Last Stop on the Mail Route

"Everyone got their everything?" I call across the room, folding up the sheets for the bed. I know room service will handle it, but old habits have me tidying up as I wait for the others. Gives me a chance to run all the other things through my mind, making sure we didn't go and forget anything.

It's still pretty dark in the room, the other buildings on the street blocking the morning light from coming in through the windows, leaving us with the muted flickers of the morrow. We're up very early to make sure we get back to Ponyville on time, which is making finding all of our belongings a little more difficult -- though I'm not going to complain about the amount of times Derpy and I accidentally bump into each-other as we feel our way around. I may have grabbed her a few times, too. Got a few wing-slaps for it, but she missed most of them.

"I think so. Dinky, you packed up?" Derpy returns, glancing up from one of the half-zipped up luggage bags.

"Yup!" We both hear squeak out of the bathroom, door ajar as she pulls things off the counter with her magic, shoving them roughly into her bag to be sorted at home. Pretty sure they came in that orientation too. As long as it fits, whatever.

"Tickets?" I follow up, looking back to the vague form of Derpy.

"Ah, they're... here they are." She pulls them from the table after fumbling about fir them, holding them out to me. Tucked right into my pocket for safe keeping, I let my gaze linger over what will probably be the last time I ever stay in a room this large. Not really much to see, but that's not my focus.

I should find out who made the bed. I could seriously use something fuck-huge like that, and damn if that wasn't comfortable. New long-term goal, methinks.

"Alright," My hands clap together, rubbing as I triple-check everything. "Back we go. It was fun having a bed that big while it lasted. Might have to get one like that for my own room." I pat the pocket that our passes home sit in, grabbing my own bag and jacket.

"Even you don't use up all that bed." Derpy side-eyes me, pausing her return to her bags.
"You sure you need one that large?"

"Sounds like I should get some-pony to share it with me, then." I lean down as I pass her, whispering.

I don't hear a retort from her, but I do catch her hiding a smile as she finishes zipping up her own luggage a little more pep to her step.

We got back to Ponyville just fine and in about the same capacity that we got to Canterlot. The sun rises with us as we watch out the window, shifting from the early pinkish morning to the proper start of the day by the time we're close to pulling in to Ponyville. The trains passengers, us included, held a lot less energy considering we all got our excitement out during the festival. Everyone -- everypony? Was ready to go home and rest, or gear up for work, like my poor bubble-flanked ladyfriend. Marefriend? No, it feels weird trying to use their lingo. I don't have hooves. I'll stick to my words, they tend to get them most of the time anyway.

My gaze, and a hand, wanders to rest on Derpy. Snuggled up with Dinky across from me as we ride, the Dinkster is also her mother's guide as we pull in to the station, helping guide Derpy around the other disembarkers.

Meanwhile, I'm still stuck on words. I'm not really sure if we've ever said it, but... girlfriend. Yeah. Feels right, I think.

Wife?

Way too soon. Feels weird to push that on Derpy. Doesn't feel wrong to consider, just... feels selfish. That's not what either of us should be looking for right now.

Plus, that's not for me to decide. I'm comfortable where I am, and that line of thought has a few too many questions that are too distracting, an impatient pony tsking loudly at me as I take too long to gather my shit. Enough of that thinking for now.

Things were pretty hectic during the weekend. Lots of crowds, lots of bustle, and I'm glad that after we get off this train, most of that's going to be behind us. I can tolerate the stuff for a time, but I'm not going to pretend I won't be relieved to spend a few quiet hours by myself in my house.

Stepping off the train, the lumbering beast of amusingly horse-pulled metal hisses loudly to announce it's arrival, the staff helping usher everyone off and the new riders on. The whole thing doesn't quite make sense, even as I spot some of the tired-looking ponies up front getting unhooked from inside the lead car, and exchanging their positions with some fresher, ready to go stallions. And they're all weirdly ripped. Odd approach, but I try to pay it little mind -- this whole place is a level of strange that it's just better to accept without thinking about it, the way they mimic earth technologies rather than figure out their own.

Merging into the mass of exiting ponies and onto the awaiting platform as the few who want to board wait their turn, Derpy takes a second as we lumber along with the crowd to look up at me, once we're clear of most of the other ponies.

