`welcome to exsistence ``OPEN

[b.ounce]

the tension is here. the
tension is here. between
who you are and who you
could be. between how it
is and how it sould be.

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Aidan Myers, Viva La White Girl, The Secret Handshake & The Devil Wears Prada

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It was late. Or rather, getting late for the time that Aidan usually let herself stay at the barn considering it was rounding 8:00 at night. Usually, Aidan got all of her chores done as soon as she got there in the morning, worked with the beasts and headed home at the latest 4.. usually. But lately, ever since Charlotte's due date had been rounding the corner, she'd been showing up even earlier, giving Charlotte a little exercise and letting her graze for a few hours.. on a lead line of course, pampering her.. for hours, and then getting her chores done, only doing them even slower than usual so she'd have a reason to stay at the barn longer to make sure Charlotte would be fine. There were many reasons for Aidan to be worried about Charlotte. Charlotte was only 5, and practically still a baby herself and now she was about to have 2 babies of her own, that and she'd never had a baby before and now she was about to push two of them out and then care for them both by herself, Aidan was worried sick, and excited all at the same time.

She'd just finished cleaning out Check's stall and making sure he had fresh water and hay and the whole nine yards and was walking down the barn aisle to dump the shavings when she heard rustling coming from Charlotte's stall. She glanced over her shoulder, not seeing Charlotte's head and quickly set the wheel barrow down, rushing to Charlotte's stall quietly. She peaked over the door to see Charlotte laying in the shavings of her stall with a small, bay foal laying at her feet, struggling with the light of the new world it had been presented with. Charlotte seemed to be very unhappy with the whole ordeal. Her eyes were slightly wide, her nostrils flared, a light coat of sweat covering her neck. She looked like she wanted more than anything to tend to her new colt, but she was in the far too much pain and she didn't understand.

Aidan slowly opened the door, making a quiet 'shhh' noise as she shut the stall door behind her, stepping into the stall. It's okay, girl. You're doing fine. She knelt down beside her, lightly stroking her and trying to calm her down, holding herself back from cuddling the new colt. He had such long legs and a wonderful build, she couldn't wait to train him. She could already see him on the jump course. She looked at Charlotte, seeing she had calmed a bit and gently layed her head in the bed of shavings. He's beautiful, girl. You did a nice job. She smiled down at her, hoping that she'd be okay enough to push her other foal out. She wish there was more she could do, but there really wasn't.

Charlotte's eyes went wide and she whinnied loudly in pain, lifting her head slightly as her muscles pushed the next foal outward. Aidan looked down towards the next foal, seeing it's feet slowly poking their way out. She smiled a small bit, scratching Charlotte's whither's lightly. Atta, girl. Keep going.

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[<Amy>]

Aaron McClain && Miss Mary && Spyro

"Back off ya' mixed up imp!" Aaron yelped, nearly boxing Spyro right in the nose when the year-old Aussie mix hopped up trying to put his paws on Aaron's chest. Spyro barked unhappily at the lack of attention but stopped jumping, receiving a whap on the head for barking in the barn. Aaron rolled his eyes, shooing the red and white dog off while Spyro's full border collie mother, Miss Mary, watched from where she was laying in front of Heart's stall. Spyro left pestering Aaron and sat next to his black and white mother, looking dejected and almost like he was pouting. "That face works on Aiden but not me" Aaron said firmly, frowning at the dog. "Behave and you won't get knocked around."

Now wearing a wrist brace rather than a hard cast, Aaron was doing more of his own chores with Heart and Comanche. It felt good to work more now. Aaron's sisters, uncle and even his own girlfriend had been conspiring to keep him out of the saddle until he was completely cast and brace free. Of course Aaron had fought this with all he was worth but...so far it wasn't working as wonderfully as he had hoped.

