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Chapter 2: What the Hay is This?

"Oh Angel, Sweetie I'm home!"

Fluttershy walked into her cottage to find Angel bunny waiting by the door with his arms crossed across his chest.  The expression on his face seemed to say: What in all of Equestria took you so long? He hopped up onto her back, looking for her saddlebags. He was puzzled when he could not find them there. Then he heard a second set of hooves clatter in. Angel glared up at the new pony with his paws on his hips.

"well now, you must be Angel bunny. Yer owner Fluttershy has told me a lot abou' you."

Angel disregarded this comment and went on searching for the saddlebags. He was hungry and he had a feeling that this big red stallion was the reason why it had taken Fluttershy so long to return with his food. Then he saw Fluttershy's saddlebags on the stallion's back and he lunged for them.  But before he managed to get even a bite, he felt a pair of hooves catch him around the waist and he was carried outside, struggling and fighting all the while.

"Oh Angel, I know you're hungry but you'll just have to wait a little bit longer. I'm going to make you something special because you were just so patient."

Fluttershy slid open her back door and put him down gently just outside. He scrambled to try to get back in but she slammed the door just in time.  He put his ears down and pressed his face and paws to the glass. He was so hungry! And that stallion had all the food! He watched deafly as the strangepony followed Fluttershy into the kitchen until they disappeared from view. But after a few minutes Fluttershy reappeared, trotting toward the back door with a hoof full of chopped carrots. She set the carrots on the ground in front of him.

"Here sweetie, I brought you a snack."

Angel turned away with his paws crossed across his chest and his nose up in the air. Usually this would reward him a bowl or some other form further embellishment. But then he heard the door close behind him and quickly turned to watch as Fluttershy pranced back into the kitchen. He glanced at the carrots, which were lying in the grass.  She hadn't even gotten him a bowl! He couldn't believe she had just turned and left like that. Had she even noticed that he was dissatisfied?

Big mac felt out of place, standing here in Fluttershy's little kitchen. It was a small space, but not claustrophobic. Various pots and pans hung overhead. There was a little pink kettle sitting atop the stove waiting to be filled.  If anything, the whole room seemed… lived in.  He found himself standing by the countertop. It was a bit cluttered but not so much that it was unsettling. There was a spice rack that contained ingredients that he had never even heard of like saffron and rosemary.  Rays of the afternoon sun streaked in from a window on the far wall; and the yellow paint on the walls made the room seem to glow. Celestia, even her house was beautiful.

He didn't have much skill as far as cooking went. Applejack was the cook of the family. Plus, he had never really prepared any kind of meal that didn't include apples. He glanced just beyond the spice rack and found a cookbook. A wave of curiosity washed over him and he flipped it open. Upon reading it he noticed that she had made many edits to the printed recipes by crossing out certain items, adding notes in the margins and even writing in her own ingredients. She was clearly an avid cook.

Fluttershy was in a joyful daze. She smiled to herself as she trotted back into the kitchen. She found Big Mac was looking through her cookbook. He looked up at her, embarrassed. He quickly put the recipe book down on the counter.

Good one Big Mac, now she's gonna' think yer snoopin' through her stuff!

"Sorry Fluttershy, I was jus' curious. I mean, applejack does most ah the cookin' at home an'- an' I never knew how to cook anythin' that don't include apples. When I saw the book over here an' I- I just-" said Big Mac at just about a mile a minute.

Fluttershy smiled and looked down. He spoke quickly when he was nervous.

But why is he so nervous now? He wasn't like this earlier. Is he uncomfortable here? Oh I hope he doesn't think I'm mad at him!

"It's alright. I- I could teach you- to cook that is. I mean, if you want to learn. You could help me with brunch i-if you want."

Big Mac thought for a moment.

I'll probably jus' get in her way. It's probably better if I jus' wait in the dining room.

"I don' know much about cookin'. I don' know if I would be much help. I wouldn' wanna hold ya back." said Big Mac looking at the floor.

Fluttershy flew to his side and put a hoof on his shoulder

"Oh you wouldn't be holding me back! You'd be helping me!"

Big Mac looked at the ground. He still wasn't convinced. He wanted to believe her. After all, he had no reason not to. But he couldn't help but think that she was just trying to be nice. But then again, that was one of the things that made her so unique. She was always so kind.

