Gilda and Edge spent the rest of the day giving Twilight the aerial tour around town before heading home where the griffoness prepared dinner for the three of them, earning praise from the alicorn for its deliciousness. The alicorn stayed the night but needed to leave early the next day to return to Ponyville. Gilda nevertheless was up before Twilight, making preparations for the day’s baking. She paused long enough to give her friend a proper farewell.

“This has been a real eye-opener for me these last few days. You and your friends—”

“Our friends,” Twilight corrected.

Gilda chuckled. “Right. You and our friends have taught me so much. I wish I’d learned that long ago.”

“But then you would not have met Edge, so I think that you came out ahead.”

“Yeah, he said as much. I just have a hard time accepting when so many things go right for me.”

“Well, I truly believe you have your life on course now. And with the coming of your foal, I'm betting you and Edge will find true fulfillment as a family. Speaking of which, aren’t you getting near to term? I think you’re entitled to relax a bit until then, don’t you?”

“I’m fine. Edge wants me to take a break too but I’d just be bored. I promised him I’ll stop and rest more often though.”

“Where is that stallion anyway? I need to head off.”

“I heard him in the shower earlier, so he should be out any moment.”

“That moment is now,” Edge announced as he walked into the kitchen already dressed for work. “Good morning, ladies.” He gave his wife a kiss before looking at Twilight. “Are you having breakfast with us?”

“Sorry, no. I really need to get back as soon as possible. I’ll grab something from a Hayburger Barn on the way.”

Gilda rolled her eyes. “I knew you’d do something like that, you dweeb. Here!” She handed the alicorn a large paper satchel. “Breakfast muffins, a couple of rolls, a juice box, and a few other snacks for the journey.”

Twilight’s eyebrows rose. “Am I that predictable? Don’t answer that. Thanks, Gilda.”

“Anything for a friend.” She looked to Edge. “Coffee’s ready, love.”

The pegasus got the hint. He took out a travel mug, filled it with the hot brew, and gave it to the alicorn. “That ought to help get your day started. Anyway, it’s been great having you here, Twi. Feel free to fly in anytime.”

“I’d like that, but you better bring your foal to visit me as soon as you’re able.” She opened her arms for a hug which Edge gave her. Gilda was not used to hugging but didn’t hesitate to do the same.

Edge escorted Twilight to the door, noting the carriage waiting for the Princess. “Have a pleasant trip. And thank the others again for all they’ve done for us.”

“You know how best to thank them, Edge. Farewell until then.”

There was a little over a week before the anticipated birth was due when Gilda decided that she would take a break. On her last market day, she made sure to advise her regular customers about taking some time off. Many were surprised she did not do so sooner but all wished her well.

Gilda did not just put her paws up and relax though. She took the opportunity to experiment with new recipes for part of the day and did some recreational flying to keep fit. Then there were the preparations her gynecologist had her doing. Consequently, she was quite tired by the time her husband came home. Edge was happy to pamper her though.

They figured out that the baby was due on Sunday which would be very convenient for both of them. Of course, the foal had its own ideas and Gilda went into labor on Friday instead. Nevertheless, contingency plans had been made. The griffoness knocked on the door of the apartment of Morning Breeze, the enthusiastic pegasus mare she had first met when passing out free baked goods. Breeze had taken a strong interest in the griffoness’ incipient foal and had become a close friend of Gilda’s, often coming over to chat while the griffon baked.

The moment the mare opened the door, she knew what was happening. “Sit down while I call you a cab,” she instructed, making sure Gilda was comfortable before leaving to get that arranged. The griffoness was under strict instructions not to fly if she went into labor and had to rely on ground transport to get to the maternity hospital. As soon as Gilda was on her way, Breeze then flew to Edge’s workplace to inform the stallion of his wife’s condition.

After a hasty word to Crafty who waved him off with a gruff “Get outta here!”, Edge headed to the maternity hospital. He soon found out which ward Gilda had been admitted to and he hurried there.

The griffoness rolled her eyes at the frantic look on his face. “Calm down, love. It’s early labor still. The midwife says I’m not likely to give birth for hours yet. You should know this.”

Edge had to admit that was true, but that had all flown out of his mind the moment that he heard from Breeze.

Gilda hoped that it would not be too many hours though. She had been told that first-time mothers tended to take longer than ones who had given birth before. On average, six to twelve hours, although so many factors could influence that considerably. A mixed-race birth introduced even more variables. Still, the gynecologist had been unworried, citing plenty of other births at various hospitals.

Several hours passed as the contractions got more frequent and stronger. Gilda was given special gloves to wear so that her talons would not tear up the hospital bed or her husband’s reassuring hands. After what seemed an eternity to the expectant parents but the midwife assured them was a perfectly normal and satisfactory progression, it came time for the griffoness to push. Amidst some colorful imprecations to the pegasus that had gotten her in that condition, the foal almost abruptly came fully into the world.