Going to Comanche's stall, Aaron patted the palomino quarter horse's neck with his uninjured hand, looking down at the fresh wrappings around Comanche's ankle. The stallion was making good progress and Aaron had even been allowed to walk him a little outside of the stall so his legs wouldn't get all messed up from being still too long. Comanche had enjoyed it until he had started getting sore but for now it was one of his resting nights. Heart had had a good long workout thanks to Jill and Kelly, not riding her but at least pacing her in the pens to keep her energy levels bearable for them and her.

"Hey big boy" Aaron said, the bald faced stallion snuffling at his shirt. "I'm gonna go check on your girl and head on out with these two, sound good to you?"

Comanche nickered and withdrew into his stall, heading to his hay net. Aaron took that as his cue to leave and whistled. The whistle brought Missy and Spyro to his side as he walked toward the birthing stalls where Charlotte had been moved since she was nearing her due date. Her loud whinny made Aaron pick up his pace to a jog, skidding to a halt outside her stall to see Aiden kneeling next to Charlotte, a bay foal laying in the sawdust and Charlotte trying to push out another one.

"Holy..." Aaron yelped. "Be right back."

Turning, the country-born teen streaked off to the tack room. Missy stationed herself outside the stall like a guard and Spyro pattered off after Aaron, just in time to see his master disappear into the tack room. Inside, Aaron dug around in a cabinet until he found large towels used for foals and tucked several under his arms before heading out of the tack room and back to the birthing stall where Charlotte was struggling to bring the second foal into the world. Shooing Spyro out of the way, Aaron leaned over the stall door, offering the towels to Aiden to clean up the first foal or get some of the sweat off of Charlotte.

"Here, I'm not coming in, don't want her feeling crowded" Aaron said, glancing at the mare. "Easy Charlotte, easy girl" he murmured, sympathetic toward the young mare. She was still young but foaling age so hopefully everything would be ok in the end.

[b.ounce]

Aidan could hear Aaron behind her, but she didn't take her eye's off of Charlotte or say anything, she didn't want to spook her. She needed to know Aidan was there for her, and that Aidan was calm. That Aidan would be her rock and wasn't nervous at all. She continued slowly stroking Charlotte, speaking calming, soothing words to her and wishing that she wasn't in so much pain anymore, she only hoped that Charlotte wouldn't be one of those witchy protective mother's that made sure everyone stayed away from her foals. Aidan wanted to be able to start working hands on with the babies right from day one, that way they'd grow up to have temperments just like Charlotte. Or so Aidan hoped.

Hearing Aaron speak, she turned her head, taking the towels, but not saying anything. She went right to gently wiping the sweat off of Charlotte's neck, not wanting to touch the foal considering she didn't know how Charlotte would react to a human touching her babies. It's okay girl. You're gonna be alright. Charlotte's eyes went wider once more and a loud, painful whinny escaped her as she made one last large push, pushing the smaller, yellow looking colt out. Aidan quickly backed off when she saw Charlotte reach back to examine the living beings that she'd made, sniffing at each of them before she began cleaning them off, giving them both an equal amount of attention.

Aidan smiled a little to herself, looking up at Aaron. Think we got some barrel racers? Charlotte had done good. Even while the foals were minutes old, covered in slime and barely standing, Aidan could tell that they'd grow up to be wonderful.

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[<Amy>]

Aiden hung back, watching carefully as Charlotte pushed a second foal into the world. He couldn't help but smile when he saw that it was palomino. Comanche would have a proud successor. If nothing else at least one of his kids would pass on the palomino gene that was one of Comanche's many good qualities. He wasn't thinking anything about the bay just because he was bay of course, it was just that Aaron had a soft spot in his heart for palominos no matter their breed or mixed breed. Charlotte was going on instinct which was definitely a good sign for a first time mother. He wondered if Heart would react the same if he studded her with one of the many studs listed at the stable. It was Aiden that shook Aaron out of his thoughts, asking about barrel racers. Aaron looked up at her blankly for a moment before his brain processed what she had asked.

