//------------------------------// // Home Sweet Home // Story: Letting Go Of The Reins // by applebatofalltrades //------------------------------// There had to be an easier way. The ranch house was usually only a few minutes' walk from the stables, but it had already been at least five minutes and it didn’t seem like they were anything more than halfway there. “G-God, it’s cold as shit out here,” Strawberry muttered with chattering teeth.  Applejack didn’t even have the slightest idea as to what to say in response. No shit it was cold out. Her fingers felt like they might fall off. “At least you can keep your hands in your pockets,” Applejack argued, though there was no venom in her voice. It wasn’t so much the snow slowing them down than it was the fact that Applejack felt as though it was impossible to move her arms and summon the strength to push.  “True,” was Strawberry’s response.  “Why don’t you just go ahead of me,” Applejack asked her, though she didn’t bother trying to face in Strawberry’s direction. “You don’t have to stay with me.” “Because it’d be a shitty move to leave you out in a blizzard by yourself.” “I guess.” Applejack could swear she was about to die of hypothermia. Well, clearly not, but damn if there was ever a time to be dramatic.  “Are you okay?” Applejack would have looked over to Strawberry if it wasn’t for the fact that her neck almost felt stuck in place. It was like having the neck brace on again. “What?” “You know, with e-everything?” Strawberry clarified. “I mean, you haven’t been back in so long. And all this with Barley is pretty much the worst timing ever.” “Could be worse,” Applejack responded, though she wasn’t really sure how. Sure, she could be dead, but at least if she was dead then that would be the end of it. “How about…” Strawberry hesitated, which was enough for Applejack to fill in the blanks. “The whole wheelchair thing?” Applejack took her silence as a yes and let out a snort. “Well, it ain’t exactly…” She bit her lip. “I mean… It’s…” “Yeah.” “It’s hard,” Applejack admitted. “But it’ll just take some gettin’ used to.” “You can do it.” “I have to,” Applejack simply stated. It wasn’t like she had much of a choice. “C-can we just… stop talkin’? It’s too cold to talk. I can barely feel my tongue. Or my lips.” Strawberry’s silence was once again a positive indicator, so the pair continued to battle through the blizzard in silence. The good thing was that they finally reached the front door. It was extremely strange to see the familiarity of the house she had grown up in be disturbed by the new wood ramp that seemed to try to match the rustic aesthetic of the house but failed purely by the wood being still new and vibrant. The wood was an outlier. It stuck out in a way that wasn’t right.  Applejack rolled up to it, eager to get to the door and inside. The last thing in her way after having to plow through the building snow was the ramp but try as she might, it was just too snowy. She grunted and pushed as hard as she could but her arms gave up and the wheels stopped moving after the first couple of inches. She could feel Strawberry’s almost predatory snark. Applejack decided that her pride could handle yet another blow as she turned to face her smirking companion. “Can you push me up? The snow’s too thick.” Without saying anything, Strawberry simply approached from behind and pushed. She let out a short groan and slowly pushed Applejack up the steps. “Holy shit, you’re heavy.” “Are you kiddin’ me?” Applejack asked, but Strawberry ignored her. She regained control of her chair and rammed backwards into Strawberry before she could step away. The redhead must have accepted the retribution as she did nothing but exclaim and move in front of Applejack with a frown. Strawberry opened the door and swung it open so that Applejack could go in. Never had Applejack thought that she would be able to identify her house by scent alone. After spending so many months in a sterile environment it seemed almost impossible to miss the smell. Her house, it seemed, smelled of a fireplace once lit, of apple cinnamon spice, and… well, home. It wasn’t really a smell that Applejack could describe, but it assaulted her nose and she gladly let it win. From the kitchen, Granny could be heard humming. The noise brought a smile to Applejack’s face. She loved when Granny hummed or sang. It was comforting. “Granny Smith, look who I brought,” Strawberry called out flatly. Applejack could practically hear her eyes rolling through her words. “I think you’ll be quite surprised.” “Oh, you know how I don’t like surprises,” Granny Smith teasingly chided from the other room. “I’ll be a second, I’m just preparin’ dinner for everyone and that nice vet once she comes ‘round.” Strawberry shrugged and began taking off her coat in the entryway. The both of them were covered in now-melting snow, and it seemed it was more than a good thing for the redhead as she vehemently shook stray flakes off of the hood of her sweater before they could even melt. Applejack herself didn’t mind the snow so much, but she had to admit it wasn’t a very good feeling to have snow melting in her hair. Luckily, Thistle wasn’t too much taller than her and wasn’t as built as Big Mac, so his coat fit her almost as well as her own coat would have. She took it off and handed it to Strawberry, who hung it up on yet another inaccessible hook.  