Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Author's Note: I'd been requested to do a collection like this back when I ended Destiny's Call. The chapters won't be in any particular order, but a couple of pregnancy ideas occurred to me.
Fans of Destiny's Call may remember that I wrote Aang and Katara dancing way back in Chapter 3 of that story. I found it strikingly similar to the scene in The Headband: Aang's confidence and control of the situation, Katara's slight reluctance and uncertainty, and the big dip at the end. It made me wonder if Mike & Bryan stumbled across my story. After all, I posted that chapter nearly a year ago, so they would have had plenty of time to incorporate my ideas. It would be interesting to know whether I'm that good at predicting what they'll do, or if they're actually pulling things from me. Anyway, on with the current story.
Morning SicknessKatara woke up very early, so early that it was still dark except for the moonlight pouring in the window. Once awake, she needed to answer a certain call of nature, so she used the chamber pot in a far corner. She finished with that and stood up, only to find herself suddenly gripped by another, more unusual urge. Taking a few steps across the room, she reached the empty washbasin just in time to begin vomiting into it.
"Katara?" Aang's groggy voice came from the bed. He'd been growing rapidly over the past year or so (he was now some three inches taller than she was), and Katara had noted in the months they'd been married that the amount he ate and slept had increased accordingly. When he was twelve, he would have already been up and raring to go at this time.
The only response Katara could give was to add another measure of last night's supper to the bowl. Aang was beside her in a second, rubbing her back and making sure her hair was out of the way.
"Katara!" he exclaimed. "What's the matter?" Deciding that her stomach had given up all it was going to for the moment, Katara took a few deep breaths, and then bended some water from the nearby pitcher to rinse out her mouth. Flicking his fingers almost negligently, Aang sent a spark towards an oil lamp near the bed, lighting the wick and providing additional illumination. One corner of Katara's brain marveled at how casually he used firebending now, especially when she recalled how much difficulty he'd had even trying it a couple of years ago. Aang brushed a few stray strands of hair away from Katara's face and rested a cool hand briefly on her forehead.
"You don't feel feverish," he commented softly.
"Must have been something I ate," she murmured, trying to think of what might have caused this.
"Do you think you're, uh, done for now?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"Okay. Let's get you back to bed." He carried her effortlessly to the bed and got her under the covers. Katara was grateful for this, since it was the middle of winter, and the stone room was cold. Aang then picked up the basin and headed toward the door. "I'll clean this out."
"Wait."
Aang turned to look at her.
"Could you bring me something to eat when you come back?"
"Are – are you sure?" he probed, blinking with confusion. Katara didn't blame him; she shouldn't want to eat right after that, but she did.
"I just feel like I need something to settle my stomach right now."
"Okay."
While he was gone, Katara realized that this wasn't the only unusual thing about the situation. Her throat didn't burn, and there was no sour taste in her mouth, like she would have expected. By the time Aang returned, juggling the washed basin, a medium-sized clay pot, and a hunk of brown bread, she thought she had an idea what was going on. She took the bread and began slowly eating it.
"Just in case," Aang explained, setting the pot on the floor beside her. Katara nodded, only half listening. He sat down on the bed beside her.
"Aang?" she said between nibbles.
"Hm?"
"Do you remember the last time I…bled?"
"Bled? Oh, you mean that." Katara's monthly time was not something the two of them had really discussed before their wedding, but she'd found that Aang had already become remarkably good at recalling it. With mild amusement, she suspected it probably had something to do with the fact that they typically abstained during those days. He frowned as he thought back.
"I remember the moon was dark," he mused, glancing at the window. Katara followed his gaze, although she could feel that the moon was nearly full. "That would have been two weeks ago, but that can't be right. It must have been the new moon before that, so…about six weeks."
"Oh, Aang," Katara breathed, almost laughing at herself. "I'm not sick. I'm pregnant!" Her bleeding had only become regular about a year ago, and it was such a nuisance that she had merely been grateful to be without it. She hadn't considered what the delay might mean.
"You…really? Well, that's great! Isn't it?" This last was added with an uncertain tone. Katara could understand his hesitancy, since she'd just been throwing up a few minutes before.
"Yes, it is great," she agreed. "Even if this part isn't much fun."
"How long is 'this part' supposed to last?"
Katara thought over the experiences of other pregnant women she'd known.
"About two months."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"I'll have to try not to have an empty stomach, if I can help it," Katara began, recalling advice she'd heard Gran-Gran give. "I should keep some food next to the bed at night, too. If I can eat something before getting up, that should help. The first pregnancy is supposed to be the worst."
"This is amazing!" Aang exclaimed. He paused, though, brow furrowing with concern. "You're scared, though."
"Well, yeah," Katara admitted. They could usually sense each other's emotions, so there was no point in denying things. "My body's going to be changing a lot soon. I've seen other women go through it, but it's new to me and a little scary. I'm also wondering if we're ready to have a baby." She could feel his excitement, but some of her worry was echoed there, too.
"I'm going to have to get used to the idea," Aang agreed. "I mean, I'm still a kid, too. But I believe we can do this."
"As long as we're together, we can do anything." Katara squeezed his hand. After defeating the Fire Lord and changing the world, how hard could parenthood be? She was tired, but she lapsed into a short reverie. In about eight months, she would have a baby of her own to hold and care for, a helpless, dependent creature with Aang's large, gray eyes. It was a pleasant picture.
Meanwhile, Aang put one hand on her stomach. She was about to tell him that it was too early, he wouldn't feel anything yet, but then she remembered to whom she was talking and let him be. Aang closed his eyes, and his tattoos began to glow. After a few seconds, he smiled and opened his eyes, and the glow faded.
"I feel it," he said excitedly. "Just a spark of life, but it's definitely there. In a few more weeks, I probably would have sensed it without trying."
Katara reflected, not for the first time, how unique it was to be married to the Avatar. It was slightly odd to think that he could sort of look into her body, but on the other hand, he'd be sure to know if something was going wrong.
"I love you," she said suddenly. "I think you'll be a great father."
"I love you, too, and I know you'll be a great mom." Aang kissed her tenderly on the forehead, and Katara smiled. "Try to go back to sleep. You'll have to take extra care of yourself now."
"I'm sure you'll help me with that."
"Count on it." He brushed her cheek with his hand before rolling over and taking his own advice.
Eventually, Katara did drift off again, her hand still resting on the mystery forming inside her. Of all the adventures she and Aang had shared, this was likely to be the most interesting one yet.
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Author's Note: Some of this was drawn from my own experiences and a little bit from David Eddings's Mallorean. I find that his work inspires a lot of mine. The next one will be later in Katara's pregnancy, but I don't really have any ideas beyond that right now. I'll just add to this as scenes occur to me.