MERRY CHRISTMAS...or should I say 'Happy Holidays'? (rolls eyes).

Anyway....this story has nothing to do with the holidays..lol. Unless you consider it my gift to you as the readers, but that seems odd for some reason.

Truthfully, I just had to get this idea out of my head.

so here it is!

Mai let out a soft groan as she opened her eyes, having woken up just a little before dawn by the churning in her stomach. Tilting her head up, she gazed at her husband, who looked to be sound asleep beside her, head turned so that the scarred side of his face lay against one of the pillows. Some would think it a shame that his face be ruined by such a mark, but Mai had never minded, nor did she think it made him any less attractive. Perhaps she just had a thing for scars, she thought, noticing her hand laying across his bare chest, where another angry red mark stood out against his pale skin; dangerously close to his heart. Mai closed her eyes, wondering why this thought scared her, even after all this time. She reminded herself that he was safe, and that she could feel steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her hand.

Her stomach protested again.

Breaking away from her musings, Mai cautiously slid her hand off her husbands warm chest and turned to get out of bed. Zuko was an abnormally light sleeper-a habit he had acquired during his time as a fire nation fugitive- and even now in the safety of the palace he still woke to the smallest bump in the night. Luckily though, Mai was a master of stealth.

Sliding gracefully out of bed, not disturbing the sheets or covers, her feet lightly touched the floor and she soundlessly made her way toward her and Zukos private Bath room.

With a despondent sigh she lowered herself to her knees in front of a small empty waste basket, and with as much dignity as a fire lady could have under the circumstances, she leaned forward and promptly threw up.

The first time she had written it off as a fluke, blaming it on something she had eaten the night before, but it was now going on two weeks, and she could hardly recall a morning when she didn't feel nauseous.

Normally she would have been more concerned, but whatever sickness she had seemed to wear off around noon, and by evening she felt perfectly fine. She did her best to hide any display of weakness from Zuko, not wanting him to worry or over react, but this proved the most difficult of all.

He was an early riser and there had been several times when Mai had almost been caught in the act of emptying her stomach. On certain mornings Zuko would comment that she looked paler than normal, and ask if she was okay, but he never pressed that matter when she denied that anything was wrong.

Mai clutched the fabric of her nightgown around her belly, and when it finally seemed her stomach had settled, she closed her eyes and took in a few calming breaths from her spot of the floor, feeling drained.

She tensed when she heard the door creak open behind her, clenching her eyes tight. Had she made too much noise? Or had it been the sun who had awakened him? Whatever the reason, it mattered very little now.

"Mai?"

She waited for him to question her, to react irrationally to the sight of her nearly crumbled on the floor, but to her surprise he did neither.

In stead she felt him walk forward and kneel beside her on the floor, placing a warm hand gently on her back.

When he spoke his voice was calm.

"Mai."

She opened her eyes with a sigh, but didn't look up as she plainly addressed him.

"Zuko."

This time it was his turn to sigh, as if exhausted from a battle he hadn't yet fought.

"I think you should see one of the healers."

She glanced at him sharply, frowning at his forwardness. It was so like Zuko to get straight to the point, and although she accepted this as one of his qualities, she also found it quite annoying at times.

"You're overreacting." she replied, defiant despite her position. "I'm fine."

Zuko gave a small snort of disbelief.

"Because throwing up for no apparent reason is completely normal." he said, unconvinced..

Mai lowered her head, casting her face into shadow.

"This isn't the first time either, is it?" he asked, accusingly but with an underlying tone of concern. "You've been waking up before me nearly every morning."

"It's nothing." she intoned.

"You're lying."

Despite his stern tone, he didn't raise his voice, and his hand still felt gentle and warm against her back.

"You're sick, Mai." he replied, and then his tone softened. "And it's starting to show."

Mai turned her head toward him with a slight glare.

"Excuse me?"

Zuko sighed, realizing his error.

"I just meant that its taking its toll on you." He replied. "The guards tell me you barely touch your breakfast, and although you spend most of your mornings in bed, you still seem exhausted."

Mai continued to frown, though her eyes were now on the floor. Figures those stupid guards would rat her out- Mai had not even thought about that before- perhaps another testimony to her wellness.

Zuko's other hand came up to cup the side of her face and she closed her eyes as she leaned into his touch, suddenly very tired. His thumb gently stroked her cheek and his voice was soft and full of concern.

