“And then- Heh, and then you remember…?”
>“Yep, sure showed those varmints, didn’t we?”
>Strawberry clutched her belly and threw her head back into the cool grass.
“Sure did.”
>She looked over and met her girlfriend’s eye.
>The emerald green eyes, glittering under the starlight, held her in a loving gaze.
>Strawberry rolled over and tucked herself into Applejack.
>Applejack shuffled forward so they were intertwined.
“You smell like apples.”
>Applejack blew out a breath from her nose.
>“Yep, that tends ta happen.”
>Strawberry tucked her head under Applejack’s chin and drew in a deep breath.
“I hate apples.”
>“Why you-”
“But I like one Apple.”
>Strawberry enjoyed the heat that started to radiate from Applejack’s face.
>“Shucks. I suppose that yer just about the only Strawberry I can stand.”
>Applejack’s lips pressed against Strawberry’s forehead.
>“Even if yer a pain in the keister.”
“Think that’s funny, do you?”
>“I reckon I do, just a bit.”
>Strawberry’s lips curled back involuntarily into a smile.
“You’re just an honest Apple through and through huh?”
>“Heh. Suppose ya could call me that.”
>They laid back and looked up into the darkened sky, content and finally at peace.
>Strawberry couldn’t remember the last time she had had such a view of the glittering stars, nor the feeling of cool grass that tickled her fur and the warm body pressed up next to her.
>The warm body turned onto it’s side, and Applejack’s glittering green eyes appeared in her vision.
“Need something, Jackie?”
>Applejack didn’t turn away with a blush or stutter out a poor lie like she usually did when Strawberry caught her staring.
“Is… Everything okay?”
>Her gaze lingered for a few moments more.
>“Why’re you doin’ this to yerself, Sunny?”
“Doing what-”
>“Now don’t try and place innocent, y’all know better ‘n ta lie ta me.”
>Strawberry closed her eyes and turned away from the cool marble grave marker.
“It’s because I know… When I look over at you, I just…”
>Strawberry bit her lip.
“I just can’t take it, Applejack.”
>Breathing became difficult as the familiar pressure just behind her eyes built again.
“I know when I look at you you’re just a rock, but… Let me pretend, please?”
>The warm body returned, as did a hug that wrapped around her barrel.
>“You know I ain’t a liar.”
“P-please.”
>Strawberry hated the tremble in her voice.
>Strawberry felt her grip on her tears loosen as she turned towards the grave stone and started to sob into it’s cool surface.
>She wrapped her hooves around it and watered the flowers just underneath her.
“Just l-lemme pretend, Jackie, just lemme pretend… Please.”