Author's Note: This was just an idea I thought would be interesting. I hope no one is OOC; I did my best. There are no OC's in this chapter, but they appear later on. I tried to not make this geared towards any one pairing, but it is probably slightly Zutara.

Katara's fixed stare is cast out her bedroom window as she tries to calm her trembling. She holds her arms tightly across her breast as she watches the sunrise. She bites her tongue as a spell of nausea passes and once it does, anxiety twists her stomach again. Katara glances behind her at Aang's sleeping form and a half smile creeps onto her face. She then sighs and gazes out the window.

I have to tell him, she reminds herself. A feeling of dread consumes her and she looks down to see her nails digging into her arms. She loosens and the whiteness fades from her fingertips. But how?

Aang leaves today on a trip to help rebuild the Earth Kingdom. No rest for him. Katara is being left behind because of her "condition." The morning sickness would probably prohibit her from riding on Appa anyway. But Aang does not know of the expedition she has planned for herself.

I wonder where he is… Katara hears Aang turn in the bed behind her and she holds her breath. Once his breathing regulates, she exhales. I know he is looking for his mother. Katara closes her chocolate eyes and attempts to calm her mind. Images of the testy fire lord assault her conscious. How can I expect to find him? I wonder if Aang and him keep in touch…

Katara pivots and checks that her husband is still asleep. Then she scans the room and stalks out. She enters Aang's study and sharply inhales as a wave of nausea hits her. She leans against the doorway and takes deep breaths. It passes too and she straightens.

I have to hurry. Aang will be up soon and will probably take any recent letters with him. She walks over to the desk that Aang uses to organize all the requests for his help. It's no wonder he's barely around. She opens the drawer where he keeps letters from friends and swallows her guilt. Katara glances over her shoulder and then rifles through.

She finds a letter from Sokka and Suki; they are happily married and finishing their honeymoon. She smiles and remembers their wedding. It was not long after the end of the war. Everyone's lives moved so fast afterwards, her own most of all. She places a careful hand on her slightly swollen stomach and then continues. She smiles in satisfaction as she pulls out her bounty.

The white envelope bears the scarlet fire lord emblem. Katara tucks it into her sleeve and hurriedly leaves the study. She enters the kitchen and starts to make breakfast. She cracks the eggs and contentedly listens to them sizzle. She absentmindedly fingers the envelope that is still tucked away.

"Good morning." Katara turns to see Aang sleepily amble into the kitchen with a grin on his face. "How are you feeling?" He walks over and wraps her into a hug.

"Same as usual," Katara murmurs with a smile. She then tears herself away to tend to the eggs. "Here you go, breakfast," she says and hands him a plate. Aang kisses her on the cheek and sits at the table. She grabs a plate and sits next to him. She watches as he shovels the food in and she just twirls her fork around her plate.

"Are you gonna eat," Aang asks with a worried glance.

"Um, I'm not that hungry. The mornings are the worst."

He nods and replies, "The afternoons and night don't seem all that good either." Katara chuckles and rolls her eyes.

"Who knew I would have such a weak stomach."

"Well, you're pregnant. It is not all that unusual." Aang finishes his plate and stands. He quickly washes the plate and then turns to Katara with a grimace. "I have to leave now. It is a bit of a ride."

Katara gives a halfhearted smile and stands. "You're the avatar. It's not like you have a choice. You have responsibilities."

Aang sighs and responds, "I know, but I just don't want to leave you two." He wraps his arms around Katara and puts a hand on her stomach.

"We'll be fine. Now you have to go. There may be no Fire Nation hunting you, but I still don't like the idea of you flying in the dark." Aang grimaces again and Katara laughingly pulls away. She walks him to the door and watches as he mounts Appa.

"Be safe," Aang calls.

"You too," Katara cries and Appa takes off. She stays in the doorway waving until he is out of sight. She then sighs and wonders at the sense of relief she feels at Aang's departure.

Katara walks back inside the house and heads to the bedroom. She sits on the bed and takes out the envelope. She holds it in her hand and stares at it. This may be the answer.

She shakes her head and opens the envelope. Then, she pulls out the letter and reads Zuko's familiar script.

Aang,

Congratulations on your engagement, although I can't say I didn't see it coming. Personally, I believe it is a little fast, but then again I have not waited 100 years like you. I am doing fine and currently on the move. I have searched long for my mother, but I have a country to tend to and will be ending my prowl promptly. Maybe I will get another chance to deduce her fate. I am leaving my current location soon. I have no idea how you manage to befriend all of the countries; these remote villagers of the Earth Kingdom do not appreciate my presence. But this costal view makes up for the lack of a warm welcome. I cannot even remember the name of this island since it is so small. At least I am close to Ba Sing Se so it is not difficult to purchase the necessities. I hope everyone is doing well; it is miraculous how fast we grow apart.

Zuko

Katara slowly exhales as she pieces the clues together. Remote, costal, Ba Sing Se… She scrambles to find a map and it is not long until she pinpoints a location. Please do not leave yet. Without further ado, she snatches the supplies she packed through the night and heads out the door.

