Ponyville General Hospital.

Strangely, the place is nearly empty. Not a soul in sight, pony or otherwise. It’s an eerie sight indeed. This is not a normal day at the office.

Quite suddenly, the doors burst open. Applejack is being brought in on a wheelchair, with Matt pushing with all his might down the hallway. His wife holds on to her very pregnant belly, screaming in agony. The Doctor and his Nurses are not too far behind, as they barrel along to find a free room.

“Just hold on, honey!” Matt says, sweat dripping down his face out of sheer terror that the day has finally come.

“Ah can’t!” Applejack shouts, “It hurts!”

“I know, I know, AJ. It’ll all be okay. I promise.” Matt gives her a gentle smile.

“In here!” the Doctor yells, pointing at the emergency room.

Matt rams through the door, shoulder first, wheeling in Applejack backwards to the table. In a quick bout of strength, he lifts her up with both arms, placing her on the table. The Doctor puts her legs on the stirrups, and spreads them apart.

Applejack breathes heavily, as her husband sits next to her, holding on to her hoof, caressing it with great care.

“Okay, Applejack…” the Doctor says, “I need you to push, now!”

Applejack lets out a large, painful scream, as she pushes as hard as she can. Her screams echo through the halls of the strangely empty hospital/ She can hardly take the pain that she is enduring. Matt continues to hold on to her, looking at her with all the love and affection he can muster.

Soon, the pain comes to a stop. She lets out a deep, relaxed breath.

“It’s a filly! A beautiful earth filly!” the Doctor says, giving the foal to the Nurses for a clean up.

“Matt…” Applejack turns to him, “Ah don’t hear her cryin’. Go over there, and see her.”

Matt nods, leaving her side to the Nurses. They turn to him, and give him the blanket bound filly. He looks at her, smiling, but Applejack cannot see her.

“She’s beautiful, AJ.” Matt says.

“Let me see.” Applejack reaches out her hooves for a hold of her newborn filly…but Matt doesn’t give her up. “Matt? Let me see…”

Matt slowly moves the blanket covering the filly’s face, showing her to Applejack. They were right, it’s a beautiful earth filly, with a dark brown mane, a light yellow coat, and big brown eyes.

“She’s gorgeous.” Applejack smiles, “Give her to me.”

The room begins to darken, and everyone in the room ceases to move. Applejack looks at all in the room, confused as to what is happening. No one looks at her, no one is responding to her.

“What is wrong with ya’ll?” Applejack asks. No answer.

Then…she sees her.

The filly is staring right at her. Her piercing eyes stab through Applejack’s very soul. It’s a look of anger, rage, and judgment. Applejack sweats up a storm, as she hyperventilates at the sight of the angry filly.

“Why are you starin’ at me like that?” Applejack tries to move, but her legs are still in the stirrups. “Stop it!” she says with authority, “Ah mean it!” The filly does not listen. “Matt! Tell her to stop it!”

Matt cannot hear her, or even acknowledge her. All he can do is look on at the filly lovingly. Applejack is panicking now, she can barely breathe, as the filly’s eyes continue to look at her, like it is ready to jump out of Matt’s arms and kill her.

“Stop it!” Applejack screams, “Matt! Do something!” Nothing. “Matt?! MATT?!”

Applejack shoots up in her bed in a cold sweat, gasping for air. A nightmare. It was just a nightmare. She puts her hooves to her face, wiping away any sweat that had been pouring down her forehead. Looking down, she can see she is still pregnant, with a ways to go, before she is to give birth.

She has just begun month four of the pregnancy. She has started to show, with her stomach beginning to take form into a fuller, rounder shape. Looking at herself in the mirror has become an unceremonious task, noticing other areas of her body starting to get bigger and plumper. Her shoulders are more pronounced, and her rump has grown to a bigger size. While she never completely cared for appearances, even she found this unflattering, to say the least.

Matt never had such problems with how she looks. Every chance he got, he would compliment her beauty, and any retort she had, he would fire back, saying that how she looked is a normal effect of being pregnant, and that he will always think she is beautiful. That got her on her good side more often than not.

