It was in the very early hours of a scorching summer morning in the Fire Nation. Katara lay restlessly in her bed, turning this way and that, trying to negotiate between the chokingly thick, hot air and the steady weight and shape of her swollen belly. The rich silk sheets wrinkled in protest as she manoeuvred around the bed, occasionally brushing her warm, tanned skin against her sleeping Husband, who had grown accustomed to her nightly roaming and lay still and unawaken in the overgrown bed.

It had been seven years since the close of the hundred year war and the demise of Fire Lord Ozia. Now in his seventh year on the dias, Fire Lord Zuko and his wife, Fire Lady Katara were married for a little over a year now. The couple had tried to conceive an heir with some difficulty, but now Katara was nearing her last trimester. Zuko had learnt quickly and on his feet, to handle the water master's temperamental moods and soothe her swollen feet an aching back. It had not been the easiest pregnancy up until now, as Katara's belly swelled her bending took a backwards step and her chi was unbalanced to say the least. And tonight was no different. In the depths of his sleep, Lord Zuko felt his wife rummage around the soft sheets, until abruptly, she stopped. Zuko stirred and wrenched open a sleepy eye. A sharp inhale of breath, a jolt of movement and a stifled cry wrenched open his other eye and alerted him from his rest.

He leaned in closer to Katara, resting his head behind hers on the pillow and whispering softly to her ear, 'How can I help?'

Katara made no reply but scrunched tighter around her precious bump.

'Tara?...Tara what's the matter?'

Zuko drew closer to her, pulling his knees up to slide effortlessly behind hers and cradling her back up against his torso. He reached a comforting hand over her belly, spreading his hand out firmly, and stroking her tenderly with his thumb. She was hot, sweltering even. Alarmed he reached to squeeze her shoulder.

'Hey, Tara?….sweet?' Her shoulder matched the same blazing heat as her belly. Zuko bolted up straight and laid the back of his hand against her forehead.

'Tara!...Agni your burning up!'

In the soft glow of the morning sun the sauntered through the bedrooms large window, the Fire Lord saw the pained grimace that stretched across her face. He sprang from the bed to join her at the bed side. Crouching to be at her level, Zuko grasped one of her sweating hands tightly in his, pressing it firmly to his lips in a kiss, as he swept the dampening hair from her sweat laden brow, relieving further the crease of agony the contorted her face.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry….Zuko I'm so sorry, I'm sorry…' He mumbling was hardly audible through Katara's bereaved sobs. A thin stream of tears cascaded elegantly down her cheeks, collecting silently in the soft downy comfort of the pillows.

'Hey, hey now.' Zuko swept her beautiful face clear of the immediate tears, and resting a hand upon her feverish forehead, he stroked her hair soothingly with his thumb. His face was lined with concern, the worry in his eyes burning through their golden stare. He had seen Katara become so down and weary before during these long, enduring months, but never like this, and her fever was raging.

'Let me call for the physician. Tara, you'll be alright.' He offered a soft smile to his trembling Fire Lady.

'I'm sorry Zuko…Sorry, I'm so sorry.. . Zuko….I couldn't… I'm sorry…..'

'Sshh…. Tara it's okay, you have nothing to be sorry for' he continued to stroke her comfortingly. But the soft smile slowly faded from his ivory face, to be replaced with a furrowed brow and a concerned gaze. Katara tried to force a shaky smile, but in a sudden rush of pain, shooting from the pit of her belly, her face scrunched tightly, '…hah!...' Her short cry rang through the royal bed chamber. Zuko lurching forward to comfort his wife, toppling slightly in his hurry, and steadying himself with a strong hand gripped on his crouched knee. He felt the soft silk beneath his palm, but something else also, lifting his hand into a shaft of the glorious morning sun, his mind raced as a sickening feeling rose within him. Inspecting his hand in the light, he saw the thick, red coating of blood. Staring down at his sleep pants, he saw the threatening, red patches that bled through the delicate silk fabric. His mouth hung open for a while, wrenching back to gaze wildly at Katara, who's motionless face looked back at him with sorrowful eyes, as though she already knew the ending to this story.

'Assistance! … Physician! NOW!' Zuko barked to the guards that stood regimentally flanked outside the entrance to the bed chamber. He heard the hurried scuffle of feet and clanking of armour. Wiping his hand hurriedly down the leg of his sleep pants, he pulled Katara's head and his together, placing a firm and strong kiss on the top of her head and hold their foreheads together. He mustn't let his mind run away with him, everything will be fine. Tara will be fine, I can handle this. For that moment, Katara felt Zuko's warm breath caress upon her face, seeping its way past the loose curls of hair that had freed themselves from his tight grip, now resting lazily before her face.

It took only moments for aid to arrive. An older man, dressed in a simple, Earth Kingdom Green robe, which fastened around his larger frame at the waist with a single braided cord. His long clean white beard was plaited its full length and was tightly pinned intermittently down the front centre of his robes. Master Hao had been appointed as the Royal family physician only days after the news of Lady Katara's pregnancy. He came with special recommendation to the palace from Former General Iroh, after the Masters role in the delivery of Prince Lu Ten, what must now have been almost 30 years ago. Master Hao strode into the room with a sense of calm and control. His eyes where cast downwards in that humble, servant manner when he spoke.

'Honourable Fire Lord Zuko, I think perhaps it is best that His majesty is escorted through to his private lounge whilst I examine Her Royal Highness, Fire Lady Katara.'

Glaring, Zuko clenched at his wife's hand, 'That will not be nessicary Master Hao. My place is beside my wife.' His voice was slightly muffled as he pressed her hand tightly up to his lips, but his authority was never compromised.

'Very well, if His majesty wishes.' Hao gave a delicate nod, and proceeded to walk towards the royal bed. Zuko rose to allow him access to Katara, reliving the tell-tale stains that now seeped through the leg of his sleep pants. Hao's face jumped somewhat and registering the Fire Lords appearance, pulled back the bed covers that disguised the thick puddles the pooled around Katara.