Bookends Part 3: Or Family Values

Twilight and Cheerilee were ten months into their pregnancies.

Twilight was often having false labor contractions. She complained it wasn’t fair her rose colored wife wasn’t bedeviled by the uncomfortable and disconcerting condition. The mares’ doctor had told Twilight it was to be expected with some mares, and not in others.

Both mares were well into the ‘nesting’ phase and they’d freely given themselves to the impulse to fix everything for the coming foals. The nursery was wonderful and with help from Cheerilee’s mother and her partner plus with frequent visits from Twilight’s mother, it was a baby’s dream.

Twilight and Cheerilee were on the bed, they were trying to catch their breath. They still tried to make love as often as practical. It was getting harder with their baby-bellies in the way, but they made due. They were holding each other close and getting a thrill out of feeling their child ‘kicking’ against the other’s belly and feel the other baby ‘kicking’ back. The activity was always greater after a good session of sex.

“I love you,” said Twilight, “I don’t know how I ever lived before you.”

“I feel the same,” said Cheerilee, “you and the life we share is more than I ever dreamed of.”

The two kissed deeply, it was still so arousing to taste each other mingled on their tongues;

“Will we still feel the same after we have two foals running wild around the library?” asked Twilight on breaking the kiss.

“Of course not,” said Cheerilee, which made Twilight look at her rose colored wife in shock.

“Silly! We’ll love each other so much more.”

The two laughed and kissed some more. They heard the bell downstairs.

“Twilight, Cheerilee,” called a voice, “are you two at it again?”

“It’s mom,” said Twilight to her wife.

“Why mom,” shouted Cheerilee, “you wanting to join in?”

Rain Shadow walked to the top of the stair, looked in on the girls and laughed.

“Sorry you two,” said the older mare, “I wouldn’t want to damage you for life.”

“Oooooo...” said Twilight, “that sounds like a challenge. But I think it’d be weird with our mother.”

They all laughed.

“Well,” said Rain Shadow, “if you two ‘beached whales’ can somehow manage to get your tongues out of each other’s marehood, we’ve somewhere to be.”

“Where’s that mom,” said Cheerilee.

“Now if I told you,” said the motherly pony, “it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

The two got up, took a quick shower and went down stairs. There, Rainy and Windie were waiting on the girls. Spike was left in charge. Which because it was late afternoon, he’d take a nap on one of the sofas.

The older mares led them to Bon-Bon’s candy store. When they entered, there was a thunderous;

SURPRISE!

All of Twilight and Cheerilee’s friends who were mares were there. Also Twilight Velvet, Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadence.

There were decorations on the walls and tables. All did up in baby bottles, pink streamers, diapers, rattles and other foal paraphernalia.

“A foal shower?” said Twilight, becoming misty eyed.

“What’s the matter Twi, My Love,” said Cheerilee.

“I wish Pinkie could’ve been here,” said Twilight. “It’s been almost five months since she came by to tell us she’d be away. I miss the manic mare!”

“I know,” said Rainbow Apple, “we were having trouble getting it together when Rare asked Fluttershy for some ideas. She suggested having the party here instead of Sugarcube Corner. It would be too suspicious going to the normal party location and thus spoil the surprise. Then she went on with idea after idea. Who knew that Flutters would have such a ‘freaky’ knowledge of how to organize a party.”

Fluttershy was blushing.

“I guess I’ve been around Pinkie Pie too much,” said the shy Pegasus.

All the ponies laughed.

There were games like changing diapers on a foal doll while blindfolded. Because of Cheerilee being an Earth Pony, there was no magic allowed. Ponies thought it hilarious Princesses Luna and Celestia were totally inept at it, but the two princesses took the laughter well. Even though Princess Luna told everypony she was making a list of which ponies would be exiled to the Everfree Forest.

Twilight wasn’t surprised Cadence won. After all, she may be the ruler of an empire, but she was also an expert and excellent foal sitter.

Rain Shadow and Twilight Velvet had put out a list of needs the two mares still were lacking for the nursery. They made sure everything matched the decor of the nursery.

There were some non-object presents, such as the one from Princess Celestia. It was two full scholarships to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. Because the princess had the final say in what pony would be admitted, they were assured whatever race the foals would be, they’d be permitted to attend.