In the months leading to this night, Matt visited his parents, getting the DNA samples that Celestia asked him to get for her. The day he asked him was a strange one. At first, they were reluctant, unsure if they were ready for the chance to be taken to another dimension, but when Matt told them that they would be able to see the birth of their grandfoal, they eventually gave in, not wanting to pass up the opportunity. They gave him a few locks of their hair, which Matt smartly kept in separate marked plastic zip up bags.

For all he and Applejack know now, Celestia is at work on the bands that will bring his parents to Equestria.

Applejack’s strength has taken a bit of a hit. She has gotten weaker as she started to develop, with her applebucking legs not being as strong as they initially were. While she is still able to handle herself, it would take a good two or three kicks in, before the tree would be devoid of any apples. Matt and Big Mac have tried to pull double duty for her, but she continues to tell them that she is fine, and that they are just a bunch of ‘nervous nellys’.

Now, the nightmares have come to reel their ugly heads. This is the second one she’s had in a couple weeks. It’s the same as the last one, and has ended with her in sweats, and almost in tears. Next to her, Matt sleeps peacefully, unaware of her distress.

Applejack lies back down, facing her beloved husband. She reaches out a hoof, caressing his cheek slowly, as to not startle him out of his sleep. He lets out a comfortable moan, as he is eventually brought to consciousness.

“AJ…” he whispers, touching her hoof, bringing it to his lips, where he gently kisses it. This sight brings a small smile to the farmpony’s face, as his eyes open up to see her looking right at him. “Hey…” he smiles. He looks over at the clock, before looking back at her. “It’s three o’clock in the morning. Is everything okay?”

“No…” her voice cracks, as she shakes her head, “Ah…ah had a nightmare.” A tear gradually comes out of her right eye, and settles on the pillow below. “It’s the second one ah had this month. It…it felt so real…” she can no longer keep a straight face, as she silently sobs.

“Hey…hey…come here.” Matt brings her closer to him, pressing her against him, allowing her to cry into his chest. He combs his hand through her mane, trying to get her to relax. “It’s okay, AJ. I’m here…I’m here…”

“I’m so sorry, Matt.”

“What’s there to be sorry about? You had a bad dream. It happens.” He rests his chin on the top of her mane, kissing it. “Tell me about it.”

“Well…it’s the day the filly is to be born. You bring me to the hospital, and everythin’ is all set up. Ah push, and ah push…the pain was unbearable. Then…the foal is born. It’s a beautiful filly. But then…she just stared at me.”

“She stares at you?”

“Yeah. Everypony in the room, includin’ you, stand there, like ya’ll can’t move or somethin’, as the filly looks at me with angry eyes. It was so scary.”

“That sounds scary. It was only a dream, though. It’s all okay.”

“What if…” she looks up at Matt, “What if it ends up bein' true?”

“Don’t worry; I don’t have a tendency to freeze in place.”

“I’m serious. Ah mean…what if the foal hates me? What if it feels that I’m not its mother?”

“Now why in Equestria would the foal think that?”

“Ah don’t know…” she trails off, burying her head in his chest again, “Maybe because it thinks ah won’t be a good Mom.”

This sets something off in Matt. He raises her head by the chin, looking straight into her wonderful emerald eyes, before kissing her softly on the lips.

“You listen to me, Applejack Apple, you’re going to be the greatest Mom that Equestria has ever seen. All other Mothers will bow to your greatness, and will regard you as a Queen.”

Applejack chuckles, finding comfort in Matt’s words, as hyperbolic as they are.

“That’s sweet of you to say, but ah know you’re just tryin’ to make me feel better.”

“Is it working?”

“A little.” she smirks.

“I’ll tell you what. How about we make an appointment with the Doctor? Get a little scan done, and you will see that everything inside that amazing stomach of yours is right as rain.” He puts a hand on her stomach, which makes her giggle. Still ticklish.

“Okay…” she smiles. “Just so you know, mah stomach ain’t perfect. It’s all fat, and it’s only goin' to get fatter.”

“Like that’s going to stop me from being attracted to you.” he smirks, kissing her on the cheek. “Now, about these nightmares of yours…” he thinks for a moment, before the lightbulb that is his brain lights up. He holds her even closer now, coming in for a tight embrace. “How about you borrow some of my dreams?”

“What does a human dream about, ah wonder?” she chortles.

“Usually, I dream about us.”

“And what do we do in these dreams of yours?”

