A steady tick-tick-tock was the only sound that registered in Rarity’s ears anymore. They’d spent the last hour-and-a-half listening to their lawyer prattle on about the terms of the surrogacy agreement Applejack was about to sign. Though their lawyer, a balding earth pony stallion dressed in a starched white suit vest that went quite poorly with his fading brown coat, had done his best to get through the specifics of the agreement in a timely manner, it still seemed to be taking all afternoon and she wasn’t even sure how close he was to being done. And though she liked to consider herself an intelligent mare, much of the legalese still went quite over her head. She quite wished he would get on with the laypony’s version.

Next to her, Applejack was fidgeting with her hat in her lap. She’d been respectful enough to remove it when they entered Mr. Hockran’s office, for which Rarity was both appreciative and slightly surprised, though now she had taken to wringing its edge under the table as her agitation mounted. If Rarity was lost by the flow of large words coming out of their lawyer’s mouth, she was quite sure Applejack was in the same boat.

Unlike Rarity, however, Applejack’s patience could only last so long. Clenching the bridge of her nose in frustration, she sighed. “Hold up, Mr. Hockran, you’ve lost me. Can’t you put it in Equestrian for us non-lawyers?”

Across the table, Braeburn let out a relieved exhale and leaned back into his seat. He clasped Soarin’s hoof as he said, “Yes, please! All this legal jargon’s going over my head.”

The lawyer frowned; his squat, pudgy face wrinkled in annoyance at being interrupted. He was quick to replace it with a passive, easy-going smile that Rarity could see through in an instant as the sort one wears to mollify a customer.

“I must stress that this is a legally-binding document. You all must abide by this terms and it is in your best interests to know exactly what it says. However, if you wish, I can give you the general idea,” he said in his deep baritone. Rarity had, when they first entered his office and began speaking with him, found his tone and enunciation quite charming, his words putting her at ease and making her feel more comfortable seeking his council. Over time, though, nerves had won out and her tension was growing once again.

“If you wouldn’t mind, Mr. Hockran,” Soarin’ said, his tone carefully measured and polite. “I’m pretty sure we all know what we’re getting into, this is just more of a formality for us. We’d just like to get on with things.”

Despite essentially being told to hurry along, Mr. Hockran smiled, this time quite genuinely. Rarity had to give it to Soarin’; he could be quite clever when he desired.

Before them, the lawyer nodded and shuffled his papers back into order before dropping them to the table. “In effect, Ms. Applejack will carry a foal for Mr. Soarin’ and Mr. Braeburn using artificial insemination utilizing Mr. Soarin’s sperm. They have allowed Ms. Applejack her choice of medical facilities and personnel for the duration of the pregnancy. As well, they have offered to pay all of her medical expenses until a time of three months after delivery. Upon the foal’s birth, Mr. Soarin’ and Mr. Braeburn will be the foal’s legal guardians. In the eyes of the law, they will be the foal’s parents, not Ms. Applejack.” He turned to give Applejack a meaningful look. “Do you understand? You will have no rights regarding this foal.”

Applejack visibly swallowed before nodding weakly. “Y-yeah, I understand. It’ll be theirs, not mine.”

Mr. Hockran nodded in turn. “Good. Well, that’s the general idea. All of this is explained in more detail in here–” he tapped a hoof on the stack of papers “–which I’ll provide both of you copies of before you leave. Does anypony have any questions?”

Rarity looked to her marefriend. For just a moment, a thousand questions and doubts and fears raced through her mind. But try as she might, the words just wouldn’t come out. Little good it would have done anyway she thought, as Applejack was already set in her path. They’d made their decision long ago and now she’d have to live with it.

But looking at the mare next to her, always a beacon of warmth and a rock of dependability; now it was Rarity’s turn. This was her chance to pay back the strength Applejack had always shown to her.

Another gentle squeeze of her hoof was enough. Applejack looked to her, uncertainty etched across her brow. But then their eyes met and all the worry melted away. A small smile bloomed across her face and she nodded gratefully.

“No, we’re good,” Applejack said to the lawyer. The confidence in her tone swelled. “We’re ready to sign if Soar and Brae are.”

The two stallions shared a look before Soarin’ spoke slowly. “Well, we are, but… are you sure you don’t want more time to think about it?”

“Nah,” Applejack said, shaking her head with a smile. “I wouldn’t have even come this far if I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it. And I ain’t never been one for worrying over details, so it don’t matter to me too much what this hear contract says. All I need to know is I’m havin’ a foal so you two can have your family. Can’t say anythin’ else matters.”