"Thank you for coming with us, Anon. I know I've already said it, but it meant a lot. Will I... see you later?" She asks, turning and partially lifting a hoof as she pauses. She looks a touch unsure of what I'm planning now that we're back, the whole trip being a pretty irregular step forward in our relationship.

"You work this morning, don't you?" As far as I could recall, Derpy only took enough days off to cover the weekend itself, not the day she was returning. My thoughts are confirmed as she nods, the three of us stepping down off the platform and onto Ponyville's proper road.

"Uhhh... oh, shi-- I mean, yes, right. I do. Thank you for reminding me." Derpy quickly corrects herself, pausing once we're free of the bulk of the crowd to let out a little sigh. Dinky's brow raises at the cut-off of a particular word, but I'm a little more focused on how dejected she suddenly sounds. Seems like she forgot she had to work, poor thing. After a weekend like that?

"Need any help prepping?" I ask, leaning on my luggage. Dinky perks up now at my words, eyes darting to her mother expectantly.

"Oh! Uh... You don't have to do anything like that, Anon. It's fine, I can handle it. It slipped my mind is all." Derpy tries to wave me off, but I feel like spending a little more time with my favorite flank is something I'd enjoy, so I keep pushing the topic.

"I'm sure you could, but Rarity isn't expecting me for a while. You sure you don't want a little help getting going this morning? I could make a lunch for Dinky, take her to school." I continue to push, while Dinky, my little fuzzball of a supporter, is already standing beside me.

Dinky nods vehemently at the mere mention of the idea, clearly already entirely on board. And her enthusiasm seems unavoidable, Derpy unable to resist neither her daughters excitement, nor the idea of getting a helping hoof for the morning.

"Okay, okay. If you want to, I'd appreciate it." She relents, tucking her still somewhat messy mane back behind her ear. A minor consequence of us having to hurry so we didn't miss the train back, but something I hardly mind. I probably look like a mess too, but Derpy makes it look good.

Derpy seems pretty happy with the idea of having me around a little longer, judging by the look she's giving me. Probably just didn't want to push anything else on me, the sweet thing. "Gives me a chance to actually get ready, too... I'm kind of a mess."

"Really? It's got some good volume right about now." I tease with a poking finger. Seriously, she has some good hair, though she usually just brushes it down and out of the way. The way it was now almost looked like when she flew back down to us after her trip around the Wonderbolt track. It gave her this very different, very... sporty look.

Think the only time I've seen her actually try to style it was when we went on our date where she got dressed up. I'd like to see it done up like that again.

"Psh. Yeah, right. It needs a good brushing." Derpy mutters, continuing to try and mess with her mane as it distracts her, not content with how resistant it is to being tamed.

"I could help with that too." I leer, smiling at her as I pull my luggage alongside, our little trio heading towards Derpy and Dinky's home.

She considers the idea for a moment, perhaps shelving the offer for another time. "I can handle my own mane. You helping with Dinky would be plenty, Anon."

"The offer will always stand." I add quieter, letting a little implication seep into my words.

"...Maybe some other time." Derpy laughs to herself.

"Could you brush my mane, Mr. Muss?" Dinky chimes in, bouncing from her mother's side to walk beside me, her luggage tumbling alongside.

"Of course. Don't know if I can do any hairstyles for you, though." I shrug, and that only seems to excite Dinky even more.

"I could show you! Do you know how to do a ponytail? A bun? Braid?!" She rapid-fires through a few more hairstyles, each one as foreign to me as the next.

I know of each one she lists, obviously, but considering the only way I've ever styled my hair is 'up', it's all a little beyond me. "Not at all. But after we get your lunch settled, then we can worry about that mane of yours." I offer, and the conditions seem to be satisfactory to Dinky, whose wide smile has her hopping back over beside her mother. It's a good thing she packed light with her little luggage case, the way she's pulling it around behind herself with her magic, shaking it about.

It doesn't take much longer for us to reach Derpy's house with how conveniently close she lives to the station, the three of us ducking inside once we close in on the familiar sight of her little two-story abode. I still catch myself taking mental note of the little repairs that need to be done around the place, like the squeaky fence and the bent gutters. There's others, and they likely share a similar cause of damage, that of an impact with a particularly grey mare. A few of them have been hoof-patched by Derpy, but maybe I'll have a weekend and a few extra dollars to try and help with some of them. Mostly just another excuse to hang around.

