Familial Fraternisation

Lifting her hand, moving it to the door, Babs stopped herself for the umpteenth time. Her reluctance wasn’t because her cousins weren’t expecting her, she knew they’d happily invite her in regardless, but because of why she’d decided to appear on their doorstep. It’d been nearly two months since her last visit, back when Apple Bloom had thrown her surprise graduation party, and she hadn’t exactly planned on taking a trip back so soon - having said that, there had been some developments.

She’d originally thought that she was a bit late, with her cycle delayed by a couple of days. It had taken her a week to eventually buy a pregnancy test, and nearly another week before she’d been brave enough to use it, but the results, as well as the confirmation from an appointment with her doctor, left little room for doubt - she had a bun in the oven. The timeline, her lack of partners, and activities after her graduation meant there was only one stallion who could possibly be the father…

“Come on,” she grumbled to herself, balling her fist, “you can do this…”

Steeling her resolve, with the sun setting over her shoulder, she knocked on the door. She’d hopped on the first train available to Ponyville, hastily buying a one-way ticket, and had made the journey with just the clothes on her back - not to mention she hadn’t told anyone where she was going. Hearing someone moving inside, feeling her pulse quicken, she stood her ground and fought back the urge to flee.

The door cracked open, revealing the all too familiar crimson face and golden mane of her cousin - the very cousin she’d traveled to see. His eyes widened slightly, doubtlessly surprised to see her again so soon, yet a pleased smile quickly split his muzzle. Staring up at him, smiling weakly, she felt her pulse quicken.

Adorned in a pair of jeans and a somewhat snug t-shirt, it appeared as though he was done working for the day. Unfortunately for her, as she subconsciously eyed him from top to bottom, his casual-wear did nothing to detract from his adonic physique. His developed chest, abs, and broad shoulders filled out his attire nicely, but not as nicely as his endowment.

Even though he was flaccid, the imprint of his package nearly made her forget why she’d made the trip to the Apple family farm - nearly. Shaking her head, attempting to dislodge the unsavory and wholly captivating memory of their last meeting, she left herself wide open. Without saying a word, heedless of her pensive state, he walked out, threw his arms wide, and snared her in a hug.

“H...hey, Mac,” she stammered, hesitantly reciprocating the embrace. “You - uh - got a few minutes?”

“Eeeeeyup!” he enthusiastically responded.

Releasing her from his clutches, he turned away and waved for her to follow. With Applejack and Granny Smith cooking in the kitchen, and Apple Bloom studying in the living room, one of the few areas they could chat in was his room - there or the spare bedroom upstairs. Leading the way, steadily plodding up to the second floor, he smiled back at her.

He was genuinely happy to see her, despite being unsure what had brought her to town, and not just because they’d fooled around in the loft. As he moved off the landing, turning and proceeding down the short hallway leading to his chamber, he grinned to himself. If he was lucky, and he hoped he would be, maybe they’d get the chance to have some alone time on her unexpected visit.

Silently reminding herself to stay calm, feeling her pulse beginning to quicken, she trotted into his room behind him. It had taken everything she had to make the journey to see him, after she’d discovered she was expecting, yet that did little to make the job any less awkward. Closing the door behind herself, taking a deep breath, she barred the exit.

“Mac, we need to talk,” she began, nervously rubbing one arm. “You remember what we did in the barn?”

She felt foolish for asking, especially considering how enthusiastically he nodded back at her, yet it felt like a decent way to preface the conversation. Summoning every ounce of courage she had, she languidly lifted her top to reveal her stomach. Ordinarily speaking, that early on in a pregnancy, a mare wouldn’t have gone through any noticeable changes, although that wasn’t quite the case with her. As her shirt unveiled her slightly rounded belly, she sheepishly grinned.

“S...surprise…” she forcefully chuckled, peering at the floor.

Peering at her tummy, silently wondering what the surprise was, he knit his brow. She may have looked a bit heavier than she had at the hoedown - then again, between the poor lighting and how heated their time had been, he hadn’t gotten the best look at her on her last visit. Pondering on her words, still pleased that she’d shown up out of the blue, it clicked.

His mouth hung open, his heart momentarily stopped, and a sense of vertigo overtook him. There was no way she was saying what he thought she was saying, was she? Tearing his eyes off her belly, looking up to her face, he swallowed hard.

