I cannot express this enough. This is LONG. Longer than any chapter I've done on here EVER. So be prepared to be reading for a while. I hope you enjoy this :)

Rainbow bit her lip. It was quiet.

"Well".

Rainbow sighed, her shoulders sagging.

"It's lonely. You don't have many friends or anyone to actually to be around, since we move around alot. I........".

Rainbow's eyes were looking down.

"I get pretty lonely alot. Being around strangers alot is really scary ummm".

She brought her knees up to her chest.

"Because...... you don't really know what's going to happen the next day. I don't like the unknown but my life is filled with unknown. You can be really scared to do anything with anyone. You can't really..... get along with people or make friends as much. Ummm".

Applejack nodded for her to continue.

Rainbow's eyes flickered up at her.

"Being in foster care .......... it sucks. Pretty much. Another thing is you don't really...... feel like you..... belong anywhere. Yeah uh. You know??".

Applejack noticed Rainbow paused alot. She could tell she wasn't use to talking alot.

"You don't really have a place with any family. Cause you know, you don't have one so...... yeah".

Rainbow rubbed her arm.

"I don't really trust as easily. When I was younger my sister and I. We would be my dad's punching bags. Yeah. Our mom would protect us whenever she could. But he abused her too sometimes. But it was mostly me and Scoots".

Applejack was shocked. She never thought that these girls would go through so much pain. She nodded.

Rainbow bit her lip and looked down.
"Yeah. My dad".

Rainbow shifted around. She sighed.

"Sorry, I just...... I'm not use to talking about it. Or anything".

Applejack smiled kindly.

"That's alright. Take your time".

Rainbow slowly rubbed her hands together.

"So uh. Yeah. We were put into foster care when I was 10 and Scootaloo was 5. We uh, didn't trust much people. We still don't and I'm still honestly scared about being here. I don't...... really feel....... like...... I still feel nervous around Twilight and her parents. Not... not because they're not good people. It's just that I..... I don't know. They're the best family I've been in and they're better than any foster parents I could ever hope for".

Applejack nodded. Rainbow folded her hands together and laughed a little.

"I know it's stupid but um...... sometimes I wish that I wasn't here. I still do. Sometimes I wish that I could just go to sleep and never..... wake up. But I know I can't say that because I have a sister that needs me to be there for her".

Applejack frowned. She reached a hand out.

"Sometimes", Rainbow said. "I think of going back in time and stopping myself from being rescued. Stop myself from living. I wish that I had died in my dad's house that night. I have therapy for that though. Just for um.... my thoughts".

Applejack was speechless.

"But um...... honestly..... you make me happy".

"What??".

Rainbow smiled. "You and the family make me happy. Whenever I feel alone or afraid, you're here and it makes everything great again. I feel sad alot so I love when you're around. You make me smile and laugh. I've never had a friend before. I never thought I'd make a friend this year. None the less 5 of them. The others are amazing too. I've never had friends before so I don't really.... know....... uh how to um go about that. That's why I don't really talk much".

Rainbow's eyes flickered from Applejack to the floor.

"So thank you".

Applejack smiled. She wrapped her arms around Rainbow's waist and pulled her in for a hug. Rainbow hugged back, her face in Applejack's shoulder.

"Ah never thought that you an Scootaloo went through so much. Ah'm so sorry about that".

Rainbow shrugged. "It's not your fault".

Applejack smiled and pulled away.

"It's not yours either. Okay??".

Rainbow nodded. She was quiet for a while.

"Rainbow. You're so strong, okay??. Very strong. Both you and Scootaloo".

Rainbow looked at her.

"You both go through so much. But you probably go through more. You're the oldest and you have to be the strong one. That's hard. It is. Ah don't know what it's like to be abused but ah do know what it's like ta lose your parents".

Rainbow's eyes widened. "I'm so sorry".

Applejack nodded. "Yeah. They died in a car crash. Ah was six and mah sister was one".

It was quiet between the two friends. Applejack looked up at her.

