The Bubbly Mare

2, 2
"Trust"

It was dark outside when the two finally ended up at Derpy's home. Being the gentlecolt that he is Thunderlane opened the door and turned on her light, motioning her inside with the flick of his hoof.

"Wow!" he exclaimed. "You really tuckered me out back there, you know that?"

In response Derpy gave a coy smile, cantering inside.

"I walk a lot, Thundie. It's good exercise!"

"I'll say!" Thunderlane gave her a noogie. "You're practically as fit as an earth pony! Walking behind you, though, I could really appreciate the view. Thanks for showing me that. Took over an hour, but it was totally worth it."

"Glad you liked it!"

Thunderlane grinned as he closed the door, locking it up for the night.

The two were in Derpy's living room. The stallion looked around, at the couch he'd broke the night before (which now appeared to be fixed) and the hallway to Derpy's bedroom, a place he had yet to see. He approached the couch, gingerly set his bags to the side, and sat down carefully... not wanting to end up on his back staring at the ceiling.

"You know, Derpy... the night is still young." He patted his knees. "Feel like trying your luck with me again? Hopefully we won't break anything this time."

Derpy blushed deeply.

"You mean... like last night?"

Thunderlane nodded.

"I thought about it. You know we really don't need to move around all that much if you sit on my lap. It'll be fun and we can go from there. You trust me enough for that, right?"

Derpy recalled Applejack cautioning her not to jump up and down on her couch... what they were talking about doing was a lot like jumping. She lowered her head.

"Um, Thundie? I think maybe we should try this-"

"Another time?" He cut her off, grinning wide. "After a nice, long date like that you're turning me down? We've been together, what, three months now? Come on... please don't make me beg."

Derpy took a sudden interest in her hooves. Letting out a low grumble, she looked up at her Special Somepony with furrowed brows:

"That's not what I was going to say."

Perking an ear, his tune changed rather quickly:

"Oh! Well, what were you going to say?"

"I was thinking..." Derpy swallowed hard, blushing. "Maybe in my bedroom?"

She continued to peer at Thunderlane as he sat there, his face blank. He cracked a smile.

"You mean... all night long?"

Derpy nodded. "Uh-huh."

His grin broadened.

"I'd like that, Derpy... I'd like it a lot."

"Me too, Thundie. But, well..."

Derpy lowered her eyes again.

"But what...?" He reached out with a hoof, gently touching her chin. "You can tell me anything. You know that."

She pushed his hoof away, peeking up.

"Nothing. Just let me get ready for bed first. Okee?"

"Huh." He leaned back, causing the couch to buckle where it was held together. He leaned forward fast, not wanting to push his luck. "Wow, the bedroom might be the best place. You sure you don't want any help? Maybe picking out something pretty?"

She shook her head. "No, Thundie. I'm sure."

Derpy wasn't going to admit it, but she was shaking. Thunderlane could feel it, through the floor and in the air, but he couldn't see it... not that it mattered to her. She was too preoccupied with something else:

I have to tell him.

What Applejack had said earlier echoed in her mind:

"Sit him down and tell him, maybe show him how important this is to you. Showin' is better than tellin' half the time. If he's any respectable Special Somepony he'll hear ya out and understand why it's important."

She looked up.

"Um, just give me a few minutes. Okay?"

Thunderlane put both hooves up.

"Sure, sure... take as long as you need. I'll be right here." He leaned forward, smiling. "You'll come and get me when you're ready then, right?"

"I'll- I'll call you. Does that work?"

"Works for me, Derpy."

"Great!"

Before he knew it Derpy had bolted away to her room, slamming the door shut. A bit bewildered, Thunderlane folded both forelegs behind his neck and sat back... the couch wobbling yet again. He sighed, leaning forward... not entirely comfortable in this position, but better than standing sore after that walk like that. He'd just have to wait patiently.

* * *

Derpy's logic in this made perfect sense, but only in a somewhat skewed way. It didn't matter how she was going to go about this, what was more important was that she was going about it. She was so nervous she had butterflies in her stomach, and felt suddenly a lot more hesitant than she thought she would.

"Oh, my..." she whispered to herself. "You're just getting ready for bed. It's a normal night." She looked over at her bed. At least she had a queen, room enough for two ponies. "I can't do this." She looked over at her dresser and trotted up. You just have to show him what you've got to wear at night. If he doesn't laugh or get grossed out, everything will be fine. Right? She opened the dresser, staring at a container of foal powder and small stockpile of folded disposable diapers.

