A New Start

by Lotus Moon

Uncomfortable Conflict

Time passed by and Lotus' pregnancy went more or less smoothly. She and Saphirus took care to make sure nothing would happen to complicate things. During doctors visits, they agreed to not know the baby's gender until the time came. They turned a spare room into a nursery for their foal and filled it with baby toys from their recent foal shower, courtesy of Pinkie Pie. The couple even read up on what to do to not stress new mothers out as well as what to do to prepare for delivery. The only thing they didn't agree on was baby names.

"Seriously? Why would we name our child Topaz Moon? What if it's a colt?" Saphirus sighed, shaking his head. "And why a gemstone?"

"Oh, and Shadow is any better? Not only do we not know if the baby is a colt or a filly...we don't even know what species they are!" Lotus snapped. She was laying in bed on her side, her stomach was full term and nearly ready to pop.

Saphirus stomped his hoof in frustration. "I know we said we'd wait and all...but now we kinda need to know." He said. "That way we can come up with a suitable name."

"I don't WANT to KNOW! I want it to be a surprise!!" Lotus growled, lighting up her horn, something she did when she was frustrated.

Saphirus gulped and his ears pressed against his head as he backed away slowly. "L-Lotus...c-calm down, please. No need to get worked up."

"Worked up? Worked up?!! I'll show you worked up!!!" She struggled to get up and growled. "FCK!!!!! FCKING SHT SUGAR SS GAAAAAAAAH!!!!!" Lotus huffed and planted her face in her pillow. Her ears were pinned against her head in frustration.

"Uh...h-hun...are yo-"

"Shut up and go get me some strawberry and cream swirl ice cream from Sugar Cube Corner along with several apple treats from Sweet Apple Acres and a dozen daisy sandwiches from the cafe." She huffed, her nostrils flaring.

"Yes, dear." He sighed. Saphirus trotted down the steps and went running the new errands he was given.

"Hey, AJ. Can I get some of your famous treats?" Saphirus asked.

"Sure thing. What would ya- I know that look" Applejack said, looking at Saphirus and sighed. "Another disagreement food run?" She asked, earning a nod from the stallion. "Oh Sugar Cube. I'm so sorry. What was it about this time?"

"Names for the baby. We agreed to not know the baby's gender till it has been born...but that makes it harder to come up with a proper name. So it's like we try to come up with something we can both agree on, but we just can't. On top of that, she's always cranky since she can hardly move. And she doesn't want to use the teleportation spell Princess Twilight taught her since she thinks it'll hurt the baby." Saphirus rubbed the back of his head.

Applejack was packing one of each treat in a bag while Saphirus spoke. "Ah'm sorry, Sugar Cube. But that's what happens with mares during pregnancy. When ma mom was pregnant with Apple Bloom, Big Mac and I would stay far away when she got into one of her moods. Just left it up to dad. Give it time and she'll get better." She handed it to him. "Here you go. 25 bits please."

"25? But what's in there is worth at least 40 bits."

"Ah know, but I'm givin' ya a discount for yer troubles." The orange farmpony smiled.

"Thanks, AJ. Now to just go to the cafe for the daisy sandwiches and then to Sugar Cube Corner." He sighed. "I'll see you later."

"Good luck." AJ waved as he left.

Saphirus went to the cafe to get the sandwiches but also went to the market to go ingredient shopping. He hoped to make Lotus an appropriate dinner after she's cooled off. He tried being positive about this whole thing since it was a normal occurrence now. At least, for a little while longer. As he made his way to Sugar Cube Corner, he thought about what he was going to ask Mr. and Mrs. Cake how they handled their pregnancy. Despite reading all the books, he was still curious.

