Lying comfortably on my back, it was, I reflected, without a doubt, the best glimpse of heaven's offerings that I would ever see on Earth.
I lay in bed with with the most beautiful, most special mare in the world, idly watching Celestia’s warm and bright sun slowly rise into the sky, marking the beginning of a fresh new day.
I nuzzled her long, silky blond mane, and she stirred sleepily and snuggled closer to my sky-blue chest, sighing softly. I smiled as I breathed in her sweet apple fragrance.
As I gazed upon her still figure, I was overcome by an unfathomable wave of love for this special gal, for ...my special gal. As I lay there, content with my place in life, I wanted nothing more from life than her soft, yet strong hooves and to gaze into her warm, green eyes.
I rested her head on my shoulder and wrapped a wing softly over her flank, shivering slightly as I encountered her warm, tanned and toned body.
“I love you, sugarcube,” I murmured lovingly in her ear gently.
She remained asleep, but a bright smile stretched across her face, accentuating her freckles.
My gaze lowered slowly down her figure, to her stomach, where looking closely, you could see a small, rounded bulge rising up and down with each of her breaths. I watched it in complete fascination, thinking about the many important things that it represented to me.
Her ultimate commitment to our relationship and love.
My biggest responsibility since becoming the Element of Loyalty and one of the main protectors of Equestria.
The greatest magical miracle in history. One that saw Twilight given a Marebel Peace Prize for her contributions to magical knowledge.
As I contemplated the future, my beautiful farmer gal stirred sleepily and her jade green eyes slowly opened. I kissed her lips softly and she chuckled.
“Morning beautiful,” I whispered to her, my wing running along her flank again.
"G'mornin', Mah little Dashie," she replied and kissed me back. Together we stared at her stomach.
"I can't believe that it's really happening." I marveled, watching our unborn baby gently rise and fall. "We're gonna be ...mothers, with our own flesh-and-blood baby. It.. it just doesn't feel real,"
“What if ah’m not good at bein’ a mother, Dash?” she whispered seriously, seeking reassurance. "What if ah can;t give her what she needs?"
I stroked her cheek with my wing tip and replied; “You will be the best possible mother for her, Jackie. You’re 100% perfect in every way,”
I rested my head on her warm chest and listened to her heart, beating for two now.
“But Dash, Ah ain’t never been a mum afore!” she replied, her eyes widening in panic. “What if ah screw up!?”
I hugged her tightly, and kissed her deeply. Our combined warmth eventually calmed her pumping heart and her breathing settled.
“Applejack, believe me when I say, that I have as little experience at this mothering business as you do. But I know, that we will be good parents. We will support each other through thick and thin. Beside, even if we have trouble, we have your family, including our Pinkie, and our friends will jump at the chance to help us raise little Appleade Dash. Heh, with all of us pitching in, she's gonna grow up to be an awesome filly!”
"Maybe even better than yoreself?" A.J taunted, another smile appearing on her face.
"Well, I don't know about that, but what I will say is that it looks like I have got some sure competition," We laughed for a while, then settled down.
“Ah suppose yer right” she agreed, stroking my wing length. “Ah jest want the best for our child, Dash,”
“I know you do, Sugarcube,”
We lay in comfortable silence for a bit.
“Do you think ah should go out and help Mac? Tis past dawn, and ah remeber what it was like, harvesting all the fields on mah own,"
“Nah, I think he’ll understand today. Besides, it's about time Applebloom learnt the trade, and our friends will pitch in to help us,"
As we predicted, everypony had been ecstatic when we announced that we were expecting. Pinkie being Pinkie, had thrown us a huge Oh-my-gosh-it’s-a-baby-celebration-time-baby-shower-Party, with Rarity promising to make countless magnificent dresses and the like for little Appleade.
Surprisingly, Fluttershy was the loudest and most ecstatic, squeezing me and Applejack in a warm, but tight embrace, with more strength than I had thought possible, coming from her.
The Apple family was the same.
Applebloom was over the moon. “Ya mean to say, Ah’m gonna be an auntie?!” Granny Smith, was banging on about family pride and another strong Apple in the family.
Big Mac the old softie, had let loose a few happy tears before hastily making exit, yelling something about clearing the North orchard. It wasn't until midnight that we were able to extricate ourselves from the shower, even then it was only by telling everyone that Jackie needed her rest.
As we lay together, I turned to face her. "Say A.J, do ya think she's gonna be a Pegasus, or an Earth pony?"
"Ta be honest, it don't really matter to me what she is. She'll be the best no matter what."
"Yeah, your right there," I stared up at the ceiling. "Heart's still set on a wonderbolt though,"
With a chuckle and a smile, Apple Jack jumped on top of me, and locked her lips around mine. We kissed more and more passionately, our lips twisting around the others, tasting each others sweet fragrance.
Eventually, Applejack fell asleep in my embrace and snuffled gently. I watched her, knowing that no matter what, we would deal with anything that got in the way of Appleade's future, come what may.
Together, me and my little Jackie. Forever and ever.
The End