Soarin' awoke late in the night with his forelegs wrapped around Fluttershy. She was softly breathing onto his chest and he could feel her own legs holding him tightly. He didn't want to open his eyes. He wanted to stay this way as long as he could, snuggled up next to the wonderful mare holding him. Soarin' cracked open his eye just a little and caught a small amount of motion from the mare next to him. She shivered a little. He draped his wing over Fluttershy as he reached for the blanket. He pulled it over them and saw the small smile on Fluttershy's face widen a little.
She looks so peaceful. I could stay here forever. He leaned closer to her and moved a small lock of her mane out of her face. He gave her a kiss on the forehead and settled back down in the bed. He drifted back into the blissful embrace of sleep.
Warmth was covering Fluttershy. She couldn't tell what it was but she loved it. It was comforting and with the warmth was a soft feeling against her fur. She felt something warm against her face and she nuzzled against it. She felt the fur of her coltfriend against her face and smiled. She was snuggling up in her bed with a stallion she would have never had the courage to talk to if he hadn't been brought into her life the way he had.
She slowly opened her eyes and found that she was using his chest as a pillow. She shuffled a little on the bed and realized that his wing was draped over her like a blanket. She spent a moment looking at the wing that was covering her. The light blue feathers reflected some of the sun light coming in from the window, which cast a blue tint to the room around her.
She looked back down at the peaceful face of the Wonderbolt and though about the day before, the party and the time they had spent together. She had enjoyed the party and Soarin' had enjoyed it as well. She was excited that he had invited her to meet his family but she didn't know what to think about the interview. She didn't want anypony to think that they were conceited or just using each other, but at the same time she didn't know how the interview would go. Would they ask about their dates or ask them anything personal?
I don't even want to think about them asking us about intimate things. She shuddered at the thought of having to talk about anything like that. She nuzzled Soarin' and sighed. She didn't know what to tell him. She knew he would want an answer and she didn't want to keep him waiting for one. She hated keeping ponies waiting.
The pegasus spent a moment in the embrace feeling the warmth and safety the stallion's presence gave her. I've never felt so calm and happy. He cares enough to ask me if I want to do this and I have the final say for this... just like last night. She smiled as a strange sense of power filled her. This stallion was easily twice her weight and could easily overpower her if he wanted but she only had to say a word to keep him from doing so. This sense of power also came with a fresh wave of affection. He cared about her safety and comfort so much he was willing to do anything to keep her happy.
She moved her head even with his and gave him a loving kiss on his nose. Much to her surprise he gave her a small kiss on the lips in return.
He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "That's the best way to wake up. A beautiful mare giving me a kiss."
Fluttershy blushed. "Morning, you always have something nice to say." She nuzzled him for a moment then looked in his emerald eyes. "I didn't wake you did I?"
He chuckled and nuzzled her. "Yeah, but I'm glad you did. I love talking with you."
The pair snuggled closer and began kissing each other. Fluttershy felt Soarin's hooves move the center of her back right where the wings connected. He gently pressed down and began massaging her sensitive joints. Waves of warm pleasure washed over her body.
"Mmmm, that feels so nice. Where did you learn that?"
Fluttershy closed her eyes and melted as the hooves worked their magic. She felt her wings go loose and relaxed like never before.
"I picked it up from the personal trainer I had when I joined the Wonderbolts. Spitfire and I do this for each other after some really tough practices or long shows. If you want I could teach you how to do it."
Fluttershy's response was a low moan of happiness. Soarin' felt a tough knot of muscle and began to work on it. He set to work on it but couldn't really do that good a job at this angle. He sat up and gently guided Fluttershy onto her stomach. He sat next to her side and started rubbing her back proper.
Soarin' worked in silence as Fluttershy gasped and moaned in delight as his hooves moved over her muscles. "You are really tense. How often do you take a day to relax?"
She gave a small sigh and looked over her shoulder at him. "Once a week. Rarity likes taking me to the local spa."
