He woke up to see a sleeping but smiling Derpy, making him remember what had happened. Looking over he saw Luna laying on the other side of him with a satisfied smile on her face as well. Though he really could have gone without Luna not letting him pull out of Derpy last night, mostly because they still had no idea if he could get one of them pregnant.

Getting out of bed without waking the two mares he couldn't help but wonder where Lyra went to last night. He had figured Sparkler had taken Dinky and Grace to her house for the night, but Lyra should have been back. That's when he heard something like a pan in the kitchen ping.

"...come on!" He heard Lyra say as he walked into the kitchen making Lyra give him a wink as she picked up the pan she dropped. "Morning, and sorry if that woke you up. It seems like Luna's plan came together very well." Lyra said making him roll his eyes.

"Figures that was apart of a plan, but I enjoyed myself none the less." He said giving the unicorn a kiss on the cheek.

"So does that mean your date with Sparks went okay?" Lyra asked. "Oh, and did you get around to talking with Applejack?"

"Yes to the date going well, we set up another one in two weeks. She has to go back to her town to get a few things before she moves in with her brother. Before you ask she's looking for a place here to live." He said making Lyra raise an eyebrow. "I only invited you and Luna to move in because you two are friends, and you didn't have a place to exactly go on short notice."

"Just wondering, now about Applejack..." Lyra said making him give a sigh.

"I'll take a shower and head over there, and tell the others sorry I wasn't there when they woke up and see if anything happened with Grace." He said going into the bathroom.

"You mean if she had another nightmare? I think Luna said she was going to take care of it." He gave her a look that got his message across. "R-right might have been a little distracted last night."

He shut the door and turned on the shower and he thought of what he was going to say to Applejack, after all, he had been the one to really make their friendship have this awkwardness to it. Though at the time he knew for sure what his feelings were, and he had some feeling for her but since so much time went by it seems he really had started to move on. Granted he knew Applejack would appreciate the honesty but they couldn't have what they had before, they had to start over.

After drying off he peeked in the room to see Luna and Derpy had snuggled up to each other in his absence and he went to go tell Lyra bye and he would be back. He made his way to town feeling great as he then started down the road that leads to the Apple Farm. It didn't feel like a long walk despite his worry over how this would go.

"Hey Brandon, how ya doing?" Applejack asked as he came up to the porch.

"I'm doing good, but I think we need to talk." Applejack nodded her head and patted a spot next to her.

"Let me guess, you still have some feeling for me right?" Applejack asked making him nod. "From that, I'm going to assume that despite that you want to remain, friends, because you feel like you've started to move on right?"

"Applejack I'm..." He started before she held up a hoof.

"That's all I needed to hear, and thanks for being honest. I knew I had waited too long, and truth be told I honestly feel the same way. While it's nice to remember when you admitted to me, but I... we let time slip by too much." Applejack said making him nod.

"So, can we still be friends?" He asked looking out at the orchard.

"That is a stupid question ya know that?" Applejack said rolling her eyes making him crack a smile.

"Looking forward to rebuilding with ya, and maybe I can work in the orchard sometime?" He asked with pleading eyes.

"I don't know, Big Mac seems to really enjoy having you around to help with accounting." Applejack said teasingly. "But I guess I could see what I can do."

"Thanks, AJ, I'm just glad this didn't go as bad as what I thought it would. But I still have one question..." He said.

"I admitted my feelings for you that night to see if you still felt the same, and after what you said it let me in. I knew it would take ya a few days to figure it out, not like me who took weeks." Applejack said.

"No pony is perfect, but hey I gotta get home I'm sure the girls are waiting. Oh, did you know Grace moved in?" He said laughing at the shock on her face. "Celestia pulled a few strings."

"T-that's amazing! I'm so happy for you, and maybe I can come over with Applebloom to visit sometime!" Applejack said raising a hoof and he balled up his hand to give her a hoof bump.

He left soon after that feeling a bit strange at how well everything seemed to go with him and Applejack. Feeling a breeze he decided to do a little flying which got him a good chunk of the way back to his house before he had to land. Taking a moment to catch his breath he walked the rest of the way.

"Good morning!" He said as he walked into the door.

"There you are, we missed you when we got up!" Derpy said coming over and giving him a long kiss before whispering in his ear. "I really enjoyed last night."