“Nothing dirty, if that’s what you’re thinking.” he laughs, “We just walk along the countryside…talking about how much we love each other.”

“That sounds schmaltzy. Ah almost wish it was somethin’ dirty.”

“I don’t need to have dirty dreams, when I have you as my wife.”

“Oh shut up, you!” she pushes at him playfully, “You silly pony!”

“I’m not a silly pony! You’re the silly pony!” he playfully pushes back. The two laugh, and hold each other again. “Fine, we don’t need to dream of that. My other dream is that we’re superheroes, traveling all over Equestria, fighting crime.”

“Superheroes?” she laughs, “Ah like this one. Who am ah in this dream?”

“You’re Applemare. You have a mask, and a cape, with an apple as your superhero logo. You have a bunch of different apples in your utility belt. You have gas apples, explosive apples, and shark repellent apples.”

“Shark repellent apples?”

“Yeah! Just in case we’re attacked by a sudden shark, you throw the apple at it, and it’ll scare it off, never to return.”

“That sounds amazin’. So, are you mah faithful sidekick?”

“Yep, I am the mighty Stumble-Man. I stumble into any crime scene, and am able to take all forms of damage. Since I’m stupid, you use me as your heavy, while you do all the sleuthing, and karate.”

“But, ah don’t know karate.”

“In my dream, you do.”

“And you’re not stupid. Why do ah have ta keep tellin' ya that?” she holds him tighter, “If anythin’…you’re my personal superhero.” She looks back up at him, caressing his cheek with her hoof. “You saved mah life twice. You almost died for me.”

“And I’d do it again, if I went back in time, and had to repeat it. Although, knowing what happened, I would make sure that I knocked out King Sombra first, before giving you the Elements. Would have saved me from the beating of a lifetime.” Matt chuckles, but Applejack doesn’t.

“Ah never want to lose you, Matt.” she says, “Ah don’t know what ah would do, if ah did.”

“Don’t worry. You won’t lose me.” he rests his forehead on hers, “Will you do me the same honor?”

“Deal.” She smiles.

Applejack kisses him on the lips. Separating, and looking at each other, they go in for another one. This time, it’s a deep, romantic, sensual kiss. The kind of kiss that’s hard to let go of, once it’s already started. More and more, it becomes passionate, as Applejack rolls onto her back, and Matt goes on top of her.

He breaks from the kiss, using his facial expressions to ask if they should continue. She nods, bringing him back down for another lip lock, her hooves moving under his shirt, removing it from his chest. His bare skin presses against her soft coat, as he kisses her neck, causing her to moan with pleasure.

It’s going to be a long night for them.

The next afternoon, Applejack stands in the middle of Carousel Boutique. Rarity, inspired by Applejack’s pregnancy, has decided to create her own line of maternity clothes for expectant mothers, with Applejack as her model-slash-test dummy, for her clothes. Using her magic, she pulls the maternity pants over Applejack’s legs, until it covers her baby bump.

“Ow.” Applejack grimaces, “Not so rough.”

“Sorry. It’s a bit more difficult than I thought.” She writes down a few notes on a notepad, using her magic and a quill pen. “Anyway, about last night…” she raises an eyebrow. Applejack, in the time she has been spending with Rarity, has developed a habit of talking to her about a variety of topics to pass the time. On this day, she has brought up the night with her husband. “I can’t believe you went through such a thing, after all that you’ve told me about the risks!”

“Ah know, but ah couldn’t help myself!” she swoons, “Ah told him about mah nightmare, and he was so sweet, making me laugh, like he always does. You wouldn’t have resisted either, if you were with him, and not me.”

“Perhaps, but I certainly would have been a lot more hesitant about it, if I were in your condition. But alas, that future was never in the cards. He had his sights set on you, before I could get a shot off.” She reminisces about the night of their fake date. In actuality, she did somewhat hope that their night together would lead to something else, but to her amazement, when presented with the opportunity to go into her house for ‘drinks’, Matt turned her down without a second thought.

“Right. Ah believe Matt is the only being in Equestria that has ever shot you down.”

“Ugh. I can’t believe he told you that story. It’s amazing that he didn’t out me on that Access Applewood.”

“Now why would he do that? He wouldn’t do that to you.”

