//------------------------------//
// Applejack 
// Story: Herdmate Oneshots 
// by Banchoking 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Lyra were in the living room, trying to pass the time.

Rainbow Dash let out a frustrated sigh, "Ugh! By the time Lero gets back from AJ's, we'll be asleep!" she groaned as she sprawled out on the floor, completely bored out of her mind.

Twilight rolled her eyes over her book at her herdmate's antics while Lyra chuckled.

"Honestly Rainbow Dash, it wasn't that long ago that you didn't even know Lero. Surely you can stand an evening away from him without dying of boredom," the purple unicorn shook her head as she got up from her seat and returned the book to its place only to pull another from the shelf.  

Rainbow's face got a sour expression, "But it's not one evening!" she contested. "Applejack's been asking him to do extra work at Sweet Apple Acres from noon to sundown every day for almost three weeks now!" she stamped her hoof. "By the time he gets home I'm almost more tired than he is, and I'm getting frustrated without his 'special private massages'" she practically snarled.

Twilight and Lyra let out sighs of their own. Rainbow Dash was right, they hadn't had the time for Lero to perform 'a mans duty' as Lero jokingly called it, since he started helping Applejack on the farm, and it was starting to put them on edge. 

Just last night Twilight snapped a plate in half with her telekinesis while trying to wash dishes and Lyra bought a spa pass just to try and sneak in a quickie with Lero while he was working. His bosses hadn't been too happy when they walked in on her trying to undo his zipper with her teeth. 

For such sweet mares they sure were scary when you broke the spa's rules.

"What does he even do up there?" Lyra asked.

Rainbow climbed onto the couch with her, "He says he's just doing some of the chores AJ, Big Mac, and Applebloom usually do. Packing barrels, carrying baskets, stuff like that."

Twilight turned a page, "Huh, that's strange. Has Applejack said anything about having too much work?"

Dash shook her head, "And when I asked if there was anything I could do she just kept saying no and rushed me out as fast as she could."

Lyra took a sip of tea and rubbed her chin, "Do you think she's just making up busy work for Lero?"

They both looked at her with expressions of confusion, "Why would she be doing that?"


[/hr]
Lero set down a barrel of apples and leant back until his back popped, "So Mac, are you sure I'm the best guy for these jobs. I'm happy to help and all, but most of what I'm doing is just hauling things around and an earth pony would probably be best for that.

"Eeyup," was the draft pony's only answer as he swayed his straw in his mouth.

After a moment of silence Lero ask, "Ummm, would you like to elaborate a bit?"

"Nope."

Lero just shrugged as he lifted the barrel again to try and take it to the barn at the top of the hill.

Applejack watched Lero from the window. She seemed really fidgety, "Oh Granny, I just don't know what I'm gonna do about this."

She saw Lero and Big Mac catch Angel bunny pulling carrots out of the garden and chase him off.

Granny smith snorted back a laugh, "Tain't that hard ta figure out Sugarcube," she smiled as she peeled an apple and handed it to Applebloom across the table to put in a bowl.

Applejack fought back a chuckle as Mac and Lero saw Angel sitting on the latch for the barn. They tried reasoning with him but he released the latch and a bunch of barrels rolled down the hill as they tried and outrun them. AJ shook her head and groaned, "I know it seems simple Granny, but what if he takes it the wrong way. I still don't know what to make of him sometimes. No tellin' how he'll react. Not ta mention he's herdin' with two of my best friends. Somethin' goes wrong, I gotta lot to lose here!"

She turned to face Granny Smith just before Lero tripped running down the hill and got ran over by a barrel.

"Yer just getting nervous. You know yer friends'll be there through thick and thin. All you gotta worry about is him." she pointed out the window to Lero, who was now leaning on Big Mac for support.

Applejack nervously made her way to the door on her wobbly legs but stopped just short of opening it, "I...I'll do it tomorrow. I'll just make up somethin' else for him to do to bring him back."

Granny Smith snorted again, "Applejack! You've been givin' him reasons to come up here fer weeks. Give him anymore work and he could run the farm all by himself!" 

Applejack stared at the floor, "I...I'm just scared is all!"

Applebloom walked over by her big sister, "There was a girl at school with a problem like this. We all helped her with bein' too scared too!" she smiled.

