Just so you know, this is a sequel to my other story Love, Honor and Iroh: Return to Ba Sing Se. If you haven't read it, you won't know what is going on.

Love, Honor and Iroh: The Fire Nation

By skittlesandcombos

I felt three things at the same time. First, overwhelming joy. It was unexplainable. I'm pregnant! It almost made me giddy. Secondly, I felt terror. It swallowed me whole. I was on a ship, heading towards the Fire Nation. And I'm pregnant. Thirdly, I felt like I was going to throw up again.

"Are you sure?" I asked her.

She nodded and said, "Yes. I've never been more sure in my life. I could 'feel' it. It's hard to explain, but I'm absolutely positive."

"Okay."

How could this happen? I mean, people don't get pregnant right away. At least not normal people. I wanted to cry, jump for joy, and for some reason smack someone. Oh! This was so infuriating! Normally, I'm able to keep my emotions inline. But this was impossible! I was already having mood swings. Or was I?

Back home, when I was little, I would laugh at the women who would have mood swings. I found it hilarious that they couldn't make up their mind of what to feel. Now I curse myself. It had to be karma.

"What should I do?" I asked Katara.

She bit her lower lip and said, "I don't know, tell Zuko?"

"No! I can't tell him. At least not now. He's already has so much to worry about. I don't want to burden him."

But if you don't tell him, a voice in my head whispered. And something happens to him, he will never know.

Oh, the voice had a point.

If you do tell him, the other argued. Then he will get distracted, too worried about you to defend himself.

What was I going to do? I wanted to tell him, I really did. But I didn't want to make him worry about anything else. I groaned and laid my head on the cool floor.

"Are you going to get sick again?" Katara asked.

"Nooo."

"So what are you going to do? We will be meeting the Water Tribe warriors on land, and in less than an hour, attack."

"What? So soon?"

It couldn't be. It had been mere minuets since we boarded and left Ba Sing Se. I had to be with Zuko.

"Yes. We should go be with everyone else. Aang is going to need me."

She helped me up and defrosted the door while I put my dress back on. We walked back on deck at a brisk speed. Sailors were running around, while the captain barked orders. I looked out over the water, and saw land. The Fire Nation. Zuko was by the place I had been, looking for me.

"Zuko!" I called over the ruckus.

He turned around and came to me.

"Where have you been?" The strain in his voice was heartbreaking.

"I was feeling seasick." I replied. It was true.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and felt his heart beat.

"I hope you're okay." He said.

"I'm fine. Perfect as a matter of fact."

The voices in my head started bickering again. To tell, or not to tell. I couldn't decide.

"Come on, let's get out of the way."

He placed his hand on the small of my back and led me to the railing. I looked out over the water and saw that the sun was quickly disappearing. It cast streaks of red, purple, orange and pink across the sky. The wind suddenly became stronger, telling us time was close. Everyone on deck became anxious, knowing what was to come. The tension in the air was thick, making it hard to breath. Zuko moved to stand behind me, and wrapped his arms around my waist. I reached up and pulled his head close to me. We pressed our cheeks together, and looked out over the water and at the Fire Nation.

"I love you." I whispered. It was something I couldn't say enough.

"I love you too."

He turned his head and kissed my neck, making me shiver. Slowly, he started making his way up to my mouth. He pulled back and looked me in the eyes. We suddenly stared kissing hard, afraid it would be our last. There had to be hope. We couldn't think that way. I was still having that internal battle, but I needed to decide soon.

"Zuko." Someone beside us said.

We broke apart to see Aang and Katara standing nearby, holding hands.

"We need to get ready." Aang's voice was strong, but his eyes were full of fear.

He shot me an apologetic look, and I nodded in acknowledgement. Zuko nodded too, in agreement. He took my hand and led me to the armor room. Sokka was already inside, but was only putting on a light leather jacket for protection. Nobody said anything. I was calm, so was everyone else. I stood off to the side and watched Zuko put on his armor.

He started with his steel-toed boots, then put on his leg guards. He then slipped on a light leather sleeveless shirt. The last thing he put on were his arm guards. It was all the protection he was wearing. That way it wouldn't slow him down, but it kept him vulnerable. He then grabbed a couple of duel swords, and spun them to get the feel of them. I sighed, and looked my husband over. He looked more like a warrior than the man I came to know.

Sokka had left, and Aang and Katara started changing. Sliding the swords into a sheath strapped on his back, Zuko sighed and came over to me.

"I'll see you after the battle, okay?" He said as he hugged me. "When it's safe, you can come on shore. The captain knows what to do."

"Okay. I'll see you then." I tried to keep my voice strong.

We had to be positive, think bright thoughts. We will win, the war will be over, and we will all live happily ever after. I still hadn't decided if I was going to tell him that I was pregnant. My thoughts kept conflicting with each other, making this situation even harder for me.

"Come on Zuko. We have to go to land now." A gentle voice said.

Katara stood there, waiting for him to follow her. He grabbed me by the arms and held me tight. The sudden fierceness he showed startled me.

"I don't want you to think about what could happen." He said as he forced me to look in his eyes. "I want you to think about what will happen. I will come back. We will be together again. And I will not leave you."

I nodded enthusiastically as I blinked my tears away. I couldn't cry now. I had to stay calm.

"I know you will keep your promises." I replied.

He then pulled me forward and kissed me fervently. I closed my eyes and tried to savor to feel of his lips against mine. It was short though, too short. I opened my eyes, and he was gone.

AN: Well? What did you think? Huh? HUH?!?