Fluttershy took her hoof from his shoulder and pawed the ground nervously.

"You don't even need to cook if you don't want to. You could just… keep me company. I'd be really nice to have company in the kitchen for a change."

Big Mac felt a slow smile come to his face. She wanted him to keep her company!

"How could I help?"

She smiled at him. She had a beautiful smile.

"umm well, for starters you could help me pick a recipe." She said as she floated over to the counter where he had placed the cookbook just a few minutes ago. She began to flip through the pages. "let's see… He doesn't like that. No, that won't work either…"

Big Mac was by her side, occasionally flipping a page or two and making suggestions here and there. He really didn't have any idea what he was doing. But after a few minutes of rifling through all the recipes something caught his eye.

"What abou' this Fluttershy?" He was pointing at a picture in the book that had the title: The Salad Sundae. He was reading through the list of ingredients when she floated over to his side. He was disheartened when he noticed that the recipe called for chopped radishes, one of the foods that Angel outwardly detested.

"oh I've always wanted to try that one! But I've never found anything that would replace the radishes. If I leave them out, the salad seems too bland but if I leave them in, Angel won't eat it."

Big Mac put a hoof to his chin and though for a moment, then he turned to Fluttershy.

"I got an idea!" he said before rushing to the refrigerator. He opened the door and rummaged through the produce drawer.

They gotta' be somewhere! I know I saw em' earlier! Where'd she put em?

"Ah hah!" he said proudly holding up a bag of bright red apples.

"Apples? Are you sure? I mean angel is pretty picky and-"

"Oh these aren' just any apples! These are honey crisp apples. They're the sweetest most flavorful apples in all of Equestria… Well besides the Zap Apples… But I figured that you could chop em' up jus' like the radishes."

Angel watched their conversation from outside on the kitchen windowsill. He wished they would skip the chatter and get on with the cooking. And why was the red stallion still there? Fluttershy never had company over.

His stomach growled and he thumped his paw on the window in frustration. He was sooooooo hungry! He glanced at the pile of carrots in the grass below but he turned away knowing they were unclean. Oh why did he have to be so picky. If he were a wild bunny he would have gobbled those carrots up, dirt and all. He jumped down from the window landing softly in the hedges below. He approached the orange vegetables reluctantly. He took one in his paw and examined it thoroughly. Maybe he could… just this once? Once he had decided it was clean enough, he nibbled the edge.

I guess this isn't that bad… he thought as he began to sink his teeth into the rest of the pile. By the time he reached the bottom carrot he had stopped examining his food. He chomped into it but it had an odd taste, a flavor he had never tasted before…

Wait a minute, what's that wriggling on my tongue!? he thought and a few seconds later he spat in realization. He wiped his tongue with his paws trying to get rid of the taste. Disgusting! How in all of Equestria do wild bunnies eat like this every day!?

Still gagging, he hopped up to the kitchen window again. He could see Fluttershy hovering beside the red stallion teaching him how to chop vegetables. He wished he would leave. But he continued to watch them as they cooked his meal. Occasionally they would stop to chat and laugh and Angel would tap his paw on the window impatiently. But Fluttershy never noticed.

He turned away from the window and put his ears down. Why was she ignoring him? Didn't she love him? Had she forgotten about him? No, she couldn't have… She was the kindest pony in Equestria. But this stallion was… He didn't know. All he knew was that this strange pony was the only obstacle standing between him and his two favorite things: food, and Fluttershy.

The salad was nearly done. All that was left to add were the chopped apples- which Big Mac was having a rather hard time with. A while earlier he had been embarrassed by his lack of culinary experience. He was afraid that Fluttershy might be annoyed by his questions. But she wasn't- or at least she didn't act like she was. She seemed happy to help. She was now hovering beside him trying to teach him how to slice the core out of an apple.

"See, you just take the knife cut like this." She said as she guided the knife though a wedge of apple in a smooth curved motion. "Now you try."

Big mac was nervous. He took a wedge of apple and laid it out on the cutting board. He tried to imitate Fluttershy's smooth movement. He failed miserably. And before he knew it Fluttershy was placing a new wedge in front of him.

"Here, let me help you." She said as she quickly took his hoof and showed him how to do it.