Upon arriving at the bakery, he was greeted by the energetic ball of pink that is Pinkie Pie. She was playing around with Pound and Pumpkin Cake...or rather...trying to catch them. Pound Cake was flying everywhere and anywhere while Pumpkin Cake was preoccupied using her magic to fly around with her brother. Saphirus trotted up to the counter to make his order but his eyes drifted to the foals mischievously playing with their sitter. His thoughts drifted to how things would be with his own foal. Would he and Lotus walk into their home to find it in chaos with a sitter chasing their pegasus foal around? Would they find the sitter strung up by uncontrollable baby unicorn magic? Or would they come home to a tidy home and their foal sound asleep in bed? So many questions soon to be answered.

"Here you go, dearie." Mrs. Cake said, sliding a container with the frozen treat to the blue stallion.

"Thank you. Um...Mrs. Cake...can I ask something?" Saphirus set the treat in this saddle bag, hoping it wouldn't melt before he got home.

"Sure."

"What's it like being a parent? "

"Come again?" She blinked.

"I know it's weird to ask since...I'll know soon enough...but what's it like?"

"Well, it's not something that can be explained. It's just something that just comes into focus once your foal is born." Mrs. Cake said and looked at her children. "Once Pound and Pumpkin were born, it was an instant connection. I felt like nothing could top the moment I became a mother. Not even having one of our desserts win first prize in a baking contest." She giggled.

"Is it hard at times?"

"Oh absolutely. At first, we were so focused on the babies, most other things became an afterthought till we remembered. Even with Pinkie here, at times, our main focus is Pound and Pumpkin. But at the end of the day, having them has been the best thing that's ever happened to me and Mr. Cake. Wouldn't trade it for anything in all of Equestria." She beamed.

Saphirus smiled and thought about it. Wouldn't trade it for anything in all of Equestria, huh? Sounds nice. Wonder if I'll feel that way.

When Saphirus got home, he noticed the atmosphere was different. A phonograph was playing romantic music and there was the smell of lavender in the air. He quickly went to put the frozen treat in the fridge before he set his bag down and went upstairs. He carefully walked up to his room and stood at the door.

Is this a trap? It has to be. I know she's gotta be still mad because she can usually stay mad for days. He thought. His mind raced...until he heard his wife.

"Saphy, come in darling. Please~"

"O..Ok..." He gulped. Using her cute voice. That's a sign she wants something...something that usually leads to trouble. He took a deep breathe and entered the room, only for his jar to drop. In their room, his wife was wearing a white sweater with no back to it and a short portion of the fabric around her neck. Where the sweater ended exposed her firm, supple rump and Cutie Mark. It was a bit unconventional considering how big she was now, but nonetheless, was very attractive on her when paired with the seductive smirk on her lips. Saphirus could only stare in curious awe.

"Gonna just stand there...or are you gonna come to cuddle your wife?" She purred.

He shook his head. "Lotty, don't get me wrong, I really want to. But you were really pissed at me just a little over two hours ago. Why the sudden change?"

"I realized how stubborn I've been. My constant mood changes haven't been good for either of us...including the baby. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through. I just wanted to make up for that now. Now come on up here and let's cuddle like we used to."

He hesitated a bit, but Saphirus climbed into bed and cuddled behind his wife. Out of a small habit, he started gently rubbing her stomach, earning little shifts from their unborn foal. Lotus sighed contently and rolled onto her back so he could rub her stomach more, her exposed back resting flat against the bed.

"That feels nice. In so many ways." She smiled, placing a hoof on the other side of her stomach.

"I can imagine. You like it too, don't you?" He whispered, referring to the baby.

"I do wish the earlier stages would've lasted a bit longer...maybe not the symptoms, but my body was more attractive then." She sighed.

"Lotty, don't say that. You're still very attractive. Even more even! You're glowing." He smiled. And he wasn't lying. Lotus had the obvious motherly glow about her, and it made her all the more beautiful.

"Attractive enough to mate?" She blushed.

"Of course" he smiled but blushed. "Wait...Lotus...I don't know if that's a good idea. I mean, what about the baby?"