“And Celestia bless him for it. I suppose without him rejecting my advances, I would have never gotten to know Donut Joe so well. Truly, I’ve never been happier.” A small smile cracks on her face, before looking at Applejack sternly. “Nevertheless, that Husband of yours has to be put on lockdown, or something. You two really need to have some self-control.”

“Our self-control is just fine, thank you. We can stop when we want to!”

“I’m sure you can.” Rarity rolls her eyes, not believing a word she is saying. “How are the pants?”

“They’re a little rigid. Ah can hardly move.”

“Huh, it’s not supposed to do that. It has to be tight, but flexible. It should feel like you’re wearing nothing at all.” Rarity jots a few more notes down.

“If it’s supposed to feel like I’m wearin’ nothin’ at all, why do ah have ta wear it?”

“Because darling, it’s meant to keep that growing bump that’s also known as your stomach in place. Can’t have the poor foal shaking around in there. Who knows what the poor thing was thinking during last night.”

“Ah doubt it was thinkin' anythin’. Ah read that it’s protected by this thing called…well…ah forget, but the point is that it’s safe!”

“I hope so, but I also hope that you stop sooner or later. After all, that story you told me sounded absolutely dreadful! I would hate it if something like that happened to you.”

“Don’t worry so much. We both know that it’s goin' to end soon, and we’re perfectly okay with it.”

“Are you sure? You know he’s probably just saying that, then in a week, he’ll be all ‘Oh please, Applejack! Just one teensy weensy little night between us. Please?’” Rarity lets loose with her best puppy dog face, quivering her lips, and expanding her pupils to an adorable degree.

Applejack laughs out loud at the absurdity of Rarity’s impersonation, though somewhere in the back of her mind, she somehow believes that such an event could happen.

“Unlike you, ah have faith in him.”

“Don’t get me wrong, dear; I have faith in the both of you, but where’s the fun without a little teasing now and again?” she winks. “Where is Matt, anyway?”

“He’s over at Sweet Apple Acres with Big Mac. He’s pullin' double duty, since I’m here, helpin’ you.”

“That’s good. You need all the rest you can get before that little foal is born.”

“Hey, ah can still do work as well as any farmpony. I’m just…not in the mood right now…tis all.” Her eyes shift about the room, before looking back at the grinning Rarity. “Hey, shouldn’t you be fixin’ these pants, right now?”

“Oh, yes your majesty.” Rarity bows, teasing the yellow-maned mare with a smile and a chortle.

In the wide open orchards of Sweet Apple Acres, the sun blazes its nigh unbearable rays upon Matt and Big Mac, as they travel along, applebucking as many trees as they could. Ever since developing enough strength in his legs to applebuck, Matt has been a good help amongst the apple family. Before, when he was only a slightly useful individual with a knack for great deals of punishment, all he was really good for, was picking up the baskets of apples, and finding high places to store them, negating much need for a ladder.

Now, with the strict diet and loads of exercise, thanks to his fascination of visiting Applejack at the farm due to his then unknown crush, he has become rather strong, and much more useful to the apple family.

“HI-YA!” Matt yells in an over the top fashion, that would befit a kung fu movie, than applebucking, as he kicks the tree with all his might. His leg shakes, as the apples descend into the baskets. “Woah, that was a strong tree. But, I got it.” He stands proud of his accomplishment.

“Why did ya do that shout?” Big Mac asks, momentarily distracted from his tree, “There’s no need fer it.”

“I felt like doing it. Makes me feel awesome, you know?”

“Ah think it’s weird.” Big Mac shakes his head, “Plus, ya really don’t need to buck so many trees. Ya’ll can overexert yerself.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m just doing double duty for AJ, while she’s at Rarity’s place.” Matt smiles. He walks on over to a large bucket of water. The sun reflects off the liquid, and into Matt’s eyes. “Damn sun…” he says, as he plunges his head into the water, before coming back up with a wet head of hair. “Much better.” he chuckles, before going back to work.

“So…” Big Mac starts up, “Everythin’ goin’ fine at the house?”

“Yeah. It’s been alright. Had a bit of a minor thing, but it’s okay.”

“What kind of minor thing?” he asks, bucking a tree.

“Well…” Matt kicks another tree, but only a few apples fall. He’s a little lost in thought. “AJ had a nightmare, last night. She was really freaked out about it.”

