Author's Note

All right, last chapter! I actually had some fun writing this silly little story and I hope you've enjoyed it too.

The wee bonny bairns

'Mr The Human!' Even though she knew my name, she sometimes liked to call me “Mr The Human”

'In here, mo chridhe.' I call back from the sofa

It has been almost five weeks since we became lovers, and they've been the best weeks of my life. Victoria almost always spends the night at my bungalow rather than her fancy apartment in the city, which of course means more time to be together.

'So, how's my wee lass?' I ask as she slumps down next to me

'Fine.'

I put my arm around her, and instantly I can tell something is off. She normally relaxed around me, but this evening, she remained cold and withdrawn.

'Love, what's wrong?' I ask gently

She gives me a questing look, fear and hesitation in her eyes

'I'm late.' she says quietly

'No, you came home exactly on half five, same as always.' I reply

'James! I mean late, late.' she whines

'D'ye mean?' I ask incredulously

'Yes, I should have had my next heat by now, I think I might be pregnant.' she whispers

'Oh, my wee lass, don't fret.'

'You're not mad?' she asks tearfully

'An' why would I be?' I ask

'Because we're different. I thought for sure you'd accuse me of breeding with some random stallion!'

'Aye, normally I would, only I've been doing some reading, and it seems magic can even allow for cross-species breeding. That's how Hippogriffs come to be.' I tell her

'So, you're not upset?'

I hug her tightly, to reassure her.

'No, now stop yer fussin'. Whit’s fur ye’ll no go past ye. Whatever happens, happens. Everything will be all right, you'll see.'

A few months later, she is very clearly pregnant, and suffering all the usual troubles that come with it. Concerned for her well-being, I insist on going to see a doctor the very next day.

Luckily as a civil servant she has access to 24 hour specialist care, and is able to get an appointment with an obstetrician.

'I have good news Ms. Harshwhinny, I can hear two strong heartbeats.' the doctor says, removing the stethoscope from her belly

'T-two?' she gasps

'Yes, would you like to take a look on the scanner?'

She looks to me for my thoughts.

'I'd like to see the wee bairns, but it's up to you love. If you want to keep it a surprise, then don't. I'll support you either way.

'It's fine, I want to see our foals too.'

Using his magic, the doctor moves a wall mounted arm thing into position. It starts doing exactly what the name implied. A line of magic slowly tracing it's way up and down Victoria's swollen belly.

Soon, an image resolves itself on a display screen. It's like a more colourful and detailed ultrasound.

'Ah, there we are!' says the doctor after a bit, and the scanner focuses in on one area.

'I'm not sure if you can make it out, but there's one, and there's two.' he continues, circling them with a marker

'Oh, my! How extraordinary!'

'What?! What's wrong?' Victoria exclaims

'Well, it seems that the foals are hybrids, with the top half being Human, but the lower half being Pony.' the doctor explains

'But they're otherwise normal?'

'They certainly seem to be well formed, if that's what you mean. In fact if I'm not mistaken, if you look at the distal twins forehead there's the nub of a horn there. She'll be a unicorn, I'm sure.'

'She? How can ye tell that's it's a girl?' I ask in surprise

'Do you see how the magic distorts in a much fuzzier way compared to the other? That tells me she's a she and he's a he.'

Ah, right. Anything else?'

'Oh yes, look at this.'

The view changes, and we're now looking at the back of the foals

'See those two dark spots there? Those are wing buds. Tell me Ms Harshwhinny, do you have Unicorn and Pegasus ancestry?'

'Yes, I have a Pegasus grandmother as well as a Unicorn grandfather from either side of my family.' she explains

'Ah-ha, that would explain it then. Though I suspect the addition of a non-Pony father may have something to do with it as well.'

Having been told all was well, we left the clinic very relieved. As we waited at the station, she snuggled up to me, and I rested my hand on her head, which was a substitute for hand holding.

A short distance away a small group of teenaged fillies were gawking at us. Some pointing and giggling.

I try and ignore them, but a particularly loud titter of nasty laugher triggers my temper

'Awa' an bile yer heids!' I yell at them, adding the archer's salute for added effect

This causes them to scarper right quick.

'Mr. The Human, It seems you still need to learn how to curb your over-enthusiastic outbursts.' she says with a smile

'What? I thought you loved my over-enthusiastic outbursts!'

'Only sometimes.' she says attempting to sound serious

'Besides James! They were just silly little fillies' she admonishes

'Aye, I know tha' but I'll nae let anyone gainsay ye or the bairns. I've got a family now, and a man has to protect his family.' I say with conviction, placing a hand on her stomach

'Thank you James, I can't tell you how happy you make me.' she replies, placing a hoof over my hand

I hug her, and in that moment I'm reminded of what my Gran used to say:

'God's in His heaven and all's right with the world.'