brutality and loud noises.
Applejack takes a seat beside the unicorn, not too close yet not too far away and she's careful to keep her damp coat and hooves away from the other mare.
They spend a few minutes in a silence that isn't nearly as awkward as the last though it's far longer as they just gaze across the park, taking in the beauty of it all.
“Soo... What made ya' wanna come?” Applejack asks and Rarity blinks then her eyes narrow at her friend.
“I could ask you the same thing,” She retorts, her voice holding a defensive edge to it that has Applejack frowning.
“Ah was jus' askin', Rares,” She says gently and Rarity glances away and it's now, with her eyes properly adjusted to the light that Applejack can see that Rarity's beloved 'coiffure' isn't quite as it usually is.
“I know, darling... My apologies. I didn't mean to be so short,” Rarity murmurs apologetically.
“S'alright... Ah know this ain't the most stress-free season.”
“It's not that...” Rarity says quietly as she rubs her hooves together in an effort to warm them.
“Then what's got ya' so edgy then, sugar cube? It's the season o' joy, ain't it?” Applejack reasons and Rarity's ears droop.
“Sweetie's with our parents in Manehatten...”
Applejack's eyes widen.
“What're ya' folks doin' there instead o' here?” She questions and Rarity sighs.
“Some sort of festival over the weekend... They invited me but I opted to stay here. I had a few orders due before today that I needed to get done,” She explains.
“That don't explain why they're not back. Ya' said it was a weekend thing, right? Well it don't take days t' get from there to here and Ah should know! It doesn't take no more than ten hours on a good train,” Applejack returns and Rarity smiles and concedes with a nod.
“Perhaps not...” She agrees. “But I'm quite certain that, whilst you were a filly at the time of that particular escapade, you didn't have to battle through rogue weather from the Foal Mountain.”
Applejack's ears droop.
“Oh... Ah see...” She says softly and Rarity nods, her expression sombre. “So... you're alone for the holidays then?”
“... Yes. For the first time in my life and I'm despising it already...” Rarity replies and she sighs shakily. “You know, sometimes, I wish for nothing more than for everypony to just leave me alone and give me some space... just to let me think but then when I actually get it...” She laughs bitterly and Applejack doesn't miss the tears glistening in her eyes. “All I want is them back home...”
Applejack feels a heavy pang at the pain in Rarity's voice and without a second though, she scoots closer then wraps a hoof around her smaller form.
Rarity leans into her, hugging her tightly around her waist and Applejack nuzzles her gently, her cheeks tinting pink.
“... Ya' don't gotta be lonely on Hearths Warming, darlin'...” She says softly. “Ya' could... join the Apples if ya' like? Ah'd love t'-... Ah mean... We'd love t' have ya' over,” She continues, barely catching her stumble and Rarity's grip around the blond mare tightens.
“I don't know if I could-...” Rarity trails off into silence.
“Er... Rares?”
Rarity draws back to meet Applejack's gaze and her eyes aren't holding sadness, more like a pleased surprise that, whilst far more pleasant, also rather confusing. Applejack's nose scrunches as she tries to figure out just where that came from.
Rarity smiles slowly.
“I cannot believe it.”
“What?” Applejack blurts and Rarity places a hoof over her mouth, attempting in vain to disguise her smile and she looks away.
“That was-... Oh goodness...”
“What?!” Applejack presses, increasingly concerned and embarrassed for reasons which she can't even begin to fathom.
Gentle blue eyes, bright with a kind of happiness, catch her gaze.
“You said 'darling'...”
Applejack's face turns such a vivid red that it resembles the Red Delicious on her flank.
“Ah-... Well-... It's not like-... Ah didn't mean for-...” She splutters and Rarity smiles at her.
“Applejack...” She says before leaning closer. “Say it again, I need to hear it again so that I'll never forget,” She coaxes and Applejack huffs.
“It slipped out. Ah ain't sayin' it again...”
“Please?” Rarity whines, puffing out her bottom lip in a very impressive pout. Applejack falters.
“Ah- But-... Rares,” She protests and Rarity lets her pout fade into a warm smile.
“Please, darling? It would really make my day,” She requests and somehow, that's more effective and the red-faced mare sighs softly in resignation.
“... Darlin'.”
“Oh my goodness!” Rarity cries with a faux dramatic swoon and Applejack's ears burn as they drop back against her skull. She scowls off at the snow before her face is turned toward back towards the unicorn by a pair of cool alabaster hooves. Rarity is smiling, beaming even and somehow that kind of makes it worth it. “I hope you don't mind me saying but you sound utterly adorable when you say that.”