“What happened?”

“She was giving birth, and the foal was a freaky demon foal, that stared at her like it hated her.”

“That sounds bad.”

“You’re telling me. She sees it as a sign that the foal is going to hate her.”

“Ah don’t believe that. She’s gonna be a great Mother.”

“That’s what I said. So, I’m going to arrange an appointment with the Doctor, to show that everything is fine. After I told her that, I started to calm her down, to get her mind off things. Then…” he pauses, looking over at the interested Big Mac. He smirks. “You get the picture.”

“Ooohhh, ah see how it is.” Big Mac chortles mischievously, “Ya’ll did the deed.”

“Blech! Don’t talk like that, Big Mac! That’s your sister for Celestia’s sake!”

“Hey, ya’ll don’t see me complainin’ when ya talk about Twi and me, like that!”

“That’s different. Twilight’s not my sister. I can be as deviant as I want with my speech.” Matt laughs.

“Whatever.” Big Mac rolls his eyes, “Besides, I thought ya’ll was gonna stop with all the rolls in the hay.”

“We are, but we agreed to stop after five months. Right now, we’re in month four, so everything is fine and dandy.”

“Are ya gonna be okay wit it? Once ya stop?”

“Of course I am.” He sees Big Mac staring at him with judgmental eyes. “What’s with the eyes, man? I said I’m going to be fine!” Mac raises an eyebrow. “Okay, I not going to lie and say I won’t be COMPLETELY disappointed, but if it’s what she wants, then I’m going to listen to her. I know better than to try anything. Not that I would in the first place, because that’s not who I am.”

“Sounds ta me like ya can’t keep your paws off her.”

“Okay, one…that’s weird, coming from you, and two…yeah. It’s rather difficult.”

“And why is that?”

“Because…” Matt sighs, “Look, don’t tell AJ this, because she might think it’s odd, but…I…kind of…sort of…dig the way she looks.”

“Ya mean, ya like her pregnant?” Big Mac’s eyes widen. This is not something he has heard before from anypony.

“Yes!” Matt confirms with a hint of enthusiasm, “I’ve never seen a pregnant mare before, and…there’s something about her that I find…irresistible. I know it’s strange to be saying that, but when I tell her that she looks beautiful, when she doubts her appearance, I REALLY mean it. So, you’re right. The way that she looks now, it’s hard to take my eyes and hands off of her.” He chuckles, “Guess I found myself an unconventional weakness.”

“Ya’ll better put yerself in check, boy.” Big Mac scoffs, “Ah heard about that story that’s been spreadin’ around town, bout births being caused by intimate contact.”

“You heard that too?” Matt asks. Big Mac nods. “Everypony seems to hear about that story! I need to make a note to investigate that or something.” Matt gets back to work, before… “Hey, speaking of Twilight: are you two still getting hitched, or what?”

“Um…” Big Mac ceases working, “We don’t know, yet. Ever since she became a Princess and all, it kind of put the marriage thing on hold. We still want to, but…she’s kinda busy.” Big Mac taps his hoof on the ground in a bit of sadness. On his hoof, is the wedding band that he had made for himself. “Does she wear the ring on her horn, still?”

Matt thinks back to when he last saw her, which was last month, when he went to visit Celestia. He encountered Twilight in the library, and popped in to say hi. She definitely did have a ring around the base of her horn, with a small, but shining green diamond in the shape of an apple on it. Remembering that brings a smile to his face.

“Yep. She certainly does.” Matt confirms.

Big Mac breathes a sigh of relief, before going back to work. Hearing news like that makes his heart flutter.

On a Friday afternoon, Matt and Applejack sit in the waiting room of Ponyville General, waiting for their appointment with the Doctor. Applejack is understandably nervous, as the nightmare that she had the other night still lingers in her mind. Matt holds her close to him, caressing her shoulder with a caring hand, occasionally looking at her, whispering that everything will be fine.

Nurse Redheart comes trotting into the room, clipboard in hoof, looking around for the next one on the list.

“Applejack Apple?” she calls out. Applejack raises her head to meet eye to eye with Redheart. “The Doctor will see you now.”

Applejack nods, turning to Matt.

“Will you come with me?”

“I will.” Matt smiles and nods.

