At that moment in time, nothing had any significance. The music phased out and the other ponies were nonexistent. This was it, the instant that she had been preparing vigorously mentally for the past two days. For some reason, without meaning to, she found herself almost crouching in his presence. Licking her lips, she dropped her mouth open in slight intimidation. But she knew him, he had a familiar face. So why did she need to be so nervous? Then she remembered he had said hello.

"H-hey Braeburn," she squeaked, straightening up a little. "S-sorry I bumped into y-you."

"Ah wasn't spectin' ya tah be here!" he exclaimed, tipping his hat, "AJ didn't tell me that you were comin'! How're ya? What have ya been up to?"

"Umm," she murmured, turning to view the dance floor. Apple Strudel didn't even notice Rainbow's absence and continued to gyrate his body to the sound of the band. "I-I've been good."

"What's the matter?" he questioned, zooming closer to her until their snouts touched. "What have ya been doin' lately? Takin' shy lessons from yer friend Fluttershy?"

"No, don't be silly," she replied, swatting the air, "It's j-just the music. It's very loud, you know." Observing him, Rainbow was amazed by his behavior. His nonchalance of their reunion was baffling to her. It was as if nothing happen last time they met up. Did he forget about their walk in the fields that afternoon? The teasing and pranks they pulled on each other that day? The hay? The breeze? The intimacy? "I'm happy to be here again. Last time I was here a few months ago, I really felt like I could appreciate the country life. A-and I enjoyed t-the time we spent t-together." She had to resist the urge to smack her face with her hoof. He paused as his face tightened.

"Y-yeah, I did too," he retorted, scratching the back of his neck, "Well, uh, am I, uh, holdin' you up from dancin'?"

"No, you're not. Actually, I was wondering if maybe we could talk." With a nod of approval Braeburn led the way from the congested room. Jarred by the bustling bodies, the winged pony found herself stumbling and losing the stallion from her sight. As a Wonderbolt, she had become accustomed to scenes such as the ones she was experiencing presently. Whenever she would be walking with a teammate at one of the busy parties her management would throw, she would be out of luck finding them if they were swallowed by the bodies. Luckily, if they saw each other later that evening, they would say that they expected Rainbow to find them again or vice versa. Braeburn, however, periodically checked behind himself for the Pegasus. Noticing she was lagging behind, he extended a hoof and pulled her closer to him.

"Wouldn't want tah loose ya now," he told her, his warm breath brushing against her mane. Normally she wouldn't give herself in to a chaperone but her thoughts bounced alongside the walls of her mind and distracted her.

Finally, reaching for the door, Braeburn pushed it open in the back of the building.

"After you."

Rainbow checked her surroundings. There were a few stranded ponies from the party chatting and laughing loudly.

"Maybe we can find a place where it can be just the two of us," Rainbow requested.

………………………………

"…So the sheriff presented me the Young Stallion's Award for mah charity work by the water tower. Apploosa has certainly grown fast since we first established it. Of course, ya already knew that since you were near there recently. Anyways--"

Rainbow couldn't help but smirk. This was standard Braeburn: talkative and entertaining. Normally, she liked to be center of attention and talk about her most interesting events in her life but there was a quality in his voice that made her listen to his words. Unlike the rest of her friends who have met him recently, Rainbow had known the blonde pony since adolescence. He used to live in Ponyville for a short period of time with Applejack. His family has traveled many times in his lifetime, finally establishing Apploosa. The three ponies loved to play together whenever he visited and stayed in Ponyville. Since then, they have developed a form of trust between each other.

"Ah hope Ah'm not braggin' too much about myself," he spat out, "Ah would hate to bore ya. Ah remember ya had some interestin' things ya talked about last visit. And didn't ya say ya needed tah tell me somethin'?" Bringing themselves to a halt, their hooves dug into the dirt of the grass. The building structure they left was still in sight but decreased in size due to the lengthy distance. Rainbow took a deep breath and peered down.

"I don't know how to tell you this. I've been saying it in my head, how I'll say this to you and all, but it never sounded natural. And usually when things are said out loud they just come out even more awkward." She faced him again, noticing the concern in his eyes. "So I'm just going to say it. Right now. Right…now." Her mouth gaped but no sound came out. She let out an apprehensive giggle and Braeburn followed suit.

"If it helps, Rainbow, maybe you should close yer eyes."

"No, I need to face you," she stated, planting her hooves into the grass, "I've always had a problem facing my fears and right now… you are my biggest fear." Staring at his hat, she blew out another sigh, her voice becoming shaky. "I'm pregnant. A-and it's yours."

Braeburn teetered faintly as he furrowed his eyebrows. Glaring at her, he tilted his head downwards as his breaths increased in acceleration. He blew out a hard sigh almost as if he was punched in the stomach. As he wiped off the perspiration with his foreleg, he took off his hat and peered inside of it then back to Rainbow.

"What?"