"Leave the luggage in the living room, I'll get it settled when I'm back!" Derpy announces, already halfway up the stairs by the time I'm done shutting the door behind us, her luggage tossed haphazardly against the couch, already slipping right back down.

Dinky handles that easily, catching Derpy's about-to-fall bag with her magic and scooting our little collection of packed possessions besides each-other. Carrying them through the air and setting them down in something close to a pile, Dinky settles in just off to the side, eagerly watching as I step into the kitchen. That kind of stuff seems second-nature to the kid, not even breaking a sweat. Stuff wasn't exactly light, either.

"Okay, showoff." I tease Dinky, who puffs out her chest proudly under what she perceives as a compliment. Forgot we've got a little prodigy on our hands here. "So, kiddo. What do you want for lunch?"

I lean down, popping the fridge open to see what I've got to work with. The depths of the pony-sized container of chilled goods doesn't really hold much, which is pretty understandable considering we're halfway to next payday. Gonna have to keep it simple.

"I dunno. Mom usually makes me a sandwich or something. What do you know how to make, Mr. Muss? Could I.... have pancakes?" Dinky dares ask, inching closer as she kneads the floor with her little front-hooves. Her eyes are wide, practically bulging, threatening to pop form her little dome with the wild excitement of this breaking of the norm and ready to consider all the fantastical possibilities in this irregular return to routine.

Like pancakes, for lunch.

"Hm... don't know if we've got the time or the supplies to whip those up for you right now, Dink..." I mumble, taking stock of what we've got. I feel a bump against my leg, as a curious little face peers into the fridge herself. Dinky's face scrunches as she looks at what's available, making an over the top hum of consideration.

Half a loaf of bread that looks dicey at best, and some vegetables that look just a touch too squishy. Some leftovers I can't discern. A single, past-ripe tomato that probably went sour while we were gone, the way it's slumped.

There's a couple other loose ingredients, but anything that I could make would make me feel bad for giving to a kid for their lunch. A quick check of the cupboards, of which Dinky demands uppies to also see inside, doesn't offer much more. Mostly just more loose ingredients or things that would take too long to make, or wouldn't make good lunch stuff for a growing filly.

Dinky is dramatically tapping her chin as I set her down, likely trying to concoct some kind of creative mixture to turn whatever is available into some amalgamation of a lunch.

Hm. Not quite sure. I can be handy cheap-style, but I don't want to embarrass the kid with something she's got to eat in front of the other kids. I'll figure something out in the meantime, but she might as well get ready instead of watching me stare at the fridge for an hour.

"Go grab your stuff and prep for the day, I think I've got an idea." I decide, ruffling her mane. She squints at me from underneath my hand, grabbing at it with her little hooves and waving it around, tugging my arm.

"Ooh! What? What?!" She questions, but I'm tight-lipped about my plans, even as she plays about with my limb, twisting it this way and that. I tut, shaking my head.

"You'll find out -- it's a surprise, and I need to ask your mom something. Go get ready, get your school stuff and your bag all that." I slip said hand through her hooves, poking her on the snout. She blinks, before throwing her hooves in the air dramatically.

"OkaaaaaaaaybutIwannaknowwww." A long droll of acceptance as she slips out from under my palm, trotting with wide, goofy steps towards her room.

Once Dinky is out of sight, I rummage out my little bag of bits from my belt. Getting a little used to carrying this kind of thing, I used to just slap my ass pocket for my wallet before remembering they don't use cash around here. A quick peek inside tells me it's probably gonna be a smidge tight to run with my idea, but if I take a chance to run home and dig out my little chest of gems under my bed and swing by the bank for an exchange, I could make it happen. Might need to ease off the pampering after that, though. At least until I get paid next.

Only a moment after I tuck my bit pouch away and shut the fridge door, I feel a hoof tap against my shoulder, and the rush of air against my back.