She grabbed a diaper and the foal powder then hopped on her bed, diapering herself right there. She could have herself ready for bed in under thirty seconds ─ foal powder and all ─ very good time, all things considered. The motions were rote, so despite requiring some fine-motor skills (which in Derpy still weren't the greatest), she could do it in her sleep. She looked down at the thick disposable diaper and got up, hearing it crinkle as she moved.

So loud! she thought, blushing. I never realized. She looked around the room, first at her bed, thinking, under the covers might be good... but then she bit her lip, contemplating. No, he'll probably dive in and try to hug me, end up feeling it... I want him to see it, after he sees me. She looked at her closet, her red bathrobe with gold trim hanging limply from a hook. She gave a weak smile, grabbing it and quickly putting it on, tying the ends loosely.

Derpy looked at her rump. She couldn't tell she was diapered from the side, which is exactly what she wanted. She knew Thunderlane well enough to know he could be playful... if she lay facing him it wouldn't be about noticing the diaper first, it would be about him seeing her as he always did -- his petite, lil Derpy Hooves. Then he'd have a closer look and they could talk about it... if they had to, before moving on to anything else. She also remembered from movies that bathrobes could be really romantic. That's what she wanted to be -- playful, romantic, and fun. She wasn't sure Thunderlane would accept this, but she'd still show him in the best way she could think to.

Pushing down her covers Derpy lay facing the door. She looked over her rump one final time and sighed, turning back to take in some air. "Okay, I'm ready!"

In her tiny room Derpy's voice reverberated back to resemble a bark, adding to her unease. Thunderlane had heard her, though. She heard him get up and trot towards the door. It swung open and there he stood, wearing the same cute grin she'd fallen for well before they first started dating. He approached, looking into her good eye. His nose wrinkled briefly, taking in the strangely puerile scent of Derpy's bedroom. He gave it no thought, however, focusing on what was right in front of him.

"Nice bathrobe."

"Um... thanks!"

He walked in closer and she blushed deeper, turning her head to the side. He gave a tiny peck to the side of her neck, then one along her cheek. She couldn't help wriggling a bit... she heard a crinkle, but he must've not heard it as he didn't even perk an ear.

"You've got plenty of room there for two ponies," he said, brushing by Derpy and tickling her nose with his tail. "I thought you'd have a single."

"I like lots of room."

He gave a quick glance towards her rump, sizing up her position, grinning... adding himself into the equation.

"I'll say. Makes things easier, right?"

Before Derpy could answer he got on the bed, facing the opposite direction. As the springs squeaked, Derpy's bottom crinkled again. This time he heard it, and wouldn't have said anything if he hadn't put his head past just her backside so his ear was just a few inches from her rump. He instinctively turned his head, seeing bits of white plastic jutting out from under Derpy's garment. She felt him hike up the back of her robe and froze, her body tense. He held it up for what seemed like forever (but was only a few seconds), staring silently. He looked at her, a look of complete bewilderment on his face.

"Derpy, what-" He shook his head, letting the material drop. "... what's this? A- are you wearing diapers?"

She turned around, smiling, pulling herself up so they were face to face. Thunderlane pulled his hoof back, his face unreadable. She gave a gentle hug, but could feel his body was still somewhat stiff.

"I have to wear them at night, Thundie," she said, plainly. "I can't help it."

He stared at her, his hooves against his sides. He slowly put a hoof to her foreleg and squeezed it, the other to the back of her head. She felt him patting her back tenderly... reassuringly.

"Okay," he said, taking a breath. "That explains the weird foal powder smell in here. This can come off like anything else, though... right? There- there's nothing else wrong with you down there that I should know about? It's only bed-wetting, right?"

She shook her head confidently, smiling up at him. He continued to look off, deep in thought, Derpy concluded.

"I only have accidents when I'm asleep..." she whispered, as if afraid somepony might hear her. "Or when I'm really, really scared. That hasn't happened in a while, though."

"Good to know..." Thunderlane continued to pat her back, sticking a hoof into the back of her bathrobe. They made eye-contact, but his eyes seemed to not actually look at her. He nodded his head, almost as though he was still thinking. The look on his face quickly turned back to the one that Derpy liked. "Let's just get this stuff off you, okay?"

Leaning back, Derpy smiled.

"Okee!"

Thunderlane smiled at her.

That was the talk Derpy knew she needed to have with him, over quicker than she thought. She really could trust Thunderlane, and that made her very happy. With it out of the way she was sure he was the one she wanted to connect with, and now they could go nowhere but up from here. She was still nervous, but that would fade, along with everything else in due time.