That Way

5 Months Later~

   It was another morning where Derpy woke up very groggy. She tossed and turned, groaning. She did not want to go to work today, she would rather just sleep in. To everyone's surprise, Ditzy Doo was her usual happy self again though. Other then getting past the morning sickness, cravings, hunger, and other symptoms of pregnancy, Derpy was smiling once again. She would do her job, give her friendly greetings and smiles. As of lately, nobody had made fun of her. Most of her friends around Ponyville congratulated her, and Pinkie Pie even talked about throwing a shower. She hung out with Twilight a lot now, and they would talk about a lot of things. Now that she was pretty far in, Derpy forgot about all the things that could go wrong. Now she only thought about the advantages of having a child. The night she told Jet, he actually took awhile to accept it. He denied that it was his child, and got angry. The next morning, it struck him that it was his, and lately, he had been quiet around Derpy, and out of the house a lot. He said something about looking for work, and that made her very happy. Jet still would not mention anything about the foal though, and he was just gone a lot now. Derpy doubted that he was actually looking for a job, for all she cared, he could be at bars. All that she knew, is that now that he was out of the house, maybe he could get himself together. Narley said to redefine love, and she did. Derpy still loved Jet, but she wanted him to change, or she herself would call the wedding off. Now that he was not around the house, he could not abuse her. The only time she saw him, was at night when he would lay in bed with her.

             Today was the second week into her 5th month of pregnancy. She noticed Jet was gone again, and she rolled her eyes and chuckled. Derpy walked into the bathroom, and stretched. She flapped her wings a couple of times, spreading out her feathers, and twisted her neck around. When she looked in the mirror, she saw her eyes, and they made her giggle. When she turned, her stomach was hanging out under her. Somehow Derpy's small frame was carrying a foal well. She had some pain in her back, but it went away after awhile. Today was special, because it was her last day of work, before Narley gave her a long break. He even agreed to continue paying her, to support the family she was starting. For the last week, Derpy was delivering her mail to the houses closest to the mail station. Everyone in the office accepted that, now that she was carrying the extra weight. The disadvantage was that Derpy never got to see the CMC anymore, only the few friends she knew on the west side of town. When she flew over to Twilight's on her break, they were either in school, or at their tree fort. Derpy said she would help Scootaloo learn to fly, it was probably too late.

   The last 5 months were definitely good for her. Not only did she learn a lot about what her body was going through from Twilight, but she also got closer to her little group. They would have picnics, go to the spa, go around town and help with any of the many mishaps that would happen, and they would swim in the lake. Derpy loved to go around on the weekends and see what they needed done. One time she helped Applejack make Zap apple pie, and she helped Pinkie make cupcakes. Derpy also would go on fly's with Rainbow Dash, and afterwards she would help Fluttershy with her animals. Then sometimes, Rarity even let her try on some dresses and be a model. The foal had been growing though, and she visited the doctor. She was not able to wear the clothes she used to anymore with her growing belly. It was a very healthy, unicorn filly. She was going to tell them today, all of Twilight's group were going on a picnic. It was okay, Derpy had to admit that they would talk about the foal more then they talked about her. When they were all together, they would gossip about if it would be a filly or a colt, the race, and a name. They also liked to talk about what mane and coat colors she would have, and if she would have her mothers or fathers eyes. She found it fun, especially when she could chow down on some of the delicious things they brought. It felt like Derpy was always extremely hungry now, it was one of the side effects.

        It was a usual start today. Derpy got her muffin from Sugarcube, for free, and flew to the post office. She was going to end early today, so she could hang out with Twilight and friends. The first person she saw was Narley, her co-workers must have gotten out earlier then usual. There were usually still at least some ponies this late into the morning.

"So, is it a filly or a colt?" Narley let her leave early the day before as well, to go to the doctor.