Looking down at the foals again, Aaron watched them shuffling around, showing interest in standing up. The bay was long legged and if he stood up, Aaron would put money on him having high set hips, long skinny legs and a slender form. Too lanky for a good barrel racer. Turning his attention to the golden colt, Aaron smiled again, the grin slowly spreading until he looked like the foals might as well have been his own sons. The gold foal was more compact and sturdier than his brother, light palomino now but palominos were known to darken with age. He was sturdier in his legs from the look of him even though the two would probably be the same height. It was just something in him, something more than just color, that reminded him of Comanche.

"The little palomino" Aaron said fondly, nodding to the gold colt. "He'll be a good racer. The bay is too delicate in leg structure but he'll be sturdy enough to handle western riding, probably just pleasure though."

Aaron looked up to meet Aiden's gaze, grin still in place.

"Little bit of city, little bit of country" Aaron said with a laugh, looking back at Charlotte and the foals.

[b.ounce]

Aidan smiled, letting out a small chuckle and looked back at the foals. He seemed to be right. The bay one would probably take more after his mother and the palomino his daddy, just like their colors. I already promised one of the foals to Layla, so she'll probably take the Palomino considering she's a western rider, and I put Check up for sale so I could afford to keep one of the foals. She slowly got to her feet, ready to walk out of the stall when she spotted the bay foal slowly rising to it's feet, wobbling a few steps forward and falling. At first she got nervous, thinking he might be hurt, but then watched as he again stood up, only this time suceeding, not knowing what to do with these long legs of his.

Aidan smiled. He's gonna be a jumper, I'm excited. She chuckled, slowly kneeling down so she was at eye level with the foal. She looked back at Aaron and waved him in. Come in. Come see them. She knew Aaron was excited to see Commanche's off spring. Just as excited as Commanche would be if he understood what it meant to have children. Charlotte was a friendly girl, anyway, she wouldn't mind if Aidan and Aaron gave the babies some attention, as long as the colts were okay with the attention.

The bay slowly extended his muzzle towards Aidan, giving out a high pitched whinny to her. Charlotte gently touched her muzzle to the foal's rump, as if telling him it was alright to approach her.

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[<Amy>]

Aaron hid his disappointment well. He had been hoping to keep one of Comanche's foals, preferably his firstborn but it was always the mother's decision, Aaron knew that much and respected it. Whoever Aiden thought was up to raising Charlotte's foals would have to be alright with him. He would probably stud Comanche again anyway, possibly buy that foal. For now he was just glad Charlotte was alright and also, for right now the foals were theirs to baby just as if they were actual kids. Aaron smirked a little at the thought of him and Aiden having kids. It made him curious as to what they would look like and stuff but he tried not to think about that. He was seventeen, she was sixteen for crying out loud. Maybe he was just in a "baby" mood because Charlotte had just foaled. That was probably it.

Slipping into the stall, Aaron dropped down so he was crouching near the little palomino, letting Aiden baby the bay. Aaron locked on to the palomino and clicked his tonuge lightly. "What's your name?" Aaron murmured. In the confined space Aiden probably heard him but Aaron was fully focused on the palomino.

His dad had bred mustangs and quarter horses, often crossbreeds to get desired traits but one thing Aaron had learned early on was to bond with the foals, help them bond to humans. Talk to them, ask them their name, sing to them even. Aaron had done that to Comanche, sung to him and asked him his name. It was funny because Aaron had sung him "Indian Outlaw" by Tim McGraw, just a verse out of it and Comanche had bobbed his head and come to Aaron, interested in the sounds and curious about the human.

"With arms wide open, under the sunlight. Welcome to this place, I'll show you everything" Aaron whisper-sang to the foal. Yes he was a country boy, yes he knew Creed songs, live with it.

[b.ounce]

Aidan smiled, seeing that Aaron was indeed coming into the stall and turned her attention back to the bay who was coming closer to her. She let the foal examine her carefully before she slowly brought her hand up, touching his curly, foal coat softly. Corona. You need a name with some attitude in it. She glanced at the palomino and smiled. And Pal. Corona and Pal. I like it. She looked at Charlotte, softly scratching the foal's ears. What do you think, Charlotte? Charlotte was practically passed out in the bed of shavings, so tired that she couldn't even handle herself. She snorted a reply, scretching her neck out against the soft bed below her.

