A/N: Writing is proving a great distraction today.

Travels through the Alphabet with Mai

Part 2: Buds and Breasts and Babies

They seemed to develop overnight. Mai stretched in her bed and yawned before putting her feet on the red carpet. She felt different somehow and stood before the full length mirror examining her reflection.

"Oh," she uttered, her mouth making a small circle.

With trepidation, the thirteen year old ran her hands up and over her chest. There were small bumps there, small but definite and noticeable. She flushed and dropped her hands quickly. Darting into the bathroom she cleaned up and dressed for school.

"Maybe no one else will see," she murmured, wondering why she felt embarrassed and ashamed.

Ty Lee and Azula, both a year younger, were already more developed and seemed to carry their breasts with confidence and indifference respectively. And they were natural. All women had them. And men seemed to like them.

Downstairs she sat in the dining room and waited for breakfast. Bored, she twiddled her fingers in her lap. The spring sunshine poured in through the large windows, bouncing off dishes and wall sconces, making pretty patterns on the walls. Mai cleared her throat when her parents entered the room.

"Good morning," Akira said with a smile.

Ever since she had become pregnant and it had stuck, after many miscarriages and much heartbreak, her humour had improved. Her hands hovered over her belly constantly and she was always touching and crooning and giving it sweet little smiles. Mai felt jealous and hated herself for feeling anything so petty.

"Morning," Mai said, talking more to her tea cup than to her mother.

Hoshi sat at the head of the table and presided over breakfast. He directed most of his glances at his wife and touched her hand with great tenderness. Mai felt that surge of jealousy again and bit the inside of her mouth. She picked at her food and thought about her chest. She felt warmth creep into her face and wished that the day could be over already so she could crawl back into her soft, warm bed.

"Mai?" She jerked her head up and stared at her mother. "You're distracted. What's the matter?"

"What makes you think something's the matter? Maybe I'm just bored."

"You're always bored, Mai. I can tell the difference."

Since when had the woman become so intuitive? Was it some weird mother-to-be trickery?

"It's nothing; just stuff."

Hoshi quirked an eyebrow but kept out of the conversation. Teenage girls were a frightening, alien species.

"Come on, Mai. You've got time for a little walk in the garden with me before school." Her tone was a warning. The girl had no choice.

~~~~0000~~~~

"Thirteen is a difficult age."

Mai sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I'm thirteen; I know that already."

Akira took Mai's attitude in her stride and laughed. She felt magnanimous and motherly and full of love.

"You'll experience a lot of changes. Maybe you're experiencing some now."

"Please, don't, don't give me the talk."

Mai flopped down on a bench and glanced sidelong at her mother. She took in the protruding stomach and the larger than usual breasts. They were womanly and full and Mai felt like a little girl in comparison.

It was a perfect spring morning. Everything was in bud and the garden seemed full to bursting with life, humming like a well maintained machine. A tree branch bobbed with the breeze. It nudged Mai's shoulder and she turned to watch. She thought it looked like a dancer keeping time with the music, every move smooth and graceful. Reaching out she pulled a bud from its place in the grayish bark and rolled it about in her hand. It was smooth and soft and comprised of silky layers. In a few short days the other buds would open and the garden would transform. It was miraculous. The analogy to her own budding was not lost on Mai.

"Mai, just tell me." Akira examined her daughter with equal intensity. "I see," she finally stated with a smile.

"You can see?" For just a moment, Mai looked horrified. Then she smoothed out her features and put the bored mask back on. "Um, yeah, guess I'm a bit behind the other girls."

"There's no exact time; everyone really is different, Mai."

Then why do you treat me as though I'm like every other girl?

"Yeah, I guess." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I'll get used to it." For a brief moment she wondered what Zuko might think. But he wasn't there to see. He might never see. She blushed anyway and chewed on her lip. "I'll be late for school."

"All right; go on then."

Mai walked to the gate, turned and gave her mother a little wave. Akira smiled and watched her daughter leave. Both felt a strange mixture of wistfulness and joy.