Rarity could only watch as both of their faces lit up at her words. It was like their dreams were coming true before her very eyes, leaving her awestruck as the lawyer walked everypony but her through where to sign.

When it was all over and the last signature was scrawled, the lawyer gathered up his things while Applejack spit out her pen and rolled her jaw.

“I ain’t written my name that many times since school,” she muttered.

“Well, everything looks to be in order so you’re done for now,” the lawyer said jovially. “I’ll get some copies of your agreement for each of you. You can wait in the lobby or in here, if you’d prefer. I’m sure you’d all like a minute alone.”

After congratulating the prospective parents he excused himself and left the room. Rarity had barely had the time to turn back to the group when she found herself nearly being trampled by a yellow body that threw itself past her towards Applejack. Braeburn had his forelegs around her marefriend’s neck like a vice while he furiously nuzzled her cheek.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” he babbled incessantly all the while. Applejack looked frozen in shock at the sudden invasion of her personal space, but once she recovered she let out one of her deep belly chuckles and returned his hug full-force. Rarity couldn’t help but smile watching them.

“If you couldn’t tell, we do really appreciate what you’re doing,” a voice said. She hadn’t even noticed Soarin’ step towards her. He smiled in amusement as he glanced sideways at his husband. “I think Brae’s gonna start crying any second now.”

“I am not!” Braeburn snapped, though Rarity thought his voice sounded thicker than usual and as he pulled away from Applejack he was quick to wipe his eyes.

Soarin’ smirked and bumped his flank against Braeburn’s. “Sure you’re not, Braeby. Just like your cutie mark’s not an apple, right?”

Braeburn shot him a chilling glare in return. “Keep talking, pardner. I won’t make you any more of my special apple pie.”

The grin fell from Soarin’s face like he’d been slapped. His wings drooped dejectedly as he looked to the floor. “Yes, dear,” he mumbled.

After a moment he perked back up, however, as he and Braeburn returned their attention to Rarity and Applejack. “I really don’t know how to thank you enough,” Braeburn said.

“Nah, think nothing of it, Brae. You know I’d do anything for you,” Applejack said. Feeling a rush of affection for her selfless, brave and, at times, infuriatingly stubborn marefriend, Rarity leaned against her side.

“Indeed,” she agreed. “We’ll always be here for family, won’t we, darling?” Applejack nodded in agreement. “Well, we should probably be going. I’m sure you both must be ready to head home and we need to schedule somepony a doctor visit, I suppose.”

“Aww, nonsense!” Applejack said. “They didn’t come all the way out here to Ponyville just to head right back home afterward! You both gotta at least stay the night at the farm! I know Mac would be happy to get to catch up with you both. Between you and me I think he gets a mite lonely at home with just us fillies around.”

“I guess we can take the train back tomorrow…” Soarin’ said, looking to Braeburn for confirmation who nodded. He made to say something else until something must have dawned on him and his eyes widened. His next words were whispered and awestruck. “Do you think Granny Smith might make some pie…?”

After a series of laughs, Applejack managed to calm herself enough to say, “Sugarcube, for somepony who likes her bakin’ as much as you do, all you gotta do is ask!” She turned towards Rarity as much as she could with their bodies pressed together. “You’re coming, too, right?”

Rarity blinked in surprise. “I suppose I could. I assumed you’d want some time with your family.”

Applejack frowned in turn. “Of course I do. That’s why I want you there,” she said simply before playfully nudging Rarity’s side. “C’mon, we’ll stop by your place and see if Sweetie Belle’s free, too. I’m sure Apple Bloom would love to have her there.”

And so it was two apple farmers, one a small town country mare and the other a rough and tumble wild frontierscolt, and a world-renowned Wonderbolt led the way out of their lawyer’s office with Rarity trailing behind. An odd bunch to be sure, but a more honest or good-hearted group of ponies Rarity doubted could be found. Each one of them, despite how little she knew Braeburn and Soarin’, were slowly becoming more important fixtures in her life than she would have ever expected.

Somewhere along the way, these three ponies had joined her family.

– Five Months Later –

The little bell over the Carousel Boutique’s front door tinkled, signaling the entrance of another customer and drawing Rarity from her work. Dropping the thread and needle to her worktable and levitating off her glasses, she shook her head to clear the stress of prolonged focus and checked her appearance in a nearby mirror to make sure she still looked fabulous.

“Be right with you!” she called out as she hurriedly fixed a few out of place hairs in her mane. She had barely finished when she whisked herself out of her private workroom and into the showroom. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique!”

