Chapter 12: Baby on board!

Author's note: Hey guys sorry for the wait, since school started, I've been pretty busy. Senior year is killing me right now. Anyway, I'm back so I hope you enjoy this long awaited chapter for the Emperor's New Family!

Kuzco and Malina were getting ready for the big banquet that the rulers and emperors from every nation around the Inca empire were having to welcome the new royal baby. Malina sat quietly on the bed, all alone, thinking about tonight. With all the training that she received from her husband, she still felt like more of a peasant and less of an empress. She stared at her beautiful crimson dress with golden, glittery patterns scattered across the front of it. She wore silky golden gloves with a long smooth, crimson shawl to cover her arms. She held her crown in her hands while tears began to form in her eyes.

"I can't do this." Malina said to herself as she wiped her tears. Trying not to ruin her makeup, she lightly brushed the tears from her cheeks. She carefully got up from the bed and looked at herself in the mirror. She watched as her stomach pushed out in front of her. Her whole body was swollen as she was now, nine months pregnant. The baby could come at any minute now. Malina sighed as she watched her pregnant body in the mirror.

"Come on honey, any day now." she said to her unborn child as she rubbed her stomach. It wasn't easy carrying this heavy stomach. Although Malina enjoyed being pregnant, she still wanted the baby to come quickly. She loved to feel the baby kick in her womb and move around while she ate. She loved to see the baby moving on the sonogram whenever the royal doctor came to check up on the baby. She also missed fitting into her clothes, not having mood swings, and being able to move freely without worrying about her big stomach getting in the way. Right now, being pregnant was the only thing that was keeping her happy. She loved Kuzco, but she didn't really adore the palace life.

Kuzco dashed into the room in his usual emperor getup. "HELLO my Malina-pot-pie!" he sang as he gave Malina a kiss on the cheek. "And hello my baby boo!" Kuzco smiled as he kissed and rubbed Malina's stomach.

"Baby boo?" Malina said as she echoed her husband's ridiculous name for the new baby.

"Hey, it's the best thing I could come up with since I don't know if the baby is a boy or a girl!" Kuzco huffed.

"I told you Kuzco, it's a sur-OW!" Malina yelled as she felt a sharp pain in her stomach.

"Malina! Are you okay?!" Kuzco exclaimed as he helped his wife onto the bed.

"I'm fine Kuzco."

"Do we need to cancel the banquet?" Kuzco asked as he watched his wife with concern.

"No Kuzco. I already told you that I'm fine. Besides, it would be rude to cancel on such a short notice." Malina said as she got up from the bed and put her crown on.

"Are you sure? I'd rather cancel on short notice than have you go out there and hurt yourself and the baby." Kuzco said as he held Malina's stomach and stared into her eyes with deep concern.

"Kuzco, I'm fine, no need to worry." she said.

"Okay, I guess. Let's go then." Kuzco said as he and Malina went off to the banquet.

The banquet was held in the main room of the palace. The ambiance of the room was amazing! Golden and red streamers and decorations filled the room as the kings and queens came in to greet Malina and Kuzco. They all sat at a large table as Kronk and the other royal chefs served the food.

"Your majesties, dinner is served!" Kronk said as the chefs began to serve the meal.

"So, Malina, how does it feel to finally be in the royal family?" one of the empresses said.

"Oh, its great so far. I'm still trying to get use to life in the palace. I'mm still not use to the fame and responsibility that comes with being royal." Malina said as she gave a nervous giggle.

"I can tell, I mean, you don't really have the charm of a high class empress." another empress said.

"Excuse me?!" Malina said in an aggressive tone.

"Malina, calm down." Kuzco whispered to his frustrated wife.

"Kuzco, I'd like to know how you and Malina met." one of the emperors said as he sipped his tea.

"Well, Malina and I met in Kuzco Academy." Kuzco said as the emperors and empresses started whispering to each other.

"Kuzco Academy? You mean the school for... peasants?" the emperor asked.

"What were you doing in the school that you instituted?" another emperor asked.

Kuzco began to blush. "Well, I, um, I had to finish school before I could officially become emperor." he explained with embarrassment.

Everyone laughed.

"That's a good one Kuzco!" one emperor laughed.

"Hey! That's not funny! So what if Kuzco had to go back to school? He's still a better emperor than you all will ever be! So what if he married a peasant girl? That just shows that he doesn't judge a book by it's cover! Laugh if you want to, but Kuzco and I are very happy together, and no emperor or empress in the world could change that!" Malina declared as all the rulers bowed their heads in shame.

Kuzco smiled as he kissed Malina.

"OW!" Malina screamed as she felt the same sharp pain again. This time, it happened over and over again. Soon, a flood of water spilled on the floor underneath Malina.

"Kuzco! My water broke!" Malina shouted.

Everyone jumped out of their seats and rushed to help Malina. Kuzco called the doctor and nurses and they rushed Malina into the royal, private hospital. Malina was sweating bullets as she breathed heavily and rapidly. Kuzco watched in horror at his wife in pain. He held her hand with all his might as she squeezed it with all her strength. The nurses rushed to help Malina as she began to push the baby out. After several tries, the baby finally came! Kuzco's face beamed with joy as he laid eyes on his little and precious infant.

"You did it sweetie, the baby is finally here!" Kuzco said as he kissed his wife on the forehead.

"Here she is!" the nurse said as she handed Malina and Kuzco their new baby girl.

"It's a girl!" Kuzco said as he held his new baby daughter.

"Yes. And her name is Katrina." Malina said as she smiled warmly.

Kuzco beamed. "Princess Katrina. That's just perfect." Kuzco said. At last, he and Malina were finally parents! Their new baby girl was finally here!