Iron walked into the house after another day of work. He rolled his sore shoulders as he walked over to the couch and plopped down on it resting his head on the armrest. He closed his eyes to rest then felt something land on his stomach. He opened an eye and saw a pouch of bits resting on his stomach. Applejack was standing next to him.
“Here ya go,” she said.
“What is this?” asked Iron.
“Yer pay.” Iron picked up the pouch and felt the weight.
“It’s a little more than you usually give me.”
“Well, that’s cause ya’ll have finally paid off the last of yer debt.”
“Really?” Iron sat up and held the pouch in his hoof.
“Yep.” Applejack smiled at him. Iron thought she looked a little sad. "Took four months but ya finally did it."
“I. . .guess that means you don’t need me around anymore,” said Iron. He suddenly felt a little empty inside.
“That ain’t necessarily true!” said AJ quickly. “Ah mean, ya haven’t put any thought on what to do when this day finally came ‘round, right?”
“Well, not really, no,” Iron admitted.
“Then feel free to stick around!” AJ’s face started to brighten up.
“I shouldn’t,” said Iron. Applejack looked at him shocked.
“But why?” she asked.
“I already told you that I can’t impose more than I already have,” said Iron standing up. “Your family has enough to worry about without me adding to your troubles.”
“Ah’ve already told ya before that ya ain’t imposing,’” said AJ. “We can still pay ya if ya want.”
“You know you can’t afford that,” said Iron. “Besides, I don’t care if you pay me to work or not.”
“Then what’s the issue?” asked Applejack.
“I don’t feel comfortable depending on you more than I have to, alright?” said Iron. Applejack glared at him.
“So, what? This is an issue with yer pride? Yer honor or somethin’ like that?” she asked. Iron sighed.
“It isn’t that.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s. . .I don’t know what it is, okay?” he said stomping his hoof on the ground. “You don’t need me anymore so I’m taking my leave, okay?”
“That’s ridiculous,” said AJ.
“Who asked you?” snapped Iron.
“So, yer just tossin’ us aside now that yer done with us?” asked AJ sounding hurt.
“Stop putting words in my mouth!” shouted Iron.
“Then start makin’ sense!”
“Why do you care so much if I stay?!” shouted Iron. Applejack looked a little nervous.
“Why do you want to leave so badly?” she retorted.
“I don’t!” shouted Iron. “Okay? I don’t want to leave. I want to stay, alright? I like it here. I like working here. I like your family. I like you!” His eyes widened upon realizing what he just said. Applejack just stared wide-eyed at him. “Um. . .that didn’t sound too awkward did it?”
“Just a little,” said AJ. The two just stood there in awkward silence. “Sooo, did ya mean that?”
“What I said about liking it here or the last part.”
“Um. . .yes.” It was quiet again. Iron cleared his throat before speaking.
“In that case, yeah. I meant all of it.” He sighed and smiled at her. “I really do like you, AJ. You’re hard working and honest. You tell things like you see them but you’re always so kind about it. I don’t want to leave but. . .”
“But what?”
“I’ve always tried to help everypony as much as I could,” said Iron. “I want them to know that they can rely on me. But to do that, I have to be able to be depended on. I can’t do that if I have to rely on somepony to be looking out for me.” AJ raised a brow.
“What about when ya were livin’ with yer pa?” asked AJ.
“I could have moved out anytime I wanted to. I just stayed around because Dad was getting old and I didn’t want to leave Gold Nugget by herself to take care of him.”
“Ah understand wanting to be dependable,” said AJ. “And Ah understand wantin’ to do oeverythin’ yerself, but Ah also know everypony needs somepony sometime. Just because ya’ll need somepony too doesn’t mean yer any less reliable.”
“Maybe.” AJ chuckled.
“There’s that trademark stubbornness of yers again. Not that Ah’m one to talk Ah suppose.”
“You aren’t,” Iron assured her. “Nowhere close.” AJ smiled softly at him and leaned against him. “Um. . .AJ?”
“What?” she asked. “This makin’ ya uncomfortable?”
“Is it making you uncomfortable?” he asked.
“Not at all.” Iron smiled and held her close to him. “Sooo, now what?”
“Don’t know,” said AJ. “That’s up to you Ah suppose.”
“I see.” Once more, silence over took them. He looked at AJ as she leaned against him patiently waiting for him to respond. He leaned his head against hers. “I want to stay. For as long as you want.” Applejack looked at him and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
“Careful whatcha wish fer, partner.” Iron was about to say something when they heard somepony clearing their throat. They looked over and saw Big Macintosh standing in the doorway. He raised a brow and gave a hard look at Iron.
“Um. . .” began Iron.
“Iron, here has decided to stick around,” said AJ quickly pulling away from Iron and walking up to her brother. “Ain’t that great?” The two siblings just stared at each other for a moment.
“Eeyup,” said Big Mac finally. Applejack smiled and walked out the door.
“Ah got a couple more chores to finish up,” she said. “Ya’ll play nice now.” Big Mac waited until she was out of sight before giving a glare at Iron. The gray stallion chuckled nervously. He might have been bigger than Big Mac but he knew better than anypony how fierce an angry older brother could be.
“So, um, I guess-”
“Ah like ya, Iron,” Big Mac interrupted. “Yer a good worker and a good friend.” He stepped up closer and looked Iron in the eye. “But ya’ll hurt my sister, Ah’ll be addin’ a few more scars to the ones ya already have. Understand?”
“Perfectly!” said Iron nervously. Big Mac smiled and walked to the kitchen.
“Glad yer stickin’ around, bud.”
“Yeah.” Iron looked out the door and saw AJ doing some last minute harvesting. He let a soft smile creep onto his face. “You and me both.”