Big Mac was both surprised and pleased by this sudden assertive motion. He blushed and tried to focus on what he was doing. But it was hard to ignore the way he felt when she touched him. His heart raced and he felt the heat of his nervousness spread across his entire body. He was actually shaking. Fluttershy noticed this and she felt the heat in her cheeks as a pinkish hue spread across them.

Why is he so nervous? Is it me? Do I make him nervous? she thought and she suddenly let go of Big Mac's hoof. The knife clattered on the cutting board. Big Mac looked up at her in confusion. She was just hovering there with a distant look in her eyes like she was lost in thought.
"Uhh Fluttershy? Are you okay?" Said Big Mac as he slowly waved a hoof in front of her face. Fluttershy jumped a little, clanging her head on one of the many pans hanging overhead.

Why do I always have to be such a klutz? Why am I always making a fool of myself?

Consarnit Big Mac! Now look what ya done! Ya scared er again!

"Ouch! Oh, umm, I-I umm, Yes, yes I'm fine." She said, landing safely on the ground next to him. She rubbed her head with her hoof. Her cheeks were bright red and she turned away, trying to hide her embarrassment. Then bowed her head, walked a few paces away from him and sat down on the tile. She tried to hold back her tears but the lump in her throat was impossible to ignore. She was so embarrassed. That's when she began to sob.

Big Mac was concerned to say the least. He had absolutely no clue what had just happened. One second everything was perfect and then… this. He walked to her side and sat down. He was quiet for a few minutes, unsure what to say or if he should say anything at all. He put a hoof around her shoulders and she shrugged him off and turned away from him a little more. Big Mac was now both confused and hurt.

Great. She hates me. But what did I do?

He put his ears down and tried again to comfort her. But this time she didn't shrug him off. On the contrary, she leaned into him, burying her head into his chest. With his free hoof he stroked her soft pink mane. Moments passed in silence and her sobs slowly stopped. She began to relax.

When Big Mac thought it was safe, he cleared his throat and said "what's wrong?"

Fluttershy just sat there for a few seconds before raising her head and looking him in the eyes. Her cyan eyes still held a few potential tears.

Should I tell him? Fluttershy thought for a few moments before trying to speak. But there was still a lump in her throat.

"I- I… I- I, umm I just... I wish I wasn't so, clumsy and… It's just…"  She swallowed and looked away, tears running down her face.  "It's just that I feel like I'm always making a fool of myself and…"

"An'?"

"And, well, umm. I- I just, I just really like you and- "

Big Mac's ears perked up. Had he heard that right? He needed to be sure.

"I'm sorry I didn' quite catch that."

"Umm well, I said, umm I- I really like you and I just- I just feel like I'm always making a fool of myself in front of you and-"

Big Mac looked down at her with sympathy and took her face in his hooves. She turned to look at him again. A big smile spread across his face.

"I really like you too. And you don' have to worry abou' what I think. I could never think ah ya as a fool… An' ya know what? I think you're the most kind, beautiful, amazing mare that I have ever met."

Fluttershy blushed and turned her head but Big Mac took her face in his hooves and turned it so that she was facing him again. "No, Really, I mean it. You are beautiful."

Fluttershy smiled up at him for a moment then nuzzled into his chest again. Couldn't believe this. he thoughtshe was beautiful? But how could this be? How could a colt as amazing as him like her ? It just seemed so unreal, in an amazingly awesome fantastically wonderful way. She had only known him for a few hours, and here they were sharing this amazing and intimate moment. She could hear his heart beat faster as she pressed herself closer to him. He rested his chin on the top of her head then she felt his muscular forelegs wind around her waist in a gentle embrace.

Angel had had just about enough of this new pony. He hopped up and down on the windowsill and waved his front paws in the air trying to get Fluttershy's attention. But this was to no avail. She had her face buried in the red pony's chest.

COME ON!

Next he began kicking the window with his hind legs. This got the red pony's attention and he saw him whisper something into Fluttershy's ear as he pointed toward the window. Fluttershy got up and poured what looked like apples into a bowlful of salad just before placing a maraschino cherry on top. Then she took the salad in her front hooves and disappeared into the dining room. When she came back into the kitchen she said something to the red pony and pointed at the window.

Big Mac unlocked the window and slid it open. But the little bunny standing on the sill turned his back and folded his paws across his chest. He said a few coaxing words to try to get him to come inside.

"come on lil bunny. I ain't gonna' hurt ya none."

