Braeburn groaned. It'd been a month and ½ already since he last saw Soarin, and it seemsnearly every day since had gotten worse and worse. He had intense stomach pains, he could barely keep any food down, he wanted to eat pears instead of apples, and the normally over enthusiastic stallion had been feeling rather bitchy as of late and became easily irritated. Braeburn had thought that maybe it was a bad stomach flu and it would pass, but it did not and he'd had enough. So Braeburn made his way to the local infirmary and got himself checked out by Doctor Sweet Straw.

"Give it to me straight doc; do I have some kinda disease or somethin'? Cuz I feel plum awful. And I don't think it's a regular bug that's goin' around." Doctor Sweet Straw smiled. "I highly doubt that Braeburn. Now can you tell me what symptoms you've been experiencing?" "Oh well sure uhm…got the strangest appetite recently, and I can't even keep down most of breakfast. My stomach has been killin' me the past few weeks, and on top of that, I feel mah moods swing faster than a lasso." Doctor Sweet Straw widened his eyes a bit. "Oh…yes I see well uhm…mind if I feel your stomach for a moment?" "Sure I guess."

Doctor Sweet Straw came over and gentle placed a hoof on Braeburn's belly, beginning to feel it and rub. Braeburn winced slightly. Normally, he wouldn't mind a belly rub, but this was a little less than painful. "Ow, right there!" He hissed as the doctor pressed a spot on the front of his stomach. The doctor went wide-eyed again. It can't be…it just couldn't…

"One more thing Braeburn, get down on all fours for me?" Braeburn blinked. "Uhm ok…?" He got off the examining table and stood on all four legs. And the doctor's suspicions were confirmed as he saw Braeburn's stomach protrude a bit from its usual place on the body. "You wouldn't by chance happen to have a lover, who is a unicorn, would you?"

Braeburn flushed. "Hold up now doc, these are some strange and personal questions! Ah mean no I ain't been with a unicorn before but what in the hay does that have to do with anything?" "Oh…nothing. Let's just say nothing, alright we're done here, you're free to leave." "Wait, doc, you didn't give me a diagnosis yet!" "I'll send you the results later today just please get out of my office!" Braeburn bent his ears back and trotted away, surprised that the doctor had raised his voice like that.

But things only got stranger. Later on that night, Braeburn finally got the letter from Doctor Sweet Straw. He opened it and was utterly horrified at what it contained.

"Dear Braeburn,

There's no easy way to tell this to a stallion so I'll come right out with it. You sir, are pregnant. The reason I asked if you had a unicorn lover was because unicorns have been known to unintentionally pass magic through their partner that causes "strange" side effects. But if you've never been with a unicorn, then this truly is a phenomenon. Mind you homosexuality in Equestria is ILLEGAL. But I do know quite a few homosexual ponies that live in secrecy.

But more to the point, I am unaware of how you became pregnant, and I do not wish to know either. If you still doubt me then I advise you to go and buy a pregnancy tester. But I urge you not to mention my name to anypony. I don't want to be associated with this incident. That being said, please burn this paper after you've read it.

Sincerely,

Doctor Sweet Straw

Braeburn just stared in utter shock and disbelief at the paper before him. Pregnant? Him, pregnant? He was a stallion for goodness sakes! There was no possible way he could be pregnant! That crazy ol' doctor! Must be smokin' somethin' fierce to say such a thing!

He continued pacing, and ranting in his mind, when he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. "Mmn!" He winced and placed a hoof over his stomach. It didn't always hurt, but when it turned like this, it was downright painful. Braeburn pondered for a while as he held his stomach. It did feel like it'd gotten the smallest bit bigger. And he already knew how mares got pregnant and what happened to them when they did. It seemed to match Braeburn's symptoms perfectly. He sighed inwardly. Maybe…he would go buy a tester, just to put his mind at ease, trying to convince himself that he wasn't pregnant.

He went out, bought the tester, and came back home. He went to the bathroom, gave the urine sample, and waited a few minutes for the results. His heart was beating a mile a minute. Finally after the amounted time, Braeburn checked the tester. And his heart nearly stopped. It had a + sign and read POSITIVE. So it was true then, he was pregnant.

He bit his lip and dropped the tester, completely scared. He didn't know what would happen. He didn't know what to feel or what to do. And he didn't know what the hell he was going to tell Soarin!