“Ah...Ah…” he sputtered, unable to speak.

“Yeah,” she sighed, shifting in place. “I...I didn’t know what to do, but I figured you should know…”

Staring down at the carpet, she couldn’t bring herself to look him in the face. Finding out she’d been knocked up had been a shock, but knowing that the foal was her cousin’s complicated matters exponentially. Unsure of how he’d respond, secretly terrified that he’d be disgusted with her, she quietly waited for him to say something - anything to calm her nerves.

Seconds dragged by, with the two standing in silence, before Mac stepped forward. He’d never really given much thought to being a father, and he certainly hadn’t planned to find out he’d sired a foal, yet a wellspring of pride bubbled up within him. Peering at her abdomen, he shakily extended an arm and pressed his hand against her tummy.

Hanging her head, Babs nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure…”

Hooking a finger under her chin, lifting her head, Mac gazed into her eyes. He rightly couldn’t say what she’d been thinking, or why she seemed so bashful about the news, yet he couldn’t have been happier. Leaning in, slowly slipping his free hand around the small of her back, he pressed his lips to hers.

Overjoyed with the prospect of being a father, pulling her to himself, he deepened their kiss. The tenseness in her limbs slackened, and she began to reciprocate, before she abruptly grabbed his shoulders and pushed him away. Taken aback, startled by her odd reaction, he reached for her - only to have his hand swatted away.

“You can’t just do that!” she blurted, feeling blood rushing into her cheeks. “Don’t you get it I -” she cut herself off, seeing him hold a finger to his lips. “Don’t you get it? You put a bun in my oven!” she quietly seethed.

“Eeeyup,” he softly responded, grinning like an idiot.

She went rigid, taken aback by just how well he was handling the situation. “Seriously? That’s seriously not a problem?!”

Throwing his head from side to side, his smile never faded. “Nope!”

“I…” she faltered, wholly unprepared for his response.

Moving towards her, watching slowly backpedal, Mac cornered the mother of his unborn child. He’d never been the social type, rarely going out and only having a handful of friends, but he was savvy enough to understand she was scared or possibly even upset about the development - nevertheless, she had to understand his stance on the matter, and he knew just what to do. Sandwiching her against the door, he wrapped his arms around her and draped his head over her shoulder.

“It’ll be ok,” he breathed, his voice fainter than a whisper, “I’ll be here for you...For them…”

Inhaling sharply, a maelstrom of thoughts assailed Babs. Was it really ok that she was carrying her cousin’s kid? Why was the big bastard acting so calm about it? Why did he smell so good? Was that his dick pressing against her? Unsteadily returning his hug, unintentionally resting one hand on one very well defined glute, she returned his affection - that was, until she realized just what she’d grabbed. As she wriggled from his grasp, scowled in consternation.

“How is this…” she trailed off, noticing just how happy he was.

The bulge in his pants had nearly doubled in size, immediately catching her attention and dislodging her train of thought. He had, in an all too real way, rocked her world that fateful night at the party, giving her the strongest orgasm of her life and inseminating her with a single, titanic creampie. Losing herself to the memory, only vaguely aware of him moving, his chuckle brought her back to her senses.

Glowering up at him, she scrunched her snout. “It’s not funny.”

Mac was far from a scholar, he’d be the first one to admit that, but he was by no means foolish. Her reaction to accidentally squeezing his butt, seeing her ogle his crotch, and the blush on her face stood in stark contrast to her angry words and actions - that and her nipples were painfully hard beneath her top. Unable to control himself, he manually adjusted his equipment.

Helpless to avert her gaze, watching him fondle himself, her marehood grew moist. Less than perfect circumstances or not, knowing what lurked beneath his slacks caused her heart to flutter. Glancing to his face, seeing his smug smirk, she knit her brow. She had no doubt about it, he knew exactly what he was doing, and she’d be lying if she said it wasn’t turning her on.

“This is not the time for that…” she petulantly grumbled.

Giving a dismissive shrug, Mac slipped his hand into his pants. If she was half the Apple she thought she was, given how forward she’d been with him at their last encounter, it wouldn’t be long before she’d had enough of his teasing. Peering at her feet, lazily looking her over, his fingers grazed his hardening stallionhood.

