Katara was sitting in the garden watching the turtle doves in the pond and sighed as the heat felt like it was going to suffocate her. She leaned back on the bench pulling on the sash that was holding her official robes closed and sighed another breath when the hot air hit the skin on her arms.
She lived in the Fire nation for two years and she was still not used the way the sun would heat the skin to the point where you could feel it blistering but the last few months it had become almost unbearable. She rubbed her hands down her extended stomach and sighed again.
She was 8 months pregnant and between the heat, the way she could not sleep longer then a few hours and the stress of helping run the Fire Nation and she was sneaking off more and more to just breath.
She sat up pushing her robes all the way off, so she was just in her dress and after a quick look around she stood up and pushed the red dress off, so she was left in her blue slip and bindings and sighed in relief. She pulled her hair up into a loose knot on the top of her head and sat back down on the bench closing her eyes.
She had felt off all day, through the meetings she felt sluggish and unfocused and even walking to the garden she felt an echoing pain in her back that no matter what she did, would not pass.
She stood up and walked over to the pond under a tree to sit on the edge and sink her bare feet in the water and let her element sooth her in a way that nothing else could. After a moment she laid back in the grass, eyes closed and felt a peace she had not had in weeks. She thought back to the night before when Zuko had woke up to find her walking in circles on the balcony.
-/-
Zuko rolled over reaching to pull his wife closer to him and found empty sheets. He sat up listening in the dark room for the sounds of his wife but when he found silence, he gave a small frown and stood up to seek her out. He walked barefoot and chest bare through the room to the door that led to the sitting area of the Fire Lords private chambers, he gave a hard push to the large doors but still found silence when they slid open.
He gave another frown, paused to listen and hearing nothing he started to worry as he walked over to the balcony that was firmly closed. He looked through the glass and gave a small smile as his heart slowed back in to a relaxing rhythm when he saw Katara walking in circles before pausing to lean on the railing with closed eyes and peaceful look on her face.
He carefully pushed the door opened and leaned against the jam, "Hey." He whispered softly.
She stood up and turned to him with a soft smile, "Hey." She said back simply, hands resting on her stomach rubbing small circles.
He pushed off the door frame and walked over to stand in front of her, "What are you guys doing out here?" He asked softly, hands going to rest on the soft swell of her stomach.
Katara gave a small shake of her head, "We couldn't sleep." She whispered, resting her hands on his.
Zuko gave a small frown, "Anything I can do?" His thumbs brushing back and forth on the side of her stomach and gave a small chuckle when he felt their child kick him.
Katara shook her head, "No, it's just been sooooo hot and I can't get comfortable and YOUR child will not stop moving. And we didn't want to wake you up, so we came out here." She sighed and moved her hands to her back giving it a small rub, "I have just been feeling off all week."
Zuko gave a small frown, "Have you talked to the healers?" He asked stepping closer, so her stomach pushed against his and gave another small laugh when he felt his child kick him again.
Katara rolled her eyes, "See your child…... its like he knows you are here….." She gave a sigh and closed her eyes, "The healers said that this is normal for this being this far along and it probably doesn't help that I am a water bender and not used to the heat of the Fire Nation. …. I struggle when I am not a million months pregnant."
Zuko smiled and fell to his knees to kiss her stomach, "Well SHE is just ready to meet her mom and dad." He gave her stomach and quick kiss and whispered, "Be nice to your mama… she is not used to this wonderful weather like we are and she is doing all the work to carry you around all day."
Katara smiled down at Zuko and threaded her fingers through his hair, "HE is not going to like this weather either, he is gonna be like me and think the heat is to much." She sighed arching her back, so her stomach pushed into Zuko's face.
He looked up at her through hooded eyes, "Back still hurt?" he said frowning again.
She nodded, brushing her fingers down over his face and over his scar, until her fingers landed on his lips.
He gave her fingers a quick kiss, then stood up and turned her around bracing her hands on the railing. "Lean over." He whispered in her ear.
She leaned so her elbows touched the railing and then gave a throaty sighed when his fingers began messaging her lower back. He took a moment to concentrate, warming his hands so they were like a heating bag while still massaging and Karata moaned in ecstasy as the pain began to ebb and finally flow away.
"Keep that up and I will not let you leave the Palace tomorrow." She said eyes closed as he messaged her back with heat, but the cool breeze hit her face and she was finally relaxing.
