Sorry for the delay! I've been tired a lot lately. So yeah. Day three! Enjoy :)

"Ok, girls. You ready?"

Twilight smiled excitedly at the others. The girls all settled down in a circle on the carpet. Twilight had a top hat in her hands.

"So you all remember how to do this, right?" She asked.

Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. We pick a paper with one of our names on it and whoever we pick is the person the have to get a Christmas present for but we can't tell anyone who. Let's just get this started already."

Twilight rolled her eyes. So impatient. She pushed her glasses further up her nose.

"Fine. I'll go first."

Twilight gently shook the hat in her hand, mixing up the pieces of paper. She closed her eyes and reached the other hand in. Pulling out a paper, she passed the hat to the next person. Each picked out a piece of paper, looking at the name on it without letting anyone else peek.

When it got to Rainbow Dash, there was only two papers left. She picked one without thinking and enclosed in her hand. She was tempted to see who she had gotten, but knew she'd get scolded for it. The rule was they couldn't look until Twilight gave them the word. Rainbow Dash was silently hoping she'd get Applejack's name. She'd had a crush on her friend for years now and she had only told Fluttershy, her closest and lifetime long friend. She trusted Fluttershy to keep her mouth shut and she has done just that.

Finally after everyone got their palate, Twilight put the hat down, and smiled at the girls.

"Ready?? See who you got."

The girls hid their papers from each other's line of sight and peeked. Rainbow and Applejack's eyes widened as they stared down at the paper in their hand, Time seeming to have stopped as they looked in shock and slight terror at the name they got.

They got her

———————————-

"I mean, come on. It's Applejack we're talking about here. She's awesome."

Rainbow flopped back onto her bed. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie watched her in amusement. Rainbow groaned.

"Why is it so difficult to pick a gift for her? She's not into the fancy-pants crap most girls our age like. Then again, neither am I. She's simple."

Rainbow was silent for a moment.

"In a good way." She added.

Fluttershy smiled kindly at her best friend. She scooted closer to and gently patted her leg in a comforting manner. It did little help to made Rainbow feel better.

"Don't worry, Rainbow. I'm sure we can figure something out." She said.

"Yeah!" Pinkie chirped. "It can't be that hard."

Rainbow sat up. She looked at her friends and smiled.

"Alright!" She said, her voice full of determination. "Let's get brainstorming!"

But it turns out that brainstorming a gift for someone was much more difficult than they thought. They sat around in silence. Pinkie had a notebook out, writing down ideas they came up with, but ended to crossing them all out.

A guitar? Applejack had three. Jewelry? Since when did Applejack wear that stuff? Clothes? Rainbow nearly laughed in Fluttershy's face at the suggestion.

Rainbow was about to seriously pull out all her hair out of frustration.

"UGH!! Why is it so hard to think of something she'll like? This is stupid!"

"Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy spoke up. "Can I tell you something?"

Rainbow sighed. She flopped onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.

"Sure. I'm giving up for today." She muttered.

Fluttershy knelt beside Rainbow, looking down at the young athlete.

"I don't think it's going to matter what you give her." She said.

Rainbow looked at her, deadpan.

"Wow, Fluttershy. That helps so much. That totally makes me feel better."

"That's not what I meant." Fluttershy said. "I mean that it won't matter what she gets from you as long as it's from you. You mean a lot to her. I know she means a lot to you. You've had a crush on her for years."

Rainbow smiled bashfully, blushing. It was true. She'd known about her sexuality when she developed a huge crush on Applejack years ago. It never went away. She knew, or at least was pretty sure, Applejack was straight. She'd dated one or two guys in their entire friendship. Neither of those relationships worked out and Applejack had her heart broken the first breakup. Rainbow, being the loyal friend she was, comforted her and even offered to kick that guy's butt for AJ. Truth be told, she'd been a little jealous of those guys, because they weren't her.

However, Rainbow Dash continued to be the loyal and faithful friend she was and kept her feelings to herself, no matter how much it killed her inside.

Rainbow sat up. She ran a hand through her long, multicolored hair.

"You think so?"

Fluttershy nodded. Rainbow smiled.

"Alrighty then." She said, taking the notebook from Pinkie. "Let me think for a moment."

The girls were silent as Rainbow thought of an idea. She thought and thought, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. She lightly wrote on it, putting her thoughts on paper. Pinkie ordered pizza it arrived. The girls ate, Rainbow taking a break from brainstorming.

"This pizza is really good." Rainbow said with a mouthful.

She finished her third slice, licking the garlic and crumbs off her finishers. Rainbow picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth. A thought suddenly popped into her head. She froze. She suddenly scrambled for the notebook and pencil. Pinkie and Fluttershy noticed her behavior.