But all the little white rabbit did was stand there and pout.

Boy, this lil' feller sure is difficult!

Angel simply couldn't believe that this was happening. He refused to. After all that they had been through together, Fluttershy would entrust his life in the hooves of a pony he had had only briefly met? And She expected him to actually listen to this strangpony? Well then, I guess she has got another thing coming. Not even the gnawing pain of hunger could make him move from that sill.

"Angel sweetie won't you come inside?"

Angel looked over his shoulder to find Fluttershy floating there in front of him. He still didn't want to move so he turned his back again.

"Alright you leave me no choice 3, 2, 2 and a half 2 and they quarters-"

Not the stare! Anything but the stare!

Angel turned around. But just as he was about to hop inside, an idea occurred to him. Fluttershy had stepped aside after he had turned around leaving the stallion standing in front of the window… He rubbed his front paws together as a devious smile spread across his face. And a few seconds later he was flying through the air headed straight for the stallion's head. He saw the fear in those big green eyes in the inches before impact and then- something pulled him backwards through the air. It took him a few seconds to realize that he was in the clutches of a pair of yellow hooves. Fluttershy glared down at him disapprovingly.

"Now Angel bunny, that was very rude! What has gotten into you?"

Angel lowered his ears partly because he was ashamed and partly to make him seem innocent. Then he saw Fluttershy open her eyes wide.

Oh no! The stare!

"Now Angel, when I let you go you are going to go straight into the dining room, eat your brunch and go   STRAIGHT TO YOUR DEN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?   "

Angel shrunk lower and lower in her hooves. He was ashamed and embarrassed but worst of all he knew that he couldn't disobey her.

Big Mac stood there frozen for a few seconds. He was not really registering what had just happened. Had he just been afraid of a little fluffy bunny? He blushed and tried to act like he hadn't been the least bit scared. But Fluttershy had seen and was giggling at him.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all." She said still laughing quietly.

"I- I wasn' scared."

She looked at him with amused sympathy. She could tell that he was embarrassed. She flew over to him and gave him a hug. She knew that she had no room to judge when it came to being startled by small things. Hay, she had even been frightened by Angel this morning. But still, she couldn't help chuckling a little.

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you what, as long as you're there to protect me from ponies, I'll protect you from the danger of angry bunnies. Deal?" she said nuzzling into his neck.

Big Mac blushed at her gesture of amused affection. Standing there with her made him think. He was still a bit confused as to how the situation was going to play out. Just a few minutes ago they had both admitted their mutual 'liking' of each other. And that was a very good thing. He was very happy she was as interested in him as he was in her. But what did this make them? Were they marefriend and coltfriend? Certainly they couldn't be… Not this soon.

"Deal." said Big Mac as he chuckled and smiled at her.

After a few moments they both took a helping of the salad that they had made and trotted into the dining room. Angel had all but licked his bowl by the time they sat down. Angel gave Big Mac an angry glare as he watched him sit across the table from Fluttershy. But a few seconds later he hopped out of his chair and made his way to his den.

Big Mac noticed this and was relieved that the little creature had left the room. He was delighted to have these few moments of privacy with Fluttershy. They ate in silence for the first few minutes, but it wasn't an awkward silence, more like 'content silence.'

"hehehe." Fluttershy giggled from across the table.

"What? What's su funny?" Said big mac with his mouth full.

"hehehe umm, y-you've got dressing on your nose."

Big Mac tried to lick his nose with his tongue.

"did I get it?"

"hehehe, nope." She said using her hoof to try and point out where it was on his face.

"How abou' now?"

Fluttershy flew over to his side of the table.

"It's right there." She said pointing to the tip of his nose.

Big Mac tried again and failed to lick the dressing away. And Fluttershy, without really thinking, licked his nose.

"There. I think I got it." She said smiling.

Big Mac blushed heavily and looked at the table. He was shocked, overjoyed, and confused all at the same time.

What the hay was that? Not that I'm complaining but… What the hay was that?!?

Oh Celestia Fluttershy what have you done?!? You licked him? He probably thinks you're being way too forward!

Big Mac cleared his throat and looked Fluttershy in the eyes.

"I think ya missed."

She gave him a confused look. "what?"

"I said, I think ya missed." Then, before she could question him again, he leaned in and kissed her square in the lips.

