Details of Opal in labor with first bopal baby scenario till when the baby is born? How does that day go down? How old are Opal and Bolin? Mako’s reaction? Bolin and Opal’s reaction? Korra and Asami? The crying? Any fainting? Any tornados started in the hospital room?
I’m not sure if I’m ever going to do a full fic on Meiyu’s birth, but I do plan on doing a little one shot of the aftermath. For now, I’ll just give a quick summary. (Oh, and Bolin and Opal are in their mid to late twenties).
Opal’s first birth is pretty normal. No complications or extra long labor or anything like that, but she does go into labor a week early. Opal’s water broke in the morning, and labor started early that afternoon. Opal’s panicking because her mom’s not there, she promised she’d be there, but since it’s a week early, Suyin and Baatar Sr are still in Zaofu, and it’ll take them at least a day or two to get to Republic City by train, and hours by airship. There was a big thunderstorm that day, and it poured for hours, so even the airship would be delayed. Bolin calls the police department to let Mako and Lin know what’s happening, but they’re on a case today and won’t be in contact until that evening.
The couple always planned to give birth on Air Temple Island, (Pema’s midwives came highly recommended) but Opal can’t walk to the ferry, so Bolin saddles up Juicy and flies Opal over to the Temple in the middle of the storm. They’re all soaked once they get there, but Pema and the midwives take Opal and get her situated right away while the other nomads take care of Juicy.
Labor lasts for hours, and Bolin tries his best to comfort Opal, but she’s still in a panic and WOW there’s that Beifong strength! Bolin’s hand is very sore for hours. There are no tornados, but Opal does let out some powerful gusts with her breathing. Bolin doesn’t faint, but he does sneak a peak when Opal has to start pushing, and he goes deathly pale and has to sit down. But that evening Meiyu is finally born; she's got a powerful set of lungs. But she calms down once she’s bundled up in her parents’ arms. Opal cries. Bolin cries a lot.
Mako and Lin don’t get back to the station until late, and they rush over to the island as soon as they hear what happened. By that point Opal is asleep, and Lin is content to just stay overnight and check on her in the morning. She and Pema go call Su and Baatar. Mako goes and finds Bolin holding Meiyu. Mako doesn’t cry, but he’s overwhelmed by what he’s seeing. His baby brother is holding a baby of his own. His baby brother is a father. And Bolin is tired but happy, and he lets Mako hold her, and it’s just really emotional for both of them. And that part is the fic I’m gonna write.
(I have no idea where Asami or Korra fit into this yet. I imagine they’re off doing business things that they can’t get out of because Opal’s a week early).
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I like that you made one of the Bopal babies a Firebender. That's always been headcannon of mine. We see Mako and Bolin and their Earth Kingdom heritage and family, but never their Fire Nation side. That's something I hope future comics (and you) will explore. Your bopal babies are very cute and they're my favorite that I've seen
Thank you so much!! Very few people comment on my bopal babies. I’m glad you like them! :D
I definitely wanted Bolin and Opal to have a firebender in the family. One of the things I really liked about LoK from the beginning was mixed heritage benders and multi-element families. What’s interesting in LoK is that heritage seems to be tied to bending more than blood. Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi are all Aang and Katara’s children, and their DNA is all 50/50 Water Tribe and Air Nomad. But Tenzin the airbender only connects with his Air Nomad side, Kya the waterbender only connects with her Water Tribe side, and Bumi the non-bender seems to be neither. You can even tell in their clothes. Tenzin only wears traditional master airbender robes, Kya only wears Water Tribe dresses, and Bumi, until he got airbending after Harmonic Convergence, wore his United Forces jacket, which symbolizes his neutrality.
There also was so much emphasis on heritage when airbenders started popping up all over the Earth Kingdom. Tenzin insisted that because these people could suddenly air bend, that meant the Air Nomad culture was theirs and they had to learn it, even though these people had been born and raised in the Earth Kingdom, and had Earth Kingdom families that went back generations. He acted as if they suddenly weren’t Earth Kingdom anymore, they were automatically Air Nomad. That’s such a different way of looking at things.
I also think it’s interesting that this mostly affects the older generation. Bolin and Mako also bend different elements. but other than the colors of their clothes (which are muted with grays and browns, with only a bit of bright color) they don’t really talk or do much to imply they feel more one way or the other towards their heritage. Also I like that Grandma Yin knew that Mako was a firebender and not an earthbender, and yet still loved him just as much.
