Cloudfire and Derpy were Special Someponies now. Pinky and the Cakes threw them a mini party at the Sugarcube Corner once they heard the news. Neither had a problem with Pinkie spreading the word, so once she knew, everypony nearby knew. Before the hour was over each of the Mane 6 visited the corner to congratulate the two new Special Someponies and get bite of cake. Even Spike and Gummy were there, enjoying the festivities. Rarity talked of fashion briefly with Cloudfire, saying Derpy looked good with her new bow, but also pointed out that the bow was, in fact, upside down, and reversed it for her. It looked better to Cloudfire the way it was...

After they were done at the corner, the two went to Derpy's house and told her family the good news... that they'd be seeing more of him. They were all very happy... happy to the point the that later that night her dad, on Cloudfire's way out, pulled him aside using his unicorn magic and told him personally that he thought he was awesome for his daughter Derpy:

"Nothing matters to me more than the happiness of my children," he said, a serious look in his eye. "And I don't feel for a second you'd ever do anything to hurt Derpy. Again, welcome to the family, Cloudfire."

The Earth Pony left... happy her parents approved of him, yet slightly intimidated. He'd have to shake it and take the good with the bad.

In all his years of dating, Cloudfire never once had a Special Somepony he could just relax around. Derpy felt at peace around him, too... since the first date, they were able to just kick back around each other, a wonderful sign the Mane 6 said.

After becoming Special Somponies they started seeing a lot of each other...

At first it was everyday. Sometimes they'd go out, sometimes they'd stay in. Derpy was always eager to just spent time with him, and it didn't matter what... she was so eager that her Special Somepony noticed she started getting a bit more spacey than she usually is after a few weeks and even a bit grumpy. Cloudfire backed off some when he realized he was starting to wear the young Pegasus out... he had things to do and so did she, and monopolizing her time (which she was glad to give to him) was a sure fire way to end up with Derpy getting run down and sick. Again, he was experienced and she was not, having dated ponies similar to her (but their reason for being over eager wasn't excitement, rather desperation). Derpy was so entranced by Cloudfire that she seldom took the locket off and wore the bow almost all the time.

On Mondays, when she had to babysit Dinky after work, Cloudfire gave Derpy her space... nothing's ever easy, however. Derpy told her Special Somepony “Dinky's been asking about her Uncle Cloudfire.” So he started seeing her then, and ended up helping her babysit. Uncle Cloudfire certainly cooked a lot better than Derpy.

Cloudfire just leveled with Derpy one day about giving each other space and she didn't understand at first, getting upset and thinking bad things. It wasn't until Cloudfire likened it to a story Derpy's mom told him that she got it. It centered around a winter years before when she was Dinky's age... she got chilled playing outside then stayed up for the whole night waiting for early morning Hearth's Warming Eve games with her friends... only to get really sick and have to spend Hearth's Warming Eve in bed.

“Too many good things without rest can be really bad.” He told her.

Eventually it worked out so that, outside of work, they saw each other two to three times a week... and that was ideal for all.

Derpy's family looked forward to seeing Cloudfire. The two had been together for two months and regularly he'd come over and have dinner with them. Sometimes he'd even stay and play games on family game night. He was a regular member of the family, and even Dinky enjoyed one of his talents... every once and a while he'd take a book from Twilight's library and read a story to Dinky as she got ready to set sails for Slumberland.

It was a nice, cool evening in Ponyville. They were together getting ready to go for a quick stroll after dinner, hoping to beat the Weather Pegasai who had been in the skies preparing for a nasty downpour. Naturally the storm started 20% earlier than expected and, as a result, the two then decided to stay in. The pitter-patter sounds echoed through the entire house, lulling the family into a calm, mellow state.

With their walk cancelled Uncle Cloudfire found himself instead reading a bedtime story to Dinky. Derpy was relaxing by his side and enjoying the tale with them as he made it come to life. His voice was deep and rich as he read a story about a young Unicorn Princess and valiant Pegasus Prince. It was written long before... not a century after the founding of Ponyville.