"Oh, it's a filly! Like me.... well I am a mare... but" She chuckled "You know what I mean"

"Well, congrats. I kept my promise, and you will be aloud to end early today, and leave. As well as pay, just remember I'm doing this for you, you owe me big time."

"Okay, thank you a lot Narley" Derpy said, hugging him.

"Well, will she be flying for us some day?"

"Aww... no, she is a unicorn... It is alright, I wanted a pegasus to train too, but a little unicorn is fine" He sighed.

"That is awesome, you are coming along well, I knew you would. Well, I gave you your favorite route. I gave you a couple of deliveries on the east side. Not many, since it is a far fly, so when you are done, you can go with your friends. I will do your paperwork" Derpy blushed.

"Narley.... you shouldn't have. Thank you a lot" Narley smiled softly, and Derpy came in for another tight hug, which made his own cheeks turn red.

"Go along, the faster you get them done, the faster you can get out of here!"

"Thanks, I will get right to it" Her route was handed to her. She was going to see her CMC pals again, and all the ponies on the other side of town she had not seen in awhile. Lyra, Bon-Bon, Carrot, June, and many others she missed. Hopefully they did not think anything of her since she was expecting, but what Derpy did not know is that most the town knew. Pinkie Pie does not do a very good job keeping her mouth shut.

         Flying was getting harder and harder. The doctor did said it would be a good idea to stop flying at 6 months, so she would have to take off from work anyway. Her endurance still stayed up, like Scootaloo said, but she was even slower now. Derpy thought she would be able to pass down her skill to her child, but it looks like she took Jet's genes. As for being a filly, she got lucky. Of coarse she would not mind a colt, but it was nice having a filly because she, herself would be able to bond with her more.

         Narley was right, she definitely got lucky today, and had nearly no mail to deliver. After stopping by a few houses, she finally saw Lyra. After a hello, and a hoof shake, she congratulated her, and she continued. A couple of other ponies stopped her, and they would talk, but Derpy really wanted to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She wanted to talk to Scootaloo, and see how all of them reacted. Would they be interested? Either way, she promised Scootaloo a flight lesson. It was the end of January, and the pegasi did as promised, with a lot of snow. Derpy came out today with a scarf, a heavy jacket (That went over her bloated stomach) and a hat, making sure to keep herself warm. The ground was covered with snow, and every pony was wearing their winter gear. Since the pegasi started the winter late this year though, after promising to start it early, they would have to keep it going for longer. This wasn't a problem for her, but a lot of ponies would get sick of the cold weather quickly. After a few big storms, it became more of a problem then anything. By the looks of things, the snow looked freshly fallen and untouched today. This was a common site in the morning, but by noon, most of the school foals would get out and hop around in it. School was cancelled a lot, and today was no difference. It looked like it snowed hard the night before, and Derpy could tell because groups of stallions were plowing the streets. It was around 10:30, the time the 3 filies she loved came out. Someday she hoped her own daughter would be as sweet as them. She flapped her wings, hovering down slowly to see if they were near the big tree in Rarity's yard. It was covered in snow, with its branches bare. She did not see them, only their little hoof marks in the snow. They were around somewhere, the tracks looked new, and did not seem to trail off anywhere. Scootaloo came up behind the tree.

"Hey Scootaloo!" She said with a big smile.

"Hi Ditzy" She replied, not very loud. She brushed her hoof against the surface of the snow. She was in a coat, hat and scarf, that were a little girly for her. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom came around as well, both with snow balls. They dropped them and walked past Scootaloo to Derpy.

"Hi Ditzy Doo!"

"Howdy Ditzy!"

"Hey girls. I havent seen you in so long.. What have you been up to"

"Well, nothin' just tryin' to get our cutie marks... as usual" Derpy giggled.

"As professional snow ball fighters?"

"No.. well, not right now. We are just playing, but that sounds like a good idea, right guys?" Sweetie Belle said looking at Applebloom next to her, and Scootaloo behind them being quiet. It made Derpy nervous, was she mad? Hopefully she heard the gossip around town, and why Derpy was busy.