Soarin' stopped rubbing her back for a moment. "Once a week? How can you be so tense?"
Fluttershy closed her eyes and let out a small squeak when he moved to another knot. Her voice broke a few times to sigh contently. "I guess it's... just kinda stressful... to take care of so many animals... all the time. I also get kinda... nervous around ponies I... don't know. A little to the left please."
Soarin' did as she directed and she let out a blissful moan. Soarin' chuckled a little at her reaction and shook his head. "They mustn't be doing a doing a good job if you are this worked up. This much stress isn't good for you."
Fluttershy's wings gave a small flutter as Soarin' worked another knot. "I know. Dash tells me to relax all the time but there's just so much to do."
The blue stallion finished his massage and lay down next to the mare. "I could help you today if you want. I got nothing to do all day."
The mare rolled over onto her side and snuggled close to the Wonderbolt. "I would like that." Fluttershy kissed the stallion and moved to get up off the bed. "Soarin'... I've thought about that interview you told me about. I think... I think we should do it."
Soarin' sat up with a surprised look. "Really? Are you sure?"
Fluttershy nodded. Soarin' moved to her side and hugged her. "I'll send the letter to them when I get home, but until then how about we get something to eat and feed some animals?"
Fluttershy nodded and gave him a warm smile. They walked down into the lower portion of her home to begin their morning.
A few days had passed after Soarin' sent in the confirmation letter. He had received the reply telling asking him if they could do the interview in his home or if he had a better place to hold it. He sent back a quick reply telling them that his home would be fine. A day had passed and now he knew the where and when and he needed to tell Fluttershy all the details.
Soarin' landed down near the cottage and spotted the yellow mare sitting near the cottage with a large brown bear. He noticed that they both were holding tea cups and as he drew closer he spotted a few other animals drinking tea with her. The stallion cleared his throat gently to get the groups attention. Fluttershy gave a small "Eeek" and leaped to her hooves.
"Soarin'! I didn't know you were coming over today, I would have cleaned the house and made something for us to eat."
She moved up to him and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. Soarin' gave her a small kiss as well and looked at the small gathering of animals.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Fluttershy shook her head and looked back at the animals. "No, just a little tea time with friends."
The bear looked at them confused for a moment then started ushering the rest of animals away. As they moved around the side of the cottage the bear gave the pair of ponies a wink. Soarin' was slightly confused by the bear’s sudden actions and noticed that Fluttershy seemed to have been embarrassed by them. Fluttershy blushed and looked back at the stallion.
"I'm sorry about him. He really nice but gets kinda... weird sometimes."
Soarin' shrugged. "It's alright. I wanted to talk to you about the interview. It's scheduled for tomorrow at my house. Is that okay?"
Fluttershy nodded. "I guess."
The Wonderbolt moved closer to her and nuzzled her. "If you have any second thoughts all you need to do is tell me. We can still cancel it if you aren't comfortable."
Fluttershy shook her head. "No I want to do this with you. It might get rid of the rumors about us."
Soarin' smiled down at her and motioned for them to move into the cottage. The pair walked into the small kitchen where Fluttershy started making some more tea. The blue pony glanced over and spotted a small pile of mail. Soarin' walked over to the table as his curiosity got the better of him. He picked up the small stack and began shuffling them.
The first few looked like bills, junk mail, and personal letters. One of the personal letters caught his attention. The envelope was dirty and slightly yellowed. He looked at the letter for a moment and heard a small gasp behind him. Soarin' turned to see Fluttershy looking at the letter. She moved faster than he had ever seen her move and snatched the letter from his hoof.
She read the address quickly then ran over to trash can and threw the letter in. "Why did they send another. I don't want to talk to them. I don't want to go back to that life!"
Fluttershy started shaking. Soarin' moved next to her and she quickly turned to him. Her eyes were watering slightly and were filled with fear.
"I don't want to go back to that. I want to stay here with you and my friends."