"What is it?" Fluttershy asked.

"Did you think of something?" Pinkie asked.

Rainbow looked up from the notebook. She smiled brightly and nodded.

"I did."
——————————

"Alright girls." Twilight said, settling down on the carpet. "Let's get this show on the road."

She looked around at the others.

"You girl's ready?"

They all nodded.

"Who wants to start?"

Pinkie's hand shot up into the air.

"Me me me me!!" She shouted.

Twilight gave a nod.
"Alright, Pinkie. You'd you get?"

Pinkie turned to Fluttershy. She held out a gift bag out, a giant smile on her face.

"Merry Christmas!" She chirped.

Fluttershy took the gift back.

"Thank you." She said.

Fluttershy opened the bag and looked inside. She raised an eyebrow and reached in. She took out what looked like a nest.

"Um....... thanks?"

Pinkie beamed with pride.

"It's for your animals at home. So they can sleep in it."

Fluttershy smiled.

"I love it."

Fluttershy looked at Twilight.

"So do I go next?"

Twilight nodded her head yes. Fluttershy then gave her gift to Twilight. She had gotten her the newest telescope model. Twilight was the most excited they'd ever seen her. Twilight's gift was to Rarity. She got Rarity a ticket to a designer's gala in the city. Rarity squealed so loudly, they could've sworn they went deaf for a second. Rarity's gift to Pinkie was the latest baking recipe book. Pinkie was super thrilled. She nearly tackled Rarity in a hug.

Then it was Rainbow's turn. She looked at Applejack. She held out her gift to her.

"Here you go, AJ."

Applejack was shocked.

"You're mah secret Santa?"

Rainbow nodded. Applejack chuckled.

"What a coincidence. Cuz' Ah'm your secret Santa."

Applejack held out her gift to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was surprised to say the least. She took the bag. Opening it, she peeked inside. Her eyes widened when she took out two tickets to The Wonderbolts concert in Canterlot. Rainbow's jaw dropped. She looked up at Applejack then the tickets, then Applejack. Rainbow was in shock. She couldn't believe her eyes.

Rainbow shot up to her feet. She stared at the concert tickets, covering her gaping mouth with her other hand. Finally, she found her voice. She screamed. That was the moment the girls learned just how high pitched Rainbow's voice could be. They giggled, covering their ears. Rainbow began to fangirl.

"How??"

Rainbow looked at Applejack. She all but nearly tackled Applejack. She looked into AJ's green eyes.

"When?"

Applejack smirked. "Ah know people."

Rainbow felt a burst of excitement. She had no idea what came over her. She grabbed Applejack by the face and pressed her lips against hers. The other girls' eyes widened at the action. Rainbow pulled away after a second, still on her high mood. She saw Applejack's shocked face and it took a moment for it to process. Finally, Rainbow's smile fell. Her expression was that of a pure terror.

"Uhhhh......."

Rainbow looked around at her friends. She quickly got up and ran out of the room. She ran down the hall, ignoring her name being called. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Rainbow Dash ran down the hall and down the stairs. She went to the front door and out onto the porch. The bitter cold sent a shock through her body. Although she was too busy panicking to notice just how cold it was.

"Shit! Why did I just do that?! What's wrong with me?!"

She mentally scolded herself.

Nice going, doofus. You've just ruined your friendship with Applejack. You just had to go and screw it all up. Now she probably knows you like her since you ran out of the room. She's not going to ever want to talk to you again.

Rainbow Dash sighed, her shoulders sagging. She looked around. She saw two chairs out in the porch. She walked over to one of them and sat down. She buried her face in her hands and sighed again. A chilly wind blew by, causing Rainbow to shiver. She wasn't wearing a jacket and her stupid self had ran outside when she panicked. But she couldn't go inside and face Applejack. Rainbow wrapped her arms around herself, attempting to block out the cold.

The sound of the screen door opening made her look up. She saw Applejack step outside. Rainbow sat up straighter, but at the same time she looked away.

"Hey." She said.

Applejack was wearing her jacket and hat. She was holding Rainbow's jacket. She walked up to Rainbow Dash.

"Here." She said.

She placed the jacket on Rainbow's shoulders.

"Ah saw the front door open and ah had a feelin' you were out here. Thought you weren't comin' inside for a while, so ah grabbed this for ya."

"Thanks." Rainbow said.

Applejack sat down in the chair next to Rainbow.

"Rainbow. Look at me." She said, her voice had no disgust or anger of any negative emotion like Rainbow thought.

Rainbow did as told. She looked up at her. She was holding Rainbow's gift. A picture frame with a photo of the two of them as kids. Rainbow had painted the wooden frame and chose the picture, since it made her happy thinking of how close they'd gotten over the years. It had been a great idea.

