Applejack took no joy in watching other ponies suffer. Being raised by decent, hard-working folk, empathy was a core value instilled into the little Apple filly’s head. She always made sure to help everypony in need with a smile and good attitude, because that was the kind of mare she was.

However, as she sat on her bed, mouth full of watermelon, and foal in her womb, she couldn’t help but feel nothing short of amusement watching her beloved wife run herself ragged yelling at her Granny Smith over every little detail concerning her pregnancy.

“No. No! NO, Granny! I respect your ways, but Applejack is not having it in the house, and it is not being delivered by you!”

Granny snorted. “You listen here, chile. Mah son was born in this here house, an’ all I had was mah mama to help me through. And mah son’s young’uns were born in this here house, and I birthed all of them, havin’ only done cows before. I think yer lil’ foal’s gon’ be just fine, all in all.”

Twilight’s eye twitched. Her hair was a disheveled mess, her face worn down from stress and sleep deprivation. The poor thing. Applejack knew that all of this business was keeping her up at night... or rather, she would have noticed if she herself hadn’t been so tired all the time, but still, she could tell that this was very stressful for her wife. She would have piped in, but watermelon came first, unfortunately, so her mouth was occupied.

Twilight breathed a heavy sigh. “Granny, I am not going to put the baby at risk because of your traditions. My foal is going to be delivered at a hospital by a trained professional! The baby will be alive and healthy!

Granny Smith looked downright indignant at this point. “Aw, I see how it is. Y’all think I’m just a senile old coot who cain’t even birth mah own great-grandfoal. Shoot, I’m surprised y’all don’t think I’ll chuck it out the window if it comes out as one of them horn-heads. That’s whatcha think, idnit, Twilight? I’m just a senile ol’ coot, eh?”

Twilight was outright fuming at this point as her wings flared out from side to side. Applejack swore she saw a clump of hair fall out of her mane. She swallowed the last of her watermelon and cleared her throat. “Granny! Twi! Calm yourselves down! Don’t make me come over there!” Applejack grunted as she tried to sit up more, but it was proving difficult to lift herself more than a few inches; she looked and saw Twilight and Granny looking back at her with incredulous stares. Noticing, this, Applejack blushed and meekly reclined back onto her pillow. Looking over the side of her bed littered with plates, she was disappointed to see that there was no more watermelon.

“Uh, hey, can one of y’all–”

“Yeah, yeah, I know whatcher askin’.” Granny Smith interrupted, wobbling over to the bed to pick up the place. “Ya usually have the appetite of a full-grown stallion. Now, ya’ve given me the idea of what a stallion who was with child would eat like.” Granny walked by Twilight, who did not make eye contact with her, and trotted out the doorway. Once out of sight, she called back, “Way yer eatin’ these, I’ll just have Mac bring up the next batch o’melons whole.”

Applejack giggled as she burped. “‘Preciate it, Granny.” She then looked to Twilight, who was pacing back and forth, scratching the back of her neck. Her eye was again twitching.

“Uh... Twi? Feelin’ alright?”

Twilight jerked her head and looked back at Applejack face-to-face. Her eyes were bloodshot. “She hates me.”

Applejack cocked an eyebrow. “Ya really oughta get some sleep.” She patted the empty side of her bed and gave her wife a smile. “C’mon, lay with me a while.”

"She's always had it out for me. I can feel it." Twilight puffed her chest, furrowed her brow and puckered her lips. "Why, I say," She mocked in her best impression of Rarity. "I am just a snobby, big-city princess who simply can't fathom the ways of simple country-folk. How dare I try to make the decision of how my child be born? How garish of me, Applejack! I say!"

"Uh... don't I get a say how it can be done?" For emphasis, Applejack tapped the side of her massive, ten-month-old baby bump.

Twilight scoffed. "I really don't think there needs to be a discussion, here. You do realize ponies have died giving birth the old way, right? And I am not just talking about the mothers! Do you want that, Applejack? Huh?! Do you want our child to die!?”

Applejack shrugged. “My dad didn’t die. Mac didn’t die. I didn’t die. Shoot, Apple Bloom didn’t die. Ya might be a tad overreactin’.”

Twilight bursted into mock laughter. “Oh, oh no, Applejack. I’m not overreacting. I am trying to put my foal through a complication-free birth process, and that is done at a hospital with a medical professional!” At this point, the vein in Twilight’s forehead pulsated to the rhythm of her shouts. Her chest puffed in and out.

Applejack sighed and rubbed her temple. What was taking Mac so long with those watermelons?

“Twi, can ya please just come over and lie down? Fer me?”

“I’m not tired, damnit!” Twilight growled back.

Applejack darted her eyes at her wife. “Scuse me?”

“Just... just... ugh, just let me think for a second.” Twilight plopped on the chair next to the dresser and rubbed her temples, groaning all the while.

