Rainbow sat in front of the mirror in Applejack's room. She'd borrowed it from her country pal only for the day. But today was no ordinary afternoon. The reflection staring back at Rainbow wore a simplistic, yet elegant, white dress. Rarity's original design had been much more frilly and ornate, the overzealous fashion designer only toning down the garment after Dash had insisted.

Her veil sat on the dresser next to her. Today was the big day. The day she and Rarity—and occasionally Macintosh—had spent planning. So far, everything had gone perfectly. Her friends, co-workers, family, and even the Princesses themselves, gathered on a hilltop outside, waiting patiently for the bride to appear. Her groom also waited in his room, surely just as nervous as she felt. Rainbow rested a foreleg on her now swollen belly. It had been no easy task to carry her son this far. Between the terrible bouts of morning sickness, swollen hooves, and insane mood swings, it was a miracle that she'd survived to reach this day.

Her due date was still around two months away, but the closer the date became, the more raw her feelings toward motherhood grew. Would she be ready? Would the pain of foaling be too much for her to handle? She supposed she didn't have a choice now.

A knock at the door drew her attention away from her reflection. "Rainbow Dash?"

"Come in," she said hoarsely. She had spent much of the day crying, for one reason or another. Thankfully, she managed to keep such embarrassing moments private. Her mother peeked through the door, stepping inside and beaming with pride.

"Oh, you look so lovely, my little bluebird," she whispered. "I remember when your father and I got married..." she said wistfully.

Rainbow sighed. "Yeah... it sucks he's not here."

"I'm sure he'd be just as happy as I am if he were," Wave replied, hugging her daughter from behind. She took the locket Rainbow wore and brought it up to eye level. "I suppose he's with us in spirit." She smiled.

Dash tucked the locket back into her dress. "I think so." Wave hugged her daughter once more before turning to leave the room.

"Are you nervous, dear?" she asked.

"Kind of."

Her mother smiled. "You should see Macintosh. He's sweating bullets."

Rainbow couldn't help but chuckle. "I'd actually pay good bits to see Mac that way."

"Don't worry, you will in a few minutes." Wave opened the door. "Congratulations, sweetie."

"Thanks, Mom."

As she heard her mother step downstairs, she heard another hurried set of hoofsteps beat upstairs. Rarity burst through the door. "Rainbow, are you ready? Macintosh is already before Celestia."

Dash took a deep breath before looking at herself in the mirror, gaining one last glimmer of confidence before her big event. "Yeah, let's go."

Rarity levitated the veil atop Rainbow's head, shifting it this way and that. "Hm... it just... doesn't want to sit straight!" she snapped her ear twitching angrily. This event was arguably just as important for Rarity as it was for Rainbow and Mac.

She flung the veil to the ground in defeat. "Oh well, veils are last season anyway." Dash snorted. It made no difference to her. She followed Rarity down the steps of the Apple farmhouse. The wedding party had already made their entrance, and Mac stood nervously in his father's touched-up suit while Princess Celestia waited patiently in front of him.

At Rarity's nod, the members of the string quartet began to play. The ponies in attendance stood from their chairs and turned, awaiting the bride's arrival. The Cutie Mark Crusaders reprised their roles, joyfully scattering flower petals on the aisle between the friends and family. A considerable number of seats had been brought in for Mac's side of the family alone, leaving one section a bit fuller than the other.

Rainbow's heart thumped in her ears as she took step after cautious step, careful not to tread on her dress, but at the same time, keeping her eyes focused on her destination. Mac stood with a thin smile across his lips. Before she knew it, she had reached his side. The guests took their seats as Princess Celestia began the ceremony.

"My faithful subjects, we gather here, under the light of the sun, to celebrate the union of the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash, daughter of Lightning Dash, and Macintosh Apple, son of Red Apple." Rainbow quickly glanced over her shoulder at the empty space behind her then to her fiance. They shared a look before turning their attention to Celestia.

"As all here know, love is certainly something to be celebrated, clung to, cherished, and admired. Even if the love is expressed a bit... prematurely." Celestia smiled. "It is on this most joyous of days that I am proud to consecrate your bond. What I have joined together, let no pony tear asunder." She paused. The bride and groom turned to face each other.

"No veil?" Mac whispered.

"No veil," Dash replied.

"Rainbow Dash, Macintosh Apple, I am to understand you've written your own vows?" They nodded, not breaking the gaze into each other's eyes. "Then please, recite them before us."

