Bumps Along The Way

The Heaviness of sleep hung over me like a warm blanket as my eyes finally flickered open. I felt warm and somewhat woozy, yet seemed in far better a condition then I'd been in a long time.

I was in a bed, a soft, comfortable bed. It was a stark difference to the hard mattress I’d been so used to at home. For a long moment, all I wanted to do was close my eyes and sink deeper into the soft surface under me. That was when I noticed the fine white sheet draped over my legs and body, the bed’s cold metal rim and the fine curtain that surrounded me.

“This was a hospital bed, wasn't it?” I thought to myself warily, the sight of medical stands and monitors beside me confirming as much.

I let out a shallow groan, shifting my head slightly. The pain there had subsided into nought but a dull throb, yet it elicited

another injured wince from me regardless. Rising a hoof, I rubbed the spot to feel a large lump under my mane, but thankfully no stitches.

"Stupid nightclub and it's stupid bucks" I grumbled to myself as I lay back down, then my eyes fell upon my sheet covered mind section

The warm, tingling feeling still radiated up through me, the irritation becoming far more apparent between me rear legs. Five weeks of pregnancy and I hated everything about it already, and I wasn't even fat yet! I placed a hoof on my stomach gently.

“Maybe not, maybe the fall had…? What the hey Lavinder!” My mind abruptly stopped itself.

I knew I hated it, but that though was outlandish. I felt a wave of selfish shame was over me at the fact I'd consider such a thing, no matter how desperate I was. A small cramp in my gut told me that my mind was not the only one displeased with the fleeting idea.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry" I muttered, brushing my hoof over my tummy gently in a weak attempt to be apologetic.

All I could do after that was sigh, and then stared at the curtains around me.

“This must be the Trottingham central hospital?” I assumed, recalling the name from the brief glimpses of pamphlets and newspaper articles I'd seen before making the decision to move.

For a few arduously long minutes that was all that sat in my mind as I sat in silence. Then my stomach gave a loud growl and I rolled over.

"Great to see there’s nothing wrong with you then" I observed dryly, as I shifted my hoof to rub the tingling spot lightly.

Moments later, the quiet was broken as the curtain was cast aside and a mint green, earth pony mare with syringe cutie mark walked in. By the look of her white Hospital coat, displaying a red cross, she was a nurse.

"Hello there, good to see you're awake" She offered kindly, a wide smile forming across her muzzle.

I gave a far weaker one in return as she turned her attention to a clipboard on the end of my bed.

"So, you came in with a concussion?" She asked, seemingly mortalking e to herself than me as she looked over the medical notes.

"Now let's see, brain functions normal, no scars, blood pressure and heart rate fine and..." She paused, her mouth open in a gasp.

I swallowed, recoiling back against the pillow. It all sounded so well, but it was just my luck that something was wrong.

"Sorry miss, I don't really know how to tell you this but..." She trailed of looking at me blankly.

I swallowed nervously, fear creeping through me like a set of barbed vines.

"Congratulations, you're pregnant!"

“Oh', it was that problem?” I relaxed slightly at the confirmation, but her excited expression dissuaded such a response.

“Oh Celestia, she was expecting me to be overwhelmed with joy, wasn’t she? Think Lavinder, think. How does a mare react to something this normally?” I harassed my mind for answers, yet it gave little in return.

"Really?" I stuttered in fake disbelief, placing a hoof on my brow as if I was about to faint.

"It seems so, levels of Oestrone Sulphate in your..." She began, but at the sight of my bewildered expression she paused. "Well, I'm sure you'll be glad that everything seems to be in order with you and the foal. Although, I'd be a little more careful from now on if I were you" She advised, and I fought not to grit my teeth at the patronising words.

That, partnered with the irony that I was being told all over again how much my life sucked, made subduing my frustration increasingly difficult however. yet, all I did on the outside was nod as the problem in question tingled happily in my tummy.

"I could send up a consultant if you'd like. They can explain all that you're going through and what to expect" She offered, but I shook my head.

"No, I... I just need a few moments, could I have my bags? I... I want" I looked about for an idea. "I want to let the father know" I improvised, trying to hide the lie in my tone.

The nurse mare simply nodded.

"Sure thing, I'm sure he'll be very proud" She said kindly, before returning moments later with my tattered saddle bags.

"Now, I've got some patients to deal with in the next aisle, just call if you need anything" She finished, before busily trotting off beyond the curtain.

The moment she was gone I levitated my bags over my front and looked through them. For what it was worth, what little I owned was still there. At that, I slid off the bed, staggering slightly as I stood and placed the bags over my back. Peeking out from the curtain I saw nopony other than bedridden patients and swiftly made for the nearest door.

A part of me felt slightly guilty for leaving the poor nurse to worry, but she was working late in a busy hospital, she'd probably forget all about me before I was gone, and as I snuck out the gilt quickly faded. The tingling nausea in my gut spurred me on more though the maze of white halls, until a trail of irritatingly over sparse signs finally lead me to the accident and emergency reception.

Once there, I found a small waiting room looked over by a curved wooden desk. There were a pair of mares sat behind it, both seeing to a stallion accompanying a mare that had clearly had too much of something. The scent of her remained me all too much of the bucks in the bar, but I pushed back that idea and looked about for an exit. Several doors about the room were labled. Operating Theatre, Consultation and Maternity Ward.I felt my heart sink slightly at the sight of the latter most. I just wanted to leave and find my own way as I always did, I certainly didn't need some doctors to tell me what to do. A light twitch between my legs told me otherwise, and the cramp that followed finally forced me to admit I was lost. At that, I reluctantly joined the line before the desk to ask for directions.

