Something I hinted at back during Opal and Bolin's wedding comes to pass.
Prepare for maximum discomfort and embarrassment!
We Need To Talk
Asami sat clutching Korra's hand, doing her best to look calm and casual.
It wasn't the location; she'd been in Mako's apartment more times then she could count, normally when dropping off or collecting the girls. But it wasn't Mako's apartment anymore; it was Mako and Kuvira's apartment now; it had been for a little over three months, since the metalbender had officially moved in after unofficially living there in all but name for about as long. And she was happy for Mako, happy that he'd apparently found someone he could actually make a relationship work with at long last, they both were. It just didn't make the conversation they were about to have any easier.
"So, you want another child." Kuvira sat across the low coffee table from the two guests, Mako sitting somewhat uncomfortably at her side, "Or to be more precise, Korra wants to have Mako's child."
"That... just about sums it up, yes." The Avatar nodded somewhat sheepishly, "I take it he, explained the arrangement we had?"
"Yes, although he was somewhat hazy about the finer details." Kuvira arched an eyebrow, "Why now?"
"Well, several reasons, really." Asami squeezed her wife's hand, "Senna and Yin are almost old enough to start at nursery, the world's settled down enough that Korra can take the time off needed to have a child, and we always wanted more children."
"That explains why you've decided to have another child now," The metalbender looked at them carefully, "But not why you want it to be Mako's?"
"Don't I get a say in this?" Mako asked.
"No dear," Kuvira patted him on the knee without looking round, "you don't."
"Well, to be perfectly honest, there are only a handful of men we know and trust enough to even consider asking." Korra looked as uncomfortable as Mako, "And as he is Senna and Yin's father... ideally we would like our children to be related to each other by blood."
"The only other real option would be Bolin," Asami winced at the idea, "and I don't see Opal going for that."
"Yes, she can be surprisingly..." Kuvira searched for the right word, "assertive when she wants to be. Even more so now she has a baby of her own on the way."
"This first of many, from what she's said in the past." Mako joked nervously. "I only hope my little brother is up to it."
All three women gave him icy stares, and his visible shrunk down into his chair.
"And you're sure you want him to be the father of your child?" Kuvira asked, not taking her eyes off of her boyfriend, "You were lucky last time; Senna and Yin seem to take after their mother."
"I'll be quiet." Mako whispered meekly, eyes cast down at the floor.
"For all his faults, and spirits know he has more than a few, Mako is an amazing father to our girls." Asami found herself coming to his defence, "We know it hasn't been easy for him, given some of the things that have been said or insinuated, and I think we'd be hard pressed to find anyone willing to go through all he has without cracking like an egg."
Mako gave her a sincere smile, but remained silent.
"Yes, I have to admit, when I first arrived in Republic City, I was surprised just how interested the press was in your rather... unusual domestic arrangement." Kuvira nodded thoughtfully, "It took him a long time to open up to me."
"How did you manage it in the end?" Korra asked.
"Oh, nothing much; I had sex with him." The metalbender replied bluntly, "You'd be surprised just how much a man is willing open up about his inner feelings when it comes to pillow talk."
There was a moment of pure silence as the other three people in the room locked their eyes onto her.
"That's... certainly interesting to know." Asami swallowed, "Maybe if I'd known it back when I was dating him, I could have saved a lot of time and effort."
"Sweetie; boundaries," Korra petted her on the knee.
"You're asking my boyfriend to help you get pregnant, and you're worried about your wife's boundaries?" Kuvira chuckled, "Oh spirits, this is even better than I'd hoped!" she noticed the way the others were looking at her, mouths agape, "Oh for the love of... if you want to have Mako father your baby, and he's willing, then of cause I'm not going to stand in your way. I went into this relationship fully aware of the more unusual aspects, and while I can't say it thrills me, I'm not going to try and change it now. I have, however, one condition, and I hope it's one you can all live with." She looked at the other three each in turn, her expression suddenly serious, "This is a one time only deal; if you decide you want more children, you'll have to find someone else. If for no other reason than Mako's life is going to be getting very busy in the not too distant future."