Now, Rainbow wasn't so sure. However, this was Applejack. Her best friend. She wouldn't abandon Rainbow over one little heat-of-the-moment kiss. It was only a second. But nonetheless, Rainbow's heart was pounding. She stared at Applejack, waiting with bated breath. Applejack shook her head.

"Why'd you kiss me and don't say it was only the heat of the moment. Ah think there's more to that."

Rainbow tried to think of a lie to tell. But then she remembered that Applejack could tell a lie, no matter how convincing. No one could lie to her and not get caught. Rainbow weighed her options. Not tell her and lie and possibly crush her own soul or telling her have a chance Applejack might hate and reject her in the worst possible way and never look at her the same way again. Rainbow would much rather the first choice.

"I......"

She couldn't do it. She couldn't tell her. She sighed.

"I just did it. I don't know what happened. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry."

Applejack chuckled.

"RD. Ah ain't mad."

Rainbow looked at her, arching an eyebrow.

"You're not?"

Applejack shook her head.

"No. Actually......"

Rainbow noticed Applejack smiling shyly.

"Ah actually have a crush on you."

Rainbow was shocked into silence. Applejack nodded slowly.

"Yeah. Ah like girls. Ah know ah never said anythin' to ya about that. It just wasn't somethin' ah wanted ya talk about. But ah've had a crush on ya for years now. Still do."

Rainbow stared at Applejack, processing the info. She couldn't believe it. Applejack looked her. More than a friend!
The thought made Rainbow smile.

"You do?" She asked softly.

Applejack nodded. Rainbow laughed.

"Oh man, the irony." She crowed. "I've had a crush on you for years, too."

Applejack smiled.

"Ah figured as much. You did kiss me, after all."

Rainbow blushed. She laughed nervously.

"Yeah. I guess I did."

Rainbow swallowed.

"So.............. now you know that I like you. What happens now?"

Applejack shrugged.

"We're girlfriends now, ah think. If that's what you want."

Rainbow smiled. She nodded.

"Okay."

She glanced at the picture frame.

"Do you like it?" She asked. "I painted it myself. It's not the best job."

Applejack looked down at the frame in her hands. She smiled fondly.

"Ah love it. Ah can't believe you still have this photo. This was like Freshman year."

Rainbow shrugged.

"I like to hold on to the important stuff."

She looked at Applejack's face.

"It's not the best thing, but it was my best idea."

Applejack shook her head.

"Honestly, ah don't care what it is."

Rainbow felt a little hurt. Applejack didn't care about her gift. Applejack looked at her. She saw the hurt expression.

"Oh. No, Rainbow. That's not what ah meant."

Rainbow tilted her head to the side. Applejack reached out her hand. Rainbow Dash did the same. They held hands. Their hands fit together perfectly.

Applejack looked her in the eyes.

"Ah mean ah don't care what you give me, as long as it comes from you. That's why ah like it so much. Plus, you actually put in some effort to do this."

Rainbow blushed at the compliment.

"Well, ah couldn't just give you any old thing. It had to be great." She said.

Applejack's eyes softened.

"Well, it means a lot to me."

Applejack leaned forward to kiss Rainbow's cheek. Rainbow was slightly taken off guard and turned her head. She felt a pair of soft lips on her own lips. Rainbow's eyes widened. Applejack backed up, her eyes wide as well. Both girls were blushing. They stared at each other for a moment.

Then they giggled.

"I'm sorry." Rainbow said. "I got confused and turned my head. That wasn't planned, I swear."

Applejack nodded.

"Don't worry. It's mah fault."

There was an awkward silence. The girls looked away from each other.

"Should we head back inside?" Rainbow asked quietly. "My fingers and face hurts."

Applejack nodded.

"Yeah. Let's go."

The two headed back inside the warm house. They decided not to go back to their friends just yet. They went into the fireplace room. Rainbow and Applejack settled down on the sofa. The warmth of the fire in the fireplace filled the room, surrounding them. Rainbow stared into Applejack's eyes. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

Rainbow smiled. She squeezed Applejack's hand.

"I'm glad I got to be your secret Santa." She admitted.

Applejack squeezed back.

"Same here."

Applejack pulled Rainbow towards her. Rainbow laid her head on Applejack's shoulder. She took off her shoes, curling up on the sofa. Applejack sat back, wrapping an arm around Rainbow. Both girls smiled, enjoying each other's company, it being just them two.

Rainbow thought back to how worried she'd been a few days ago. She smiled at her ridiculousness. She snuggled into Applejack's body, wrapping an arm around her waist. She smiled, knowing everything turned out to be great. Everything turned out perfect.

So yeah. Sorry for the delay. I'll make up for the day I missed. Anyway, tell me what you think :)