Now, Applejack was getting annoyed. “Listen to me, Twilight Sparkle. I don’t know what’s runnin’ through yer dang head that’s keepin’ ya up, but I know it ain’t good for ya. So you best come on an’ lie down before ya go crazy... er.”

“Just...” Twilight said nothing else as she continued rubbing her temples before stopping even that. All that remained was a tense, awkward silence.

And still, there was no blasted watermelon coming.

“I have never felt more powerless in my life.” Twilight piped up again, growling to the floor.

Applejack’s eye twitched. “Uh, Twi, I don’t quite get what ya mean–”

“This whole time. This whole damn time, I’ve been fought every step of this pregnancy by your family and our friends. When I went through a really delicate process picking the right stallion to be a donor, and everypony just rolls their eyes at me? Is it so much to ask that I have a thorough background check of the father of our damn child?”

“Twi, to be fair, it was kinda crazy to go back nine generations for everypony–”

“No.” Twilight sternly interrupted, glaring with more intensity than Applejack had ever seen. “You are going to listen. I have way too much to say.”

Applejack gulped. “T-twi, y... yer scarin’ me. Please, can we just get some sleep an’–”

“I wanted to put you on the right diet.” Twilight stood up and started pacing around the room, wings flailing with exaggerated gestures. “I’ve read countless thesis papers and dissertations on the subjects. It’s good for the baby, but what does your family do? They feed you whatever’s in the house or what’s on your mind. They just scoff at the data I presented!”

“Twi, there was no way I was gonna go on some vitamin supplewhatever diet, okay? Can we just drop that?”

“AJ, SHUT UP!” Twilight punctuated her verbal attack with a firm smack to the bed, which shook the springs and sent a vibration that AJ felt on the back of her hind legs. A bead of sweat ran down her brow as prickly heat climbed up her back.

Applejack didn’t know what to say anymore. She wanted to lash out at Twilight, but she was terrified, and at the same time, she was worried for her. This wasn’t Twilight. Applejack was sure of that.

Twilight breathed in and breathed out heavily before muttering “I c... I cant mess this up, Applejack.” Her voice began a crescendo. “Everything I am doing is for you and this baby, but I feel like I don’t even get a say in what happens to it. Like, what am I to you ponies? I’m the neurotic freak who believes any over-hyped study she reads, aren’t I? Well excuse me for reading something other than go by some stupid traditions 'just 'cuz'! Oh, but silly me, why listen to crazy-old Twilight Sparkle? I’m just overprotective! I’m an autocrat! Is that it, Applejack? Cause it sure as hell feels that way the way I’m treated by this damn family. But do you care? Oh no. Y-y-yyyou just... sit there with damn watermelon and watch your grandmother act like I don’t even get a say in how my child is raised, let alone how he's born! What am I supposed to do? Stand on the sidelines? I can’t. I cannot do that, Applejack. I won’t let this baby down. I don’t give a damn if I don’t sleep I won’t I won’t I won’t I–” Twilight’s rant descended into rapid breathing as she collapsed against the bed, her wings had contracted to her sides as tears rushed down her face.

Applejack’s eyes popped open. “Twi!”

She had to do something quick! With as much quickness as her body allowed she tilted herself to the bedside to try and get on her hooves. Unfortunately, she couldn’t stop her body as it quickly gained momentum and was about to roll off the bed and smack onto the floor. Before she could even gasp, she was held up by the magenta glow of Twilight’s aura. Applejack looked to see a mad, wide-eyed gaze staring back at her, including a notable grit in Twilight’s teeth. Before she could get her bearings, Applejack felt herself softly tossed back against her pillows by Twilight’s levitation, and as the aura dissipated around her, Applejack found herself breathing heavily. She wrapped her forelegs around the bump to assure herself it was still there.

Applejack leaned back as she watched Twilight crawl anxiously to her end of the bed. What was she going to do? As they came face to face, Twilight panted harder than ever and stared at Applejack with righteous fury. “What...” Twilight rasped in aching soreness. “Was that?”

“I.. uh, I.”

“How could you be so reckless! You really could have hurt yourself! I...” Twilight’s lips quivered and her eyes twitched.

Teardrops had run down her face previously, but finally, she let it all out in a torrent of exhausted weeping. Applejack felt Twilight bury her face into her shoulder as the tears soaked her coat. At that moment, everything else ceased to matter. The fighting, the bickering, the panicking: all of it was rendered meaningless. There was only Applejack, and her wife who needed her. She ran her hoof down Twilight’s ragged mane and whispered softly into her ear over the uncontrollable sobs. “Shh. C’mon now. It’s okay. I gotcha, I gotcha. Yer okay, Twi.”

Applejack let her get it out of her system, saying nothing else. Before long there was only their heavy breathing making noise in the room. Out of the corner of her eye, outside and near the doorway, Applejack saw big red hooves that appeared hesitant to enter, and ultimately retracted themselves from the area, causing her to sigh, a part of her lamenting the fact that she was still hungry and Mac probably had some watermelon. Still, they could at least be alone for a while.