"Yea--?" I start, interrupted in the midst of turning around. Much larger hooves than the ones that grabbed my hand gently cup my face, pulling me forward into a sudden, firm kiss. Derpy, done up in her worktime usual, flaps in the air at head-height as she pulls away from me, smiling with wetted lips. She's right back to fussing over her uniform, but there's a no hiding the blush on her face.

"You should... come by tonight. If you're not busy." She says quickly, adjusting a few of the buttons on her chest. It takes me a moment to recover from the sudden ambush, trying to play it off.

"Awfully forward of you, Miss Hooves." I manage to huff. Leaning against the counter helps a little, but she surprised me with that one.

Derpy rolls her eyes, which is always an interesting spectacle to observe, before poking my chest to clear the misunderstanding. "Not what I meant. I was thinking about it on the train ride back, and... I really enjoyed getting to spend so much time with you over the trip. We only really get to see each-other for lunch for a few minutes, and sometimes on the weekends, you know? It'd be nice if we got to see each other... more. If you're alright with that."

She's not wrong. I wouldn't mind getting to see more of her, despite how our adult obligations love to rear their ugly heads.
"Right. Tonight? Sure, I don't think I'm up to anything." It certainly isn't a proposal I'm against in any fashion.

"It might not be exciting or... that kind of thing, but... want to go shopping with me tonight? I need to pick up a few things. I'm sure you've seen the fridge is a little... bare. I didn't have a chance to buy anything before we left." She asks, watching my face expectantly for an answer.

Grocery shopping might not sound like the most exciting date plan for a young couple, but I loved the idea. She wants to spend time together. Domestically. How could I say no to that? Plus, could use a few things myself for my fridge. I could already sense the inevitable foal brgade barging in when they found out im home, and that's usually best weathered with snacks. "Couldn't think of a better way to spend the evening. What time are you back?"

"Think I get home at seven," Derpy hums after a short pause, thinking. "I don't know how many of the market stalls will still be open, though. Could try the grocer, but their prices?" She winces. At the stalls, they at least had competitive pricing, even some haggling. Ponyville's sole grocery store, not so much.

"I'm pretty handy with limited ingredients, plus, I get off earlier than you. How about I make dinner tonight for you and Dinky? My treat." I find myself offering, while I hold my arms out braced for her to land on me.

Derpy glances out the window, biting at her lip, probably trying to weigh how much time she actually has before she's got to go. But, she slowly settles down in my grasp as her wings go still and fold against herself, leant against my chest. My arms reach out to meet her, cradling underneath and behind her for support. She lets out a long, sad sigh that only makes me want to hold her closer, but I don't want to squeeze all the air out of her while she tries to speak.

"That's very sweet, but I don't want to burden you with that, Anon, I just want to spend time with you, even though we just spent the weekend together. But I also don't want you to feel like you have to do something to hang out with us. I just want... you, around. I'm sorry, am I being too much?"

I chuckle softly, holding this sentimental little horse close. Part of me feels like I have to tell her to stop being so considerate. "And I'd love to spend some time with you, and Dinky, too. Unfortunately, I enjoy pampering my favorite little lady, so that's something you're just gonna have to get used to, because I think a certain hard-working mare deserves the chance to take it easy after a long day. Plus, I like cooking for you guys. Not quite as much as I like you, but... it's definitely up there." I grin, as her hoof pats my chest at my honeyed words.

"Flatterer. Alright then, only if you're okay with it. Dinner it is, then. Just... don't go overboard with it. I mean it. You already spent so much in Canterlot. Promise me you'll keep it simple?" She smiles softly, staring at me.

Her head tilts to the side as I say nothing, the quiet moment lengthening between us. One of her ears flick, wondering why I'm silent, until she notices my wandering eyes.

"What?" She laughs softly, noticing I'm still staring at her.

"Just counting." I mutter, shifting my now comvenient hold of her to lean her forward, planting a small kiss on her nose. I don't pull away just yet, slipping another kiss on her cheek.

"You like my freckles that much, or are you just avoiding answering?" She huffs, pushing out if my grasp and fluttering into the air again. It's so strange how effortless it is for Pegasi, to just hover in place without disrupting anything. Hardly feels like I'm standing besides something half my size, keeping itself face-level in the air.

"Yeah, they're alright, I guess." I shrug, feigning a smarmy degree of nonchalance that she doesn't stand for.

