Flashback (Third Person Narrative)

Sam loved her role as Fire Lady and she loved her people. She always worked hard to give them the best Fire Lady she could offer. She worked to help improve the education of the Fire Nation children and also worked to help inmates who qualified to find reform. She had started this work after an assassination attempt against her that Zuko's sister led along with her two friends. So, when she realized that she missed her period - two periods actually - she was elated. Could she be pregnant? She and Zuko hadn't been actively trying but they weren't being careful either. They figured it would happen when it was supposed to happen.

She went to see Fen when Zuko was meeting with his military officials - one of the few duties that remained solely with the Fire Lord and didn't involve her. She wanted to confirm it with the royal physician before telling Zuko.

"So what brings you here today, Fire Lady? Is everything alright?" Fen asked, concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine. Actually, I think I'm pregnant," she told Fen. He looked surprised but pleased.

"Why do you think that?"

"My period is pretty regular and I just realized I skipped a month. In fact, I should have it again right now." he had her lay down on an examination table and he felt around her belly. He pulled out some tools and went to work trying to determine if she was pregnant. Things were done differently here than where she came from - outside the Bending Nations. She wasn't sure how Fen would determine it. He looked up at her and gave her the news she had been hoping for.

"Yes, my dear, you are pregnant. I can't be sure of how far along you are but I would say if you are not in your second trimester then you are darn close." her eyes danced with excitement. This was something she always wanted to give Zuko, but didn't know if she could. Having been married for almost three years now, she didn't think it would ever happen. Mai, Zuko's late first wife, had gotten pregnant by Zuko so she knew that nothing was wrong with Zuko's…equipment. She never told Zuko but she felt terribly guilty for not being able to give him an heir. So now she was over the moon.

Now she would have to figure out how she would tell Zuko. Would he be excited? She knew he did not want children when Mai was pregnant with his first child. It wasn't until after he lost them that he realized how much he wanted to be a father. And he would be a great one. She'd seen him with the children of the staff and friends. But maybe he had soured to the idea of fatherhood since it had been so long. Fifteen years since it happened. Suddenly she was nervous.

She hadn't decided when or how she would tell him. Then it occurred to her. She would tell him that night. In bed. That was the best option. No servants hovering constantly. No guards. Just the two of them.

That evening, Zuko and Sam were changing into their sleeping clothes. Sam sat down on her side of the bed but didn't climb in. She fidgeted with her hands and Zuko noticed. He knew that meant she needed to talk and it was something she was nervous about.

"Sam, are you ok?" He asked, coming to her side of the bed. He sat down next to her and took her hand in his.

"I…I need to talk to you, Zuko." she wasn't sure why she said it like it were a sentence. Zuko knelt down in front of her and took both of her hands into his.

"Ok. What is it? Is something wrong?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." she was happy about the baby but she was still unsure of Zuko's reaction.

"Just tell me, Fire Lily. We will figure it out together." she looked at him and smiled.

"I…don't know how you are going to feel about it."

"Sam, you're scaring me. What's going on?!" Zuko said, his voice becoming frantic. Great. Now you have him scared. Splendid job you're doing, Sam, she thought to herself.

"I'm pregnant." she blurted out. Zuko let go of Sam's hands and sat back on his heels. His face went blank and his eyes stared off past Sam. Sam wrung her hands together, nervous at his reaction. "Zuko?" she asked. He didn't respond. Just kept staring. Now it was her turn to be scared. She reached forward and took his head between her hands. "For God's sake, Zuko say something!" she shouted, though she didn't mean to. His eyes snapped to hers and he was brought back to reality.

"Sam…I…am going to be a father?" Zuko asked. She wasn't sure if he meant it in a good way or a bad way. Tears started to form in Sam's eyes and they quickly spilled over.

"I'm sorry, Zuko. I know you must have mixed feelings about having a baby. Maybe you don't even want one after what happened…the last time. I can't imagine how hard this is for you but please, don't hate me for it!" she knew it was irrational but she blamed it on her pregnant brain. Zuko's eyes shot back to hers again. He reached up and wiped her tears away with his thumbs.

"No! Sam! I…I'm thrilled! The first time…with Mai. I wasn't excited. I didn't even want a baby, which upset Mai. It hurt her. Then when I lost them, it was all I wanted. And she'll never know how I truly felt. And now, I have you and we are having a baby! Oh, my Fire Lily I couldn't be more excited!" He said sitting up on his knees, hugging her and kissing her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck. They pulled back and Zuko looked down at Sam's, currently flat, belly. He leaned in and laid a hand on it and she laid hers on top of his. He leaned his head down so his lips were inches from her belly.

