Chocolate

He shook his head making his black mane fall over his face. "No, there is no need to thank me. It is my pleasure." He said very subtly making eye contact with her then back to her bedroom door. He smiled and nudged her a bit. "Since tonight will be our last night together I'd like to be close to you." He said as he stood beside her. His cheeks were a bit flushed after she had licked his chocolate scented and tasting fur. Though she was the only one that could get away with that with him, he still would never get used to it. "Love you, Star."

The large chocolate colored stallion was rarely one to show emotion, in fact, he was almost statue like at times. However, when he saw the look on her face and the sound of longing in her voice, he knew he couldn't leave even if he wanted to. He turned to face her and nodded. "I understand. I want to be with you tonight as well." He said stepping closer to her. The large stallion placed his hoof around her and nuzzled her lovingly.

The stallion could tell that the gift he had given her was nothing compared to the gesture his family had just shown her. He nuzzled her as they stood together in the now quiet house. He stepped back from her and then turned to the door. "Well I should probably leave you to pack for tomorrow. But I'll be here bright and early to help you to the station and see you off." He said calmly. Deep down he didn't want to leave, he wanted to be with her that night and help her but she probably had a lot to think about without him there. "Unless... you want me to stay." He said with his voice trailing.

Chocolate as well as his relatives seemed a bit relieved when she seemed receptive to their apology. They each came inside and left their gift on her table and left to go back to the farm. "Pleasure seeing you." His younger brother said before they all left. When they all left he stood before her with a warm smile. "In the end everything worked itself out." He said hugging her side. The large stallion watched her close and lowered his head a bit. "I'm... going to miss you, Star." He knew it wasn't goodbye forever but still, he wouldn't be seeing her for a while.

Chocolate smiled when she seemed receptive to the gifts he had brought her, but she was also curious of the other news he had brought. When she asked him he placed his hoof to her mouth and stepped back towards the door. He motioned for her to stay where she was as he opened the front door to her house, and standing in the doorway were a few brown furred equines. His family members, well a few of them anyway. "Surprise." They said together. They all appeared to be guilt ridden and a bit nervous. There were his cousins and a few of his brothers all holding a few gifts as they looked to her apologetically. Chocolate began to explain, "It seems our words had an effect on them, and they have changed their minds about how they look at things." He said looking back to them. His younger brother spoke up as well. "You were right... we never really gave you a chance. And since you're leaving tomorrow we thought we'd help Cocoa bring over some gifts."

Chocolate stood silently as she welcomed him inside, his eyes watching her close as she explained what had happened. A small smile appeared on his face as she told him that she had been accepted and nodded. "I'm glad... I knew you would be." He said moving close to wrap his large hoof around her and gave her a hug. Once the hug was broken he stepped back and smiled, "You also won't believe what happened when I got back home." He reached into the large saddle he had draped over his back and pulled out some fresh bags of cocoa, seeds, and other goods from his farm. "These are for you, parting gifts because I know you'll like something sweet to have while you're away at school. But that's not all either..." He said looking down to her.

It was much later on in the day when the brown stallion came back into town. The large equine carried a huge saddle on his back that seemed to be full of miscellaneous items. He was a bit hopeful and curious once he made his way to the front door of Starshy's home. He stood on the doorstep, took a deep breath and knocked his large black hoof on the door. Wondering if she had indeed been accepted.

He also blushed and averted his eyes when she returned his feelings and told him that she loved him as well. It was odd for him but he almost felt like going over the table to give her a big hug. It would be not only strange but slightly comical to see a stallion of his size and stature trying to clear the table like that. He pulled away from his seat and came around the table to give her a kiss to her muzzle. "Thank you, Star. I love you too..." He said after breaking the kiss. "I wonder what our foals would look like..." He looked to the window and sighed reluctantly. "I do have to head back to the farm, and do my chores for the day." He said going back to clean his plate. "But I'll be back later today." He said as he slowly made his way towards the door.

He nodded in agreement using his hoof to slowly separate the eggs and bacon just the way he liked it. He slowly began to eat and spoke as he wiped his muzzle with a napkin. "Once we settle in we will be able to live how we want." He spoke as though he had been mulling the idea over for a while. "A family..." His voice trailed as he seemed to stop eating as he became lost in thought. "Star... I have to say the thought is a bit jarring. I never believed I would ever find a mare who cared for me enough to even consider a family."

