CHAPTER WARNINGS: mile high club, pregnant sex, public sex (kind of), fingering, graphic childbirth.

NOTES: Well, it had to happen eventually; the final chapter of Book 5. It's almost more of an epilogue than a chapter, but it's not far enough in the future to call it an epilogue so, yeah.

This has been some journey. Even though there have definitely been worse update schedules than the one for this fic, I do feel a certain amount of guilt for dragging my feet on it. But of course, by now some of you know what other projects were in the works, such as "SEEK And Find" and Bleeding For Eurydice, which demanded a lot of my attention. There were also real-life things, which I won't get into; we all have that going on, don't we?

I'd like to thank Cartesian for being a great roleplay partner, as usual, and everybody who read this fic from beginning to end. Korrasami being canon was pretty pivotal, and it deserves all the attention it can get, even years afterward. I'll be diving into another fandom for my next fic (you'll see), and of course, my Indiegogo for Eurydice is still going strong if you want to check that out. Realistically, this will be my only Korrasami fic, but I hope you liked it!

Until we meet again,
Jessex

~ CHAPTER FIFTEEN ~

"That seems to be just about everything," Asami sighed as she hopped down from Meep's shaggy back. The flying bison had been saddled and prepared with all the essentials of travel, but Asami needed quite a few comfort objects and maternity items added into their luggage. It had taken some manoeuvring, but luckily there would only be the two of them travelling instead of the eight or so that the saddle could normally accommodate.

Korra helped Asami slide down the bison's soft, fluffy tail. "I figured it wouldn't all fit in the saddle bags," she said with a shrug. "But we still have plenty of room."

"Meep won't want to fly back once you reach the South Pole," said Ikki, double-checking that all the saddlebags were secure. "She doesn't like flying alone. But Grandma knows how to take care of flying bison, so you shouldn't have a problem."

Laying her hand gently atop Ikki's head, Asami beamed down at her and said, "Thanks. I did wonder where we were going to keep a sky bison once we got there."

"No worries," Pema added as she and Tenzin joined the children and the two about to depart. "Really, my mother-in-law is as good with them as any of us are. Now, you remember what I said about taking your vitamins, don't you?"

Asami couldn't help the wry smile that bloomed on her lips. "Of course. You've reminded me six times since we got to this island. Honestly, I'm fine."

"I don't know why you jumped down, we're just getting back in the saddle," Korra teased her. Turning to Tenzin and Pema, she said, "Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you being so helpful."

"It is always my honor to help and serve the Avatar," Tenzin said with a smile and a brief bow. He and Korra hugged, and then the Avatar turned to help Asami back onto the flying bison. Once they were situated comfortably, Korra said, "Yip-yip!" and Meep took off into the sky.

When they were far enough out over the bay that they couldn't see Republic City anymore, Korra left the reins and climbed back into the saddle with Asami.

"Doing okay?" she asked. "Is it soft enough back there?"

"It's plenty soft," she laughed. "Though I am a bit chilly. Can you hand me the parka we packed? I think it's up here in the saddle, not in the bags."

Korra looked around. "Ahh…the parkas are in the bags, but the blanket is up here." She pulled a big, thick quilt from their luggage and spread it over both of them, cuddling in close to help her lover keep warm. Korra placed her hand over their child, now just large enough to make Asami physically uncomfortable, and rubbed a slow circle on her belly. "We have another blanket, and enough food to last us a week. If we keep flying and only stop for Meep to rest, we ought to reach the South Pole in three or four days."

"Then it will be five days," Asami half-laughed ruefully, draping her own hand over Korra's. "You know how often I have to pee lately."

"Yeahhh," Korra admitted. "Probably five then." She kissed Asami's cheek, and was about to tease her a little about slowing them down, when she felt a hard thump underneath her hand. Her face lit up. "Ha! Did you feel that? Wow, he's so strong!"

