Fire Weds Earth Extra Chapter Two
A/N: Hey gang, sorry for the delay. Here's the second oneshot/extra chapter following the events of A Great Team. Thanks for your patience and encouragement, you guys are great! As always, I do not own ATLA, it is the property of Bryke and Nickelodeon.
It was early Spring two years later when Toph began feeling ill in the mornings. After a week of being unable to hold her breakfast (or lunch for that matter), Zuko had finally forced her to see a healer, convinced that she was sick. Toph had a different suspicion, which was confirmed when the cheerful woman had informed her that she was eight weeks pregnant.
Terrified and joyous, she had run to find Zuko, sending his steward to interrupt his morning meeting. Certain of an emergency, Zuko had rushed to her side immediately. When he learned the happy news he was overjoyed, kissing her and spinning her around until she told him she was going to barf. Then he put her down but he never stopped smiling. Uncle and the gang were informed at once, although the councilmen advised against a public announcement until it was more certain to be a successful pregnancy.
The whole palace launched into preparations for a new heir and Zuko and Toph spent as much time as they could making plans and soothing each other's fears. Toph worried that she wouldn't be a good mother because she wasn't much of a kid person. Zuko worried that he would become like his father. Together they voiced their concerns and argued over parenting techniques.
Time passed and Toph was able to eat without feeling nauseated, but soon other changes occurred. Her center of balance shifted, putting a strain on her bending, which made her grumpy. Zuko braved her temper by refusing to allow her to spar anymore, although she insisted on being allowed to join him for his morning exercises to stretch and lightly work out.
More time passed and her belly became quite large, her small frame seeming to accentuate its size in comparison. Zuko privately thought that she looked like a cute little troll, round as she was, but he knew better than to say so since her moods could be quite erratic by that point.
Toph needed more assistance to function normally and this made her feel helpless, a hated feeling. Zuko lent aid as often as he could and reminded her that it wasn't Toph who needed the help, but their unborn child. She knew she was being humored, but let it slide. Zuko was unfailingly attentive and supportive and despite her raging hormones, she knew it wasn't his fault that she needed the help.
The due date approached and the palace frenzy intensified. The gang showed up to lend physical and moral support, although Sokka and Suki brought their one-year-old twins, which didn't help much. It was nice having them there though, even though Toph thought that if she had to hear Katara speculating on gender or squealing over baby clothes one more time, heads would roll.
The expected day came and passed without a birth, Zuko growing steadily edgier as each day ended. He worried and fretted and drove everyone crazy until Toph begged Aang to take him somewhere for a day.
Finally, on the 9th of October, Toph felt it. She had been feeding the turtle-ducks, trying to get some peace and quiet, when she felt a surge of hyper energy move through her. Puzzled, she paused for a minute, bread in hand, trying to figure out what she was feeling. Then all at once a stabbing pain ripped through her abdomen.
Wincing and breathing through the pain, she crawled towards the nearest doorway, calling for help. Within minutes, she was being carried to the birthing chamber, trying not to cry as wave after wave of contractions washed over her.
Katara had been summoned and she walked briskly beside Toph's palanquin, holding her hand and telling her what to expect. Toph jerked in surprise as she felt a burst of liquid down her legs and the speed was quickened.
As they reached the birthing chamber, Zuko showed up panting, obviously having run from whatever he was doing to be by her side. She gripped his hand tightly before being carried into the room where Zuko was politely but firmly asked to leave so he wouldn't be in the way. Clearly torn, he had kissed her and told her he loved her and that she would be fine, before being ushered out. It had sounded more like a plea, but Toph had other things to think about now.
Zuko had been signing papers when the word of Toph's labor reached him. Leaping up, he rushed out of the room, almost knocking over his inkwell. A thousand thoughts galloped through his mind as he sped down the corridors and through various passages. 'It'll be all right. It'll be all right.' He repeated to himself as he rounded the last corner.
There she was, great with child, being carried into the birthing chamber. She looked so tiny somehow, despite the belly, her face scrunched and white with pain.
He knew fear then.
He wanted so much to make it all go away, to protect her from everything. Reaching out, he grabbed her hand and she squeezed it fiercely.
As she was helped onto the birthing stool, the midwives asked him to leave, assuring him that Toph would be under the best of care.
He stared at them incredulously. Couldn't they see that he needed to be there to save his wife from all harm? But they persisted and finally he caved, kissing Toph and reminding her that he loved her and that she would be fine. Agni, he prayed she would!
Uncle met him outside the door, enfolding him in a hug. "It will be alright, Nephew. Toph is strong and Katara is with her. I am sure that very soon, we shall be celebrating a safe delivery."
But Zuko was numbly disconsolate. He had lost virtually all of his family to death, exile or madness and the thought of losing his beloved Toph or their unborn child as well paralyzed him. Unable to move from his post by the door, he sat until Uncle requested that some cushions and tea be brought.
Aang and Sokka showed up minutes later, Sokka and Uncle promising that they too had waited outside during their wives' deliveries and recounting how they had felt. Zuko managed to smile wanly at that and eventually a lackluster game of Pai Sho was started up to pass the time.
Nobody said much and Zuko winced at every cry of pain that could be heard from within. Many pots of tea were emptied and many games of Pai Sho won by Uncle, and still they sat, Zuko in wretched uncertainty and the others in brotherly solidarity.
The sun sank and the stars came out. Food was brought and they picked at it. Aang and Uncle took turns telling stories of ancient times. More tea was drunk and even some Fire Whiskey. Sokka told jokes that Uncle laughed at and Aang did bending tricks. Still they sat.
Sokka snored gently, Aang nodded his head onto his chest, and Uncle hummed softly. The sky began to lighten and Zuko felt the pull of the sun's power. The others finally stirred and breakfast was brought.
They were trying to convince Zuko that a morning bending practice might help him relax when a baby's cry was heard from within. Everyone straightened up and Zuko leapt to his feet, swaying slightly from fatigue.
It seemed like millennia before the door opened and a tired but happy-looking Katara poked her head out. "You can come in now Zuko." She smiled, "Everything's fine."
Letting out the breath that he didn't know he'd been holding Zuko stepped into the room, uncertain of what he'd find. The others hung back respectfully.
What he found was an exhausted and much smaller looking Toph holding a bundle.
She raised her head towards him, beaming. "Sparky look. It's a baby us." There was awe in her voice.
He rushed over to her then, kissing her and sitting down beside her. Inside the bundle was a tiny, red-faced, squidgy-looking humanoid and he thought she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"It's a girl." He said in a reverent tone, tears rolling down his cheeks. "She's beautiful, just like her mommy."
Toph grinned, exhausted. "Yup, now you get two of us."
He laughed back in joy. "Can I hold her?"
"Sure, but if you drop her you're dead. I worked hard to make this baby." She growled in a mock threatening tone.
His smile softened and he stroked his wife's hair. "I know you did Melon. You did a great job." Gingerly he took the baby into his arms and stared down at her, eyes filled with love. "Aki." He said softly, giving her the name they had decided upon for a girl. "Welcome."
She squirmed and smiled in his arms.
A/N: Yay, the feels! ^^ I just love Zuko as a daddy and I think Toph will be an awesome mom too! Thanks for reading! I love you all! Hopefully the next oneshot won't be too long in coming. :)