Caramel became aware that his head was resting on something soft as he came to. Opening his eyes he found that he was laid out on a bench, with his head resting in Goldie's lap. Above him he could hear her humming as she brushed her hoof through his mane. He found It was rather pleasant and he was tempted to remain like this for a while, but he was curious about how he ended up here.

"Goldie?"

"Hmm?" Goldie's humming paused, as she continued to brush her hoof through his mane.

"What happened?"

"You fainted." She answered, resting her hoof onto his shoulder.

And now for the burning question, suddenly felt hesitate to ask. Taking a breath he steeled himself. "Did we just... get married?"

"Yes, apparently we did." Goldie answered, her voice seemed calm but he could tell that there was strain to it she was trying to hide.

Caramel sat up and looked over at her. "What are we going to do?" He asked, feeling lost and overwhelmed. His life had already changed so much during the last week, that this latest change just seem like it was too much. How could this have happened? It was supposed to be just a dance.

Goldie shook her head as she shrugged, also totally at a loss. "I don't know. From what I heard, I'm not sure anything can be done." Her gaze dropped down to the cobblestones. "I wasn't expecting this."

Caramel suddenly noticed that she was shivering. He wasn't sure if her shivering was caused by her being chilled by the night air, or because she was frightened by what had just happened to them, but in ether case, Caramel reacted without hesitation and put his hoof around her. For a moment Goldie sat there as he held her, but then she suddenly moved over and buried herself into his side as she took comfort from him.

Tightening his hold around her, he felt her shivers lessen as they sat quietly together. Looking around he saw that many ponies had already left to go home, as the crowds started to thin out. "When we were dancing, I felt something strange happen." Caramel said as he thought back. "It was like... we exchanged a piece of ourselves with each other." Caramel struggled to make sense of it. "It's hard to explain."

"No, I know what you mean." Goldie murmured from this side. "I'm having trouble understanding it myself." She sat up higher but still stayed against his side. "I remember feeling a closeness, and a complete sense of intimacy with you. It was like I was missing a part of myself and then I felt you complete me. When it happened it felt good, really good, almost euphoric."

Caramel nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, that's what it was like with me too." He lifted his hoof and looked at where the ribbon had bound him to Goldie. It was strange, he could still feel it.

"Oh! There you two are!" A sage colored unicorn mare stepped up in front of them. "I'm glad I found you two. My name is Mayor Quill Stroke."

Goldie lifted her head from Caramel side, as she looked at the Mayor. "Mayor? You were looking for us? Is there something wrong?"

The Mayor smiled and shook her head. "No, nothings wrong, I just stopped by to give you this." She held out a scroll in her magic. "With all the excitement, I missed the chance to give it to you two."

Caramel took the scroll and unrolled it. It was a marriage certificate. Their names were signed at the bottom, and Caramel almost laughed. It was the same sheet they had signed in front of Town Hall. If they hadn't had been in such a rush and had just read what they were signing they would have found out what the Midnight Dance really was. At the very bottom just under where they had signed, the mayor's hoof print and signature sealed the document. It was official, they were married.

"Oh, what an amazing festival this year was. Thirty one couples started the Midnight Dance and sixteen were able to complete it successfully." The Mayor said excitedly.

Caramel's head shot up, suddenly interested. "Wait! What do you mean sixteen completed it successfully?"

The Mayor gave him a confused look. "Didn't you two know the conditions before you participated?"

Caramel cleared his throat awkwardly as he gave Goldie a glance. "Well ah... we were the last ones in line, and we were kind of rushed. So we kind of just signed and dashed." He awkwardly explained, not wanting to tell the Mayor that they had no idea what the dance had been really all about.

The Mayor gave a nod of understanding. "I see. Well the marriage dance is more complicated then just going in and dancing and boom! Your married. You see first there's the ribbon." The Mayor's horn lit up and the ribbon that had been laying on the bench next to Goldie lifted up. "The ribbon has a spell on it you see. When you bind two ponies together with it, it will then draw from the hearts of the two ponies to hold its knot in place."

To demonstrate the Mayor then set her hoof along side Caramel's and with her magic she quickly bound them together with the ribbon. "When the two ponies hearts aren't in sync, and there is little love, then the knot is weak and will quickly come undone." With a couple of tugs, the ribbon easily slipped loose and the Mayor's hoof came free of Caramel's.

"But when the two ponies hearts are strong for each other." The Mayor then bound Goldie's and Caramel's hooves together. "Then the knot will draw strength from those two hearts and hold tighter." The Mayor then tugged on their hooves, trying to pull them apart. The knot held fast and would not budge. And when the Mayor used her magic to try to slip the knot it stubbornly held fast. "Wow, this is quite unusual, I have never seen one hold his strong."

"It won't come loose?" Caramel asked, lifting their bound hooves, and looking at it curiously. "Are we going to haft to cut the ribbon off?"

"Caramel." Goldie said, calling his attention to her. She reached her mouth down and took one of the loose ends of the knot in her mouth. "Together we can do it, in harmony."

Caramel nodded his understanding as he took the second end in his mouth. Together they pulled, and the knot easily slipped apart.

The Mayor watched this, her eyes going wide. "Wow, that was quite interesting." She said in amazement, before she caught herself and continued with her explanation. "So ah, the second part is of course the dancing. Marriage needs cooperation and harmony. That is why we have the couples dance tied together. If you don't cooperate with your partner and harmonies with them you will stumble and fall." Goldie and Caramel remembered some of the couples around them having troubles moving and a many of them even falling, but they had been so focused on one another that it hardly came to their attention.