Wearing a black tank top, matching skirt, a pair of sneakers, and an open leather vest, she looked just as gorgeous as last time - if not more so. Eyeing her broad, foal-bearing hips and full breasts, he instinctively knew she’d make one heck of a mother. Reminiscing on just how amazing she felt wrapped around him, remembering how she’d effectively goaded him into rutting her, the fires of his passion ignited.

The way he saw it, regardless of whether she was actually pregnant or not, she’d made the trip from Manehattan expressly to see him. Considering how late it was, and the fact that he hadn’t seen any luggage on the porch, he presumed she’d be hoping to crash there for the night. Having already spoken his mind, assured her that he’d be there to support her and their foal, he left the ball in her court.

Growing increasingly frustrated and aroused by the second, fondly remembering how he’d utterly wrecked her, she wrenched her attention away from his sinful loins. “If...if you don’t quit, I’ll -”

Striding forward, all but grinding his package against her belly, he flashed his teeth at her. “You’ll what?”

Babs' blood ran hot, her nethers grew hotter, and her hands flew to his collar. Cocky dreamboat or not, the lug wasn’t about to press her buttons and get away with it! For fuck’s sake, she’d gotten herself off more times than she could count to thoughts of him in the last month, including a few times after she found out he’d knocked her up, so she’d be damned if she was going to try and rile her up.

“If you don’t stop, I’m going to throw your bulky ass onto that bed and shut you up,” she hissed, pulling his big, handsome face to within an inch of her own.

Without skipping a beat or batting an eye, he defiantly snorted. “Do it.”

The nonchalant prod was the straw that broke the camel's back, forcing her hand. Stepping to the side, securing her grip, every muscle in her body tensed. He may have been bigger, older, and a whole lot calmer than her, but her tripod of a cousin was about to get a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget. With a colossal heave and a grunt of exertion, she hip tossed the monstrous stallion across the room and onto the bed.

There were perilously few times when Mac could admit to being manhandled, and not one involved a mare, making his unplanned flight a chaotic one. The world spun around him for a fleeting moment, before he suddenly found himself laid out on his mattress. Both astonished and terrified by her feat of strength, his eyes eventually settled on the young, very irate woman stomping towards him.

He wasn’t sure what he’d expected from her, but it sure as heck wasn’t being thrown onto his bed. As she approached the foot of the mattress, menacingly cracking her knuckles, she bent over, grabbed the legs of his pants, and literally ripped the jeans from his body. The move was swift, so fast and violent that he was left speechless, but she was far from finished with him.

“You think this shit is funny?” she growled, crawling up his frame. “That you can - Mmmph -” she snarled, tearing at his shirt, “just fucking swing that big dick of yours at me and-”

RIIIIIIIIIIP

Askance, her attempt to disrobe him came to a sudden halt. Peeking down at her chest, seeing her bare bosoms hanging beneath her, she blinked. Somehow, in one swift motion, he’d reached out and tugged at her shirt; she could only presume he’d tried to get her top off, but his size and strength had reduced the garment into a shredded rag. Her heart beat wildly, her hand shot to his briefs, and her marehood angrily seized, as she returned the favor to his undergarment.

The moment his divine cock sprang upward, freed from its cottony confines, her mouth began to water. His stallionhood was just as glorious and massive as she remembered, almost too good to be real. The sheer weight of his tool was staggering, causing it to slump against her thigh. The heat, weight, and size of his endowment were staggering, yet she’d somehow managed to have every inch of his magnificent fuck-stick railing her out.

She shuddered, recalling just how sore she’d been after that night - not an unbearable sore, but a rewarding, ‘I can’t believe I just did that’ type of sore. Truth be told, she’d been shocked that he’d managed to fully hilt her at all! As her fury mingled with arousal, stripping away her better judgement, a crazed grin split her muzzle.

“Don’t you dare rip my jacket, jackass!” she barked, spotting him looking at her vest. Shuffling forward, straddling her upper thighs, she sat back, slipped her arms through the sleeveless piece of attire, and leered down at him. “Unless you want me to destroy that shirt, take it off…”

Watching her bosoms sway in the air, with his dick resting against her upper leg, he fumbled to get undressed. As he stripped out of his shirt, wrestling it over his head, she shifted atop him. The heat of her loins, pressing his shaft against his belly, was staggering, virtually forcing him to quicken his pace. Flinging the garment to the side, turning his head to face her, he found her snout hovering just above his nose.

