Even in the new era of love and peace, ugly disputes still popped up in the Fire Nation. They were usually easy to get under control, but one particular altercation was dangerously close to starting a civil war between two villages. And of course, it was up to Zuko and Aang to intervene.
Zuko sighed as he made his way to his and Mai's sleeping quarters. He never liked dealing with potential wars, but right now he especially didn't want to be away from home.
"About time you got back."
And Zuko immediately forgot how tired he was. Smiling, he ran to embrace his wife as she got out of their bed...only to realize a second late that there was a lot more between them then when he'd last hugged her.
"Woah! H-how long was I gone again?" he stammered, pulling back and fixing his eyes on her stomach. Mai smiled sheepishly, resting her hand over the generous swell.
"I know," she said. "Last week I woke up one morning and iyour/i robe was too small for me." Zuko laughed, kneeling down and running his hands over her belly. "Hey there," he whispered, "it's me, Daddy! I hope you're doing okay in there and being nice to your mother. I just got back from-"
He was cut off by a soft thump against his hand.
"It kicked." He frowned playfully. "What's it doing up so late?"
"Welcome to my world," Mai sighed, ruffling his hair. "And I think we're well past the stage of calling our baby an it, Zuko. I'm pretty sure we're going to have a son!"
"What did Katara say?" Zuko asked; Mai and the Waterbender had become close friends in the last few years, and Mai had rejected one of the palace midwives in favor of her.
"She's pretty sure it's a boy, too," Mai said. "Sorry if you were hoping for a daughter you could spoil." She tweaked his nose playfully, and he blushed.
"I never said I specifically wanted a girl...just that it might be nice," he said as he stood up. "I also said a son would be great, too, remember?"
"Well, as long as he's healthy." Mai yawned as she leaned against him. "Welcome home, by the way. We both missed you," she said. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly.
"Don't worry. I don't think I'll be going anywhere again for a long time," he whiospered, giving her stomach an affectionate pat.
"So how did things go over there, anyway?" Mai asked as they slid under the covers. Zuko sighed, remembering how tired he was.
"I'll tell you in the morning, if I tried now we'd just be up all night and you need your rest." Sure enough, the moment he finished his sentence she'd fallen asleep. Zuko laughed softly, kissing the top of her head as he draped his arm across her waist and joined her in a much-needed slumber.