"Do you really have to go?" Izumi whined, "I was really looking forward to going through all this pregnancy fun with you." The pout on her lips grew bigger by the second.
Lin sighed, "Yes, we do. It's about time we let everyone else in on our secret."
"Don't worry Izumi, we can come back before both the babies are born," Tenzin tried to reassure her.
"I guess I'll just have to settle for letter writing until then," Izumi gave up.
"That's the spirit, turtleduck," Zuko chimed into the conversation.
"We best be going if we want to be back home before dinner," Tenzin reminded them.
Lin walked to Izumi and gave her a big hug, and then turned to her uncle and gave one to him, "I'll miss you both. I look forward to seeing you soon," she told them. Tenzin did the same, hugging the two and waved goodbye as he ascended to Oogi's back.
"Let us know you arrive safely!" Zuko called out to the couple.
"We will!" Lin assured her with a shout back. "See you soon!" And with that Tenzin signaled for Oogi to begin the trip back home.
…
Lin was trying to rest on Oogi's back, but she could not get comfortable. In the past few weeks she had been experiencing some mild back pain, especially as her waist started to expand with the growing baby inside of her. Thoughts were racing through her head about what would happen when she got back home. Lin decided to get up and sit next to Tenzin on Oogi's neck.
"Hello, love," Tenzin said as Lin snuggled close to him. She sighed in response. "Would you like to share your thoughts?" he probed.
"Just nervous about telling everyone, I guess. I don't think I'm ready for the attention we're going to get," she confided.
"I understand. I'm sure once the papers hear, we'll be begged for interviews left and right," he mentioned. Lin groaned in response. Tenzin sighed and continued, "I know. I'm not looking forward to it either."
Tears started forming in Lin's eyes and she managed to get out, "What if she isn't an air bender? You know that's what they all want from me! What if I don't make their hopes and dreams come true?" Tenzin paused for a moment. He hadn't realized she was putting so much pressure on herself. Sure, he knew that the pressure was there for any and all of their babies to be air benders, but he always pushed that to the back burner. He preferred to focus on the fact that he and Lin, the woman he loved and vowed to spend his entire life with, we're going to bring their love to fruition in the form of a happy and healthy child.
He tried putting his thoughts to words to comfort his wife, "Lin, stop, please. You're stressing over something that doesn't matter as much as you think it does -"
"Doesn't matter?" she interrupted, "You of all people should know how much it matters! You spent your whole life being the second air bender in the entire world! How are you not stressed?"
He tried to continue, "Because Lin, I love you with every fiber of my being. The only thing that matters to me is that you stay happy and healthy throughout your pregnancy and that when the baby comes he or she is just as happy and healthy. My number one priority is you and it always has been and always will be. Forget about duty and legacy. I love you and want you for you. The fact that you're carrying our child is all I need to be happy and excited. I will love you and the baby. Forget about what the others think, please!"
"Are you sure?" she inquired further, "You'd be happy even if the baby is an earth bender or even a non-bender?"
Tenzin reassured, "As long as that baby is half me and half you, the only thing that matters to me is that you are both happy and healthy and I will love you both until my dying breath."
Lin started to cry more, "Oh, Tez! I love you. If you of all people can put the pressures aside, I can try to do so as well. Thank you." She leaned her head on his shoulder while he put an arm around her and kissed her forehead.
"I love you too, Lin. Let's try to rest, we'll be landing in Republic City soon enough."
…
"Lin, we're home," he whispered, gently shrugging his shoulder to arouse his snoozing wife. Lin's eyes blinked open and she lifted her head and looked around. Tenzin had landed Oogi in the park nearby their apartment. He hadn't taken them to the island like she thought he was going to.
"Why are we here?" she inquired.
"Well, I thought it would be nice to freshen up a bit and spend a little time relaxing before we meet the family at the island," he explained, "Do you mind?"
She smiled, relieved to have some more time before revealing their secret, "This is perfect," she assured him.
Tenzin grabbed their things and joined Lin on the ground as the two walked the three blocks to their apartment. The building with the tea shop on the first floor and the two apartments on the second floor wasn't much, but it was the first place Lin and Tenzin were able to call their own. Well, not entirely, the family who owned and ran the tea shop downstairs and lived in the back part of the second floor were there too, but the studio in the front with the big windows that looked down on the bustling street below was their sanctuary.
Lin smiled as they made their way up the stairs on the side of the building and entered their home. Su Yin had done an excellent job of taking care of the few plants Tenzin had grown from seedlings while they were away. He dropped the bags right in the entryway and flopped down on the mattress that was on the other side of the room.
"I missed this place," he sighed into the mattress.
Lin walked over and sat down on her side next to him and nodded, "It's great to be home, with you."
Tenzin rolled over on his back and pulled Lin's arm in an effort to get her to join him. She complied and snuggled up next to him, resting her head on his chest. He beamed up at the ceiling. This was his paradise. He was positive that he could be stuck living in a tent for the rest of his life, but the only thing he would need to make it perfect would be for Lin to cuddle up to him just like she was at the moment.
