Korra was in bed when Mako entered. He sat beside her and took her hand "Are you ok?"
Korra nodded her head.
"The baby is coming." said Katara point blank.
"What?!" was all Mako could say, the color draining from his face. "Now! isn't it too soon? Will the baby be ok?"
Mako didn't hear Katara's reply as a look of pain shot across Korra's face and her hand gripped his painfully tighter.
"What's wrong?" asked Mako worriedly.
Korra forced her grimace to a small smile as her pain subsided.
"Just a contraction, nothing to worry about. The pain is already gone."
Mako stroked Korra's damp face with his free hand. "Do you want me to do anything for you?" he asked.
Korra shook her head no. "Your being with me right now is enough."
"I love you" Mako told her. He then leaned in to kiss her forehead. "I promise to be with you and our baby the rest of my life."
Katara examined the baby from outside Korra's swollen belly and she pretended to not hear the soon to be parent's exchange. Some moments passed and Katara felt Korra's body go rigid in another contraction. The baby's descent was happening quickly.
Asami entered the room shortly after and Katara sent her immediately on errand to fetch more water and towels. Within the hour Korra was pushing, trying to deliver her baby to the world. Mako felt a surge of pride as he watched his Korra in labor. She panted, made small whining noises, gritted her teeth and furrowed her brows, but other than that did not make a show of her pain. If it were him in her place he didn't think he could be so brave. It seemed a daunting task to rid the body of life and present it externally.
His awe was transferred to terror in an instant though when Korra cried out in howling pain, her hips jutting upwards. He looked from Korra's pain stricken face to Katara's wethered worried face.
Asami cried out "What's wrong?"
Katara didn't answer Asami and told Korra repeatedly to push. Korra obeyed, trying to force out the baby with all her strength. But the baby felt stuck and she could sense the little heartbeat dropping, even as she felt Katara using her bending to try to coax the little body out. She tried again to push, pain engulfing her body.
"The baby is dying." Korra cried out miserably. "Please get the baby out."
Mako had only to look at Katara to know Korra was right. "What can we do?" he whispered to the elderly water bender.
Very seriously Katara replied "I need you to restrain Korra. We don't have time to argue." She continued "Asami please go into my bag, you will find a needle and thread. I need you to thread it and have it ready for me." Katara made a thin, small scalpel of ice. She looked at Korra who was whimpering in pain and fear. "Korra sweetie, I need you to be stronger than ever." she showed Korra the blade in her hand. "I'm sorry I should have been more prepared. Without a second water bender here I cannot comfort your pain until after the procedure, but I promise you it will be okay."
Korra nodded her head "Please save my baby."
"It might be best if you closed your eyes. Mako that goes for you too."
Katara took a deep breath and then slid her bladed palm across Korra's bare abdomen just above the pelvic expanse.
Asami gasped in Horror and Mako's face blanched as Katara cut open the woman he loved. Blood spilled out in red ribbons, running down Korra's dark skin to be absorbed by the white linens beneath her. His heart lurched as he held Korra's body to the bed, however she only struggled and cried out on the initial cut. Korra's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she moaned in low pain now and then as Katara's hands searched the contents of Korra's inner body. The advanced woman used her bending to locate the baby and she then used bloodbending to safely pull the baby past Korra's internal organs and into her weathered hands.
Katara gently pulled the baby and placenta from Korra's body. She adeptly and quickly unwound the umbilical cord that was wrapped around the baby's neck. She was relieved to sense the heartbeat accelerate to a normal pace as she handed the babe and attachment to Asami; trading her for the threaded needle. She went to work on mending Korra. As soon as the last stitch was placed she performed a hasty bending and cleansing of the area to promote faster healing and some pain relief.
She then moved on to the baby, removing and tying the cord. When Katara was finished with the baby Asami wordlessly cleaned and bundled the newborn into a warm blanket.
Mako Cradled a seemingly unconscious Korra in his lap as the older woman changed the bed linens. Once Korra was placed back into the bed Asami brought the bundled baby to Mako.
"Congratulations on your new baby girl, daddy." said Asami as she handed off the infant
Mako let out a short laugh in contrast to the tears escaping his eyes. "A girl. My daughter."
"Is she ok?" Korra whispered without opening her eyes.
"She is perfect." replied the new father. "See for yourself."
Mako sat on the edge of the bed and Asami helped Korra sit up. Korra winced and inhaled sharply.
Mako frowned "Perhaps you should rest." he replied worriedly.
"Bullshit" she said weakly. "After what I've been through, I'm not waiting any longer to see my baby. I deserve this."
"Of course you do" said Mako calmly and lovingly.
He turned the baby once more towards her. They both looked at their daughter. She had a medium skin tone a shade perfectly between both her parents. A shock of black hair ran down her head, reminiscent of a mohawk.
"She is beautiful" smiled Korra.
"Just like her mother" said Mako.
"She does have your eyebrows though, poor thing" Korra teased as she traced one of the pointy black brows with her finger.
"What are you going to name her?" Asked Asami who was sitting on the other side of Korra.
Korra was thoughtful for a moment "I was thinking Miaka, is that ok with you Mako?"
"It's more than ok. I am honored you would name our daughter after my mother." Mako cooed at his daughter. "What do you think Miaka, do you like your name?"
As if in reply to her father's question Miaka opened her eyes to reveal two golden orbs to look at her parents faces hovering above her. For a moment Miaka was perfectly serene and then she pushed out her lower lip let go of a mewing cry.
Korra smirked "Something tells me we have a hot headed fire bender on our hands."
Note: A little over dramatic I know. What can I say I love the drama (except not in real life). Also, I wasn't sure if Mako's parents names were ever mentioned. I feel like his father's might of have been, but I couldn't find anything. So if anybody knows for sure if Mako's mother's name just give me a heads up.