Author's Note

Warning for graphic morning sickness

Pregnant

Seeking Sparks rested her head on the edge of the toilet, sweat caked in her fur and her mane plastered to her back. Her girlfriend, Running River, wiped a damp washcloth over her forehead and ran a hoof comfortingly through her mane.

“Got it all out?”

Sparks barely managed to croak out a weak “No” before turning her muzzle back into the toilet and retching violently. River winced and grabbed the long green braid that threatened to topple off Sparks’ shoulder and into the bowl. Sparks felt her stomach heave again, and she whimpered before throwing up one more time.

She dry heaved a few times, feeling her throat constrict and her stomach clench. Finally, the nausea lessened slightly and Sparks collapsed against the wall.

“Fuck babe. This is awful.”

River flushed the toilet and returned to wiping the washcloth over her girlfriend’s forehead. Sparks swallowed back some bile and got shakily to her hooves. Walking back to the bedroom, she laid gingerly on the bed and curled up on her side. River slipped behind her and wrapped a foreleg over her belly, gently pulling her close. She rubbed her hoof in soft circles over Sparks’ belly and nuzzled her ear.

“You’re doing amazing my love.”

Sparks’ eyes filled with tears and she turned to face River. “It’s only been two months and I’m barely holding it together! I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, my body aches, and my throat burns from all the vomiting!”

River pulled her close and Sparks buried her muzzle in the soft fur of her girlfriend’s chest. They stayed like that for several minutes, Sparks shaking and crying silently while River held her close and rubbed soothing circles on her back.

“I’m so sorry.”

Sparks sniffed and looked up at River, who refused to meet her gaze. “What for?”

“Babe look at you! You’re miserable. I hate seeing you in so much pain and discomfort. I should have had Twilight do the spell on me.” River stared at the ceiling, feeling her chest burn with guilt and shame for how normal she felt while Sparks suffered.

“Running River, now you listen to me.” Sparks tilted her chin up and pressed a soft kiss to her girlfriend’s blue muzzle. “I wanted this. We both wanted a foal, and I wanted to be the one to carry. This isn’t your fault.”

River smiled slightly and returned the kiss, bringing a hoof up to smooth the hair from Sparks’ face. “I love you.”

The pegasus smiled and unfurled her wings, embracing her girlfriend in a warm embrace. “I love you more. And Twilight said the nausea should ease soon.”

River shot up in bed. “SHIT!! Twilight!! We’re late!!”

Sparks, startled by her girlfriend’s sudden movement, flailed and toppled out of the bed. Landing in a heap on the floor, she looked up at River as a grin spread across her face. It started with a chuckle, but soon they were both bent over with laughter, tears pricking at their eyes. Sparks took deep calming breaths when she felt her stomach start to roll again. The respite had been brief, but welcome. Standing up, she sighed and closed her eyes, willing her stomach to settle.

River kissed her forehead and got off the bed. “Let’s get ready to go.”

Sparks nodded and bit back a gag as her stomach rolled again. It was going to be an interesting day.

oOo

Twilight had Sparks step up onto the scale as she used her tape measure to take her measurements again.

“Well you have gained a bit of weight, but no obvious change in your waist or stomach measurements yet. Looks like you’re right on track!”

Sparks barely heard her. Her hooves were planted squarely on the scale as she fought the swirling in her stomach. She swayed slightly, unable to concentrate on her own balance. Her eyes were scrunched tightly closed and she vaguely heard River talking to Twilight.

“-vomiting?”

At this word, her eyes flew open and Sparks darted out of the library, dashing down the hall to the bathroom. She didn’t even manage to shut the door before she collapsed in front of the toilet and retched violently. Her stomach heaved and she grabbed the sides of the toilet with her hooves to keep from falling over. She whimpered weakly as she felt a hoof slide over her back.

“It’s okay baby. I’ve got you.”

Sparks felt her stomach roll one more time and she vomited once more into the toilet. Her belly clenched a few times, but Sparks only gagged and coughed. River helped her stand up and wash her mouth out at the sink. Twilight stood just outside the doorway, concern etched on her features.

“The nausea should subside soon on its own, but I can also cast a spell that should help with the vomiting.”

Sparks felt bile rise in the back of her throat and she threw herself over the toilet as she lost her lunch once again. River just nodded at Twilight. With Sparks still desperately hung over the toilet, Twilight ignited her horn and a soft pink glow surrounded the pegasus’s belly. As the light faded and Twilight extinguished her horn, Sparks felt a huge release as the turmoil in her stomach disappeared.

“Oh my Celestia…” Sparks sighed deeply and sat on the floor by the sink. “Thank you Twilight.”

The alicorn smiled. “You’re entering your third month so the morning sickness should ease soon.”

River helped Sparks to her feet and turned to Twilight as the pregnant mare washed out her mouth.

“What symptoms can we expect from here on out?”

Twilight considered the question for a moment. “Well with a normal pregnancy you would see an increase in hormones which would translate to mood swings, cravings, and a higher libido. You should begin to feel the foal moving by about month 5.”

Sparks lifted her head from the sink and smoothed out her mane. “I can’t wait until this morning sickness bullshit is over.”

