"PUSH!" a nun screamed at a young woman lying on a bed. The woman's long, dark brown hair was strewn over her face and all around her, draped over her shoulders and under her slight frame. Her yellow and orange clothes were pushed up, and she let out a painful cry and dug her fingernails into the tan sheets. Her head tilted back, her gray eyes squeezed tightly closed. She didn't know childbirth would be THIS painful.
Beside her stood a young man. His nervous amber eyes flickered over his wife's body in worry. His fingers grazed through his thick black hair and then intertwined with hers.
"You can do this," he said with a reassuring smile, though his voice was shaky, "I know you can."
Konah winced as the woman below him let out a cry of pain and clawed into her husband's skin, drawing blood. She was instructed every now and then to pause before pushing again, and each time seemed to bring more and more pain. This had been going on for hours. Sania stared up at him, torture clearly shown in her eyes.
She gave a few more heaves and strains, and before she knew it, a little head began to emerge down below. She rested, then pushed, rested, then pushed, and more of a tiny body began to appear. Konah never looked away, though he did grow a bit faint at the sight. He smiled through it. His child was so close to coming into the world.
Their child.
"Keep it up, love! You're doing wonderful!" he stroked her arm gently.
The temple halls echoed with a blood-curdling scream, followed by a joyful, "It's a boy!" and the cries of a newborn human baby.
When she regained herself, the first thing that Sania noticed was the little bundle of pale yellow cloth fixed in her arms. The only visible part of the baby were his head and his tiny hands and feet. His skin was pale and still a bit transparent, what little hair he had was plastered to his skin with missed bits of placenta, and his closed eyes were sticky-looking with clear liquid. He was absolutely beautiful.
"Hey, little guy," Konah said softly, tracing the baby's toes carefully with his finger. "Nice to meet you."
Sania beamed and nuzzled her husband, "You two aren't completely acquainted yet, you know. He does needs a name."
He slid his arm around her and sat, "Hm, what about... Aang?"
"Peaceful soaring," she smiled proudly at her son and at the meaning of the name, "I love it. Aang it is."
"I had a feeling you'd like it."
The young woman nodded tiredly and weakly handed the child over to Konah. Little eyelids slipped open, revealing shining gray eyes like storm clouds. Konah stared in awe and held him close to his chest. He looked down at his wife, who was quickly falling asleep.
"I love you, Sania."
Sania did not respond, has sleep had already overtaken her. The Fire Nation man's lips curled into a gentle smile. His gaze returned to his son, who was following his mother's lead in sleep. Konah leaned the baby up and placed a kiss on Aang's soft forehead.
"And I love you, too, Aang."
