Big Macintosh sat on the couch in the reading area of the Golden Oaks Library, next to his very pregnant wife Twilight. Since finding out his wife was expecting, Big Macintosh wanted to cut as much work time at Sweet Apple Acres as possible. Naturally, Twilight didn’t let her husband start this right away, only letting him cut back his hours when she was farther along. He did all he could to make sure that his wife was as comfortable as possible. He had some experience in waiting on pregnant mares, since he helped out a lot when his mother was pregnant with his sisters. Twilight appreciated the help, and while she was glad to have him around, she could tell he was a bit antsy from lack of his usual work. It was understandable, Big Macintosh had been a workhorse his entire life, and when his parents died he had to take on multiple responsibilities of doing farm work, looking after his sisters, and handling the books. He may not have looked it, but Big Mac was very good at math.
“Doing ok,” asked Twilight.
“Eeyup,” said Big Mac.
“Not bored are you,” asked Twilight.
“Nope,” said Big Mac. “Why would ah be?”
“Well, you seem a bit antsy,” said Twilight. “I figured it’s from lack of things to do. I doubt you’ve had this much time off…ever.”
“Ah’m more antsy from anticipation,” said Big Mac. “Ah mean, ah’m gonna be a father! It’s a crazy feelin. Know what ah mean.”
“You have a very good point,” said Twilight. “I never really imagined I’d be a mother. Oh sure I’ve thought about it, I’m sure most ponies do, but it’s so much different when it’s actually happening.”
“Eeyup,” said Big Macintosh.
“I must look so dumpy right now,” said Twilight.
“Why would ya say that,” asked Big Mac.
“Look at me,” said Twilight. “I’ve gotten so huge.”
“You could never not be beautiful, Twilight,” said Big Mac.
“You’re so corny,” giggled Twilight.
“But ah mean it,” said Big Mac with a warm smile.
“Of course you do,” said Twilight.
“Ah remember when mah mama was pregnant with Applejack,” said Big Mac. “Ah was a little younger than Apple Bloom. At the time, it was so amazin to me how big her belly was gettin over time. Then there was the day she was born, ah couldn’t believe how tiny she was. Did ya know she was born on the farm?”
“No, I didn’t,” said Twilight.
“One day, mama just went into labor,” began Big Mac. “We got her into the cart, but it was clear that there wasn’t time to get to the hospital.”
“Oh my,” said Twilight.
“Eeyup,” said big Mac. “Granny Smith ended up deliverin Applejack. She wrapped her up an placed her in a an almost empty basket of apples. She was so tiny, and her coat and mane were both real frizzy. And despite bein only a few minutes old, she immediately tried munchin on an apple.”
Twilight let out a giggle from that, and Big Macintosh joined her.
“An apple lover from birth, eh,” commented Twilight.
“Eeyup,” said Big Macintosh. “It was at one of our family reunions where we learned she had the appetite of a full grown stallion, when at barely a year old she downed a whole plate of apple fritters. Needless to say, we made sure to have extra food from then on.”
The couple shared another laugh.
“Do you think your parents would have had more children,” asked Twilight. “If they hadn’t…well you know.”
“Ah think so,” said Big Mac. “Ah’m from a big family, after all. It’s a very important thing in mah family.”
“I don’t really have a large family,” said Twilight. “Then again, it’s not always easy for unicorns to have children. A lot of things factor into it. Such as surges of magic and even the horn of the baby.”
“Ah didn’t know that,” said Big Mac.
“It’s mainly a problem with unicorn couples,” said Twilight. “I’ve been told that there’s less risk with mixed couples.”
“Do ya ever wish you married a unicorn,” asked Big Mac.
“I don’t care about that sort of thing,” said Twilight. “I love you because of you. You’re honest, gentle, and a hard worker. You’re a fantastic husband, Macintosh, and you’ll be a fantastic father.”
“Thank you, Twilight,” said Big Mac. “You’ll be a fantastic mama.”
“That I’m not so sure about,” said Twilight.
“Ah am,” said Big Mac. “Yer the sweetest, smartest pony ah know.”
“But my social skills aren’t the best,” said Twilight.
“You doubt yerself too much,” said Big Mac. “You’ve taken care of Spike most of yer life haven’t ya?”
“Well sure,” said Twilight.
“Then you know what it’s like to take care of another life,” said Big Mac. “Sure, these days you two have more of a brother sister relationship. But startin out, when he was just a real tiny fella, you were the closest thing he had to a mama.”
“I never really thought about it that way,” said Twilight. “I certainly never thought of him as a pet. But, I never thought of him being my baby or anything like that.”
“He’s lucky to have had you in his life,” said Big Mac. “As lucky as ah am to have you in mine.”
“And I’m so lucky to have you in my life,” said Twilight. “I love you so much, Big Macintosh.”
“Ah love you, Twilight,” said Big Macintosh.
The two then shared a tender kiss; they knew that they would always be happy together. Despite marriage and a foal on the way, it always felt like they were still courting, learning new things about each other every day. As far as anypony else was concerned, they were the happiest couple in all of Equestria.