"The Midnight Dance tests the couples love for each other, and how well they harmonize with each other, so if at any point during the Midnight Dance, if any of the dancer's hearts aren't strong for one another and ribbon comes untied or if they fail to harmonize and they stumble and fall. Then that is it, it's all over, their certificate is ripped up and their marriage doesn't happen."

Caramel gaped at the Mayor, next to him he felt Goldie grip tighten on his foreleg. "Are you saying that, at any point if our love for each other was weak, or if we failed work in harmony, we would have failed and we wouldn't be married now?"

The Mayor nodded. "That is correct." She said simply. "But that would have never happen to you two. I watched you two while you danced and you two were amazing!" The Mayor beamed at the two with a excited smile plastered on her face. "I have never seen a pair so much in love, or so harmonized. Your moves were fluid and beautiful, and I have never seen anything like it before. Most couples only step back and forth, but you two moved about! You actually crossed the dance floor twice! And you didn't even bump into any of the other couples!" The Mayor twirled in place excitedly as she recalled their dance. "I bet that we could have had all four of your legs tied together and you sill would have been just wonderful!"

"We were really that good?" Goldie asked, sitting up with a flush coming to her cheeks, she glanced to Caramel only to see he was just as stunned as she.

"Honey, you two are perfect for each other." The Mayor said with a smile.

Caramel never realized they had moved around that much during the dance, in fact he had trouble remembering most of the details. It was like he had slipped into some kind of dream. "Um, there is something else that we would like to know. During our dance we started to feel a strange thing happen between us. It was like we were sharing our innermost selves with one another. Do you know what this was?"

The Mayor looked between the two with a knowing look. "That would be the main purpose of the ribbon. It ties two ponies together in more than one sense. If their love is strong for one another, then the ribbon will act as a conduit to share their feeling with one another. The stronger the feeling the stronger and deeper the bond will be. It's like two trees that have woven themselves together, and have become one. The ribbon did that for you, it opened the doors and allowed your feelings to be woven together, just like two trees." She pointed down at their hooves. "Look at where you had the ribbon tied, you should see a mark encircling your leg, that would be the marriage band."

Caramel and Goldie lifted their hooves and looked closely. A lighter band of fur encircled around both of their legs, right were they had the ribbon tied during their dance.

"Now, place your hooves together and think about your feelings for each other." The Mayor told them, as she gestured putting two hooves together.

Goldie and Caramel was hesitate at first but after they looked at each other, they decided to do as she said, and placed their hooves together. Almost immediately the two bands around their legs began to glow softly.

"Yes! I knew it would work! Most couples can only feel the bond. It's like they can feel the ribbon still tied around their leg. But you two are special! You can actually see the bond, and that has happened only a few times in the past!" The Mayor was dancing in place in her excitement. "Oh! You two are going to have such a happy life together!"

Goldie and Caramel stared in wonder. This was proof. They were bonded together, in paper, body and heart. There was no denying it, not when it was written on your own body.

"Isn't it dangerous to let these ribbons loose to the public? Shouldn't you be taking them all back once the dancing is over?" Caramel asked, slightly worried that something like these ribbons somehow being mishandled.

The Mayor shook her head. "The requirements to activate the spells are so exacting that it is pretty much impossible for just anypony to accidentally get it to work on them. Also the spells placed on the ribbons are only good for one night. When the moon sets, their power will fade and they will just be normal ribbons again."

Goldie was the first to lower her hoof. Once the connection broke, the marks faded until they were just a lighter band around their legs. "Thank you Mayor, for explaining this to us. Its late and we should be getting to bed." Goldie said as she started to get up.

"Oh! Of course. I wouldn't want to keep you two from any further personal celebrations!" The mayor said with a nod and wink. "Perhaps in eleven months you two will have something small, cute and cuddly delivered into your life, eh? Good luck!" The Mayor waved as she left.

Caramel stopped and stared at Goldie for a moment as she started walking. He was imagining what having something small, cute, and cuddly with her would be like.

Goldie paused and looked back. "What are you standing around for? We need to pick up Cinnamon."

Oh! Right, they already had something small, cute and cuddly, and she was waiting for them, Caramel quickly brought his thoughts to task. Snatching up the ribbon and certificate in his mouth, tucked them away into his suit, before he trotted after Goldie to catch up.

Tranquil Morning answered her door with a tired smile. After she retrieved Cinnamon from a crib which had two more foals still sleeping in it, she handed her over to Goldie, who was quick to give the sleepy filly a kiss.

As Caramel payed Tranquil Morning, she told him about how Cinnamon had been a bit fussy about eating and had a difficult time falling asleep, having only just gotten her asleep a short time before they arrived. Caramel wondered what could have been troubling Cinnamon as he payed Tranquil Morning a little extra to for her troubles, once he had Cinnamon's diaper bag settled onto his back, he rejoined Goldie and headed back to the B&B.

Goldie elected to hold Cinnamon rather then use the carrier, on their walk back to The Sleepy Traveler. She held the filly close as she hummed a tune, while Caramel following close by her side. They quietly entered the B&B and ascended the stairs to their rooms. Finding the crib was finished being set up in Caramel's room. He quickly set a blanket down inside as Goldie waited, and once he was done, they both gave the sleeping filly a kiss before Goldie carefully lower her into the crib.

The moment Cinnamon was set down, she roused slightly as she curled herself around and started to make some plaintive cries. Goldie quickly started rubbing her back, as she softly sang a lullaby. Caramel stood next to her, as he looked into the crib. He admired how much affection and care Goldie showed to Cinnamon, so much like a mother would. Caramel suddenly realized that now that they were married, Goldie was now as much a parent to Cinnamon as he was. The realization was quiet startling, as it meant that he now had a family.