I really wanted Bolin and Opal to kids with different bending abilities, and it came to me that we didn’t know who Opal’s grandfather is. I’m just assuming that Baatar’s family is all Earth Kingdom, but we don’t know about the heritage of Suyin’s father. If her father was Water Tribe (specifically Sokka was the theory) that meant Opal would have the Water Tribe heritage, so she could potentially have a waterbending child. This would mean that between Opal (air, water, earth), and Bolin, (earth, fire), they could potentially be the first Avatar family to have a bending child of each element. So Kiyo and Chun came to be (I had already thought of Meiyu and San). However, since we never found out who Su’s father was, we never found out if Opal was part Water Tribe. So since I wanted to keep the four elements, and I wanted Bolin and Mako to adopt or help orphaned children, I changed it so Chun was adopted, but he still fills the waterbender slot.
I really like your idea that Bolin rescued Chun from a burning building and then they adopted him. I think you should do that idea, I mean, but it's your choice. I hope you update Lives and Times soon
That’s probably the option I’ll go with. I’ve been growing more fond of it, and my other option of Chun being left on Bolin and Opal’s doorstep is incredibly cliche. Plus, it gives that tie to Chun’s future; he grows up to be a firefighter. :)
The Lives and Times of Bolin and Opal - Night Time Worries
Opal finds Bolin awake late at night, and they share some worries over their future family. Set a few years after Book 4.
Kick. Ow. Kick. Ow. Kick. Ow.
Opal blearily opened her eyes as yet another bout of sharp pains tortured her. Rolling onto her back, she glared down and poked her swollen stomach. "Hey. Quiet in there! Mommy needs to sleep." In retaliation, the baby gave one more kick before going still.
Opal sighed and blinked at the ceiling. She'd finally gotten over the worst stages of morning sickness, thank the spirits, but now came the kicking stage of pregnancy, and Opal wondered if she'd ever get a full night's sleep again. She tugged up her blanket and closed her eyes, hoping she could finally drift off to dreamland. Instinctively she tilted her head towards the familiar warmth of Bolin, but found nothing.
Wait, what? Blinking again, she took a sharp intake of breath. Her husband wasn't in bed. Pabu lay curled on his pillow, but the sheets were empty.
That was weird. Bolin usually slept like a log, so what was he doing up at this time of night? Reluctantly, she rolled out of bed and yanked on her robe, then shuffled into the hallway on her search.
Eventually, she noticed light spilling from the kitchen. Bolin sat at the table, head in his hands and a pen between his teeth, staring down at sheets of paper strewn in front of him. His brow was furrowed in concentration as his knee bounced nervously.
"Bolin?"
Bolin let out a squawk in surprise and nearly tipped over his chair. "O-Opal?! You scared me!"
"Sorry," she giggled. "What are you doing up so late?"
Hastily he started shuffling the papers and blocking them from view. "What, these? They're nothing! Nothing at all! I don't know what you're talking about!"
Oh, keeping secrets, huh? Well, Bolin had always been terrible at keeping secrets, especially from Opal. A sly grin crossed her lips as she slid across the room. "Really? Nothing? Then you won't mind if I take a look, will you?" She snatched up a loose paper with almost unnatural speed.
"Hey, give that back! Opal!" Bolin tried to grab the sheet, but Opal slipped away and glided around the table. Even five months pregnant and she still had the airbenders' signature grace and fluidity.
She sat next to him as she glossed over the paper. It was a bunch lists and equations in Bolin's sloppy handwriting. "Bolin, this looks like your bank account."
He shifted nervously as he avoided her gaze. "That's because it is. I've been doing calculations. You know, making sure we have everything in order when the baby comes."
Opal smiled softly. Bolin had never been very good at math; usually she helped with all the budgeting in the house. "Bolin, we've done this a couple times before. I thought we were ready for the baby. Was there something new we didn't account for?"
"N-No, I was just double-checking." He stared at the table, running his fingers through his hair. He was still on edge; she could feel his knee constantly bouncing.
Reaching to grasp his hand, she gave him a gentle smile. "Bolin, what's wrong? You know you can tell me anything."
Silence for a moment or two before he let out a shaky breath. "I'm just… I'm just worried. I want to do everything right for this baby; I'm responsible for this baby. I have to be prepared for everything." Opal didn't miss how his voice started to waver. He finally met her gaze; the fear in his eyes made her heart leap into her throat. "Opal, I'm terrified."
Opal was still with shock. "What? But you've been excited this whole time. You were so happy when I told you I was pregnant."
"Of course I'm happy!" He squeezed her fingers. "I want this baby so much. I've wanted to have a family with you for a long time. But now that it's happening… I'm not responsible enough to take care of a kid. I mean, look at me! I'm a huge goofball! I can't be a father! I have no idea how to be a parent! I barely remember my own parents!" His eyes glistened, and he wiped at them. "I can't ask my mom or dad for advice. I don't have a lot to go off of. The closest I have to a parent is Mako, and I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not Mako. I'm not cut out for this. I'm afraid I'm gonna mess this kid up. But they've got you as the good parent, so I can at least try to do some of this stuff." He shook a few papers, then buried his face in his hand. "I'm so scared I'm gonna fail you both."
Opal's throat twisted as she gripped Bolin's fist. He had been feeling all this the whole time? Her chest ached and the roar of repressed fears buzzed in her head. Hearing Bolin's confession reminded her of the insecurities and terrors that had been plaguing her since the day she visited Kya with a stomach ache and learned the news. It was an odd mix of joy and terror, and for months she'd been able to push joy to the front. Now the terror was back; seeing her husband in such turmoil was a reminder of just how big a task this would be. Especially since, well…
"Oh, Bo… I'm so sorry." She ran her thumb over his knuckles. "You've been so strong. I had no idea you were this upset." She sighed. "I know you can't ask your parents for advice. This must be so hard for you. I thought you were so happy! You've been so enthusiastic about everything with this baby. And you're already great with the airbender kids; it's like you're a natural. You just get them on another level. I've never had any doubt you'd be a great father. If anyone's the bad parent, it's me!"
Bolin shot up straight. He gasped, mouth hanging open in shock. "What? You the bad parent? Opal, you're amazing! Why would you think that?"
Oh, beautiful, innocent Bolin. "That's sweet, but may I remind you exactly who you married? Beifong women don't have a great track record when it comes to motherhood."
Her eyes went glassy as she stared at their hands. She couldn't bare to look him in the face. "My great-grandparents kept Grandma Toph under lock and key; they treated her like glass. Almost no one knew she existed until she ran away with Avatar Aang, that's how bad it was. Then Grandma Toph did the exact opposite with Mom and Aunt Lin and let them do whatever they wanted. Look what happened! My mom became a criminal for a decade, and Aunt Lin almost destroyed every relationship with all her loved ones and held onto a grudge for thirty years, and she almost killed herself from stress! Then we get to my mom. She pampered us all our lives and kept us in her 'perfect paradise…'" She rolled her eyes. "I felt so trapped in those domes. Always encouraged to reach my fullest potential, but only if I stayed home to do it. The five of us hardly had any friends, always kept away in the estate. We were always on display or in someone's shadow. And in the end I left, and Junior betrayed her for a dictator! And she's still on my back about raising our baby in Zaofu. I've told her a hundred times we're staying in Republic City, but she won't listen!" She brushed away her hair as her breaths became shorter and shorter. "Even when I wished for more freedom, I thought we were close, but now we're fighting all the time and drifting further and further apart. And that's what's going to happen, Bolin! I'm going to be a Beifong and screw up this kid, and they're going to hate me! Just like Baatar Jr, just like Aunt Lin, just like Grandma Toph! So you have to be the good parent, Bolin. I'm the liability, not you."
She hadn't noticed the tears running down her cheeks until she finished. Her grip on Bolin's fingers was crushing. She couldn't bare to look at him as she sniffled and choked back a sob. Now it was all out on the table. She was half afraid that now Bolin would realize what a mistake this was and leave her. Deep down she knew that wasn't true, Bolin would never leave her, but she still wasn't sure how he'd react. She risked it and looked.
His eyes were wide and watery, snot running from his nose and his shoulders trembling from hiccups. Of course he was crying. Why did she expect anything different?
"Oh, Opal!" He wailed as he pulled her from her chair and into his lap. Even with all this new baby weight, he could still lift her like it was nothing. "I didn't know you felt that way! I don't care about your crazy family history; I love you!" He wept into her shoulder, soaking her pajamas.
Opal couldn't hold it in anymore and sobbed into his neck. She wrapped herself around him and squeezed as close as her stomach would allow. She knew that they were acting ridiculous, but she didn't care. They were both overtired, overworked, and so overwhelmed by the journey ahead of them that they just had to let out their nerves. When they finally calmed down enough that their sobs turned to hiccups, Bolin nuzzled Opal's hair. "We're two big messes, aren't we?"
She leaned back and pressed her forehead to his. "We sure are," she hiccuped.
"Well then I guess we're perfect for each other, huh? Two peas in a pod."
Opal giggled as she placed a kiss on his nose. How did he always manage to make her smile again?
Ow!
She gave an exasperated sigh as she rubbed her stomach. "Hey, you! I thought I told you to go to sleep." Another kick, almost apologetic, answered her. "I hope this doesn't become a thing with you. I need rest, and so do you!"
Bolin's eyes widened in awe. "Is that the baby? Is it kicking? Right now? Can I feel?"
Opal pushed back her robe to give better access, then gently guided Bolin's warm hand to her stomach. His fingers held a slight tremble, but her thumb running over his knuckles calmed them. He settled into a reverent silence as they waited.
Kick.
