The sunlight was dappled through the trees foliage and warmed my coat wonderfully. I’d taken my overcoat off and was sat on my haunches to check the time – still early, good. It didn’t do to be late, especially when expecting company, but...what if she didn’t come? I was hopeless with girls and my folks had been worried I’d be single forever, and who could blame them? These days, colt and fillies were getting married let alone stallions and mares. Well, so my dad thought, he was a bit ‘difficult’ these days.

Mum was keen to have grandfoals and kept reminding me that she didn’t have any yet, like it was somehow my fault. I’d felt in some ways like a failure, I’d let her down because I couldn’t produce the offspring she wanted to dote on. There were times when I’d challenged her on this notion, but she was expert at turning any sort of argument to her favour and so I’d given up.

“You can’t just go into a shop and buy one, mum”, I said to her in irritation one day.

“You’ll never find one if you’re stuck in reading books all day or that endless training. Get out there and meet somepony!” she’d replied.

It was so easy wasn’t it? Just ‘go out’ and ‘meet’ somepony who was likely to just be waiting there for me to arrive and say…

“HI!”

I nearly soiled myself in fright as a green muzzle and bright yellow eyes filled my vision without any warning.

“Bloody hell! I…Oh! I’m sorry, gosh, I shouldn’t have said that…sorry…” I blurted out hopelessly. It didn’t matter though, the mare wasn’t listening,

“Come on then! I’ve got plans for you and me, hope you’re hungry!” the green mare chuckled and took my hoof, pulling me out from the shade and into the blazing sunshine. On her back was a picnic hamper tied to her saddle bags.

Meadow ran across the open grassy field to down by the riverside and onto the large rocks on its bank. Sunlight on her back made meadow virtually shine in its light, the big sunhat she wore cast some shade on her face but did nothing to hide the life in those big yellow eyes.

I couldn’t stop grinning like an idiot until I sat down on the rock, it was red hot. With a shriek, I jumped in the air, trying to blow cold air on my singed backside while my companion fell about laughing,

“Wait until I put the rug out, for goodness sake!”

A few moments later, still chuckling, Meadow bade me sit next to her on the large checked rug. My bum was still sore and part of me wanted to jump in the river to cool it off, but a soggy stallion wasn’t likely to earn any favours with a new marefriend. Or at least, one I hoped would be. Celestia! I was so nervous, I had to get myself under control.

Smiling expansively, she levitated out a delicious looking selection of pies, salads and sandwiches, the aroma from which was making my nose twitch. I was almost drooling and judging by the expression on her face, she must have found my reaction pleasing. Meadow opened a jar of something and floated it over to me,

“Fancy a taste?”

I looked at the jar, its blue contents shiny and inviting, “What is it?”, I asked.

“Just try it, you’ll see”

I dipped a spoon into the stuff and spread a little on a piece of bread next to me. Taking a tentative bite, I felt the rush of sugar and fruit, it was…delicious. I closed my eyes as the tangy yet sweet taste of blueberries danced and played on my taste buds. I’d had jam before but nothing like this, it was heavenly. Opening my eyes to the happy, knowing smile of Meadow was a sight I could never tire of.

“Nice?” she asked me. I think she already knew the answer.

“Wonderful!”, I exclaimed, “How do you do it? That’s absolutely amazing, nothing like what I’ve had in the shops.”

She nodded sagely, “That’s because I add a secret ingredient that they can’t.”

“Secret? Whats that then?”

“It wouldn’t be a secret if I told you would it, silly?”, she reached out and tapped me on the muzzle with a hoof. The feeling was electrifying. Goddesses, I felt so good just being near her, but, to feel her physical touch…it sent me to a whole new level.

The next few hours went by like a ripple on the river bubbling past us. We chatted and laughed, neither saying very much, just small talk about this and that. Meadow told me about her training to be a nurse and asked me about my work in the watch. She seemed surprised by my enthusiasm to help ponies and looked a little sad when I mentioned looking for a more challenging posting. I mentally kicked myself for mentioning it and hoped I hadn’t ruined the mood.

“Fairlight…”, Meadow began, “Do you like it here, in Ponyville I mean”

I nodded, “I do, its lovely, if a little dull for my career. But, you know, I can live with it.”

She sighed,

“I know its sudden, and I’ve barely known you five minutes, but…but I don’t have very long left and I’ve never been very good with colts”

Meadow shook her head, “Oh! I’ve ruined everything…!”

I reached over and placed a hoof on her leg, “It’s okay Meadow, you haven’t ruined anything, please, tell me whats on your mind?”

The green mare took my hoof in both of her forehooves and looked down shyly, “I’ve been posted to…to Manehattan, the hospital there has offered me a full time job.”

I felt my heart break, a jolt running through me like lightning, but I kept a smile on my face, “That wonderful news Meadow! You must be really happy”

“Must I?” she said sadly, “I’m not sure I want to go, not now”

“Why not? You’d be crazy not to take it up, its what you wanted isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is”, I could see a shimmer of wetness in the corner of her eye, “But the timing of it Fairlight, I…I’ve only just met you and…I wanted to spend more time here…with you.”

I took her head in my hooves and brushed her tear away, “I want to stay with you too…”

Meadow looked up at me and threw herself forward, carrying us both off the rug, the rock and onto the grass. I looked up at her in surprise,

“Meadow?”

“Damn you, Fairlight, you’re going to make me say it aren’t you?” She half sobbed, half chuckled. Her face was wet with tears and grass.

“No. I’ll say it…”, I whispered, slowly moving closer until my mouth was a hairs breadth from hers, “I love you”.

Meadow seemed to melt in my forelegs, wrapping hers around mine and kissing me hungrily. The flavours of the various picnic treats mingled in our mouths until she pulled away and took a deep breath,

“Come away with me, I have accommodation, you could get a posting to Manehattan”

I hung my head slightly, “Meadow, I don’t know if I can so soon, I’m still in my probationary period. But I’ll try, I promise you I will and I’ll move heaven and earth to be with you if I have to.”

She hugged me tightly, “I know the Chief there, if you want, I can have a word with him…if you like…”

“Of course! It would make me the happiest stallion in Ponyville, no, Equestria, to go with you, to live with you. But Meadow, are you sure you want me, I mean, you’re a beautiful mare with a promising career and I’m just, you know…a drab grey…”

“Stop that right now!”, she said tapping me on the nose, “I happen to like grey and I wont have you putting yourself down mister Fairlight, do you understand me?”

“Yes ma’am”, I chuckled.

She reached up and nipped my ear, “I know I want you my watch pony, the question I have to ask is…do you want me?” Meadow finished in a sultry wisped that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Oh goddesses, yes…Meadow, I do, so much…”

She kissed me again on the lips and moaned softly as she spoke, “Will you…be gentle with me? Please?”

I nuzzled her and stroked her neck with my hoof, “I will love, I promise”

In the late afternoon sun with its rays dancing across the sparkling ripples on the rivers surface, we made love. I don’t know if anypony saw and I don’t think either of us cared. As Meadows groans and cries echoed out over the grassy plain, I knew then that I had found the love I had always been looking for without even realising it.

In a heaving gasp, she collapsed on my chest, panting into my ear, “Oh Celestia, Fairlight…I…oh, I’m so happy!”

She kissed me again and we rolled onto our sides looking into each other eyes. Meadow gave me a special smile, one that melted my heart, “I love you so much my watch pony, so much…”

We didn’t say any more but lay together watching the sun begin to set.