Description
Chapter 2: What the Hay is This?

"Oh Angel, Sweetie I'm home!"

Fluttershy walked into her cottage to find Angel bunny waiting by the door with his arms crossed across his chest.  The expression on his face seemed to say: What in all of Equestria took you so long? He hopped up onto her back, looking for her saddlebags. He was puzzled when he could not find them there. Then he heard a second set of hooves clatter in. Angel glared up at the new pony with his paws on his hips.

"well now, you must be Angel bunny. Yer owner Fluttershy has told me a lot abou' you."

Angel disregarded this comment and went on searching for the saddlebags. He was hungry and he had a feeling that this big red stallion was the reason why it had taken Fluttershy so long to return with his food. Then he saw Fluttershy's saddlebags on the stallion's back and he lunged for them.  But before he managed to get even a bite, he felt a pair of hooves catch him around the waist and he was carried outside, struggling and fighting all the while.

"Oh Angel, I know you're hungry but you'll just have to wait a little bit longer. I'm going to make you something special because you were just so patient."

Fluttershy slid open her back door and put him down gently just outside. He scrambled to try to get back in but she slammed the door just in time.  He put his ears down and pressed his face and paws to the glass. He was so hungry! And that stallion had all the food! He watched deafly as the strangepony followed Fluttershy into the kitchen until they disappeared from view. But after a few minutes Fluttershy reappeared, trotting toward the back door with a hoof full of chopped carrots. She set the carrots on the ground in front of him.

"Here sweetie, I brought you a snack."

Angel turned away with his paws crossed across his chest and his nose up in the air. Usually this would reward him a bowl or some other form further embellishment. But then he heard the door close behind him and quickly turned to watch as Fluttershy pranced back into the kitchen. He glanced at the carrots, which were lying in the grass.  She hadn't even gotten him a bowl! He couldn't believe she had just turned and left like that. Had she even noticed that he was dissatisfied?

Big mac felt out of place, standing here in Fluttershy's little kitchen. It was a small space, but not claustrophobic. Various pots and pans hung overhead. There was a little pink kettle sitting atop the stove waiting to be filled.  If anything, the whole room seemed… lived in.  He found himself standing by the countertop. It was a bit cluttered but not so much that it was unsettling. There was a spice rack that contained ingredients that he had never even heard of like saffron and rosemary.  Rays of the afternoon sun streaked in from a window on the far wall; and the yellow paint on the walls made the room seem to glow. Celestia, even her house was beautiful.

He didn't have much skill as far as cooking went. Applejack was the cook of the family. Plus, he had never really prepared any kind of meal that didn't include apples. He glanced just beyond the spice rack and found a cookbook. A wave of curiosity washed over him and he flipped it open. Upon reading it he noticed that she had made many edits to the printed recipes by crossing out certain items, adding notes in the margins and even writing in her own ingredients. She was clearly an avid cook.

Fluttershy was in a joyful daze. She smiled to herself as she trotted back into the kitchen. She found Big Mac was looking through her cookbook. He looked up at her, embarrassed. He quickly put the recipe book down on the counter.

Good one Big Mac, now she's gonna' think yer snoopin' through her stuff!

"Sorry Fluttershy, I was jus' curious. I mean, applejack does most ah the cookin' at home an'- an' I never knew how to cook anythin' that don't include apples. When I saw the book over here an' I- I just-" said Big Mac at just about a mile a minute.

Fluttershy smiled and looked down. He spoke quickly when he was nervous.

But why is he so nervous now? He wasn't like this earlier. Is he uncomfortable here? Oh I hope he doesn't think I'm mad at him!

"It's alright. I- I could teach you- to cook that is. I mean, if you want to learn. You could help me with brunch i-if you want."

Big Mac thought for a moment.

I'll probably jus' get in her way. It's probably better if I jus' wait in the dining room.

"I don' know much about cookin'. I don' know if I would be much help. I wouldn' wanna hold ya back." said Big Mac looking at the floor.

Fluttershy flew to his side and put a hoof on his shoulder

"Oh you wouldn't be holding me back! You'd be helping me!"

Big Mac looked at the ground. He still wasn't convinced. He wanted to believe her. After all, he had no reason not to. But he couldn't help but think that she was just trying to be nice. But then again, that was one of the things that made her so unique. She was always so kind.

