A/N: An exciting chapter ahead :) I'm so sad that there is only one more chapter until the Legend of Korra sequel! I hope you're ready for a lot of interesting stuff :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Nickelodeon or A:TLA. Just Alea!
I helped Zuko dress the next day, as Mai came in to see him. She and I were only meeting for the first time, but I was still unsure what Zuko saw in her to begin with.
"Mai, I would like you to meet my wife." He said softly as I stepped out from behind him.
"Zuko told me all about you. It's nice to meet you." She said politely.
"I was told he did otherwise," I said, giving him the stink eye.
"I couldn't lie to Mai again. I needed to tell her why things could not happen between us." He said, holding his hands up in surrender.
"Zuko, I understood. I can see your heart was never mine to have." She said, smiling sadly.
"You will find love Mai." I said, softly laying a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you Alea." She said, before noticing my stomach.
"Wow, you guys got busy after you got married." She said, observing my large stomach.
"We are having twins. I'm only 3 and a half months along." I said shrugging.
"Congratulations. Now I should go find Ty Lee before she chi blocks herself a boyfriend." She said giving us a small smile and walking out.
"Okay sweetie, you just need your bun." I said as I brought out a comb.
It was only a six months after Zuko's coronation when we traveled back to Ba Sing Se, to see Iroh. We had been busy, trying to fix the mistakes of Ozai, Azulon and Sozin. I was almost 9 months, and I was beginning to think I was going to be pregnant forever. Aang and Katara we already together, as this hadn't been our first visit to Iroh. He was on pins and needles waiting to see his grandchildren.
"Well done Alea." I heard Ravva say within me. I sighed in content at the sound of her voice.
Feeling a sharp pain in my back, I paused as a rush of fluid came from between my legs. I thought I had peed myself before I remembered.
"Zuko!" I yelled gaining his attention.
"Yes my sweet?" He said, turning towards me.
"Get Katara!" I said in anguish as a contraction hit me.
"Is it the babies?" He asked, looking at my stomach.
"They are coming right now!" I said, as I breathed.
"OH!" He said, tripping over himself.
"Katara!" I yelled as Suki came to help me stand.
"WHAT DO WE DO?" Sokka yelled in confusion. Toph slapped him to snap him out of it, while I wailed in agony.
"Now I know why women back home asked for epidurals!" I yelled, nearly crushing Zuko's hand.
"Alea, we need to move you back to the apartments." Katara said as they all rushed out of the shop and ushered me to Appa. I wailed as we travelled, and Zuko tried to keep me calm.
"These babies want out and you're asking me to keep calm?" I said threateningly. He gulped and said, "More stress and tensing up can delay it my sweet."
"You're right, I'm just uncomfortable." I said, thinking rationally.
"Alea, have you been feeling slight pains in your lower back?" Katara asked as she checked how dilated I was.
"Yeah, for like three hours, but I thought they were Braxton Hicks." I said, making everyone look at me funny.
"In my world sometimes woman would feel contractions days before they actually gave birth and they were kind of just written off as phantom contractions. Not real ones," I said as another hit me.
"Because you're about five minutes away from pushing." Katara said, as Appa landed.
"Zuko and Sokka, carry her to their room. Aang, hot water! Toph and Suki soft towels, a sharp knife, and something to tie off the cords." Katara yelled as I was unloaded from Appa's saddle. I could feel sweat pouring down my face as I tried to hold the scream in that threatened to escape.
Iroh would be along in a few minutes, as he had to lock up his shop. After Zuko and Sokka placed me on the bed, Katara put a pillow under my hips and shooed Sokka from the room. As the girls came in with the supplies I found I couldn't breathe in the dress I was wearing. Zuko helped free me from the top layer of my robes, as Katara quickly took the water from Aang.
"Aang and Toph wait downstairs with Sokka and Iroh. This won't be something you want to see." Katara said as she lifted my dress up to my knees.
"I can't see to begin with!" Toph said, as Aang dragged her out.
"Okay Alea, you are going to need to start pushing on the next contraction." Katara said as the door closed. Before I even had the chance to breathe, another hit and I screamed while pushing.