Seated atop him, with her slavering nethers wetting the fur just below his chest, she curled her lip at him. She would have given herself more time to crawl over him, maybe rub her painfully moist pussy over his cock for a bit, but she wasn’t having it. After everything he’d done to her, and all the sinful visions he’d evoked, she’d had enough.

“Tempting me into the loft, pumping a foal into me, and now seducing me into more action! I hope you’re fucking proud of yourself,” she declared.

“Eeeyup!” he merrily chirped, brashly slapping her ass drawing a yelp from her.

The impudence of the smack, paired with the lust and exasperation clouding her mind, pushed Babs well past the breaking point. Though she was subconsciously relieved that he hadn’t reacted poorly to the news of her impending gravid state, his audacity and infuriatingly cool demeanor demanded correcting. It was his fault she was going to be expecting! It was his fault that she was so turned on that it hurt! And now he was going to pay the price for all of it.

Dismounting from his torso, she wheeled around, shuffled back, and swung a leg over his head. If he thought she was going to let him run his mouth, after she’d spent the better part of a day on a smelly, cramped train, he had another thing coming. Peering back, feeling his breath against her nethers, she lowered her hips and ground her snatch against his face.

“That oughta shut you up,” she murmured, shifting her attention to his groin.

With the monolithic log of flesh standing mere inches from her snout, breathing in the intoxicatingly familiar aroma of his musk, her anger waned. She was still pissed at him, sure, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to indulge herself - after all, since she couldn’t get more pregnant, there was no harm in having a bit of fun. Bracing herself on one arm, grabbing the base of his tool, she angled his shaft towards her steadily opening maw.

Lifting his arms, taking a firm grip of her waist, Mac buried his muzzle in her crotch and got to work. He’d been somewhat regretful that he hadn’t gotten to sample her in the barn, left to wonder what she tasted like, so the opportunity was downright serendipitous. Drawing his tongue between her meaty lower lips, he coated his palate in the tart flavor of her sex.

Contentedly wiggling her rear, Babs peered down the imposing tool’s length. The last time she’d tried to blow him, she’d only managed to suck on the first few inches of his girthy shaft, but this time would be different. Forcing her head downward, jamming his stallionhood into her mouth, she worked him towards the back of her throat.

It was just as difficult to fellate him as it had been the first time, but now she knew what she was getting into. As she stroked the base of his shaft with one hand, she gradually bobbed her head lower and lower. Having her pussy gleefully ravished was definitely motivating, as was the taste of his unwashed cock, yet determination was the only thing that would carry her to success.

Plunging his tongue into her depths, savoring the sensation of her winking against his lips, Mac found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. Though she was far from deep throating him, her oral skills were fantastic - still, she seemed hellbent on fellating all of him. Lifting and bracing his legs, hoping to give her a bit of assistance, he drove his hips upward.

All Babs could manage was a stifled gag, as the stud bucked into her face. Her throat obscenely bulged, filled beyond capacity, as he rammed himself into her gullet. Cut off from air, yet somehow continuing to jack off the root of his dick, her snatch clenched around his probing tongue. Asked for or not, his help was just what she’d needed.

With her esophagus thoroughly plugged, and her eyes watering, she continued her descent. Literally choking on a cock wasn’t the most comfortable thing in the world, but that somehow made the scandalous situation all the hotter. His fat nuts were only a few inches from the tip of her snout, almost taunting her to continue, and she wasn’t going to stop until her lips met his groin.

As Mac drew the occasional breath through his nose, breathing in her scent, he slowly lost himself. Being subjected to the aroma of a fertile, healthy young mare would have been enough to get him riled up, but having his face practically entombed between a hot young woman’s buns, while he was getting throated, chipped away at his self control. Before he knew it, his first impulse thrust was met by a second.

While Babs had every intention of hilting him in her muzzle, she hadn’t planned on her cousin to start fucking her face. Like a freight train leaving the station, the titan beneath her began lazily humping into her snout. Her hands shot to her sides, holding herself steady, while he plunged down her gullet and towards her stomach.