After a bit, Cinnamon finally settled down, and Goldie and Caramel quietly stepped away from the crib. Goldie then moved past Caramel to the door, where she paused and turned back to Caramel. "I'm going to my room. I... have some things to figure out, and I need to think." Goldie explained.

Caramel nodded. "I understand, I feel the same way. So much has happened, that my head is just spinning."

Goldie hesitated for a moment, but then she moved closer to Caramel and gave him a quick kiss to his lips. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Goldie." Caramel answered, as Goldie turned and left.

Closing his door, Caramel let out a sigh, setting the ribbon and certificate down on the desk, he then removed Bentleaf's suit and hung it up in the closet. He would need to remember to thank Bentleaf for letting him use his suit. Turning off the light, Caramel slipped into bed.

Even though he was utterly exhausted, sleep eluded him. His thought whirled about in his head, as he tried to make sense of it. Goldie was his first and oldest friend, as well as his first and only love. And now they were married. In the darkness, Caramel lifted his left hoof and looked at where the band was around his leg.

He could still feel it encircling his leg, and he suspected he would feel it for the rest of his life. He was about to lower his leg when something about it caught his eye. He wasn't sure, but it looked like it had a slight glow. Curious, Caramel closed his eyes and thought about his feelings for Goldie. Powerful emotions suddenly whelmed up, and he suddenly had the feeling of missing her, even though she was in the next room, he wanted her close to him. A strong desire to touch Goldie and hold her raged through him like a storm, and he had to fight the urge to get up and go to her.

Opening his eyes he looked. It wasn't strong but it was definitely there, his marriage band glowed. Apparently their bond was so strong, that they didn't need to be in contact to make it react. With a sigh, he let his hoof drop down. He wondered if Goldie was having trouble sleeping too.

Caramel let out a groan and rolled over, burying his face into a pillow. Why can't life just be simple. He tossed and turn for quite some time, and he was starting to think that he was not going to get any sleep tonight.

A sudden cry came from the crib let Caramel know that Cinnamon was now awake and she wanted him. Caramel lifted his head and looked over at the crib, at least he had something to do besides just laying in bed. Getting up he crossed over to the crib and lifted Cinnamon out. She wiggled in his grasp as she wailed out. For some reason she seemed louder than usual.

Bouncing her, Caramel cooed to her and tried to shush her. Taking a pacifier, he shoved it into her mouth, as he bounced and rocked her. She spit it out, and continued wailing. Picking the pacifier back up with his lips, he again shoved it into her mouth, this time he held it and wiggled about, until she finally accepted it, and furiously suckled it. He checked her diaper and found it dry, so he figured she was just hungry.

Taking one of her empty bottles and the formula, he left his room and went down to the kitchen. Cinnamon continued to wiggle in his grasp as he prepared her bottle and would occasionally let out little cry's around her pacifier before she returned to suckling it furiously. Caramel looked down at her and wondered why she was acting so strangely. Once he had her bottle ready, he returned back to his room. Sitting down in a rocking chair in the corner of the room, he adjusted Cinnamon around so that he would be able to feed her. Lowering his mouth to her pacifier he took it out, and she immediately started wailing again.

Quickly he gave her her bottle, and she started to suckle it but then she rejected it, spitting out the milk, as she resumed crying. Wiping the mess she made with her spit up with a towel, Caramel tried putting the bottle into her mouth a few more time, but she rejected it every time. Setting the bottle aside, Caramel put her pacifier back in, only for her to spit it back out.

Caramel was at a loss. He began to bounce and rock her, as he cooed at her. He even tried singing a song to her, but nothing was having an effect. Caramel became worried that something might be wrong with her. Across the room heard his door open, and he looked up and saw Goldie was stepping in with a concerned look on her face.

"Is she okay?" Goldie asked, crossing the room to them.

Caramel shook his head uncertainly. "I don't know. She just keeps crying. Her diaper is dry, and when I try to feed her she won't take the bottle."

Goldie bent down and laid her ear against Cinnamon's belly and listened for several moments. Lifting her head up, she felt Cinnamon's belly. "Well, she's not bloated and I don't hear any gas. How does her stool look?"

"She had the runs for the last couple of day's so I switched her formula this morning. For a time her stool looked better, but then I noticed that it was becoming a bit firm and dry. I haven't changed her diaper since we dropped her off at Tranquil Morning's place." Caramel explained as Goldie opened Cinnamon's diaper and checked inside it.

Lifting her hoof, Goldie then palpated Cinnamon's belly by gently pushing into it. Cinnamon's wails turned into outright screams, and Goldie looked up at Caramel. "I think the new formula had bound her up, and she has an upset stomach."

"Shut that brat up!" An angry stallion shouted from the hallway, just outside Caramel's door.

"Sir, please don't shout." Mrs. Swan aproching voice said the the angry guest.

"Then go in there and tell them to silence that drooling brat, or to take it outside so I can get some sleep!" Came his angry reply.

Caramel gritted his teeth in anger. He had always prided himself on his easy going nature, but the obnoxious guest out in the hall had just pushed him to the edge of his patience.

"Sir! There is no need to be so rude! Now please go back into your room and I will see what is the matter." By Mrs. Swan tone, she seemed to be having trouble keeping her patience with the angry guest herself.

A moment latter there was a knock on the door, and Mrs. Swan stuck her head in. "Excuse me, is there a problem with the foal?"

Goldie looked up and nodded. "Yes there is." Goldie answered. "There is a few things we're going to need, if you don't mind."

Mrs. Swan eagerly nodded. "Of course, what is it you need?"

"First we need some hot water bottles, and second we need some tea. Do you have Peppermint or Ginger tea?" Goldie asked as she lifted Cinnamon out of Caramel's lap.