He chuckled, "I can stay home tomorrow… the hospital will understand if I change my visit to another day." He said pushing harder into the side of her spine.
Katara shook her head and sighed "No, they have been waiting weeks for this, the children want to see the Fire Lord…... plus, I have meetings all morning so it would be useless." She arched her back, so his fingers pressed higher.
Zuko frowned, "Why don't you push the meetings back into the afternoon and sleep in tomorrow?" He said rubbing his hands up her back.
Katara sighed and pushed her hips back into his, making him groan, "Because I can't sleep once the sun rises… it's too hot… plus if I wait for afternoon meetings, I am too tiered and its even hotter."
Zuko grabbed her hips, pulling her tight against his growing hardness, "Then you need to come and get some sleep while its cooler." He whispered into her ear, as he leaned over her back, pressing tight, his heat radiating into her.
She moaned and arched into him, pushing even harder against him making him groan as he slipped his hands around to cup her breasts. "It's too hot in that bed with you… you are like a burning sun, Love." She whispered starting to rotate her hips making his forehead slip to hang on her shoulder.
"Katara." He whispered, his hands pulling her blue slip down to cup her breasts, pulling at her nipples until they were hard pebbles. "I want you…. are you in pain?"
Katara moaned, "The only pain I am feeling is wanting you Zuko... please." She whispered. She gripped the balcony railing as Zuko hand slid down her stomach to cup her through her slip. "Please." She whispered throwing her head back and pushing back harder against him.
Zuko gasped, gripping her hips and pushing back, "Stand up for a moment." He whispered huskily wanting to pull her slip off. When she shook her head at him, not wanting to stop the pressing against him he growled at her and his hands began to heat up until her slip began to burn off her skin.
"Zuko." She gasped, "You can't do that every time you want my slip off." She said as she pushed against him harder, arching her back.
Zuko gave a small chuckle, "Of course I can." He said pulling at his own stings until his pants were only being held up by the friction between his hips and hers. "I want to see my beautiful wife in the moon light." He whispered pulling her up so her back was flush against his chest. Her head tipping on his shoulder. "Beautiful." He whispered as he looked down to see her breasts full and heavy on top of her extended stomach. He tilted his hips back for a second, so his pants fell to the floor, then he pushed against her again.
Katara moaned, "Zuko please…" She begged her hands coming up to cup his head, "Please."
Zuko moaned as he pushed his hips into her and slid between her lower lips…... back and forth making her moan long and hard, "Zuko NOW." She demanded sliding forward to grip the railing, her hips pushed out.
He grinned as he grabbed her hips and slid into her welcoming heat but then paused when he was all the way in, making her try to move desperately, "Like this?" He whispered into her ear, holding her hips still.
She jerked back at him making his grin turn into a moan, "Please move…. Please …... move." She begged harshly, back arching and Zuko broke, pulling back to slide back forward. But it was not enough as Katara shook her head, "HARDER." She begged.
Zuko shook his head even though she could not see him, "I don't want to hurt you." He whispered, moving in and out slowly, driving them both crazy.
Katara gave a shaky breath, "You will not hurt me… I need more…... Please Zuko… please." She begged her voice catching. "I need you to take me…... to claim me." She tried to move but he held her hips still, trying to gain control, his breath ragged, "I swear I will tell you if you are hurting me… PLEASE." She looked over her shoulder to look at his face, "I need you to fuck me."
Zuko's control snapped and so did his hips and he begin to pull out and slam back in making Katara scream as she arched her back even harder. "Yes… Ohhhh gods yes….. Zuko…..." She gripped the railing and began shaking as she felt herself began to climb to the edge.
Zuko looked down to see his beautiful wife arching into his touch, into his body and almost went over the edge before her. He reached around to find the place that he knew would send her over the edge and began a double assault, rubbing and pounding making her throw her head back and scream.
"Gods… Zuko….. please." she begged eyes closed and then she was exploding and Zuko swear he saw the moon shine a little brighter making her skin glow. And he followed her as she began to clench around him making his vision blur. His hands slid up to pull her close, so they touched from toes to her head resting on his shoulder and his failing into her neck. He gave her soft kisses along her shoulder and her neck.
"I love you… more than the moon." He whispered, one of his hands going to cradle her belly, "I love you both more than all of the stars in the sky." His eyes closed as he soaked in the feeling of being all around her… in her.
