Dec. 12th 2 years after the war

Toph and Aang knocked on the door and Zuko answered.

Zuko: Let me guess, you guys are hungry.

Aang: What? We can't come over just to see you guys anymore?

Zuko: You can, but you guys usually come for food.

Toph: Is it our fault you guys always have food?

Zuko: Fine, come in.

As soon as Toph and Aang walked in, they were suddenly surrounded by a sea of baked goods.

Aang: Whao! Where'd all this come from?

Zuko: Sandy's been baking.

Toph: Yeah, even I can see that.

Zuko: Something happened with her pregnancy that's making her want to bake. I think it's a combination of cravings and nesting. The weird part is, the stuff actually tastes good.

Toph: Everything?

Zuko: Everything. She took one of my mom's cook books and she's baked everything bake-able in there. By the way, if you ever need muffins, and I mean ever, just let us know.

Sandy walked into the room, licking an icing spreader.

Sandy: Hey guys, I just baked a cake if you want some. Oh, and feel.

Sandy grabbed heir hands and put them on her stomach.

Toph: What? I don't feel... whoa!

Aang: What? What ...whoa! When did the babies start kicking?

Sandy: A few nights ago. I woke Zuko up to feel.

-

Mai and Ty Lee hadn't been in town for more than 5 minutes and Ty Lee had already been checked out 14...no wait...15 times. Ty Lee flipped her bangs and smiled at her admirer. Mai groaned for the 16the time (she also groaned when she entered the town and the 1st things she saw were twins in matching pink dresses and bows).

Ty Lee: I think I'm gonna like this place. There are like so many cute boys here.

Mai: This better not take long. I wanna make it out of here before I enter a pie in the county fair.

Ty Lee: Why are you here again?

Mai: Well, why are you here?

Ty Lee: I told you, I want to be a doctor someday and an internship here looks really good an application for medical school. You're the one who has the mystery reason.

Mai: Fine, I'm here because...I want to be a doctor too.

Ty Lee: You are? That's so cool! We could get to work together.

Mai: Yeah that'd be a hoot...

-

Sandy walked into Aaron's holding 6 baskets of baked goods.

Sandy: Hey Aaron, I baked you muffins.

Aaron: With what?

Sandy: What do you mean with what?

Aaron: When you put in the eggs did you use the yolk or the shell?

Sandy: The yolk...that's the harder white part right? Because I threw the gooey yellow part away.

Aaron: What?!

Sandy: I'm kidding. I know what a yolk is. Come on, they're apple-cinnamon.

Aaron: Are you sure you used cinnamon, not sneezing powder that looked like cinnamon.

Sandy: They're not exactly like the last batch. In fact, they're edible.

Aaron: I'll try one when Dr. Nickels comes by for lunch because if I start choking and sneezing the same time again...

Sandy: I'm still sorry about that. But these muffins are totally safe and I have a basket of cupcakes for Beq, too.

Aaron: Ok, I'll give them too her. She'll have to eat them when Liana is asleep. She likes to grab things.

Sandy: Aww, you're getting close to the baby too.

Aaron: Well, she had to bring her on a few dates...

Sandy: I saw them the other day. Liana had little pigtails with bows.

Aaron: and?

Sandy: And she said you put them in

Aaron: ...no one heard her, right?

-

Almost immediately after Sandy stepped out of Aaron's, Ty Lee ran up to her and hugged her tight.

Ty Lee: Sandy! Look at you! You're pregnant!

Sandy: Yes I am.

Ty Lee: It's more than one right?

Sandy: actually it's four.

Ty Lee: four?! Well I can tell you're happy about it. You're aura's so pink!

Sandy: Well, that is my favorite color.

Ty Lee: Me two! And I'm going to be even pinker in a few years. I decided to go to medical school and become a doctor.

Sandy: That's great. Hey, I've got about a million dozen baked goods. Do you want to come over and have some?

Ty Lee: Sure.

-

After delivering the rest of the baskets and picking Toky up from school, Sandy took Ty Lee home. Mai was there waiting for someone to open the door.

Mai: Finally. It's freezing out here.

Sandy: We're actually supposed to get some snow.

Ty Lee: Mai, what are you doing here? You said you didn't want to look for anyone?

Mai: I just didn't want to look for Sandy and the rest of that goodie-goodie gang.

Ty Lee: Wait, you're not here for Zuko are you?

Mai: So what if I am? I can't be friends with someone I've known since I was 5?

Sandy: You can't.

Mai: Well, can't we let Zuko decide if I can be friends with him? Or are you one of those crazy controlling wives who drive their husbands away?

-

Ty Lee and Sandy sat on the couch and stared at Mai who was sitting in an arm chair across the room. Toky was busy coloring on the floor.

