A/N: I've decided to do a little series about Zuko and Mai's journey into parenthood. Under the title of Daddy's Little Girl, this is the first of 8-9 one-shots. Please let me know your thoughts, the good and the bad. It's the only way I'll learn, right?
The Little Pouch: Mai finds out she's pregnant. Now she has to deal with an overly sensitive husband. She thought she was the one who was pregnant. Enjoy!!
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It was a gorgeous day in the Fire Nation. The sun was occasionally blocked by fluffy white clouds, offering those not covered with the shade of the trees a break from the bright orb. Not that the temperature was too hot. It being late spring, soft wind from the coming rains offered a cool breeze.
The private courtyard of the Fire Lord stood right outside the window if his personal quarters. Beautiful flora created a series of mazes that all lead to the open wide space in the middle. At the moment the Fire Lord was training with his personal guards, enjoying the cooler weather while he could. His wife Mai sat at the living room window of their shared Royal Suite. She positioned one of the plush chairs, usually set in the middle of the circular room, so she could comfortably watch whatever was going on outside. One hand rested lightly on her swollen belly, the other twitched. Watching her husband train outside in the sun and surrounded by greenery, all she wanted to do was flick one of her knives at the back of his head.
Mai sighed. He was the reason she was stuck in this Agni forsaken boring room instead of outside under the willow tree, or even walking around the palace. She cursed herself for ever admitting to Zuko that her pregnancy was causing her to become increasingly tired. The palace doctors were immediately called to check her. At six months, they agreed with Mai that the lack of energy was to be expected. But no, mighty Lord Zuko would have none of it. He sent for the wisest of midwives for her advice, declaring that the palace doctors didn't know anything about anything. The Sage midwife would usually arrive at the beginning of the ninth month, but this was urgent. He placed her under suite arrest until the expert arrived. Mai fought him tooth and nail, but he is Lord of the land. And his word is law.
She sighed, rubbing her belly. Mai couldn't hate her husband too much. She understood his worry. They tried for years to become with child. She'd been through special tests, on dozens of special diets, consulted the Temple Sages and even the Sun Tribe, but nothing helped. After five years of trying, they gave up and started thinking about adoption.
Mai shook her head as she remembered how she realized she had life living inside her. It had been Zuko, really. He hadn't had anything pressing to do that particular morning so they decided to sleep in. Snuggling to her husband, he noted in a way only he could do, that she was looking a little pudgy—pudgy! After slapping his body quite a few times and kicking him out the bedroom, she noticed that she had gained a bit of weight on her belly. Mai frowned; she wouldn't call it pudgy, just a little curvier than she should have been.
After a series of very invasive tests it was determined that she was pregnant. She smiled, pregnant. When they told her she was shocked out of any sort of reaction. Tears forced their way past her lashes. They tried so hard before. It even got to the point where she had to fight down jealousy as she started hearing of the others' children. Suki and Sokka were already on their third child. Katara just gave birth last year. She stared at her husband, who was staring at the sages, both wide eyed with disbelief.
"Pregnant?" Zuko sounded so different, so soft. "Are you sure?" One of the sages nodded.
"Fire Lady Mai is with child. We have determined that she is three months along." The sages confirmed. "Will that be all?"
"Yes, you may go." Mai and Zuko stayed silent until the others left the room. Mai looked down at her stomach, pregnant. She remembered the look of Zuko's face. His eyes were open to capacity. His mouth formed a wide looking smile, baring teeth and forming the dimples that hardly ever showed. He looked crazy. Mai rolled her eyes, he was such a dork, but that didn't stop her from throwing herself into his arms. They were finally going to be parents.
Mai, honest to Agni, really didn't know she was pregnant. She had always been irregular (one of the many things her mother disapproved of). She faintly remembered being sick in the mornings for a week or so, but figured it was something she ate, and treated it accordingly. Well, her breasts had been a bit tender lately.
Dork or not, Zuko's been such a pest since. Well, not pest per se, just very very attentive. Not only is she on house arrest, the sages put her on a special very bland diet and she has to see the doctor every week up until the midwife arrives. Everything was being done to make sure she and her little one are and stay healthy. Taking a break from the window, Mai went to their personal ice box. A sour pickle fish tart was calling for her. Zuko would kill her if he knew she was eating those things, but she didn't care. If she was going to be stuck in their quarters, she was going to do it under her terms-- sort of. Mai shrugged her shoulders. What Zuko doesn't know won't hurt him. Taking a forkful of the sour treat, she thanked all that was holy for Tom Tom and returned to her seat. This time instead of wishing for a knife in his head, she just hoped he'd trip and fall while completing one of his forms.
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Two more documents; only two more and he was free from his self imposed limit of lordly duties. Zuko couldn't wait to get back to his living quarters. He was anxious to see his ever growing wife. He'd snuck a glimpse of her while he was training in the private courtyard. She was looking out the window, wanting nothing more than to take him out. He smirked as he signed the second to last scroll. Some might call the measure he put against Mai was too much, but he wasn't willing to budge. Not until the expert midwife arrived. She should be arriving anytime now. It had taken Mai and him too long to get this child, and he is making sure that everything is perfect.
He had a surprise for her today. The interior designer is coming so Mai and he can select colors, furniture, and a room for the baby. He stacked the rest of the papers in two neat piles, 'finished' and 'in progress' and locked the door on his way out. As he made his way to his quarters he gave each passing person, servant or official, one of those 'goofy' smiles Mai would roll her eyes at. Those on the receiving end of his now infamous expression just waved or gave a slight bow of recognition. It'd been three months since the royal couple found they were with child and they were used to the smile that seemed to never leave the Lord's face.
"She's been quiet today." One of the two guards reported to him as he entered his residence. "She had a visitor earlier this morning, her brother Tom Tom." He nodded to them as he prepared to face Mai's frightening glare. It's been close to a week since he forbade her to leave their quarters, and she has kept fighting it since. He glanced at her favorite spot of the whole apartment, but she wasn't there. He smelled the faint scent of rotting fish and fought sticking out his tongue in reaction. He knew Mai's little brother Tom Tom snuck her little pastries, and while he'd put her on house arrest, he wasn't will to risk his life and take her treats, even if they did reek. Scrunching his nose, he followed the scent into their bedroom. Lying on top of the covers on her side was his wife. Her hands rested under the pillow that supported her head and sitting behind her was the offending plate of half eaten sour-fish tart.
Zuko took a moment to appreciate the beauty of her relaxed face, for he knew her death glare would be set back in place when she woke. Kneeling on the floor beside the bed he rested one hand on her belly. He couldn't believe he put that there. Inside her was their child, they made it. He leaned over and put his lips to her belly in a light kiss.
"You know I still hate you." Mai let her fingers play with his hair, pulling the top knot out and watching the hair fall around his face. She gave him a little smile.
"I know." He replied, taking the offending hand from his hair and into his own. "Do you feel up to seeing the royal designer today?" Mai nodded slightly, "Only if you go to hell." Zuko's tiny smile grew, showing his dimples again, and as always, Mai rolled her eyes.
"Help me up you dork."
As he helped his wife to her feet, Zuko promised that he would be the best father ever. There was no doubt that he wouldn't be like the man stuck in the dungeons of the palace. He was a better husband, and touching Mai's stomach again, he knew he'd be a better father. Now all he had to do was wait 3 more months-- and live. Mai can be very mean when she wanted to be.
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A/N: The next part should be posted in the next couple of days. I have a new notebook computer so there should be no complications!! Thanks so much for reading :o)