She reached and grabbed his hand, her body still clenching around him, "No more then I love you." She whispered, her eyes closed as she felt him surround her in warmth. "Always and forever."
Zuko flinched when he pulled out of her and the cool air hit him, "Come to bed love…...It is going to be a long day tomorrow and you need your rest." He said stepping out of his pants and pulling her back through the sitting area and into their room naked. He pulled her over to the bed sitting her down before walking over to their balcony and throwing open the doors, so the cool breeze flowed into the room.
She frowned, "You hate the doors open." She whispered as she climbed into the center of their bed.
Zuko gave her a soft smile, "I love you more then I hate the cold air." He whispered following her into the bed pulling her close, "Besides, you being comfortable is more important then anything else… you are growing our child and helping run a nation…... you need rest." His hand sliding over her stomach, his fingers brushing up and down.
Katara sighed as the cool breeze on her front and his warm heat on her back began to pull her into a peaceful sleep, "I love you too…." She whispered as she fell asleep peacefully for the first time in weeks.
-/-
Katara laid in the grass smiling at the memory of the night as the pains in her back began to grow making her shift trying to find a new more comfortable position.
She had finished all her morning meetings, even though she couldn't remember everything that had been decided, and now she was going to rest until Zuko came home that night. He had been gone when she rolled over that morning, finally waking up. She had almost been late to her first meeting, but she had finally slept for a few hours with no problems.
She had frowned when she rushed out of her room that morning and had been told that the Fire Lord had told her maids that they were to let her sleep until she woke up on her own. And if meetings had to be pushed back, so be it… she needed her rest.
Katara shook her head smiling, because despite his high handedness, the extra sleep had made her feel better. She gave a small flinch as a sharp pain hit her lower back again, stronger then the last one. Something was wrong…. She had been having pains for the last few hours and they were getting worse and not better. At first, she thought it was sitting in the chair and the heat, making her feel the pain in her lower back. Now that she was resting outside, and it was not getting better she was starting to worry.
She groaned as she rolled over to her side, trying to pull up and get onto her knees, but the light rolling pain, changed to a sharp ripping that made her eyes water and she knew in that instant that something was very wrong.
She took a deep breath, trying to breath through the pain, when it finally began to pass, she pulled herself up into a sitting position and tried to stand up. But before she could get all the way up another sharp pain made her gasp and she grabbed her stomach.
It was too early for the baby to come… she still had to much time left, at least 4 weeks, but she gasped and looked down as water began to slide down her leg. "NO" she whispered the fear beginning to roll through her.
She crawled over to the tree, having to pause each time a pain rolled through her back. She slowly pulled herself up with the trunk of the tree as she held her stomach. "Zuko." She whispered knowing that he could not hear her but what was worse that he was not even at the Palace… he was at the hospital, visiting the children and would not be back until late that night. She cried out as another pain pulled though her stomach.
She took a deep breath, tears starting to run down her face, cradling her stomach, "Ok little one... we have to get some help… so I am going to need you to take a moment and let mommy walk out of the garden and get it ok." She said rubbing the kicking a baby. Only the movement of her baby was keeping her calm. "We need help and …..." She paused to take a deep breath, pushing off the tree… managing to make it to the bench before another pain ripped through her body making her scream.
She sank down onto the bench as the pain rolled through her in waves. Her panic was starting to rise because she couldn't walk enough to get help, but she knew that she needed a healer as soon as possible. "Please my little angel, we need help…. I need you to let me get some help." She said leaning over clenching at her stomach. It seemed that for just a moment her body and baby listened when the pain rolled away, and she was able to stand and start to walk to the gardens entrance. But she only made it to the garden doors and pushed them open before another pain rolled through, making her fall to her knees.
She had to breathe through the pain, unable to move as she leaned against the doors, tears rolling down her face. That was how the maid found her a few moments later.
"Miss?" The lady called out not realizing who it was with Katara's head down and her robes off. She gasped when Katara looked up at her, "My Lady?" She gasped running over to fall to her knees, "What's wrong."
Katara gasped reaching for her hand, "I need a heeler…. The baby…." She whispered.
The maid nodded, "Yes miss, lets get you to your room." She said trying help Katara stand up but paused when Katara screamed as another pain ripped through her body.
It took Katara a moment to breath through the pain, "No…... go get a healer… and send for the Fire Lord…... I need Zuko…. Please." She whispered grabbing her stomach. She gave the maid a light push, "Go."
