Applejack bit her lip nervously outside the restaurant, it was a delicious dinner but now... "You sure about this sugar cube? I mean I can go yell at Minuette to stop bein' weird..."
Coco shook her head, she didn't want to mess up Rarity's date, and after all, this was kind of Applejack's fault. "So long as it's no trouble for you..."
It was Applejack's turn to shake her head. "Nah, we have a spare room for when family visits, you can use that one." She turned and started to head out of Ponyville, smiling at Coco. "Besides, now you can meet my family."
Coco smiled back. "They sound nice."
Applejack chuckled. "Yes, family, oh they sound nice."
"Well they're related to you, so they have to be nice."
Applejack couldn't hold back a harsh guffaw and she threw a foreleg over the other mares back. "Hah! That was terribly corny Coco."
Coco grinned and raised an eyebrow. "This coming from the pony who said "This chocolate "soofle" is sweet, but not as sweet as you"?"
Applejack blushed brightly and looked to the side, grumbling. "Well, I thought you'd like to hear it..."
Coco giggled and leaned up, kissing Applejack on the cheek. "I did, so long as you meant it."
"Element of honesty here Coco, you can take whatever I say as 200 proof truth!"
Coco blinked and tilted her head. "200 proof?"
"Er... It means %100." Applejack blushed gently, she'd forgotten that Coco one, couldn't drink yet, and two, likely wouldn't be well versed in the harder alcohols where proofs really came into mention. Coco smiled and nodded, walking in companionable mostly silence except for the odd question about the farm as they approached the farmhouse. "And that, sugar cube, is why you -never- sneak up on Big Mac."
Coco giggled and nodded, smiling as Applejack opened the screen door the kitchen for Coco. "Thank you." She beamed at Applejack, only to turn her head and see a small fireball running straight at her.
Applebloom skidded to a halt in front of the new person. "Hi! Who're you? I'm Apple Bloom!" She beamed at the new pony she hadn't met.
Applejack chuckled as she walked in after Coco. "Coco, this is my little sister Apple Bloom."
Apple Bloom's grin doubled in size, somehow. "OOOOHH! You're the one who was sending big sis all those letters and presents!"
Coco blushed gently and nodded. "I did."
"Now Apple Bloom... Maybe don't..." Applejack was too late to head off her sister.
"Great! She was wondering who that was for a long time! She was so happy when they kept coming! Then she got sad because she thought it might be Rarity, but it wasn't! It was you! And she couldn't date Rarity! That'd be like me dating Scootaloo! And that'd be weird!"
Applejack sighed in exasperation. "Apple Bloom! You are dating Sweetie Belle!"
Apple Bloom scoffed like the answer was so obvious even her big sister should have seen it. "Well yeah! That's because I love Sweetie Belle! I don't love Scootaloo so it'd be weird! You don't love Rarity! You love Coco! So it'd be weird if you dated Rarity!"
Applejack groaned, Apple Bloom was older than she used to be but with her only ever having had a relationship with her longtime friend Sweetie Belle the finer points of romance still seemed to escape her. "It's too late for yer to be up anyhow! Get up ta bed little missy!"
Applebloom giggled and grinned at Coco, but was already turning. "She just wants to get rid of me! We'll talk more later when she's not around! I have -tons- of secrets I can tell you about her!"
"Bed!" Apple Bloom giggled as she galloped up the stairs and Applejack groaned a little. "Sorry about that sugar cu... Uh... You all right Coco?"
Coco was beet red and looked to the side then back to Applejack's worried face, before managing. "Uh... You... You told her you loved me?"
Applejack's eyes widened, she'd missed that finer point in Apple Bloom's little speech. Applejack cleared her throat a little and pawed at the floor a bit. "Well... I... Might have mentioned something about lovin' you." Coco blushed brightly but Applejack just decided that she was in this far, might as well go the rest of the way and bet the farm. "You're one of the nicest ponies I've met, you took on all of Rarity's work even after you risked your own neck helpin' her with that fussy designer you were workin' for when we first met ya. You put all that work into helping your neighborhood reconnect and all. You have the cutest giggle ever. And..." Applejack cleared her throat. "Sorry sugar cube I'm startin' ta embarrass myself... Yes... I do think I love you."
Coco smiled, though still blushing to no end. "Oh Applejack... I-I... I love you too... But you probably got that from all the letters and gifts. I-I just didn't think you'd feel the same about me, I'm just a silly pony from the city and I'm not nearly as successful as Rarity. I'm not surprised you thought they were from her but I promise I'll make more things for you if you want, I can ma..." Her eyes widened as she was interrupted with a pair of warm lips on her own, kissing back hesitantly.
Applejack looked down at the kitchen floor, pawing at it more. "Sorry for being forward sugar cube, I really shouldn't have done that."
Coco shook her head, squirming a little. "N-No... That's ok... It was... Wonderful."
Applejack smiled and motioned up the stairs. "Let's get you set up in the guest room then? Eh? Don't want me making no more slip-ups do we?" Coco blushed a little brighter as she thought of that. "Ya should be agreeing that we don't want no more slip-ups Coco..." Though Applejacks words were a bit harsh her smile and tone took any bite out of them.
"Oh! Oh yes, we don't want to make any mistakes before we get to know each other better."
Applejack smiled as she led the other mare upstairs. "Ya can meet Granny Smith and Big Mac in the morning. If ya need anything I'm two doors down." She motioned to said door. "That one." Pointing to the door between the two. "Is Apple Bloom's room. If ya don't wanna be woken up in the morning with a million questions sleep with your door closed."
Coco giggled and after a moment's hesitation leaned in and kissed Applejack on the cheek. "Thank you Applejack."
This caused Applejack to blush slightly, smiling. "Sleep well sugar cube."
"You too Applejack."
Coco walked into the room and firmly shut the door behind her, causing Applejack to chuckle. Heading to her own room she heard Apple Bloom call out to her. "Applejack?"
Applejack smiled and pushed the door to her little sister's room open, walking over to her. "Yes, sugar cube?"
Apple Bloom smiled up at her from her bed, as Applejack adjusted the blanked a little. "Is Coco going to be my new big sister?"
Applejack was a bit caught off guard by the question, staring at her little sister for a moment before looking up at the wall, beyond which Coco was no doubt getting ready for bed before leaning down and kissing Applejack on the forehead. "I sure hope so sugar cube."