Just as Applejack reached down to lift her foot onto her knee to take off her boot, Granny rounded the corner saying, “How’s that horse doin’? Y’know, that old mare Bingo used to colic just ‘bout every winter, but she always pulled through and gave Buttercup a better season than…” She trailed off as she caught sight of just who was in her doorway and rushed to the pair. “Applejack? Land sakes, what are you doin’ here, hun?” “I heard ‘bout Barley and I just had to come around,” Applejack told her plainly as she pulled her boot off and dropped it with the rest of the footwear. She did the same for the other shoe. “And ‘fore you get around to scoldin’ me, I know it was foolish but I just had to be here.” Granny Smith hurried over to Applejack and took the boot from her grasp and put it down. “It was mighty foolish of you,” she agreed, “but I had a feelin’ you’d show up. How’d you get here?” “Thistle.” Applejack pushed her wet hair back so it wouldn’t drip into her eyes. “He came to pick me up. He’s over helpin’ Barley now, even got him standin’.”  “Hm,” Granny responded. “That’s good. Smart young man.” Strawberry moved forward into the house. “We moved most of the stuff from your room down here. We weren’t expecting you for another week though, so not everything is here but come take a look.” Right, because Applejack couldn’t exactly get to her room on the second floor. She followed Strawberry for a moment before pausing to look behind at the snow and slush she’d just tracked into the house. “Ah shoot, I’m sorry I…” Granny waved her hand. “Don’t worry ‘bout it, hun’. Gets dirty in here anyway on account of Apple Bloom and her habit of forgettin’ to take off her boots. ” She still felt bad, though, so Applejack reached into the little bag on the back of her seat and took out a cloth. She wiped the tires as clean as she could after a few rotations back and forth and decided it was good enough. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but she probably should have thought about one before coming.  The redhead beckoned Applejack with a bored look on her face that Applejack chose to ignore. She noticed she was being led to what used to be Granny Smith’s room. “Wait, this is it?” Strawberry nodded. “Yup, Granny Smith took your room upstairs.” “Oh.” Applejack frowned. She hoped that wouldn’t mess with her arthritis. “Okay.” She went into the room and noticed it was mostly full of boxes. They were almost all unlabeled, but that didn’t really matter much to her. It was strange to see the bedroom stripped of Granny Smith’s things, but it was even weirder to see it appear as though she was moving out entirely. It didn’t feel right, it didn’t feel like it was supposed to feel like her room. For the first time in her life, Applejack didn’t feel at home in her own house. “Sorry it’s not really… homey yet,” Strawberry said as though she was reading Applejack’s mind. “We weren’t expecting you to come back just yet. And, uh, well, we didn’t really know where to put all your stuff since… Well…” Applejack shook her head and the thoughts went away with it. “It’s fine. I appreciate y’all movin’ my stuff here. I guess I’ll just have to get used to it.” “You’ll be alright,” Strawberry told her. “So… Is it weird?” “Is what weird?” Strawberry twirled her hair in her fingers. “Well, you know… The wheelchair? You told me to shut up outside about it. I wasn’t sure if it was ‘cause it was a sensitive subject or if it was too cold.” Applejack glanced down at the item in mention. “Oh. No, it’s fine. Uh, I guess it is a bit weird,” she answered honestly. “But, y’know, I’m used to it. It’s kinda become part of me in a weird way.” “Yeah, I guess that was a dumb question.” Strawberry sat on the foot of the bed. It creaked beneath her. “I just, well, I don’t know what to say, to be honest.” The blonde let out a dry laugh. “I can’t blame ya. It’s kinda messed up, ain’t it?” Strawberry pursed her lips. “A bit. I’m really sorry about what happened to you.” Applejack’s smile wavered. Just a bit. “It’s fine. Can’t change what happened.” “Still.” “Look, I don’t need your pity,” Applejack said, though she made sure to say it softly. “I got enough of that, even if everyone was tryin’ to not come off that way. Can we just pretend nothin’ happened?” It was an unreasonable request, and she knew that. The way Strawberry hesitated showed that she knew, too. “Is