Fluttershy took her hoof from his shoulder and pawed the ground nervously.

"You don't even need to cook if you don't want to. You could just… keep me company. I'd be really nice to have company in the kitchen for a change."

Big Mac felt a slow smile come to his face. She wanted him to keep her company!

"How could I help?"

She smiled at him. She had a beautiful smile.

"umm well, for starters you could help me pick a recipe." She said as she floated over to the counter where he had placed the cookbook just a few minutes ago. She began to flip through the pages. "let's see… He doesn't like that. No, that won't work either…"

Big Mac was by her side, occasionally flipping a page or two and making suggestions here and there. He really didn't have any idea what he was doing. But after a few minutes of rifling through all the recipes something caught his eye.

"What abou' this Fluttershy?" He was pointing at a picture in the book that had the title: The Salad Sundae. He was reading through the list of ingredients when she floated over to his side. He was disheartened when he noticed that the recipe called for chopped radishes, one of the foods that Angel outwardly detested.

"oh I've always wanted to try that one! But I've never found anything that would replace the radishes. If I leave them out, the salad seems too bland but if I leave them in, Angel won't eat it."

Big Mac put a hoof to his chin and though for a moment, then he turned to Fluttershy.

"I got an idea!" he said before rushing to the refrigerator. He opened the door and rummaged through the produce drawer.

They gotta' be somewhere! I know I saw em' earlier! Where'd she put em?

"Ah hah!" he said proudly holding up a bag of bright red apples.

"Apples? Are you sure? I mean angel is pretty picky and-"

"Oh these aren' just any apples! These are honey crisp apples. They're the sweetest most flavorful apples in all of Equestria… Well besides the Zap Apples… But I figured that you could chop em' up jus' like the radishes."

Angel watched their conversation from outside on the kitchen windowsill. He wished they would skip the chatter and get on with the cooking. And why was the red stallion still there? Fluttershy never had company over.

His stomach growled and he thumped his paw on the window in frustration. He was sooooooo hungry! He glanced at the pile of carrots in the grass below but he turned away knowing they were unclean. Oh why did he have to be so picky. If he were a wild bunny he would have gobbled those carrots up, dirt and all. He jumped down from the window landing softly in the hedges below. He approached the orange vegetables reluctantly. He took one in his paw and examined it thoroughly. Maybe he could… just this once? Once he had decided it was clean enough, he nibbled the edge.

I guess this isn't that bad… he thought as he began to sink his teeth into the rest of the pile. By the time he reached the bottom carrot he had stopped examining his food. He chomped into it but it had an odd taste, a flavor he had never tasted before…

Wait a minute, what's that wriggling on my tongue!? he thought and a few seconds later he spat in realization. He wiped his tongue with his paws trying to get rid of the taste. Disgusting! How in all of Equestria do wild bunnies eat like this every day!?

Still gagging, he hopped up to the kitchen window again. He could see Fluttershy hovering beside the red stallion teaching him how to chop vegetables. He wished he would leave. But he continued to watch them as they cooked his meal. Occasionally they would stop to chat and laugh and Angel would tap his paw on the window impatiently. But Fluttershy never noticed.

He turned away from the window and put his ears down. Why was she ignoring him? Didn't she love him? Had she forgotten about him? No, she couldn't have… She was the kindest pony in Equestria. But this stallion was… He didn't know. All he knew was that this strange pony was the only obstacle standing between him and his two favorite things: food, and Fluttershy.

The salad was nearly done. All that was left to add were the chopped apples- which Big Mac was having a rather hard time with. A while earlier he had been embarrassed by his lack of culinary experience. He was afraid that Fluttershy might be annoyed by his questions. But she wasn't- or at least she didn't act like she was. She seemed happy to help. She was now hovering beside him trying to teach him how to slice the core out of an apple.

"See, you just take the knife cut like this." She said as she guided the knife though a wedge of apple in a smooth curved motion. "Now you try."

Big mac was nervous. He took a wedge of apple and laid it out on the cutting board. He tried to imitate Fluttershy's smooth movement. He failed miserably. And before he knew it Fluttershy was placing a new wedge in front of him.

"Here, let me help you." She said as she quickly took his hoof and showed him how to do it.