In spite of her burning lungs, thundering heart, and the occasional tear rolling down her cheek, she’d never been more excited in her life. Being used by him, having her throat swabbed like a flimsy sex toy, was far hotter than she cared to admit, and his tongue was heavenly. She knew she wasn’t going to be able to keep it up forever, yet she wanted to hold out as long as she could.

Shakily holding herself up on one arm, she wrapped the fingers of her free hand around her neck. Even though there wasn’t much she could do, that didn’t mean she was totally helpless. Breathing wasn’t an option, with her airway completely cut off, but that meant she could choke herself with impunity. Effectively giving him a hand-job, as he pumped into her maw, she upped the ante.

Taking the lead, impelled by his urges, Mac feasted on her loins while plowing her face. It wasn’t like he’d intended on being so rough, especially since he’d just learned she was carrying their child, but his inner desires were too strong to resist. Creeping closer to his limit, having every intention of pumping his spunk straight down her gullet, he increased his pace.

Unwittingly pushing each other closer to the edge, their motions grew frantic. Mac pounded up into her face, while Babs ground her sex against his lips. What she lacked in size and strength over him, she made up for in perverse perseverance. Losing all sense of rhythm, devolving to little more than a pair of frenzied animals, they teetered on the brink.

The tip of his length started to flare, his shaft throbbed, and his nuts snuggled against his groin, as his body prepared to unload - that was, until she suddenly pulled away. Rearing back, a vice-like pressure grabbed the base of his stallionhood, she put a swift end to his reckless actions. Wriggling his head from side to side, trying and failing to see what she was up to, she dismounted from his head.

“Ooooooh no,” she tutted, resting on her knees beside him. “You ain’t cumming yet…”

Opening his mouth to ask her why, Mac’s unasked question was hastily answered. Crawling atop him, facing him this time, she straddled his waist. The sight of her haughty grin, full breasts, and bare torso were captivating, yet the sensation of her cunt bearing down on his member was incredible. Cautiously reaching out and resting his hands on her hips, he watched her lift herself slightly.

“You want it?” Babs purred, bringing the head of his cock to her entrance.

Seeing her drooling loins hovering just above his stallionhood, he nodded. “E...eeyup!”

“Hmmhmmhmm - Good,” she chuckled.

Lowering her waist, steadily impaling herself, Babs had to fight not to gasp. She thought she’d been ready for him, with the memory of their first time fresh on her mind, but she’d been wrong. Her quivering canal stretched around him, clinging tightly to his length, as she lowered herself atop him. Sweet, merciful Celestia - impossible as it may have seemed, she could see herself getting addicted to the abject feeling of fullness he afforded.

Little by little, bit by bit, she descended. Her hands shot back, grasping his knees for support, while an odd feeling struck her. Craning her head, peering down at her gut, her eyes shot wide. Without even being fully hilted, the massive imprint of his cock rested within her abdomen; it was, without a doubt, one of the most stimulating sight’s she’d ever seen, yet the view didn’t do the sensation of it justice.

With just an inch to go, flying in the face of her better judgement, she slammed herself down and seated herself on his groin. What little discomfort there was was overshadowed by the satisfaction and bliss of conquering such an insurmountable feat. Falteringly smiling down at him, she leaned forward and rested her hands on his pecs.

“I hope you’re ready, Stud, because now it’s my turn,” she cooed, raising her waist.

Having recently been blinded by her divine ass, the Mac dumbfoundedly watched the mare ride him. It was one thing for him to plow someone, having the physical might to make it happen, but having a young woman who was willing and able to fuck herself on him was a first in his book. Her breasts bounced and jiggled, the bed creaked beneath them, and the soft sounds of her panting breaths were a symphony, perfectly complementing her snug confines.

While he was overjoyed with her enthusiasm, he couldn’t bring himself to lay there and let her do all of the work. Giving himself a moment, getting her timing down, he bucked up to meet her rearward plunges. A guttural groan escaped her, as their bodies collided, and the noise was all the encouragement he needed.

Babs’ eyelids fluttered, and her motions slowed, yet she continued. The intoxicating knowledge that she was in control, that she’d mounted and successfully accommodated the entirety of his gargantuan tool, was almost as good as the wondrous sex itself - almost. Rolling her hips back, squeezing him on the withdrawals, she wondered just how long he’d be able to last.