"I'll have my husband bring up the hot water bottles, and I have both Peppermint and Ginger tea. Which would you prefer?" Mrs. Swan asked anxiously as she eagerly wished to help.

"Peppermint please, but don't make it too hot, or too strong." She explained. "And we are going to need some honey too." Goldie added as she rocked Cinnamon back and forth.

The Caramel's door was suddenly shoved open, and a very familiar stallion stood looking in. "Why is that whelp still wailing?"

Caramel's eye's hardened as he looked at Bitternut Dandy. Out of all the places he could have been given a room, he just had to get one here.

Mrs. Swan made placating motions with her hoof. "Please sir, return back to your room. We are doing what we can."

Bitternut Dandy looked over Mrs. Swan and gave a sneer when he saw Goldie as she tried to comfort Cinnamon. "Oh, so its the cow again. What the whelp do? Look at your face." He gave a snickering laugh, as he enjoyed his own joke.

Caramel released an angry snort, and stormed across the room. There will be no stopping him this time. Bitternut Dandy was going to learn respect, Caramel was going to make sure of that. Passing Mrs. Swan, Caramel glared murder at Bitternut as stepped up to him and placed his hoof to the pompous stallions chest and shoved him back out into the hall.

"Hay! Watch those hooves, simpleton!" Bitternut Dandy snapped with a scowl, but Caramel ignored him as he shoved his face up close to Bitternut Dandy's

"I'll give you one chance to apologize for the insults you've made to my wife and our foal." Caramel growled, as he glared into Bitternut's eyes.

"You'd better back off. I'm not somepony to mess with!" Bitternut said with contempt. "If you so much as-"

That was as far as he got before Caramel's hoof cracked him across the side of his face, snapping his head back. With his eyes rolled up in his head, Bitternut collapsed bonelessly to the floor. The room across the hall with the blue trim had its door open, figuring it to be Bitternut's room, Caramel dragged the unconscious Bitternut through the door and shut it as he left, leaving Bitternut to sleep off his education.

"My apologies Mrs. Swan, but he needed to be taught respect." Caramel said as he passed her on his way back to his wife.

Mrs. Swan was looking at him wide eyed, as she suddenly shook her head. "No, don't be. You had every right to stand up for your... wait, did you say wife!?"

Caramel held up his left hoof as his marriage band started to glow softly. "As of a few hours ago."

Mrs. Swan started skipping in place excitedly. "That is just wonderful!" Then she seemed to catch herself as she realized why she was here in the first place. "Oh! The foal, I'll go get what you need. I'll be back in a moment!" Quickly she hurried off.

Goldie moved closer to Caramel and surprised him when she took his lips with hers, and kissed him deeply. Caramel was already coming down from anger fueled confrontation with Bitternut, but as Goldie kissed him, he suddenly started to feel like he was floating. Breaking the kiss, Goldie met his eyes. "I love you." She said. "Now, I have something for you to do. While Mrs. Swan and her husband is getting what we need, I want you to go to the linen closet, and get some hoof towels. Take them to the bathroom and soak one in hot water, then wring it out, and put it into the dry towel and bring it back here. We will use it as a makeshift heat pad until they bring the hot water bottles."

Caramel quickly left and did as she instructed. Returning he found Goldie sitting in the rocker chair in the corner, and was softly singing a lullaby to Cinnamon, who was no longer wailing at the top of her lungs but instead was letting out soft mewling cries and whimpers. "Here's the heated towels." Caramel said as he rushed up to her.

Goldie paused her lullaby as she glanced up. "Good, here let me see." She took the towel from his and felt it on her face, and frowned at how little warmth she got from it. "It'll haft to do for now." She placed the lukewarm towel onto Cinnamon's belly and held it there, as she started singing again.

Caramel sat down on his rump, and anxiously watched over them. After a few minutes, Goldie sent him off to warm up another towel. Returning a few moment latter, they exchanged the towels and Caramel sat back down and resumed his anxious vigil.

Bentleaf suddenly came in carrying the hot water bottles that they were waiting for. Goldie took them and set them along Cinnamon's belly, taking one of the dry towels and draped it over the bottles to hold in the warmth. Cinnamon kicked her legs and let out a complaintive cry, but Goldie was quick to coo and mummer to her until she settled down.

The wait for Mrs. Swan was short as she came in a few moments latter, carrying a wooden tray with a teapot and a jar of honey on her back.

"Good, please set it down on the desk." Goldie said before she turned to Caramel. "Take a sip and tell me how hot it is."

Caramel took up the teapot and pour some into a cup on the tray, and took a sip. "It's rather warm, but not too hot."

Goldie smiled. "Perfect. Now take a empty bottle and put in about a third of a teacup." Caramel quickly fetched a bottle and put the tea in. "Now once you have the nipple on the bottle, smear some of honey onto the nipple then bring it to me."

"Honey?" Caramel asked, wondering why she wanted him to put honey on the nipple.

"To sweeten it. It will help encourage Cinnamon to take the bottle." Goldie explained as she waited.

Once Caramel finished smearing the honey on the nipple , he hurried over and gave Goldie the bottle. Sitting back down he leaned over and watched as Goldie prodded the nipple into Cinnamon's mouth.

"Come on sweetie, be a good filly." Goldie murmured, as she urged Cinnamon to take the bottle. Finally, after a few more tries, Cinnamon closed her mouth around the nipple and began to suckle. "That's it. That's a good filly, take it all in." Goldie said softly, as she smiled.

Caramel let out a sigh as he sat back on his haunches, and watched her take in the tea. "Will this make her better?"