Mesmerized by the lush imagery, the Hooves sisters became quiet as Cloudfire projected into their minds a most magical land and kingdom. Peaceful at first, and even a bit joyous, all that faded away as he described a jealous fairy in the Everfree Forest. Capable of the most horrible kinds of Black Magic, she manipulated an evil presence to guid the young princess to a proverbial black spinning wheel prophesied to be connected with her own demise at the mere age of 16. Of course, there was also a dragon to be slain by the end. Before that, however, the Princess fell into an Eternal Slumber following a prick to the hoof by the accursed wheel. She drifted off, only to be woken by true love's first kiss. All seemed lost for the once rich kingdom and it began to rot, as Magic Resurrection spells did nothing for their blight. Both Dinky and Derpy were entranced, and the way Cloudfire presented the fairytale made it all the more captivating.

Captivating as it was, it was soon over and Dinky was asleep in her bed dreaming peacefully. The good had won, evil had lost, and now the two walked crept silently from the fillies room, down the hall into Derpy's.

“I'm going to be leaving soon,” he said, looking from the window at the falling rain. “It's letting up some... I'll be all right to walk home.”

Derpy was quiet as she sat on her bed, staring out the window with him.

"Are you unhappy I'm leaving?" He asked her.

She looked up at him and shook her head. Her gaze was fixed on his neck, slightly below chin level. She then suddenly took an interest in her hooves, kicking them and looking at the floor.

“I'm okay...” She replied, softly. "I liked the story."

"You're not normally this broody... is something on your mind?"

Again, she softly shook her head, briefly looking up to make eye-contact with her Special Somepony. She immediately blushed, and averted her gaze... glancing down at his lips for a mere fraction of a second. This was not the first time Derpy had looked at his lips like that, nor was it the first time he caught it, but this time... this time he'd see what was going to happen...

Cloudfire beamed a smile as he drew close to Derpy, sitting down beside her on the bed.

“Trust me...” he said, tenderly placing his arm around her.

He watched her face and saw what he expected... unsure eyes looked back at him, yet they had not the smallest hint of discomfort. She trusted him completely and he could tell she was open to him... He brought his face closer to hers, and then even closer...

Derpy's heart was beating fast, her stomach in knots. She felt such sensations in her gut and all over her body that she wanted to push him away. The feelings were so new, so strong, yet she didn't push him away. Instead, she tried to relax, despite the fact that she felt hot and antsy in an unusual way. She took a breath, completely at ease with the pony who's eyes were looking back into her's.

He looked hard into her gaze as he slowly narrowed his eyes and then closed them tightly. She followed suit, giving in to the slow gravitational pull directing her towards his face that was barely precipitable yet ever present. This was it...

All the strength left her body as their lips made contact and everything melted away for one brief instant. This was Derpy's first kiss... peaceful, powerful, and secrene. Sure she'd kissed her mom, her dad, and even little Dinky, but this was far removed from that. This kiss was magic... all of Derpy's defences melted along with her.

A single tear ran down her cheek as she came to understand the powerful feelings that two ponies can feel for each other. The sounds of other's mocking laughter and cutting remarks seemed so distant and meaningless to her now. All that mattered was Cloudfire...

When they parted lips, they looked into each other's eyes... their gaze was magnetic, loving and true. Derpy put her head on Cloudfire's shoulder and sighed... he lovingly patted her back as a few more tears formed in her eyes. He understood why, she didn't have to tell him anything.

"I'm here." He said, soothingly. "I'm not going anywhere..."

That night Cloudfire slept on Derpy's floor. She offered him the bed repeatedly, and he declined (repeatedly). It was the first time they'd ever slept in the same room... nothing happened, of course, as he was a perfect Gentlepony. He was simply there for her.