"I don't like seeing you like this."

Mai sighed, vaguely annoyed that Zuko's words and touch could effect her so.

"You know how I feel about seeing a healer, Zuko." she said, a half-hearted protest at best, but she refused to be too compliant.

"Yeah, I know." he replied, and she knew by the tone of his voice that he was smiling, perhaps even vaguely amused. "But surely you wouldn't refuse the Fire Lord's request?"

She felt the corner of her mouth turn up in a small smirk, and she opened her eyes to meet his gaze; his amber eyes light with humor.

"Only a request, My Lord?" She asked, smartly.

Zuko glared at her softly, although there was no real anger in his eyes. Mai was sure Zuko would continue their little banter- both a teasing and flirty exchange between fire lord and lady. However Mai felt her stomach churn again, the nausea returning in yet another wave and her smile falter as she pulled back from Zuko's touch, turning her body back toward the basket.

She closed her eyes as she felt her stomach lurch, and she stubbornly swallowed back the bile in her throat, shuddering in disgust at the action.

The hand that had once been gently stroking her cheek found its way to her upper arm. His grip was firm but not overly so, and he turned her slightly to face him, although she didn't look up.

"It's not just a request."

His voice was sure and strong, all amusement gone from his voice.

"I suppose there's no changing your mind then?" She asked, sounding too weary to really argue.

Zuko obviously sensed her defeat, for he loosened his grip on her arm, sliding his hand up her shoulder and then neck till his hand found it place once again on her cheek.

"I'm afraid not." He answered, in a decidedly kinder tone.

She looked up, caught in his concerned although gently smiling face.

"Fine." She agreed coolly. "But you're still overreacting."

He rolled his eyes, but helped pull her to her feet.

Mai casually observed how fresh and awake he looked, despite how early it was. There were no traces of sleep in his eyes, or any display of tiredness in his moves, and Mai found herself both slightly annoyed and impressed. Annoyed because she could only imagine how horrible she looked in comparison-having never been a morning person- and impressed because, well….he did look rather handsome. His once bare chest had been covered hastily by a silken red robe, and his dark brown hair appeared well kept despite him having just gotten out of bed.

Perhaps she had taken a second longer than she should have admiring her husband though, because Zuko seemed to mistaken her pause as a sign of tiredness due to her being sick.

Mai could hardly suppress a yelp of surprise when Zuko swiftly lifted her into his arms. Her own arms instinctively found there way around Zuko's neck, and the young Fire lord smirked slightly at having managed to catch the usually impassive women off guard.

Mai composed herself quickly though, and glared steadily into her husbands face.

"What are you doing?"

"Carrying you back to our bed." Zuko replied calmly, turning to do just that.

"it's just a stomach flu, Zuko." she told him, squirming in his arms. "I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own."

He looked down into her face, and smiled despite his wife's glare.

"Maybe I just wanted to hold you in my arms." he said, grinning.

Mai rolled her eyes, but stopped struggling and laid her head against him.

"You're such a dork."

She felt more than heard his amused laughter as it vibrated in his chest. It was pleasant feeling, she decided- he'd been more than little stressed out lately and his sudden display of happiness amidst his concern for her was reassuring.

He lowered her carefully onto their bed, and she was not surprised that the mattress still felt warm on his side; it always did.

She crossed her arms, stubbornly refusing to look up at him, as if this would salvage whatever dignity she had lost by allowing him to carry her like a child.

When he made no move to join her, she begrudgingly looked up at him, eyebrow raised when she noticed Zuko pulling his hair into a topknot.

"Going somewhere?" she asked, trying to sound unconcerned.

Zuko briefly met her gaze before removing his night robe and proceeding to change into his more official Fire Lord attire.

"There's some things I need to take care of." he answered with a shrug. "And there's a meeting around noon that I must attend."

Mai frowned.

"What else is new?" She asked dryly.

Zuko sighed as he turned to face her, a slightly pleading look on his face.

Mai looked the other way, feeling suddenly more annoyed than she should have been.

"So you're just going to leave me here then." she noted, with a bit of steel in her normally monotone voice. "How foolish of me to believe I had made it to the top of your priority list."

Zuko frowned, although it went unnoticed.

"You know it's not like that, Mai."