"Peppermint tea is very useful, it can help with numerous health issues from fevers, digestive, nausea, respiratory, and boosting the immune system. It can stimulate bile flow to help with digestion and bowel movements, as well as having a calming effects on the intestines and other parts of the digestive tract. So this should settle her stomach ache, and hopefully help her stool move. My mother taught me a bit about medicinal tea's." She held out the now empty bottle to Caramel who took it from her. "Do you have any other formula's besides the one you were using?" She asked.

Caramel shook his head. "I only have the one, I threw away the other stuff." He said regretfully.

"I have some in the kitchen." Mrs. Swan suddenly said. "I always carry some, for the times when a family with a foal stays here."

"Would you please make a bottle with it. When she's feeling better she'll need to eat." Goldie asked.

"I would be happy to." Mrs. Swan said as she took the empty bottle from Caramel. "Come along Bentleaf, lets give the young family some privacy. I'll be back shortly with the prepared bottle." They then left and shut the door.

Caramel continued watching over the two as he sat nearby, listening to Goldie as she hummed to Cinnamon while she rocked her in the rocking chair. Cinnamon appeared to be feeling better as she wasn't squirming around anymore, and her cries had diminished to the occasional whimper. Goldie was amazing, Caramel thought as he admired her. He had felt so lost and powerless to help Cinnamon, but Goldie knew just what to do. She had been so quick and decisive with her care and comfort for Cinnamon, that Caramel felt his love for her swell. Lifting his hoof, Caramel looked at his faintly glowing marriage band, and wondered if he even deserved a mare like her.

"You were wonderful." Goldie suddenly said, breaking him out of his contemplation.

Caramel looked up and met her gaze. "What are you talking about? I was hopeless. You were the one who knew what to do. It was you that was amazing. I was just bumbling around."

Goldie shook her head with a smile. "No you weren't. You were attentive to us, and quickly did everything that was needed. You stayed calm and reliant when I needed you most." Goldie's smile widened. "You also defended your family with the same ferocity as my father would have, I am so proud to have you as my husband." As she spoke, her marriage band lightly glowed.

Caramel's heart soared when she referred to him her husband. "You really feel that way?" It was strange how happy that made him feel.

Goldie nodded. "Without a doubt." She said meeting his eyes. "Earlier, I laid in bed thinking about us, and this colossal change that has happened to my life. I began to feel overwhelmed by it all because, how was I expected to become a wife and a mother in a instant? I didn't think I was ready for all of this and I was on a verge of succumbing to panic, but then my thoughts turned to you. My oldest friend, and my first and only love. We are together in this and I could think of no other pony I would rather be with." Ever since she had gone through the Midnight Dance, Goldie found her feelings for Caramel had gotten stronger and more clear, it was as if her feelings for him had been forged in a blacksmiths fire, and was given shape and purity. She loved him before but now it had been brought into focus and given a clarity that eliminated any doubt about her feelings. "We are both bound together with a force greater than all the winds, older than the mountains, deeper then the seas and vaster then the heavens in the sky."

Goldie reached out her hoof and caressed Caramel's cheek. "I love you, and I want to be your wife."

Caramel's heart was hammering in his chest as he heard her words. They resonated through him, and touched the deepest part of his soul. Since the Midnight Dance, he had been feeling that a missing part of himself had just snapped into place, and he was now whole. "When we first met, I found my best fiend in the world, and when we kissed, I found my true love. During our time apart I experienced the grief of loss and the deep wounds of terrible shame, and degradation. I almost lost a precious part of myself, but then you found me and soothed my wounds. You restored to me what I held most dear. My friendship and love for you. I too can think of no other pony I would rather be with. We are bound with a power brighter then the sun, hotter then any wildfire, stronger than the hardest diamond, and lighter than all the hope's and dreams of the world."

Lifting his hoof, he caressed Goldie's cheek, just as she did his. "I love you, and I want to be your husband."

Coming together, their lips met and they kissed. It was a tender kiss, filled with their feeling for each other, as their lips blended together like they were made to be one.

A light tap came to the door, and it cracked open. Mrs. Swan poked her head in, and when she saw them kissing, her eyes widened as she blushed. "Oh! My apologies. I brought you the bottle for your filly. I'll just leave it here on the chair. Goodnight you two." With a final look at the pair as she smiled, she closed the door.

Caramel and Goldie lips broke apart as they both gave a snickered laugh at the awkward scene they must have given Mrs. Swan. A light snuffle caught their attention, and they both looked down. Cinnamon had fallen asleep, with her head buried against Goldie. Her breath was slow and even, and her face was calm, as she no longer showed signs of distress or pain.

"Looks like she feeling better." Caramel murmured softly, smiling down.

"She must be so exhausted." Goldie gently brushed back Cinnamon forelock from her face. "I want to be a mother too." She murmured softly.

Caramel could see the look of affection in Goldie's eyes as she looked down at Cinnamon. "Even with all the bad stuff that goes with it?" Caramel asked.

"Even with all the bad stuff. I know its going to be hard and scary, and even though she has her daddy, I think she also needs a mommy, and I want that to be me." She removed the cooled water bottles from Cinnamon's belly and set them aside.

Caramel smiled as he watched Goldie. "I know you will be a great mother." Taking a blanket, he tucked it around Cinnamon so that only her nose and eyes were visible, then he used what remained of the blanket to cover Goldie, to keep her warm as well. Standing he retrieved the bottle that Mrs. Swan left on the chair by the door and brought it back and set it down on the nightstand next to Goldie.

Goldie smiled her appreciation. "And you are a great father." As Caramel was about to sit back down next to her, Goldie shook her head at him. "It's super late. Go ahead and get some sleep, I'll stay up with her for a bit."

"You sure?" Caramel asked, unsure if he should abandon his place by her side.