"Gosh, did I! That's the first one I've been absolutely sure was a kick!" Laughing, she grinned over at Korra, showing more teeth than in many weeks. "He knows his mother-slash-father is nearby, I think."

"I think you're right," replied Korra. She disappeared beneath the blanket to rest her head on top of Asami's belly between her hands. "Hey, little guy," she whispered. "Daddy's here."

Now Asami was giggling for an entirely new reason; it looked silly with a Korra-shaped lump moving about underneath their quilt. "Apparently so." But instead of mocking her or telling her to get out, she simply began to thread her fingers through Korra's brown locks. They were beginning to get longer again, but she still wasn't putting them in the old Water Tribe style that she had worn it in when they first met.

"I can't wait to meet you," she whispered, sounding awestruck. She waited another moment before deciding the baby wasn't going to give them a repeat performance. So instead she sat up and kissed Asami on the lips. "You know, I'm actually really glad Katara's going to deliver our baby. She's like…one of the best midwives ever, and very in touch with Spiritual stuff."

"She does come highly recommended from the only source I care about." Another kiss, this one lasting longer than the first. No matter how many times she encountered Korra's mouth, each time was like a new experience, full of wonder and delight.

Korra hummed happily against Asami's lips as they kissed, then pulled her into an enveloping embrace. "I know she'll take good care of you, and our baby. That's all I care about right now."

"Agreed." However, it appeared Asami was not quite through ravishing Korra's lips. The lengths her Avatar would go through to protect her and their son had made her quite amorous since the epic rescue. It didn't always lead past a few kisses and idle pawings, but those were ever present now. Korra laughed against Asami's lips and kissed her back enthusiastically.

"Feeling frisky, hmm?" she teased. "You're insatiable." Korra let her hand slide down her lover's belly and cupped the union of her legs through her clothes. "Not that I'm complaining…"

Sighing as her thighs parted, she looped her arm around Korra's shoulders. "The healers were right about my 'needs' increasing after the first half of pregnancy. I just didn't expect that to be real, it s- ooh... it sounded like a silly myth!"

Still laughing, Korra pulled her lover into her arms and kissed her jaw and neck. The parted thighs made way for her eager hand, and she continued rubbing through the layers of clothing. "I think it's safe to say it's not a myth. Honestly, I could get used to this." The teasing hand moved back up her round belly, and Korra couldn't hold back a soft groan. "You are so sexy…"

"Korra, you're hopeless," Asami grunted, half in pleasure and half in exasperation. "You do realise you sound more turned on when touching my stomach than touching my actual sex organ, don't you?"

"Agh… sorry!" Korra flushed with embarrassment and returned to teasing as she had before. She gently parted the folds of the Air Temple robes and let her fingers dart across Asami's thigh. "I know it's weird, we've been over it. I just—you—I really like how you look with my baby inside you!" She kissed her on the lips again with gentle passion, tugging at the hem of her lacy underwear.

They had been over it before. In fact, most of the discussion had followed one night when Korra had literally climaxed just while caressing her belly, which had been a bit too outside Asami's comfort zone. However, in the time since that night, she had come to accept that Korra simply really enjoyed that proof of their love to an unheard of degree.

"Mmmhh, Korra," she sighed as the fingers began to slide underneath the lace. "Just... yeah, just a quick one? Sorry it's s-such a random time to do this — in the middle of the sky, no less!"

"I think up in the sky is the perfect place!" Korra teased. "Nobody's going to bother us… and Meep certainly doesn't care." She placed a slow, lingering kiss on Asami's throat, and her fingers nudged back the hood above her swollen clit. "Mmmm… I love finding you wet and ready for me." Right away she began stroking the sensitive nub, knowing her lover wasn't in the mood to be denied.

This was the loudest moan yet; Asami's voice was rich and full of enjoyment as she called out Korra's name, back arching slightly as she was worked upon. Only those magical fingers could sate the hunger she felt in her loins, could soothe her aching flesh. Her thighs twitched, and she growled, "I'd put my leg over your shoulder if I w-wasn't so fat!"