She quickly barters for an ostrich horse at the nearest village and departs. She rides through the day while snacking lightly on her provisions. She stops at night and attempts to sleep. Once she realizes the pursuit is useless she mounts the ostrich horse and continues. She refrains from stopping, although eventually she has to pull over when the morning sickness attacks in full force.

After a week with minimal sleep, she approaches the ferry that will take her to the island. She leaves the ostrich horse with a local farmer, promising to return.

It is not a long ride to the island and she pays the ferryman his fee. After asking a villager she finds the Fire Nation soldiers plan to leave tomorrow. She sighs in relief at her good timing and heads to their camp.

On the way she combs her hair with her fingers and checks the state of her clothes. Katara does anything to keep herself busy and her mind distracted. The walk is short and soon she is facing the camp. There are not many soldiers around, but one approaches her.

"Ma'am, there are no villagers allowed. We are leaving tomorrow and then you do not have to worry about us." The soldier sounds exasperated and Katara guesses that he has had to say this many times.

"Oh, I'm not a visitor. I am hear to see Fire Lo-"

Katara is cut off as the soldier hisses, "Shut up! No one is supposed to know he's here. How do you?"

Katara's eyes narrow and she coldly explains, "I am an old friend and it would serve you right to not tell me to shut up." The soldier shrugs and leads her to Zuko's tent.

"An," the soldier pauses and glances at Katara, "old friend is here to see you, Your Highness."

Zuko pulls back the flap of the tent and starts at the sight of Katara. "I didn't expect to see you here." he turns to the soldier and dismisses him. "Come in," he invites while beckoning into the interior of the tent.

Katara's stomach tightens into a knot as she enters the tent. Zuko motions to a seat and she wearily sits in it. "How did you find me," he asks as he sits in a chair opposite her.

"From the letter you sent Aang and me." Katara wrings her hands, but stops as she catches herself.

"Oh, I could've sworn I addressed that letter to Aang," Zuko thoughtfully muses. Katara averts her eyes and studies the interior of the scarlet tent. "Oh well, so how are you doing?"

Katara's stomach churns as she answers, "Well, I'm pregnant."

She studies Zuko's face for a reaction, but she only receives a blink of astonishment. "Congratulations. Aang must be so happy. I always though he would make a good father." Katara looks away nervously and silently prays she does not get sick. "Hey is everything all right? You don't look so good. Here, have something to eat." Zuko gives her a bowl of chips and she shakes her head.

"No, I'm not very hungry."

Zuko cocks his head to the side and gruffly says, "You look too thin. Especially if you're pregnant. Eat." She nods and obediently takes the bowl. "So how far along are you?"

"Five months." Katara looks away as he does the math.

"Um, that was right after the end of the war." He clears his throat and continues, "Well you couldn't have come all this way for idle chitchat. What do you want?"

"Can't you believe I came here to catch up?" Katara takes another chip as the knot tightens in her stomach.

Zuko narrows his eyes at her avoidance of the question. "No. Now stop playing with me. What is it?"

Katara sighs and puts the bowl aside. "Ok." She pauses and her chest constricts painfully. "You're the father."

Zuko pauses and then sputters, "What?"

"You're the-"

"Don't say it again! I mean how?" His eyes are wide in disbelief and Katara reflects that she has never seen him so unnerved.

"The night after I decided not to take revenge on the man that killed my mother. Before we went back to the others. I was upset and came into your tent…" She watches Zuko try to regain control over himself as she explains.

"I remember," he coldly assures Katara. "How long have you known?"

"After Sozin's comet. After the war ended." Her voice is crisp and she strives to block her emotions.

"Why didn't you tell me then?"

"You had just been coronated and I thought it was better you didn't know."

Zuko's face remains emotionless as he inquires, "What changed?"

"I decided it wasn't fair for me to make the decision for you."

Zuko looks away and stares at the entrance to the tent. He then faces her again and his face is still stoic. "Does Aang know?"

"Not that you're the father. He thinks he is."

Zuko raises his eyebrows in surprise. "Don't you think that's an important detail?"

Katara's anxiety changes into anger and she nearly shouts, "What do you think I was supposed to do? We were never together! We never would be! It was just one mistake that-" She cuts off as a severe wave of nausea hits her and she doubles over. She takes deep breaths and presses the palm of her hand to her mouth until it passes.

She straightens to see Zuko's worried face. "Are you all right?" His voice is laced concern and a bit of fear.

"Yeah, just the morning sickness is bad." Katara breathes through her mouth and attempts to settle her stomach.

"It's night," he plainly states.

"Tell the baby." Katara's meager smile fades from her face and she plainly asks, "Now what?"

"What do you expect from me? Aang can support you and knowing him doesn't mind having a kid." Zuko retains his calm and carefully shields his emotions.

"So you don't want anything to do with the child?" Katara's face reddens with anger.

Zuko's expression does not change as he replies, "It's for the best."

Katara stands abruptly and snarls, "I should have expected as much. You really never change." She storms out of the tent without a backward glance.