“Congratulations,” the midwife said. “It’s a colt. A hippogriff colt.”

Panting hard still, Gilda struggled to get a good look at the child she brought into the world. Edge helped prop her up and they watched as the midwife cleaned up the foal.

Gilda laughed and squeezed her husband’s hand. “Not just interfertile but a hippogriff foal. Looks like there’s a clinical reason we’re both so odd.”

“Maybe that also explains why I found you so hot right from the get-go.”

“Nah. That was all me.”

The nurse laid the squirming infant into his mother’s arms. The baby settled down immediately. Gilda smiled as she admired their child’s blue plumage and golden mane and tail.

“Quite appropriate, don’t you think, love?” Edge replied with pride.

“Buck, yeah.”

As much as possible, Gilda and Edge shared the foal-minding duties. He got to see for himself how the little hippogriff’s malleable beak softly conformed to his mother’s nipples so that he could suckle. As Edge watched and Gilda smirked at him, he again broached the subject of a name for their son. Neither had been able to agree yet. She wanted to go with a traditional Griffonstone style name starting with G. He pointed out that she wanted almost nothing to do with her old home city, so why not go with a pony type?

“I’ve thought of a few compromise names,” the pegasus started. “How about Gale Wind?”

“Bleah! Sounds like a mare’s name.”

“Okay. What about Gusty Breeze?”

“I don’t want to confuse him with Morning Breeze. I like the Gusty part though.”

“Good point. Would you prefer Gusty Tempest?”

“Now that’s a good strong griffon name, although I wonder why you’re so focused on wind-related names.”

Edge shrugged. “It’s how pony names come to us. We consider names until suddenly one latches onto the foal. I just have that feeling, although perhaps not as strongly as it would be with a full pony foal rather than a hybrid like our son.”

Gilda looked down at the little hippogriff. “What do you think, Gus?” she asked him.

The foal detached himself from her breast and burped. Their parents laughed.

“That’s a vote of approval if ever I heard one.”

Edge took a week’s paternity leave and, when not attending to Gusty, he worked on building new and better transport shelves for the baked goods. These could be lifted from the trailer without unloading them and placed on Gilda’s stall countertop to display their contents. Gilda made suggestions and helped when not preoccupied with their son.

When Edge had to go back to work, Morning Breeze volunteered herself to assist the griffoness.

“I’m an Empty Nester,” the older mare said. “I have the time on my hands and a desire to be around a foal again. You don’t need to try to cope by yourself with me around!”

Gilda was exceedingly grateful for the help. As a first-time mother, she had no experience of her own to draw upon, but Breeze had a wealth of knowledge, having brought four foals into the world. It also gave her the opportunity for some self-care.

The griffoness worked hard to get her body back in prime shape after the birth. One day, Edge came home and found her kneeling on a mat in the middle of the living room floor. She was wearing thigh-high boots, arm-length gloves, a bustier filled out by her larger breasts, and a very minimalist bikini bottom, all in the same shiny leather. A choker with a bell on it completed the ensemble. Gilda peered over her shoulder and gave him a sultry look. Edge’s pants suddenly got very tight. He gave a low whistle of appreciation as he walked around her, admiring the outfit as she preened under his gaze.

“Rarity?” he asked.

“Of course,” she replied as she spread her wings and arched her back to better show off her boobs.

Edge paused to admire them before saying, “And the occasion?”

Gilda got up onto her paws and draped her arms over his shoulders. “I’m fit and I’m horny, and I’m going to bang your brains out,” she said in a seductive voice.

Edge grinned as he squeezed his wife’s bottom. “Darling, you’re going to wish you hadn’t put it off for so long!”

When the two were finally satisfied, Edge was amused to now know what griffon milk tasted like. Gilda had to admonish him to leave some for Gusty.

Morning Breeze proved to be a godsend. She foalsat for Gilda on Tuesdays and Thursdays, only bringing Gusty to the market to get a feed from his mother. Breeze got a lot of unsold goods as a thank-you. Edge, of course, handled Saturdays. Because she was able to concentrate on her business, sales quickly resumed their pre-birth levels and started climbing. Between their two jobs and caring for their new son, life was very hectic for the family. Therefore, they made the most of their free Sundays.

They only took their first real break when Hearth’s Warming came around. Edge’s parents had recently arrived back from their overseas travels and, along with Parhelia, Turning Point and his wife Lightning Swift joined the couple the day before the celebration. Gilda’s sister also made it and Gabby was a great hit with Edge’s dad and mom. The six of them spent all day bonding as a family, and Gilda was brought to the point of tears by the depth of the emotions that were aroused within her. This was something she had never known while living in Griffonstone and the elder pegasi keenly felt their daughter-in-law’s desire to belong. They stayed up late just talking until the need to get some sleep became necessary. Point and Swift stayed in the spare room while the two girls made do with the couch and Edge’s camp bed in the living room.