"C'mon. Just for a little. It's been so long. And this pregnancy has me a little hotter than ever. Besides, we still have time before the baby comes. I'm sure it'll be ok." Lotus looked up at him with slightly pleading but reassuring eyes. Seeing those, and after a little more convincing, he could hardly refuse her anymore.

"Ok. Just one time." He nuzzled her before kissing her gently.

Lotus had butterflies in her stomach. More than the first time they made love. This was more than a whole new experience for them, it was a once in a lifetime thing. The tingling sensation that ran through her warmed her nether region to the point where she thought she was on fire. She had hardly noticed that Saphirus was leaving a trail of kisses down her chest to her stomach then to her teats and marehood. A quiet moan escaped her lips.

"S-Saphy, your tongue is really warm."

"And you're pretty wet. You missed mating that much, huh?"

"Any mare going through a pregnancy would. Nothing I used gave as much satisfaction as you do. Not even stuff in the catalogs." She mumbled the last part, but it didn't go unheard.

"Catalogues? Lotty, what have you been up to?" He looked at her, seeing a bright blush on her pouty cheeks.

She sighed softly. "I...I've been using substitutes to take care of myself when I get really hot. I didn't do it often, but it's like each time I used it, the heat got worse. I even tried ignoring it...till now."

"Let me guess...you saw one of the ads in a magazine and tried it out?" He smiled, seeming genuinely understanding.

"H-How did you know?"

"Because I saw the same thing around the time you started showing." He kissed her stomach. "I wasn't too interested because I didn't need any substitutes for my beautiful wife."

Lotus was about to say something when a gasp escaped her lips as her husband had begun pleasuring a new area. Saphirus' lips wrapped around one of her sensitive nipples while his hoof gently rubbed the other. Since Lotus' teats have grown, they were more sensitive than she anticipated and finally giving them some attention caused her left hind leg to twitch.

Hot pants and moans escaped from Lotus. "Saphy that's not fair. I want to return the favor." Her horn lit up as her magical aura surrounded and stroked his cock.

The room was filled with hot moans and the scent of estrus. Light slapping sounds could be heard as Lotus' rump met Saphirus' waist in their spooning position. Each of Saphirus' thrusts was slow and gentle for his mate's comfort. He thrust down to his medial ring and paused there, enjoying the feeling of Lotus' cunt convulsing around his pulsating, thick shaft. Words didn't need to be exchanged between them as the couple stared into each other's eyes lovingly. He knew how and when to move and when to stop from her expressions and knowing when he was close to reaching his limit. When he was right on the edge of climax, he gave several drawn out thrusts before shooting thick ribbons of stallion juice inside of her. Lotus had to bury her face in her pillow as the moan she released would've loud enough for Princess Celestia to hear in Canterlot.

The pair panted hotly as they remained connected. Basking in the afterglow of their long overdue session, Lotus let out an exhausted chuckle.

"That was just as magical...as the first time we mated." She smiled.

"Yeah. Wow. I had no clue that you were repressing so much." He nuzzled her. "Sorry to make you wait so long."

"It's ok. It made this moment worth it. Though I don't know if I'd be able to do it again." She placed her hoof on his.

"Once the baby comes, you'll have to. I mean you will need time to recover...and we'll be pretty focused on raising the new addition to our family." He reminded her, earning a small sarcastic groan from her.

"I know. But every day will be full of happiness and love."

"Yeah, and so much more."

"Saphy, I know we always seem to fight about this, but I wanted to know if you thought of any more names for the baby." She said but got no response. "Saphy?" She looked back to see that he had fallen asleep, exhausted from nearly three hours of mating. Smiling to herself, Lotus lit up her horn and carefully slid his penis out of her love tunnel with a quiet pop at the end. Being careful to not make too much of a mess, she cleaned both of them up before pulling their blanket over them.

"I love you Saphy. Sweet dreams...and sweet dreams to you as well, my little jewel." She whispered to her stomach before dozing off herself.