Twilight laughed. “The spell should lessen your nausea considerably, but it might not be relieved completely.”

The three mares walked back to the library so Twilight could continue her measurements. After a few minutes of tape measures, scribbling quills, and standard medical questions, Sparks and River were walking out of the castle. Sparks took a deep breath, inhaling the cool air and taking in the subtle scents of fall.

“Gosh it feels so good to breathe again without feeling nauseous at every little scent.”

River smiled and angled her head into town. “Wanna grab some lunch then?”

Licking her lips, Sparks set her eyes on Sugarcube Corner. “I think dessert is more in order.”

Trotting down the lane, she called over her shoulder, “Come on slowpoke! You’d think you were the pregnant one!”

River rolled her eyes and jogged to catch up with her girlfriend. Taking a running start, she leapt onto Sparks’ back and rolled her into the soft grass beside the path.

“Ha! You only wish you could beat me.” River smirked down at the stunned look on Sparks’ face as she rolled over and stood up.

Giggling, River flipped her mane over her shoulder and took off running down the path. “Catch me if you can!”

Sparks only grinned and watched her blue colors streak towards town. Closing her eyes, she touched a hoof gently to her belly.

“Baby, you are going to have the most amazing mother in the world.”

oOo

When Sparks finally caught up to River, she was in Sugarcube Corner talking to Pinkie Pie. The baker was boxing up a dozen cupcakes and Sparks felt her stomach grumble at the mere sight of them.

“Hey baby! I was wondering when you would get your slow butt here.”

Sparks just flicked her braid with an exaggerated haughty look. “You only wish you could beat me.”

River stifled a chuckle and waved her over to the counter. “So how have you been Pinkie?”

There were sprinkles and traces of flour in her mane as she bounced around the counter. “The cake twins have been keeping me pretty busy. Pumpkin’s magic is really taking off and Pound Cake is practically levitating around the house!”

Pinky bit back a grin. “Pfftt….taking off hahaha!” She collapsed back on the floor in a fit of laughter as Sparks and River just looked at each other and shrugged.

River glanced over the counter. “Are the twins much trouble?”

Still on the floor, Pinky shrugged her forelegs. “Not as much now that they’re older. But when I babysat them for the first time, by Celestia they were a hoof-ful!”

Sparks felt something in her twist. “Oh? Um, how so?”

Pinky grinned. “They were such little trouble makers! I had to keep dumping flour on myself just to get them to stop crying! The whole bakery was destroyed! Toys and baby food was everywhere!”

“He he he….” Sparks chuckled nervously, feeling a familiar rolling in the pit of her stomach. But this time, the nausea had nothing to do with her morning sickness.

“Yeah they were something, but damn I wouldn’t trade those two foals for anything in the world.”

River smiled and thanked Pinky, tossing the cupcake box onto her back and guiding Sparks out of Sugarcube Corner. They walked in silence for a while, heading to their favorite place at the edge of town. Some of the tension in Sparks’ shoulders seemed to dissipate as they walked onto the grounds of Camp Friendship.

Their hoofbeats echoed dully on the old wood of the dock as they walked out to the edge of the water. They didn’t have to speak; they both knew where they were going. Settling themselves on the edge of the dock, they let their hooves dip into the water that still held the traces of summer warmth.

“I always miss this place at the end of the summer season.” River said quietly. “It’s too silent without the foals running around and laughing.”

Sparks smiled. “Remember when Flaring Heights fell out of the boat this summer? I’ve never seen a colt look so startled.”

River chuckled too. “What about when Pipsqueak thought he had gotten new spots, but it was only mud on his white coat?”

Sparks laughed weakly, her mirth fading away as she looked out over the calm lake. “River. What if we’ve bitten off more than we can chew?”

Her girlfriend looked at her, shocked. “Baby, what in Equestria makes you say that?!”

“I just...you heard Pinky! What if we aren’t ready?”

Running River held her hoof and gestured to the camp. “Honey you and I have been working here for years! There isn’t a foal issue that we haven’t handled. And yeah, we haven’t worked with babies much, but we are a team. And we are the best damn counselors this camp has ever seen!”

“You know that raising a kid won’t be like taking care of campers right?” Sparks swirled her hooves in the water, looking pointedly at River.

The earth pony merely smiled. “It’s not the same thing, no. But Sparks, my love, when is the last time that you felt uncomfortable or scared around our campers?”

“Never.”

“When’s the last time you felt out of your depth? Like you weren’t ready?”

“Our first summer working.”

“Which was how many years ago?”

Sparks smiled. “Several. Alright, I get your point.”

River pulled her girlfriend into a searing kiss, caressing her hoof over the pegasus’s jawline. Sparks melted into the kiss, feeling her heart race even at the slightest touch. When River pulled back, she rested their foreheads together.

“We are in this together. It’s scary, I know. I’m scared too. But we’re gonna be okay. Because we always have each other.”

The two mares sat at the edge of the dock, holding on to one another for hours. They let the wind blow through their manes, the birds fly overhead, and the lake lap at their hooves. As the sun started to set, they gathered up the cupcakes remains and made their way back into town. Whatever happened, they would face it together.