She paused in her slogan when she recognized the only pony standing in the room. Applejack was pretending to idly look at a display ponnequin bearing a recently finished taffeta ball gown. Rarity knew she was pretending by the fact that Applejack would never be interested in a dress with that many frills and also by the amused smirk she wore.

“Ya know, I’ve always wondered,” Applejack said, not looking away from the dress before her. “Do you say that whole slogan every time somepony comes in here? Don’t that get old?”

Rarity sniffed imperiously at the attempt to get under her skin. “I’ll admit it’s a bit of a mouthful, but it’s the Boutique’s tagline! Greeting every customer with it provides brand consistency to returning customers and informs new ones of what to expect. It would be quite unprofessional of me to not say it!”

Applejack just chuckled and rolled her eyes to Rarity’s displeasure. “Whatever ya say, Sugarcube. Anyways, I’m here like ya asked.”

Rarity blinked as she tried to remember what she was talking about. “Oh yes; your suit for the Equestrian Farmer’s Convention! I was going to hem it up for you. I assume you brought it with you?”

“’Course I did!” Applejack countered, fishing a pristine white box out of her saddlebags. Rarity took it in the grip of her magic and floated it over. Minus the beautiful red ribbon, it looked exactly the same as when she’d given it to her only a few months ago.

“Have you never worn it?” Rarity asked, disappointed. She’d worked very hard on it; using a very carefully designed blend of silks and cottons to maximize its aesthetic appeal while also leaving it comfortable to wear. It was elegant enough to suffice for most public events barring a Grand Galloping Gala, while also subdued and practical enough that Applejack would actually wear it.

Applejack shuffled her hooves nervously under Rarity’s question. “I ain’t had much chance to. It’s too nice to just wear around town or at the farm and I haven’t gone anywhere in a while.”

She looked genuine enough, Rarity thought, and she meant well. Rarity could forgive her, but not without having a little fun first. She huffed as she took the box away and stalked back towards her workroom. “Hmph! See if I ever create anything nice for you again!”

Once she was around the doorway where Applejack couldn’t see her, she turned around and waited patiently. A soft sigh sounded from the next room before hoofsteps came closer to the door.

“C’mon, Rares! I just wanted ta keep it nice–!” Applejack started, but was cut off as Rarity took her chance. The moment her face appeared through the door Rarity darted forward and kissed her freckled cheek. Applejack froze mid-thought as she processed what happened. To add fuel to the fire, Rarity seductively trailed her tail along Applejack’s side as she sidled forward to drop the box onto her work table.

“I suppose I’ll forgive you this time, Darling,” she simpered as she withdrew a measuring tape from off a nearby ponnequin. “Now, saddlebags off, if you will!”

By then, Applejack had recovered from her little stunt and shook her head while grinning amusedly. “Do you really need to get my measurements again? Didn’t you just do that a couple’a months ago for the Gala?” she asked as she slid her bags to the ground.

Rarity floated the tape over to her flanks as she pondered how to respond. “Well, you see, Darling… Your measurements tend to… vary a little more than the rest of the girls’.” Even as she said it, she knew she hadn’t been as successful as she’d hoped.

She could feel Applejack’s raised eyebrow bearing down on her as she asked. “And what exactly are you tryin’ to say?”

Rarity decided to continue focusing on taking Applejack’s measurements while she agreed to remain still, jotting each number down onto a small notepad for later. Hips, flanks, inseam, tail diameter… the motions going by in a blur as she worked on autopilot. “I only mean that you tend to fluctuate slightly! It’s understandable really, when you think about it. You have differing workloads throughout the year, as well as changes in diet and the like. You don’t micromanage your nutritional intake and exercise like Rainbow Dash or Twilight does. And there’s nothing wrong with that,” she impressed, cutting off the interruption she knew Applejack was about to give. “You’re a very healthy mare, Darling, and you know I think you’re beautiful exactly as you are. It just means I need to take your measurements more often to stay up-to-date!”

Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity caught Applejack blush and huff in embarrassment like she did every time she called her beautiful. Even after all the years they’d been together she still couldn’t take a compliment about her looks and Rarity adored that about her.

Another idea, far more naughty than the last, took hold in Rarity’s mind as she jotted down the last measurement she needed. As she withdrew her measuring tape from around Applejack’s thigh, she allowed the slick fabric to drag along her underside. A twitch of her magic readjusted it from the crease of her thigh to between her voluptuous mounds. At the same time, another burst of magic pinched ever so lightly against one of her nipples.

The combined touches nearly made Applejack jumped out of her hooves. “C-consarnit, Rares! If you just wanted the chance ta feel me up, couldn’t you have waited ‘til after I was done with work for the day?!”

