Arianna's POV
One day, when Zuko, Arianna and Iroh were headed back to the Fire Nation, Zuko and Arianna were standing on the deck, just watching the water, and Iroh was sitting at a small table.
"Lunch is here you two," said Iroh.
Zuko and Arianna went over to where Iroh was sitting and Zuko helped Arianna sit down and then he sat down next to her. As the three of them were eating, Arianna could feel the baby kicking up a storm, and then the baby gave an exceptionally hard kick.
"Oh."
"Are you all right?" Zuko asked.
"Yes, I'm fine; the baby is just kicking up a storm. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm bruised on the inside," Arianna answered.
"Azula was the same way, sometimes you could see her kicking. Zuko, not so much, but you did give your mother some grief in her last few days. Arianna, are you nervous?" Iroh commented.
"A little bit, but I'm also excited," she responded.
"And how about you Zuko?" Iroh queried.
"Yes, I'm nervous. I don't know if I'll be a good father," Zuko replied.
"It's hard at first, but soon it becomes second nature, like sleeping, which you won't get a lot of," Iroh said.
"Yes I know," Arianna responded. "I've worked with babies and young children before; it was a requirement to be a healer."
"It makes sense, all of you were going to be mothers one day, so the practice would have been good," Iroh remarked.
Arianna smiled and the baby gave another extremely hard kick. She let out a slight moan and rubbed her very swollen stomach.
"Do you want to walk around?" Zuko questioned.
"Yes," Arianna said.
Zuko helped her up and they walked around the deck. Suddenly, her hand flew to her stomach and she let out a groan of pain.
"Ari?"
She felt her legs give out and she fell to her knees.
"Ari?!"
Suddenly, she felt wet, and she knew it was time.
"It's time," Arianna said.
"What?" Zuko inquired.
"The baby is coming!" Arianna replied.
"UNCLE!"
Iroh rushed over and the two of them helped Arianna up and they went down to Zuko and Arianna's room. Iroh ran to go get Arianna's ladies-in-waiting, while Zuko hovered.
A few minutes later Arianna's ladies-in-waiting came into the room. They bowed to Zuko.
"Don't worry your Majesty, her Grace is in good hands, all of us have had babies ourselves and have assisted each other in giving birth. She will be fine, and I don't think you'll want to be in here while she is giving birth, but if you are absolutely needed, one of us will come and get you," said one of the ladies.
All Zuko could do was nod. He gave Arianna a kiss on the head. "I love you."
"I love you too," she replied.
Zuko left and one of the ladies closed the door behind him.
"Now, your Grace, why don't we help you into something a little more comfortable?"
Zuko's POV
Zuko made his way back up to the deck and saw Iroh, who seemed to be waiting for him. Immediately Zuko started pacing the length of the boat. For a long time Iroh didn't say anything. Finally, several hours later, Zuko broke the silence.
"What's taking so long?"
"It's not easy bringing a baby into the world, besides, the first birth is always the longest and hardest," Iroh said.
"What if what happened to her mother happens to her?" Zuko asked.
"It won't," Iroh reassured him.
"Do you even know what happened to her mother?" Zuko questioned.
"Yes I do, and it won't happen to Arianna," Iroh responded.
Zuko walked over to the edge of the boat and fire bended over the water.
"Calm down Zuko."
"Would you rather my fire bending be directed at you?" Zuko demanded.
"No," Iroh replied.
"Sorry, I'm just worried," Zuko said.
"It's all right, I was worse than you actually," Iroh responded.
"Did you fire bend?" Zuko inquired.
"Yes, I did," Iroh answered.
"Did it help?" Zuko queried.
"A little bit," Iroh replied.
About that time, Arianna's ladies-in-waiting came out onto the deck; they bowed.
"Your Majesty."
"How are they?" Zuko enquired.
"Fire Lady Arianna is fine and so is the baby," one of the ladies answered.
Zuko sighed in relief.
"The baby is a bit small, but healthy and is a good weight and length considering how far along Fire Lady Arianna was," the lady continued. She paused for a moment. "And we come baring more good news. Your Majesty, Fire Lady Arianna has safely delivered a strong and healthy baby boy."
"Thank you," Zuko said.
"Now, if you don't mind your Majesty, Fire Lady Arianna told us that we could retire for the night."
"Yes, of course, thank you," Zuko replied.
The ladies bowed and turned to leave.
"He's so cute. He's going to be handsome, just like his father," said one of the ladies.
"Oh yes, he will be a lady's man when he gets older," another one responded.
"It seems like you have a handsome son," Iroh replied.
Zuko stood there and didn't say anything.
"Go ahead, I know you want to."
Zuko ran as fast as he could to the bow of the boat, climbed up as far as he could and yelled: "I HAVE A SON!"
Iroh chuckled to himself. "I did the same thing; I ran out to my balcony and proclaimed to the whole nation that I had a son. Now go on, I want to see my grand-nephew."