Mac raised a hoof and took one of Rainbow's, glancing at the earring dangling from beneath her styled mane. He took a deep breath and calmly stared back into her eyes.

"Rainbow Dash, when I'd first heard of you, I wasn’t sure what to make of ya. For a long while, you were just my sister's competitive friend. When I'd ask her about you, she'd tell me you were one of the most free ponies she'd ever met. She thought for sure that, if not for your friends, you'd never stay in one town for too long. To be honest, I couldn't see myself with a pony like that. I have roots here that I just couldn't leave behind.

“When I was a colt, I would dream of flyin', high in the air like the pegasi did. I only wanted to for a moment, just to know how it felt. Then, I met you. I got to know you. I fell in love with you. The moment we first kissed, you sent me flyin'. You lift me higher than I ever hope to fly, with or without wings. You lift me higher than the tallest mountains, and you're stronger than the most driving rain. I mean this when I say it: there’s nopony I'd rather get old beside than you." Mac finished his mostly off-the-cuff speech and paused, noticing the tears in Dash's eyes. He'd pay for making her cry at her wedding, he just knew it. "I love you."

With Mac finished, Rainbow sniffed, determined to get through her vows and kicking herself for not going first.

"Macintosh... pegasi aren't very tough. All our stuff is made of clouds, and we hardly spend any time on the ground. Earth ponies are built to be strong, and I've never met anypony stronger than you. If you were anypony else, I'd feel weak by comparison. But I don't. When I'm with you, I'm stronger than ever. You make me strong, Mac. You give me hope where I have none, and you give me strength where I'm weakest. Whenever I'm feeling scared and alone, you're always there, no matter how much I may snap at you. Even when I scream at you that I just want to be left alone, you know me well enough to know I don't mean it. You know me well enough to sit and listen to my biggest hopes and my greatest fears. You know me well enough to know how much I love you."

Celestia nodded, ignoring the few errant sniffles coming from the gathered witnesses. "Macintosh Apple, do you take this mare to be your wife, for better and for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer?"

Mac looked deeply into her still damp eyes, and, without a moment's hesitation, said, "Ah do."

"And do you, Rainbow Dash, take this stallion to be your husband, for better for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer?"

She sniffed up her tears before smiling back at him. "I do."

"Then by the power vested in me by... myself, I hereby pronounce you stallion and wife. You may kiss the bride."

A gentle leaning forward pressed their lips together only briefly. Of the many times they'd kissed, Rainbow found none more meaningful than this one. Princess Luna raised her horn to the heavens and three shooting stars, bright enough to be seen even during the day, arced across the sky.

Celestia raised her head proudly. "Ladies and gentlecolts, it is my honor to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Macintosh Apple!"

The guests cheered as the two ponies walked down the aisle together as husband and wife for the first time.

Rarity dabbed a hoofkerchief around her eyes, careful not to allow her makeup to run. "I still can't believe Rainbow Dash of all ponies would be the first of us to the altar." She sighed, a smile coming to her lips as she realized her wedding plan had gone off flawlessly.

"Now then," Celestia said as the crowd quieted down. "To the reception!"

Mac and Rainbow shared their first dance, which did not last the length of the whole song. Pregnant mares aren't much for dancing. Mac gladly sat next to his bride.

"You know you're gonna pay for making me cry in front of my co-workers, right?" Dash whispered as the rest of the guests crowded the dance floor.

"That's a risk Ah'm willin' to take," Mac replied, continuing to munch on his catered meal. With Rainbow's considerable wealth, no expense had been spared on arguably her favorite part of weddings: food.

"Also, I put farm equipment on our registry. You'll be getting new plows and junk whether you like it or not."

Mac smiled, turning to his bride. "Ah guess ya got me over a barrel then, don't ya?"

"Eeyup," Dash mocked in her best 'Macintosh' accent.

"Well, Ah guess Ah'll have to wait to use them until after our honeymoon, huh?"

Dash's ears perked up. "Honeymoon?"

"Eeyup. You know, the thing we do after the weddin'?"

Her eyes lit with excitement. "Where're we goin'?" she asked with her mouth full of salad.

"Th' Mareianna islands. Ah hear there's a mighty fine resort there. All inclusive, includin' drinks." Mac put a hoof over hers. "Don't worry, Ah'll drink enough for both of us."