"I don't think there is a such thing. We are always trying to get our cutie marks! I'm thinkin' we need a break. It's hard work. Applejack said that we can take as much time as we need, and not to be concerned about it all the darn time" Applebloom squeaked, with a small grin. She picked up a snowball "Want to play with us? Or do you have mail?"

"Well... I have a little mail, I have a lot of time though. I just don't think I have much energy" The mare rolled her eyes. Scootaloo came closer, she was still being oddly quiet.

"Ditzy, Rarity said not to say anything... but.." Derpy kinda knew where this was going. She nodded, she would not be offended by her asking.

"I heard you were having a foal?"

"Well duh Sweetie Belle... Look at her stomach" Derpy's face turned a little red at Applebloom's comment.

"Y-yes... I am"

"Oh, okay. Well, does it hurt?" Sweetie Belle turned her head.

"Is it a filly or a colt!" Applebloom blurted out. Scootaloo finally came all the way up.

"Guys... I am sure she does not want to talk about it" Scootaloo sighed. She was frowning, and didn't look happy. Derpy was starting to think it was over the flying thing. She felt bad.

"Oh no, I like talking about it. It's fine, it is a filly, and she is a unicorn... holding her isn't that bad" Derpy turned her head and smiled at Scootaloo. She walked over and patted her on the back.

"Yes! A unicorn! Maybe I can teach her magic!"

"Aww, Applejack said that it may be a partner to go buckin' with"

"Well at least she is a filly Applebloom"

"You're right! We can make her a Cutie Mark Crusader!"

"Won't we be kinda old?" Sweetie Belle squeaked, moving her head.

"Well somepony has to take over when we leave" The two smiled, and Derpy look down at Scootaloo as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle moved behind her. She gave a light smile, and patted her back again. She did not seem very interested in what Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were talking about.

"Hey... what's wrong? I haven't seen you in awhile, is something bothering you?" Scootaloo sighed.

"Well... yes a little. I just haven't seen you in so long. I have missed you... and I know Sweetie Belle already knew, and Applebloom too, but I didn't. Are you okay?" Derpy giggled.

"Never been better Scootaloo. I am fine, don't worry about me. I did not think you cared so much. You really missed me?"

"Of coarse, other then Rainbow Dash, I kind of look up to you. Rainbow can... well, kind of show off. But you are really friendly, and have always talked to me a lot. You have even let me stay over when I did not want to sleep at the orphanage, well, until Jet came. I am just worried, that now that you are going to get married, and have a foal, that you won't spend time with me anymore.... I know you can't do tricks like Rainbow... but you just are a lot like me" Derpy's face lit up, and her cheeks became redder. She was touched, and never thought she had a follower.

"You are like me? Oh... I don't know, I am just clumsy. You are graceful like Rainbow, you don't want to be like me..."

"No Ditzy, you are special! Don't say that. You are different, and I like that. I am kinda different, because I am a orphan, and I can't fly, where most fillies and colts my age can. We are similar, and it is nice to be myself around you, where I want to act all cool around my other idol. Around you I can be myself, and you will listen" Derpy always liked Scootaloo, she was sweet, and kind. Derpy did not notice she liked her so much.

"Scootaloo, you are so sweet... I would never do that. I am always doing the mail, so we can see each other more often. I am a little different... yes, but I don't let that hold me back from the being best I can be. I learned from a lot of different things, that being special, or weird, or different, is good. I mean, do you think ponies thought Star Swirl was normal?" Derpy smiled.

"No.... He was really weird" Scootaloo chuckled.

"Exactly! He was one of the smartest ponies that ever lived! Twilight is a little weird too, but we still love her. Having a foal isn't a bad thing, it will be nice don't you think? I heard their coats are snugly, and they are really cute. When she is born, you can come by all the time! I will deal with Jet... don't you worry" It came to Derpy that Scootaloo was a orphan. She lived in a very nice home, but Derpy always wondered when she would be adopted.