"Yeah, you've had a lot less sleep than me. Go on, I can handle this." Goldie said as she shooed at him.

Reluctantly Caramel gave in. Moving around the room he turned off the lights except the lamp on the desk, then he pulled back the blanket and slipped into bed. As he laid there, he listened as Goldie started to hum a lullaby. He smiled as he wondered if she was doing that for Cinnamon or for him, but whatever the case, he felt himself drift along with her melody, until sleep claimed him.

Goldie continued humming as she slowly rocked Cinnamon. Occasionally she would glance over to Caramel, and watch him as he slept. She wondered how she was going to break the news about their marriage to her family. Her sisters will be happy, while her brother will be shocked, but otherwise fine, mother would be overjoyed by the new, and would likely steal Cinnamon at her first first opportunity. Her father would of course kill Caramel, dice him up into small chunks and fertilize his fields. How was she going to keep her father from killing Caramel she wondered?

Cinnamon suddenly squirmed and let out a diminutive whine as she moved her head about. She was exhausted but also hungry. The tea helped sooth her but did little to sate her hunger. Taking the bottle, Goldie nursed the drowsy filly until she eventually drifted off with a full belly. Smiling, Goldie set the bottle aside and lifted Cinnamon up to her shoulder. Cinnamon came awake and let out a complaint, but Goldie ignored her as she settled her into place, with how delicate her stomach was she needed to be burped. Goldie patted her back until she got what she wanted, two little burps. Finished, Goldie walking over to the crib and lowered Cinnamon into it, covering her with the blanket, she watched as within moments the filly was sound asleep.

As she stepped away from the crib, Goldie paused as she looked at Caramel. She considered going to her room, but found she didn't really want to, she wanted to stay with Caramel. Turning off the light on the desk, she stepped up next to the bed, and carefully lifted the blanket. Caramel was laying on his side facing her, and there was room next to him for one more. Sliding into the bed, Goldie let out a pleased sigh, as she snuggled herself up to Caramel. She couldn't believe how warm he was as she felt his body pressed up against her back. Suddenly Caramel shifted and his hoof reached over her as he hugged her to himself. He murmured a bit as he readjusted himself into her, placing his head onto her neck.

Goldie blushed as she felt his hot breath tickle her ear. Closing her eyes, she let out a satisfied sigh. So this is what if felt like to have a stallion pressed up against her back. Biting her lip, she had to resist the urge to arch her back, and grind her croup against his sheath. Maybe climbing into bed with him was a mistake, she thought as she felt a itch form in her nethers. Raining in her lustfully errant thoughts, Goldie focused on the comforting feeling of Caramel as she relaxed into him, and drifted off to sleep.

A few hours latter, Goldie awoke. Cracking her eyes open she saw the first rays of the morning sun as it bathed the room through the windows. Caramel had moved from where he was when she fell asleep, his head was no longer on her neck having moved back onto his pillow, while his hoof had moved down to her side. Yawning, Goldie lifted up the blanket and looked under at what it was that was jabbing her in her back, causing her to wake.

What she saw made her gasp in surprise, quickly she let the blanket fall back down. That was the first time she ever saw one of those on a full grown stallion, having seen plenty of them on colts back when she was a foalsitter, she couldn't help but notice how much bigger they were on a stallion. Nibbling her lip, she debated looking again. With a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure Caramel was still asleep, she lifted the blanket again and looked. Her eyes drifted down its shaft as her cheeks blushed. It's was a light cream color, with brown mottling down its length. She couldn't help but wonder as she looked at it what it would taste like, or even how it would feel to have it pushed into her.

Caramel let out a grunt, and Goldie quickly let the blanket drop down. With a snort, Caramel awoke, and blinked blearily at her. "What...?" He murmured as he rubbed at his eyes with his hoof. "What time is it?"

"It's still early. The sun just crested the horizon." Goldie answered, looking over her shoulder at him. "You can go back to sleep." She felt a little bad. It was because of her ogling his stallionhood that he had most likely woken up.

Caramel let out a yawn, and scratched at his neck. "So ah, you slept here then?"

Goldie laid her head back down onto her pillow. "Yep. And you were really nice to snuggle up to as well. So warm and soft."

"Oh really?" Caramel asked, sounding pleased. Goldie grinned as she felt his hoof slid over her, as he pulled himself into her. His stallionhood, which had just been happily poking her in her back, was suddenly shoved in harder, and Goldie's eyes widened as she felt it grind itself along her back.

Caramel, who had been oblivious to his flagging member, instantly realized what just happened, and quite overreacted by suddenly shoving himself back. "Oh my gosh! I'm sorry!" He exclaimed as he fell off the other side of the bed. With a thud, he hit the floor.

Shaking her head, Goldie rolled herself over and sat up to look over the edge of the bed at Caramel. The view was reminiscent of when he had fallen off his seat on the train, except that this time she had a nice view of his stallionhood as it poked up into the air. Gazing up at her, Caramel's eyes flickered down to his exposed self and his face turned beat red.

"Don't look!" He exclaimed as he shoved his hooves down and attempted to cover himself.

"Keep your voice down, or you will wake Cinnamon." Goldie whispered sternly, as she looked back to make sure that his antics hadn't already woken her. Seeing no signs that the filly was awake, Goldie looked back down. "And why shouldn't I look? Aren't I your wife? Shouldn't I enjoy the sight of my husbands body?"

Caramel blinked at her for a moment before he realized how stupid he was acting.

"Now stop being a little colt that just dropped his first boner in the middle of class, and get back into bed. There is something we need to talk about." Goldie admonished him.