Her words said no, but the way her legs spread slightly told Rarity all she needed to know. Smirking to herself, she gave another tug on Applejack’s nipple before pulling away, taking the tape with her. Applejack grunted in disappointment as Rarity walked away looking at her notes.

“Could you warn me next time you feel like teasin’?” Applejack grumbled, leading Rarity to smile.

“But Darling, then it wouldn’t be as fun!” she said. She carefully replaced the tape on the shelf as she looked over the measurements before something dawned on her. She flipped back in the book to look at the last time she’d measured Applejack and, sure enough, the difference was clear. “This can’t be right…”

“Somethin’ wrong?” Applejack asked, concerned.

“You’ve gained three inches in your waist since last time…” Rarity said, mystified. She knew how to use a measuring tape; there was no way she’d gotten it wrong. “You fluctuate, but never this much. Not in only a few months.”

“Well, I might’ve had a few more slices of pie than usual,” Applejack said apologetically. “Granny’s been teaching me and Apple Bloom her secret recipe and we’ve had ta practice! You know how it is!”

Rarity barely heard her. Instead, her attention was focused on Applejack’s midsection. Something didn’t look quite right. She was indeed a little rounder than usual, if only barely noticeably, but it was limited to only her stomach. Her thighs and flanks were largely unchanged from the last time she’d measured her. If she had merely gained weight, that sort of distribution didn’t make a lot of sense.

Unless…

Once the realization had dawned, Rarity hastened to the other side of her workroom to pull over a large wheeled mirror. She positioned it in front of Applejack before moving to stand out of the way behind her.

Leaning over Applejack to look at her reflection in the mirror, she asked, “Do you notice anything different, Darling?”

Applejack met her eyes in the mirror for half a second before looking herself over. “Umm… not really?”

“Come on, Darling! Look closely!”

“I… didn’t condition my mane this morning?”

Rarity frowned and shot her a sideways glance. “Really?”

“What?” Applejack asked, indignant. “You know how hard it is to wash your mane without magic? I’m not gonna do it twice every morning!”

Rarity made a mental note to buy her a two-in-one shampoo/conditioner while simultaneously sighing at her obliviousness. “No, Darling. Look here,” she said, trailing a hoof along the curve of Applejack’s belly. “See anything different here? Because I do.”

She watched as Applejack took a second look in the mirror, raising a hoof herself to touch her stomach.

“Well, I guess I am putting on a little…” Applejack started to say before trailing off. A look of confusion crossed her face until suddenly her eyes widened. “You don’t think…?”

Rarity smiled as she grabbed Applejack’s hoof with her own. “I do think, Darling.”

“But it’s only been four months! I shouldn’t be showing yet, right?” Applejack asked, a note of unease in her voice.

“The doctor said you could show as early as three months, right? I think even Mother started showing around now when she was with Sweetie Belle if I remember correctly and, no offense to her, she’s a little… rounder than you are. I’m sure this is nothing to worry about!” she said, nuzzling Applejack’s cheek. “Are you excited?”

Applejack’s disbelieving gaze was locked on her stomach like she couldn’t comprehend what she was looking at. “Yeah, I guess so… It’s kinda just unreal, y’know? Like, I’ve known the insemination took ‘cuz the doctor said it did, but… I don’t know how to put it.”

“It’s like it’s real now?” Rarity supplied.

“Yeah…” Applejack muttered. She fell silent and Rarity was happy to just stand with her, rubbing their hooves slowly across her stomach, knowing what was happening within. After a time, a small smile bloomed on Applejack’s face. “Rares… I’m pregnant.”

Rarity leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Yes, you are. We should write to Braeburn and Soarin’. I’m sure they’d be delighted to know.”

If anything, Applejack’s smile grew even wider. “You’re right, we should! Hey, you got a camera around? We should send ‘em a picture, too.”

“I’m sure we’ll find one,” Rarity said, thinking of her newest employee. He loved to take pictures. “But we can worry about that later as there are more pressing matters to attend to for now.”

“What’s that?” Applejack asked.

Rarity beamed wide into the mirror. “You need maternity clothes!”

Her excited was met with only a put-upon groan.

– Five More Months Later –

Rarity had always thought Sweet Apple Acres was a remarkably beautiful place, particularly when the sun shone its golden rays along the treetops, painting the sky into a glorious royal purple backdrop. The trail leading from the front gate to the house was dusty, as it always had been, though she no longer minded having to wipe her hooves off later.