Soarin' opened his mouth to say something but had the breath knocked out of him when she latched onto him with a tight hug. She buried her face into his chest and hugged him tightly.
"I don't want to go back to that life. Please don't let me go back to that."
Soarin' stood there unsure what to do. He hugged her gently and let her vent her tears on his coat. A minute passed before he spoke.
"Fluttershy what are you talking about? I don't know what's going on but I think I can help."
Fluttershy looked up at him and sniffled. She opened her mouth to speak and her lips moved but no sound came out.
"Fluttershy, you need to speak a little louder."
She swallowed and took a deep breath. "Remember what I told you about my... p-parents?"
Soarin' felt a small chill run down his spine and a surge of warm anger. "The ponies that disowned you? What about them?"
Fluttershy placed her head on his chest again. With a small shudder she continued. "That letter was from them. It's the second letter they have sent me."
Soarin' looked over at the trash can then back to the worried mare. "What do they want?"
The yellow mare shook her head slightly. "I didn't read the first one. I don't know what they want but... but I don't care. I left that life behind a long time ago. I don't want to go back to that."
Soarin' held her closer and stroked her mane. "You don't ever have to. I won't let them take you if you don't want to go."
Fluttershy looked up at the Wonderbolt and saw the protective look in his eyes. She had never felt so safe in her life. They pair moved to the kitchen table and Fluttershy settled down onto a chair as Soarin' moved to the now whistling kettle. They shared a cup of tea and spent the afternoon talking about the interview the next day.
Soarin' opened his door for Fluttershy and let the yellow mare in. She moved towards the living room where Shade was sitting on a small wooden perch. Fluttershy gently patted the bird and looked back to see Soarin' smiling at her.
She felt her cheeks go warm. "What?"
Soarin' moved next to her and gave her a small kiss on the cheek. "You look cute when you care for animals."
Fluttershy gave him a small peck on the nose and moved to the sofa. "Thank you. How long until the reporters arrive?"
Soarin' sat next to her and relaxed his wings. "Sometime around four." He looked over at the clock hanging on his wall. "So in a few hours."
The yellow mare nodded and settled into the couch. "Okay. So... what are we going to do to pass the time?"
Soarin' shrugged. "We could talk about something... are you okay?"
The pink maned mare shivered a little and shuffled closer to him. "What? Oh, I'm fine. I'm not used to the breeze from cloud homes."
The Wonderbolt moved close to her and wrapped his wing around the mare. The pair moved closer to each other and spent some time being warmed from each other’s bodies. The time pasted quickly, as it always does when with one is with a loved one, and a knock came from the door.
Soarin' moved off the sofa with Fluttershy and headed towards the door. He shook his head and ruffled his mane a little in nervousness as he opened the door.
The yellow face of April O'neigh greeted his with a smile. "Mr. Soarin' good to see you again. I'm glad you would let myself and the Cloudsdale Daily have some of your and Ms. Fluttershy's time to talk. May we come in?"
Soarin' nodded and let the yellow mare and the dark green stallion with a deep purple mane that fell into his eyes into his home. The stallion was carrying a camera and small bag. The pair of reporters and the Wonderbolt moved into the living room where Fluttershy was waiting. The yellow mare tossed her brown mane and walked up to the pink maned mare with a large smile.
"Ms. Fluttershy, what a pleasure to meet you. I'm April O'neigh, and that over there is Camera Reel. I must say you really are much prettier face to face."
Fluttershy blushed at the compliment and nodded to the reporter and the stallion. "Nice to meet you both."
The reporter turned to Soarin'. "Do you mind if we do the interview right in here or is there a better spot in the house?"
The Wonderbolt shook his head. "Uh... I guess this is fine. So, um... what kind of things do you want to know?"
The blue stallion moved next to Fluttershy and they watched as the bright yellow mare grabbed the bag on the Camera Reel's back. She pulled out a small device, a clipboard with paper, and a small pen.