"Morning, you look like your in a good mood. I take it your talk with Applejack went well?" Luna asked making Grace pop her head from the couch and she smiled and waved at him.

"Yeah, we decided to remain friends. Though she did most of the talking for us it all went well." He said going over to give the alicorn a kiss before sitting down next to Grace. "How was your night?"

"It was super fun! Sparkler let us watch a funny movie where this stallion puts on this mask during the night and the mask makes him do all kinds of crazy things!" Grace said with a big smile, which he was glad to see since the filly seemed to always be nervous and shy around new ponies.

"Hmm, might have to watch that one ourselves some night. But glad you had fun last night," He said patting the filly's head.

They all relaxed for a while before Derpy and Lyra went to go make lunch for them all the while he started to tell bad jokes to Grace. The young pegasus really seemed to enjoy them though, and after they ate Lyra got out her instrument which Grace asked if she could teach her more. Lyra of course happily agreed and helped the filly up.

"C-can you also teach me how to sing?" Grace asked making Lyra give a little smile.

"I'm not sure I'm the one you should be asking..." Lyra said.

"You have a great singing voice Lyra, don't deny it!" He said making Lyra blush, mostly because he knew despite her having a good voice she didn't like the sound of it herself. "I mean look at those eyes!"

"Fine, you two win!" Lyra said after meeting Grace's eyes making all of them laugh a little.

"Well, you guys get started I think I'm going to go to the market for some stuff before they close." He said looking at the clock. "Love you all, and I'll be back in a little while!"

Once again he started to make his way into town after they told him bye and Luna gave him a little list of things he absolutely had get. He liked looking around at the open market as there was always something new and fresh in stock. As he looked around he saw Sparks and gave the mare a slight look of confusion.

"Hey Sparks, I thought you were leaving about noon today?" He asked after coming up.

"I was, but my brother asked me to house sit him. Turns out he has some kind of meeting all the way in Las Pegasus, and he promised to stop by my place on the train ride back." Sparks answered.

"That was nice of him to spring this on you, but at least he's going to get your stuff." He gave the mare a little smile.

"Oh, believe me, if he wasn't already going that direction I wouldn't have stayed. Though I am glad because that means I get to see you around for a bit longer." Sparks gave him a wink and he felt a bit of magic brush across one of his wings making him give a slight shiver. "But hey, I got to get going before the stuff I got spoils. I'll see you later?"

"You bet, can't wait for our date!" He said waving as she walked away.

He honestly didn't expect that but things like that did sometimes happen. Getting what he needed and came for he started to make his way back to his house though he felt like taking his time. Taking in the sunset as he walked he couldn't help but give a smile and wonder what the girls were up to.

------------------------------------------------

"I win!" Lyra said as she got her last piece into her home spot.

"No fair, you didn't play fair!" Derpy was the one who said that.

"I'm going to be second to finish!" Grace said rolling the dice only for them not to be the number she needed. "Aww!"

"There is no way for me to catch up, and Derpy still has a piece that still needs to go all the way around," Luna said giving the little pegasus a smile. "So, I'm sure you'll be second."

They continued after that for second and third since fourth had to do the dishes that night. Grace finally rolled a four which got her second which Luna somehow snuck up from behind to claim third. Derpy gave a slight groan in disappointment.

"Alright, but I'm not cooking dinner then. Which speaking about, where is Brandon?" Derpy asked making them all look at the clock to see that he should have been back a few hours ago.

"Maybe he just got caught up with Ginger and Tallia? We'll probably won't see him until tomorrow if that's the case." Lyra was the one who replied.

"Maybe, hey Grace do you want to clean up for us while we make dinner?" Luna asked making the filly give a nod, and as the one wing pegasus started she started to hum as the three mares walked into the kitchen.

"I'm a little worried, normally he would send some message if he wasn't going to be home," Derpy said as she sat down at the table.

"Most of the time, remember when he stayed over at Twilight's and forgot because he was busy reading?" Lyra said making the other two nod.

"Either way, I'm sure he will be fine. Lyra, let's get dinner started before Grace gets too hungry." The two of them began their dinner for that night.

"Is Brandon not eating with us?" Grace asked as she sat down at the dinner table.

