A/N: So, I got this idea from reading another fanfiction story - this in no way has anything to do with that author's story, but the concept of basing the chapters plots on nursey rhymes or children games is.

Song: Rockabye baby

Genre: Romance, Drama

Warnings: Slight fluff/lemon mentioned

AU/CU: I'm basing this on pure imagination - of what I think would happen if Zuko and Katara were in a relationship and decided to be together after the events of Sozin's Comet. And they've all matured a great deal so if they seem AU - than its understandable.

Rating: T

The Choices

Lately roaming the immense halls of the Fire Nation, Katara found herself recalling odd memories from her childhood. Her favorite : when she lost her first tooth, she was upset of course - it hurt, like hell, but her mother picked her up and soothed her by softly humming. The memory made her smile and also brought tears to her eyes, she missed her mother, more than words could express, but she died long ago and Katara had finally found peace with time.

She ran her slim fingers through her thick brown hair - she often did this when she was thinking, and been doing her fair share of that recently. Her life had changed drastically since she and her friends defeated the corrupted Fire Lord Ozai. Zuko had become the new Fire Lord, Aang the highly respected and worshiped Avatar, Sokka and Suki happily married and living back home with the Southern Water Tribe, and Toph travelling the world with Aang searching for any possible remains of the Air Nomads. And Katara, well, she decided to remain by Zuko's side. Three years had passed since then, although she was living within the palace of the Fire Nation, she was fairly independent - working as a healer in a shop Zuko had given her: he'd hoped that it would make her happy, and it did. And living in separate house, that she'd purchase with the money she'd earned, contributed as well.

Yes, her life was fairly comfortable, and she deserved it after everything she'd been through - hell, they all did. Katara moved from the hall and over towards one of the open double paneled windows. She was approaching the eve of her twentieth birthday, a celebration was going to be held in her honor - and it was going to be hosted by Iroh. She had hoped that Zuko wouldn't tell anyone, but he knew that someone somewhere down the line would have gotten the truth from him. She glanced up at the sky, the clouds were a light blue and outlined a shimmering silver. Summer in the Fire Nation was as cliched as it sounded - a polar opposite to living in the South Pole.

She made a subtle movement - brushing her hand over her lower abdomen. Katara gave a faint smile. So, much thinking, and so little time. She use to be more organized than this - more deliberate and precise. But, that was before she and Zuko became - whatever they were - boyfriend and girlfriend, lovers - who knew. She didn't. Some how in her attempt to aid him and help him shape his falling nation, he'd changed her and in more ways than she thought even possible. She behaved more out of passion, than her usual level-headed self; more like a Firebender than a Waterbender. Katara laughed at the thought, comes with dating one - she figured.

"Katara?"

The waterbender smiled - it hadn't surprised her that he had been watching her, he didn't miss much these days - especially when regarding her. "Zuko, hey. What are you doing here?"

"My Uncle told me you were here. He said you looked - depressed. He was concerned." explained the young Fire Lord, walking over to join her. "I was worried about you, as well."

Katara leaned in to him, closed her eyes and sighed. "Hmm. . I'm fine. Just had a lot on my mind lately." He draped his arms around her waist, allowing her body to mold into his perfectly, as if they had been destined to be together - like two pieces of the same puzzle. She opened her eyes, allowed them to drift to her stomach, and then began rubbing it in a circular motion. She wasn't the same young girl she was when she met Zuko, he wasn't the same young boy - but the mindset of her younger self still lingered, considerably now.

"Have I ever told you how glad I am that you decided to stay here?" Zuko asked, nuzzling Katara's neck. "You've helped me a lot since I became the Fire Lord, and I appreciate it."

Katara nodded. "You're welcome, glad I could help." She was fortunate, she chided herself, that Zuko had allowed her to remain here. Times were still troubling, and although relations between the nations were better - Firebenders and Waterbender still had a troubled history. But, maybe just maybe their relationship could change that.

She looked up and studied him for a moment - watching him as he inhaled the scent of her hair, and stroked her arms to comfort her - she was uncertain if he could handle the news of her pregnancy at the moment; however, she was a twelve weeks a long and he or someone within the palace was bounded to notice her newly gained weight. She turned and faced him, burying her face in his heavily decorated chest, he wore so many layers nowadays, royal robes she figured. Katara took hold of a layer, only lightly grabbing it - afraid of tearing the fabric - and then mumbled something incoherently.

"What did you say, I couldn't hear you." He placed a little distance between them - about an arms length - "Katara?"

"I'm pregnant." she whispered. "I'm so sorry." Those weren't the words she wanted to say, she wasn't sorry for herself, not entirely, but she was sorry for him.

The young Fire Lord stiffened, his body became tense and ridged. His hands fell from her shoulders and dropped to his sides - that's one thing he hadn't expected. "How -how did this happen?" Those weren't the exact words he wanted to say either.