Edge and Gilda had invited their Ponyville friends to spend the special day with them. They did not expect many, if any, to accept the invitation due to the necessity of traveling so far to attend but, to their surprise, all of the Element Bearers confirmed that they would be coming. As they explained, they were already used to rotating the celebration between their residences, so traveling to Gilda and Edge’s hometown was not really a great stretch. Not one of the mares was going to miss the opportunity to be at the young hippogriff’s first Hearth’s Warming, and they showered him with presents.

Gilda cooked up a storm although with Edge’s help preparing the non-baked items. When everyone was gathered around the dining table, the griffoness reflected on how different this was from the dour and uncomfortable equivalent in Griffonstone. It had to be why she could not stop smiling and not called someone a dweeb even once!

Two years since Cutting Edge had first visited the lake where he had met Gilda, the two swept in for a landing at the site of her former camp. The pegasus was towing the camping trailer while the griffoness had the more important job of carrying their foal in a special backpack.

“Home, sweet home for the next couple of weeks,” Edge announced with a grin as he unharnessed himself.

Gilda looked around. “I think someone else has discovered it. I see signs that it’s been used since we left.”

“You could be right. The hut looks in good shape despite weathering for a couple of years.”

“Good thing you don’t buy cheap crap,” Gilda said, noting the condition of the tarpaulin they had left in place.

Edge unfastened the door flap and went inside. He emerged moments later with a piece of paper in his hand. “Someone has definitely used the hut. Let’s see…” He started reading the words on the paper. “To whoever made this hut – thanks! I enjoyed using it and I hope I left it in better shape than I found it. Rambling Rose.” He looked at Gilda. “Seems that this Rose person must have done a little maintenance. If this national park becomes more popular, I can see the hut being found and used more often.”

“As long as it’s available for our use, I don’t mind. I’d like to see it enjoyed by many other ponies and griffons.”

“I’ll unpack our stuff. I think Gusty is ready to get out and explore.”

The little hippogriff was squirming inside the backpack which Gilda shucked and unfastened the straps that secured their son inside. He immediately crawled out, pushed himself up onto his little hooves, and started toddling off in the direction of the lake, attracted by the glistening water. Gilda grabbed her son and attached a harness with a leash to him.

“No charging off into the water without us, you little terror.”

Since the foal had learned to walk, he was forever getting into places he didn’t belong, and keeping up with him was a full-time job. His parents had zero intentions of letting their foal learn the hard way that nature was dangerous. This was going to be a joyful family vacation and not a potential tragedy.

With the leash, Gusty was able to explore safely, and Gilda let him burn off some energy. Edge took over minding the foal when he finished setup which left Gilda free to start cooking their dinner. All three had quite an appetite by the time the food was ready. The hippogriff’s beak had started hardening recently, so now he got to eat solid food too. Gilda was grateful for that because breastfeeding had rapidly become very uncomfortable.

With a full belly, Gusty had quickly succumbed to sleep and the couple put him to bed. Then they had the rest of the evening to themselves. Gilda spread out a blanket on the grass before taking off her shirt and posing seductively.

“Okay, lovercolt, time to give our son a sister.”

Edge grinned and admired his mate for a lengthy moment before stripping. With her shorts tossed aside, the couple made love long and enthusiastically.

They had timed their visit to the park to coincide with Gilda’s heat. This time, they knew the score and conceiving another foal would be an act of love rather than an accident. And if they didn’t get a filly on this occasion, Gilda had every intention of trying again in the future.

After they were done making love, they snuggled for a while, enjoying the warm evening air and the sounds of nature. Eventually, Edge broke the comfortable silence.

“Happy, Love?”

“I don’t think it would be possible for me to be any happier, Darling.”

“Oh? What if I was to say that I have found a vacant shopfront with an apartment above? You could finally have your own proper bakery.”

Gilda’s eyes widened and her beak dropped as she gaped at him in astonishment. “Really?”

“Yep. I already looked into the cost and we can afford it. It’s also not far from the market, so your regular customers should be able to still patronize your business.”

The griffoness threw her arms around him and began nuzzling and nibbling him with gusto.

Edge laughed and kissed her thoroughly. “So, that’s a yes?”

Gilda grinned and looked him in the eyes. “Start planning Gilda’s Beakery Mk.2,” she commanded.

Anything for you, my Love. Absolutely anything.”

# # # # # # #

Author's Note

And so we leave our lovers to a long and happy life. And many hippogriff foals!

Art by Baron Engel and used with permission.