Aidan chuckled, looking over at Aaron as he bonded with the palomino. You really like him, don't you? She could always let Layla have Checkmate or something and let Aaron have Pal, he seemed to like him so much.

Pal looked at Aaron curiously, still laying in the bed of shavings, watching the human curiously. He blinked a few times, his ears perking in the direction of the smooth melodys that he was hearing bellowing from the human's mouth. He liked this human.

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[<Amy>]

Aaron watched the blue-eyed palomino. The colt was similar to being Comanche's mini-me, lacking just the pure lines and a bald face. Of course Aaron would like the foal. He really did like him though, even if he didn't hop up and scamper around like his more English-built brother. Aaron smiled, still crouching on level with the palomino colt. "He's like a little Comanche" Aaron said, not looking at Aiden but knowing she understood. It was hard not to love the little guy. "He's just like him. Comanche wouldn't get up right away when he was a foal." Aaron pondered for a moment, wondering if what he had tried on Comanche as a foal would convince his son to get up.

He knew Aiden had already given him his barn name but Aaron's dad had taught him that sometimes giving a horse a name shared just between horse and rider would help them bond. He hadn't had to do it with Comanche because the stallion had latched on to him so fast. This little guy though, he might need a little convincing.

"Come on little guy" Aaron murmured, wracking his brains to try and find a name that would suit the foal a little better than just calling him Pal. His dad had taught him scattered bits of Indian languages and he'd always had a personal interest in them, thus Comanche's name. One of his friends had a Sioux grandmother that had had a weird nickname for him back in Kansas. He frowned trying to remember. A light bulb went on in the attic and he smiled. "Time to get up Takoda" Aaron murmured. Glancing at Aiden, he smiled. "My friend's grandma used to call me Takoda. It means friend to everyone or something like that."

He smiled and looked back at the palomino. Yeah, the whole idea sounded really horse-whisperer-ish but it sometimes that stuff worked better than whatever it was professional breeders did. Besides, the colt needed to get up soon or they'd need to call a vet.

[b.ounce]

Aidan watched Aaron examine the foal, pondering whether or not she should break Layla's heart and take back the foal that Aidan had promised to her months ago. All that Aidan knew was that she wasn't allowed to see the foals, her dad had told her so. But, she'd been given permission to give one of them to Layla, just because Layla was such close family. Oh.. what to do. What to do. Maybe she could convince her dad to start riding again and take Pal as his own, that way Aidan could still ride him and so could Aaron. It was possible. Besides, Layla had enough of a handful with Moe, anyway.

She looked back to Corona and to Charlotte, listening while Aaron spoke to the foal palomino colt. She smiled a small bit, hearing Aaron's nick name for him, looking over at him and the foal.

The palomino snorted a little, almost sneezing, his head shaking just once. He slowly moved his hind legs under him and pushed his rump up and into the air, slowly followed by his upper body, struggling only a tiny bit, but not nearly as much as Corona had. Probably because of the leg difference. Corona was long and lanky, a definite jumper just like Charlotte, but Pal was bulky and built.

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[<Amy>]

Aaron glanced over at Aiden, catching her eye as Pal began moving around to get his hooves under him. He caught her eye and smiled, his bright because he absolutely loved foals no matter who's they were. Looking back at the colt, Aaron was glad to see the colt was on all fours, looking a bit clumsy but what foal didn't look clumsy? His legs were a little long for him, just like Corona's but it was like that for all foals. Eventually Pal would grow into his legs and be a good western horse for anyone that bought him or if Aiden rode him maybe they would be able to brush up her Western skills?

"That'a boy Takoda" Aaron said with a grin, offering a hand to the colt to encourage him to try and take a few steps. Glancing over at Aiden again, Aaron chuckled. "Poor guy's gonna be confused when he meets his new owner, one human called him Takoda and one calling him Pal."