"Hush, you aren't fat," whispered Korra, kissing lower down Asami's neck and nudging her thighs further apart. "You're carrying our child." Her fingers worked a little more firmly, dipping into the wetness below and spreading it across her clit. "Heh… I almost want to put another one in you after this… how about then I can put your leg over my shoulder?"

"Another… wh-what?" Both of Asami's eyes shot wide open. "Another CHILD?!" It was hard for her to sound as scandalised as she felt with the finger working so earnestly to send her into an orgasm, and she felt her hips twitching from side to side in anticipation of more. "W-we haven't even finished with this one!"

"I'm just looking forward," Korra chuckled. Without warning, she slid two fingers inside her lover and located her sensitive spot with ease, curling her fingers up with each slow, gentle thrust. "I'd really hate to never get to see you like this again."

The moan soaked with urgency that poured into the cold air at their altitude was high and quavering, and proved to Korra that her wife was not at all regretful of their current situation. "M-maybe… we can work something out! Korra!"

Already, her walls were beginning to tug at the two fingers slightly, trying to keep them inside of her as they prodded her exactly where she wished to be prodded. Korra gave a low, growling moan and nibbled at Asami's throat as she felt flesh flutter around her fingers.

"I'm sure we will…" Without slowing her thrusts, she added firm strokes of her thumb across her throbbing clit. "Mmmm… Spirits, I can feel how close you are! Come for me, sweetheart…"

"FUCK! How c-can you do this so easily? Are you sure you haven't been Bloodbending?! Because I f- OH! Oh Korra, yes! Right there, riiiight there!"

"I don't need Bloodbending to make you scream for me, Asami," Korra reminded her smugly. She curled her fingers sharply up and whipped her thumb rapidly over her lover's clit. Meanwhile, her teeth nipped and teased carefully around her throat. "That's right, let me hear you…"

"KORRA! NnnhhHFF! It's so... I love you SO much! AAAAIIIYYHHHH!"

Korra watched awestruck as her lover bucked and writhed against her hand. It didn't take long for Asami to wade through the aftershocks of the magnificent orgasm Korra had served to her with such minimal effort, but it did leave her quite winded. Lying there beneath the quilt, she smiled up at her love as she did her best to catch her breath. She didn't stop stroking until Asami's body was entirely limp in her arms, and then she held her close, peppering her face all over with small kisses.

"I love you too… I love you so, so much."

"This," Asami panted weakly, "is about... the only thing... better than your footrubs." Her hands came up to thread through hair and clutch her to her. "I'm so happy it's you I'm spending my life with."

~ o ~

Six days later, longer than Korra or Asami had predicted, they landed in the South Pole a few minutes after midnight. They had expected to not have any welcome, but Katara was there to greet them, as though she'd sensed their imminent arrival.

Actually, she probably did, Korra thought; it was scary how in-tune that old woman was with the world around her.

"Korra, Asami," Katara greeted them each with a warm hug. "It's wonderful to see you both. Tenzin sent word ahead that you were coming. Your parents are asleep, but they've set up your old room for the two of you."

Asami did her best to smile as she said, "Thank you, Lady Katara. It is a great honour, as always." But the smile was more of a grimace. She hadn't been feeling quite right the past few hours — and there had been a very mild spasm of pain as Korra lifted her down from Meep's saddle. Nothing worse than a pronounced menstrual cramp, but it still gave her mild concern.

Katara immediately spotted the wince of pain on Asami's face as she finished her greeting. "Is something the matter, Asami?" she asked, her voice stern. "Speak up, don't be shy. Are your pains beginning already?"

"No," she told her with no hesitation. It couldn't be; even for her accelerated gestation period, this was FAR too soon for those to be setting in. "It was just a little… twinge, nothing too bad. I'll be alright."