"Really? How'd you help her," she asked, desperate at this point.


[/hr]
Lero was filling canteen for himself from a water spigot when he heard a loud "THWOP!". He turned around just in time to see AJ get launched out the front door of the Apple family home and high into the air, then land flat on her face and skid until she came to a stop at the feet of Lero and Mac.

She got up and shook her head, trying to come back to her senses, muttering something about 'pushy little sisters.' She spat a couple times, trying to get a blade of grass off her lip. Lero reached over and got it for her, causing her to turn her head away in embarrassment before thanking him.

He then bent down and picked up her precious Stetson hat and handed it to her.

Rather than putting it on her head however, she held it in her forehooves, wringing the rim of it nervously. "Uh, Mac, could ya give us a bit a pivacy? I gotta talk with Lero and I' rather not have anypony hear."

The larger pony just nodded and headed back to the house.

Lero looked at Applejack, "What do you want to talk about?"

She looked from side to side, trying to find the best words, "I...um. Well, you see I....Mmmm! Oh to hay with it!!!" she shouted, finally having found her resolve. "Listen Lero, I wanted to say...thanks fer all you've done fer me, fer my family. Not just fer helpin' around the farm but everything. Listenin' when me or Mac are havin' problems and can't talk to nopony else, fer convincin' us to hire Flim and Flam even after all they did," she smiled, "fer playin' with Applebloom and her Crusader friends. It really means a lot to us, to me."

Lero felt touched, "Thanks Applejack, that's really sweet of you to say."

She looked at the ground and pretended to be interested in a rock she pushed with her hoof to hide the redness in her cheeks, "Yer like a member of this family Lero, and...and I just wanted to make it official."

Lero's face went from touched to surprised, "W-what do you mean?"

"I was wonderin' if ya'll... er you and yer herd would...um" her throat started to close up in nervousness and her eyes watered just a bit, "would you do me the honor of makin' the Apple family a little bit bigger and lettin' me into your herd?" she almost squeaked.

Lero was touched, honored, and confused all at the same time, which only added to the confusion, "But I thought you didn't find me attractive."

Applejack practically flinched. He didn't say it in a hurt or accusing way, but it kinda puts a kink in the hose when the stallion you're courting has heard you say to his face that he isn't attractive to you. She took a deep breath and fell back on what she knew best, honesty, "Well, I didn't. I still don't," she saw him becoming even more confused, "At least, not physically. But the way you act, the way yer always so nice, and the way you get along with my family makes me feel like that don't matter so much anymore," her face finally broke into a full blush. She stared hard at the ground, afraid to meet his eyes, too stubborn to let him see her blush. She jumped slightly when she felt a pair of arms drape around her neck and Lero press his forehead against hers. She let out a small groan as he stroked her spine, that was one thing she did find attractive about him. The things those hands could do.

"Applejack, we'll have to talk with the others but, I'd be happy to be a part of your family," Lero whispered before laying a kiss on top of her muzzle.


[/hr]
Back at the house, the girls had fallen asleep in the living room. Twilight was using a book as a pillow, loudly snoring in her chair, Lyra fell asleep in her upright position on the couch with Rainbow Dash leaning on her shoulder.

Rainbow Dash stirred slightly when she heard the door open.

"Lero's home!!!" she yelled loudly enough to startle Twilight and Lyra awake. They all ran to the front door to tackle him but skidded to a halt when they saw a nervous and blushing Applejack there as well.

"Applejack?" Twilight tilted her head in confusion.

"Uh, hey girls. Just wanted to apologize fer keepin' Lero so busy. But everything's taken care of so I won't be keepin' him late anymore. While I'm here I wanted to invite ya'll to dinner Friday. If yer all free that is," she was sweating bullets.

The three mares exchanged glances and nods, then smiled at Applejack, "We'd love to come to dinner." Lyra answered chipperly. 

"Great! See ya'll then!" She exclaimed happily as she trotted with an almost Pinkie like bounce.

"What the hay was that about?" Rainbow Dash asked Lero.

He smirked and answered, "You'll find out Friday," He stretched his arms over his head and yawned, "I'm going to bed." He found himself surrounded.