Mesmerized by her tits, which hung just before his snout, Mac licked his lips. He’d never spoken about it with anyone, but stacked mares always got his motor running, and his cousin had one heck of a nice rack. Peeking at her face, seeing that she was distracted, he leaned in, grabbed her bosom, and wrapped his lips around her dark nipple.

“Fuuuuuuuuuuuck,” she moaned, hanging her head.

Holding herself on one arm, she arched her back, grabbed the big bastard’s head, and pulled him to her teat. She definitely wasn’t about to complain about the additional affection, especially since she loved having her teats played with, so stopping him was the last thing on her mind. Bucking and gyrating, as he rhythmically beat against her occupied womb, she lost herself to the moment.

Synchronizing their movements, practically bashing their bodies together, the pair screwed like a couple on their wedding night. Their voices grew louder and louder, alternating between lustful groans and sinful promises or threats, while the timbers of the bed-frame struggled to support them. It wasn’t as though they were trying to be loud, but putting two large, impressively built earth ponies in a rut-lust together was rarely a subtle affair.

Suckling away, pounding her from below, a peculiar flavor washed over Mac’s tongue. As he reflexively pulled away, seeing a white bead form on her nipple, his mind went blank. Somehow, even though she was still quite early in her pregnancy, she’d already begun to lactate. The sight was too much, ticking yet another fetish he’d secretly harbored, and set his passion into a blazing inferno.

Latching to her breast, hungrily suckling upon her, his mind went blank, his cock began to pulse madly, and his hips became a blur. She wasn’t just his cousin, nor a particularly charming and beautiful mare - no, she was his mare and the mother of their foal. Jackhammering into her, utterly dominating her, he unleashed his full carnal potential.

Babs howled like a beast possessed, totally and completely overwhelmed by his power. She’d been walking the edge for some time, nearly about to climax, so the violent change of pace did her in instantaneously. Like trying to stop the tide, she never stood a chance against his fury.

Her battered marehood convulsed and lewdly squirted orgasmic nectar from around his pistoning length, her breath hitched in her abused throat, and saliva dangled from her open mouth, under his onslaught. Every other sexual moment in her life, each and every one, paled in comparison to the ecstasy he delivered. Only barely able to hold herself up, sensing him swelling against her cervix, she sank her nails into his shoulders.

A twinge of pain mixed with his pleasure, casting Mac into a raging sea of bliss. Nearly hilting, with the broad tip of his stallionhood kissing her womb, he erupted within her. Though he was vaguely aware that she was already knocked up, the thought of claiming her yet again elevated the experience to a nirvanic level.

Thoughtlessly riding out their rapture, with the bed’s supports cracking under them, neither was fully aware of just how much attention they’d brought to themselves. Lurking outside the door, just out of sight, lingered Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith. Though the latter two watched in awe, peeking through the cracked entrance, the former shamelessly rubbed her engorged clit.

“Well that’s just -” Granny Smith fell silent, as her youngest granddaughter reached up and pressed a finger to her lips. “Well that’s just great,” she whispered, brushing the small hand away, “looks like we’ll have another mouth to feed.”

“Two, if’n she wasn’t tellin’ no tall tale,” Applejack quietly added, surreptitiously slipping a finger into herself. “We can talk about it in the mornin’; Ah’m gonna go - uh - take a shower…”

“Consarn youngings, always foolin’ around and…” the wizened mare grumbled to herself, trotting to her room.

Totally ignorant to the small crowd of voyeurs, basking in the afterglow, Babs collapsed atop the stud - her stud. “S...sorry about the bed…” she muttered, feeling fractured furniture uneasily shift beneath them.

Opening and closing his mouth, considering a reply, Mac cleared his throat. “Babs, ya’ know you’re welcome to stay, right?”

She stirred, pushing herself up and staring deeply into his eyes. “Really? Y...you think it’d be okay?”

“Eeeeyup,” he murmured, kissing her nose. “I know it’ll be okay.”

He couldn’t care less about what AJ, Bloom, or Granny thought - as far as he was concerned, it was an open and closed matter. Wrapping his arms around her, allowing his length to soften within her silken depths, lifted her head and locked lips with her. There was much to discuss, they both needed a shower, and his bed was in dire need of repair, but all of that could wait - for the time being, the only thing he cared about was holding his lover and the mother of his unborn child...