Katara raised a skeptical eyebrow, but she had a feeling the true nature of things would reveal itself soon. "Very well, then. I imagine you're quite ready to rest!" She turned and gestured in the direction of Korra's home.

"Hey," said Korra, putting her arm around Asami as they followed Katara. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I told you, I'm f- oh," she gasped in the middle of the word, one hand pressing into her stomach while the other gripped Korra's hand tightly. "Okay, that was a bit more of a… something. I've never felt anything like that before!"

"You're not okay!" Korra cried fearfully. "Asami!"

Katara was by Asami's side in a flash. She placed a mittened hand over her round belly for just a second before saying, "Just as I thought. Your labor is starting. Come on, let's get you to the healing tent."

"But no, it's too early! I can't be! NNnhhh!"

Then Asami could protest no more. One of Katara's assistants was already leading her to the tent, with Korra on one side and Tenzin's mother on the other, saying things they hoped would soothe her growing worries.

When the flap was thrown aside, it was revealed that she would be giving birth in the traditional Water Tribe fashion; in a pool of water. Sometimes, those from the Earth Kingdom would also use this method, as did Aang's descendants, but the Fire Nation was strongly set against it, believing it to be "dangerous". At this point, however, they could have announced they were filming the birthing for an upcoming mover and Asami wouldn't have cared in the slightest.

"Don't worry, dear," Katara soothed softly as they entered the tent. "It may be early, but the child is strong. Just undress and make yourself comfortable in the water… and Korra, you too, I need you to be right behind her."

Still wearing her own clothes, Korra helped Asami strip and lowered her down into the warm water. She sat against the pool's edge and let Asami lean back against her chest.

"Sorry!" At Katara's mildly curious look, focused as she was on the task at hand, Asami elaborated, "That you have to see me like this, and- Nnhhgg! And we only just landed! It's not very civ- very civilised!"

"Don't worry yourself about that," Katara replied soothingly. "Just breathe deeply and try to relax. This part is the longest. All you can do for now is stay calm and prepare yourself for the pain."

"When you say it's the longest," Korra asked as she began to finally shed her own jacket. "How…?"

"Oh, sometimes quite long," replied Katara. "Especially for first-time mothers."

And much to Asami's regret, she turned out to be correct. The three of them remained in the pool for what felt like many hours, breathing as the contractions came and went, resting in between. A few of Katara's acolytes brought them tea, eventually even other nourishment for Korra.

"I'm so glad you... are here to help me with this," Asami confided in Korra after yet another moment of blinding pain and body-wide discomfort had passed. "Of course, I would trust this Healer with my life, but you are my life."

"There's nowhere else I could possibly think of being right now," whispered Korra, kissing Asami's head as she squeezed her hand through another contraction. "I wouldn't miss this to save the world."

Katara's eyes flashed momentarily with something like sadness, and Korra looked at her curiously. "Forgive me," she said softly. "I once heard my Avatar say the same thing to me." She gave Korra smile and a nod. "And Asami, you're doing wonderfully. You're almost there. When one contraction begins rolling into the next, you'll know it's time to push. But until then, just keep breathing."

She nodded in acknowledgment — and almost as quickly was suddenly grunting and straining anew, legs thrashing slightly in the water. Doing her best to keep breathing, she gripped Korra's hand harder than ever, much harder than she ever had gripped anything in her life. Maybe the time really was at hand.

Korra winced as Asami's grip made her knuckles pop and turn white. "Ah-AHH! Spirits, Asami, are you okay?"

"Deep breaths now," said Katara. "Deep and slow." She knelt down into the water in her clothes and moved Asami's legs into position. "It's nearly time, now. When you feel the urge to push, bear down with all your might."

"Okay," Asami grunted, feeling the small form shifting inside of her, readying to emerge for the first time. It seemed like too great a task, too difficult. If only Korra were the one carrying the child — she was stronger, she could withstand anything!