Also, Granny Smith gave a promise of a hoof-made quilt for each foal. She was waiting to find out what race and color each foal would be.

Eventually it turned into just sitting around talking and eating snacks. Several of the ponies would be off at one part of the room, looking at the gifts, others were talking among themselves in small groups.

That’s when it started.

Twilight had just returned from the ‘little filly’s room’ when she was stopped by Rainbow Apple.

“Hey Twi,” said Rainbow, “I got a question for you.”

“Anything Rainbow.”

“I was wondering if you’d consider letting me be in the delivery room with you. You’re my best friend and I want to be there for you.” Said the blue Pegasus.

“I’ll have to think it over and talk to Cheeri about it. We’d talked about just having each other and our mothers in there.” Said Twilight, “but I don’t see why there couldn’t be room for one more. But I can’t promise anything until I see what Cheeri says.”

“That’s all I ask,” said Rainbow, giving Twilight a hug.

In another part of the room, Cheerilee is getting some punch when Cadence approaches her.

“Umm, Cheerilee,” stammered Cadence, Cheerilee could see a tear on her cheek, “I know this is asking a lot, but I wanted to know if you’d allow me to be with you when you have your foal. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the chance to do it myself and I know the foal is yours and Twilight’s. But I also can’t help but see it as also Shining’s and mine by extension as well.”

“I understand Cadence,” said Cheerilee, moved by the princess’ plea, “I wouldn’t have any problem. But obviously Twi and my mother would be there, but if Twi didn’t have any objections, I don’t think it’d be a problem.”

Cadence grabbed her sister-in-law and hugged her tight.

“Oh thank you,” said the princess, fighting back the tears, “you can’t possibly understand what this means to me.”

These two requests were not the only ones that the two mares received at the party. Unfortunately, most of their friends had some reason they wanted to ‘be there for them’.

Noticeably absent was any request from Celestia and Luna. Twilight was uncertain about them, they could pretty much do as they wanted without anypony’s permission. They weren’t the rulers of Equestria for nothing.

But she was sure with the level of intimacy and relationship that she and Cheeri had shared with Tia and Lu, they’d respect them enough to ask before commanding.

The two mares tried not to let the requests put a damper on the party but on their way home, Wind Walker and Rain Shadow noticed the concern on the two pregnant mares faces’.

Big Mac had met the group at the end of the party and had hauled all the presents to the library, he was good enough to take the items up to the nursery. Then after he was finished and had left, the group went into the kitchen to have some tea and talk.

“Okay,” said Wind Walker, “what gives? Didn’t you get enough presents?”

“Windie,” said Cheerilee, “it’s nothing like that. I was bombarded by ponies who felt they had good reasons to ask to be in the delivery room with me.”

“I was as well,” said Twilight, “everypony was good enough not to ask for a decision right then, but it was evident they thought they had good enough reasons to be there.”

“To tell the truth,” said Cheerilee, “I don’t know how comfortable I’d be, all spread out on the delivery table with my ‘goodies’ on display. I’ve no issue with Twi obviously and you mom, and oddly enough I wouldn’t have a problem with Celestia or Luna, but they didn’t ask me.”

“Ouch!” said Rain Shadow, “I can see why you’re so glum. At least I didn’t have any issues like that. Your father, Cheerilee, was out with the stallions leaving me to go through it alone, my own mother hadn’t spoken to me for several years so she wasn’t there either. Luckily for me, Windie did show up and was there for me.”

Rain Shadow looked lovingly at her partner, took her hoof and gave her a kiss.

Cheerilee looked at Wind Walker and smiled;

“I didn’t know you were there when I was born.”

“Honey,” said Wind Walker, “I held you even before your mother did. But I want you to know my opinion. And that’s the only ponies you should have in the delivery room is your partner and your mother. Friends are nice but this is such a personal and intense thing, it doesn’t need to be a public spectacle. It’d even be out of place for me to be there.”

Then with a sly smile;

“Plus I may be a mare-lover, but I’ve no desire to see your ‘goodies’.

With all the ponies who want to be there, you’re either going to have to say yes to all or no to all. Picking and choosing will only hurt feelings more. And if they’re really your friends they’ll respect your decision.”

That evening, Twilight and Cheerilee held each other as close as possible. Both were worried, once again, their foals would bring them great joy but could be the reason for losing some or maybe all of their friends.