Realization of Integration

At some point it became obvious that Rainbow Dash was living with her, be it the rainbow themed toothbrush in the bathroom, the Daring-Do novel she had checked out from Twilight's library that rested on the second nightstand, or the second nightstand that had appeared out of nowhere. Admittedly she was a tad embarrassed that it had taken her so long to notice, especially when it was so obvious in retrospect. "Have . . . have ya moved in with me?" Applejack had asked one night before bed, rolling to face Dash, whose snout was buried in her book.

"Yep," she turned the page, clearly more interested in the fate of the intrepid adventurer. Even after all these years and experiences she had shared with Rainbow, the blond mare was still just as surprised by her friend's straightforwardness and blunt honesty as the day they'd met. Applejack sometimes wondered if the element of honesty had chosen the wrong bearer, if it wouldn't be more comfortable with the rainbow-mane pony. Of course this was all just deviation from the problem at hoof.

"We've only been together for four months!" the earth mare bit her lip and listened in the silence, frightened that she had disturbed her sister or brother. They were not as heavy of sleepers as Granny Smith, though no living creature was comparable to that old mare, except maybe a dragon in its one thousand year napping process.

Maybe.

"It's been six," a bookmark held her place as she laid the paperback on her nightstand, knowing that this wasn't going away anytime soon. Maybe she could figure out how Daring would escape the crashing balloon while AJ lectured her. Sadly this was assuming the pegasus could keep her mouth shut for ten minutes, which was just as likely as Celestia crashing the sun into the planet and burning the billions of poor souls that inhabited it.

Confusion, at first, before she realized Rainbow was including the awkward silent crush period. "Wait, ya can't count those months!" Applejack sat up, prepared for a verbal fight that would definitely wake the other residents of the house.

"Why not?"

"Ya can't count the days before the barn incident." Both flush with embarrassment as they remember their worst fight, and how a remarkably bad day turned into one of the best nights ever. By no means was it a sore subject, after-all they weren't the type of ponies to admit love in a field of flowers and daisies, but they were still a bit ashamed of it.

"Wasted time AJ, and what's the big deal? So I have a few of my things here, so I've spent the night for the last two weeks, you haven't complained once about me." Her voice began to alternate between squeaking and rasping, revealing just how upset she was getting. A quick clearing of her throat and the violet eyed pegasus continued. "Why are you so upset anyway? I've been trying to help out around here, to not mooch off you or your family."

It was a good enough question, Rainbow wasn't a deadbeat just mooching off her girlfriend for a place to crash. She had a well-paying job, with plenty of bits in the bank. Plus when she'd get off work she'd rush straight over and help in whatever way she could, whether it be feeding the cattle or sweeping the kitchen floor. Applejack had no actual problem with the mare sleeping so close by either. For one thing she never woke up cold in the early mornings, with the flyer's love of cuddling. Second, Rainbow had managed to avoid striking any nerves and was a surprisingly great listener. There was a third, equally important reason as to why she enjoyed the pegasus' company in bed, but she wasn't one for discussing her after-hour activities when it involved certain things.

So why was she upset? She loved Rainbow sleeping so near to her, enjoyed how every morning she'd wake up with hooves wrapped around her stomach in a tight and securing grip. "Ah'm . . . a little scared," she admitted to herself, "Ah've never actually been in a relationship before. What if we're doing somethin' wrong, movin' too fast?" Silence is a bad thing when in Rainbow's presence, and for the next minute or so it deafens the room, making this one of the most uncomfortable moments of Applejack's life.

And in a quick blur of movements a light blue hoof was behind her head, gently easing her towards Dash's muzzle. Lips lock and the blond mare is pleasantly distracted, all thoughts and worries vanishing as the kiss gets progressively deeper and loving. "Hoping that would shut you up," the pegasus uttered as they broke apart. "We'll take things slow alright?"

Applejack nodded in soundless agreement, tongue way too tired to form intelligible words. This promise to slow down was hollow, and by the following year she'd propose to the pony, but that was not the focus of this night. Dash brushed a single, red strand of hair from her eye and returned to her novel, quickly getting back into the adventure of Daring. "Ya aren't plannin' on goin' back home tonight, are ya?"

"This is my home," Rainbow explained as she turned the page.

"Why sugarcube, Ah didn't expect ya to get all mushy on me." Applejack snuggled up to Dash, staring with indifference at the back cover of the book. She desperately wanted to sleep, and now that her mind was at ease it would only be a matter of seconds.

"No seriously, my lease ran up a week ago. This is actually my home now."

So much for sleep.

Well, there's another chapter. Stay tuned for a Christmas centered drabble that'll be showing up soon, admittedly a bit late.

My laptop claims its 12:48 AM, and my stomach is growling. So I'm going to get some food and fall asleep to Monk, or Doctor Who, or How I Met Your Mother.

Again, thanks for reading.