Bonbon opened the door to the apartment and stopped, sniffing the air. She backed out, closing the door and hanging her head. Taking a deep breath, she muttered. “Whatever it is, it can’t be as bad as you’re thinking.” She smiled. Tried to, at least. It was more like a grimace. Slowly, she opened the door and stepped inside the apartment, closing it behind her. Trudging forward, she called out. “Lyra, are you cooking?” “Yeah, Bonnie. I’m in the kitchen.” She stopped in the archway. “You were going to let me do the cooking.” She’d agreed. “I thought I’d surprise you.” Words came out like ketchup from a glass bottle. “Wonderful. I’m surprised.” Taking a stool, she stared at the counter, but couldn’t resist slowly raising her head to see the skillet. “Stir fry? What’s in it?” “Things I found in the fridge.” “That’s great.” They were due for a grocery trip. She craned her neck. She looked away with a sharp inhalation of breath. She looked back. “Are those… pickles?” “Yeah, we need to go shopping, so I just used what we had.” “What’s that white stuff?” “Cottage cheese.” Bonbon slumped, resting her head on folded hooves. At least there was onion. She shot up, glancing at the stove. “Did you cook the rice already?” “We’re out.” Of course she didn’t check the ingredients before starting. “Of course what?” Lyra turned. “I didn’t catch that.” Crap. I said that out loud. “Of course… we should buy more stir fry ingredients.” “Oh.” “Lyra!” Bonbon pointed. “Oh!” She lifted the skillet off the burner, distributed it into the two bowls on the counter, and set the skillet in the sink. Sitting, she passed a bowl to Bonbon. “So what do you think?” “It’s very… unique.” “I know, right? We’re like bold explorers in uncharted territory. This—could be a new thing.” “Yeah. Hehe.” Bonbon sighed, expression falling as she looked down at the steaming bowl. “Here. I’ll cool some off so you can try it.” She lifted a chunk in her magic, blowing on it. Bonbon eyed it warily. “Alright. Should be good. Open up.” Closing her eyes and opening her mouth, Bonbon gained religion. Please, Celestia. Make it not terrible. The stir fry passed her lips and she closed her mouth, chewing and swallowing quickly. “Mmm.” “Wow. You must have liked that. You ate it so fast.” She lifted a chunk for herself, cooling it as before. Lyra brought it to her mouth—and spat it out. “Okay. Not worth exploring. Eat out?” Tension flowed out with the breath she’d been holding, and Bonbon smiled. For real this time. “Please.” ———🥄——— Lyra finished the last of Octavia’s hay fries. Tavi leaned back, crossing her hooves. “I’m so glad we ran into you at the diner so you could finish my food for me.” “I know, right? I can’t believe how hungry I am.” “Were,” said Tavi. “Nope. Still hungry.” She looked at Bonbon. “Could we get des—oh my gosh” She shot a hoof to her belly. “I felt a flutter. I think. Yes. Definitely. Not gas. Feel this.” She pulled Bonbon’s hoof over, placing it on her belly. Tavi and Scratch shared a look. With a shrug and a twitch of her eyes, Tavi silently asked, “What? How was I supposed to know?” “I don’t feel it, Lyra.” “I guess she’s stopped. He. It. They. Whatever.” “So… you two are pregnant? How did that—nevermind. I don’t want to know.” Bonbon shook her head. “Just Lyra’s pregnant.” “It’s okay,” said Lyra. “I don’t mind telling.” Bonbon’s head whipped around. “There could be some merit in not discussing that, Lyra.” “No, really. It’s okay. I mean, I just took a potion that swapped my body with Big Mac’s.” “What?” asked Tavi, instantly regretting she had. “I swapped bodies with Big Mac and impregnated me.” Scratch signed. So Big Mac was in your body when you were in your body? “What? No. Gross. Bonbon swapped bodies with him.” Bonbon buried her face in her hooves. “Please stop. This is why I don’t take you places. Why I cook. I can’t believe you’re doing this to me.” “What?” asked Lyra, raising her voice. “It’s not like I shouted to the world that I swapped bodies with Big Mac and fucked myself.” Bonbon shrank as the sounds of diners around them stopped. Lyra noticed nothing. “Names,” said Tavi. “What about names? If it’s a boy?” Bonbon and Lyra answered simultaneously. “Guitar—Gummy—Hero—Bear.” Bonbon sat up, and they glared at each other. “Guitar Gummy Hero Bear? That’s quite the name.” They turned their glare to Tavi. She shrank. “That’s not the name,” they said together before turning to argue. “What kind of name is Guitar Hero? You can’t name him that. It’s begging for a tragic life of sacrifice.” “Oh, and Gummy Bear is so much better? You know who else has that name? Pinkie’s toothless pet crocodile.” “Alligator.” “Whatever!” Tavi looked to Scratch for support, but she only sipped her drink, leaning back to watch the fight. Tavi rolled her eyes. As the other couple argued, she tried to regain control of the conversation. “Well if you can’t agree on a boys name, how about a girls name?” Bonbon huffed. “Don’t you whatever me!” “Oh I’m gonna. Next you’ll tell me you want to name her Éclair if she’s a girl.” “And what’s wrong with Éclair?” “Come on Scratch, let’s go.” Scratch left bits to pay for their food and followed Tavi out. “Now look what you’ve done,” said Lyra. “Our friends are leaving because of you.” “Because of me? I’m not the one who yelled about sex with Big Mac for the whole restaurant to hear.” The whole restaurant could hear. Red Robin, the proprietor, appeared at their table. “Ma’ams, dinner’s on the house tonight. Please just go home. You’re disturbing the other patrons.” She swept a hoof across the room, stopping where it pointed at a family with foals. They looked around. “Come on, Lyra. It’s time to go home.” They stood, walking in silence while a cacophony of eyes followed. ———🥄——— Lyra tugged the sheets, uncovering Bonbon, who rolled to face her. “Alright. Not talking isn’t working. I want some sleep, so let’s just get this over with. I’m sorry.” Lyra sighed. “I’m sorry too, Bonnie.” She rolled over to face Bonbon. “I guess I was getting really loud.” Bonbon snorted. “A little? The whole restaurant was watching us.” “You weren’t exactly quiet either.” “You’re right. I was getting really mad. I’m sorry.” “Apology accepted.” “Ditto.” They kissed. Not a long kiss. Not a short one. Just enough to show their fight was over. They pulled back, speaking together. “Your name’s—Gummy Bear’s—fine.” They giggled. “How about this,” said Bonnie. “I pick a first name and you pick a last.” “What? No. Then we’d end up with something like Gummy Guitar.” Shaking her head, Bonbon rolled her eyes. “Alright, what do you suggest?” “If it’s a girl, you pick. If boy, I pick.” “Deal. Now we must seal it with a kiss.” “Deal.” They kissed. Longer this time. Enough to show their love. “Good night Lyra.” “Good night, Bonbon.” Lyra rolled away, but scooted back snug and pulled Bonbon’s hoof over onto her belly as they spooned. They lay there, synchronizing their breaths. Bonbon kissed Lyra’s neck. “Bonnie?” “Yes, Lyra?” She quivered in anticipation. “Can you get me a pickle?” Bonbon facehoofed. “Yeah, Lyra. I’ll get you a pickle.”