Chapter: Honeymoon
LAKE LAOGI
Lin awoke entangled in Tenzin's warm arms.
They had traveled overnight to the first destination of their honeymoon, Lake Laogi in the Agrarian Zone of Ba Sing Se.
They had pitched a tent and decided to sleep outdoors, with Oogi to watch over them outside.
Lin stretched her arms above her head, and released a yawn.
"No, don't get up yet." Tenzin murmured, pulling her back into his embrace.
"You're supposed to be the early bird." Lin laughed as Tenzin kissed her neck sleepily.
"These next few weeks I get a break from meditation and all my air bender and council duties. I am going to take full advantage." Tenzin explained.
"Fine." Lin turned her head to kiss his temple softly and then settled back into his embrace. "Ten more minutes."
"Twenty." Tenzin shot back.
"Fifteen."
Tenzin paused before answering. "Deal."
BA SING SE
"Honestly, I have never liked this city." Lin admitted as she held tightly to Tenzin's arm.
They were exploring the fabric district of the Middle Ring, where hundreds of people hustled and bustled about, and merchants shouted out deals and tried to get people to enter their store.
"Too busy?" Tenzin asked her as a woman and her three children pushed past them.
"Yes, there's that, and also just after hearing all the stories our parents have told us over the years, I just get a feeling there is more to this city than meets the eye, and not in a necessarily good way." Lin eyed one of the merchants suspiciously.
"Oh spirits don't talk like that, Lin you're freaking me out." Tenzin laughed. He pulled his beanie hat tighter over his head. They didn't want to deal with the crowds if people staring or worse, asking for photos and autographs.
"Excuse me, miss?" An old woman dressed in a green dress and black cape approached them.
Lin and Tenzin stopped in their tracks, Lin turning her focus towards the woman and clutching Tenzin tightly.
"Yes?" Lin tilted her head in curiosity.
Before she could react, the woman reached out and placed a hand on Lin's belly. "You are with child?" The woman smiled up at Lin, displaying her multiple missing teeth.
Lin's eyes widened. "How did you-"
"I have a gift." The woman cackled. "May I?"
"May you what?" Lin questioned skeptically.
"Listen to the baby?" The woman smiled, as if it was obvious what she wanted.
Lin looked at Tenzin, who simply shrugged back at her, bewildered.
Lin turned her attention back to the woman. "I guess so?" She replied.
The woman placed both her hands around Lin's belly, and closed her eyes. She was silent for a few moments, and after some silence, she opened her eyes wide and beamed at Lin.
"You're an earth bender." The woman declared more than questioned.
"I- yes- I, how did-" Lin stuttered.
"The baby is strong. She has her mother's spirit." The woman smiled.
"She?" Tenzin exclaimed.
The woman smiled at Tenzin. "You are the father. The baby has your big heart, your capacity to love." The woman smiled.
Lin and Tenzin looked at one another, baffled by this woman's predictions. Tenzin grabbed Lin's shoulders and slowly began guiding her away.
"Okay, Uh, Thank you." Tenzin backed away, pulling Lin with him.
"She will be loved and cherished." The woman waved as they backed away.
Lin and Tenzin smiled politely and scurried away.
When they were out of ear shot, Lin turned to Tenzin. "I told you this place was strange."
Tenzin held Lin tight to his side. "Yeah, you know, I say we go to the Eastern Air Temple a bit earlier than we planned.
"Agreed. Like right now." Lin laughed.
"Okay, lets go." Tenzin picked Lin up bridal style and air bent them up on to the nearest rooftop, Lin laughing hysterically as he did.
Tenzin whistled for Oogi, who quickly flew in to pick them up.
EASTERN AIR TEMPLE
"Oh my spirits." Lin gasped as she looked at herself in the mirror of the room Tenzin and she were sharing at the temple.
"You Okay?" Tenzin called, muffled by his toothbrush in his mouth.
"Tez, come here!" Lin called.
Tenzin spat in the sink and ran over to where Lin was standing.
"What's up?" He looked at her, concerned.
"Look." Lin whispered, placing her hands gently around her belly. "I'm showing." She beamed at him.
Sure enough, when Tenzin looked down at her belly, which was exposed as Lin stood in only her chest bindings shorts, her stomach was noticeably rounder, like she had pumped her belly with a small amount of air.
"Lin." Tenzin whispered, moving to kneel so that his head was at the level of her belly. "That's our baby."
Lin nodded. "That's our baby."
Tears began forming in the corners of Tenzin's eyes, as he softly placed a kiss on Lin's belly.
EMBER ISLAND
Lin and Tenzin sat laying in the sun on the beach, Tenzin reading a book on the history of the fire nation, and Lin a book on the chemistry of metals.
Lin placed her book down for a minute, and looked down at her swelling stomach. She rubbed her belly tenderly.
Tenzin looked over at her. "Getting used to it?"
"It just looks like I ate too much for dinner." Lin sighed.
Tenzin chuckled lightly.
"Don't laugh at me, air head." Lin reached over to punch his shoulder.
"Sorry, Sorry." Tenzin smiled. "I think you look beautiful by the way. As always."
"You have to say that. You're my husband." Lin closed her eyes, laying her head back on her towel.
Before she could react, Tenzin had climbed on top of her, and captured her lips in a kiss.
"Tez- What are you-" She was interrupted again with his kiss.
"I love you." Tenzin murmured into her lips.
Lin laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, too."
"And I want you to be reassured that you are absolutely the most breathtakingly beautiful woman to ever grace the face of this earth." Tenzin brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"You're such a blowhard." Lin giggled softly.
"Well I'm an air bender so..."
Lin laughed, pushing Tenzin off of her, and standing.
"Where are you going?" Tenzin eyed her.
"Swimming." Lin replied simply, shedding her tank top and shorts. She turned to Tenzin, outstretching a hand towards him. "You coming?" She raised an eyebrow.
Tenzin jumped up, grabbing her hand, and together they ran into the salty waves.