However, it was not to be. She had been the one to accept the Spirit-created seed, and she would be the one to birth their son. Therefore, when some unconscious knowledge told her that she needed to bear down, she did, grunting loudly, then gasping once she could no longer.

"It's too much!" she gasped at her two aides. "I'm… not going to… I can't!"

"Yes, you can," Katara said, gently but firmly. "And you will. I know it feels impossible the first time, but I assure you, the strength lies within!"

"You can do this," Korra murmured in agreement, stroking Asami's hair with a worried frown. She wished that she could bear this pain for her love, or somehow make it easier. "I know you can!"

Once again, Katara nodded almost imperceptibly towards Korra in recognition. "Now take a deep breath and try again. Deep breath, and… push!"

Two breaths went in and then out before Asami drew the largest one yet. Glancing between them, she looked back down to the roundness between her and her thighs before closing both eyes tightly, biting her lip, and pushing with all of her might.

It shifted! Barely so, but she felt him shift, felt her child move downward. Her body had already stretched in ways she couldn't believe it was capable of handling, and now it was yielding yet more, preparing the way for Korra's progeny.

Korra held her breath as Asami pushed, releasing the breath right along with her. "Good job, sweetie," she whispered. "You're doing great!"

"You are," agreed Katara. "Just keep breathing, and focus on that alone. Your breath is the key to all your strength, and especially in this. Now… when you've caught your breath, push again."

"It's… tearing me… apart! Korra, how could you do this to me?!" As soon as she said it, she regretted the words, and she weakly shook Korra's hand back and forth with her own. "I'm sorry, I just… this hurts, he feels so much bigger than he must be!"

"I'm sorry!" Korra stammered sincerely. "I'm so, so sorry, I—"

"Hush now," Katara soothed. "Be calm, both of you. Asami, I know it hurts, but everything is going well. You're doing wonderfully. Come now, again… push!"

Nodding again, Asami growled very quietly before giving one last push — that turned into another three pushes in quick succession after the first one. Finally, very vaguely, she sensed the mass had moved from inside of her to the brink of emergence.

"It's... COMINGGGGGGGGHH!"

"And that's the head beginning to crown," said Katara. "You're doing so well, Asami. Now just rest and breathe for a moment, nice and steady…"

"You're doing great!" Korra whispered, gently squeezing her lover's hands. "Almost there, see? You're almost done!"

"Yes, very nearly," Katara agreed again. She leaned down, ready to catch the crowning infant. "I believe if you bear down with all your might and keep pushing, like you did just before, you can be finished soon. Once his head and shoulders are free, it's over. Get ready to push, and… now!"

Three quick and powerful gusts of air, and then Asami gripped Korra's hand harder than before as she pushed with all her might, trying to visualise channeling the strength and power of her partner into that one moment of supreme clenching.

And it paid off. Though her entire lower area was partially numb where it wasn't in searing pain by now, she could distinctly feel everything shifting aside as the child emerged into the water.

Katara caught the child with expert hands and carefully cradled him beneath the water for a moment, quickly cleaning away most of the blood and caul from his little body. Then she lifted him above the water, and with no more than a gentle pat on the back, he coughed and sputtered a bit and began to cry.

"A strong, healthy little boy," Katara said with a smile. Right away, she laid the child face-down upon his mother's breast. "Here… hold him. He'll be hungry—that was as exhausting for him as it was for you!"

Korra peered in proud wonder over Asami's shoulder at the little baby wriggling in her arms. His skin was like Korra's, but his hair was dark and silky like his mother's, and there was already a big patch of it right on the top of his head. "Asami, he's—oh, he's perfect!"

"He is," Asami said in a drained, weary voice, one still laced with memories of the pain it had been through moments before. However, there was too much love underneath that for it to be overly depressing. "My little Hiroshi." Her eyes turned up to Korra's as the boy's mouth began to search for his mother's teat. "Is… is that name alright with you? I know we never said for certain..."