"Thanks Ditzy... Just don't tell Rainbow"

"I won't... I am sorry I could not get those flying lessons in"

"No, it is fine. Actually, Rainbow is helping me with that now. I would not make you stay out here in the cold" Derpy looked down at her bag. She wanted to get it done, so she could go over to Twilight's

"Alright, well I am going to go. You will be around, I just have a few deliveries today, then Twilight, her friends, and I are going on a picnic"  Derpy hugged her.

"Okay, thanks. Congrats by the way, I hope some day I can meet her" Derpy began flapping her wings, and hovering.

"Oh, I am sure you will" She smiled.

"Aww, leaving so soon... bye Ditzy"

"See you later!" Applebloom and Sweetie said, as Derpy began to fly off again.

        It was a easy day. She actually got all of her deliveries done by 12, just in time. She was really lucky, because they were all on the same street. She moved house to house, and even got to see Cheerilee. They waved, and said Hi. She was a little surprised that she was pregnant, but they talked still. Afterwards, she flew around a bit, and thought about things. Like a name. She loved names that were related to others in the family. Derpy's name was not Derpy, of coarse, that was just a nickname. She got it when she was younger, and never really understood what it meant, but everyone in town called her both. Her real name was Ditzyon Doodle, after her rich french ancestors, but when her parents moved to Equestria hundreds of years ago, her last name became shortened to "Doo". Ditzyon was a famous ancestor of hers who was known for something Derpy did not usually remember. But that was shortened to Ditzy as well, and her father always told her Ditzyon was a silly name, and that his own mother told him to name her that. Derpy definitely liked her nickname the best, it sounded happier. Ditzy just felt like a clumsy name, and she knew she was clumsy, but she did not need a name to make it worse. So, Derpy wanted something with a D, and something simple. Jet was probably not going to care anyhow, so when she got more time, maybe she would ask Twilight for a book or something. The foal was growing up so fast, she felt bigger everyday. Now she was kicking, and moving around in there. Derpy only felt it once, but the doctor said it would be much more common. She was excited to tell Twilight what the doctor said. Twilight sounded like she was interested, being that this was something she never saw before. Everyone else seemed to mention it too much, now anyway, it was not something that Derpy would now always want to talk about. She was still a social mare, and she hoped that she was hanging out with Twilight for more then just the baby. She flew home and put her bag away, flying out again to Twilight's. When she arrived, all her friends were waiting outside and talking. They held blankets, and baskets for the picnic. They also wore winter clothes. Derpy wondered how they were going to pull out a picnic in the snow. Most of them greeted her when she landed.

"Hiya Ditzy! Did you enjoy the muffin I gave you this morning? It was freee~! Even better, it is a new recipe."

"Yes! They were very good!" Derpy shook Pinkie's hoof. "I need to get more... oh my Celestia they were awesome.. I love muffins"

"Hello Ditzy, how is everything? You went to the doctor as planned right?" Derpy turned to Twilight and shook her hoof

"Eeeyup"

"Now ur soundin' a lot like my brother. What'd the doctor say?" Derpy greeted Applejack.

"It is healthy... everything is coming along well. I will tell you guys everything when we get to our little spot"

"Well.... foals are like... well kinda, like animals. They need a lot of love, and cuddling, just like the baby bunnies at my home. They are so cute when they are little" Derpy chuckled a bit and rolled her eyes at Fluttershy.

"I don't think it is that easy" Rainbow Dash patted her on the back.

"How has Jet been?" Rarity stopped her, by pushing her a bit.

"Rainbow Dash! That is personal mare business! How could you say that out loud in front of her" Rarity said, coming closer to her ear. "You can tell me. I know a lot about stallions, I can help you" Derpy shrugged her off.

"Uhh.. he has not been around lately. I don't really want to talk about the baby or Jet right now... it should not be the center of... well, attention right now"

"Well of coarse it sh-" Twilight put her hoof in front of Rarities mouth.