"So just know. Ah know what it's like not ta have parents. But ah can't imagine havin noone but your sister".

Rainbow shrugged and looked away. She felt like crying but no tears came. She looked at Applejack.

"It's okay. We..... we get by just fine".

Fine. Applejack hated that word. When ever she heard that, there was always a different meaning to that word. I'm fine. It's fine. Everything is fine. Fine. We're gunna be fine. We're fine. Fine. Fine. Fine.

It was a lie to hide just how bad things really were. Rainbow was not fine.

Applejack scooted over and took Rainbow's hand.

"Listen. You're mah best friend. I would do anythin fir you. You understand??".

Rainbow nodded.

"And it hurts me that you feel the need ta hide your true feelings. What??. Do ya think ah'm gunna hurt you too??".

Rainbow sighed and looked away.

"Tell me".

Rainbow looked at her.

"I just...... I don't want to get attached to you. If we ever get moved to another house, I don't want to miss anybody. That way, everyone can forget about me and Scootaloo sooner and noone will be hurt".

"But??".

Rainbow laughed quietly.

"I already am attached to you and no matter how hard I try, I can't get away from you. As much as I don't want to be around you and feel the way I do around you..... I do. And that scares me because.... I-..... I don't wanna be hurt or feel anything if we leave and I don't want you to be hurt too. I don't want you to miss me".

Applejack laughed. "Well too late. You've honestly made mah world much better. You're amazing and beautiful and smart and carin and loving. Ah........".

Applejack looked at her.

"Ah like you".

Rainbow was quiet.

"You mean..... like like??".

Applejack nodded, biting her lip.

"Yeah. Ah do. Ah just can't ignore it anymore. Ah've liked you fir a while now and ah think you should know now".

Rainbow looked at her hands then at her.

"I like you too".

Applejack was surprised. Rainbow bit her lip.

"I've had...... kinda a bug crush on you for quite some time now".

Applejack smiled a little.

"So...... what happens now??".

Rainbow shrugged. "I don't know. Try to make it work??".

Applejack smiled wider. "Okay. We can try-".

Suddenly the door to the bedroom opened. The two girls looked up to see Twilight's parents coming in.

"Rainbow", Moonlight said. "We're going down to a foster child center to get Scootaloo a toy. C'mon girls".

Rainbow and Applejack looked at eachother. They got up and followed them out of the room. They all got into the van and drove on down to a nearby center for foster children. It had stuff like clothes and toys.

Scootaloo was holding Rainbow's hand. They found the toy section.

Twilight's parents looked at the girls.

"See anything you like??", Twilight asked.

Scootaloo looked around. She spotted a blue stuffed bear. She looked up at her sister as if asking for permission.

"It's okay Scoots", Rainbow whispered. "Get one".

Scootaloo walked over to the shelf and picked up the toy. She looked at the adults. They smiled.

"That one??", Moonlight asked.

Scootaloo nodded. She looked at Rainbow Dash. She walked up to her.

"It looks like blueberry".

Rainbow smiled. "Yeah. It does".

She looked up to see confused looks their faces.

"Blueberry was her stuffed animal. We both had one. She had a blue one and I had a red one. They were the only toys we had growing up with our parents".

Rainbow smiled at her sister.

"That looks just like Blueberry", she said.

"Go with Orion and Moonlight and they can pay for it. I'll be right with ya".

Scootaloo looked a little hesitant but eventually took Orion by the hand and was led away.

Rainbow looked at the different toys. Applejack watched her, leaning on the shelves. Rainbow suddenly spotted one. She picked it up and looked at it, smiling.

"What??".

Rainbow looked up she saw Applejack standing there.

"This was mine. This use to be my stuffed animal when I was little. It was my comforting thing. Whenever I was sad or afraid I used to hug this and it always helped me feel better. It was like my only friend to me".

"You gunna buy it??", Applejack asked.

Rainbow shook her head. "No. I........ I can manage without it. Plus, I don't want them spending their money on me. I-I don't need this. Yeah, my mom gave me this but......... whatever".