"I... I don't understand." her boyfriend looked at her blankly.
"Honey, for a detective, you can be so incredible clueless at times." Kuvira took his hand and smiled sweetly, "I haven't needed to use anything from that green box I keep on top of the bathroom cabinet because I know how much it embarrass you since I moved in, I've been throwing up every morning for the past two weeks and you yourself have commented on how tight my uniform has been getting of late."
Mako stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"She's trying to tell you she's pregnant, you fool!" Asami kicked him under the table, "For heavens sake, hug the woman!"
Mako half fell out of his chair, but managed to land on his knees in front of Kuvira, and he lent in to embrace her tightly. He then quickly eased up, terrified that he'd somehow hurt the small life growing inside her. His eyes darted up and down from her face to the small bulge only just visible in her abdomen and back again, completely unable to find any words.
"I swear, there must be something in the water in this city." Kuvira leaned forward and kissed him on the tip of his nose, "First Asami, then Opal, now me and as soon as we can arrange it, Korra."
"Maybe it's just the men in our lives?" Korra laughed, "The two of them really should ware singes; warning! may cause pregnancy."
"I'm so happy for the two of you." Asami leant back in her chair, "Looks like we're going to have another wedding to arrange."
"Let's take it one step at a time, shall we?" Kuvira wrapped her arms around Mako's head and hugged him close, "Just because this big lug went and knocked me up without even trying doesn't mean I'm ready to marry him. Not just yet, anyway."
"I take it this is something else I don't get a say in?" Mako asked, his voice somewhat muffled.
"No sweetie, you don't." his girlfriend patted him on the top of the head, "If I've learned one thing about the men in your family from observing you and your brother, it's that you need someone in your life to make the big decisions for you. Bolin has Opal, and now you have me."
"I... think I can live with that." Mako nodded his head slightly, unwilling to break away from their embrace, "Thank you."
"I think we'll leave the two of you alone." Asami stood, pulling Korra up with her, "We have a couple of weeks before, well, Korra is going to be ready."
"Thank you." Kuvira smiled from over the top of Mako's head, the detective just waking with one hand.
"And again, thank you and congratulations." Korra smiled, her mind already turning to the next conversation she was going to have to face.
The trip back from Mako and Kuvira's had been pleasant enough, with Korra letting Asami talk about the rather unusual afternoon they'd had as she drove through the pre-rush hour traffic. The Avatar always let her wife drive; it was something Asami enjoyed, even if their highly customised Harmony was no where near as sporty as her old tourer, and try as she might, Korra was still a terrible driver. On the rare occasions she had to take Senna and Yin anywhere and Asami wasn't available, she got one of the White Lotus sentries to drive, out of genuine fear that she might have an accident and hurt her daughters. She'd remained silent throughout the drive, keeping an ear open to what Asami was saying in case there were any questions, but him mind was already elsewhere. Arriving home and a near manic Bolin, the two women had been unable to contain their mirth; he'd offered to babysit for the afternoon in order to gain practice at dealing with young children, but it was clear that his twin nieces had run him ragged. It would have been easier if he'd started when they were still crawling, but now they were not only walking but running, they were proving to be every bit the handful as their parents.
"Mommy!" Yin had called out the moment they open the front door, trotting up to them with her arms wide open, "Ma!"
Korra and Asami had been worried at first about how their daughter would differentiation between them, but it hadn't taken the two of them long to work out that Asami was 'Mommy' and Korra was 'Ma', a distinction that had been decided by the toss of a coin. They had already agreed that this would carry over to any future children, less it become confusing for all involved.
"Hey slugger!" Korra picked her daughter up, "What have you been up with uncle Bolin?"
Yin smiled, and then casually tossed a small fireball across the room. One of the floor tiles leapt up and stopped it from hitting the wall, a giggling Senna standing in the doorway.
"Hi guys," Bolin staggered over, his eyebrows singed and his tunic covered in dirt, "You'll never guess what happened while you were out..."
To Be Continued...
(and yes, I do seem to enjoy picking on Bolin)