"Yes, you heard me right," Rainbow interjected, squeezing her eyes shut, "I'm having a foal and you're the father. I haven't fooled around with any other colts after we were together and, as embarrassing it is for me to say this, I went through a little bit of a dry spell before you. That is how I know for sure, for sure, you're the father." Not one word stumbled or stammered over. To Rainbow's surprise, the phrases flowed out from her mouth smoothly. Perhaps the initial shock had worn off, causing her to be more at ease when she confessed to Braeburn. Him, not so much. She opened her eyes and bit her lip at the sight of the colt placing his hat back on his head with a shaky hoof.

"Ah'm sorry," he whispered. Rainbow's face dropped in slight bewilderment. She would have expected denial, rage, even name-calling or accusations in the situation and position she put him in. "Ah'm so, so sorry." She returned an apology as well while he stepped closer to nuzzle her.

"W-why are you…." Her voice became mute from emotion when she placed her chin onto the back of his neck.

"It's all mah fault," he finally admitted, "This is all mah fault." He stepped back to look at her again. "Here Ah am, tellin' you about the sheriff awardin' me for mah responsibility in mah actions and then this." Turning to face the trail they followed, he paused for a moment. "My word, what did Ah did do?" He steered himself to gaze at the Pegasus again, his eyes wide. "What did Ah get you into? Miss Rainbow, Ah can't even begin to tell ya how much regret and remorse Ah have."

A small squeak was her response. Her trembles caused her to sit down, still staring at him. She saw the pain and shame he had in his eyes and felt her body grow weak. But her heart throbbed faster and she soon realized that anger was igniting it. Her mind logically told her to contain herself and her words but she knew that in reality she hated him. With her face tensing up, she tightened her lips once more to control her frustration. For less than a week now, he had caused her to be confused, scared, and apprehensive. He caused her physical, emotional, and mental pain in the matter of an instant. The worse she has ever had. She wasn't sure that she could handle any more of this torture for the next several months. And she couldn't stand the thought that the cause of her future torment was in her company, standing with the spring breeze weaving through his blonde mane as her rainbow one stuck to her moist forehead. Yet again, he wished out loud that this had never happen to either of them. Her bitter response stuck in her throat.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," she eventually proclaimed, her voice hoarse.

"Well, w-what now?" Giving a sigh, she examined the family reunion spot again and back to the anxious colt.

"Now…we have the longest walk in the history of Equestria."

……………………………….............

The following morning, the southern pony accompanied her athletic counterpart to the earliest train they could catch.

"Oh, sugarcube, Ah wish ya didn't have tah leave so soon!"

"I know, AJ, but I have to. I have a Wonderbolts game this evening that I completely forgot about."

"Listen, Ah hope that Ah don't come off as too strong--of course, you were rather strong yourself, that's how ya got here--but Ah want to come with ya. A-Ah told mah family that Ah was leavin' with ya anyway to support the Wonderbolts. They were understandin'." The flyer smiled in reaction.

"I'm actually relieved you suggested that," Rainbow confessed, accepting her friend's offer, "I need a friend right now." The two mares switched their attention to a galloping silhouette.

"Hey Brae," Applejack greeted, her voice quiet as she checked on Rainbow from the corner of her eye. "What're ya doin' here?" He panted, stalling his answer until he caught his breath.

"I'm…comin'…with ya guys," he replied, his eyesight switching between the two friends.

"But what about the family reunion?" Applejack questioned, "It's not over till the end of the week."

"Ah talked to mah folks about going with mah favorite cousin Applejack to visit mah old hometown. Ah told them Ah was goin' tah survey the townspeople and offer them tours at Apploosa." The fillies exchanged looks of skepticism. "Besides, Ah've been hosting the reunion before you two gals came along."

"Rainbow?"

"AJ, get him a ticket," Rainbow insisted, heading over to the entrance of the locomotive.

………………………………..

Sitting in the bench next to her, Braeburn gave a shy wave. The expecting mare stretched out in her seat, propping her head with her hoof.

"What's on your mind, cowboy?" she probed, blowing her strands from her snout. She figured the casual approach would calm her nerves from their earlier confrontation.

"Ah was just thinkin' about what's gonna happen. Ah admit, Ah'm scared. But…Ah don't know. Have ya thought of the good things that're gonna happen?" Rainbow asked what the hay he was talking about. "We're gonna be parents. Ah'm gonna be a father. Mah fondest memories were times Ah spent with mah father." He chuckled to himself. "Ah wonder if our baby will be a little rebel. Ah bet it'll be spunky like its momma. D'ya think it'll have an accent like me?" Rainbow responded that she didn't know. "Whatever it'll be like, Ah'll love it. It’s exciting tah expand the family."

"I hate being the bad guy," Rainbow's voice declared, muffled in the seat that she buried her head in. He asked what was the matter. "I'm giving it up for adoption."

"A-and ya decided this without me?"

"Excuse me?" Rainbow interjected, straightening up.

"Ah just wish Ah had a say in this, that's all." Stillness stifled the caboose as the two horses glimpsed through the windows.