A light laugh escaped her lips. "I think you know how, Zuko."

His lips slightly parted, but he didn't speak, somehow all he could manage was a head nod. Zuko tilted her head downward and placed a clammy hand on Katara's belly. "Are you sure? It's early, isn't?"

She nodded and he uttered a light, "Oh." Katara bit her lip - she hadn't originally intended for her announcement to be that - dramatic. She blamed the hormones, under a level-head she wouldn't have created such a scene. She had wanted it to be more calculated and thought out. "I'm planning on keeping the baby. I understand if this. . .complicates things, but it's my choice and if you want nothing -" she was cut off by the placement of his finger upon her lips.

"Shh. Katara. Don't even say it - of course I want the baby, too." He leaned in to kiss her forehead, "I just didn't expect that you would be - well, it caught me off guard."

A small breeze blew around them and ruffled Katara's loose hair, making Zuko smooth it back into place, "Is that why you refused to live inside the palace?" he suggested, "You wanted to keep this a secret."

Katara stifled a laugh, "Something like that - I, I just wasn't thinking clearly." she paused, "I'm sure you would agree, producing a child out of wedlock will damage your standing with your people. It has taken you some time to win over their trust." She didn't continue with her comment, he knew where she was going and it didn't need to be said.

Zuko inhaled deeply, then let the air out through his nose. He was processing deliberatly, whatever he was going to say, he was making sure it wouldn't offend her or even anger her. He cared deeply for Katara, just as he would their child, but her concerns were correctly placed. When he ascended the throne, the people of the nation were, to put it lightly cynical; however, with time and patience he eventually won them over and all grew to gradually love him. There were a few who still favored in his father's rule, those followers, although they were allowed to roam freely, still needed to be watched in case of an uprising.

He shrugged. "I'm not too concerned with the nation, at the moment. My people are happy, and I'm sure they'll be even more so when we announce the pregnancy."

Katara blinked. "Announce? Zuko, I'm not even ready to tell my family - let a lone the entire Fire Nation."

"It won't be good idea to keep this hidden for long." he said seriously, taking her hand and leading her to his suite. She released his hand soon after, liking the idea of walking with him willingly than by force, he tried not to seem bothered by it - instead he straightened his clothes while they moved through the hall. "Plus, there are a few things we need to start considering."

"Such as?" She challenged, lifting an eyebrow. "Other than the obvious, that is."

He sighed, "Just making a few changes to the palace, a new room, teachers, trainers, etc. I wasn't talking about the baby and it's bending capabilities."

"Right." she said flatly. "I'm sure the idea doesn't bother you at all."

"How about we keep an upbeat attitude, Katara. It's not fair of you to instantly assume that I'll be bother by the idea that our child could be a waterbender."

She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. Zuko was right of course, she knew that, but it didn't mean she believed him - at least not completely. He opened the grand door of suite, it was a deep crimson red with gold trimmings along the edges, she hadn't noticed how beautiful it was before. He led her to the bed, offering her a seat, Katara accepted, but faced in the opposite direction of him - arms still crossed and face still sour.

He growled lowly in frustration that seemed to be more directed toward her obvious unhappiness than any disappointment with himself. Still, that's why he was so attracted to her, she was stubborn, independent, brave, caring, and hell the best damn Waterbender he had ever faced. Those were the things he needed to focus on, and as he did his hand settled on her abdomen, that made her turn and face him. She realized then with a small smile and a great rush of warmth to her heart that he would be there for her, that he actually did mean what he'd said - no matter how much she thought he was going to regret it later.

Katara pressed her lips against his, it was a small seemingly innocent kiss, something she'd come to call a 'butterfly kiss', before looping her arms around his neck. "You're right, Zuko. I need to be positive and not contribute to the already complex situation. I know you mean well."

He agreed with a simple soft sound from his throat, anything that would make this pregnancy easier on her was worth agreeing to - regardless of the situation.

Night drew near and both of them settled into Zuko's bed. Katara had cocooned herself into the bed instantly after the two had finished talking, prior to her falling asleep they had their meals delivered to his room, and Zuko informed one of his servants of a Council Meeting the following morning. Zuko, however, remained awake, fully content on watching Katara sleep. She was snuggled close to him, with her head resting against his shoulder, and stomach pressed to his arm. He ran his fingers through her hair, his favorite past time, then kissed her forehead. He was going to be a father, he'd never thought about the idea before now, and now that it was happening it all was very terrifying and exciting.

He shifted himself so that his arm was tucked comfortably behind Katara's neck and found himself smiling much, much wider than he normally did. Zuko started humming, a rhyme his mother sung to him when she rocked him to sleep, " and down will come baby, cradle and all." He keep humming the song lightly to himself, so not to disturb Katara, until he drifted into a deep sleep.