Lin sat up and winced, bringing Tenzin out of his own head and looking her over, trying to assess the problem.
"What happened?" he demanded to know.
She waved him off, "It's nothing, just some back pain. I'll be fine."
Tenzin still looked concerned and asked, "Should I phone the island and tell them we can't make it tonight? I could make something up about having a cold from flying in the winter sky or say that Oogi needs a rest…" Tenzin babbled until Lin put her finger on his lips. She leaned across the bed and kissed him, her lips warm on his.
"I'm fine, Tez. Let's get cleaned up and head over to the island. I'm starting to get hungry and I'm sure your mom made something tasty for our arrival," she assured him.
Tenzin nodded, "Okay, but only if I get to watch you bathe and change." He winked at her and kissed her passionately, tilting her head back so she would open her mouth so he could dart his tongue inside.. Lin allowed it and answered back by nibbling on his bottom lip.
"We've been gone for almost two months now, another hour or two won't make them miss us anymore, right?" Lin asked. Tenzin nodded in agreement and eagerly watched as Lin straddled him and continued to kiss him.
Tenzin's member started to grow harder and he involuntarily pushed his hips up to rub against Lin, trying to relieve the mounting pressure growing in him. Lin responded by starting to rock slowly back and forth, pausing at the right spot that helped her pleasure build.
Clothes started coming undone and were thrown haphazardly around the bed. Tenzin reached up and cupped Lin's breasts, giving both nipples a gentle squeeze. A moan escaped Lin and she eased herself on his throbbing member, continuing her rocking motions from earlier. Tenzin kept one hand on her breast and slid the other down to rub the spot he knew would push her over the edge. As he was trying to bring his wife all the pleasure and happiness she deserved, he looked up and watched her face. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was slightly open as her breaths started coming out quicker and quicker. Tenzin felt like the luckiest and happiest man in all Four Nations. He had a beautiful wife and a baby on the way. They had a place to call their own and many adventures ahead of them. Once they both reached their peaks and lay on the bed snuggled in each others' arms, Tenzin squeezed Lin a little tighter than normal, hoping to never let this moment end.
…
"They're back!" Katara shrieked when she saw Oogi land with a loud thud outside the main house. "Aang, Sokka, Toph, they're back!" she yelled again, trying to get everyone's attention. She ran out of the house, arms wide open waiting to embrace the newlyweds.
"Hello, Mother," Tenzin said after he jumped off Oogi. He accepted her embrace.
"Hi, Mom," Lin joined their hug.
Katara gushed, "Two of my babies are home! I'm so glad. I can't wait to hear all about your adventures and -"
"Quit hogging the kids, and let them give the rest of us love, Sugar Queen," Toph interrupted as she, Sokka, and Aang came out of the house. They took their turns greeting the newlyweds and welcoming them home.
"We missed you all very much and are happy to be back," Tenzin informed them.
"Yes, let's go catch up over the copious amounts of food I'm sure Katara and the acolytes have made for us," Lin stated.
Toph laughed and patted Katara on the back, "She's got you pegged, Sugar Queen!"
Sokka agreed, "She's not wrong, the house has smelled delicious and I haven't been able to taste test anything, despite many attempts! Let's eat so my taste buds stop hating me."
…
"That was delicious!" Lin exclaimed, after finishing the last crumb off her third plate.
"I don't think I've seen someone eat that much since Sokka at our wedding feast!" exclaimed Aang.
Lin blushed, "Well I can't help it, I'm…" she hesitated, looking to Tenzin for affirmation. He smiled and nodded, urging her to finish what she wanted to say. She smiled back at him and continued, "Well, I am eating for two now, so I've been eating more lately."
Katara gasped, "What did you just say?" Sokka's and Aang's mouths dropped and they gaped, looking from each other, to Tenzin, to Lin, and back again.
Toph cried, "That's right! My baby is having a baby of her own! I'd never thought I'd see the day!"
Ignoring Toph's blind joke, Sokka turned to her and asked, "How did you know?"
"Heartbeat detector over here," Toph reminded them, "So it was either Lin was pregnant or they got a pet Turtleduck while visiting Firelord Zuzu."
Aang got up and went around the table to where Lin and Tenzin were sitting. He put his arms around both of them and gushed, "That is wonderful news, kiddos! I'm so excited to meet the little one!"
Katara joined her husband, "Yes! It is wonderful news! Oh there's so much to talk about and figure out…" Katara rambled on.
Tenzin slid his hand across the table and Lin grabbed it and squeezed it gently. He was so proud of his beautifully courageous wife and was so happy they finally got to share their news with their extended family. Tenzin couldn't imagine a more perfect life for himself.
A/N: Yeah so, life happened. Adulting started in full swing. And I basically abandoned anything and everything FanFic related for a while. But thanks to quarantine/life settling down a lot more, I am back. Also, wanted to add that Lin is probably around 3 to 4 months pregnant at this point and it's winter time in Republic City by now, which means they've been married for a good month by now.