"Ha, funny." She huffs, prodding me again. "But I'm serious, and I don't like that silence of yours."

"Reason I'm a little hesitant to answer is because I may have had a plan," I start to explain, Derpy looking at me curiously. "You wanna meet for lunch somewhere, and I pick up Dinky to join us? I can drop her back off afterwards, and I think she'll get a good kick out of it. Make sure she's got something proper to eat too." I offer, shifting my weight as I push off the counter, stepping closer to Derpy again.

"We're already meeting for dinner, though." She mumbles, before glancing up. "That's so much, Nonny. Seriously. You can't just keep --"

"And?" I cut her off, offering only yet another in a series of playful smiles. "I'm gonna be honest, there's really not much here for lunch for a growing kid. Gotta make sure you get something to eat, too. We'll keep both simple, light on the wallet. Plus, another chance to see each other. Like we weren't going to try and see each-other for lunch like we always do?" I tie my reasoning into our previous conversation, hopeful that helps weigh on her decision.

I can see her initially dislike the idea, but she lets out a long sigh. "...You sure? Something like Hayburger, right?" She firmly decides, ever conscientious of how much either of us are spending -- though she gives in to the idea a lot faster than I was expecting. Honestly, I appreciate her frugality. "Cheap. I mean it. I'm going to be upset if I find you spending a bunch of your bits, Anon."

"Hayburger sounds good to me. I'll play it smart, promise." I nod, crossing my arms. "I mention how good you look in your uniform?"

She scoffs at my poorly veiled transition, but entertains the notion."Got a thing for Mares in Uniform, Mister Muss?" She says while looking herself over, twisting in the air. She snorts loudly, shaking her head after a quick self-inspection. "This old thing, on this old mare? You're joking. It's more stitches and patches than the original material." Derpy tries to retort, but it's falling on deaf, rowdy ears.

"Flap your way back into these arms if you'd like to see just how seriously I mean it." I tease, pushing off the counter and stepping towards her.

She hesitates for a moment, even as the blush starts to deepen across her cheeks.
"M-maybe later. I have to get to work -- see you tonight! Or at lunch! Or both!" She quickly sputters through her fluster, before flapping for the door. "Have Dinky lock up, and tell her I love her!"

I wave as I step over to shut the door, watching her through the doorway as she flies towards the post office, narrowly avoiding hitting a lamp post. And a passing pony. And a wall. I really shouldn't make a habit of working her up into a fluster like that her before work. Sorry bubbles.

There's a tug on my pant-leg as I stare outside.

Dinkster, saddlebag in tow. "Mister Muss, did Mom leave?" She mumbles, stepping up on her back hooves to peek through with me, looking around.

"Yeah, she had to run for work. She said she loves you, and that you're good to lock up?" I lean down on my knees, ignoring the creak in my leg. Think I've been moving around a little too much, but I'll be fine.

"Yup! Got my key!" She wiggles her little saddle-school-bag about, before squinting at the countertop in a sudden spurt of curiosity, attention already shifting, trying to see what I've been up to. "What'd ya make?" Dinky asks, standing on her back-hooves to gain a little height for extra peekage. Confusion writes itself on the little filly's face when she doesn't see pancakes, nor anything else edible.

"Actually, let your teacher know I'll be picking you up for lunch. We're gonna meet your mom at hayburger." I explain, watching her face. It's like she's slowly processing the meaning of what I just said, eyes slowly widening as she figures it out.

"Really?!" Dinky practically explodes on the spot, limbs locked straight as she launches nearly a foot straight up.

"Uhuh. If you've got all your stuff -" I don't even get the words out before the Dinkster is ripping right past me, sliding right out the door as she doesn't even consider slowing down to stop in time, now fueled by a new degree of impending excitement.

"Ready! Come on, come on!" I hear get chanted outside the door, Dinky hardly able to contain herself, as if hurrying now will bring lunchtime about faster. By the time I even get back up and to the door, she's already got the key in her little magic grasp, waving it around in the air impatiently.