The two end up in the Hospital Room, with its white walls and brown tiled floor. They’ve been there many times before, but it’s impossible to get used to just how uncomfortable everything is. The Doctor walks in with a smile, greeting the two like old friends.

“Applejack, Matt; it’s nice to see you again. Although, I wasn’t expecting to see you two so soon. Is everything okay?”

“That’s what I’m here to talk about.” Applejack says, rubbing her fore-hooves together in nervousness. “I’ve been having some nightmares…about the foal, and I’m gettin' worried.”

“Nightmares?” The Doctor thinks, “It’s not uncommon for an expectant mother to be having such dreams. However, if they’re affecting your social and professional life, I know a very good psychiatrist that…”

“No, it’s not that.” Applejack continues, “Ah want to see if the foal is okay, just to put mah mind at ease. Is that okay, Doctor?”

“Applejack, what kind of Doctor would I be, if I said no to a simple checkup?” He smiles a friendly smile, as his horn glows slightly. “I’ll do a scan, and we’ll see how the foal is doing. Standard procedure, close your eyes, as the light can be rather…intense.”

Applejack and Matt close their eyes, as the Doctor’s magic scans Applejack’s stomach for the foal. Nearly half a minute passes, before the scan stops. Matt and Applejack open their eyes to a satisfied looking Doctor, looking like he has some pleasant news.

“Good news, the foal is doing extraordinarily well. It’s developing at a normal rate, and looks like it’s going to be very healthy; and, with parents like you…very happy.”

Applejack and Matt breathe a sigh of relief. The nightmares were just that. Applejack looks down at her stomach, giving it a loving rub, before looking back at the Doctor with a thankful expression of gratitude.

“Thank you.” she says, “Ya really made me feel much better.”

“It’s no problem.” He thinks for a moment, “Would you like to know the gender?”

Matt is broken from looking at Applejack, and turns his attention to the Doctor. Applejack’s eyes widen at his question.

“Ya know what it is?” she asks.

“Yes. At this stage, being able to discover the gender of the foal, was quite easy. Are you two interested in knowing what the foal is?”

The couple thinks about whether they should know now or later. Applejack looks over at Matt, using her facial expressions to ask him what they should do.

“Only if you want to.” Matt replies, fine with whatever the outcome is.

Applejack turns to the Doctor.

“No thanks.” Applejack says, “We’d like to find out when it’s born.”

“Of course. It’s normally best to discover on your own, than to have somepony else tell you.” The Doctor turns, but turns back to them. “Oh, in case the nightmares happen to continue, please allow me to recommend that psychiatrist I was talking about.” His magic takes a card out from his jacket pocket, floating it over to Matt.

“That’s nice of you to offer…” Matt takes the card, “But I think we’re ok…” he looks at the card, eyes going wide. “DR. LYRA HEARTSTRINGS?!”

“I know, very surprising. A year ago, she started studying to become a Psychiatrist. After some classes, and a few tests, she passed with flying colors, and now, she’s a very popular asset to the hospital. You won’t believe how many patients she has helped out and cured. It might be difficult to get an appointment right now, but since you two are friends with her…”

“She never said anything to us…” Matt says, looking at Applejack.

“Maybe she wanted it to be a surprise or somethin’.”

“At any rate, the number is there, if you two have any trouble.” The Doctor bows his head, going back to the door. “Have a wonderful day.” He walks out, leaving the two alone.

Matt puts the card in his pants pocket, and wrapping his arms around his wife, kissing her on the forehead.

“Feeling better?”

“Much better.” Applejack smirks, “Now, I’m starving.”

“Well, I think a good old fashioned lunch in Sugar Cube Corner will do the trick.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Later, after the sun descends, and the moon rises, Matt and Applejack are back home, lying in bed together, in a loving embrace. They give each other slow and tender kisses, before he moves away, descending downwards to her pregnant belly. Gently, he places an ear on her stomach, while caressing her side. Applejack giggles, but suppresses a slight moan, as his touch tingles through her body.

“What are ya doin’ down there?” Applejack asks.

“I’m listening for the foal’s heartbeat.” Matt replies, intently listening for that desired heartbeat.

“Anythin’?”

Matt closes his eyes, trying to focus. He hears it. It’s very small, but noticeable. A smile comes to his face, as he looks up at the expectant Applejack.

