//------------------------------// // Epilogue: A Second First Date // Story: Davenport’s Secret // by Random_User //------------------------------// Davenport’s Secret Epilogue: A Second First Date Davenport watched the fireflies drift across the surface of the pond, their brief flashes reflected by the dark water. More accurately, he watched Fluttershy as she admired the nocturnal insect’s dance through the air. Their second date had not proven to be nearly as exciting as the first, but he could not be happier. She had loved the restaurant. The outdoor seating and wonderful food there had been fantastic. Applejack had provided deserts to go in the now dry picnic basket, as an apology for her demonstration of her rope skills on Davenport. Of course, they were varieties of apple dishes. The pair nibbled on the tarts and cobbler, as they enjoyed the natural show. Winona was nowhere to be seen or heard, and he had his suspicions that Applejack had something to do with that as well. He smiled, glad that Fluttershy was so relaxed, and seemed to be enjoying the evening. She felt his eyes on her, and turned towards him. She blushed at the attention, and he hastily took another bite of the cobbler. She pawed the blanket they he had put down for them, before saying, “Davenport, Rarity talked to me about you.” She smiled, as he slowly swallowed the mouthful of dessert. He nervously managed to say, “I hope she said at least one pleasant thing about me.” Fluttershy shifted, and lessened the space between them. He held still, not knowing how to react, and he didn’t want to startle her with an unexpected move. “She told me about what you said about me, when she apologized to you. Do you really feel that way about me?” He nodded. “You are something special. I didn’t realize how special, till I started spending time with you.” She took a deep breath. “I need to tell you how I feel about you. It’s only fair.” He silently, worriedly waited, as she took a moment to prepare herself. “You are one of the few ponies, other than the girls and my family that I can feel comfortable around. You have never been pushy or forceful, you have always been polite, and you have always made sure that I was comfortable. Even when I was having all that trouble, when I was a model, you didn’t treat me any differently.” Davenport started to say something, but stopped when she shook her head. She continued, “I started to look forward you your visits. It made me feel safe and cared for, when you were around. When you asked me for a date, it was wonderful to know that you liked me.” She smiled, and rubbed one foreleg over the other, embarrassed by her confession. “When things didn’t go as planned the other night, you took care of me first. You didn’t dry off till I was through, you fixed tea so I wouldn’t get sick, you helped me with my mane, and you even gave up your bed to keep me out of the storm. Nopony has ever taken care of me like that before.” She leaned against him, and he went stock-still at the contact. He barely dared to breathe. “Do you know when I realized how much I enjoyed you being around?” Davenport had taken up Fluttershy’s typical role in a conversation, and barely replied in an audible whisper, “No, I don’t.” “It was right after Rainbow tackled you and hugged you. She made me feel jealous. I wanted to hug you for letting me stay the night, but Applejack showing up stopped me before I could. I wanted to hug you for being so nice, and Rainbow got to hug you first.” Davenport grinned. “She also dropped me on the ground right after that, so I can assure you, it wasn’t all that pleasant for me.” She began to blush, and her eyes sparked with a new light. “I want to make sure that I’m the first at something else though, if it’s alright with you.” He understood. “It would be more than alright.” They slowly leaned together, both nervous, and gently, tenderly kissed. The kiss lasted longer than either of them expected, and when they drew apart, it was with a shared smile and a soft intake of breath. They leaned against each other, her head in the crook of her neck, and his gently placed on hers. The silence stretched on, as they watched the fireflies over the pond. “That was it? That is all the stallion that wrote the Daring Do novels could do?!” A harshly whispering voice criticized, from a concealed spot behind them. “If they do break up, I’m going to really have to show him what having a marefriend is about.” Both Davenport’s and Fluttershy’s ears perked up at the voice. “But Dashie, I won’t be able to throw them a party if they break up!” “Darlings, you need to be quiet, I think they might be able to hear you.” “Rainbow, according to ‘Heart Warmer’s Guide to Relationships,’ they are about where they should be in the dating cycle. Kissing is well within the bounds of a second date, particularly after a long period of friendship.” “Sugar cube, you need to quit readin’ those books and get a coltfriend of your own. Then you can take your own notes about what is appropriate for a second date.” There was a lady-like humph, and a whispered, “This from the mare who threatened violence against that very stallion.” “I was just lookin’ out for Shy!” “Oh, so you wouldn’t look out for your other friends.” “You prissy mare, you know that’s not at all what I meant.” Davenport sighed at the conversation that he and Fluttershy were not supposed to be hearing. Fluttershy giggled, and whispered, “I’ll talk to them tomorrow. They can’t follow us around on every date we have.” “Don’t be too harsh on them, they are just trying to take care of you for the same reason I try to.” She looked up at him. “Why is that?” He kissed her forehead, and told her, “Because I love you.”