It was simply too nice of an evening to worry about such things. It was a pleasant end to a pleasant day; a crisp breeze blew, signaling the coming cold weather of Winter but she felt warm and cozy with a steaming casserole dish balanced upon her back. She had worried that the Prench endive gratin might be somewhat more exotic than the Apple Family was used to, but after one smell of the melted cheese and spices, she was sure it would go over just fine.

She had to wait for only a scant few moments after primly knocking on the front door for it to open, revealing an elderly green mare wearing a faded apple-printed orange shawl around her shoulders. The old mare broke out into a wrinkly grin at the sight of her.

“I figured it was you! Come in, come in! When’re you gonna learn you ain’t gotta knock ‘round these parts?” she barked, ushering Rarity inside.

“Well, I’d hate to just barge in unannounced …” Rarity started to plead before realizing it was pointless. Granny Smith had already taken the gratin dish from her back and was making off towards the kitchen.

“Nonsense! Family’s always welcome here!” Granny Smith called out as she disappeared into the kitchen.

Following behind her, Rarity found the kitchen bustling with activity. Big Macintosh, large and handsome as ever, was hovering in front of the stove, alternating between stirring a few different pots. After sitting her casserole on the table, Granny Smith moved to the oven to take out a fresh loaf of bread, filling the entire kitchen with its delectable scent. One sniff was enough to leave Rarity’s mouth watering.

While they were working, Apple bloom was setting five places at the table. No longer the young filly she once was, she’d grown into a fine young mare. She had recently replaced the old pink bow she used to wear with a bandana of the same color tied around her neck. Years of hard work had developed her body from a scrawny filly’s into a strong mare’s, much like her older sister, though she’d retained her adorably-youthful face.

The last member of the Apple Family, however, was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Applejack?” Rarity asked.

Big Macintosh began whistling an innocent tune, staring pointedly at the food while Apple Bloom snickered to herself. Granny Smith ignored her altogether.

“What? What is it?” Rarity asked, perplexed.

“Oh, jes’ Apple Seed bein’ ornery today,” Granny Smith said, smiling to herself.

“’Ornery’ don’t cut it.”

Rarity turned to see Applejack standing in the doorway. She looked less-than-stellar; there were bags under her eyes and her mane was messy and unbrushed like she’d just woken up from a nap. The not-insignificant swell of her belly was noticeable even from the front, leaving her to lean tiredly against the doorframe for support.

“She’s been leanin’ on my bladder all day,” she muttered, smiling despite how exhausted she looked. “I swear it seems like I’ve had to get up every five minutes to pee.” She groaned as she stood straight again and Rarity rushed to her side to support her.

“Here, you should sit down, Darling. You don’t need to be on your hooves any more than you have to,” she said, attempting to guide Applejack to a seat at the table.

Applejack frowned but did as she was told. “I can handle walkin’, Rares, I’m not helpless yet! Everypony leadin’ me around, fussing and fretting like I’m gonna pop any second!” She looked down at her round stomach, rubbing a hoof over it. “You hear that, Apple Seed? You need to hurry up and get out of there before I go stir-crazy!”

“You still thinkin’ it’s gonna be a filly?” Apple Bloom asked, sliding into a seat across from her.

“With as much trouble as she’s causin’? You betcha,” Applejack said. “Making me sick, giving me weird cravings, cramps and aches all the time? Only a filly causes that much trouble, Ma always said.”

“I still say it’s gon’ be a colt,” Granny Smith chimed in. She was putting the finishing touches on a spread of bread, butter and cheeses that she brought to the table on a platter. “I had your pappy, his brother and sister and I watched your momma have all three o’ you. Jus’ you wait and see; it’ll be a colt.”

“I betcha twenty bits it’ll be a filly,” Apple Bloom said slyly.

Applejack flashed her a scowl. “We’re not bettin’!”

“I’ll match that,” Rarity said. Apple Bloom laughed as the subject of her sister’s ire shifted. “What about you, Macintosh? Want in?”

The stallion in question kept his eyes averted as he carried a heaping pot of vegetable stew to the table and placed it delicately in the center. “Eeenope.”

“Smart colt,” Granny Smith said as she patted his shoulder warmly. “I’m in, though! Heehee, I betcha all fifty bits apiece!”

Rarity couldn’t hold back a giggle as Apple Bloom and Granny Smith burst into a fit of laughter. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Big Macintosh grinning as well, though he remained silent as ever.

“I can’t believe y’all are joking about this,” Applejack groused.

“Lighten up, Darling,” Rarity said as she nuzzled her cheek, much to Applejack’s annoyance. “It’s all in good fun!”