Like a drunk who stumbled home, it takes her a few tries to actually get it in the lock. She eventually manages, happily spinning around. Dinky looks positively ecstatic to have someone walking with her to school, glued to my side. Then my other side. Then my other side. She doesn't want to get too far, but she can't stay still, bounding around me as we walk towards her school. I've got no idea how her bag actually stays on her back with the way she moves, but she keeps me thoroughly distracted with a bombardment of questions.

"So when are we going?!"

"Noon, we're gonna meet your mom there. I'm gonna pick you up."

"Do I get to go home right away, too?!" She slides to a stop in front of me, childlike eyes full of anti-school possibilities.

"Nope, I'm taking you back after." I dutifully shatter her excitement, watching as her pace slows.

"Ah, phooey." Dinky visibly deflates, along with the youthful anarchy coursing her veins.

"Why phooey?" I ask, watching her catch up.

"Nuthin'."

"By the way, you get any mileage out of that science kit you got?" I try asking, to hopefully distract her. It works, the excitement coming raring back as she bounds past me, skipping and hopping.

"Oh, yeah! I was saving it for show and tell, it's coming up next week! I was gonna show everypony the cheminemical reaction!" A proud exclaim as she takes the lead, remembering I'm there, and coming back to walk beside.

"I'm sure they'll all get a kick out of it, kiddo." I lean down to ruffle her mane, Dinky dodging my hand and scuttling ahead. Oh, right. Her hair. I completely forgot.

"Oh no you don't, Mister Muss!" She giggles. It looks like a bit of a mess already, and we're not even close to the house now. I should probably catch her before she gets to the schoolyard, see if I can tame it a little bit.

That's if I can catch her, the way she's giggling and intent on staying out of my reach. She's fast, and experienced in being a cheeky little shit.

"C'mere, Dink!" I call, trying to jog after her.

"Nope!" She zips ahead, giggling all the while.

By the time I even manage to catch up to the little furred blur, we've already gotten to the school where the morning bustle of foals are playing in the yard, waiting for day to start.

I manage to get my hands on her before we get there, suspending her wriggly limbs in the air and wrangling her mane into... well, it's something. A little better than it was before, but not by much. Might need to bring a brush at lunch so Derpy doesn't see her kids been running around with a mess on her head, but the kid couldn't care less.

By the time I glance up, I recognize the pinkish-purple pony stepping towards us, a curious look on her face. Probably not a great look, chasing another person's kid around and flinging them around to mess with their hair, but she doesn't look terribly bothered.

"Good morning, Dinky. Have a good weekend in Canterlot?" She greets the filly, Dinky spinning around and popping out of my grasp. With vibrantly purple fur and that splash of multi-tone pink hair, the mare wears the tired expression of a well-seasoned tutor that's weathered the storm of many a children's class.

"Hi Miss Cheerilee! I sure did! I went to unicorn college, and they said I could go when I get bigger, and I ate a fish, I was super good at throwing axes, and my moms a wonderbolt!" Dinky proudly, and mostly incorrectly exclaims. A rather condensed, if slightly incorrect recollection.

Cheerilee gives me an odd look at those claims, as if looking for me to confirm them. I shrug, offering a quick correction.
"Went to a college's presentation and her mom ran the public wonderbolt track. Close, kiddo, but not quite."

"...The axe?" Cheerilee prompts, looking between me and the Dinkster.

"Actually, accurate with that one. History axe-throwing booth thing. She's got weirdly good aim." I shrug, Dinky smiling widely.

"I... see." She tsks, muttering 'alright then' under her breath. "Well, I'm glad that you had fun at the festival, though I hope you know you're not bringing anything sharp to next week's show and tell."

"Nope, I'm bringing my science kit!" Dinky happily announces, bouncing in place. "It's got a volcano and all the cool stuff!"

"Much better," Cheerilee nods, far more approving (and visibly relieved) by that choice. That's when I find that she turns to me, giving me a rather deliberate once-over. "And you must be this Mister Muss I keep hearing a few of my students speak about? I've seen Dinky and her friends wander up your way a few times, but it's good to put a face to the name they keep mentioning. I'm Cheerilee, Dinky's teacher, as I'm sure you've probably figured."

I find one of her hooves outstretched up and towards me, waiting.

"Yeah, good to meet you. Just call me Anon." I meet her hoof, trying not to weird her out or take offense to the look she gives my hand when my fingers wrap around her outstretched limb. She plays it off politely enough.