He nodded and took a small sip of his hot cocoa from the steaming cup. He spoke again and looked over to her as he set the cup down. "That's right." He said elaborating a bit more. "If I could get somewhere out near Everfree I might be able to get a place for us to stay together." He said smiling a little. "You seem a bit surprised when I said that, Star." He said as he began to eye the plates of food she had made for the both of them.

He gave her a small wry smile as she asked him what he wanted to drink for breakfast, it was a bit of a teasing look as he pretended to think about the choice. "Hmmm, I'll have the hot chocolate please." He said with a polite bow. "If you need help setting the table I'll do that." He said looking for something to do. He just wanted to make sure she was happy today. It was a big day for her and he wanted to help out if possible. "Star... I'm thinking... of getting my own place away from home at the farm." He said thinking ahead for their relationship. "I can't continue to live the way I am and still expect you to put up with my family." He explained as he sniffed the air. Everything smelled delicious.

Chocolate smiled inwardly as she spoke about being nervous, he could understand her reasoning. "You needn't worry, Star." He started to speak and then noticed she was already headed downstairs from to the kitchen. He blinked for a moment then followed behind her, as they both made way to the kitchen he stood a little bit to the side so he wasn't in the way. "I think you'll be fine, Starshy." He said again just she hadn't heard him upstairs. He stepped forward standing behind her to nuzzle her as he spoke again. "When do you believe you will find out?"

The stallion smiled when he saw she was up and about, a sign that he had done exactly as he had hoped. No noticeable, injuries or a limp this time. He leaned up a bit and spoke warmly to her. "That I did, you look well." He said complimenting her much happier demeanor that morning. In his eyes she always looked beautiful in the morning light, especially when she smiled. He hefted himself out of the bed and went to help her make the sheets before looking to the windows. The sun was already rising and he still had tasks to take care of back at the farm. "Today is the day hm? When you find out if you must go?" He asked with a curious head tilt as he stood in her bedroom.

The large brown stallion laid on her bed as she shifted away from him and began to snuggle and cuddle the pillow in her stead. A few minutes after he began to stir he sat up on the bed, rubbing his eyes with his hoof as he looked down to the bed. "Star?" He asked sleepily as he realized she wasn't there. He rubbed his head and fixed his long black mane as his ears perked. He could hear the sound of running water in the distance. He whinnied and neighed deeply as he recalled the night before. He knew today would be a big day for his special mare and that last thing she probably wanted to see was a huge dark stallion sleeping in her bed. Even still, the night before had worn him out a bit and he lay back down, waiting for his mare to come back into the room as he knew he would be headed back home after breakfast. She would more than likely find out if she was accepted today as well.

The large stallion rubbed behind his head with his large hoof. Clearly he had assumed way to much from her harmless comment and now he had egg on his face, so to speak. He blushed and quickly tried to correct himself as he sat up and gave a nervous laugh. "Oh? Oh! Right a kiss." He said leaning his head down and closing his eyes expecting her to meet him halfway for the kiss but she didn't stop there. When she suggested other things he bowed his head down. He said nothing for a while then he got up off the couch. "Let's go." He said deeply. Even though she seemed surprised by his reaction he waited until she had gotten up from the couch to start nudging her flank towards her bedroom with his muzzle.

He continued to enjoy her company as she denied his offer to get some tea for her. The two shared the quiet together and then he looked over to one of her windows. It was already getting late it seemed. It was already getting dark out and he knew that he was more than likely going to sleep on the couch tonight, that was until her words came to him. "Sweeter?" He asked as he looked down to her cute fluttering eyes. "Are you sure?" He asked tilting his head slightly. "Maybe we should wait a few more days..." It was obvious the flustered stallion was merely asking because he was worried about her, but a second glance would reveal he wanted to spend time together as well.

Chocolate gave a small smile and laid his head down on hers as she nuzzled him. "Thanks, I don't want to intrude but I'd like to spend a little more time with you." He explained as he gave a soft contented sigh. "Thanks Starshy." He said with a tail sway. He looked to the kitchen and spoke again. "Would you like me to make you some tea before bed tonight?"