“’Good fun’ my tail. You ain’t the one luggin’ around a bowling ball.”

With all of the food spread out on the table, everypony took their seats; Rarity next to Applejack and Big Macintosh next to Apple Bloom with Granny Smith at the head. There was no such thing as passing food or waiting your turn at the Apple dinner table. Instead, much to Rarity’s initial consternation the first time she’d joined them for dinner, everypony reached to grab whatever they wanted whenever they wanted, and fighting over the last slice of Granny Smith’s bread was not only expected, but encouraged.

Not to say that Rarity partook in any such brutishness. But she couldn’t deny there was a certain… rustic charm to their behavior. Though it had taken some getting used to, she had actually grown to love the informality so inherent in how they interacted with each other.

“Wow, Rarity, this is really good!” Apple Bloom said through a full mouth of the casserole. Beside her, Big Macintosh nodded heartily.

Before Rarity could respond, Applejack beat her to it. “Endive Gratin, right?” she asked to Rarity’s surprise. “Yeah, she’s pretty good with her Prench cookin’. Though don’t ever let her talk you into trying escargot. Trust me, you’ll regret it.”

Rarity hid her mouth behind a hoof to cough, but mostly to hide the growing pink blush on her cheeks. It had been during a romantic little vacation to Manehattan where they’d found an adorable prench bistro. She’d ordered the dish not knowing what it was and spent the rest of the night sick with embarrassment.

And actually sick. She’d insisted bravely, or perhaps naively, to at least try one bite of what she’d ordered and promptly spent the rest of the night locked in the filly’s room. It had been quite the damper on an otherwise wonderful weekend.

“Right… anyways,” Apple Bloom said, continuing past Applejack’s words rather than taking the bait, for which Rarity was thankful. “You’re a pretty good cook, Rarity. You should make stuff more often!”

“You just want more free food,” Applejack said, pointing at Apple Bloom’s plate, which was already heaping with second helpings.

Apple Bloom grinned in return. “Well, I won’t say you’re wrong! But I just thought that since she went through the trouble of bringing something I could at least let her know I liked it!”

Though Rarity appreciated the comment, she couldn’t help but feel like Apple Bloom was going somewhere. Perhaps it was her sly grin that reminded her of Opal when she’d gotten into something she knew she wasn’t supposed to or the leading inflection in her tone, but regardless it left Rarity wary. Beside her, Applejack seemed to feel the same if the wrinkle in her brow was anything to judge by.

Apple Bloom, however, seemed entirely unconcerned. “Honestly, I think you’re pretty lucky, Applejack. Rarity’s a great cook, she’s creative! She’s real patient and a whole lot less stubborn than you! I think she’d make a great mother someday.”

A devilish gleam sparked in Apple Bloom’s eye as she spoke. And though Applejack furiously gestured for her to stop, it was too late. She turned to Granny Smith.

“Don’t you think Rarity’d make a good mom, Granny?” A small thud under the table prompted her to gasp in pain and reach down to rub her hindleg while AJ grinned evilly.

“I think she’d make quite a good momma, if she and AJ ever decide to give me some great-grandfoals!” Granny Smith said. She paused to point her fork at the two of them dangerously. “Y’ain’t goin’ ta be young forever. Take it from me and have foals while ya have the energy to keep up with ‘em. You don’t want to be my age and try to keep up with a rambunctious filly sprinting around like a spring chicken! Why, after Apple Bloom was born…”

Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity watched Applejack slowly slide down her chair as far as her stomach would allow. She sighed in defeat and set herself in for Granny Smith’s story. Rarity really couldn’t blame her. Granny Smith could be long winded at the best of times and once she really got going, there was no stopping her until she ran out of steam. And tonight it looked like she had plenty of steam.

It was going to be a long night.

***

“Oof, what a night!” Applejack grumbled as she sat herself down at her vanity. She looked like she could barely keep her head up as she pulled the tie from her ponytail and let her mane fall free. Once done she propped her forehead on her forehooves and sulked.

Rarity closed the door softly as she watched. Without being prompted, she opened one of the vanity’s drawers and withdrew a brush, with which she began meticulously undoing the tangles ever-present in Applejack’s mane. She hummed a simple tune as she worked.

“I’m sorry about Granny,” Applejack mumbled through her hooves.

“Nothing to be sorry for, Darling. If we’d been at my parents’ home I daresay my mother would have done quite the same. Besides, it’s hardly the first time.”

“I know that, but…” Applejack trailed off with a sigh, her shoulders slumping pitifully. “Yeah, you’re right. I just hope it didn’t make ya uncomfortable.”