Ty Lee: Why did you let her in? You know why she's here.

Sandy: Well, I can't really prove that's why she's here. Besides, If she's gonna try anything, I'd rather she try it here, where I can watch her.

Ty Lee: ok...and this has nothing to do with her controlling wife comment?

Sandy: Well...

Mai: You don't have to whisper. I know you're talking about me.

Sandy: Well, I would tell you what I think of you right now but Toky's too young to hear these words.

Mai: Can I help it Zuko can't resist me?

Sandy: Mai, are you a clown?

Mai: Uh, no?

Sandy: Then don't make me laugh.

Mai: Oh, so you forgot about our kiss in the barn?

Sandy: It was dark, he thought it was me and you know it.

Ty Lee: Huh?

Sandy: After Azula died, and you brought us Appa. When Mai's weird little gang was attacking and Zuko & I stayed back and held them off. We met in the barn but she was there and she stole my kiss.

Ty Lee: *gasp* Mai, how could you?

Mai: Easily.

Sandy: Well if he can't resist you then why am I carrying his babies?

Mai: Oh, you're pregnant? I thought you just got fat.

Sandy: WHAT?!

Mai: Well, with all these cookies around, it wouldn't be too hard.

Toky: My mommy's not fat. She's the prettiest mommy in the whole world.

Sandy: Thanks Toky but you don't have to get involved, okay? Now go get ready for dance.

Toky got up and scurried into her room. Sandy turned to Ty Lee and cupped a hand over her ear.

Sandy: Can you watch her while I take Toky to dance? I don't want her going through our stuff or something.

-

Xiaoyu: Mmmm why did you bring me these now? I have a big jazz showcase this week and if I get out of shape from your cookies...

Sandy: A few cookies won't get you out of shape in a week.

Xiaoyu licked the crumbs off her fingers then reached for another cookie.

Sandy: So, um, someone showed up today.

Xiaoyu: Ty Lee? I saw her already. She said my hair looked extra glossy and that just made my day.

Sandy: No, someone else too.

Xiaoyu: Who?

Sandy: Vampira herself.

Xiaoyu: Mai? What's she doing here?

Sandy: I don't know for 100% sure but it's a safe bet she's trying to steal Zuko.

Xiaoyu: Like he would ever leave you for her.

Sandy: I know...

Xiaoyu: Trust me.

-

When Zuko got home it was quiet; creepy quiet. He crept in and formed a fireball in his hand. He saw a pink blur out of the corner of his eye. He looked in the direction of the pepto-blur but nothing was there. When he looked ahead again, Ty Lee was standing right in front of him.

Ty Lee: Hi Zuko.

Zuko: Ty Lee? What are you doing here?

Ty Lee: Sandy said I could stay here until she got back from Toky's dance class.

Mai: Eh-hem!

Ty Lee: Oh yeah, Mai's here too.

Mai: Sup? Hey, Ty Lee is that a pink butterfly that just flew into Toky's room?

Ty Lee: where?

Mai pushed her in Toky's room, slammed the door, and stuck a chair under the doorknob so that it locked.

Zuko: What did you do that for?

Mai: I wanted to ask you how your marriage is going.

Zuko: Uh...great....why?

Mai: You hesitated. What's wrong?

Zuko: You're asking and it's weird.

Mai: I just want to make sure you made the right choice.

Zuko: What do you mean?

Mai: Don't act like you don't remember our kiss in the barn.

Zuko didn't bother answering. Instead he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

Mai: That's funny; you're trying to pretend it was bad.

Zuko: It almost ruined everything between Sandy and me.

Mai: But you liked it didn't you? In the moment...

Zuko looked down. Mai pressed up close to him and whispered with her lips just centimeters from his ear.

Mai: I'll let you think about it. I'll be back tonight.

Before Zuko could respond, Mai had left. Zuko was so stuck in his own thoughts that he couldn't even hear Ty Lee pounding on the door in the background. All he could think of was this one time when he was a kid...

-

While 9-year-old Zuko was brushing his teeth, Azula elbowed into him and started brushing hers.

Zuko: Don't you have your own bathroom?

Azula: I needed to ask you something.

Zuko: like what?

Azula: Well, as prince of the firenation, you may very well become firelord someday.

Zuko: And...

Azula: Have you thought about whose going to be firelady?

Zuko: What?! Like a girl?! Ew!

Azula: Maybe it won't be as weird if you married someone you already knew. Maybe...

Zuko: Well...Xi wants to be a dancer....so, Sandy.

Azula: Well I thought Mai would work better. She's more suited to be Firelady.

Zuko: But...Mai's boring.

