WHOOT, I'M FINALLY UPDATING THIS! I didn't mean to take so long with this, but I got busy on other fanfics and then the dreaded writer's block decided to invade my brain for a while. but I hope you enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review! OH, before I forget to ask, how would y'all feel about occasionally switching POVs? like maybe have parts of the chapters from Jillian's point of view, and maybe even AJ's? let me know in your reviews what you think of that idea xD

DISCLAIMER: I do not own MLP: FIM or any of it's characters. I only own Jillian, Christian, Tigger, Daisy, and the dad

(Dad's POV)

I couldn't help but smile as I watched Jillian and Applejack. we were all on our way back to Ponyville and the sisters talked excitedly to each other most of the way there. it was wonderful to see them together again. "so how's Christian?" I heard Applejack say. she and Jillian were behind us now, slowing down a bit so they could talk. I turned a bit and looked at Jillian, who frowned a bit.

"things... things aren't going so good"

"what? but why?" Applejack seemed surprised, as I had been when Jillian first told me about the troubles she was having in her relationship.

"well, we've just... grown apart" Jillian said hesitantly.

"grown apart?! how the heck is that even possible? you two love each other!" AJ said, obviously upset.

"well..." Jillian sighed, her ears folding back a bit. "... I-I'd rather wait to talk about it later... privately"

Applejack nodded. "okay sis, I understand" the girls were mostly quiet on the way back to Ponyville. once we were there, I couldn't help but feel nervous as we approached Sweet Apple Acres. "daddy?" Applejack fell in step beside me. "are you nervous?"

I sighed and nodded slowly. I noticed that the others had gotten a little ahead of us, but I didn't mind. I sighed. "I'm very nervous AJ. I mean, what will Granny Smith and Big Macintosh think? and Apple Bloom? will they even believe us?"

"they'll have to believe us daddy, Princess Celestia will be there" Applejack said confidently. "she'll be sure to help us explain everything"

I nodded slowly. "yes, I suppose that's true" I couldn't help but still feel a bit nervous. I was worried what would happen if the Apples didn't accept Jillian and me? where would we go? would Princess Celestia be able to find a place for us to stay? I glanced over at Jillian, who was walking alongside Twilight, the two of them talking happily. they seemed to already be getting along pretty well. but when I heard the word 'book' a few times, I smiled. Jillian had always been an avid reader, so it wasn't really a surprise that she and Twilight were discussing their favorite books. "it'll be great for her to get along with Applejack's friends" I thought, realizing then that we were standing at the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres.

"we're here!" Pinkie Pie cheered, smiling.

"daddy?" Applejack turned to me. "no matter what they say... we're still a family"

I nodded slowly. "of course we are honey. nothing will ever change that"

Celestia walked over. "don't worry, I'll help you explain everything to them" I swallowed nervously as we approached the farmhouse. Celestia extended an elegant hoof and knocked on the door a few times.

"hold on a second! I'm comin', I'm comin'" the unmistakable voice of Granny Smith called. a few seconds later, the elderly mare opened the door. "oh, Applejack, there you are, deary" Granny Smith said. she looked at Jillian and me, looking quite confused. "uh, a couple new friends of yours?" she saw Celestia and instantly bowed before anyone could answer her question.

"uh, Granny Smith, we... we need to discuss something with you" Applejack said slowly.

Granny Smith nodded slowly and stepped aside to let us all in. "I must, say, it is a great honor to have your majesty in our home, Princess Celestia" Granny Smith said.

"well it's a pleasure to be here" Celestia said kindly. "but we have important business to discuss with you and the other members of your family"

Granny Smith nodded. "well Apple Bloom's in her room and Big Macintosh is out working the fields"

"I'll go get Big Mac" Applejack said. "be right back" she trotted out the back door. I sighed nervously.

"Apple Bloom!" Granny Smith called up the stairs. "we've got visitors!"

"I'll be right down, Granny!" Apple Bloom called.

I swallowed nervously. I felt Granny Smith's eyes on me and I knew she had a lot of questions. I could just tell.