Rarity’s careful motions slowed as Applejack’s words struck her like a buck to the stomach. That little detail had been a point of contention a couple of years past when they were still new in their relationship and though they had settled things and were content for the moment, Rarity wondered if perhaps Applejack was reconsidering.

It might be time soon for them to have that conversation again. But Rarity knew she wasn’t ready for foals any more than she was the last time they’d discussed it. She didn’t have the time to raise a foal, not while she was running the Boutique! Not to mention all the responsibility involved! Oh no, definitely not yet.

And yet as she looked at Applejack, her love and her life, she could feel her heart breaking.

Suddenly, Applejack leaned away from her and grunted as she made to stand. “I think I’m ready for bed, Sugarcube. I can barely keep my eyes open.”

Rarity started when she realized she had long since finished brushing her mane and was now uselessly running over the same part. She released the brush onto the vanity, deciding to put it away in the morning. Her mind was crying out for sleep and she wanted nothing more than to collapse onto the bed, dignity be damned.

By the time she’d removed her makeup (honestly, she couldn’t let it smear across the pillow!) and made for the bed, Applejack was still in the process of getting herself settled. As the months had progressed and her stomach grew, she’d had more and more trouble getting comfortable, eventually having to bring in numerous extra pillows to prop up her head and legs. It left her lying somewhere between her side and her back in a veritable nest of cushioning. It made cuddling with her rather difficult, but Rarity still managed to find enough space to snuggle up to her back.

Despite how tired she felt, sleep didn’t come to Rarity. She didn’t want to toss and turn for fear of disturbing Applejack, but no matter how she fluffed her pillow and squirmed and wriggled, sleep never came. Finally a sigh escaped her lips.

“You can’t sleep either?” Applejack suddenly whispered.

Rarity’s ears flattened in shame. “I didn’t keep you up, did I?” She could feel the vibrations of Applejack’s soft chuckle through her back.

“Nah. Li’l Seed’s picked now of all times ta start kickin’. Feels like she’s gonna be a drummer one day, the way she’s goin’ at it!”

That perked Rarity back up. “Oh, the baby’s kicking? May I?”

“Sure,” Applejack whispered, taking Rarity’s hoof in her own and guiding it to a spot just under her navel. Not even a second passed before she felt the little thump-thump right against her hoof. She may not have been overly-excited for Applejack to be having a foal, but Rarity couldn’t deny every kick she got to feel sent a little flutter through her heart.

“She’s going to be a little troublemaker, isn’t she?” Rarity whispered in awe. “Or she could be a little angel. She could grow up to be anything… What sort of pony will she be? I suppose we won’t really know, will we?”

With a grunt of effort, Applejack lumbered to roll over to face her wearing a frown. “Rares, do you… do you regret having to give the foal up?”

“No,” Rarity said immediately before doubt began to wriggle into her mind. “I mean… I suppose I’ve just gotten used to the idea of you being pregnant and to think that in just a few months everything will go back to normal…”

“Rares, we can’t keep it,” Applejack said. “It’d break Braeburn and Soarin’s hearts!”

“I wasn’t meaning we should, Darling! It’s just that after going through all of this, don’t you think it’ll be… strange?”

“Yeah, it prob’ly will be. But what else can we do?” Applejack asked. After a moment of thought, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Do you want foals now?”

Rarity knew she should say no. She knew she wanted to say no. It was what she would have said any single other time she was asked that question. She had answered that question before, years ago when they had talked about the topic the first time.

Yet this time the word just didn’t want to come.

“I don’t know…” she finally mumbled, more to herself than Applejack. She was barely even paying her any attention. Instead, she couldn’t stop thinking about the little life growing in Applejack’s womb; the culmination of two stallions’ dreams and one mare’s selflessness. And with every kick of those tiny hooves, everything began to feel… right?

“I always thought I wanted to be a mother. But it was always eventually; after I was a world-famous fashion designer. Once the Boutique was successful. Once I was married to the pony of my dreams. It was always something I wanted tomorrow, not today. But now that I’m thinking about it… I don’t know what I want.”

She nearly jumped when Applejack’s hoof touched hers again. She looked up into those gorgeous emerald eyes just in time to be pulled into a kiss. Her mind blanked as she tasted the farm-ripened taste of apples on her lips, and smell the telltale scent heavy in her mane.

Applejack.

How perfect a name for her mare. She was so inundated with the very essence of her namesake fruit. It was so intrinsic to her very being; her body, her life and her passion. And in that moment, even though she’d understood before, she now understood the name Granny Smith had given to the baby: Apple Seed.