"So, what, are we just gonna lay on a beach for a few days?"

"Well, we can lay on it, or we could do... other stuff on it."

Rainbow bit her bottom lip and glanced at her husband. "Oh, I get it."

Before Dash could come up with an appropriate innuendo, the tinkling of a fork on glass silenced the dull roar of the guests. Applejack had stood in front of everypony, a glass of champagne waiting beside her as she spoke. "Ladies and gentlecolts, when my brother Mac first told me he'd fallen for my pal Rainbow, Ah had ta make sure Apple Bloom hadn't slipped poison in his mornin' coffee again." The crowd rumbled with subdued laughter. "But, once Ah was sure he was actin' of his own accord, at first Ah thought Ah was losin' a brother, only ta realize that Ah'm gainin' a sister. Congratulations, you two!" The audience agreed and gave the toast. Rainbow settled for sparkling cider in her glass, but she didn't mind.

After the toast, Applejack went back to her table, seated beside Soarin, with Twilight next to Spitfire, both Wonderbolts wearing their class 'A' uniforms.

As Spike and the CMCs ran by the table toward the dance floor, Rainbow managed to pull the young dragon aside for a moment. "Hey, what's Twi's story with Spitfire?"

Spike glanced back toward the two mares, laughing and occasionally staring blissfully at each other. "It took Twilight a while to realize why Spitfire kept coming to the library, especially when she lives in Cloudsdale most of the time," he began. "But eventually, after their third date, Twilight figured it out. They've been seeing each other ever since. I usually get to go see a movie when they want some alone time, so it works out great for me!"

"Three dates?" Rainbow repeated. "That sounds like Twilight alright... Thanks, Spike, go have fun."

Mac turned to Dash, having heard their conversation. "So, Ms. Twilight likes the mares, does she?"

"Looks like it. They're kinda cute together," Dash admitted. "Though I never would have guessed Spitfire would be... Looking back on it though—"

She was cut off by a hug from behind. Rainbow turned to see Firefly with her date slightly behind her.

"Hey, kid! Glad you could make it!" Dash said, standing from her seat to properly hug her. "Who's your friend?"

Firefly turned and punched the stallion playfully. He kept himself hidden behind a rather shaggy mane. "Just some guy from my hometown. He's not really good around celebs." Her eyes traced the outline of her wedding dress around her belly. "So, when's your little passenger gonna be ready to make its entrance?"

Rainbow smiled. At least Firefly had the decency to ask about it before assuming every pregnant mare wants their stomach rubbed like they're some sort of crystal ball. "He's getting there. Just a few more months and I'll finally be able to get this bun out of my oven." Dash sighed. "And then, I'll be back in top form!"

"You better be!" Firefly teased. "'Cause if not, I'm taking your spot."

"Good luck," she laughed.

As the reception died down, Mac and Rainbow thanked everypony for coming and eventually headed back to Mac's room. Not as glamorous as the honeymoon suite they'd occupy in a few hours, but Rainbow didn't mind. "So, when are you gonna move my house over here?" she asked.

"Probably once we get back from the islands. Our cab's comin' ta pick us up first thing in th' mornin'."

Rainbow's ears perked up at the mention of a cab. "A cab? Do you not see these wings?"

Mac climbed onto the bed with Rainbow, dragging a hoof across her belly gently. "You think Ah'd let my pregnant wife fly a thousand miles while I ride in a cab?"

"A thousand miles, huh?" Dash replied.

"Well, maybe not that many, but it's a long way from little ol' Ponyville."

Rainbow looked to the record player she'd brought from her house. A stack of mostly her music but some of Mac's sat beside it. "Put some music on for me."

Mac got off the bed, sifting through a stack of country music.

"My music," she said. Mac's expression fell as he turned to the other stack. "One day you'll like it, Mac."

"Ah don't think so. Ah'm not much for all that yellin' and screamin'."

"That's not all they do, ya know. You just have to have an ear for it," Rainbow explained defensively. "I didn't like it when Fluttershy first showed it to me."

"Ah still can't believe Fluttershy of all ponies listens to this," Mac commented, picking out an album and showing it to her. Dash nodded as he removed the vinyl from its jacket. He set the record spinning and placed the needle. The scratchy noises of the phonograph trumpeted through the bell of the music player before the guitar set in.