She did know, but that didn't make her any happier about the situation. She knew from the very beginning that Zuko would have a lot of responsibilties and duties to uphold, and that they would need to come first. He was the Fire Lord, and he was striving for peace and stability after a hundred years of war and fighting.

The first couple of years had been the hardest, and Zuko had had to struggle just to gain respect from many of his councilmen- who felt he was too young and inexperienced to lead; a foolish child playing dress up, one particularly bold member had stated.

Mai was grateful for whatever time she was allowed to have with him, and had even begun helping him with some of the tasks he took on. Zuko was smart, but Mai had more insight when it came to the noble families, and how to read people. She acted as his adviser, his confident, his companion, and his…lover.

Mai knew Zuko disliked having to cancel plans they made, or being late for some of their dates, and so she never commented before. Zuko was restoring honor to the fire nation and Mai would never be so selfish as to demand otherwise. She was proud of him, and although their quality time together had been short in those years, they had come to understand each other much better; to know each others strengths and weaknesses, and accept them, even love each other for them.

It was at the end of those first two years, on the anniversary of his coronation, that he proposed. He had invited the entire gang to the palace for the anniversary, something they all agreed on would be a tradition. He had attempted several times to speak with her privately, but was continuously interrupted. It wasn't until Toph -who must have sensed his urgency- started a food fight, that Zuko was allowed to slip away unnoticed by the guards and lead her to the gardens.

She had never seen Zuko so nervous, and she practically had to threaten him before he composed himself and asked her to be his wife. Even then, he looked into her eyes as if expecting her to reject him after all this time, his expression both hopeful and guarded. She couldn't even speak, and so responded in the only was she could, capturing his lips with her own; in their relationship, actions always seemed to speak louder than words.

It was this memory that finally seemed to ease her annoyance and she sighed, coming back to the present.

"I know." She replied, glancing up at him. "That doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Me neither." Zuko pointed out. "But I'm already up, and as much as I'd like to curl up next to you in bed," The corner of Mai's mouth twitched up briefly, "I know that the sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can get back to you."

Mai nodded once, and Zuko leaned down to place a tender kiss on her forehead.

"I'll have a healer sent by in a few hours." he told her. "That way you can get some more rest first."

"I don't really see the point." Mai replied, still not fond of the idea of having a healer examine her. "They can't tell me anything I don't already know."

"Maybe not." Zuko admitted. "But they can provide medicine to help make you better. Or would you rather stay sick?"

Mai gave him a pointed look, and Zuko smiled patiently in return.

"Listen, you're probably right about it being the stomach flu," he admitted. "But it doesn't hurt to be sure. Besides, you're the Fire Lady- and more importantly my wife- and you deserve the best."

'Nice save' Mai thought, rolling her eyes. "Gee, don't I feel special."

Zuko chuckled, and after another chaste kiss, and the promise of lunch together near the gardens later that day, he departed.

Mai leaned back into the pillows and stared at the ceiling. Her stomach already felt more at ease, and she wished she was allowed more time to convince Zuko that she was alright, but if seeing the healer would get Zuko to back off, so be it. Perhaps the healers would be able to offer some sort of remedy after all.

Sighing, she closed her eyes. She had been kind of hard on Zuko for a bit there, and she wondered why she had allowed herself to get that way. Mai wasn't the type of person to let her emotions get the best of her- that was Zuko.

Perhaps she was nearing her monthly cycle, that would certainly explain things. She had skipped the last cycle, which was not an uncommon thing for her, but she had never gone without two. Yes, that was probably the reason- pre-menstrual hormones no doubt.

Relaxing into the pillows, she decided to get as much sleep as she could before the healer -or healers, knowing Zuko- would arrived. She snuggled closer to Zuko's side of the bed, her body instinctively seeking out his warmth, and she let her mind wander else where, her hand laying comfortable over her belly.

Hope you liked it, although I know that Zutara is perferred over Maiko.

I'm actually a fan of both pairings, but everytime I try to write a Zutara themed story I feel like I'm completely betraying Mai. I guess 'cause she doesn't really have anyone else in the show- at least with Katara you know she won't be alone- she'll have Aang, or (insert male characters name here).

it should be painfully obvious whats wrong with Mai, the title itself gives it away (if you can come up with another title, let me know).

Anyway, leave me a review. I know this is random-No flames please.