Her train of thought was broken when she heard the loud sniffle of her wife. Applejack looked to see Twilight raise her head. Her face was a complete wreck, with only her tired eyes giving any indication that this was the mare Applejack loved. This was a broken mare, and in Applejack's mind, she was the one to blame for breaking her.

"Twi, I–”

“I just have no idea what I’m doing.” Was all she muttered.

Applejack simply gulped and tried to stroke her mane, but Twilight continued.

“It’s not even with all the pregnancy stuff. I don’t know what I’m gonna do when the baby actually comes, and I’m scared, AJ. I am so scared.”

Applejack brought Twilight’s head back to her shoulder and stroked her mane. “I am, too, Twi. Believe me.”

Twilight shook her head in disbelief. “You’re just saying tha–”

“And I’m meanin’ it, too.” She looked to Twilight with utter sternness, causing Twilight to lean back in surprise. “Shoot, ya think I’ve been chill about this? I’m scared of dang-near everything that could hurt this baby, and for a while, I was plain-scared of stuff I shouldn’t be.” She chuckled to herself. “I’ve pretty much stopped readin’ all those books ya wanted me to read ‘cause was havin’ trouble tellin’ the difference between real ‘n fake. This foal’s drivin’ me bonkers!”

Twilight tried to conceal her gin with a sigh, leaning back into Applejack’s shoulder. “You sure don’t act like you’re bonkers.”

“I just don’t wanna worry ya... guess I ain’t doin’ a good job.”

Twilight shook her head against Applejack’s coat. “This is my fault. I yelled at you and–”

“Twi, I promise ya, it’s gonna be fine–”

“I just don’t, I can’t screw this up, AJ, but I have no idea what I’m doing, and I know that whatever can’t-miss plan I could come up with for the foal is just gonna be tossed back into my face.” She sighed. “I can’t function without a plan, but I can’t plan for this, and I guess that’s why your grandmother keeps doubting me, and now I can’t say I blame her.”

“But, Twi... I don’t know what I’m doin’, either.”

“Oh, bull-spit, Applejack, you always know what you’re doing...” A small smile returned to her face. “Unless you’re trying to buck all of Sweet Apple Acres by yourself, then in that case–”

Applejack placed a hoof on Twilight’s lips and chuckled. “Twi, I appreciate it, really, but ya gotta know, I know almost nothin’ ‘bout raisin’ little baby foals. I mean, I know what it’s like to be an older sister, but I’m really just shootin’ in the dark about how all the little things’re done. That’s why I try to listen to Granny Smith and trust her ways, but even after all that, I know there’s so much that can go wrong, but... I still feel good about this. Never been happier, I must say.” By the end of her speech, Applejack was grinning ear to ear. Wanting to share the feeling, she removed her hoof from Twilight’s mouth and moved in to kiss her, which Twilight returned. All the stress, fights and tears washed away, and only their warm, honest connection gave any resonance.

As they pulled away, Twilight whispered, “I panic easily, and often, I’m afraid to be happy, but... I love you so much.” She rubbed Applejack’s bump. “And I love him, too.”

Applejack cocked an eyebrow. “It’s a colt?”

Twilight nodded. “I asked Doctor Stable at an ultrasound a few months back when you were in the bathroom, and I knew you and Granny wanted it to be a surprise..." She chuckled. "So, surprise.”

Applejack shook her head. “You are danged silly.” She leaned in to kiss her wife one more time. “I love ya too, Twilight. All my heart. Ya ain’t gotta worry with me ‘n him by yer side. Remember that.”

Twilight merely grinned and shook her head. “I’m always gonna worry.”

Applejack stroked her mane again and sighed. “Yeah... yeah, I know.”

Twilight rested once-again against Applejack’s shoulder, splaying out her wings and letting them rest on top of the two. A moment of contented silence filled the room until Applejack piped up again.

“Twi?”

Twilight murmured in acknowledgment.

“Whaddya say I give birth to him at the hospital? Let a doctor take care of it.”

Her wife snuggled up closer and kissed her cheek, whispering, “Thank you.”

Applejack smiled. “Love ya.”

Twilight didn’t say anything else, and after a while, Applejack finally felt snores against her neck. Applejack knew a few things: like how Twilight was probably going to drool all over her neck and shoulder, how she was later going to have to explain to Granny that she was taking her wife’s side on the argument, and, most of all, that she was still hankering for some watermelon. Most of all, though, there was one important thing that Applejack knew.

There was no place she would rather be than in that moment with the two most important ponies in her life.

Yer in fer the ride o’ yer life, little pony, but I know yer in great hooves. Ya got me, and ya got a mama who worries too dang much. That’s just the kinda pony ya need to raise ya.

We love ya, little foal. See ya soon.

Author's Notes:

So, bookplayer, can I also count this as your baby shower gift, or am I gonna have to write another sappy TwiJack fic this summer?

...Oh, who am I kidding? I'll probably do it, regardless