The rain drummed lightly on the window, as far as she could tell.
Although visible, the water droplets colliding gently with the glass pane made no sound at all. The only indication there was any rain outside at all was the almost imperceptible hum and the periodic rush of one droplet pulled into another that could catch anypony's attention. However, the inside of the house kept its audibility, each small creak and groan of the hardwood and each soft vocalization made by either of them was clear and sharp.
It should have been dark, what with the rainclouds above, but it wasn't - light streamed in steadily through the window with the quality of some kind of spirit, getting caught on the dust in the air and gently touching every surface it could reach. But its weakness caused a soft contrast on her face, and it was beautiful. Everything was beautiful.
Their lips barely made contact anymore, which led her to believe Rarity was feeling what she was feeling. There was something keeping them from moving, a superior force, a calmness. She just looked down at her, breathing slowly, one hoof on her cheek and one on her side as Rarity's hooves pressed down passively on her back.
There wasn't much talking that led up to it. The rain started, and they noticed. Then Rarity asked her - quietly, sincerely - why she was really there. And, of course, she was there to help.
But that wasn't really it, and somehow Rarity knew that. And kissed her. Just like that, no warning, but Applejack didn't feel any need to pull away. Maybe she wanted to, maybe she didn't, but she caught a level of intimacy she hadn't caught before, and she hesitated. It was different, and inviting beyond anything. Accepting. In a moment, she leaned into it, and there they were.
Applejack opened her mouth for a second, to apologize, but when she did her lips touched Rarity's again - one more time, and she felt that velveteen surge run through her again. There's not a word to describe it. Perhaps addictive. Soon, Applejack found herself on the carpet next to Rarity, holding her, still wanting more.
But she did pull away that time, and the hum somehow seemed to quiet in her ears. Rarity pulled her face closer to her own, but not close enough for another kiss.
"How long do you want to go?"
Applejack felt their muzzles touch in the lightest of possible ways. "I don't know," she replied honestly.
Rarity looked up at her. "When did..."
"Does it really matter?"
"Maybe it doesn't," she replied in a whisper.
Applejack moved her lips down to Rarity's chest and nuzzled into it a bit, her warmth taking the chill off the end of her muzzle. "Maybe I..." she trailed off, but knew that Rarity understood.
"Maybe," Rarity replied simply, and put a hoof on the back of Applejack's head and another on her back in a kind of almost-embrace.
They stayed there until the end of the storm. Then Applejack left. She would be back tomorrow morning.