"I think Applebloom is waiting by the door, Dinky. Why don't you go play with her while you wait for the rest of your friends?" Cheerilee turns to Dinky, nodding towards the pack of foals all gathered and chatting loudly, playing whatever games or gossiping about their favorite thing.

"Okay! Bye Mister Muss!" Dinky nearly slams into my leg, giving it a tight hug before she bounces off.

"Seeya kiddo." I mumble, clearing my throat, realizing I'm about to be left alone with her teacher.

There's a very judgemental gaze sitting on me, from the only other pony in my vicinity. One I've seen from a distance, from my house, that makes me feel like I may not have set up the best kind of first impression.

"If I might ask..." Cheerilee suddenly speaks, drawing my attention. "Who are you to Dinky?"

That one is a question best answered bluntly, I think. "I'm, uh... dating her mom." I readily admit, sticking my hands in my pockets.

She blinks several times, processing my statement. Apparently she hadn't heard, which is a bit of a surprise, but I guess Dinky just rambled about me and never dropped Derpy and I'm relationship status. Rather surprising though, what I said seems to soften her expression a fair amount. "Huh. Dinky has often spoke of you and her mother in the same breath, but I guess it didn't register until now. Sorry, just not quite what I... expected." She admits, glancing behind herself towards the schoolyard, watching a few of the foals.

"There's no problem, is there?" I ask, wanting to make sure. To my relief, Cheerilee almost seems confused by the question when she looks back up at me.

"Hmm? Oh, no. Once I saw some of my students wandering up to your house after school, repeatedly, I vetted you with their parents and guardians. They've long since assured me you're a family friend, if not outright recommended you for assistance if I ever had an issue. I mostly ask because Dinky usually doesn't have anyone dropping her off or picking her up, as I've been made aware her mother is usually working." She explains, making no effort to skirt around the pointer edges of the subtle accusations.
"Does this mean you'll to be coming by in her stead more often? Emergency contact and all that?"

Oh, that's... surprisingly sweet to hear actually. Means at least Applejack and Rarity have vouched in his favor then, which is a nice feeling. Wonder who she asked for Scootaloo, though. "Yeah, that's fine by me. Actually, I was going to pick her up again at lunch to take her to her mother. Is that alright?"

"As long as you have her back by the time recess starts, I'm sure Dinky won't hold it against you." Cheerilee jokes, excusing herself as she laughs at her own comment. "Sorry. Yes, it's fine. Just try to avoid having her bring anything back with her, or the other foals might get jealous. Whoever ends up bringing a treat from somewhere tends to get dog piled. I've got a morning of trying to get her to not announce it to the class ahead of me, to try and keep the peace."

"Right, got it. If Dinky is all set here, I've gotta run -- but it was good to finally meet you, Cheerilee." I go to offer a quick wave, but Cheerilee stops me.

"Hang on a second, Anon."

"Huh?"

"Dinky hasn't always had it easy in my class or getting along with the other foals because of her... situation, but ever since she's started talking about you, she seems happier. She's more involved, has more fun, has made more friends. She actually looks forward to going home now. I just want to make sure you know how much you mean to that filly." Cheerilee explains, glancing back towards the school. I can see Dinky giggling beside Applebloom, the pair laughing about something as they point hooves at each-other.

"I'm glad she's doing good. I care for both her and her mom a lot. They mean something pretty special to me."

"I imagine they would. Celestia knows this dating scene is garbage." Cheerilee sighs, revealing a little hint into the real mare behind the tired teacher. Cheerilee purses her lips, nodding slowly after a long pause. A lot of the judgement in her eyes seems to have faded, her face softening. "Good. Well, have a good rest of your morning, Anon. I've got some foals to try and make sit still."

"Good meeting you, Cheerilee."

Cheerilee promptly trots back towards her students, already loudly corraling the main bulk of them into some sense of order into lining up at the door, getting ready to head inside and start their day.

I blow a raspberry, letting my nerves calm a bit. Somehow, that was one of the more nerve-racking things I've been through in a hot minute. That mare has a pretty mean glare, but I feel like that couldn't have gone any better, really.

But, now I've got a short trip to the bank to make after I stop at home.