Rainbow put the toy back and stared at it. She bit her lip and slowly moved away.

Rainbow looked back at the bear. She had a sad look in her eyes. She turned and walked away. Applejack watched her walk away. When she was out of sight, Applejack looked back at the red bear.
-----------------------------

Rainbow sighed as she closed the door a little, the sound of chatter fading. A wave of loneliness and sadness washed over her. She didn't know why she felt this way. Applejack and her sister was right downstairs.

Rainbow leaned on the door, eyes closing. She fought back tears that stung her eyes. She would not cry.

Turning around she stopped. Sitting on the bed was the stuffed bear. Her bear. Rainbow walked over to the bed, picking up the bear. She looked at it. It was nice and clean and soft. Just like she remembered it.

Rainbow Dash laid down on the bed, hugging the bear. It smelled like apples and mint.

Suddenly she remembered why she had come here in the first place. Her happiness vanished and was replaced with sadness. Tears rose up in her eyes but this time, they fell.

Rainbow held the stuffed animal and hugged it, tears running down her face. She sniffled and looked down st the bear.

"At least I'll always have you", she croaked out.

"Rainbow??".

Rainbow looked up. It was Applejack. Rainbow wiped her tears away quickly and sat up.

"Oh um Applejack. Hey".

Applejack sat down beside her.

"Surprise".

Rainbow looked at her in surprise.

"You bought this??. For me??".

Applejack nodded. "Yeah. Ah know how much that toy means to ya and ah could just tell how much you wanted it. Plus, it was always yours. It belonged back with its owner and not on a shelf".

Rainbow smiled. "Thanks so much".

Applejack gave her a hug and held her. The blonde backed up and looked at Rainbow Dash. She wiped her tears away.

"It's okay. What's wrong??".

Rainbow sighed. "I just feel lonely I guess. I feel like that alot".

Applejack cupped her face.

"Well. Just know that you're never alone. You'll always have me and the girls and Twilight's parents and your sister. You're never alone. Not when I can help it".

Rainbow nodded. "Okay".

Applejack smiled. She reached out and took Rainbow's hand. She walked surprised when Rainbow didn't pull away. She just smiled and blushed.

"Ah get if you don't wanna date anyone. Ah get it. You don't wanna get hurt or anyone else to get hurt if you ever get moved to a new home-".

Rainbow placed a finger over her mouth, stopping her.

"Applejack", she said. "You're my home. I don't need anything but you guys. As long as I'm with you and the guys and this family, I'm already home".

Applejack smiled. "You really feel that way??".

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah".

"So..... are we a thing??".

Rainbow shrugged. "If you want".

Applejack smiled. "Ahh do wanna dst you. Do you wanna be a thing??".

Rainbow nodded. They both smiled.

Suddenly the door opened. They both turned their heads. Twilight, Scootaloo and Twilight's parents came in.

"Girls", Orion said smiling. "We have something we want to ask you".

Scootaloo sat down beside Rainbow, who wrapped an arm around her. They both looked at the adults.

Orion and Moonlight knelt down.

"Are you girls happy here??".

The two sisters nodded.

"I honestly have never been happier than I have the past few months", Rainbow Dash said quietly.

She looked at Scootaloo.

"How do you feel??", she asked.

Scootaloo smiled. "I love it here. You're happy".

Rainbow looked at her confused.

"What do you mean??".

Scootaloo shrugged. "In our other homes you're always sad and serious and quiet. But here, you're happy alot and smiling. I like that. I like it here not just because it's great here and the friends and all. But I like it here because you're happy for the first time in a long time and that's important to me. I want you to be happy. I know you want to be strong for us both. But I know how hard it is for you. You think that I don't notice your tears or when you cry at night. But I do and it hurts me that you feel so sad all the time. Sometimes I wish that I could go find dad and punch him. I hate him for making you like this".

Scootaloo hugged Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was frozen in shock. Slowly she hugged back.