The maid froze for a moment before nodding and getting up and running down the hall screaming for help. It felt like both forever and no time at all before there was a group of Katara's ladies' maids and guards running to the garden gates, orders were issued, and questions asked but Katara was starting to fade in and out form the pain.
She felt someone lift her off the ground and begin to run down the hall. She heard the conversations around her, phrases coming in and out. Someone called out to fetch the Fire Lord immediately…. another called for all of the healers in both the Palace and from the hospital…... another asked her if she was still in pain, but she couldn't get an answer out... the pain taking over.
She watched the celling above her change as they ran her down the halls into her room, they sped so fast the bricks started to blend together until her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she passed out.
-/-
Zuko was talking with the head of the hospital, an old water bender healer after visiting with the children all morning and was happy to hear that the new money that was allocated to the hospital was making a difference. Most of the children were either healed and out of the hospital or on the way to being healed nicely.
Katara's ideal to hire a water bender healer at the end of the war had made such a difference. Her begging and pleading and finally refusal to accept no to get her here had created such a long-term positive effect that Zuko was once again humbled by his wife.
There was no way there would be this much progress without the Old Water Bender healer.
"So how is your wife?" The healer asked, her old voice cracking as they walked along the corridor.
Zuko gave a smile, "Very pregnant…. Uncomfortable…hot." He said looking down at her. He was still amazed that someone so old, small and frail had single handedly saved so many lives, created so much positivity.
She looked up at him and gave a small smile, "Pregnancy is hard even in the best of circumstances…. But us Water Benders are not made for the heat of the Fire Nation…I find that even I struggle here sometimes…... and I am not pregnant… it will get better when she is no longer carrying around the extra weight." She paused and gave him a grin, "and hormones."
Zuko gave a quick laugh, "She has about 4 or 5 weeks left and while she is excited… I find I am nervous…...I didn't exactly have a good role model for fatherhood." He finished softly.
The Old Water Bender paused and gently grasped his hand, then pulled him down so he was level with her, anyone looking would be surprised to see the Fire Nation Lord almost kneeling to the Old Water Bender but he was eagerly wanting the hear wheat she was going to tell him, "Your fear is what tells me that you will be a good father… just like you are a good leader." She said giving his scared cheek a soft kiss. He gave her a deep bow making her smile.
When he stood back up, she shook her finger at him, "But your fear is not necessary… if you can love and respect an Old Water Bender like me…. And be dedicated and adoring to your water bender wife…. all while doing the best you can for your fire nation…. Fatherhood will be a blessing for you, one that you will do well at." She said.
But before he could reply they both turned at the screaming coming from down the hall, Zuko quickly stepped in front of the Old Water Bender, ready to defend her from whatever was coming down the hall.
But the water bender set an old frail hand on his arm, moving him to the side and whispered, "Listen."
"FIRE LORD…. FIRE LORD… HEALER." was being screamed from the running figure. "You must come quickly."
Zuko paused, eyes narrowed, "Stop…..." He told the boy, "Breath…. Tell us what has happened." Grabbing him by the shoulders as he came to a stop in front of Zuko and the water bender, gasping for breath.
The young boy looked up at Zuko with wide fearful eyes, "It is…." He took another deep breath still not able to breath, "the… the …. Fire Lady… she is in labor… told to bring you…and the healer." He gasped out between breaths.
Zuko felt his heart stop in paralyzing fear, "Not possible… it is too early." He said grasping the boy's arms.
The boy shook his head, "She went into labor in the garden…. She was in a lot of pain…. Said she needed you and the healer…... that something was wrong." The boy gasped out.
Zuko froze for a moment before the healer reached up and touched his shoulder, "My lord…... you must go to her as soon as possible…. I will go in the carriage with this young man, but you take a horse….. she will need you." When he didn't move, she gave him a small shake, "ZUKO…" She commanded in a sharp voice, "Your wife needs you... now… I will be right behind you."
Zuko gave a sharp nod and turned to the boy, "You are to get her to us as fast as you can but be careful with her." He said pointing to the Old Water Bender. Then there was just a streak of red as he ran down the hall as fast as he could.
Within moments he was on top of the horse the boy had come on and in less than 30 minutes he made it to the place doors. His guards gave a sharp breath when they saw their Fire Lord come galloping up at full speed.
