Chapter 1

Expecting

A few months after Zuko and Katara's Wedding. Katara was expecting. Zuko and Katara were beside themselves with joy, but they were also wondering what kind of bender, if any, their child would be having two different parents, in preparation for the delivery Zuko sent for the best healers from the Northern water tribe offering them a hefty sum of money for their assistance. However once they found out it was Katara they'd be caring for, turned down Zuko's cash offer.

9 Months Later

Katara was sitting on a mat by one of the large windows overlooking the fire nation in a rather depressed mood. Her child was 3 weeks late. Katara was not only growing weary from carrying her child for almost 10 months, but she along with Zuko were very worried not just about their unborn child, but also for Katara's health. Zuko came up behind Katara and placed his hand on her shoulder "Are you ok?" Katara sighed "I'm fine, what information did the healers give you" "They said for now the baby is in no harm, they believe it's only a matter of time, Katara, I've got an important fire lord thing to take care of…will you be ok?" Katara (with quite a bit of help from Zuko) stood up and kissed him gently "Go now, I'll be fine" Zuko kissed her forehead "I've ordered a guard to be around you at all times, should something happen, they will come and get me and I'll be by your side as soon as I can, I won't be far, just in the throne room, see you in a bit" Zuko kissed Katara one last time and was gone

Katara was passing her time in the library; the ever present guards Zuko had ordered were keeping an eye on her. Satisfied that she was done with the book that was in front of her she stood up and went to reach for another one when pain shot through her entire body. She hunched over and grabbed her oversized stomach slowly sinking towards the ground, one of the guards was there in a flash "Go for fire lord Zuko IMMEDIATELY" he commanded to the other guard in which he took off as he was told.

Zuko meanwhile was in the middle of his important meeting a fire nation occupant was having troubles with security around his town "I see your reasoning, very well I'll send over a few of my guards and…" but a guard burst through the door before he could finish "fire lord Zuko! Your wife has just gone into labor! Hurry now!" Zuko's eyes widened he looked back at his guest "I will have to resume our meeting later I must go!" and he was gone

Zuko rushed into the castle's infirmary where the nurses and healers were steadily working over Katara when at last they'd finished Zuko pulled a chair up to her bedside taking her hand "How're you feeling" "Besides the pain, I'm fine, thank you for coming" she smiled up at him "Are you kidding, I wouldn't miss this for anything!" suddenly there was a tap on the door one of the healers peeked their head inside "Katara, your friends are here, what are the orders" "Let them come in of course!" Katara exclaimed "Honey are you sure? Don't overwhelm yourself" Zuko said worriedly "nonsense! I'll be fine" the healer left a few moments later Aang, Sokka, and Toph entered the room "How are you Katara!" Aang asked "I'm good" Katara smiled Sokka pulled a chair up to the opposite side of Katara's bed and took a seat "So I've been throwing around some names and I'd like to know what you all think, ok, if it's a girl, I was thinking Kyaang for Kya, our mother, and you Aang" "me?" Aang asked astounded "you don't have to name it after me Katara, I-I'm, flattered" Katara just smiled and Continued "And, if it's a boy, Zuokka" she looked at Sokka and Zuko each in turn noticing that Sokka's cheeks had turned red "oh you big softie!" Katara joked Sokka laughed "I like those names, thank you Katara" Katara looked at Zuko "Well, what do you think" "Those are both beautiful names Katara" suddenly Katara screamed grasping her belly "I-I, think, it's time" Katara gasped. The healers rushed in "out, everybody out, we need room" "but…" Zuko protested, Katara squeezed his hand in a loving gesture "go! I'll be ok, they know what they're doing" Zuko took turns looking at Katara then the healers and with a final kiss and "I love you" to Katara did as he was told.

Minutes later

A healer stuck her head out into the waiting room and looked at the group and smiled "We're ready for you now" they all went in Katara was sitting up in her bed, holding a bundle wrapped in pink, She looked up with a grin "It's Kyaang" they all gathered around Zuko looking down in pride "She's beautiful!" Zuko leaned down and kissed first Katara and then Kyaang "Sokka, she's got our mother's eyes!" Katara exclaimed Sokka walked over and looked down tears filling his eyes "She does!" then more comically "you know what! I think she's got my chin, what do you think? Or maybe my ears" Katara rolled her eyes and punched him in the shoulder "oh shut up!" "She's beautiful Katara, she looks like you" Aang said as he looked adoringly at both Katara and Kyaang. Katara smiled at him "Aww I wish I could see her!" exclaimed Toph "Sorry Toph" Katara apologized "It's ok, I can just picture her as a beautiful little bundle of joy" Toph said Smiling. "Thank you Toph" replied Katara and then she turned to look at Zuko "Zuko, would you like to hold her" Zuko was unsure of himself, he'd never been around anything so, delicate, and he was well, sometimes a little rough around the edges, he didn't know what he should do "Oh, I, um" Katara understood his dilemma "Zuko, you're not gonna hurt her" She lifted the bundle towards Zuko and Zuko took Kyaang gently and lovingly into his arms, he looked down into her deep blue eyes, suddenly, he thought about his own father and, without really knowing it said to Kyaang "I promise you now Kyaang, I'll be ten times the father that my father was, I'll NEVER.." he paused as tears started to fill his eyes "NEVER, do to you the things that my father did to me. I promise." And with that said he planted a soft kiss on her forehead and handed her back to Katara who had also been crying. "You'll be the best father ever Zuko!" suddenly one of the healers walked into the room "My queen…" "Please, just call me Katara" Katara broke in "Right, Madame, may I?" the healer questioned, gesturing towards Kyaang "OH! Of course!" she looked at the group to explain as she handed Kyaang over "Healers not only are very good at healing but most of them can tell if the newborn child is going to be a water bender" "That's amazing!" Toph exclaimed. The healer placed her hand gently on Kyaang's forehead and closed her eyes concentrating a few moments later she began to speak "yes…I can tell you now she WILL be a water bender!" the group exclaimed ecstatically "but, there's something else, I feel an energy coursing through her that I don't recognize, I think…She'll also be…a fire bender!"

To Be Continued

If you want more please review!