I hate this town,
It's so washed up,
and all my friends,
don't give a bu-uck

"Yeah, this sounds like great lyric writin' here," Mac said sarcastically.

"What? Just because it's not 'Ah done lost mah dang ol' dog again'?" she mocked.

Mac stifled a laugh. One of his favorite songs happened to be about that very subject. "Eeyup. But Ah'm sure..." He picked up a record that had been laying near the bed and squinted at the song list on the back. "Briefcase Full of Guts is a fine song."

Rainbow glared at Mac for a half second before cracking a smile. "Buck you." She kissed him on the nose as he kept a hoof on her belly.

"Ah think Ah felt him kick. He's gonna be a strong one. Ah can tell."

"Strong, and a pegasus. Best of both worlds," Rainbow replied with a smile.

A month after the honeymoon...

Mac sat on the couch in the living room of Rainbow's house, now relocated behind the farmhouse. The ever present amulet Twilight had made for him hung limply around his neck as he read the newspaper, waiting for Rainbow to get back from whatever errands she insisted on running. He'd already drawn a hot soaking tub for her hooves when she got back, as he predicted she'd probably be in a sour mood upon return. With the due date drawing nearer, the paparazzi had stepped up their efforts to hound her in public.

The cloudy front door of Rainbow's house flung open, revealing a frazzled and upset Rainbow Dash. "You just sit here on my couch reading while I'm out buying groceries for us and the foal?!" she snapped. He'd offered to go with her. Heck, he'd even offered to do it for her. Though now was not the time to bring up facts and he knew it.

"Ah'm sorry, darlin’," he said with as much sincerity as he could muster. He'd learned to fake it well these past few months.

"And I guess it's all better now, isn't it?" she growled, slamming the door and dropping the groceries filling her saddlebags onto the floor. "I've been doing all the work carrying this thing, and you just sit here and do nothing all day!" Another falsity, but he knew better than to call her on it.

"Ah drew ya a tub in the bedroom," he said calmly.

"You better have!" she stormed down the hall and back into their bedroom, but not before slamming that door as well. Mac went back to reading his newspaper and waited a few seconds before starting a countdown in his head. Three... two... one...

He heard the door open, and Rainbow trotting out of her room, though a lot less angrily, from the way it sounded. He set the paper down and looked up. Tears were welling in Rainbow's eyes as she fought to keep herself from breaking down completely.

"I... I saw what you did for me..." she began, referring to the hoof tub. Mac slid over on the couch so she could join him. She plopped beside him and threw her forelegs around his shoulders. "I'm so sorry Mac!" she sobbed. "I've been such a bitch! You don't deserve to have to put up with me!"

"Hush now, Rainbow," he comforted. "Ah wouldn't dream of puttin' up with anypony but you." He rubbed a hoof across her back soothingly.

"You're gonna be such a good daddy, Mac," she whispered, drying her tears and composing herself.

And now for the third phase... he thought. Rainbow's moods came in a predictable pattern.

No more than five minutes had passed before Rainbow began planting small kisses along his neck and jawline as he tried to read. "Somethin' Ah can do for you, sugarcube?" he asked, setting the newspaper on the coffee table.

"I can think of a few things..." she replied seductively, her tail flicking anxiously behind her. Mac had to admit, her mood swings did have their benefits. He recalled what the brochure he'd gotten from the doctor said. It also said that sex during the last month of the term could induce early labor, but Rainbow didn't exactly take no for an answer.

"You remember the doctor said it might make Zap get here a little earlier than usual, right?" Rainbow put a hoof under his jaw and pulled his face close to hers.

"Either you are gonna rut me, or I'm gonna rut you. What's it gonna be?"

Mac couldn't argue. "Okay then, let's go to th—"

"No time for bedrooms." Rainbow pushed Mac onto his back and straddled him.

"Can we at least close the windows?" Mac asked in an unusually shaky tone.

"Ugh..." Rainbow groaned, flying to every window in the living room and drawing the curtains before resuming her dominant position. "Now, where were we?"

After the throes of passion subsided, Rainbow noticed her couch had gotten unusually... moist. As soon as she noticed it, a painful shock raced through her loins. It was the shock she'd been both hoping for and dreading at the same time. Her cries alarmed Mac as he sat up from the couch.

"What's the matter?" he asked, concern flashing in his eyes.

"Mac... I think it's time."

Author's Notes:

Foal time next chapter!