"Open the doors." He yelled out, the horse impatiently stomping as the doors were slowly pushed opened… no one questioned him when they saw the panic and manic expression he held. They just ran to push the heavy gates open…
"Leave the gate open." He called out, "There is a carriage coming with the hospital healer … she is to be brought to the Fire Lords chambers immediately." And when there was enough room for him to slip though he was galloping through at full speed, leaving the guards in a stunned panic. They knew something was wrong but did not know what to do to help or fix it.
He stayed on the horse as long as possible, galloping through the great hall past the stunned looks of advisers and people of the court. He stayed on it down the hall until he made it to the point where the horse would not longer fit. He slid off the horse and took off in a sprint to his chambers. Not caring that the horse was standing in the middle of the Palace hallway.
His red robs billowed behind him as he ran past guard after guard standing at attention, they knew what was going on and they worried for the Fire Lady that had them all feel like they were worth knowing…. That they important.
When he finally made it to his rooms the doors were already opened as people were rushing in and out.
"Katara." He screamed, the fear in his voice at her being in an early labor heard by the entire room. "Katara?" He called running through the sitting room into their room, only to find silence, which made his fear triple, "Katara?" He called.
The maids looked up at the Fire Lord with tears in their eyes and Zuko froze, seeing Katara in their bed, pale and unmoving the silence like a blanket of dread. "NO" he whispered walking over to the bed slowly, sinking to his knees grabbing her hand. "Katara, I need you to wake up and look at me… tell me that its going to be ok." But she laid there, the only moment was her chest slowly moving up and down. He looked up at one of the palace healers as they checked Katara pulse. "What happened." He asked, his voice broken.
The healer gave a small frown, "She went into labor in the garden…... she called for help, but she passed out on the way to the room… the pain was too much for her…." She checked Katara's Stomach, "She is still in Labor, you can feel her stomach tightening with contractions…. We need to get her awake so the baby can be pushed out." She said, "Is the Water Bender healer coming… I know how to birth a fire nation a baby…. But I am worried that I may not be the best help for a water bender labor…... She needs a healer to help wake her up… to help her though labor."
Zuko nodded, gripping Katara's hand, "She is on the way… in a carriage behind me." He whispered looking down at his wife's pale unmoving face, "What happens if we can't get her awake?"
The Healer shook her head, "There would only be two options to save the baby and the Fire Lady… she wakes up and is able to push the baby out…. or we would have to cut the baby out." She paused at the look of horror that passed on Zuko's face. So, she went on gently "The baby will die if it doesn't come out now…. And if the baby dies, so does the Fire Lady." The healer whispered.
Zuko felt his heart stutter, his entire world was laying, unmoving in front of him and he was heartbeats away from losing it all. His face fell to her chest, listening for her heart beat, using it to calm down, his breath matching with each of her heart beats. "Please…... Katara… please, I need you to fight…... I can not do this without you… I will not survive without you." he begged her, his voice breaking.
He didn't notice the rest of the people in the room step back, tears in their eyes. Their own hearts breaking as they watched their great Fire Lord on his knees begging the women he loved to fight. The knew that if she passed… if the baby passed, he would never be the same…. The fire nation would not be the same…... the Lord and Lady had brought back the Fire Nation from ruin and hatred to a place of peace and prosperity for the first time in 100 years. And they all began to prey to the Gods because if something happened to Katara, then their lord would be lost and so would their nation.
-/-
The room waited in silence until finally the Water Bender Healer slowly shuffled into the room, she walked over to The Fire Lord and laid a hand on his shoulder. "My Lord, we must get her in water…. We will wake her and have a baby today I think." She said in a sure voice.
Zuko looked up with the fear in his eyes pouring out, "You can help her?" He asked softly.
The old water bender smiled, "I will do everything in my power to help her…. Lady Katara is strong and a fighter…... but she is a water bender and she needs her element….. so, we must get her in a tub …. Help her past the pain so she can wake up and get this baby out." She said gently.
Zuko nodded up at her, "OK… water…" He slowly stood up not letting go of Katara's hand. He looked over to the lady's maid. "Go fill the bath in the Master bathing rooms, as quickly as possible." He turned to the Old Water Bender, "What else do you need?"
The Water Bender turned to Fire Nation healers, "Please get me these herbs." She said pulling a list from her robes, "and please open all the windows, we need to cool her down."
The Fire Nation healers started shaking their heads, "Nooooo we must keep her warm." They protested.