that a good idea?” “Probably not,” Applejack admitted. “Well, then just don’t be sorry. I can still do mostly everything that I could do before. It ain’t like I need help doin’ stuff like puttin’ on clothes or usin’ the bathroom anymore, so there’s no reason to feel sorry.” “That’s… actually really cool.” Strawberry gave an honest smile. “I don’t think I’d have the patience to re-learn how to do all that.” Applejack smiled slightly. “It ain’t like I had a choice.” “That’s true, but still.” Strawberry dipped her head at Applejack. “I don’t say it much, but I do admire you, Applejack. And… I guess I wanted to say I’m sorry about our last conversation on the phone after you got out of the hospital. I was… dealing with some stuff.” If she was being honest, Applejack almost forgot about that conversation. She would have been happier forgetting the way Strawberry made her feel. Really, it was probably how she’d been making her feel for so many years.  She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. You don’t gotta apologize after the way I’ve been treatin’ ya for so long. And… Well, I’m sorry ‘bout that, too.” She rubbed her neck sheepishly. “And about, uh, whatever happened at the bar.” “Heh, you really don’t remember?” Strawberry shook her head. “It was stupid. We were both drunk.” “Well, that doesn’t make whatever I did right so I’m sorry.” Strawberry raised her eyebrows. “Wow, a real apology. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that you’d do that. I wouldn’t believe it.” At Applejack’s frown, Strawberry’s smile turned serious. “Really, though, thanks. It means a lot. I don’t know if we’re quite ready to be friends,  but I’m glad that we’re moving in that direction.” There were a million snappy comebacks that ran through Applejack’s head. ‘Who said I wanted to be your friend?’ ‘How do I turn back?’ ‘Musta taken a wrong turn.’ None of them came out. Instead, Applejack grinned from ear to ear. “Yeah, me too.” ~~~~🍎~~~~ Real food tasted so much better at the dinner table, even though it was a little bit cramped with Strawberry and Thistle there.  The dinner table was usually some kind of boisterous affair, with the whole family talking about their day and Apple Bloom sharing particularly humorous stories about school and Big Mac and Applejack detailing their chores and the weird things the animals would inevitably do. But right now? Everyone was strangely silent. An out-of-place hush passed over the table as the clinks and clatters of cutlery filled the air.  Applejack cut into her strip of meat with bored, repetitive movements of her knife. She’d never really learned how to hold cutlery ‘correctly’, maybe a habit from uselessly trying to copy her right-handed family members, and Granny had long since stopped trying to fix it. Leaning her right chin on her right hand, Applejack lifted the fork to her mouth and took a bite. It was good, delicious even, but she couldn’t even pretend to enjoy it. She ate as though it was merely a necessity and she wasn’t sure why. Being back at the ranch was amazing. The principle of it made it out to be the best thing to happen to Applejack, but it definitely didn’t feel like it. There she was, sitting at a table she hadn’t seen in months surrounded by her full family in her home that she had nearly forgotten the smell of. She was supposed to be happy and excited, but instead, it dampened into a gray lump of indifference. She was supposed to finish her time in the rehab facility and come home with a smile. Instead, it felt like the blizzard outside had made its way in and silenced the group. Maybe the hush had grown too awkward, or maybe it was becoming impossible to pretend as though everyone was too busy chewing to talk, but finally, Granny Smith broke the silence with a clear of her throat. Everyone at the table turned their attention to the woman. “Well, I’ll be the first to say that I’m awful glad for Dr. Fauna. I wish she coulda stayed, but as she said, animals won’t wait for the snow to blow over to get sick.”  At the mention of her name, everybody lightened up a bit.  Applejack raised her glass and nodded. “Ditto. Dunno what we’d have done without her.” “Half the battle was getting Barley to stand, really,” Thistle pointed out. He put an arm on Big Mac’s shoulder. “If she didn’t come, I’m sure we coulda managed.” Big Mac shrugged while Thistle grinned confidently.  He didn’t say anything more out loud, but the look in his eyes said enough. Applejack couldn’t hold back the smile that toyed on her lips, so she decided to simply shove another forkful of food in her mouth.  Strawberry, sat next to Applejack, made a bit of a noise that nobody else seemed to catch before she stabbed her fork into the meat and shoved it in her mouth. The conversation didn’t last much longer than that. At least it seemed to lighten the mood, though Applejack wasn’t sure why everyone seemed so bummed out. Barley would be fine and back to a hundred percent in a few days.  