AJMaritalProblems1

>You've thought about it for an hour and no, it's not a birthday, anniversary, or date night.
"So where is she?"
>You're starting to actually get worried, so you finish filling the basket you've got with apples, fold up your ladder and head back to the barn.
>You both had lunch a couple hours ago, then AJ had said she would need a second, and she'd meet you in the southern grove. Besides, it's not like her to set up a surprise by cutting out on work. She could just ask Pinkie.
"Oh man, maybe something with the Elements came up."
>You're really not getting any work done worrying like this, so you just grab the basket and leave the ladder. Back at the barn you see Big Mac hitching up to a wagon.
"Hey, Big Mac, you seen AJ since lunch?"
>"Uh... nope."
>You yell thanks and head inside, looking for your wife. It would be pretty unexpected, but maybe she fell asleep after lunch? The run from the orchard reminded you that you were both getting a little older.
>You checked the couch and the bedroom before realizing that Big Mac had sounded a little suspicious. You throw open the bedroom window to see him already in the distance, galloping towards town.
"Hey!"
>Frustrated now, you stop, sit on the edge of your bed, and take a breath. Okay, if Big Mac knew anything, then Fluttershy would know. She knew literally everything he knew. It wasn't a whole lot of things. He told her everything.
>You head back outside and cut through the western orchard to reach Big Mac and Fluttershy's house. After getting married Fluttershy had moved out of her cottage, and Big Mac had moved out of Sweet Apple Acres Proper and built the two a new house on his half of the inheritance. It was mostly a formality, all the Apples still worked all the land together. Besides, within the year, Fluttershy was pregnant, so they needed the room.
"Flutters?"
>You open the gate and head into their yard. No sooner are you inside than you're pelted with rubber suction cup arrows. You see two of the colts run off behind the house. Under different circumstances, you'd chase them down and show them the superiority of having hands in all things combat related, before they grew up and could stomp you to death.
"Fluttershy, are you here? Hey, guys, is your mom home?"
>"Uh, hey Anon."
>You hear a faint voice from the roof of the house. Fluttershy then peaks over the edge.
"Why are you on the roof?"
>"It's the only place that's safe." she replied.
"Oh."
>You're pelted with another barrage of arrows.
"Alright, I get your point. Listen, where's AJ?"
>"I don't know, I've been under siege since breakfast."
"Fluttershy. I know you know. Because Big Mac knew, and he wouldn't tell me. So you're going to tell me. Obviously you all aren't off saving Equestria."
>"Um... well... uh."
"Come one, she's my wife, I deserve to know."
>You see Fluttershy's face twist with displeasure at keeping the secret.
>"She's at Doctor Stable's clinic."
>You sigh with relief. You hadn't forgotten the anniversary somehow. Then, after a moment, you realize she's at a doctor. You begin running almost instantly.
>When you reach Doctor Stable's clinic you see Twilight and AJ chatting outside. You rush over and drop to your knees next next to AJ.
"Oh god *gasp* Why do we live so far from town? *Wheeze* Are you okay? What's wrong? Are you sick?"
>"I'm fine sugarcube."
>More breathing. Just, just breath for a second.
"But, why are you at the clinic then?"
>You look over at Twilight.
"Oh, is Twilight sick?"
>"I'm fine, Anon." Twilight confirms.
"Oh. Well, what's going on then? Why did you leave after lunch?"
>The two mares share a look, then Twilight hugs AJ and tells her to come visit if she needs to, and leaves.
>"Look, let's head back to the farm." AJ insists.
"Am I going to find out what's going on?"
>"Not if you keep pestering me," she replies with a laugh.
>You both start heading back to the farm. You begin to feel a little silly that you reacted like that. But still, you couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
"So..."
>"I'm probably going into heat soon," AJ explains.
"Oh. Well, if that's the case, I need to stock up on some stuff, 'cause we ran out of snacks and lube last time."
>AJ pushes you away with a hoof.
>"Yer a creep."
"A creep you're gonna spend next week riding like a train."
>You feel yourself getting a little excited thinking about it. But still...
"So that's it, you were at the clinic for... you know, mare stuff?"
>She stops walking and adjusts her hat.
>"I was there for mare stuff, but not just that. Look, Anon, I've probably only got two or three more heats."
>You scratch your head for a second.
"Oh so... menopause? Is that what you call it here?"
>"Well, that's one word for it."
"We've really got to make this one count then. Get up all sorts of crazy stuff."
>AJ frowns at you and starts walking off. You catch up to her.
"Look, I'm sorry about that. But we get up to plenty of stuff all the time. And honestly, a day will soon come where I won't have the bone strength in my hip to survive a heat. You're a pretty wild ride."
>You'd been in Equestria for how long now? Twenty-three years or so. Thankfully, farm work kept you in good shape, but your joints really felt it on cold mornings, and you just couldn't put away those Apple Family dinners like you used to. AJ looked much the same as she had when you got married, with a few grey hairs hiding in her blonde mane. But she could still buck all the apples out of a tree in one hit.
>You had made it back to the edge of Sweet Apple Acres.
"You still seem upset."
>"Heh, you know me too well sugarcube."
"Well, what is it?"
>"You ever wanted something, something you've never wanted before, just 'cause a pony told you you couldn't have it?"
"Probably, at some point."
>"Two or three heats, then that's it. Closed up like a county fair at sundown. No foals."
>You see her face clench, like she was holding back tears.
"Well, AJ, I don't think kids were ever really gonna happen... you know I can't get you pregnant."
>With a flash, her entire stature changed.
>"Well thanks Anon, glad you could clear that up for me. And here I thought we'd just been doin' it wrong all these years."
>Without waiting for a reply, she marches off. Leaving you standing at the gate.