Azula: Just think about it.

As Zuko over with his tooth brush, Azula finished brushing her teeth and spit o his toothbrush.

Azula: Oops.

Azula smirked and skipped out back to her room.

-

The next day, at twilight (and that is twilight the time not the book craze that has come to annoy me) Zuko, Xiaoyu, Sandy, Azula, Ty Lee and Mai were in the garden catching fire flies in jars. Ursa came out talking with Xiaoyu's father and Mai's parents.

Ursa: Xiaoyu! Mai! You're parents are here. It's time to go.

Azula "humph"-ed and plopped down on a rock by the turtle-duck pond. She had hoped Zuko would hang out with Mai more and stay away from those annoying friends of his.

Ty Lee: Where are my parents?

Ursa: They're not here yet. Sorry sweetie. Sandy, I think it's time for you to go in too. And Azula, did you finish your literature homework?

Azula: Literature is a waste of time mom!

Ursa: Young lady, go finish you're homework.

Everyone went in except Zuko and Ty Lee. They took everyone's jars and let the fireflies go.

Zuko: Umm...Ty Lee, You're a girl right?

Ty Lee: duh!

Zuko: Well, I need some girl help.

Ty Lee: You have a crush? I didn't think you were capable!

Zuko: It's not like a crush but, last night Azula told me I need to find a firelady and I'm stuck between these too girls.

Ty Lee: Tell me about them.

Zuko: Well the one is pretty and nice and smart and fun. The other one...she's kind of pretty, she could be nice, I guess she's smart...she's not fun.

Ty Lee: well, if she's no fun, why do you like her?

Zuko: I guess...I don't.

-

By the time Zuko was done with his flashback, Sandy was at work singing at the inn. She was running alittle late so Zuko had to put Toky to bed by himself.

Toky: Daddy, Do you think mommy will come home soon?

Zuko: Yeah, I think she just did an extra encore or something. Goodnight.

Zuko kissed Toky on the forehead. He half smiled at her as he closed the door half way. When he went into the living room he saw Beary sitting on the couch. As he picked it up, he heard the door open.

Mai: Knock knock...I'm back.

-

Sandy held a heart-shaped cookie under Sokka's nose until he woke up. He was napping on the couch in his living room. When he woke up, he tried to bite the cookie but Sandy pulled it away.

Sandy: Hey, this is not for you. These cookies are for Ursa and Hakoda's anniversary.

Sokka: Treat tease. What are you doing here?

Sandy: dropping off the cookies and avoiding going home to Mai.

Sokka: Ah, I've heard.

Sandy: Now, enough about me. What's wrong with you?

Sokka: I'm tired. I can't be tired at 10?

Sandy: Not when you woke up at 11.

Sokka: Ok, fine. But you know I'm still alittle depressed about Suki.

Sandy: Wanna know what I think?

Sokka: No but you're going to tell me anyway.

Sandy: I think that if you and Suki love each other enough, you'll keep bumping into each other for 2 to 3 years and then you'll eventually get married, adopt a child, and then she'll have quadruplets.

Sokka: What?

Sandy: I've played runaway bride before. Zuko and I found each other again and you know how that worked out.

Sokka: That's different. Zuko was changing. I haven't changed. I'm meat and sarcasm guy as always.

Sandy: Maybe she needs a change.

-

Zuko: You know, I didn't ask you to come back.

Mai: Scared of you're wife?

Zuko: No, I just want this to end as easily as possible.

Mai: What?

Zuko: I've made plenty of mistakes in my life...

Mai: And we're off...

Zuko: But marrying Sandy wasn't one of them. I love her and you are not going to change that.

Mai: You think so? I think I know a way to change you're mind.

As Mai stepped toward Zuko and he stepped away, Toky popped out of her room.

Toky: Daddy, can I have my Bear...

Mai: Shut up you little monster! We are busy!

Toky's lip started to tremble and her eyes watered. It didn't take more than a second for Zuko to react.

Zuko: Get out!

Mai: Excuse me?

Zuko: Get out now! I don't want you here! I don't want you want you near my kid! I don't want anything to do with you! Now get out before I do anything I'll regret doing in front of my kid!

Mai: Fine! You're loss!

She turned around, stormed out and finished with a door slam.

Zuko: Here's you're bear Toky.

Toky: Thanks...Why is Ty Lee sleeping on my stuffed animals?

-

Sokka watched Jian as he crawled around. Ursa and Hakoda went out for their anniversary, Katara was out on a date with Aang, and he was left to baby sit. He picked up Jian before the kid could pull Katara's water pouch apart. Then there was a knock on the door. He had to bring Jian to the door. Standing there was Suki.

Suki: Hi Sokka.