But the Water Bender gave a small smile, "If she was born within the Fire Nation you would be right… but we are of the water tribe and we thrive in the cold… her body is being overwhelmed in the heat. That's why she is not waking up, she needs the cool water to heal her and wake her." She said softly.
The Fire Nation healers began nodding scurrying off to get the what was needed. The water bender turned to Zuko, "Take off your robes my Lord, then pick up Lady Katara and bring her to the tub quickly."
Zuko nodded, pulling at the sash holding his outer heavy royal robes, letting them fall to the floor in a pile, leaving him in his plain red robes. He slid his arms under Karata pulling her up into his arms and began to murmur to her as he followed the Old Water Bender out of the room.
"My love…. Please I need you to wake up … the baby and I need you here with us…." He brushed his lips across her forehead, "We need you… so you have to fight." He said softly.
When they walked into the bathing room he walked over to the tub and stepped in fully dressed. His body froze up from the cold water and he gasped as he felt the air leave his lungs. His body immediately began to heat itself up when the Old Water Bender shook her head at him, "You mustn't warm her up… if you can not be in the water with her, then you have to get out." She said softly.
Zuko shook his head, "I am not leaving her." He said and let he cold seep in his bones, He sat slowly and turned Katara, so she was between his bent legs, her back against his chest and head sitting on his shoulder. Her brushed her hair back and kissed the side of her head. "Ok love we are cooling you down, I need you to wake up for me….. the baby wants to meet us My Love…. So, wake up." He looked up to see the Old Water Bender place her hands on the water and began to move in in rhythmic motions. Soon the water was moving is soft circles lapping up against Katara's stomach and Zuko's heart clenched when he heard her moan.
He looked down to see Katara's eye lids flickering, her head tilting back and forth.
"Zuko?" she mumbled softly, "I need Zuko… please." She whispered, reaching out blindly.
Zuko felt his heart skip as she begged for him, even while completely out of it, "I am here my Love…. I am right here." He whispered, his arms tightening around her, "I am right here."
Katara turned to his voice, her nose pressing against his neck, "Zuko … something is wrong…. I did something wrong… the baby." She whispered.
Zuko looked to the Old Water Bender before shaking his head tilting it so it pressed into her hair, "No it was my fault… we should not have been together last night…I should not have been so rough" He said anguish in his voice as he kissed her forehead. He looked up when the Old Water Bender gave a small chuckle.
"Nothing either of you did caused this…... if it were the case, she would have gone into labor last night…... if anything, what you did helped the baby stay in one more day." She said softly, her hands still bending the water of Katara.
Zuko gave her a thankful smile, and gave Katara another kiss, "See love…. This was just fate… nothing either of us did caused this." He brushed her hair out of her face gently, "But we do need you to wake up and help bring our baby into the world."
Katara moaned softly, "The pain… it is worse than I thought it was going to be." She whispered, her hand clenching his. "I had this thought in my head… of the pain… but this is so much worse…... it feels like me skin was ripped off." She whispered slowly becoming more aware as the Old Healer continued to bend healing water over her.
Zuko looked over to the healers, who gave only a slight shake if her head. Zuko continued to brush Katara's hair back and kiss her gently. "I know love…... the pain will pass once our daughter is here in our arms…... then you will forget all about the pain and want a million more babies one day" He whispered.
Katara gave a faint smile, "NO… once your SON is here, I am never doing this again…. This is your only child Zuko… this I promise you." She whispered, her eyes finally opening to look at him softly. "I am glad you made it home… how was the hospital visit?"
Zuko gave her a soft kiss on the lips, "The kids were so happy and excited…. Just like you said they would be…... and thankfully I was with the healer when I was summoned to your side." He looked up at the healer, "Although she will still not share her name with me after two years."
Katara closed her eyes, laying her head back on Zuko's shoulder, "When I convinced her to come, she asked that the only thing I never give away was her name…" She gave the old healer a small smile, "Said that she wanted people to not think about her as a healer in the Fire Nation… but a water bender helping and living in the Fire Nation in peace."
The old healer looked up with a small smile, "When you name someone who helps… it becomes smaller…... just that one person…. But when you say that a Water Bender from the Northern Nation is living in peace in the Fire Nation… then there is an opening for more to come… more to help… more to be a part of change…... just more." She looked up at Katara, "I believe that you are close…. Are you ready to push?"
