The Path to Parenthood

by FictionFreek


Chapter 8

As the days of Claire’s pregnancy passed by there was something that she had been trying to avoid, something she was sure all mares would try to avoid. But as much as she wanted to put it off Claire knew that this was important. So with a heavy heart Claire stood straight up in the middle of her room, taking in deep breaths as she prepared herself. “Okay I think I’m ready,” Claire said after one last exhale “Just get it over with before I lose my nerves!” she added. Standing a few feet away from Claire was Kilala who had a measuring tape wrapped around her hooves.

“Was all that heavy breathing really necessary?” she asked “I’m just measuring your waistline.” The mention of her waistline caused Claire to flinch. After weeks of pregnancy her stomach was finally showing signs of growth, and she felt that she needed to document it. But as much as she wanted to jot down this information in her book, it did not change the fact that this was difficult for her. As Kilala wrapped the measuring tape around her waist Clair made sure to stand perfectly still, keeping her breathing slow as to not alter the measurement.

“Okay I got the number,” said Kilala. Claire let out a sigh as she felt the measuring tape slide off of her body.

“So what’s the damage?” Claire asked as she sat down. Kilala still had the tape in her hands as she hid the number from Claire.

“Okay in the first month your waistline was twenty-four-“

“Twenty-two!” Claire called out cutting Kilala’s sentence short. Kilala lowered her hoof as she stared blankly at Claire with an arched brow. She continued to stare at Claire silently for several seconds before Claire turned her head away. “Okay fine, Twenty-four.” She said as a small blush formed on her face.

“As I was saying, you had a twenty-four inch waistline in the first month,” Kilala continued uninterrupted. “And after three months your waistline is now up to…twenty-nine,” Claire let out a gasp as she heard the number.

“That can’t be right!” Claire said as she stared at Kilala in disbelief.

“It’s what the tape says,” Kilala said with a shrug “Want me to measure again?” she asked.

“Yes, one more time!” said Claire as she stood up again. Once again Kilala wrapped the measuring tape around Claire’s waist, only this time Claire didn’t closer her eyes. She looked over her shoulder as Kilala tightened the tape around her, carefully reaching the number.

“Oh, I was wrong.” Claire let out a small snort as a smile spread across her face.

“I knew it,” she said proudly “What’s it say now?”

“Thirty.” Claire’s head shot around again as she checked the tape herself. It was just as Kilala said, the end of the tape ending exactly at the thirty inch mark. Claire then turned her gaze towards Kilala as the two mares fell silent.

“So…twenty-nine?” she asked with a sheepish smile.

“Sounds right to me,” said Kilala as she unwrapped the measuring tape again and tossed it to the side. Now that she had the number Claire opened her book and wrote down the number “Just curious, but how come you didn’t ask Illusion to do this?” asked Kilala. Claire let out a small sigh as she finished writing in her book.

“I don’t know,” she said as he lay back on the ground “I guess part of me is afraid of what he’d say if he knew how much I’ve grown,” with a claw on her stomach Claire began to move it slowly. As she traced around it she could feel the curve of her baby bump, feeling both a mixture of dread that it was going to get bigger and joy that there was a baby growing inside of her.

“I seriously doubt he’d crack some joke about it,” said Kilala. “And even if he does he’d never say it as an insult.” She added.

“I know,” Claire said with a sigh “He’s been nothing but supportive sine I got pregnant. I think the hormones just have me a little paranoid.” Given how much of a fuss Claire had made out of a simple measuring Kilala agreed, but she chose to keep that to herself.

“But paranoid or not, can’t help but wonder what he’ll think when I’m the size of a blimp…” said Claire. Kilala wasn’t sure how to answer, in truth different men would probably have different opinions about it. So weather or not Illusion would be crazy about it would only be seen when the time comes.

“I guess time will tell.”


Several blocks away from the royal castle stood a rather large antique shop. Inside were various dated items that couldn’t be found anywhere else. The store was filled with several consumer types, from older ponies searching through antique furniture, to younger colts gawking at the overpriced copy of Super Stallion: Issue #1 on the display case.

Though of all the shoppers around there was one that didn’t blend in with them. This shopper was the large and green dracony, T. “So what are we doing here again?” he asked the pony standing beside him. He was an earth pony with a dark coat with a gray mane and tail, his cutie mark that of three lumps of coal. The only color on the pony were his eyes which were a brilliant green.

To anypony he introduced himself to he would be known as Coal. But anypony who was close to him would know that this was only a pseudo to who he really was. In reality this pony was Illusion using a disguise so that he could wonder through public without gaining any unneeded attention. “That’s why.” Said Coal as he pointed his hoof down towards the other end of the shop.

There was a large wooden table there, on it lay several small objects, it wasn’t until they were close to it did T see that they were. “Tobacco pipes?” she asked with an arched brow “Since when do you smoke?”

“I don’t,” said Coal as he searched through the selections.

“Then why are you looking for something you won’t use?” Coal didn’t answer at first, his attention still on the pipes on the table.

“I always sort of pictured myself being a father someday, even before Claire was actually ready to be a mother. And of all the things I’d do as a father, there’s one that I look forward to the most.” It was at this point that a large grin spread across Coals face as he turned to look at T. “Embarrassing my kids.” He said proudly. T couldn’t help but chuckle at the look on Coals face, he himself had some embarrassing dad moments that may or may not have been intentional.

“Okay but that still doesn’t explain the pipes.”

“Presentation!” said Coal as he wrapped one foreleg around T’s shoulder and waved his fee hoof in the air. “Think of it this way, your daughter is upstairs getting ready for her date who’s arrived early. The mother leads the boy to the living room where he sees you waiting, sitting on a large chair next to a fireplace with a pipe in his mouth.” Releasing his hold of T’s shoulder, Coal looked directly at him.