"You're doing great Alea. I can see something." Katara said, as another hit. I moaned while bearing down.
"It's the head, one more big push and the head is out." She said, smiling at me.
"Zuko, I need you." I cried, as he got behind me and massaged my shoulders.
"You are doing so great. Our babies are almost here," He said softly, kissing my temple. I didn't have a chance to reply, as another contraction hit and I pushed as hard as I could. It was a searing pain as the baby's head came out.
"Okay, next is the shoulders! One more!" Katara said as Suki handed her a soft towel.
"You are not coming near me for another five years!" I screamed as I bore down. It felt like hours before I felt the baby leave me, and a cry erupted. I closed my eyes and leaned back against Zuko and groaned in relief. I looked up to see Zuko crying, a smile forming on his face as he watched Katara clean our child.
"It's a girl." Suki said, handing the bundle to me. I carefully cradled her as she cried.
"Little Izumi," Zuko said, using the back of his finger to pet her cheek.
"Izumi Hope, our little girl." I cried in joy.
"I feel like I need to push again," I said, as Zuko took Izumi from me.
"Okay, push!" Katara said, getting ready.
"The head! I see the head, keep pushing Alea!" Katara said as I moaned. Izumi cried in fright, as I yelled.
"Suki, take Izumi somewhere quiet." Zuko said, handing her the baby. I was pushing for another five minutes, trying desperately to gather my strength after the first round.
"One more big push!" And after long scream and a horrible contraction, I pushed the baby out.
"It's a boy!" Zuko said as my baby screamed for his life. I laughed in relief as I relaxed. Katara cleaned up the mess on my second born, and handed him to me, smiling wide the whole time.
"Bring Izumi back in please." Zuko said to Katara.
"So precious," I whispered as my baby boy cried.
"Lu Ten," Zuko said, as I noticed the dark hair on my boy's head.
"He's beautiful." I said crying.
"And little Izumi is too!" Suki said, placing her in my other arm. Zuko and I kissed softly as the girls left us to our family moment.
"Izumi and Lu Ten, welcome to the world little ones." I said, as Zuko cried.
"This is what our love made." I heard whispered in my ear.
"Yes, and I'm sure there will be more." I joked.
"So I can come near you within the next five years?" He joked quietly.
"Yes my love." I said, tilting my head back to kiss his cheek.
"Our little ones," I cried in joy. I wanted to sleep, but I knew they would want to feed soon.
"Go tell everyone, or Iroh is going to be bargaining in." I said laughing.
"Shall I take them down to meet everyone?" He said softly. I nodded as he lifted Lu Ten from my arms, and I placed Izumi in his other arm. He quietly walked out, as I sighed, laying back against the pillows.
"Ouch," I said quietly to myself.
Iroh had cried when Zuko told him we named our son, after his fallen son. I had fed them both and rocked them to sleep, before passing out myself. We only had about three hours of sleep before the first feeding and changing, and then four hours between the next.
"Izumi, sweetheart." I said, cooing to her as I picked her up. She quieted and gurgled as I lowered my shirt, so she could feed. I sat in a chair, watching her and smiling in amazement.
"She is just as beautiful as her mother." Zuko said from our bed.
"You're a flirt." I said winking at him.
"Do you want to go get your son?" I asked, as Lu Ten made himself known.
"Baby boy, Daddy is here." Zuko said softly.
"I think everyone is downstairs already," I said as I burped Izumi.
"They wanted to give us some time alone before asking to hold them." He said, as we switched. Lu Ten was very hungry, as he didn't let go for a full ten minutes.
"My big boy," I cooed as I burped him. For newborns they were very alert and aware of their surroundings. I was just about ready to get up when I felt faint.
"Alea," Zuko said, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm gonna pass on going downstairs today. I need another hour of sleep." I said laughing.
"I'll take them down and bring you something to eat," he said, kissing my forehead. I placed Lu Ten in his arms and got back into our bed. I had passed out cold, not even dreaming as my mind was exhausted.
"Two more children, and we will take you to where you are needed." I heard in my head as I woke up. I let a tear slip out as I nodded.
"I will be ready." I whispered to myself.
A/N: And there is the birth of the twins!