"It's my body."

"And it's our foal; we should make a decision together."

"I am an athlete," Rainbow began, turning to him, "A star athlete. Not only do I have an extensive schedule for games and workout sessions, but I also have a persona and image to keep up with. Now before you start calling me selfish, I want you to use your brain and think for a second. Will it be fair for the foal to be brought into my world? My career is my baby. This foal will be neglected by its mother and that's not right. I can't help who I am and what my priorities are." She drew closer to him, her voice quivering with infuriation. "I am not meant to be a mom."

"I-if you can't be its mom, well, maybe Ah can be its dad." Braeburn retorted, shrinking back slightly. "Ah have plenty o' family members that can take care of it with me."

"And wonder where its mom is?"

"Ah'd be sure to tell it everythin' about ya," he blurted out, "'The sports star'. Ah'm sure it'll be proud to have a momma who's a sports star." Rainbow dug her face into her hooves.

“You just don't get it, do you? Then it'll think I deserted it. I don't want the little guy to think I left him and his father behind like I'm some kind of jerk."

"And how is that any different than givin' it away to two new parents? What if it tries to look for us when it's old enough?" He reached for her hoof and grasped it. "Ah don't mean tah make ya feel bad. But Ah already love this thing. It's just hard for me to get use to the idea of bein' a family man and havin' that dream taken away from me. And Ah wouldn't want ya tah make a mistake and regret it." She tugged her hoof away.

"Well I don't know who you think you are, but you are nobody to tell me how to live my life!" They heard a groan and saw a shadow approaching them.

"Guys, it's late," Appleack complained rubbing her eye, "C'mon, it's been a long day. Time fer ya tah hit the sack." Observing the two equestrians head toward the bedrooms, the orange mare turned off the lights. "Now Ah want y'all tah sleep in separate beds, ya hear!" she teased, unaware of their tension.

……………………………….

Thank Celestia, Rainbow thought to herself as she approached Sweet Apple Acres. It had been an incredibly long time when she last saw it. Everything remained the same and yet she viewed the structure through new figurative lenses. Applejack offered to help her cousin with his bags as he tried to balance them on his back. He thanked her when she attained the top luggage.

"Ah'll be inside," Applejack informed, noting the two visitors moving closer to each other.

"Ah'm not tryin' to control your life," Braeburn explained after her heard the front door shut close, "Ah still want tah stick around, though. Ah got ya into this mess. The least Ah can do is help ya out whenever ya need me."

"Fine," she uttered.

"If ya need me tah carry ya somewhere or get something fer ya or get ya pickles at three in the mornin'…"

"I hate pickles," Rainbow declared, grimacing.

"We'll see if ya'll say the same thing in a few months," he joked with a wink, heading back to the farm. An unintended giggle escaped through her lips. She knew that he wasn't a bad colt.

"It's just a sucky situation," she told herself as she took off from the ground. "I mean he does have a point about the adopting thing, but I know what I'm talking about. I don't have time for children. Or to be a wife." Ceasing shortly, she levitated in the middle of the cloud and began to fly again. "Wife? Where did that come from? Is that what this about? Is this some kind of sick role-play that he's trying to do?" She gasped, accidentally sucking in cloud vapors and coughed noisily. "That's how those southern ponies think, Rainbow. They want families. Not careers. What if he tries to propose to me? And we have a shotgun wedding? A baby, then marriage, then…we fall in love?" She shook her head. "We have it all backwards. And I can't get married!"

Her irrational fear was cut short by the sight of some of her teammates in front of her house.

"Oh there she is!" Spitfire shouted, extending out her arms. "So she didn't forget about us."

"Hey guys. Sorry for keeping you waiting," Rainbow apologized unlocking the door and letting them in.

"No, waiting is twenty minutes," Fleetfoot started, stretching on the couch, "Two and a half hours is driving us to insanity."

"Alright," Spitfire stated, digging though the hall closet and tossing her suit, "Enough chit chat. Get dressed and we're outta here." The blushing pony hurried to the bathroom to slip into the uniform. Unfortunately, the zipper had a dilemma rising over her midsection.

"Hey Spits," she called out, swinging the door open.

"Aw, did our wittle Dashie gain a wittle weight?" Fleetfloot jested, squishing her cheeks together with her legs at the sight down the hall.

"Shut up, Fleet," Spitfire defended, strolling over to her, "Boy, has it always been this snug?"

"Uh."

"Why were you late anyways?"

"I was at a party," Rainbow expressed, suddenly coming to realization, "Hey, yeah! I was at a party! For a couple of days. A family reunion. For my southern friend, Applejack? Boy did I eat a lot."

"You gotta be careful, especially when were in season," Spitfire warned, managing to close off the zipper.

"Applejack?" Soarin yelled, "Hey, didja bring back any of her delicious apple pies?"

"C'mon," the orange-mane filly ordered, handing her the goggles, "Put these on and let’s get a-moving."