“Tell me something more intimidating than that.” He dared. T looked back at Coal for a brief silence before taking a few steps back. The first thing T did was open his extend his wings as far as he could, angling them slightly for an intimidating pose. He then spread his front legs, extending his claws and lowering his head so that he was eye level with Coal. Finally he raised his top lip slightly to give a better view of his fangs. And to add the cherry on the top of this display of intimidation T let out a small huff from his nose allowing a small puff of smoke to come out of his nostrils.

Coal stared at T with wide eyes for several seconds “Touché,” he said finally as he applauded T’s display. “But since I’m not a fire breathing dracony, I have to use other means to intimidate.” He said.

“Isn’t being a prince enough?” asked T.

“Too easy,” said Coal “If I’m gonna scare some innocent teenager I want it to be challenging. Oh how about this one?” Coal said as he grabbed one of the pipes. It was a rather large one, close to the size of his head. T looked at the oversized pipe that Coal held in his hooves and couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“I think a pipe like that would have the opposite effect on a colt.” He said. Coal arched a brow at T before looking down at the pipe again. It took several seconds but eventually it his him.

“Oh…” he said as he placed the pipe back down. He continued to scan through the various pipes on the table, they all looked good but none seemed to match his expectations. He was almost at the end of the display and ready to give up on his search, but then he found it. Coals jaw dropped as his eyes rested on it, he was unable to find words as he marveled it, except for one.

“Perfect…” he said in awe as he held up the pipe with both hooves as though the gods themselves had bestowed it to him. The stem was black in color, a forest pattern carved into it, but this wasn’t what made it perfect. No it was what the forest pattern lead to, a large brown stummel carved in a way to appear as the head of a timberwolf. Not only was the design amazing but it was also created in such a way that smoke could come out of the timberwolfe’s mouth.

Coal wasted no time and immediately brought the pipe to the store owner so that he could purchase it. With his new pipe now in his saddle bag both he and T made their way out of the shop. “You never told me,” said T as they walked up to the door “What are you gonna do if it’s a boy?” he asked. The two stopped walking for a moment and stared at one another. After a few seconds the two smirked, and at the same time said:

“Embarrassing baby photos,” laughing together after doing so.


After making his purchase Illusion made his way back to the castle, dropping his disguise as soon as he was inside. Already at the door to their room Illusion couldn’t wait to show Claire the pipe he had bought. As soon as he entered the room he spotted Claire sitting on her working table, working on a new piece of jewelry. “I’m back,” he called out catching Claire’s attention.

“Hey Lulu,” she said turning away from her project “What’s in the bag?” she asked.

“Take a look,” said Illusion as he levitated the bag towards. With the bag in her claws Claire opened it to see its contents. She arched a brow for a moment before letting out a light laugh.

“You actually bought it?” she asked as she pulled out the pipe.

“Hey yeah I did,” said Illusion “And look at that thing, it’s amazing!”

“Can’t argue with you there.” Said Claire as she tossed the pipe back at Illusion.

“So what’d you do today?” he asked as he put the pipe away for safe keeping. Claire looked away for a moment as a small blush formed on her cheeks.

“I uh…measured my stomach today.” She said as she tapped her hooves together. Illusion’s ear perked up when he heard this.

“Really?” he asked as he turned around with a smile on his face. “How much has it grown?” he asked.

“Nope, not going to say,” said Claire as she folded her forelegs.

“Still a little self-conscious about the weight gain?” he asked, Claire nodding her head slightly in agreement. “You know there’s nothing wrong with that, right?” he added.

“You say that now, but let’s see what you think when I’m the size of a hot air balloon.” Said Claire.

“You kidding, I’m looking forward to it!” said Illusion. Claire blinked and looked towards Illusion with disbelief.

“Really?”

“Of course,” said Illusion “Even before you got pregnant I had this little dream. We’d be lying in bed, you on your side because of your stomach. And I’d be sleeping comfortably with my head on your belly, feeling the baby kicking occasionally.” As Illusion voice his dream there was a warm smile that spread across his face. One that grew warmer with the realization that this dream would come true soon enough.

“Oh so I’m a living pillow, huh?” said Claire as she hid the smile on her face.

“The best kind of pillow!” said Illusion as he wrapped his arms around Claire’s waist, tickling her in the process.

“Ah!” she gasped as she felt herself being tickled “No fair, I wasn’t ready!” she said as she tried to control her laughter.

“I’ll stop if you tell me the number!” Illusion said with a chuckle. Claire tried to wiggle her way out of Illusions hold but found it to be a fruitless effort.

“N-never!” she called out unable to contain her laughter any longer. As the tickling continued with Claire not giving in, Illusion decided to show some mercy.

“Heh, you never were an easy egg to crack,” he said as he lay next to Claire.

“You’re the one who likes a good challenge,” Claire chuckled as she nuzzled Illusion. The two stayed on the floor wrapped around each other for several minutes of comforting silence. Even after all these years of being together neither had grown tired of this, and likely never would.

“Listen, I just want to make sure you know that it doesn’t matter to me if you gain weight.” Said Illusion “I love you for you.” He said looking her in the eyes. Claire looked back at Illusion and smiled, leaning in closer she gave him a kiss on the forehead.

“I know Lulu, I know…” she said softly as she lay her head on his shoulder.

“So what do you say, will you tell me the number?” he asked. Claire let out a small chuckle as she raised her head. Using her claws to hold on to his chin, Claire made sure he was looking her in the eyes. And with a sweet voice she said:

“Not on your life.”