Of course most horses had multiple nicknames. Comanche was Comanche Chief, the Chief or just Comanche. Queen of Hearts was, well, Queen of Hearts, the Queen or Heart, very seldom ever called Hearts unless someone was making a joke that usually made the mare ready to fight. Either way, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty. He was bonding with a horse not even meant to be his. Aiden bonding with Corona and Pal was one thing. She was going to sell one of the foals to either a close family friend or a family member. Aaron was just the boyfriend with the stud, with more meanings than just one might he add.

"When are you going to show Pal to his owner?" Aaron asked, looking back at the colt with longing in his eyes.

It wouldn't be a stretch to say on that day Aaron either wouldn't be around or would be making himself scarce. He hadn't met anyone of Aiden's family yet, not that he was scared of them. He was just reluctant to watch someone else buy Comanche's foals. Then again, in his family they had very seldom bred foals just to sell. Usually they would breed the foals when one horse died or sometimes the breeding was accidental, a stallion let in the mare's pasture or vice versa. Either way this wasn't home and things were different.

[b.ounce]

Aidan could tell that Aaron's heart was breaking when he knew that Pal would be going to her cousin. She took a deep breath, thinking for a moment. Well.. She swallowed, thinking some more. My dad said I couldn't sell the foals.. But he agreed to let me give one of them to Layla since I couldn't afford to keep all of the horses, so I put Check up for sale.. but I guess I could sell Charlotte.. I mean I'm a little out grown for her, anyway. There's a lot of lesson programs that want her. Or Finnegan. He's more of an eventer than a hunter. I don't know. She shrugged. She felt like complete crap now that she knew Aaron's opinion on Layla taking Pal. She watched Charlotte slowly get up and walk herself to her water bucket, gulping from it deeply.

She really didn't want to give away the foals, either, but she didn't have much of a choice. But maybe she did. It just meant sacrificing one of the horses that she had right now and Check was already up for sale.

She slowly rose to her feet when she watched the foals walk to Charlotte's sides and begin to nurse by instinct, brushing herself off. We should leave them alone.. let her rest and stuff. She walked out of the stall, leaving the door open for Aaron so he could walk out.

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[<Amy>]

Aaron looked over at Aiden and felt bad for making her feel bad. "Don't worry about it so much Aiden. Pal and Corona will be fine no matter who they go to, so long as they're treated well. Charlotte, I don't know if she'd like having a new owner." Aaron glanced over at the bay broodmare. She seemed happy with Aiden and really, the pair were alright when they rode together. Ok, Aiden did look a bit tall to be riding a fourteen hand jumper but, that was just him. He didn't ever have to worry much about that because he didn't make a habit of riding ponies for rather obvious reasons. Most of his mounts were in the higher fifteen hand-sixteen hand region meaning he had plenty of leg room when it came to riding them. Considering Charlotte's height and Comanche's height though, it did seem that either Corona or Pal would be better suited for Aiden to ride, fitting her better for height.

"I have a weakness when it comes to Comanche, these foals are partially his, I'm just a little attached" Aaron admitted, straightening up slowly so he wouldn't spook Pal.

Following Aiden a bit reluctantly, Aaron closed the stall door carefully behind him and slid the bolt. Now Charlotte could be left to tend her newborn sons and Aaron would probably be heading over to check Comanche one last time. Spyro's cold nose in his hand made him look down. The Aussie border collie mix looked up at him curiously while Missy padded over to AIden looking for her head to be petted or her ears rubbed. Missy was such a sweetheart. Aaron walked over to Aiden, offering her a gentle smile.

"I don't want to be stepping on toes in the family" Aaron said, reaching for Aiden's hand and intertwining their fingers. "Who knows? Maybe I'll find someone to brood Heart with, then I can work that foal."