"If don't think I can handle leaving this place and you go back to being depressed all the time. I want you to be happy forever. You're brave and strong and I love you. Thank you".

Rainbow felt tears coming.

"I love you too Scoots".

They pulled away. Rainbow sniffled and wiped her eyes. She looked at her lap.

"Thanks. That meant alot. You're the best little sister a person could ever have".

They looked at Orion and Moonlight.

"Yeah. We're very happy here".

"Well", Orion said. "Then how would you feel if we wanted to....... adopt you??".

The girls were frozen. They stared at him, mouths open. They looked at eachother.

"Scootaloo??", Rainbow said. "What do you say??".

Scootaloo looked at Rainbow Dash. She looked at her big sister. The one that protected her from their monster of a father all those years ago. The one that took care of her on her own. The person that raised her when their own mother wasn't able to.

She saw the pain and the struggle in her magenta hued eyes. The loneliness and the hurt and pain in her eyes. Scootaloo knew the answer right away and without a doubt. She wasn't doing this for herself.

She was doing this for her sister.

"Yeah".

Rainbow placed a hand over her mouth, tears of joy running down her face.

"This is seriously happening. Oh my celestia".

Rainbow was pulled into a hug by Orion. She hugged the man. She didn't care if anyone was watching. She was so happy.

After a few minutes she pulled away and sniffled, drying her eyes.

"This........ this is the greatest thing that could ever happen to me. Thank you".

Moonlight pulled Scootaloo on her lap.

"No need honey. We know how much you two have struggled and we believe you girls deserve to be with a family".

Rainbow and Scootaloo looked at eachother. They smiled and hugged.

"We have a home", Scootaloo cried.

Rainbow sniffled. "We have a family".

She laughed. "I guess we were always home. I guess we just didn't know it".

Rainbow and Scootaloo pulled away. Applejack walked up beside Rainbow, taking her hand. Rainbow bit her lip, looking at her sister.

Scootaloo saw their hands and the blush her sister's face. She gasped.

"Are you dating??"..

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow nodded slowly.

"Yeah. I have a girlfriend".

Scootaloo stared at her sister for a second. Then she asked,

"Does she make you happy??".

Rainbow nodded and smiled at the blonde teen.

"Yeah. She really does".

Scootaloo looked at Applejack. She walked up to her and hugged her.

"Thank you".

Applejack was surprised. Scootaloo backed up and looked up at Applejack.

"Take care of her. When I'm not around her. She needs someone to take care of her. She always does that to me. I think it should be the other way. Just sometimes".

Applejack smiled and nodded. "Ah will. Promise".

Rainbow covered a yawn. She looked at the clock.

11:23. Wow. It was late. Rainbow rubbed her tired eyes.

"C'mon. Scoots", she said, eyes heavy.

"Let's get ta bed".

Scootaloo smiled. She saw the tired look in her eyes. The 10 year old adjusted the pillow.

"Lay down".

Rainbow looked at her confused.

"That's my job", Rainbow said.

Scootaloo smiled kindly.

"I just want to tuck you in for once. I never had before".

Rainbow smiled at her. She laid down on the bed. Scootaloo pulled her shoes off and the blanket up. Twilight and her parents got up and walked to the doorway. They watched Scootaloo tuck Rainbow Dash into bed. The girls were already in comfortable clothes.

Scootaloo sat down, noticing her sister falling asleep. She looked at Applejack who smiled at her.

The country girl leaned down and kissed her head.

"Gnight", she whispered before getting up.

Applejack walked over to Twilight. Applejack smiled at her now girlfriend and her sister. They decided to leave the sisters alone, shutting the door.

Scootaloo watched her older sister, peacefully sleeping for the first time in years, her stuffed animal in hand.

She smiled and kissed Rainbow Dash goodnight on the forehead like Rainbow had done for her so many times. She laid down beside her older sister and looked at Rainbow through the dark.

"We're home Rainbow", she whispered. "We're home".
-------------

Told ya it was long. So let me know your thoughts and everything. Thanks for reading!! :)