Big Mac was both surprised and pleased by this sudden assertive motion. He blushed and tried to focus on what he was doing. But it was hard to ignore the way he felt when she touched him. His heart raced and he felt the heat of his nervousness spread across his entire body. He was actually shaking. Fluttershy noticed this and she felt the heat in her cheeks as a pinkish hue spread across them.

Why is he so nervous? Is it me? Do I make him nervous? she thought and she suddenly let go of Big Mac's hoof. The knife clattered on the cutting board. Big Mac looked up at her in confusion. She was just hovering there with a distant look in her eyes like she was lost in thought.
"Uhh Fluttershy? Are you okay?" Said Big Mac as he slowly waved a hoof in front of her face. Fluttershy jumped a little, clanging her head on one of the many pans hanging overhead.

Why do I always have to be such a klutz? Why am I always making a fool of myself?

Consarnit Big Mac! Now look what ya done! Ya scared er again!

"Ouch! Oh, umm, I-I umm, Yes, yes I'm fine." She said, landing safely on the ground next to him. She rubbed her head with her hoof. Her cheeks were bright red and she turned away, trying to hide her embarrassment. Then bowed her head, walked a few paces away from him and sat down on the tile. She tried to hold back her tears but the lump in her throat was impossible to ignore. She was so embarrassed. That's when she began to sob.

Big Mac was concerned to say the least. He had absolutely no clue what had just happened. One second everything was perfect and then… this. He walked to her side and sat down. He was quiet for a few minutes, unsure what to say or if he should say anything at all. He put a hoof around her shoulders and she shrugged him off and turned away from him a little more. Big Mac was now both confused and hurt.

Great. She hates me. But what did I do?

He put his ears down and tried again to comfort her. But this time she didn't shrug him off. On the contrary, she leaned into him, burying her head into his chest. With his free hoof he stroked her soft pink mane. Moments passed in silence and her sobs slowly stopped. She began to relax.

When Big Mac thought it was safe, he cleared his throat and said "what's wrong?"

Fluttershy just sat there for a few seconds before raising her head and looking him in the eyes. Her cyan eyes still held a few potential tears.

Should I tell him? Fluttershy thought for a few moments before trying to speak. But there was still a lump in her throat.

"I- I… I- I, umm I just... I wish I wasn't so, clumsy and… It's just…"  She swallowed and looked away, tears running down her face.  "It's just that I feel like I'm always making a fool of myself and…"

"An'?"

"And, well, umm. I- I just, I just really like you and- "

Big Mac's ears perked up. Had he heard that right? He needed to be sure.

"I'm sorry I didn' quite catch that."

"Umm well, I said, umm I- I really like you and I just- I just feel like I'm always making a fool of myself in front of you and-"

Big Mac looked down at her with sympathy and took her face in his hooves. She turned to look at him again. A big smile spread across his face.

"I really like you too. And you don' have to worry abou' what I think. I could never think ah ya as a fool… An' ya know what? I think you're the most kind, beautiful, amazing mare that I have ever met."

Fluttershy blushed and turned her head but Big Mac took her face in his hooves and turned it so that she was facing him again. "No, Really, I mean it. You are beautiful."

Fluttershy smiled up at him for a moment then nuzzled into his chest again. Couldn't believe this. he thoughtshe was beautiful? But how could this be? How could a colt as amazing as him like her ? It just seemed so unreal, in an amazingly awesome fantastically wonderful way. She had only known him for a few hours, and here they were sharing this amazing and intimate moment. She could hear his heart beat faster as she pressed herself closer to him. He rested his chin on the top of her head then she felt his muscular forelegs wind around her waist in a gentle embrace.

Angel had had just about enough of this new pony. He hopped up and down on the windowsill and waved his front paws in the air trying to get Fluttershy's attention. But this was to no avail. She had her face buried in the red pony's chest.

COME ON!

Next he began kicking the window with his hind legs. This got the red pony's attention and he saw him whisper something into Fluttershy's ear as he pointed toward the window. Fluttershy got up and poured what looked like apples into a bowlful of salad just before placing a maraschino cherry on top. Then she took the salad in her front hooves and disappeared into the dining room. When she came back into the kitchen she said something to the red pony and pointed at the window.

Big Mac unlocked the window and slid it open. But the little bunny standing on the sill turned his back and folded his paws across his chest. He said a few coaxing words to try to get him to come inside.

"come on lil bunny. I ain't gonna' hurt ya none."