"No, he's probably at one of his friends and got caught up in something. He'll be back by tomorrow sweetie," Luna said making the filly blush a little at being called sweetie by a princess.

The four of them ate and talked and they asked Grace if she was looking forward to the new school year. Which to no surprise she had said that she was very nervous about it since before her parents died they only just moved not too long before they hadn't had time to enroll her. Though her eyes shined at the mention that her class this year was going to be able to pick and play any instrument.

"You know Grace, I know a Celo player who lives here in town if you're interested in giving it a try I'm sure she would be glad to give you a lesson," Lyra said making the filly eyes shine even brighter.

"Really? I love listening to the Celo and always wanted to play one!" Grace was practically bouncing out of her chair.

"Alright, calm down I'll have to talk with Octavia first," At that, they had to cover their ears as the little filly squealed in excitement.

"The Octavia Melody?" Lyra nodded covering her ears again to make sure. "I love her music! My m... m-mom took me to see her before..."

"Ah, we understand Grace if you don't feel comfortable talking about it. I'm sure Octavia would love to take you on as a student, she has a kind heart." Luna said putting a comforting hoof on the filly's back and giving her a look of sympathy.

To cheer Grace up Lyra told her right after dinner she would give her her first singing lesson which did perk the filly back up a little. Not long after they finished and Derpy washed the dishes while Lyra started her lesson with Grace. The pegasus was nervous and shy at first of course, but as soon as she started to feel comfortable they were all surprised at how good the fillies voice was.

"Good job Grace! You have such a great voice, and that gives me an idea! Why don't you and I put on a special show for Brandon when he gets back? We could even try to write a song for him, how about it?" At first, Grace was a little hesitant but then agreed as a way to show thanks for him comforting her during her nightmare.

"Alright, now that that's settled let's get you all cleaned up and ready for bed," Luna said making the filly groan just a little.

"W-would you tuck me in since Brandon isn't here?" Grace asked Luna which made her give a smile to the filly.

"I would be glad to, would you also like me to tell you a bedtime story?" Luna asked before they went into the bathroom.

"I-if you wouldn't mind?" Grace asked making Luna chuckle.

"That is why I offered, but it's shower time and just be careful the water heater is acting up so don't turn the heat on too much," Luna said before Grace rolled her eyes and went into the bathroom.

After Grace got done and Luna tucked her in and started to tell her a story the filly feel asleep, and Luna knew she would have to enter into the fillies dreams again. Luna rubbed Grace's head and giving a smile before kissing the filly on the forehead making the young pegasus give a sigh. Slowly making her way out Luna heard Grace mutter something in her sleep but couldn't make it out.

"So, she's asleep?" Derpy asked as Luna came back into the living room.

"Yes, she is sleeping soundly. I will make sure she won't have a nightmare tonight but are you planning on staying the night?" Luna asked.

"No, I think I'm gonna head home. I'm pretty exhausted and sore from last night." Derpy said stretching.

"No surprise there, but are you sure? It is getting late and I'm sure Dinky is fine." Lyra said.

"You may be right, it is later than I thought," Derpy said looking at the clock to see it read a little past eleven.

"So, that's a yes?" Luna asked with a smirk.

"Uh, y-yeah? Just don't surprise me like you did last night, even if I did enjoy it!" Derpy said giving a little blush before the three went to bed.

All of them woke up in the midmorning hours feeling rested for the most part. Though as they waited Brandon never showed up back at the house but put it off as he forgot something yesterday at the market and went to get it. That was until a knock came at the door making the three mares look at each other.

"Grace, can you go play in your room for a little bit?" Luna asked.

"B-but..." Grace started but was cut off by Luna.

"How about if you go into your room to play I'll go get some ice cream for us later?" Luna said making Grace nod her head, and after the filly left they opened the door.

"Is Brandon Jenkins here?" A Guard asked as they opened the door.

"If this is about the attacker that nearly killed him we already know about that and got everything cleared up," Luna told the guard who got a little nervous sweat but stayed calm.

"I'm sorry Princess, but I'm here on a different matter. I am here for Brandon for as of this morning he is wanted for questioning for the assault of Sparkly Fountain." The guard said leaving the three mares speechless.

Author's Notes:

Hope you all enjoyed and remember to smile, smile, smile!