The chocolate colored stallion's saddened demeanor seemed to change when she said she'd miss him as well. Maybe a part of him did fear because she was such a special mare, another stallion would try to make a move on her while she was at school. He trusted her but them... he didn't like the other stallions. She had already been taken away from him once at the resort and he didn't want to lose her again in the same way. His jealous thoughts were soon interrupted when she began to kiss on his fur, he knew it was her being affectionate as well as trying to taste as well. "S-star..." He protested lightly. His objections soon ceased when she mentioned visiting on holidays. "I look forward to it." He said leaning his head down to kiss her head as well. He gently nuzzled her horn and fell silent as they enjoyed each other's company on the couch that night. "Starshy? May I stay the night with you again?" He asked seemingly out of nowhere.

The stallion continued to look down as his mane fell over his eyes. He didn't want to make her feel bad, especially when she was trying to better herself by learning and getting a higher education. He didn't want to guilt trip her into staying there with him. This was for the best he would tell himself. That was, until she spoke again. This time her words were much more suggestive and it made even him blush. "I suppose... that is..." He cleared his throat and looked a bit flustered. "I'd like that." Was all the large stallion said, barely audible. He averted his eyes for a while and pretended to be interested in something on her wall. "I am going to miss you though. If you do leave." He said softly. "But I want you to be happy too. And if that means not being able to see you for a while then I will deal with it."

Chocolate fell silent as well once the family issue had been talked about. He had nothing more to say on the issue either. But then he felt her lean against his side and he looked down to see her gazing up to him. Then she brought up the topic of her going off to school. The topic he wasn't fond of speaking of. If she went off to school, he wouldn't be able to keep in contact with her as much. His work on the farm hardly granted him time to go to the post office. "I hope you get in then..." He said feigning a small smile, he wasn't good at being subtle with his facial expressions as he looked a little saddened as he spoke.

He took a seat beside her, the couch sinking a bit under his weight. "I know, I wish things could have been different as well." He said in agreement. "We cannot change how they view you but it does not matter. You have always been the same amazing mare since the day I met you on that train." He said reminiscing about their past experiences together. He leaned back on the couch cushion and waited a bit for her to respond. "What matters is how we feel about one another." He said lightly wrapping his hoof around her.

The huge stallion looked a bit saddened as he turned tail to leave. In his mind he believed she hated his family, and to an extent himself. There was no way he was going to be able to regain her trust. Though it wasn't important, he was also concerned with how his family was going to be towards him once he got back home. He had left his home in a bit of rage and knew they would be waiting for him once he returned. Though his mind was racing her words caused him to stop mid step. His ears perked and he looked to her with a curious expression. She was inviting him inside her home? He remembered back to the time they had shared a bed together and also recalled how nice it was. "I wouldn't mind. But are you sure?" He nodded and trotted inside once she invited him in.

Chocolate nodded understanding what she meant. Sadly, this whole family thing had not gone as he had hoped. If anything, it probably made things worse between them, and now he had to worry about how they would treat him as well when he went back home. For now, he had her to worry about. "Let me walk you back home then." He said looking down to her. The two trotted all the way back to town together and he walked her up to her porch and nodded to her. "I'll be seeing you." He said bowing his head a little and turning to head back.

He placed a large hoof on her back and tried to calm her down and soothe her. "You did nothing wrong, Starshy." He cooed to her with his deep voice. "I already told you, I will be by your side no matter what happens. Even if my family chooses not to accept you, I will remain by you... if you will have me." He was trying his best to cheer her up but could think of nothing more to say. The huge stallion stood by the much smaller crying mare and reached into his saddle, he took a tissue and wiped her eyes. "No more tears, Star." He said once again. He nuzzled her and kissed her head around her horn and hugged her close to his large body.

Chocolate could hear the wavering in her voice as she spoke to the rest of them, he could tell she was hurting but he would allow her to speak for herself. The only way she could get through to them would be for her to speak to them herself. He listened to her words as she spoke and then she immediately began to leave the house, "Starshy!" He called after her, but she had already left leaving Chocolate to glare at his family. "I had hoped you would all would have at least given her a chance..." He also turned and began to rapidly trot after her, his stride however, was much larger than hers and he was able to catch up with her before she had completely made it out of the barn. "Star... please wait." He said as he caught up to her and tried to stop or at least slow her down.