But all the little white rabbit did was stand there and pout.

Boy, this lil' feller sure is difficult!

Angel simply couldn't believe that this was happening. He refused to. After all that they had been through together, Fluttershy would entrust his life in the hooves of a pony he had had only briefly met? And She expected him to actually listen to this strangpony? Well then, I guess she has got another thing coming. Not even the gnawing pain of hunger could make him move from that sill.

"Angel sweetie won't you come inside?"

Angel looked over his shoulder to find Fluttershy floating there in front of him. He still didn't want to move so he turned his back again.

"Alright you leave me no choice 3, 2, 2 and a half 2 and they quarters-"

Not the stare! Anything but the stare!

Angel turned around. But just as he was about to hop inside, an idea occurred to him. Fluttershy had stepped aside after he had turned around leaving the stallion standing in front of the window… He rubbed his front paws together as a devious smile spread across his face. And a few seconds later he was flying through the air headed straight for the stallion's head. He saw the fear in those big green eyes in the inches before impact and then- something pulled him backwards through the air. It took him a few seconds to realize that he was in the clutches of a pair of yellow hooves. Fluttershy glared down at him disapprovingly.

"Now Angel bunny, that was very rude! What has gotten into you?"

Angel lowered his ears partly because he was ashamed and partly to make him seem innocent. Then he saw Fluttershy open her eyes wide.

Oh no! The stare!

"Now Angel, when I let you go you are going to go straight into the dining room, eat your brunch and go   STRAIGHT TO YOUR DEN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?   "

Angel shrunk lower and lower in her hooves. He was ashamed and embarrassed but worst of all he knew that he couldn't disobey her.

Big Mac stood there frozen for a few seconds. He was not really registering what had just happened. Had he just been afraid of a little fluffy bunny? He blushed and tried to act like he hadn't been the least bit scared. But Fluttershy had seen and was giggling at him.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all." She said still laughing quietly.

"I- I wasn' scared."

She looked at him with amused sympathy. She could tell that he was embarrassed. She flew over to him and gave him a hug. She knew that she had no room to judge when it came to being startled by small things. Hay, she had even been frightened by Angel this morning. But still, she couldn't help chuckling a little.

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you what, as long as you're there to protect me from ponies, I'll protect you from the danger of angry bunnies. Deal?" she said nuzzling into his neck.

Big Mac blushed at her gesture of amused affection. Standing there with her made him think. He was still a bit confused as to how the situation was going to play out. Just a few minutes ago they had both admitted their mutual 'liking' of each other. And that was a very good thing. He was very happy she was as interested in him as he was in her. But what did this make them? Were they marefriend and coltfriend? Certainly they couldn't be… Not this soon.

"Deal." said Big Mac as he chuckled and smiled at her.

After a few moments they both took a helping of the salad that they had made and trotted into the dining room. Angel had all but licked his bowl by the time they sat down. Angel gave Big Mac an angry glare as he watched him sit across the table from Fluttershy. But a few seconds later he hopped out of his chair and made his way to his den.

Big Mac noticed this and was relieved that the little creature had left the room. He was delighted to have these few moments of privacy with Fluttershy. They ate in silence for the first few minutes, but it wasn't an awkward silence, more like 'content silence.'

"hehehe." Fluttershy giggled from across the table.

"What? What's su funny?" Said big mac with his mouth full.

"hehehe umm, y-you've got dressing on your nose."

Big Mac tried to lick his nose with his tongue.

"did I get it?"

"hehehe, nope." She said using her hoof to try and point out where it was on his face.

"How abou' now?"

Fluttershy flew over to his side of the table.

"It's right there." She said pointing to the tip of his nose.

Big Mac tried again and failed to lick the dressing away. And Fluttershy, without really thinking, licked his nose.

"There. I think I got it." She said smiling.

Big Mac blushed heavily and looked at the table. He was shocked, overjoyed, and confused all at the same time.

What the hay was that? Not that I'm complaining but… What the hay was that?!?

Oh Celestia Fluttershy what have you done?!? You licked him? He probably thinks you're being way too forward!

Big Mac cleared his throat and looked Fluttershy in the eyes.

"I think ya missed."

She gave him a confused look. "what?"

"I said, I think ya missed." Then, before she could question him again, he leaned in and kissed her square in the lips.