"Well let's start off with the basics. How did you two meet?"
Soarin' and Fluttershy sat down on the sofa as April and Camera Reel moved the other sofa closer. Fluttershy and Soarin' took turns telling their halves of the story, stopping only so April could scribble down some notes or check the battery on the small recording device she was using. Fluttershy finished the story at the point where the Wonderbolt kissed her back.
April wrote something down for a moment then looked back up. "That's really sweet. You friends Spitfire and Rainbow Dash are really good at setting you two up. Maybe they should open a dating service."
Fluttershy and Soarin' shared a small chuckle with the mare. Camera Reel just rolled his eyes and took a picture of the pair.
"So, how do you two feel about the relationship so far?"
Soarin' looked at the mare next to him for a moment then at the reporter. "I think it has been the best few months of my life. I have never felt so lucky to have a mare like her in my life. I can't think of any other way to put it other than I'm in love."
April let out a small "Awww" and Camera Reel rolled his eyes again. The dark green stallion took another picture as Fluttershy spoke.
"He's been wonderful to me. He's more than I could have ever hoped for in a stallion. I don't think I could ever feel safer than when I'm with him."
April nodded and looked over at the green camera stallion as he took another picture. She scowled at him as he rolled his eyes at what Fluttershy had said. She tossed a ball of paper at him then turned back to the couple on the couch. "I see. Now I know Soarin' has read the article that was printed about you two but I wanted to know if you have read it Fluttershy and how you reacted to it."
Fluttershy blushed a little. "At first I was worried that it might have been true. I mean I only just met him and I didn't know much about him aside from the obvious. Then I remembered that my friend knew him and she knew me. She wouldn't set me up with some stallion that would use me. I talked to him about it and he told me that it wasn't true."
April nodded. "I see. Okay one final question: How do you feel about the fact that somepony took your picture during a private moment."
Soarin' shuffled a little. "Well it's a little unsettling that somepony invaded our privacy like that but then again that's the paparazzi."
April looked over to Fluttershy. "I see, and you Ms. Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy wrung her hooves for a moment then sighed. "I would say that it's sorta wrong to take advantage of a pony in an intimate moment."
April nodded and scribbled something down on the clipboard. "What would you say to the pony that took the photo?"
Fluttershy sighed and looked around for a moment. "I would ask them to at least tell me why they did it. I would want to see who it was that invaded my privacy in such a rude manner."
April wrote some more on the clipboard and looked over at Camera Reel. "You get enough pictures or do you need some more?"
The camera flashed once more and the stallion looked at them with his own eyes. "I think I could use a few more. Could I get one of you to nuzzling or kissing please?"
The couple posed for a few pictures and the reporters began packing up. Soarin' and Fluttershy saw them to the door. April turned around and gave them both a hoof shake.
"It was wonderful to talk to you both. I hope that this article will dispel some of those rumors for you two." She turned to the camera pony. "So Donny, want to go get a pizza? My treat."
The camera pony nodded. "Sounds good."
The pair of reporters lifted off into the air after giving the couple a final good-bye. Fluttershy and Soarin' closed the door and moved back to the sofa. They settled down and the yellow mare rested her head on the Wonderbolt’s chest.
"Soarin'?"
"Yeah Fluttershy?"
"Do you think we did the right thing? Talking to them I mean."
Soarin' kiss the top of her head and laid down. "I think we did the right thing. As long as we just ride this out, for better for worse, I'll think we'll be okay."
Fluttershy hummed a little and moved closer to the stallion. "Hey Soarin'?"
Soarin' looked down at her. "Yeah?"
"I want to watch you fly. I've never been a big fan of the Wonderbolts but… I want to see you fly. If you're half as good as Dash says you are then I would love watching you."
Soarin' chuckled. "I'll get you a ticket."
They closed their eyes and fell to sleep as their hearts fell in and out of time with each other’s breathing. It was the only place they wanted to be.