//------------------------------//
// Month#11: Finally Here 
// Story: Running While Preggers 
// by Tiaa OwO 
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      I stayed close to Jasmine at all times. This was her last month being pregnant and she could give birth anytime. Well, not anytime, anytime, but you know what I mean. She was due this month. Her stomach was large and she didn't fly at all at this point. She had weekly visits to the doctor to check all sorts of things. They had to check her blood pressure, her stress levels, how dilated she was, and her heart/lung health. Every time she went, I worried that something might happen on the way there, while we were there, or on the way back to the Inn. We didn't have luck that bad so far but I wasn't taking any chances. Jasmine didn't seem to be too keen on me following her around. She was in pain and She smiled through all of it, though. I guess she liked the fact that I was so worried. After successfully packing our things away and getting things needed for the babies, our friends came over. Wolf Grey came with Fluttershy and Rarity. After them, Twilight, Eclipse LunarSol, and George came over. Every pony else was either doing errands or packing last minute things. We were not leaving right after Jasmine gave birth but every pony was eager to go.
Jasmine was sleeping peacefully on the bed while Rarity, Eclipse LunarSol, Fluttershy, Twilight, George, and I played Go Fish. Wolf Grey was staring out the window and occasionally sneaking glances at Fluttershy when he thought no pony was looking. He was certainly a mysterious pony. A mysterious pony with a possible crush on Flutterhsy.
"Do you have a five, Spike?" Twilight asked.
"Go fish."
"You got an eight?"
"Darn." Twilight slid the card over to me. I smiled.
"Do you have a... two, Fluttershy?" Eclipse asked. Fluttershy shook her head.
"Go fish."
"What about you, George?"
"GG!" we all shouted. Eclipse blushed and corrected herself.
"I... ah... I do..." George reluctantly slid a card over to her.
"Uhm... do you have a six, Rarity?" Fluttershy mumbled.
"I do. Here you go." Rarity slid the card to Fluttershy. There was silence for the next few minutes.
"This is boring." George sighed.
"Oh wow. I was hoping it wasn't just me who thought so." Twilight snuggled him. I yawned and stretched.
"Yep. This is pretty dull."
"We should do something else." Rarity suggested.
"Chess?" Twilight offered.
"Anything but that." Wolf Grey and Rarity said at the same time. They looked at each other. Wolf Grey smirked. Rarity looked away, blushing furiously. I got up as did Fluttershy and Eclipse.
"Let's go outside. It's lovely out." Fluttershy suggested quietly.
"Great idea!" Eclipse exclaimed.
"Woa, wait!" I nearly shouted. "I can't leave, Jazz. What if she..."
"Relax. We'll be just outside." Twilight said.
"And as Applejack would say, 'If she's in a doozy, she can holler.'" Rarity stated. I thought about it for a second and realized they were right. As long as I stayed close I would be fine. We all headed out. Before I closed the door, got one las took at my beloved. She was sleeping soundly.



Wolf Grey sat next to Fluttershy on the grass. She gave him a shy smile. He smiled back.
"I hear you're leaving Wakonda in a few days."
"Not in a few days really. We don't have a specific date..."
"You don't have to go with them, do you?"
"Well... I do... I mean, their not forcing me or anything..." Wolf Grey cocked his head.
"So, why are you going?"
"Because my friends are going." There was an edge to Fluttershy's voice that I'd never heard before. "Why do you care, anyway?"
Wolf Grey seemed taken aback, "What do you mean?"
"You don't even talk to me like that."
"Wha...?"
"Why can't you romance me like George... GG... does with Twilight? Or be a cute little goof like Night Flower?"
"Are you comparing me to other guys?"
"Yes!... no... I'm sorry. Why do you have to be so mysterious and withdrawn?"
"You like it when I'm mysterious." he smirked when she blushed. "I'm coming with you guys."
"What? Really?"
"Of course. Anything for you." He sent her a wink and casually walked away, leaving her flustered as usual.
Twilight was having some romantic talk with George as well. She was laying on her stomach with George right next to her. She nuzzled him and sighed.
"I can't wait to see Cadence."
"I can't wait to meet your brother."
"You really want to meet my brother?"
"Yea, of course. Why wouldn't I want to meet your bro?"
"Because he will kill you."
"Figuratively?"
"Literally. He's super protective and he's a prince and former captain of the Celestial Guard."
"Okay..."
"You're not worried or anything?"
"Of course not. Why would I be worried about your military trained brother trying to kill me?"
"Don't worry, George-GG-I'll be there and you'll be there with me. That's all that matters."
"It's all that matters to you." George wrapped a foreleg around Twilight but he shot me a worried look.
Rarity and Eclipse both ran out of the Inn and rushed over to me. I didn't even notice that they went back in. I was too busy being nosy. The two mares stopped in front of me.
"Spike, I think Jasmine may be going into labor." Eclipse said. Rarity nodded feverishly.
"You might want to take her to the-"
"What? Now? How do you know?" I was suddenly glad that I didn't leave her.
"Spike." Eclipse shook her head, "I've had three foals in my life. I think I know when a mare's in labor." I went inside the Inn, every pony getting up and following me. Jasmine was on her side and her teeth were gritted. Her tail twitched every time she sucked in a breath.
"Jazz? Are you okay?" Eclipse face hoofed.
"Do I look okay?" she growled. I put my claws up.
"Okay, I think you're right. Uhm... Do we take her now or is there a specific time...?" It was that moment Jasmine let out a short, raspy scream. "Is that a yes?"
"Spike!" all the mares shouted.
"Okay, taking you to the hospital now." I reached for my love when she let out another cry. I lifted her and went outside before spreading my wings and taking off. I was a little unsure of how fast to fly. I wanted to fly fast but I was worried that would make her pain level go up or something. Man, I probably should have read up on it instead of reading Slowly Freaking Out.
"A little faster, Spike." Jazz said through clenched teeth.
"Are you sure? I wasn't sure... um... does it make the pain more painful-"
"Dammit, Spike, put some pep in your step!"
"Well... I'm flying... so... that doesn't actually... make sense at this moment..."
Jasmine glared at me, "Are you smart mouthing me!? I am in pain!"
"Yes, yes. I know you're in pain."
"So go faster." she said with a menacing snarl.