"We understand Ditzy. We have a nice spot picked for the picnic"

"And I made fresh muffins! Just for you! Because it is ALWAYS your special day now!" Pinkie said a little over excited, it was usual for her.

"It is right by the farm, lets get goin' girls. My fresh apple pie is going to get hard" Applejack started leading Twilight and her friends down the road. Derpy followed along.

            It was the usual with Twilight's friends. Derpy did not exactly like it, but she was usually shut out when they were in a group. However, when she mentioned anything about the foal, they would all start poking her. She did not like that about it, and it is why she kept it hidden for a good amount of time. When it was just Derpy and one of them, it was a little better. Pinkie Pie usually just rambled on as they baked, while Fluttershy surprisingly did too, but in a quiet manner. Rainbow Dash would talk all about herself, and would even do tricks when they were on a fly. Rainbow would often ask Derpy about personal things, in a attempt to help her. Rarity talked all about gossip, and how she said that, and he did that, and this said this. Applejack talked mostly about work, and she would sometimes complain about her friends to her. Honest Applejack sometimes found herself talking behind others backs. Last but not least was Twilight, she was the best. They would drink coffee, and Twilight would talk about Celestia, then Derpy would talk about her job. It was back and fourth, but the others seemed more one sided. You would think Fluttershy would be the same, but once you got to know her, she could really ramble on. Derpy only had to mention that once though, and then she would probably stop.

           The spot Applejack picked was nice. It was on the edge of the hill her farm was on, and you could see all of Ponyville. Derpy could point out her house, and the post office from here. The area was nice and plowed, and the weather was a little cloudy, but not so bitter in her winter gear. They laid down the blankets over the glazed grass, pulled out the baskets, and began to feast. She was really hungry as usual, and started to chow down on the muffins Pinkie brought. Good thing for her, the last picnic nobody ate them, so she could shovel down as much as she could. Derpy found herself making a pig of herself, but the other 6 talked and rambled on, gossiping. Derpy kept to herself, until she wanted to speak up. Applejack talked about the farm, and Rarity talked about her new clothing line. It was typical, and was usual for every picnic. Derpy slipped into the conversations. When they started to quiet down, she began to talk.

"So... I thought you guys would want to know the race and gender of the foal"

"I am sure it is a pegasus filly, one that I can teach to break records someday." Derpy chuckled.

"Go on...." The other 5 said in unison.

"It will be a filly, and it will be a unicorn" There were a couple happy reactions, and a few sad one, they all made her giggle a little. She did have pros and cons to a few of the options, but Derpy was just happy she was having a little one at all.

"I thought you got the race after 2 months? Didn't the doctor tell you when you went then?" Twilight said.

"Oh... well, I kinda did not go. It is okay though, because the doctor mentioned that she is very, very healthy" Twilight sighed.

"Alright... don't skip appointments like that all the time, though. It is really important that a professional always keeps an eye on you, so nothing goes wrong. Other then that, I am excited. You will have to let us foalsit her every once in awhile..."

"OH OH! I am a awesome sitter! Let me do it! I am so good with foals, and I LOVE playing with them. Come on! You have to trust me! Please!" Derpy backed up when Pinkie got in her face. She began laughing, but Twilight still pulled Pinkie back.

"Of coarse you can. I will make sure you all do... Now let's talk about something else..." It was a lot more of the same talk about dresses, farms, books, animals, air tricks, and whatever Pinkie could think up. Derpy smiled, and put herself in the conversation, as the sun came out on them. Derpy still found it kind of odd that they were having a picnic in the snow. No bugs was good, and Applejack had the area plowed. It would be nice to have a snowball fight. She felt her stomach move around, it felt weird, but she knew it was just her little one stretching. When they were all finished, they continued talking. Derpy moved a blanket away from the group, and decided to take a nap. She was stuffed from all the muffins she had.