Not just the beginning of a new pony’s life, but the beginning of a new life for everyone involved as well.

A seed of change.

Maybe…

A seed of hope?

She couldn’t be sure just yet, but perhaps the seeds had been planted.

When at last Applejack pulled away from her and they both fought to regain their breath, she left a loving nuzzle on Rarity’s cheek. “There ain’t no reason you have to decide tonight, Sugarcube. What we have… I’m in it for the long haul. ‘S far as I’m concerned, we have all our lives to figure out if and when we want foals. And I’ll gladly wait ‘til you’re ready, alright?”

Rarity felt her heart melt. “I should’ve expected you to be understanding, Darling. I’ll try not to keep you waiting long, alright? I love you.”

“Love you, too, Sugarcube. Now how ‘bout we try to get some sleep, alright?”

Nodding her agreement, Rarity helped her shift her pillows around to match her new position and settled in beside her.

“Night, Sugarcube.”

“Good night, Darling,” Rarity replied, kissing her cheek. Then she leaned down to kiss her stomach. “Good night to you as well, Apple Seed.”

Then, snuggled next to the one she loved, she finally felt at peace enough that sleep began to take hold. The warmth of Applejack’s body was more comforting than any blanket, and the swell of her belly let her feel every breath her lover took.

It was utter bliss.

Until a tiny hoof kicked her stomach.

– One Final Month Later –

Applejack had had just about enough.

She was tired of being cooped up inside all day with nothing to do but lie around and watch the sun inch across the sky through her window. She had to get up and do something or she was gonna flip her lid.

Now, she knew her fussy, if well-meaning, marefriend had a point. The doctor told her it’d be unhealthy for her to stress her body too much. So she would just have to do something easy. Surely organizing the surplus apples in the barn would be fine, right? She could sit down the whole time and the heaviest thing she had to lift would be the empty barrels she planned to sort into. She could even leave what she’d finished for Apple Bloom and Big Mac to take care of later.

It was a fool-proof plan!

Of course, she hadn’t expected how tired the walk to the barn would leave her. She was already half-out of breath by the time she got the doors open, but that wasn’t so bad. Once she’d had the chance to sit back down she’d feel fine again in no time.

She trudged to the far side of the barn where they kept the spare barrels, grabbing the rope handle of one by her teeth. Tugging it from the stack, she jumped as much as she could when it slid from her grip and crashed to the floor.

“W-whew…! Darn thing’s heavier than I remember…” she said as she looked it over. Thankfully it was unbroken. Grabbing the handle again, she dragged it over to where she planned to work. Repeating the process until she had as many barrels as she needed, she sat herself on a hay bale and let out a relieved sigh. “You need to hurry up and get out of there, Apple Seed. All this lazin’ about is making me soft!”

She set about her sorting; apples for the marketplace in one barrel, ones for cooking that would later be delivered to various eateries around town in another and the ones for shipments in yet a third. It was tedious work, but it needed to get done. It was also something she didn’t have to actively think about, having done it so many times before that she could sort in her sleep, for which she was thankful. Apple Seed had kept her up late again last night and she didn’t think she had it in her for more mentally-demanding work.

About half an hour passed before a strange noise drew her attention. It was a soft hissing, so quiet it was barely audible over the birds chirping outside. Amidst it, every few seconds was a drip-drip-drip.

Her first instinct was that Winona had followed her into the barn and was currently making a mess. It wouldn’t be so bad; the floor was covered in hay that’d soak it up. But last she had seen, Winona had been begging Granny Smith for treats in the kitchen. She hadn’t even followed her outside.

She was halfway looking around the barn for a leak when she felt something wet on the hay bale she was sitting on. With some difficulty, she stood and saw a dark wet spot where she’d been sitting. Reaching back, everything under her tail was soaked, with even more leaking out of her by the second.

For half a second she thought she’d had an accident. The baby had made it difficult to hold her bladder before, but she’d never completely lost control without even feeling it. She didn’t even feel like she had to go.

So, what was…?

“No…” she gasped, unbelieving. It couldn’t be. It was a week too early. Apple Seed couldn’t be coming already!

But try as she might, she couldn’t reason away the wetness on her hoof and flowing down her hindlegs.

“Big Mac! Granny! Help!”

Author's Note

Whew... This chapter took a while!

Sorry for the delay in this chapter everyone! It's been a long few weeks and this chapter was really kicking my butt for the most of it. Real life loves to stick it's nose into my business and interrupt all my finely-laid plans. Stupid real life.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy!