Sunrise

Five weeks later...

Azula was not happy. First, her physician couldn't pinpoint when her baby would arrive. All the woman could tell her was that it would happen when it was time and not to rush it. Secondly, her mother, stepfather and sister refused to leave her side. While she appreciated the closeness, it had gotten so she felt like she couldn't breathe. But the final straw had come two days earlier. Katara had arrived and Toph had come along, too. Things got off to a rough start with them. Azula's garlic plants were overwhelming, especially to Toph's heightened sense of smell. Katara had offered to move them out, saying that the baby was so close to being born it would make no difference. Azula agreed-through clenched teeth-to their removal, but she didn't like this at all. The beach house was hers and she was used to having her own way.

It was late morning on Ember Island, and Azula had nursed her resentment for those two days. Katara had gone waveriding and Masanori wanted to try that, as well. It was mostly an excuse to get away from the smoldering princess. Toph was showing Amaya some sandbending. Pai and Ursa were up at the house doing...adult things.

"Ugh," Azula groaned. "Look after my sister, Badgermole."

"Where are you going?" Toph asked.

"For a swim. My back hurts and it helps me relax."

"Sure thing, Stormy."

"'Stormy?'" Azula made a face. Not that Toph noticed.

"When you do the lightning," Toph said, mocking the figure-8 motion, "it makes a thunder noise."

Azula huffed, then walked a good way to the shore. She looked around, then shed her robe and swam out, naked as a newborn.

The swim worked. But just as she started to head back to land, Katara and Masanori came racing at her. They saw each other, but not fast enough. Katara cut off her bending, dumping Masanori into the drink. He poked his head above water and looked around frantically. "Cat? Azula? Where are you?!"

Horror dawned on Katara's face. She dove beneath the waves and swam down to the sinking princess. She grabbed Azula around her upper torso-there was no clothing to hold onto-and pulled her up to the surface. She and Masanori took her to shore, where Toph and Amaya came running.

"What happened?" Toph asked.

Masanori didn't hear the question. "Cat? Are you okay?"

Toph's face clouded. "I can't feel a heartbeat."

"Get back, everyone." Katara waved them away. She tilted Azula's head back and placed her mouth over Azula's, breathing into her. She did this twice, then pressed down on her chest with her hands. "Anything?"

Toph shook her head. "Nothing, Sugar Queen." Her milky green eyes were misting.

Amaya was already crying. Masanori held her tightly. "Masa, I'm scared!"

"Me too, honey." His voice was a whisper.

"Azula," Katara said imperiously, "you are not going to do this. Not now." She did another round. On the third round, Azula spasmed, coughing violently, trying to purge the water from her lungs. Katara helped the princess to a sitting position and patted her gently between the shoulders. "Are you all right?"

"Peachy," Azula rasped. "I could-hack-take on a moose-lion with my bare hands."

Masanori was crying as he swept Azula into his arms. He couldn't even speak.

"I didn't see her," Katara whispered. She snapped out of it when she felt Amaya hugging her legs. "You saved her! I love you!"

Azula looked up. "I've never been good at saying 'thank you.'"

Katara smiled. "You just did."

"Could someone get my clothes?" Azula growled.

"What's the problem?" Toph said. "Sweetness and Sugar Queen are girls, Beach Boy's your husband, and I'm blind."

"I nearly drowned and I look like a fat, wet, naked rat-monkey. I'd to save some dignity."

"I'll get them" Katara said. She walked away.

"I don't get the big deal," Toph groused. "I don't know what you look like. I don't know what I look like."

"You're really pretty, Toph. If that means anything to you."

"Thanks, Beach Boy." She leaned over and gave him a light punch.

"What was that for?"

"That's how I show affection," the earthbender said with a grin.

Masanori smiled, too. "I'd hate to see what you'd do to someone you really liked."

"You have no idea."

Azula rolled her eyes. "I survived drowning for this."

"Here you are." Katara was back with the maternity robe.

"I can do it." Azula stood, then doubled over, groaning loudly.

"Cat, what's wrong?" Masanori held her so she wouldn't fall.

"Never mind the robe. We have a new problem."

Masanori's eyes grew very wide. "You mean..."

"Of course, I mean! It's coming out!"

"Right," Katara said, taking charge. "Amaya, go get your mommy, okay?"

"Uh-huh." Amaya ran toward the house.

"Toph, I'll need you to keep track of the baby's heartbeat and hers."

"I'll do better than that." Toph sandbent a series of supports. "Lean against those, Stormy."

"Take all the support you need, Azula," Katara said gently. "Squat down and lean against the sandbars."

"I won't let you fall, Stormy."

Katara and Masanori lowered the princess down into a leaning squat. "Masa, you hold her hand. Both hands, if you have to."

Masanori took Azula's left hand. "Sokka said you were good at this." It was an assertion, not an expression of doubt.

The waterbender smiled. "I've never lost one baby or one mother yet. And those women weren't as tough as she is."

A contraction hit. Azula groaned loudly through clenched teeth.

"It's okay, Cat." Masanori squeezed her hand.

"What's going-Agni!" Ursa and Pai had arrived. Luckily, Amaya had arrived after they finished up. They were thunderstruck, but did not question it.

"Azula, look at me princess." Azula's golden eyes met the blue ones of the waterbender. "I know it hurts, but don't be afraid. It will be fine. Trust me."

Azula nearly bit out "trust you?!" But what came out was, "All right."

"Lady Ursa, take her other hand, please. Whatever you need to do, do it-stroke her head, sing a lullabye, anything."

As Ursa took her position, another contraction hit. Azula had all she could do to keep from screaming.

"Azula, if it hurts, just let it out, or you'll only make it worse. Now, I have to see how far along you are, okay?"

"Do it! Aaaahhh! This is torture!"

Pai scooped up Amaya. "Come on, honey. We don't need to see this."

"Okay, Daddy. Love you, Sister Dragon." They departed for the house.

Katara checked how dilated the princess was. It was embarrassing, but necessary. "A few minutes now."

"I want to push!"

"You can't, Azula. Not until I tell you. If you try, you'll hurt yourself and the baby."

"This baby wants out, Katara!" Azula was panting, her eyes red and teary. For a moment, it reminded Katara of when her mind broke. The waterbender did her best to smile. "Hey, I helped a woman older and in worse shape than you deliver her baby in the Serpent's Pass. You and your honor girls were chasing us, the serpent wanted to eat us, and Sokka was panicking. This will be easy compared to that. Now, let me check again...yes!" She rose up to face Azula. "When I say so, push!"

"All...all right."

I know it's hard, but having a baby is like firebending: using your breath for power. Breathe. Deep in...deep out. Deep in...deep out." Before long, Azula was breathing as normally as possible.

"This is it, Cat."

"Deep breath annnnnd...push!"

Azula grunted and heaved with all of her might. "Ngaahhh!"

"And relax!"

Azula nearly collapsed in agony, panting and crying. "Mama!"

Ursa saw her daughter turn to her with anguished eyes. There was a look in them that Ursa never imagined the mighty Azula having: pleading. She was begging for relief. "I'm here, baby. Anything you need." She stroked Azula's head. "Just squeeze our hands, okay?"

"You're doing great, Stormy."

"Toph's right: you are doing great," Katara said. "Just breathe. That's it. Push!"

Azula strained terribly. "Agni!"

"And relax. The head is out! One more! Deep breath and push!"

Azula gave a last wrenching effort. The infant fell into Katara's hands. Azula was panting so hard she could barely hear the baby's shrill scream of life.

Ursa cradled her exhausted daughter. "Is it all right?"

Katara cleaned the newborn off with her flask water. She held the new arrival with a big smile, tears streaming. "She is just fine. Here, Daddy. Hold your new daughter."

Masanori stood and eagerly scooped his baby girl into his arms. "Oh, Cat...she's so beautiful, just like you!"

"Roka..." Azula said weakly. "After her ancestor, Avatar Roku." Ursa beamed with joy.

"Hello, Roka," Masanori gushed. "I'm your daddy." His eyes were fountains of joyous tears. "I love you so much. I've made you the nicest room. And you and your cousins can play..." He was blubbering too hard to speak.

"Now you've got two babies to take care of, Stormy," Toph quipped.

"He'll be fine," Katara said. "Daddy, let Mommy hold her, okay?"

Masanori seemed suddenly shaken. "I love her so much...I never want to let her go."

"You never will," Toph said softly. "As long as you're alive."

That did the trick. Masanori gently handed the baby to Azula, who burst into tears immediately.

"Hello, Roka," Ursa said. "I'm your grandmommy."

"She came out head-first," Azula gushed, "but she landed on her feet. Thank you. Thank you, Katara."

"You are most welcome, princess."

"Thanks aren't enough," Masanori said. "You saved my wife and baby all in one day. I can never repay that, but I'll try. 20,000 gold pieces and a diamond necklace are yours."

"Masa, take care of your family first. I'll be fine."

"Right now," Ursa said, "let's get Mommy and baby to bed. Let them rest up."

Azula struggled against the supports. "I'm not a crystal vase-"

"Your mother's right, Azula," Katara said in a motherly way herself. "Childbirth is very traumatic, for the baby and the mother."

"We'll take care of everything," Ursa said, rubbing Azula's scalp.