"Hello there, my baby. This is your daddy. Your mommy and I can't wait to meet you. If you look anything like your mother you will be a stunningly beautiful child." Zuko said causing Sam to blush. Zuko removed their hands from her belly, lifted Sam's shirt, kissing her belly over and over again which tickled her, making her giggle. Zuko chuckled against her belly. He stopped and looked up at Sam's face and he had tears in his eyes. She smiled at him with tears of her own.

Zuko stood up and took Sam into his arms, lifting her off the bed and floor. He kissed her all over her face which made her laugh anew. They laid down in bed in their favorite position and held each other, excited about the future.

Sam - Present Day

It was well into the morning when I woke up and stretched my arm out, reaching for my husband. But, as it was lately, Zuko had already awoken and had started his day. I usually got up with him to train early in the morning and then join him for meetings and proposal reviews throughout the day. Ever since we found out we were pregnant, though, I had been skipping these.

I stretched and sat up. I looked over at the door and there stood, Jok, one of Zuko's guards and a close friend. Ever since Zuko found out I was pregnant, I was guarded 24/7. I knew why he did it, having lost his first wife and child in a case of mistaken identity in an assassination attempt that was meant for him, so this time around, he was determined to make sure it wouldn't happen again. Not only did I have a guard on me at all times, Zuko was a bit more overbearing than usual. By a bit, I mean a lot. He meant well, but it drove me crazy.

"Jok, you don't have to guard me while I'm sleeping. Nothing is going to happen." I didn't even know why I bothered to say it. Not like it would make a difference. It didn't all of the other 800 times I'd said it.

"I'm sorry, your majesty, but Fire Lord Zuko has ordered it and said if you order me away, his order supersedes yours." I rolled my eyes. I couldn't wait until the constant vigilance was over. The only time Jok would leave me alone was when Zuko was with me, which, lately, wasn't very much. He was so busy with being Fire Lord that he didn't have much spare time. The work that I had relieved from him previously, he was now doing since I was pregnant.

The baby had dropped in my belly so I know that I was due any day now, and I couldn't wait. I was ready to see my feet again and for my ankles to not be constantly swollen. I slowly stood up from the bed feeling an ache in my back, grabbed some day clothes and walked into the bathing room. Jok followed me into the room and checked for anyone there and then posted himself outside the door as I walked in and closed the door. I glared at him through the door. I have forgotten what privacy was like.

I cleaned up for the morning - brushing my teeth and hair. Washing my face. Anything that any normal person would do to get ready for the day. I laid my hand on my swollen belly and smiled. I was ready to not be pregnant anymore and I couldn't wait to meet our little Fire Prince or Princess.

Everyone wanted us to have a boy, so Zuko would have a male heir. One day, he (or she) would assume the throne and some people in the Bending Nations were still so backwards and thought it must be a male. Zuko and I didn't care. We wanted a healthy baby and that's all we cared about. I got dressed, stepped out of the bathing room and headed to the door to the hallway.

"Your highness, you should be resting," Jok said as I headed for the door.

"Jok, I am going to go crazy if I lay in bed any more. Besides, maybe some movement will encourage our little bundle of joy to greet us sooner." I said patting my belly. Jok didn't have a response to that. I started walking towards the door when it opened from the other side. Zuko popped his head in and looked at me disapprovingly when he saw that I was dressed.

"Sam, you're supposed to be resting. Lay back down." he said, gently guiding me to the bed.

"Zuko, I can't lay down anymore. I need to stay vertical. At least for a little while."

"But the baby!"

"The baby is fine and my being vertical won't hurt it. In fact, he or she told me that they want to go for a walk. How can I deny them of that?" Zuko looked at me reproachingly and then down at my belly and smiled. He came over and put his hand on my belly.

"Well, we can't have that, now can we?" He said as he leaned down and kissed my belly then put his ear to it. "Hmm..the baby is telling me that they are tired and want some rest." He looked up at me, playfully.

"Oh, the baby told you that, did they?" how dare he use my tactic against me, I thought amorously. "I think that you are projecting your feelings onto our baby, Fire Lord." I sighed, "Please, Zuko. Don't fight me on this. I need some exercise. My back is killing me from laying down for so long with this big belly. Besides, some movement might hurry him or her along." I was really tired of not knowing which pronoun to use. Once I explained my reasoning, Zuko understood and relented.

"Fine. I'll go with you." I rolled my eyes. Normally I loved spending time with Zuko but lately he was just always hanging on me. I know that he is scared so I didn't argue and decided to walk with him. "Jok, you may take your leave. I'll be with her the rest of the day." Jok bowed and left the room. Zuko offered me his arm which I accepted. We walked out to the turtleduck garden.