Arriving at the hospital was probably the most traumatic experience. By then, the contractions were coming quickly and Jasmine was writhing in pain. I tried to sooth her but I ended up getting cursed at, clawed at, and given a death glare into my soul. One of the nurses came up to us, looked at Jasmine, looked at me, and smiled. She smiled. I am so serious!
"First time, huh?"
"If referring to all of this," I gestured to my girlfriend. "Then yes, this is my first time."
"You're gonna be a daddy."
"No kidding. Can we get her some pain medicine or something? My girlfriend is in well, pain."
"Sure, dude. Lemme get her on a stretcher." I watched as the earth pony nurse put Jasmine on a stretcher and wheeled her off into a room. I followed. Once in the room, a doctor came in to check how dilated she was. Let me tell you, when you check the dialation of a female who is in agonizing pain, you must never be in reach of any legs, front or back.
Turns out, Jasmine was fully dilated, ten centimeters, and they brought in many things to deliver. The stirrups for her hind legs, the epidural to numb her lower half, towels, and lots of tools. After setting things up, they waited for the medicine to kick in. Jasmine cooed and relaxed visibly which gave that away.
"Alright, hun, let's start with a single push. We need to make sure the cervical muscles are contracting properly and that the baby isn't breached." the nurse said. I jerked up.
"Breached? What is that?"
"Don't worry about it." the doctor gave the nurse a look. The nurse sighed. "It's when the baby comes out backwards."
"Is that... harmful?"
"Oh yea. The baby could suffocate and die."
"And you told me not to worry why!?"
"I'm trying to be professional. Anyways, I need you to push, miss."  Jasmine gave a push, just as the the nurse commanded. The doctor nodded encouragingly. I held Jasmine's claw.
"Uh... you're doing great..." I said awkwardly. Jasmine gave a throaty chuckle. I wasn't sure if that was good or bad, given the situation.
"You have no idea what to do, do you?"
"Not a clue." There was several more minutes of the doctor and the nurse making sure there were no complications. Jasmine seemed to be doing fine. The only thing that was freaking me out at this point was that she was right when she said multiples were very common for draconaqui. I was actually pretty worried that I might not as good of a dad as I would like to be. It was still really exillerating to be a dad and have a whole family of my own. I felt like my life was complete, you know?



Jasmine was laying in the hospital bed. The doctor was checking her vitals and the nurse was cooing at the babies. She was an odd one. I looked at all the little bundles of joy and sighed.
"Congrats on your sextuplets." The nurse said.
"Is that even a real word?"
"Yes. There's also a word for eight born at once too."
"Yea?"
"Yes. It's octuplets."
"Huh."
"Yea. These little ones are real cuties."
"Thanks?"
"Have you and your partner come up with names yet?"
"Ah... no..."
"Well, why don't you two think of some names right now while the doctor and I get the birth certificates."
"Alright, nurse."



Every pony came inside the room and congratulated us. When I say every pony came, I mean every pony. Shy Heart, Night Flower, Applejack, Zecora, Big Mac, basically all our friends. They all were really stoked to help us come up with names. After some contemplation, we all managed to agree on six very nice ones.
Flo, Sookie, Plateous, Cherok, Draven, and Bubble.
I felt kind of iffy about some of the names but they were cute and not too outrageous so Jasmine and I made these our children's official names. We enjoyed our company before it would be time for Jasmine to get some rest.
"I love you, Spike."
"Love you too."