SNORE! .... snore... SNORE!!! ... snore...

When Cloudfire awoke it was still dark out. He was right next to Derpy, who was sawing logs and on top of his hoof. He wriggled his numb appendage free and rubbed it until the feeling came back to it. He then realized he had to water the flowers... so he got up.

The house was pitch black, except for a bit of light coming from the bottom story... where he needed to be. It was a shame Derpy slept in the second story. Tiptoeing down the hall, the floor creaking the whole way, he made his way downstairs, through the living room, and into the lit bathroom. He was happy he hadn't woken anypony up on his way to relieve himself.

He exited, scanning the living room. The family had a grandfather clock in the room he could barely see... about 4:15 AM.

"Can't sleep?" A voice said from the shadows by the stairs.

Cloudfire jumped out of his skin before he recognized the voice. It was Derpy's Dad.

"What?" He asked the shadows from where the voice had come from.

"I said 'can't sleep'?" Repeated the older Unicorn. "I can't. Sit with me... keep me company. I'm over here, in the chair."

There was a chair near the stairs which was shrouded in darkness... squinting his eyes, Cloudfire could just barely make out a presence in said chair.

Cloudfire sat down in the couch in front of the shrouded unicorn.

"I'm here." He said, once he'd sat comfortably. "I can't see too well."

"I can see you just fine," replied Daddy Hooves. "Give your eyes a minute, they'll adjust... I want to talk to you in the mean time..."

Cloudfire gulped big.

"About what?"

"About Derpy, of course." Replied elder Hooves. Cloudfire could now make out his smile in the darkness.

"W- what would you like to know?"

"Derpy's 20 years old... she isn't a filly any more. But she's still my lil foal, you know?"

Yeah... you're very protective of her."

"Darn right I'm protective of her!" Mr. Hooves snapped. "... now, let me regain my composure here... I want to ask you a question... when you're here at night, any hanky-panky going on that we wouldn't want lil Dinky to see?"

"No." Replied Cloudfire. "We've kissed... but that's about it."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes... The most of any mare I've dated, actually! That's kind of why there's been none of... that stuff going on. It's tempting, really, but I've already done that with others years ago... I really just want a slow-moving relationship with your daughter. Honest."

"I see." Mr. Hooves stretched. "Mrs. Hooves was Derpy's age when she had Derpy inside of her. We weren't married until AFTER Derpy was born."

"You don't want Derpy to get pregnant before she's ready..."

"Not quite! I'm actually fine if my daughter takes that same path. I can't control what Derpy does... she's a full-grown mare and you're a full-grown stallion. But! Know this... I know that you two are going to get serious soon. I can feel it. I'm fine with that and you don't need permission from me, just her. But... if you walk out on her and she has a filly in her belly, I'll get you. I'm not asking you to be married, just be there. You can do anything you want with my daughter that she'll allow, but dishonor her trust or hurt her in any way, I'll make you rue the day were brought into this world."

"I'd never..."

"The only reason I'm telling you this is because I trust you, Cloudfire, and I think you're good for her. I wouldn't show you my cards if I thought you'd turn around and use it against me and my family. I don't think you're going to leave her now that you know this..."

"I won't."

"She loves you. We love you enough to call you family, son. Call us Mom and Dad, please, and consider Dinky your niece... but don't make us regret our investment in you. You don't need to feel threatened by me if you're not going to do anything silly."

Cloudfire nodded his head, now barely able to make out the silhouette of Daddy Hooves.

"Now that that's settled! Here..." Using his Unicorn Magic, the older stallion tossed a cylindrical-shaped object into Cloudfire's lap. "It's just cola... I don't think either of us is going to get any sleep. Drink with me, Cloudfire! Then we'll rustle up some breakfast the whole family can enjoy. What'd ya say?"

Cloudfire heard the opening of a can and followed suit with his own.

"Sounds like a plan, dad."

Barely half an hour later, Derpy was just getting up. Both ponies in the kitchen knew this because of the loud BA-RRRIIINNNNGGGG! of her alarm clock. Cloudfire heard her soft hoof steps above his head as she slowly came down the stairs. It was almost ready! He and her dad had been getting together muffins and eggs for breakfast.

"Where... where's Cloudfire?" She asked what she thought was just her Father as she came into the kitchen. "That smells good Daddy!"

"Good morning, Derpy!" Cloudfire answered, once she stepped fully into the kitchen and saw the two ponies more clearly.

"Cloudfire..." She giggled. "Are you and Daddy making me breakfast?"

"Thought we'd surprise you... isn't that neat?"

"Neat?" Replied Derpy, sticking her tongue out. "It's wonderful!"

She and Cloudfire both laughed as her father stood there scratching his mane, not in on the little joke between the two.