I. Shock

Finding out was the biggest shock in her life.

Finding out she was the Avatar was nothing. She'd been a child, it fascinated her, but on some levels of her life, she understood that from the moment she was born. Discovering that she could bend all four, three at the time, elements was like rediscovering herself. Reflecting back, it had been more spiritual than she had originally thought, but being three years old, that was understandable.

Moving to Republic City had been a culture shock at first, but it was really something that she'd enjoyed the entire time. That had been more of an adrenaline rush than shock, but it was still different. There were little pieces of home that kept her sane, like Narook's noodles and Air Temple Island to go to.

Losing her bending was close. Even though memory of the feeling of her bending being taken made her body physically react adversely. It made her feel uncomfortable, scared, and uneasy. The fact it had been returned within days was amazing, but her discomfort had lasted for so long, those hours without that part of her being were awful. Uncomfortable.

The shock of finally entering the Avatar state. It was amazing, brilliant, and all other unnamable adjectives. It was such a significant part of her now, it was just impressive.

But there was no comparing the shock she was feeling when the healer kindly informed her in a soft, caring tone, the most important news of her life.

After nearly a year and a half of marriage, Korra, the Avatar, was pregnant.

Walking home, she could barely think straight, and walking was proving to be more difficult than before. Her mind was going a million miles a minute while standing still. She kept trying to rationalize and failing to comprehend what the healer had exactly told her.

Baby. A few weeks, not far along. Expected in the winter.

Her mind couldn't budge past it, causing her to drop her keys a few times before managing to get it into the lock and turn it, letting herself into the apartment she shared with her husband as a whole new wave emotion overtook her.

II. Anxiety

A baby.

That thought hit Korra the second she got into the apartment and saw the state it was currently in. Mako had been very busy at work and hadn't had the time or energy to clean it lately, so things were kind of strewn everywhere. It was a mess and she was a horrible wife for not cleaning it herself.

A baby would require the apartment be clean, at least enough that he or she could crawl on the floor. Babies needed things, they'd have to work more hours to save up some money to attempt to afford food, clothing, and other things babies needed. That was going to be where they were hit the hardest, in their wallets.

Biting her bottom lip, Korra started to straighten the living room, increasing in speed as she realized just how filthy the apartment was. She threw away random trash and straightened the furniture, trying to avoid the nagging commentary in her brain telling her their apartment wasn't ready for a baby. They didn't have room for a crib, heck, they didn't have another room. Their apartment was small, good for two, not for three.

She'd have to feed the baby, cook when Mako was working late. The baby would need so many things they couldn't afford. Need parents.

III. Terror

Babies weren't just little dolls you had to feed and clothe; babies were tiny humans who'd grow into bigger humans.

Korra stared at the wall as it sank into her brain that she was pregnant and that meant she was going to be someone's mother. Her anxiety level raised to pure terror at the thought of being responsible for the upbringing of a baby, a tiny little person that would need her to tell it what to do when life got rough. To make sure her child knew all the things in life that he or she would need.

The level of terror made her continue cleaning at a significantly faster rate than before.

It wasn't just material things, it was emotional. Korra would be responsible for making sure this baby knew it was loved and that life would be hard, but she would always be there for them.

IV. Realization

She loved her baby.

Korra stopped dead at the sudden thought as it entered her mind. She'd known about it for barely an hour and she already felt the warm, fierce, strength of love for her child. For Mako's child. A smile grew on her face as she touched her flat stomach that would soon be swollen past recognition. She was going to have a baby with the man she loved. With her husband.

A child. A little boy or a little girl who looked like her, or had Mako's eyes and loved them so much. Of course the baby would love them, because they could love the baby so much.

V. Fear

If Mako wanted a baby.

Fear set into her chest, weighing down her stomach and erasing any appetite she may have had before during a calmer emotion. She returned to cleaning the apartment like a mad woman. Somehow her mind latched onto the irrational concept that if the apartment was cleaned, Mako couldn't be mad about the baby if the apartment was clean, right?

Unfortunately for her, the apartment was shining clean and she was tired and sweaty by the time she realized exactly how insane that train of thought was. Mako had to want the baby right? He couldn't possibly not want children; he was such a good person. He loved kids, whenever they were out and he saw kids on the streets she always saw him give them a coin or two. He cared about them because he'd once been on the streets; he knew their struggles and didn't want kids to have to fight as badly as he had.

VI. Contentment

Korra felt herself relax as the realizations settled into a calmer state.

Mako would be home soon. She took herself into the shower and made sure she could at least smell good for when he came back. The last thing Mako needed was a sweaty, disgusting wife.

You know, other than finding out she was pregnant.

But Korra felt better as the heat of her shower melted away physical stress and helped her calm mentally. Even when she saw him standing in the kitchen, his back to her, as she came out of their bedroom, she felt calm, content with their future, no matter what it would bring. He turned and smiled at her, and she went to smile back, but found herself already smiling.

"Hey, Gorgeous." Mako left the tea he'd been brewing to plant a soft kiss on his wife's lips.

"Hey." Korra smiled and felt his arm wrap gently around her waist.

VII. Joy

"You're happy." Mako grinned at the oddly beaming smile on his wife's face. "You can't have just cleaned this place up."

"I did." Korra laughed, feeling a little more normal in this conversation. "I was thinking and it just seemed to happen."

"Are you alright?"

"I'm great." Korra grinned and shook her head.

"Over that stomach thing, then?" Mako grinned; pleased his wife wasn't sick anymore. It had been a solid week of her throwing up and feeling generally rotten and now she was smiling and standing in his arms.

"Well, no." Korra felt a little flushed, nerves and adrenaline rushing as she prepared to change his life. But it was good. They were going to be better for this, they could do this. She smiled and felt tears welling in her eyes. If she didn't say it now, she wasn't going to. "Mako, I'm pregnant."

"You're what?" He stared at her in complete and utter shock.