I loved this place. It was so peaceful and the turtleducks are just so cute, I couldn't stand it. Zuko knew how much I loved coming out here and it had been a while. At least since before my third trimester. We sat down on the bench - I didn't dare try to sit on the ground. I'd never get up. He handed me a piece of bread and the critters waddled over to us.

"I will not be in the palace tomorrow," Zuko said. "I have to go to the Capital City Prison to meet with an inmate. They claim that they are innocent of the crime they are accused of so I want to hear what they have to say before considering a sentence." I loved it that Zuko would do this. He always strove to be a fair ruler and did not take sentencing rashly at all. "Don't worry though, Jok will be here with you."

"Great." I grumbled and Zuko chuckled.

"I know it's a lot sometimes but I really do feel better knowing there is a guard here with you." Zuko admitted sheepishly. I reached my hand up to him and cupped his face with my hand.

"I know, my love. That's why I don't complain. Much." I said and winked at him.

We sat enjoying each other's company in the garden until it was dinner time. Zuko stood and reached down his hand to me and helped me to my feet. We walked - well, Zuko walked - my gait was more like the turtleducks'. We got to the dining hall and Zuko helped me sit down. I really did appreciate his help. Since I was so far along, it was getting harder for me do things I had previously taken for granted, like sitting and standing independently. Although I'd never tell Zuko that. Otherwise he'd probably have be sleeping in a padded room.

"So what proposals did you review today? Anything interesting?"

"Not really, just the usual." he reached over and placed his hand on mine, "I don't want you worrying about that though. You focus on the baby."

"Zuko, talking about our lives is hardly worrying. I want to stay abreast of what is going on in our country. Please, tell me." I pleaded. At this point, I would watch paint dry if it meant I didn't have to lay staring at the ceiling all day. So he told me of the proposals. He was right though. It really was the usual. We finished eating and headed to bed. We changed into our sleeping clothes and crawled in. I laid on my back for a bit while Zuko laid on his side facing me. I felt the baby move and instinctively put my hand on my belly. I grabbed Zuko's hand and placed it there as well. He smiled and looked up at me.

"The baby is going to be strong I think." Zuko said. "The way they move around in there. It's like they are trying to burst though."

"Sometimes it feels that way. Especially when they push on my spine," I said chuckling.

We hadn't slept in our usual position - Zuko on his back with me on my side and my head on his chest - in a few months since my belly got too big. Lately I laid on my side facing away from Zuko and he would come behind me and lay, spooning me. He laid his hand on my belly. I grabbed my hair like a ponytail and twisted it above my head so he wouldn't sleep with hair in his face all night. We both settled down and fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning. Zuko had already left. I vaguely remembered him kissing me and my belly goodbye before leaving. I knew he didn't want to leave with me so close to delivery, but this was a pressing matter. I stretched and stood up to use the bathing room. I looked over at the bedroom door. Yup, Jok was in his place. I rolled my eyes and gestured to the bathing room for him to check it. He came out and stood outside the door while I readied myself for the day.

Suddenly I felt something wet running down my legs. I looked down to see a small puddle of water pooling between my feet. Uh oh. My water broke. It was time. I walked out of the room hunched over, holding my belly and spoke to Jok. "My water broke. I need Fen." Jok's eyes widened and he stood like a deer in headlights. "Jok, Fen now!" I said loudly, bringing him back to reality. I was convinced that all men reacted the same way to a woman in labor - panicked and clueless. He turned on his heel and ran out.

I took off my pants so I was just wearing a shirt - Zuko's shirt. His shirts were huge on me which worked great to accommodate my pregnant belly. I figured the pants would only get in the way. I walked over to the bed and gathered the pillows Zuko usually used and made a cushion for myself to sit up against. I sat back down in the bed and tried to breathe through the first contraction. They didn't have epidurals here so I would be powering through this. Although I wanted to meet my baby, I was nervous about this part. And Zuko isn't here to help me through it.

Jok and Fen arrived in the room faster than I thought possible. Jok must have done Mach 5 through the palace to find him. Fen came in with his doctor bag containing the necessary equipment for this. He laid it out on the bed and I tried not to look at the tools. I figured they probably would look like torture devices.

Now I was worried about Zuko. For so many months I just wanted a little space from him and his over-protection. Now I wanted nothing more than for him to be by my side. I looked over at Jok, "Jok, make haste to the prison in Capital City and alert Zuko. He should be here for this." I rolled my eyes at his hesitation, "Jok, Fen is here. I'll be alright. Go!" I could have sent a hawk but they weren't 100% reliable and I didn't want to waste any precious time. I knew it wasn't customary in the Fire Nation for the man to be in the delivery room but I had told Zuko I didn't care. I wanted him here with me. He agreed. He probably figured that so much of our relationship was non-customary, what was one more thing? I sat in bed while Fen worked his magic and I waited for Zuko to arrive.