Apple Bloom came down the stairs about a minute later. her eyes widened a bit when she saw all the ponies in the farmhouse. she looked specifically at Jillian and me. "who are you?" she asked curiously.

"uh..." I could feel my heart beating nervously. how the heck was I supposed to answer that? "w-well, I, um..."

"we're back!" AJ said, trotting into the room. Big Mac was right behind her.

"all righty" Granny Smith said. "now what exactly did y'all want to discuss with us?"

"well, Granny..." Applejack hesitated, looking over at me. I slowly moved to stand beside her. "I-I don't even really know where to begin..."

"perhaps I should try and explain first" Celestia said, stepping forward. AJ and I nodded, and I noticed Apple Bloom kept looking over at me, almost suspiciously.

Celestia took her time explaining our story, not leaving anything out. I tried watching the Apple family's expressions throughout the story. they seemed confused at first and more then a little surprised when it came to the part of Applejack being sent through the portal and being raised in another world. I swallowed nervously again. I couldn't quite tell if they were angry or not, but they were certainly surprised. finally, Celestia was finished, and stepped back a bit.

I took a deep breath and walked over to Granny Smith. "I... I understand how hard this must be to believe..." I swallowed. "... b-but I want you to know that I love Applejack very much. there isn't anything I wouldn't do for her, and I love her just as much as my other daughter" I nodded over toward Jillian, who hesitantly moved to stand beside me.

"Applejack is my sister" she said boldly. "and she always will be... even if you don't believe us"

"well... I can certainly say that this wasn't what I was expecting, not in the slightest" Granny Smith said. she was quiet for a minute, but it felt as though an eternity went by before she finally spoke again, looking me right in the eyes. "if the princess says it's true, then... then it must be so" a small smile crossed her withered face. "and I can tell how much you care for Applejack... it's clear that the three of you love each other very much"

"so..." I swallowed. "... wh-where do we go from here?"

"well..." Granny Smith's smile widened slightly. "I think it's about time we show you where you'll be stayin'"

"s-staying...?" Jillian's eyes widened. "you mean... y-you mean we... you're letting us stay?!"

"well of course I am!" Granny Smith said. "you are family, ain't ya?" she laughed. "I know this is going to be a big adjustment, but it's nothin' the Apple family can't handle!" she surprised me when she held her hoof out. "now come here and give your granny a hug, sugar"

Jillian had tears in her eyes as she eagerly went over and hugged Granny Smith. my eyes were feeling a little misty too as she came over then and hugged me as well.

"this is so beautiful!" Rarity said, smiling.

Pinkie Pie's lip trembled and she suddenly burst into tears. "I'M SO HAPPY!" she shouted, bawling.

Twilight chuckled a bit, rolling her eyes. "well I'm very happy for you, Applejack... you and your family"

"thanks, Twi" Applejack said, smiling. she looked like she might cry herself as Granny Smith pulled her into a hug. we eventually all ended up in a big group hug. I noticed then that Applejack had led Jillian over to Apple Bloom.

"hey, A.B.!"

"uh... hey, sis"

"Apple Bloom, I'd like you to meet our sister!" Applejack said.

"our sister?" Apple Bloom said, quirking an eyebrow.

"well yeah!" Applejack said. "Jillian's my sister, and so are you! so you're gettin' another sis, Apple Bloom!"

"oh..." Apple Bloom didn't seem very enthused about the idea.

Jillian's smile faltered slightly. "w-well, Apple Bloom, I hope that we can get to know each other better..."

"yeah" again, there wasn't really any enthusiasm in the little yellow filly's voice.

Applejack came over by me, putting a hoof around me. "oh daddy, isn't this wonderful? we can be a whole family now!" she nuzzled my cheek.

I chuckled, nuzzling back. "yeah, sweetie... everything's finally falling into place"

YAY, everything worked out with the Apples! well, except for Apple Bloom. what could be bothering her? you'll find out soon enough in the next few chapters. thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this one. and don't forget to review!

-FreddysNightmare1984