My attention wandered as I stood there, yet the only things that weren't a chairs, walls or old ponies, were the condescending medical posters hospitals were renowned for. So, when all other options for distraction failed I simply looked down at my hooves.

"Well, looks like round one is going well" Came a light, yet boastful voice.

I looked up to see a new pony had entered the room. A ocher coloured, pegasus mare with electric blue mane, amber eyes and blue lollipop cutie mark. She stopped and looked about the place as if the boring, old room were a cheering crowd, then flexed her wings and legs.

"Told um' it'd be a piece of cake" She commented to herself confidently, finishing her emphasised stretch before she moved over to the back of the line, right behind me.

I squirmed slightly at the thought of somepony so close to me. Worse still, she radiated with confidence and seemed to lack all social anxiety, the complete opposite of myself.

“She's only said one thing, and that wasn't even to you” my thoughts stated bluntly, and I managed to force my shyness back into its mental box and straighten out.

All the mare behind me did was inspected her hooves in what appeared to be boredom, then glanced up.

"Goddesses, you have to wait forever in here even at two in the morning, am I right?" She asked, and it took me far longer than it should to release she was talking to me.

I froze, going stiffer than a board as she looked at me with a smirk. Then her wry smile faded.

"Hey, you alright?" She asked quietly, a hint of concern in her voice.

Glancing back at her nervously, I finally found my voice.

"Yeah, peachy. Thanks for asking" I stuttered timidly, and her smile resumed.

"Few” she sighed, wiping her brow. “Thought something was up there. Although, I suppose you're in the best place if there is, right?" She added.

All I did was nod swiftly, wanting nothing more than to be free of the conversation.

"Next" Came a tired call from ahead, and I turned back to see the stallion in line before me cart the intoxicated mare off.

"Hi, I'm looking for directions to the nearest exit?" I asked sheepish, scooting forward.

The mare at the desk sighed, then raised a hoof to one of the doors.

"You wanna go that way, then turn left. After then you wanna..."

A bold "pufft!" behind me, silenced the mare as the pegasus moved to my side.

"Relax Typewriter. I'm heading out now, I can show her the way" She stated casually.

The mare at the desk, now identified as Typewriter, raised an eyebrow.

"Are, miss Pop. Done already are we?" She asked skeptically.

"You bet, I'm all topped up and fizzing. That's why I took the night appointment you see, in and out in no time" She stated, then paused as blushed slightly. "Of course, that's not what it was like, just well... You know what I mean" She corrected swiftly, waving her hooves as if to waft the topic from the air.

Typewriter’s expression remained firmly board.

"Of course Miss Pop, I can clearly understand why they chose you now" She responded dryly, then went to tapping upon one of her keyboards.

"Because I'm the best, that's why" The ochre mare responded proudly.

"Indeed" Typewriter added, then looked back at her blankly. "Well, your next appointment is in a month, please do try not to get into any trouble until then" She told her doubtfully.

The mare “huffed” waving away the comment as she'd done the others.

“They say it's all uphill from here one out right? Besides, how can I get in trouble where I'm heading?" She responded dismissively, but Typewriter merely nodded and called out for the next set of ponies.

All the while I was stood there silently, and all hopes of avoiding conversation with the seemingly obnoxious mare washed away.

"So, looks like you're with me" She stated nonchalantly.

Her words were relaxed and comfortable, as if speaking to a long time friend. I on the other hoof, had never had any friends before and once again my voice abandoned me.

"Well come on then, I don't want to stay in this place any longer" She instructed, before moving to one of the exits.

Swallowing my fear and locking away my anxiety, I hesitantly followed her.

"So, what’s gotten you in here so late?" She asked as we walked, all I did was stutter weakly at the question.

Once again, there was a hint of concern in her eyes. But, like her voice they looked as if they were looking at a long time friend, not some pony she'd only just met.

"Hey, you don't what to tell me, that's cool. Trust me, I know enough ponies to know when to take hint" She added with a slight laugh. "So, how's about a name?" She went on, directing me around a corner and into another long, white hallway.

Her look was more hopeful this time, as if she were really trying to make a friend out of me. For the sost part, I didn't even know why I was so reluctant to take her up on that offer. Having a pony I knew and could talk to around here would do me a world of good. But, ultimately that small amount of dread in my mind bested all other ideas, and I battled not to let the mental conflict show as she regarded me.

"I tell you what. If I tell you mine, will you spill yours?" She asked, then before she could open her muzzle again my mind raced forwards.

“Lavinder!" I blurted abruptly, then stuck a hoof in my mouth.

It tasted awful, like rubber and disinfectant. The pegasus on the other hoof, looked more than a little perplexed at my sudden outburst as she paused.

"My name, it's Lavinder." I corrected, pulling the overly sanitised hoof from my mouth and fighting not the gag.

She smiled, stifling a giggle and hiding her amusement with a wing. All I did was sink back slightly in embarrassment.

"Just Lavin okay?" She asked happily, before I could blush too much.

I thought about that, but nodded none the less.

“It's good to meet you then Lavin" She declared excitedly, nudging my side. “Well, I suppose you told me yours so here’s mine. Hi, I'm Popsicle, best mare this side of Trottingham"