Katara gave her a scared frown, "Ma, I think that something is very wrong…. I can feel it." Zuko looked back and forth confused, one of his hand resting on Katara's stomach. But his heart stuttered when he saw the Old healer nodded.
"I know my dear heart…... but I can't fix it until we get the baby out… and if we don't get the baby out fast…" She paused looking only at Katara, "It may be to late." She whispered.
Zuko shook his head, trying to understand what was being said but it was Katara that spoke shattering his heart, "The baby… no matter what, you have to save the baby." She whispered, "Promise, Ma." Her voice breaking from the exhaustion.
The Old Water Bender gave a small nod and smile, "I promise that your baby will be safe and protected." She whispered, "But you must promise me to fight."
Zuko finally broke out of the disbelief, "NO they will both be fine." He said harshly, then he turned to Katara, "Love you will be fine… I refuse….." He paused taking a breath, "I refuse to believe anything else." He cupped her cheek bringing it up to look into her eyes, "Promise me." He begged, "Promise."
Katara gave him an exhausted smile, "I want you to name our Son after my father… please." She said softly, giving him a small kiss.
Zuko shook his head, resting his forehand on hers, "When our DAUGHTER is born… we will decide her name together on the third day as is tradition…. Then we will announce to the Fire Nation the name of their future leader."
Katara gave a small shake of her head and avoiding his statement said, "What if HE is a water bender?" She gave him a small smile as she began to gather her strength to push, "Will he still be the countries leader?"
Zuko gave her a smile, "If SHE is a water bender…... then the Fire Nation will have the first water bender as a leader in its history…. For she will be part me and part of you and the best fit to lead this country." He whispered.
Katara gave him another small kiss and nod before turning the old Water Bender, "I am ready." She said sitting up a little higher in Zuko's arms, his red robes floating around them in the water.
Zuko shook his head, "Not until you promise me." He said, helping her to sit up.
Katara gave another nod, "I promise to fight… I promise to bring your son into this world…. I promise that I love you." She said gripping his hands looking down at the Old water Bender who continued to bend the water over Katara in smooth movements.
Zuko shook his head, "That is not the promise that I want." He whispered as the fear began to spread through his chest.
Katara took a deep breath, "That is all I can promise you… because I have never lied to you before and I am not going to start now." She whispered.
Before Zuko could say anything, the old Water Bender called out to the Fire Nation Healers, "I will need you to each hold one of Lady Katara's legs and push against her when she has to push…. Another will have to help guide the baby out…. I will have to keep healing her as she gives birth." Zuko watched as two came forward, one on each side of the tub to help Katara get ready to go. The old healer never stopping her movements, her concentration becoming more intense. After a moment she looked up at Katara, "My beautiful lady, are you ready?" She asked Katara softly.
Katara nodded and took a deep breath and clenching Zuko's hands began to push… the next few minutes were filled with counting, deep breathing and Katara's low moans. Then the Old Water Bender called for a fault to let Katara rest for only a few minutes before she called it all to start again.
Zuko felt his own strength start to wane as he watched his wife try to push their child into the world. With each push… each groan, Katara was losing the battle and the Old Water Bender paused her, telling her to rest after 45 minutes of pushing.
She looked down at Katara, "My lady…..." She paused looking into Katara's exhausted face, "If we can not get it out soon…" She paused again, her hands still bending the water over her, she waited for Katara to give her a small nod.
Zuko looked back and forth between them. Katara had her head resting on his should, eyes closed. He looked up at the Old Water Bender who was starting to look exhausted herself, "What happens if she can't push her out soon?" He asked, the fear in his voice seeping through.
The Old Water Bender gave him a small smile, her hands never pausing, "Katara is strong…. She is working." She said softly.
But Zuko felt his anger rise, his inability to help or fix this… the frustration and fear overwhelming and the fires in the room roared to life as he yelled, "THAT IS NOT WHAT I ASKED YOU."
The rest of the helpers in the room paused and looked at the couple in the tub with fear and sympathy. However, when they looked to the Old Water Bender only gave a tiered smile, they began to relax.
"My Lord." She whispered, "Katara is trying to push the babe out… but it is not coming as quickly as we would want to…. She is growing tiered and if she were to slip back into sleep before the baby comes…..." She paused looking him in the eye, "We may have to take the baby from her and then try to heal her."
Zuko swallowed harshly, his hands coming around to rest on Karta's stomach, he closed his eyes and took a breath before looking up at the Old Water Bender, "What do I have to do?"