"Of course," replied Korra. She had been uncertain about the name at first, but she hadn't settled on anything she liked better to suggest; and the more she thought about it, the more she wanted Asami to have this. This little boy was her father's legacy in addition to Korra's, and Asami deserved to name him as such. "Hiroshi."

After showing Asami how to support her child's head in her elbow and guiding him to her breast, Katara placed her hands on the new mother's belly and massaged gently along both sides. "One more push, dear, for the afterbirth… and then I'll cut the cord and leave you two alone with your little one. You can use the second pool here to relax and enjoy his first moments."

In all the haste of their sudden need for this birthing room, Asami had missed that there even was a second pool. Obeying Katara's sage and experienced advice, she forced the remnants that had been needed to sustain Hiroshi until this day out and away from herself. Then Katara and Korra both helped her move to the secondary pool.

"Ohhhh," she groaned as the baby was handed back to her again. "That's better, I… is the water warmer, or did I just get cold while out of it?"

"A little of both," replied Katara, as she climbed out of the water and moved toward the door. "I'll leave you three alone; nobody will disturb you until you come out or call for an aide. I'm sure the water will be warm and comfortable as long as you wish it, Avatar Korra."

"Thank you, Master Katara," said Korra. While still in the pool she put her palm and fist together and gave a little bow to her former sifu. But when she looked back up, Katara had left.

"Look at him," Asami bade Korra, contented and aglow now that all the messier business had been taken care of. "There's not a thing unnatural about him… those terrible people in Republic City. Take one good look at Hiroshi and you know he's just another human. Well, a beautiful one, but no less human because of that."

Korra wrapped one arm around Asami's shoulders, placing her other hand gently on Hiroshi's little back. His skin was the softest, smoothest thing Korra had ever felt. "He is beautiful," she agreed. "And Republic City be damned! He's the most perfect, most wonderful thing in the whole world!"

As if on cue, Hiroshi took a deep breath and gave a tiny, delicate sneeze… which caused a circle of water to jump around his parents as though a rock had been dropped into the water.

"And he's a Waterbender!" Korra exclaimed excitedly. "Ohhhh man! Asami, this is great!"

"Yeah, great," Asami sighed wearily, though she was smiling. "I'm really looking forward to chasing a Bender around my house." Then she stroked her fingernails through her son's tiny tuft of hair. "I actually wish I was being sarcastic, but… somehow, I know I'm not. That sounds like a great life."

"I already know he'll be a fantastic Bender," Korra said with mock-confidence. "He is my son!" She kissed Asami's cheek and gazed contentedly at their baby, who seemed to have satisfied his hunger and was now drifting off to sleep. "Can I... can I hold him?"

"Of course." There was no hesitation; Hiroshi had already unlatched from her bosom, and therefore she handed him upward to her mother-father with a nearly-grateful smile.

Korra gasped immediately when she felt how light and delicate the little baby was in her arms. He stirred a little as Korra figured out how to hold up his head. Then he made a gurgling noise and opened his eyes. "Oh… Asami, his eyes! Look at his eyes! They're so pretty..."

"Let me see!" Asami begged, leaning over as far as possible. Sure enough, the boy had glittering aquamarine eyes, just the hue that a combination of hers and Korra's should be. It was breathtaking.

"Asami," she whispered, feeling tears welling in her eyes as she gazed at their perfect little son. "Whatever happens from here on out, I'm so glad that we get to share this… that our little boy is here. He's… oh, Spirits, he's so tiny and..." She couldn't keep the tears from rolling down her cheeks.

Sensing that Korra was overwhelmed, somehow more than she herself was, she leaned as close as possible and slid an arm around her back as they both supported Hiroshi's negligible weight, the warm water swirling around their bodies. Their own little newly-formed family.

"And he's ours. That's the most important thing." Leaning up, Asami's lips ghosted over Korra's very briefly. "To me, you and he are everything."

~ The End ~