Was it her? Was it her presence that bummed everyone out? She hadn’t really thought about how it might feel for everyone else to have her back home. Of course they already knew that things would be different; they were the ones that had to rearrange the house and make it somewhat compatible for her, after all. But still, that was a lot different than actually having her back home. It was different to see her in the hospital or even the rehab facility. There it made sense that she was in a wheelchair. At home, though, it didn’t. She stuck out. And Strawberry. Strawberry seemed so calm, she seemed too calm, almost. Applejack knew that she’d asked Strawberry to pretend as though nothing had happened, but after her response, she didn’t know that she’d try. Hell, she thought that the conversation in the bedroom was a fluke. That it would somehow not really mean anything after leaving that room. She thought Strawberry would at least be a little bit more bitter or awkward, but no. Strawberry was fine. Damn it, why was Strawberry like that? Why did she always have to be the better person? She didn’t have to accompany Applejack back to the house or keep her company while she checked the stuff in her new room. She didn’t have to do any of that. She didn’t have to talk to her or be nice. She didn’t have to apologize. “Hey, you okay?” Applejack realized she had been staring at Strawberry and quickly averted her gaze. Strawberry didn’t seem to have noticed, but it was still embarrassing enough to make Applejack blush. She was surprised to hear Thistle asking the question and equally surprised that she had even been surprised in the first place. Thistle was… well, he wasn’t just a friend. That much, she had to admit. But he wasn’t quite her boyfriend yet. They still had to go on a proper date for that, but considering all their conversations and the fact that she’d even agreed to it? Well, he was very much on his way. She shouldn’t have been surprised that he would ask if she was okay. That meant that she must have been zoning out. Applejack put on a smile and nodded. “Yeah, fine. It’s just been a bit of a long day, I reckon.” He nodded with a half-hearted smile. “Yeah, can’t blame ya there. Bet you’re happy to be home, huh?” “I am happy,” Applejack responded, though she didn’t really feel it. Somewhere deep inside, though, it was true. She had been looking forward to this day for so long, but she definitely wasn’t expecting it to be like this. “It’s just… takin’ a bit to really hit me I guess.” The miracle that was Apple Bloom’s silence at the dinner table ended as she smiled so widely it was almost audible.  “Well, I’m sure glad you’re home! We’ve missed ya so much, Applejack!” The blonde wished she could hide beneath the brim of her hat, but she didn’t even know where it was. Instead, she just attempted to hide her blush by taking a gulp of water before responding, “I’ve missed y’all, too.” She briefly glanced at Strawberry, who seemed to have found something to stare at on the ceiling. “I’m just glad everything’s goin’ alright here.” I guess they didn’t really need me around much. “It was a bit hard at first, but Strawberry really stepped up,” Apple Bloom revealed as she gently nudged Strawberry. She didn’t seem so kid-ish anymore. Did Apple Bloom have a growth spurt while Applejack was gone? “Only ‘cause Big Mac here was practically as useless as a screen door on a submarine,” Strawberry joked. Big Mac simply nodded once, while Applejack had to hold back an amused laugh at Strawberry’s metaphor. She’d really been spending too much time with Granny, it seemed. “But really, I was happy to help. Even kind of missed you, AJ.” “Oh, I’m sure,” Applejack responded with a grin. Despite her initial reservations against the idea, she was glad that someone was able to help out around the ranch. Even if it was Strawberry. “And don’t call me that,” she added light-heartedly.  The redhead brought her hands up in mock defeat. “Your cousin helped out a lot, too. Even got her little boyfriend around here a couple times. Where he gets the time, I don’t know.” “They’re cute together, ain’t they?” Apple Bloom jumped in, pushing her plate aside. “I think it’s romantic that he comes here to visit her even though he’s got that bar job over in ‘Loosa.”  Applejack noticed that everyone else was pretty much done with their food, even Apple Bloom who was often the last to finish on account of all the gabbing at the table she did. Applejack didn’t feel very hungry at all. She eyed her plate.  “I think he’s a bit of an idiot,” Strawberry argued. “They’ve only known each other a few months. To go pretty much straight into dating after meeting at a bar? Already a bit of a dumb move. But he makes the trip all the way here kind of on a regular basis.” She crossed her arms and leaned back. “It’s a bit much. But hey, if they’re happy, then whatever, I guess.” She had a bit of a point, but Applejack didn’t want her to diminish her cousin’s relationship like that. From what she could remember, Rusty was a decent guy. He at least made a hell of a drink.  “You just don’t understand true love,” Apple Bloom practically sighed out. “When ya love someone, ya do stupid things.” That was a silly sentiment, but hey, what would Applejack know? Strawberry huffed. “What do you know about love, Bloom? You’re just a kid.” “Well, you’re just a teenager,” Apple Bloom pointed out. “I’ve read a buncha stories ‘bout love.” “What about you, Thistle?” Strawberry leaned forward to look at Thistle, who had been keeping quiet. “You look like the type of guy who gets around. What do you think about love?” Thistle shifted in his seat. “Well, I can’t deny that I’m popular with the ladies,” he admitted with a grin, “but I dunno, I’ve never really thought about it I guess.” The half of the table that had not been participating met eyes. Applejack knew exactly what Big Mac and Granny were thinking because she was thinking it, too. The ongoing conversation was incredibly strange. And somewhat inappropriate. “I think it’s been a long day,” Granny cut in, “and I’m sure Applejack here wants to rest.” Applejack shot her grandmother a look. Figures she’d use me as a scapegoat. “Yeah, I suppose I’m a bit tuckered out.” “You gon’ eat the rest of that, AJ?” Big Mac pointed at Applejack’s plate, which was more full than it was empty.  She shook her head. “No, I think today’s been too... excitin’. Don’t feel so hungry right now, but thank you so much for all that Granny. And thanks for feedin’ Thistle, too. I know we were kinda unexpected.” Granny waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t be silly, girl. There’ll always be a place at the table for you and any friends you might bring ‘round.” At that, Thistle raised his glass. “Thank you very much for that, ma’am. Now, I don’t wanna intrude, so I best be going ‘fore it gets worse out there.” Applejack let out a scoff. “That’s insane, I told ya you could stay the night. It’s only gotten worse. You can’t go home now, it’s already dark out.” “Eeyup,” Big Mac put in. “Since you and Strawberry gotta stay, one of y’all can stay in the spare room and the other can stay on the pullout in the livin’ room.” “I’ll take the couch,” Thistle offered quickly. “Ain’t no point takin’ a perfectly good bed from, uh, Orange here.” “My name’s Strawberry,” the redhead spat back, “and you and your machismo can go sleep in the spare room.” Applejack tapped the tips of her fingers together. “You mean Ma and Pa’s room?” “Yeah,” Apple Bloom shrugged, “the spare room. That’s where Fritter stays.” “That wouldn’t be very kind of me to allow a girl to sleep on a couch,” Thistle argued, completely ignoring the two sisters. “I insist.” “I’m sure I could handle it,” Strawberry responded with a smile that was a little bit too sweet. “So you go on ahead and take the spare room.” “Alright, y’all are bein’ silly,” Big Mac interrupted. “Strawberry, you stay in the spare room since you’ve already got some of your stuff in there, and Thistle, you can sleep in my bed upstairs. I’ll take the pull-out.” That seemed to satisfy the both of them, though Applejack caught sight of Strawberry’s smug grin that she didn’t do much to hide. With that settled, everyone stood from the table and took their plates with them. Applejack was eager to help, but before she could take her still-full plate, Big Mac took it for her. She shot him a look, but he returned it, so she relented. It was no big deal, anyway. She should probably make sure that there was nothing else she could help out with. She backed out of the table and rolled up to Apple Bloom, who looked quite sleepy despite her energetic participation in the conversation. “Hey Bloom, you need any help with anything?” The redhead shook her head. “Naw, I was just gonna go do my math homework ‘fore bed. But thanks.” Applejack nodded and watched her sister climb up the stairs on all fours. Behind her, Winona followed in a similar fashion. “Well, at least she doesn’t need help with math anymore,” she muttered to herself as she looked around for any sign of anything out of place. “You look lost,” Strawberry said from behind her. “It’s your house.” “I’m just lookin’ for something to do,” Applejack responded, turning around to face Strawberry. “I always help wash dishes after dinner, but I dunno how much help I’ll be.” “Hey, if you don’t have anything to do, just go sleep or something,” Strawberry suggested. “You must be tired. As you said, it’s been a long day and being out in the cold definitely doesn’t help.” “I guess you’re right,” Applejack responded, though she wasn’t very enthused with the idea. “I still gotta figure out my room situation. Do ya know what’s in