Caramel uncovered himself, and climbed back into bed. Goldie snuggled up to him and laid her head down onto his shoulder. "Caramel, I want to be intimate with you but because of what happened to you, I don't want you to ever feel like your being forced by any advancement I might make. So if there ever comes a time when your uncomfortable with anything I'm doing, let me know at once." Goldie spoke softly into his chest, as she laid her hoof onto his barrel. "I don't want to hurt you or loose your trust."

Caramel stopped her, by caressing her cheek with his hoof. "I trust you completely. I know your not... her." His voice grew cold as he referenced his attacker, but then quickly warmed. "And I know with absolute certainty that you would never hurt me or violate my trust. I know this because we shared something with each other last night, something that was very deep and intimate between us, something that brought us more closer than I would have thought ever possible between two ponies, It's like our very souls embraced last night."

Goldie leaned her head back and looked up at Caramel. "That's so beautiful."

Caramel bent his head down, and kissed her. He could feel her body shiver against his as he tightened his hold on her. Goldie's hoof crept around his barrel as she pulled herself against him. Her lips pressed against his, as she let her needs be felt. With a pop, their lips broke apart, and Goldie set her head back down on his shoulder. She felt so happy.

"Goldie?" Caramel said, breaking Goldie out of her pleased reverie.

"Hmm?"

"I want to... to make love to you."

Goldie's heart leaped up. She quickly looked up and met his gaze. "I want that too. But, are you sure your ready?" She asked.

Caramel took a breath. "It's been five years since it happened. Five years to come to terms with it. You've helped me to open up and share it with another. It hurt but I was better for it, and now I want to put that experience into the past and make better loving memory's with you."

Caramel returned his lips to hers as he kissed her. Goldie moaned into the kiss as she felt his tongue move in and caress hers. Her body began to twitch in anticipation of what she hoped was about to happen. With a finale flick, Caramel retracted his tongue as he broke the kiss.

"Oh Caramel, I want this." Goldie pleaded breathlessly, as she felt her body aching for release.

Caramel rolled himself around until he was over her. Goldie let out a gasp, as she felt him nudge her legs apart. Bending down, he sought out her lips. The way that Caramel loomed over her, made Goldie feel like she was being dominated, and as she wrapped her hooves around his body, she found she like it. Goldie pressed her lip hard against Caramel's as her tongue explored his mouth.

Goldie's body was shivering with excitement, as she felt Caramel's hips brush against her inner thighs. Breaking from the kiss, Goldie threw her head back with a gasp at the sudden surge of arousal that shot though her body. Caramel took advantage of this and went for her throat. Giving her little nips and kisses, Goldie panted for breath as he nibbled and licked at her neck and throat.

Caramel could feel Goldie squirm and twitch under him, as he swirled his tongue through her fur, prompting her into letting out little whimpers and squeaks of enjoyment. Shifting his attention, Caramel began to nibble on her ear. Goldie clutched at him suddenly as he reached a certain spot near the base of her ear, she let out a very pleased moan as he bore down on it, Caramel had to fight from smiling as it appeared he had just found her sweet spot.

Goldie suddenly buried her face into his neck as she tightened her hold on him. Her nethers felt like they were on fire as she felt her fluids running down to soak into the sheets. "Please, my husband. I don't know how much more I can take." Goldie whimpered.

Caramel could hear the need in her voice. With a final suckle on her ear he released it and quickly found her waiting mouth. As he kissed her, she pressed against him so hard, it was almost painful. Adjusting his body, Caramel positioned himself to enter her. With a gentle poke, he felt his stallionhood press up against something wet, and incredibly hot.

Goldie broke from the kiss with a gasp, as her whole body shuddered with the sensation of Caramel's stallionhood pressing up against her private sanctum. Hugging Caramel tightly, Goldie pressed her cheek to his, as she waited for him to push in. After a few moments, Goldie became aware that she could feel Caramel shivering. Alarmed Goldie pulled her head back and looked into Caramel's face. His eyes were screwed shut, while his breath came in great heaves. Oh no! It was too soon, he wasn't ready!" She could see he was on the verge of panic.

"Caramel! Open your eyes, look at me! Look into my eyes." Goldie begged.

The moment his stallionhood touched her, memory's of what that monster from his past had done to him started to rush through his mind. The feeling of her shoving herself down onto his stallionhood, and the pain he felt, as his injured back ground into the bloodied mattress. No! I will not let this ruin my moment with my wife! Caramel fought it. He could hear Goldie calling to him, begging for him to look at her, to meet her eyes.

With an effort, Caramel opened his eyes and met Goldie's. For a moment they were yellow, just like that monster. But then he blinked and they were the soft green he so loved. The eyes of his wife. Goldie smiled up at him, as she caressed his cheek with her right hoof.

"It's okay Caramel. We can stop, I'm fine with how things are. I'm happy to just be with you." Goldie said as she held his cheek, relived to see reason return back to his eyes.

Caramel could hear the love and understanding in her voice, but he couldn't help but feel he was letting her down. Lifting his left hoof, he pressed it to the one she held to his cheek. The moment their marriage bands touched, they suddenly glowed brightly, and Caramel felt a flood of feelings flow into him. Tenderness, caring, intimacy, trust, adoration, and love. So much love flowed into him that it was overpowering, and it all came from Goldie. His panic vanished, and the dark terrible memory's that plagued him were suddenly cast back, leaving him finally free.

Caramel felt lightheaded, as he blinked down at Goldie, who equally felt just as dazed. The glow around their marriage bands dimmed down but remained softly glowing. Caramel wasn't sure what had just happened, but what he did know was that the memory's that had held him back, where no longer bothering him, and that the mare he loved was waiting for him. Dropped his head down he kissed Goldie, who kissed him back with equal fervor. Their frenzied kisses went on for a while, before Caramel broke away and looked down at Goldie.