Zuko ran off the deck and down to his and Arianna's room. Right before he got to the door, he slowed down and knocked.
Arianna's POV
Arianna was resting from her many hours in labor. She held her precious baby boy in her arms and smiled to herself.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and she knew it was Zuko.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened and Zuko came in. "How are you?"
"Tired, very tired, but the baby and I are fine," Arianna answered.
"I bet," Zuko said.
"And don't even complain that you're tired, no one, and I mean no one, has the right to be more tired than I am," Arianna responded.
"So, we have a son," Zuko replied.
"Yes, and I heard you," Arianna said.
Zuko went over and sat on the bed next to Arianna. "He's cute."
"He's perfect," she replied.
"I will never understand a girl's fascination with babies," Zuko responded.
"A guy can look at a baby and think cute enough, but a girl loves every single baby and thinks that the baby is adorable, with their own baby being the cutest," Arianna said.
"Good to know," Zuko replied.
"Do you want to hold him?" Arianna asked.
"No, I don't think that would be a good idea," Zuko said.
"Come on, please," Arianna begged. She gave him a look that she knew he couldn't resist.
After a moment, Zuko gave in. "Oh, all right."
He situated himself on the bed and she laid the baby in his arms; Zuko held the baby in an awkward position, but Arianna repositioned his arms so he was holding the baby correctly.
"Thanks."
Arianna smiled.
"Did you have any ideas for a name, because honestly I thought we were going to have a girl," Zuko said.
"Actually, I want to name him after my father," Arianna replied.
"I think that's a wonderful idea. He's proud of you, all three of them are," Zuko responded.
"I miss them so much," there was a hint of sadness in her voice.
"I know, I miss my mother; I like to think that she's up there with them and talking about how proud they are of us," Zuko said.
"She could still be out there somewhere," Arianna responded.
"You really think so?" Zuko questioned.
"There's always a chance," Arianna replied.
"Just out of curiosity, how many children do you want?" Zuko asked.
"I grew up as an only child and I have to say, it's lonely," Arianna answered.
"And I grew up with a sister who is evil, and that wasn't pleasant," Zuko said.
"Four," they both said at the same time.
Zuko handed the baby back to Arianna. "My uncle wants to come in."
"All right, go get him," she said.
Zuko got up and gave her a kiss, and then he left. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened and Iroh came in.
"Hello Arianna," he greeted warmly.
"Hello," she responded.
"So I heard that I have a grand-nephew," Iroh said.
"Yes, you do," Arianna replied.
Iroh went and sat in a chair next to the bed. "May I hold him?"
"Yes, of course," Arianna answered. She gently laid the baby in his arms.
"He looks like a good mix of you both," Iroh commented.
"He's absolutely perfect," Arianna said.
"Have you thought of a name for him yet?" Iroh inquired.
"We decided to name him after my father," Arianna replied.
"I think that's a wonderful idea," Iroh responded. "How many children are you and Zuko planning on having? I want to have a lot of grand-nieces and nephews," he added after a moment.
"We decided on four," Arianna responded.
"I can be happy with that," Iroh said. After a moment, he laid the baby in Arianna's arms. "I got you something before we left the Earth Kingdom, and now I'm glad I did."
"Oh, you didn't have to do that," Arianna insisted.
Iroh got up and poked his head out into the hall and after a moment two people came in carrying a cradle.
"Oh thank you so much, but you didn't have to."
"We are still quite a ways away from home. Where were you going to put the baby?" Iroh said.
"Honestly, I was hoping he would wait until we got home," Arianna admitted.
"Babies never do what their parents want them to do, you will learn that quickly," Iroh replied.
"Thank you so much," Arianna responded.
"Zuko should be in here in a few minutes. Do you want me put lay him down?" Iroh said.
"Yes please," Arianna answered.
Iroh took the baby and lied him down in the crib. "Get some sleep."
"Will do," Arianna replied.
A few minutes later Zuko came back.
"Hey, don't fall asleep without me," Zuko said.
"Then hurry up and get over here," Arianna responded.
Zuko climbed into bed and pulled Arianna close to him. "I'm proud of you."
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes really," Zuko answered.
"I'm tired," Arianna complained.
"I know," Zuko said.
Arianna snuggled as close as she could to Zuko and laid her head on his chest so that she could hear the rhythmic beating of his hear. "I love that sound."
"What sound?" Zuko questioned.
"The sound of your heart beating," Arianna replied.
Zuko chuckled softly.
Zuko's POV
"Good…." Arianna's voice trailed off.
Zuko looked down and saw that Arianna was fast asleep.
"Good night my love." Zuko gave her a kiss on the head and after a few moments fell asleep as well.
A/N: So it was a beautiful baby boy! Thank you all once again for reading this story and please don't forget to review.
Raidersfan777: Good guess, but sorry it was a boy. Thanks for reviewing so faithfully.
Until next time!
~Forest Princess