the boxes?” “Eh, only some of them. I didn’t help with your room the whole time, but I did pack up a few boxes. You’ve got a lot of junk, you know.” The jab might have been well-intentioned, but Applejack couldn’t help but agree. “Yeah. You stickin’ around tomorrow?” “Depends on how much help you guys need around here,” Strawberry answered. “Why?” “I was hopin’ you’d help me unpack the boxes, then,” Applejack told her. “I know you got no reason to, but I know Bloom’s got school and Mac’s got chores.” Strawberry shrugged. “Sure, but why not ask your boyfriend?” Applejack scoffed. “‘Cause I don’t want him snoopin’ around my stuff.” “Fair enough.” Strawberry looked behind Applejack and her lip twitched. “Well, see you tomorrow, then.”  As Applejack watched her retreat upstairs, Thistle cleared his throat next to her. “So, nice family.” “Thanks.” Applejack smiled and moved toward her room. Thistle followed. “I’m glad you think so.” “Yeah, though your brother’s kinda scary. Keep givin’ me this look,” Thistle told her with a nervous laugh. “But I suppose that’s just fine considerin’ he’s your brother.” “He likes ya, he’s just bein’ overprotective,” Applejack promised. She entered her new room and sighed at the state of it. She hadn’t really put much thought into it, but it was all hitting her. Boxes were strewn about, clearly not enough to hold all of her belongings, but still enough for her to realize that there wouldn’t be enough space for all her things. Even just in boxes, her stuff took up a good portion of the room.  “I guess this wasn’t your room before?” Applejack nodded. “This was my Granny’s room. She’s always liked the convenience of havin’ her room on the ground floor. Been that way as long as I can remember.”  “It’s nice that she’s movin’ for ya.” Thistle absent-mindedly whistled tunelessly as he looked around the room.  Applejack frowned as she looked at the walls. They were some of the only things that hinted at the room’s past inhabitant. Framed pictures of the ranchland taken generations ago decorated the walls. The framed picture on the bedside was of Granny and her grandchildren. That was a more recent picture. Big Mac and Applejack stood proudly on either side of Granny while a toothy-grinned Apple Bloom stood in front of her, enveloped in her grandmother’s hug. It was the first family picture they took after her parents’ death. Applejack picked it up, but she couldn’t bring herself to smile or even frown.  She knew that picture was paired with an older family picture. One of the full family. Granny must have left its pair behind by mistake. “So, your friend out there seems to be convinced we’re together,” Thistle said, interrupting Applejack’s thoughts.  The blonde put down the picture frame and turned to Thistle, who was looking at one of the pictures on the wall, back turned to her. Applejack rubbed her hands together. “She’s just teasin’.” “Maybe,” Thistle agreed, still not turning to face her. “What do you think? Obviously, you think we could have a shot. I know you ain’t big on talkin’ to other people, I’ve heard that much about you. But you picked me. And you said we could go on a date.” “I did.” Applejack rolled a little closer to him, hoping he’d hear her and turn to face her. “Just haven’t had the time.” He did finally turn to face her, and he crouched down to her height once he did. “How ‘bout tomorrow?” He grinned smugly. “I’ve been waitin’ to take you out, AJ.” Applejack swallowed nervously. Thistle had a way of changing the way he carried himself. He seemed awkward most of the time, but sometimes he just had a random burst of confidence. Was Strawberry right about him ‘getting around’? Her hands slowly dropped to her pushrims. “If the weather’s nicer tomorrow, then sure.” “Sounds great.” Thistle looked her over before standing up again. “We don’t even have to go anywhere if you don’t want to. Whatever you’re comfortable with. I just wanna spend some time with you.” And there went his confidence. Did he do it on purpose? Whatever the answer, Applejack had to admit that it worked. Whatever ‘butterflies in her stomach’ felt like, she was sure this was it. “Then could we stay here? I mean, we could drive out to the edge of the property. There’s a nice view by the road.” “Sure thing, darlin’.” He winked at her before approaching the door. “Now I’m gon’ get outta here ‘fore your brother finds a reason to drag me out.” A laugh found its way out of Applejack’s mouth. “Darlin’? Where’d that come from?” Thistle walked out the door but peered in one last time to say, “Thought you’d like it. You didn’t ask me to stop.” Then he was gone. Applejack was mostly left in shocked silence, though the smile that he left on her face was too wide to ignore. “He’s so stupid,” she muttered to herself with a shake of her head.  Even as she got ready for bed, she couldn’t help but feel excited for the day to come.