She gave him a small smile and nod, "Give her strength…... talk to her and be ready…... She is struggling…. When she starts to push again…. Warm only the middle of her back with your hands… try to keep all the heat directed at her back… she needs the cool water around her" She whispered.
Zuko gave another silent nod and sat taller pulling Katara with him, then he leaned down and began to whisper in her ear…. sweet nothings, encouragements, that he loved her and that she had to fight. After a few moments the OLD Water Bender nodded and called Katara's name softly.
Katara moaned low in her throat and shook her head, but Zuko was the one who leaned forward and kissed her head, "Come on love… you need to bring our daughter into the world." He whispered to her.
Katara gave a harsh painful laugh and small smile, "You will not let this go… will you?" She said so softly only Zuko heard her. "HE is being difficult, just like his father."
Zuko shook his head and smiled down at her as he willed the water in his eyes away, "No, I am not going to let this go… what are you going to do when I am right?" He asked, moving one of his hands to her back, ready to help her the only way he could. "and you are right, SHE is stubborn… just like her mother."
Katara opened her eyes slightly to look at him with a smile ghosting on her lips, "I will make you a deal…. If it is a girl, you will name her…. And WHEN it is a boy, you will let me name it after both you and my father." She said softly.
Zuko gave her a soft kiss on her lips, "Deal…. I already know who I am naming her after." He said looking at her face carefully. "Now you need to push her out my love…. So, we can name her together."
Katara took a deep breath, nodding at him, before pushing up and looking at the Old Water Bender, "I am ready." She said reaching for one of Fire Nation healer's hands, Zuko's hands were at her lower back and the bottom of her stomach, pushing heat into her back and womb.
All at once the counting and breathing began as Katara pushed over and over. Her face becoming purple and blue with the fight of pushing their child into the world. Zuko pushed all of his love, strength and fire into her back and pushed it back into her when he felt it coming through her womb. After another 15 minuets one of the Fire Nation Healers gasped and looked up.
"I can see the head." She whispered to the Old Water Bender.
Zuko smiled and kissed Katara's temple, "Do you hear that love?" He asked as she continued to push, "Almost…... you can do this."
Katara gave a quick nod, still pushing, her moans almost turning into screams as the pain rushed through her lower body.
The Old Water Bender looked over to the Fire Nation Healer's, "You must catch the baby and put it on her chest….. then move because I will need to heal her as quickly as possible." She said.
She turned to Katara, "When the babe comes, I will try to heal the rip as quickly as possible, you must fight." She said only turning to Zuko after Katara nodded at her, "I may need your help, you must keep you wife up and warm." She said with a small nod. Zuko quickly agreed and then Katara was pushing again.
It was like time stopped for the room as Katara screamed and the baby slid out of her. The Fire Nation healer grabbed the baby as it slid into the water and placed it on Katara chest. "It's a girl, my Lord and Lady." She whispered, quickly moving out of the way the Old Water Benders movements that were becoming more frenzied. Katara reached up, her hands holding her baby close to her heart, tears rolling down her face.
Katara and Zuko didn't see anything but their daughter, so small yet so loud as she screeched at her unhappy entrance into the world. They both looked to see her 10 beautiful fingers and 10 beautiful toes. But neither of them saw the water start to turn red… so red that you could not tell where Zuko's red robes ended and water began.
They were looking at their daughters dark brown almost black eyes, as she gazed up at her parents and Zuko's hand came rest on Katara's. "Shhhh my little love, you gave us a scare." He whispered. "She is prefect." He whispered down to Katara, but he didn't notice the way Katara's face was paling, the way her eyes were starting to flutter closed. "You did it my heart." He said kissing Katara's temple, still looking at their daughter who had stop screaming and was just looking at them in wonder.
It wasn't until Katara's hands slid out from under his and slid into the red water did Zuko notice. Only when Katara slid farther his chest, did he notice the way his robes blended into the blood red water. "Katara?" He whispered, looking from his daughter to his wife and gasped when he saw her white face and closed eyes. He looked up at the Old Water Bender who was trying to heal Katara, her arms moving in fast jerky movements. "Help her." He begged, feeling Katara growing cold in his arms. "Please help her."
The Old Water Bender shook her head, tears filling her eyes as she kept moving her hands and Zuko felt his world coming to an end as he held his new daughter and dying wife in his arms.