His sisters would have loved him getting his hands on a foal but Jill was way ahead of him. She was loosely looking at warmblood studs for Smoke Signal but Aaron doubted she was serious about anything like breeding Smoky. The mare was still in her youth and couldn't afford a year off to raise a foal. She needed to be in the circuit. Heart didn't compete all the time like Comanche did and would have plenty of time to baby a foal unless she was a horrid mother and simply rejected the foal which, for her, wasn't out of the question.

[b.ounce]

Aidan shrugged her shoulders, watching Aaron close the stall door. True, she had a great bond with Charlotte, but she really couldn't expand her show circuit career on Charlotte. Charlotte couldn't really jump over 3'6'' because of her height, and she certainly couldn't do a full course at 3'6''. Maybe Aidan had to do a lot more thinking before she told Layla she could have Pal. Or just in general. Maybe Charlotte needed to go to someone who could use her for more things than Aidan could use her for.

I don't know.. I'll see. She smiled a small bit, leaning against Charlotte's stall and looking in at her one last time before she lifted her weight off of the wood and walked over to Aaron, putting her arms loosely around his neck and smiling. And now that the stress of wondering whether or not my mare would survive birth.. I have completely neglected you for the past couple weeks. she smirked, pushing him against the wall softly. Now how can I possible make that up to you?

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[<Amy>]

As Aiden's arms slid up around his neck, Aaron let his own muscular arms rest loosely around her waist, leaning back when she pushed so he was leaning on the wall outside of the birthing stall. They were now standing between Charlotte's stall and the stall for a Gypsy Vanner, her own foal shuffling around curiously. Aaron wasn't paying attention to the other four occupants of the birthing stalls (being there were two other mothers and two foals not counting Charlotte and the twins). Aaron settled his arms comfortably around Aiden, leaning down slightly to catch her lips in a kiss before leaning back and chuckling a little.

"Neglect? Interesting term" Aaron said, brown eyes lit with mischief. "But be aware there are innocent eyes watching."

Aaron glanced at the stall to his right to see the Gypsy Vanner's filly looking up at him curiously while her mother shuffled around in the back of the big stall. Aaron chuckled and looked back at Aiden, his neck bent so they could talk quietly and not attract anyone's attention. They'd gotten away with things against the rules once already, no need to go pushing their luck until it snapped back and left a stinging welt. Still, Aiden was simply a temptation for Aaron but now he was treading on thin ice thanks to his hawk-eyed twin sisters lurking around somewhere or another.

"Come on, let's runaway for a little while, go for a little trail ride. Finn is probably feeling a little left out" Aaron said, smirking lightly at Aiden.

She could take that however she wanted. It would either lead to making out on the trail or just them having some "fluffy" alone time. Either one was fine by him so long as he was with her. He was a guy so yeah he did think about how great Aiden looked while lacking a few things...but that wasn't all he focused on about her. It was just their chances of having any sort of privacy for anything was better when on the trails away from students, teachers and the innocent-eyed foals.

[b.ounce]

She smiled a little on the inside and out when she felt his lips on hers, kissing him back and enjoying the small moment while it lasted before the warmth of his softer flesh left her's and went right back to looking her in the eye. She smiled a small bit and chuckled at his mention of Finnegan. Man, you are slow. I traded Finn with the people I got him from a few weeks ago. I thought I told you? Or at least I figured you would have known.. I mean considering there was a new horse in his stall. She smiled, leaving Aaron's arms and making her way outside. I think you'll like her. She chuckled, picking up a small skip towards the pasture that held her new mare.

Moments later, she returned in the barn, leading a large Quarter Horse mare with paint markings. Aidan smiled, stopping her in front of Aaron and clipping her to the cross ties. Her name's Bella, but I call her Bell. She does english AND western and she's in foal to Moe. I'm sososo excited about their baby. He's gonna be adorable. And a wonderful build and pure quarter horse. At least I'm hoping it's a boy, he'd make an awesome stud. She smiled, looking back over at Aaron. Think of the their foal as my gift to you. That way you can have an extra beasty if Heart doesn't work out. She returned back to leaning against her boyfriend as he stood against the wall of the stalls.

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