“It’s faint, but I hear it.” He kisses her stomach, which makes her chuckle.

“Now what are ya doin’?”

“Congratulating the foal, on being so happy and healthy.”

“Where’s mah congrats?” she wonders.

Matt looks up at her. He crawls back over to her with hungry eyes, as he meets her face to face. Her heart pounds at his expression of love and affection, as he descends to the point where his nose touches her muzzle.

“Here’s your congratulations.” he says, meeting her lips with his.

It’s a passionate kiss; with her wrapping her forelegs around him, and he running his hands through her mane, as they do the dance they have done many times before. Soon, something runs through Applejack’s mind, as Matt begins kissing her neck. She knows where this is headed, and it starts to scare her. Rarity’s words go through her mind, and induce a state of mild panic. She puts a hoof on Matt’s chest.

“Stop…” she whispers, “Matt…stop.” her hoof pushes Matt, and he stops instantly. He looks at her, confused about her behavior.

“What is it, AJ?” he asks her.

“Ah…” she sighs, knowing what she has to say next. “I’m sorry. Ah think…it’s time.”

Matt continues to stare, before the realization of her words gets through to him. Applejack can see the varying emotions running through his head, before responding with a simple…

“Oh.” He pauses soon after saying that. “Oh, okay. That’s fine.” He moves off of her, and over to his side of the bed, his hand still on her chest, with a finger messing with a tuft that is always there.

“You’re mad.” Applejack says with unmistakable definitiveness, “Ah can tell.” She moves to her side, to meet with Matt, who continues to look at her.

“Mad?” Matt raises an eyebrow, “Why would I be mad about this?”

“Ya don’t seem happy, that’s for sure.”

“I…” he remembers what he said to Big Mac, “I’m not mad…a little disappointed, maybe…but not mad.”

“I’m sorry.” she repeats, “Ah know we said five months, but…after today, ah don’t want to take any more risks. I’m happy that the foal is fine, ah really am, but ah want to keep it that way.”

“I understand.” Matt smiles, “It’s fine, really. I’m not going to do anything you don’t want to do, lest I suffer your wrath.” They chuckle. “Besides, I took an oath, and the hidden meaning behind that oath is ‘obey thy wife or suffer.’”

“That’s not what it means!” Applejack laughs, playfully pushing Matt, who cracks up at her reaction.

“Really? I thought for sure that’s what it meant. Oh well, I’m still going to follow it.” He brings her in closer for an embrace, allowing her warmth to radiate his body. He kisses the top of her mane, before resting his chin on it. “Everything is fine. There’s no need to fret.”

“Are ya sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. You didn’t think that I thought that our relationship was based on sex, did you?” He feels Applejack shake her head. “As long as we can still be together, eat together, sleep together, I am perfectly fine.”

“Really?”

“Really, really.” he says, “We can still kiss and cuddle, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then there’s nothing to be worried about.” They chortle. As he prepares to fall asleep, he hears Applejack let out a thoughtful hum, like something is still bothering her. “What’s up, AJ?”

“Nothin’.” she responds. He doesn’t believe her.

“Come on. What’s wrong?”

“It’s just…” she pauses, “Ah wish that ah knew that the other night was going to be the last time we would be intimate together.”

“Why? Was I bad?”

“No, you big goofball.” she stifles a laugh, “Ah wish ah knew, so we would make it special.”

“To be fair, neither of us knew we were going to make love, in the first place. It was brought on by the nightmare, and me comforting you. Before it happened, we were only having a normal night together.”

“Ah know, but…ah still feel bad.”

“Just out of curiosity…if you did know that it would be the last night for us…how would you have made it special?”

“Hmmm…” Applejack thinks, looking up at Matt. After staring into his eyes, it clicks for her. “Ya remember our first week bein’ married?”

“Yeah. We stayed at the biggest hotel in Manehattan for five days.”

“Remember how we never left the room? How we closed the blinds, and made love for five days straight?”

“Wait…are you suggesting that I actually FORGOT we did that?” he chuckles. “Yeah, that was pretty crazy. You were an animal during those days.”

“We barely took any breaks. Mah mane got all mussed up, the bed sheets were scattered all over. It was just you and me all over each other.”

“Yeah. It was the wildest week I ever experienced.” He thinks for a moment. “Is that…?”