It wasn't a particularly hard kick, Opal didn't cry out in pain, but it was enough for Bolin to feel through her nightgown.
"Ah ha! I felt it! Oh my gosh, I felt it!" Bolin almost vibrated with excitement, his eyes wide and sparkling. "Does it hurt?"
"Sometimes," Opal replied, placing her hand fully on top of his. "Right now it just feels weird. It makes it hard to sleep."
Giving her belly a quick rub, he smiled as he spoke to it. "Hey there, Baby Beifong! Daddy's here! Now, I know you're really eager to come out and meet everyone, but your mother needs to be able to sleep at night. She's doing such a good job taking care of you, but she needs rest too. So lighten up on the kicking, Buddy. Please?"
There was a long stretch of silence, the baby not moving. Bolin smirked. "There! Took care of it, Sweetie."
Kick.
"Okay, Buddy, now you're making me look bad."
Opal rolled her eyes and pat his hand. "Now now, you two, quit fighting."
He chuckled before tapping her stomach. "I'm just kidding. We can't wait to see you, Baby. We love you already."
"We do." Opal caught his eyes, and they both smiled.
The baby gave one last kick before settling. Bolin gave a satisfied nod before sweeping Opal up in his arms like a princess and headed for the bedroom. "All right, that's enough excitement for tonight. Time for sleep."
Opal stretched out her foot and smacked the light switch before they headed down the hall. "Careful, Bo. You're carrying two now."
"Right, right, precious cargo, I get it!"
Opal giggled as she looped her arms around his neck. The journey ahead of them was still daunting, and her heart thudded in trepidation. She glanced up at Bolin’s sweet face. Well, at least she had her best friend taking that journey with her.
Headcanon that when bopal has their first baby, Mako comes over to meet the child and from the moment the baby is in his arms, he is enamored. Mako comes over more frequently to visit the bopal baby, and brings treats like sweet buns and cookies and things (once the the kid is old enough to eat solid food). Bolin and Opal are like "mako please stop ruining our child's dinner" but Mako doesn't stop because he loves to spoil his niece/nephew.
Mako is a baby magnet. All babies love Mako. And Mako is good with kids from infancy up to about 10 or 11. Then they turn into little monsters (as anyone who went through middle school will tell you), and then when they mellow a little as teenagers he gets along with them again.
The first time he meets Meiyu, he sits down and holds her. It takes all of five seconds for him to decide that he would die for this baby, no question. He comes over to Bolin and Opal’s all the time. He says it’s to help out around the house and give Bolin and Opal a break, because parenting is stressful, but it’s mostly because he just loves his niece so much. Yes, he does sneak her treats whenever he comes over, and he does the same with all subsequent Bopal babies. Opal’s the one who freaks out about spoiling their dinner, but Bolin doesn’t mind as much because he rarely sees Mako so happy as when he’s around their kids.
Of course, Bolin gets back at Mako when Mako has his own kids and sneaks treats to them when he comes over. But they help take care of each other’s kids so often that the kids feel like they actually have three(four?*) parents instead of just two(one?*).
(* the amount of exact parents is still up in the air because I haven’t decided on Mako’s partner.)
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I had a dream last night that bopal had twins and Bolin was so excited to have two bundles of joy in one, and they were faternal girls who looked nothing alike and one got airbending real early so bo was like "okay, this is it, this is my chance to teach my other baby jewel earth ending and pass down my awesomeness," but the other twin was kinda shy and grouchy and was like "dad, I'm not a bender" but later then she started bending flames from her hands and Bolin was like "omg mako help,"
Pfff that’s great. XD And that’s probably what would happen. I already have a similar idea for one of my bopal babies, Kiyo. Bolin frantically calls Mako to come over and help after Kiyo accidentally catches the living room on fire.
What do you think could be the next subset of earthbending? We already have Metalbending which is something that is difficult but any earthbender can learn, Lavabending which is sort of implied as a natural born talent (whether creating lava can't be learned and bending existing lava you can etc who knows lol) yet we cannot say for sure.
Other than someone figuring out platinumbending (which would make them OP, so I’d prefer not), I’ve been wondering about glassbending as a subset. Glass is made from super heated sand, which we already have precedent for with the sandbenders. I don’t know if glass is too much of a stretch for bending, with the chemical reactions vs physical reactions used in making glass. But I think that could be an interesting direction. Can earthbenders make glass, but once it’s in its glass state they can’t anymore? If an earthbender was to fix a broken window, could they do it with normal glassbending, or would you need to be a lavabender to heat the glass to the point where you can meld pieces together? (If one lacks lavabending, have a firebender on hand to help with the heat).
For my Bopal baby headcanons, Meiyu experiments with glassbending in her jewelry business. She keeps a pool of lava going as a heat source when she works to more easily manipulate the glass.