Applejack groans internally as more blood rushes to her face.
“Rares!”
“Yes, Applejack?” Rarity replies calmly and Applejack is suddenly very aware of just how close their faces are. She gulps nervously.
“... Ah-... Well... There's somethin' Ah-...”
She sighs then draws back from the hooves on her cheeks and faces forward again.
“Nothin'...” She mumbles.
Wordlessly, Rarity wraps Applejack's scarf in a bale blue glow then adjusts it slightly higher up her neck and she is quiet.
“... I-... I wouldn't mind awfully if it-... if it was... something, Applejack,” She says eventually and the orange coated mare glances to her warily. Blue eyes capture her gaze once again and Applejack hesitates, gazing into the familiar eyes and trying to figure out just what the unicorn is thinking. She isn't sure what she finds there but it gives her enough confidence to speak.
“What-... What kinda somethin' would ya' not mind it bein', Rares?” She asks softly and Rarity smiles slightly and a blush lights her face.
“The... kind of something that I'm hoping it is...” She replies and Applejack leans across slowly then nuzzles her cheek again. It's gentle and careful. Her heart pounds nervously in her chest as she takes a slow breath, inhaling subtle flowery scents.
“... You're awful pretty, y'know, Rares...” She murmurs, deciding to just speak the truth as it's what comes easiest. “Smart and creative with a heart 'o gold to boot...” She continues then she smiles softly against Rarity's cheek. “And Ah dunno what Ah'd do without ya', darlin'...”
And then Rarity kisses her cheek, and it isn't the same as those greeting kisses or the goodbye ones she gives to everybody. Her lips linger for far longer than usual on the blush-tinted freckles and in that simple gesture, there's some invisible weight that falls off Applejack's shoulders with allows her to smile more confidently before pulling back just enough to look the alabaster mare in the eye.
Rarity returns her smile then lights her horn and her gaze drifts up and a second later Applejack follows her gaze to the mistletoe hanging above their heads, the very same one from the photo.
“You do realise what this means we have to do, don't you?” Rarity quips and Applejack, fuelled by the knowledge that her heart isn't pining for the unattainable, grins widely at the beautiful mare beside her.
“Ah'm certainly hopin'!” She returns with her reward being another vibrant blush.
“Oh you're hopeless!” Rarity cries though without a trace of genuine irritation and that's all the invitation Applejack needs in order to steal a kiss.
There are no fireworks, no explosions, nothing like that... but there is a tingle, a definite buzz that leaves Applejack's heart erratic the moment she presses her lips to the soft and pale ones of the blushing unicorn beside her.
She pulls away slowly.
The kiss was brief and cautious because whilst Rarity may be feeling the same right now, there's nothing to say that it isn't just the biting loneliness that has her craving such company. But then Rarity wraps her forehooves around Applejack's neck and pulls her into a tight embrace, one she instantly returns and she smiles gently as some of the uncertainty eases.
“... Happy Hearths Warmin', darlin'...” She murmurs and Rarity nuzzles her neck.
“It is now...” She says, warm and wholehearted sincerity ringing through the words as she rests her cheek against Applejack's.
The freckled mare smiles again.
“Yeah... for me too, darlin'...” She whispers and they just sit there for a while, holding each other and basking in the calm silence.

It'll be over the Hearths Warming dinner the next day when Rarity is wearing a silly paper hat and Applejack is laughing at her that they both say their first 'I love you', if in less than romantic circumstances.
And then, walking down the street together a few days later, stood much closer than they usual would and making the sort of eyes that has Apple Bloom gagging, Applejack will spot the Saddle Clause stallion and question him very sternly about the letter.
After a wide yawn, he'll apologise for said yawn then smile sheepishly.
“Yeah, I wrote that, ma'am. Took a bit of practice to get that good with a quill what with hooves and all but y'know, I figured it'd be worth it if it all worked out.”
And because it had, neither mares could fault him for it and so he'd trot off down the street, stumbling over his hooves blearily and yawning every few paces with the two mare's watching him curiously.
“Do you believe him?” Rarity will ask and Applejack will smile at her then shrug her shoulders.
“Ain't got no reason not to,” She'll reply and so they let it go...
… for which Lazy Bones is very grateful for because General Bloom and Captain Belle would have his hide if he told on them. I mean, really, no earth pony has hoof writing that good.

And that concludes this Christmas dose of Rarijack.
Happy holidays, everybody!
-Linkin