"I love you." He said, meeting her gaze.

Goldie was flushed as her breath came in quick gasps. "I know. I felt it, just as you felt my love for you."

Bending back down, he kissed her again, but this time it was tender and soft. Their lips moved against each other with a warmth and affection that allowed them to savor each other to their fullest. Parting from her lips, Caramel lightly kissed Goldie down the side of her muzzle, then along her cheek, where he turned his attention upwards.

"Are you ready?" Caramel whispered into her ear, as he tenderly reached up to nibbled on the ear he missed earlier.

Goldie shuddered in pleasure at his light nips. "Oh yes." She managed to moan out.

Releasing her ear, Caramel shifted himself back, and again pressed his stallionhood to her sanctum. The moment he felt her wet fiery passage start to envelope his member, the sense of dread and panic that would normally rise up, was blessedly now absent. His thoughts were now only for his wife, and how much he loved her.

Goldie buried her face into the side of Caramel neck, as she gasped and squirmed at the feeling of being stretched out for the first time. Caramel was gentle as he took it slow. Goldie panted, as she hugged Caramel to herself as tightly as she could, while she felt Caramel sink further into her passage. It hurt but it also felt good at the same time. Suddenly she tensed up hard and let out a whimper of pain as she felt him press up against a barrier.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt you." Caramel murmured into her ear.

Goldie nuzzled his cheek. "It's okay, I want you to. I love you and I give this to you, please take it."

His breath was heavy in her ears as he turned his head and kissed her behind her ear. "You ready?" He asked softly.

Goldie nodded her head, as she tightened her grip around Caramel as she prepared herself. Caramel pulled his hips back slightly for a moment then he plunged forward, ripping through her barrier. Goldie let out a painful whimper, when she felt her barrier tear as Caramel took her virginity. Buried deeply in her now, Caramel remained still as he gently kissed and nuzzled the top of Goldie's head, trying to comfort her, from what he had just done to her.

Goldie held onto Caramel tightly as she tried her best to cope with the pain of her lost virginity. The feeling of Caramel's kisses and caring ministrations, soon had her relaxing as her pain slowly faded.

"Okay, I... I think I'm ready to continue." Goldie murmured, softly nuzzling his lower neck. "Just go slow."

"Of course my love." Caramel whispered with a final kiss just behind her ear, before he pulled out his member, coated with her vaginal fluids and a bit of blood from her lost virginity, and thrust back in. Goldie felt the sting of pain, but not as strong as before, and it was soon replaced by a pleasant jolt. The next time when Caramel thrust in, a bit of the pain turned into pleasure, and more so on the third thrust.
The pain vanished, as Caramel buried his length into her for the forth time. Leaving her only the most wonderfully pleasurable of sensations as she moaned and gasped into Caramel's neck.

Goldie relaxed her hold on Caramel, so that she could lower herself enough to take Caramel's mouth with her own. As their lips and tongues worked on one another, Caramel continued to steadily thrust into her. Goldie had no idea how long this went on, minutes or hours, it didn't matter. She was with the pony she loved, and he was making her feel completely enraptured. Goldie ran a trail of kisses along the side of Caramel's muzzle, cheek, and all the way to his neck where she began to give him little love nips, that caused Caramel to nicker at her ministrations.

The smell of Caramel's musk, was driving her senses wild. Clenching her eyes shut, Goldie let out particularly long moan, when Caramel gave her an usually hard thrust. A tingling pressure was starting to build inside her as Caramel's thrusts grew faster and deeper. She could feel his scrotum slap against her hindquarters with each of his trusts forward. Goldie bit her lip to keep from crying out, as her body writhed in all the sensations she was feeling.

Caramel's thrusts were growing more frantic, as his breath came in great huffs. The pressure Goldie felt had grown to almost painful levels as she clutched at Caramel desperately as she suffered in torturous bliss. She moaned loudly as she suddenly felt Caramel's stallionhood flare wide inside her, with a finale powerful thrust Caramel groaned and buried himself as deep as he could.

The feeling his flare grinding against her passage as he shoved it right up against her cervix finally tipped her over the edge. With a cry of ecstasy, Goldie clamped down on him with a powerful orgasm. Waves and waves of agonizing pleasure rolled through her, as she felt a sudden burst of warmth blossom deep inside her as Caramel release his seed. Spurt after spurt, Caramel emptied himself, while Goldie's slick velvety walls clamped and rolled over his member as it tried to draw as much of his seed into her as it could.

Caramel bucked his hip a few more times with the last few spurts of his seed, pushing his flared head up against her cervix, forcing his seed further down into her womb. Finally Caramel collapsed down as he gasped for breath, both of their bodies were wet with sweat from their shared excursion. Goldie quickly sought out Caramel's lips, and kissed him while a euphoric sense of contentment settled over her.

Eventually Goldie's hunger for his lips was sated and she released Caramel from the kiss. Pulling himself out of her, Caramel rolled over and laid next to Goldie, who was quick to snuggle herself against his side. As she laid there basking in the warm glow of what they had just done, she idly wondered if in eleven months, there really will be something small, cute and cuddly delivered into their life, just as the Mayor had jested.

"Remember, you promised to put tulips on my grave." Caramel reminded her.

Goldie grinned and shook her head. "Oh, we are way beyond that. There will be no grave for you, my father is going to fertilize his fields with you."

Author's Notes:

More happened during the Midnight Dance then they both know.

I know some things in this chapter is quite sappy, but hay! I like it a little sappy.

Hmm... will they have something small, cute, and cuddly in eleven months? I'm excited to see how this turns out.

Again, let me know if there are any typo's, I like to fix those.