He tossed and turned in his bed. Thinking about the being growing inside him and how it affected his life from now on. And eventually, he came to a conclusion. He wanted to keep the baby. In fact, he was downright happy that he was going to be a mother. It filled him with joy to think that he could produce something so precious, even if he didn't know how or why. And on top of that, it was Soarin's baby, his Soarin's baby. And that only made him even more excited. He couldn't wait to tell Soarin. He was sure Soarin would be just as enthusiastic about the baby as he was.

Another month dragged by, and Soarin finally got some time off to come and visit his favorite colt. He flew in and knocked on Braeburn's door before opening it and trotting inside, knowing that Braeburn never locked the doors. "Hey Brae, it's me!"

"Soarin!" Braeburn galloped down the stairs and glomped his lover. "I missed you so much!" "Heheh, down boy, down!" Soarin chuckled and hugged Braeburn, stroking his scruffy mane. "I missed you too babe." He gave him a few kisses before Braeburn spoke again. "Oh, darlin' I got the most wonderful news but we need to talk." Soarin blinked and followed Braeburn to the living room and sat down next to him. "So what's the news babe?"

"Well…" Braeburn inhaled deeply. The moment had finally arrived and he had to prepare for the outcome. "You remember how you told me awhile back, that after a few more seasons, you wouldn't mind retirin' early and come settle down with little ol' me?" "I recall. And I still do." Soarin smiled. Braeburn smiled back. "That's great because Soarin…I'm pregnant."

After that the room went completely silent. Soarin took a few minutes to register in his brain was Braeburn had just said. "Come again?" "I said I'm pregnant." Soarin blinked and his ear twitched. "Babe, did you hit your head while buckin' the apple trees or somethin'?" "No, darlin', I really mean it. I even got a pregnancy test, and just look at the note the doctor wrote me!" He showed him the note. He went against Doctor Sweet Straw's wishes and didn't burn the note. Keeping it as proof in the likelihood that Soarin would not believe him.

Soarin read the note and his eyes went wide. "No…this…isn't possible…" "I know it's a lot to take in, but it's real. And it's wonderful." He took Soarin's hoof in his and squeezed. "And I think this baby will make us even stronger together. I'm so happy to be havin' yer baby darlin', and I hope you feel the same." Braeburn smiled sweetly but Soarin quickly sntached his hoof away and stood up.

"Happy…? Happy? You think this makes me happy? This is terrible, just awful!" He paced back and forth in the room angrily. Braeburn's eyes went wide, completely surprised by the other's horrible reaction. "I…thought you'd be happy…this is as much your baby as it is mine…"

"And that's just it! I don't want to have any kids! Much less with you!" Braeburn glared. "An' just what is that supposed to mean?" "It means that this isn't right you stupid hick! None of this is! Dear Celestia…I always knew that being gay would have consequences but I never imagined this! This is a sin! It's a crime against nature and it never should have happened!"

Braeburn was positively appauled by Soarin's behaviour. "How dare you speak about our child that way! None of this is her fault and she's absolutely perfect!" "You're deciding what gender it is already? That's just bloody perfect! I can't deal with this shit! I have a life you know. I didn't ask to be thrown into this freaky shit!"

Braeburn glared but his eyes brimmed with tears. "W-well if that's how you really feel, then nopony's stopping you! Just get out Soarin!" "Gladly! I'm leaving this piece of shit town and never coming back! Fuckin' Celestia…" He grumbled and his wings flared as he went to the door. "See ya fuckface, and don't you dare tell anypony that that abomination inside you is mine!" He yelled and slammed the door, flying away, leaving Braeburn all alone in his home which had suddenly gone silent, save for the drip, drip of Braeburn's tears rolling down his cheeks and hitting the floor beneath him. He couldn't believe what had just happened. Soarin, the love of his life, had completely disowned him and their unborn child. How could Soarin be so cruel? Braeburn placed a hoof over his belly and looked down at it. "I'm so sorry deary…" He spoke to his stomach as though the undeveloped fetus could hear him. "I really thought yer daddy would be happy…but don't you worry none. He's just a big ol' jerk…but I won't leave ya. I love ya, and I always will." He hugged his stomach as a few stray tears fell. He planned to carry this baby and love her, with or without Soarin. But the road ahead was quite bumpy. And sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the ones you love.