“Yep. If ah knew it was our last night, ah would do what we did then, only condense it to one night.”

“Sweet Celestia.” Matt awes, “That would have been something.” He thinks a little more, until he gives off a slight shrug. “Oh well. It’s too late now. I suppose once the foal is born, and after a couple weeks of rest, we can do that dream night.” He moves over on his back, staring at the ceiling.

Applejack continues to think.

“Hey, Matt?” she says.

“Yeah?”

Suddenly, she moves up on top of him, looking directly into his soul. He is both surprised, and completely into it. She stares at him like a predator on its prey.

“Here’s the deal, Matt. Ah changed mah mind. We’re goin’ to do this now, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” She moves her hooves under his shirt, and pulls it off of him. “There will be no breaks, and we won’t stop until I’m completely satisfied. Afterwards, we won’t speak of this to anypony, or mention it to each other any day after that. Ah don’t want any whinin’ or beggin’, what we’re going to do right now, is the LAST time we’re gonna do this. Deal?”

“Deal.” Matt says without any hesitation.

Appleajack suddenly drives her lips into his, with her tongue practically invading his mouth. They wrap each other in their arms and hooves, as they roll around in the bed, feeling every part of their bodies, as they become one. They get so rough; they fall off the bed, with Matt landing on his back.

“Oh mah gosh!” Applejack suddenly yells out of concern, “Are you alright?”

“Never better. Keep going!” he laughs, as they soon go back to vigorously making out.

The afternoon sunshine bleeds through the curtains, illuminating the bedroom, which is now in near shambles. The bed sheets are sprawled over the floor, as are the pillows, lamps have been knocked over, and the bookshelf is on its side, with the books themselves in disarray.

On the bed, is Matt laying on his back, with Applejack sleeping right on top of him, her head resting on his chest. The two snore soundly, but it’s Matt that wakes up first. Looking over at the clock, he sees that it’s twelve thirty in the afternoon.

He initially doesn’t notice Applejack sleeping on him, instead paying attention to the empty side of the bed. It’s not until he feels a weight holding him down, does he notice his lovely wife sleeping on him.

Matt moves a few locks of her mane, uncovering the shut eyes, and gazing on her beautiful face. Gently, he kisses her forehead. This sparks a reaction, as Applejack groans in her sleep, moving her head so that her chin rests on his chest. Matt chuckles, and he proceeds to move his hand to her muzzle, lightly bopping it.

After a few sniffles and groans, Applejack opens her eyes to see Matt staring right back at her. She smiles.

“Good mornin’.” she says.

“Actually, it’s the afternoon.”

“Really?” she wonders. She looks over at the clock, seeing what time it is. “Oh, we overslept. Haven’t slept this late in a long, long time, and that was after I got hammered at that hoedown!” She thinks about that night, when she made a fool out of herself, when revealing that Matt found her attractive, to everypony in that barn. Matt found it a little humorous on retrospect, but she always found it embarrassing.

“Good thing it’s a Saturday.” Matt smirks. “How’s the little one?” he moves his hand to her stomach, rubbing it.

“No muss, no fuss.” she confirms, putting her hoof on his hand, “Everythin’ feels just fine.”

“Any nightmares?”

“None.” she smiles, “Ah slept like a filly.”

“Good.” Matt kisses her muzzle. “That was a hell of a night.”

“I’ll say. Is the room a mess?”

“Umm…” Matt looks to see the chaos they have caused. “Yep. It’s definitely a mess. Guess I know what we’re doing today.”

“It’s not THAT bad.” Applejack notes, looking around the room at the mess. “Nothin’ we can’t handle.”

“If you say so.” he says, patting her mane, electing a chuckle from her. “So, since we don’t have work, and you don’t have any prior engagements, what would you like to do today?”

“Ah just want to have a relaxin’ day. See our friends, go out to eat, things like that. Maybe do some grocery shoppin’ or somethin’. Nothin’ too crazy.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Matt looks over at his bare body, “Perhaps I should put on some clothes.”

“Not just yet. Ah have to take a shower. Want to join me?”

It’s not a question for Matt. He rubs his hand on her cheek, and giving her a loving kiss on the lips. Once they separate he looks at her with a smirk.

“Of course I will.”