I do not own A:TLA . This is my first ever fanfic. And I think I have no idea what I'm doing so do bear with me. And constructive criticism is welcome. The emphasis being constructive. Thank you!

Oh and I do love the Zutara ship!

Chapter 1 : Donor?

Katara sighed as she put down the file she'd been studying. Was it too much to ask for a decent, good looking and compatible donor? That's all she asked for to make her dream come true. And it's not like it was an outlandish dream. She just wanted to become a mother. To have a family. And she didn't have all the time in the world to go through file after file of what could only pass for half decent donors. She needed the perfect one for her dream to come true. And it's not like she could do this without a donor. If she could she would have done it already!

She was 32years old. Had had one of the most successful careers as a figure skater and now was owner of the most popular café in Ba Sing Se upper ring. well co-owner anyway. She had started it with her best friend Zuko after he came into a sizable inheritance from the trust fund his mother had secretly set up for him when he turned 21. He had been the one to come up with the idea since she had still been on the last leg of her skating career. They had bought a three story building in the upper ring and turned the building into their café and residence. She lived in the beautiful apartment at the topmost floor while he lived on the middle floor. The ground floor was their thriving café - The Moon Dragon - which was classy, tasteful and highly patronized by the cream of Ba Sing Se society.

She had a brother she loved to death but who lived on Kyoshi Island with his wife Suki and their three kids. She saw them from time to time but it wasn't enough to fill the void she felt since her Grangran passed on. She hardly saw her dad anymore since he remarried and he stayed in the South Pole. She had friends who she loved dearly but she needed this. She'd originally planned to have a baby with her long term skating partner Jet. But as it turned out he didn't want to settle down much less have a baby. It became very evident when she caught him in bed with a skater from Omashu. To say she had been heartbroken would have be an understatement. It caused her early retirement. Now ten years down the line she was a well off, highly respected member of the upper ring society. Was it too much to want a family of her own without having a man to come and spoil things by cheating on her like Jet did? She didn't think so. But the prospective donor was proving very elusive. She needed to talk to Toph!


"Hey Sugar Queen!" Toph exclaimed throwing her arms around Katara. "What took you so long to come and see me?" Katara burst into giggles. "Toph I saw you three days ago! Besides I didn't want to impose on you and Aang since you guys have been pretty busy since baby number 3 came along and you guys had your hands full." Toph laughed and pulled her towards the kitchen where Aang was busy feeding their twin 1year olds. Who were busy playing with their food and making a big mess. "Aang! The food is supposed to go into their mouths not on the walls and floor!" Toph cried in exasperation and shook her head. "Can't see why you'll want to do this on your own Sugar Queen."

Katara just laughed and greeted Aang and dropped kisses on the twins' heads. "You know I love your kids to bits and I can't have enough of them whenever I can pop in." Toph saw the tender smile on her friend's face and knew how badly she longed for a child of her own, so she asked, "So how's the search going?" Katara frowned and hopped onto a stool and threw her hands up. "They're all not right. Either they are physically not right or have no personality! And then there's the downright dumb ones! Can't a girl get a decent donor in this big old city?"

Aang looked up and piped up "I'd love to help but I think I fall under unsuitable?" Katara smiled but shook her head firmly. "I know Toph is generous and all but I don't think I'm that desperate yet. It's just taking longer than I thought." Toph smacked Aang in the head and said "Three of your kids are more than enough for Ba Sing Se, don't you think? Besides have you even thought about what that would mean?" Aang gave a goofy smile and started cleaning up the twins' mess. "Hey! What about Zuko?" Aang asked.

Toph cocked her head to the side considering this while Katara stammered "Z…Zu..Zuko?" Toph nodded and added "That wouldn't be a bad idea. I mean you guys are best friends, he's handsome, intelligent and charismatic!" Katara got up and cried "Not forgetting his commitment issues!" Toph got a sly grin on her face and asked " Are we looking for a donor or a boyfriend?" Katara blushed and huffed "I know! But he lives downstairs! Plus I don't want to mess up our friendship!" Toph put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her sideways. "Hey it was just a thought. Think about it though in case you get really desperate. K?" Katara nodded and got deep into thought. Aang finished cleaning the twins up and handed Tenzin to Katara who brightened up immediately and nuzzled his cheek with her own. Tenzin smiled brightly and tugged on her hair. Her heart melted and she resolved to find a donor come hell or high water. She spent the rest of the afternoon at Toph's and went home even more determined.


Katara decided to go up straight to her apartment and parking her car, went up the back staircase. She knocked on Zuko's door to see if he was in. Not getting any response she went on up and decided to make dinner. As usual she made enough for two knowing if Zuko wasn't on one of his numerous dates he'd pop in when he got back up from the café. They sometimes just got sandwiches or salads from the café but she enjoyed cooking and was really good at it too. Zuko couldn't get enough of her cooking and had even made her cook for a dinner date he once had in his apartment before.

She decided on Italian and made a delicious seafood pasta. She had it with orange juice since she was off alcohol in trying to get her body prepared for her bid to become a mother. Finishing her food she cleared her plates, loaded the dishwasher and got into the shower. She heard the knock just as she stepped out of the bath so she got into her blue terry robe and matching slippers and padded to the door.

"Hey Tara, got anything good to eat?" Zuko asked as soon as she opened the door. He was not surprised she was in a robe just out of the shower. He just looked her over, smirked a little and ruffled her still damp hair. "Fresh outta the shower? Yummy!" It was something he'd usually do and say but having been thinking of having a baby with him - albeit artificially - she blushed and hoping he'd think it was a flush from the warm shower she'd had and pushed him towards her beautiful kitchen. "Go get your own plate. I need to get dressed!" He shrugged and went to pick up a plate. "Okay, chill Tara, I can do that. Go ahead and get dressed. Wear something hot will you?" he called out after her teasing. She just huffed and left for her bedroom.

In her bedroom she put on a tank top and terry pants and dried and brushed her hair. Why did she feel weird all of a sudden around Zuko? Sure she'd been attracted to him in the beginning, but that she dismissed as her friendship with him grew and they became confidants. They'd been friends since he'd moved in with his uncle who happened to be their team's psychologist. He'd been there for her when she needed him and though he was somewhat popular with the ladies he just enjoyed their company and they his. He was very upfront with them so they knew what they were in for.

She must have been lost in thought longer than she realized as Zuko popped his head in and said with that small half smile he had, "What's taking you so long Tara? It's just me; you don't need to get all dressed up." Katara turned from her vanity and cried "Zuko! What if I was still in a state of undress? Don't you knock when you're going to someone's room?" it must have come out a bit more curtly than she'd intended because Zuko looked surprised and raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Whoa Tara, easy! What's gotten you all worked up? Still no luck with the donor?" At that, Katara's shoulders sagged and she gave a disheartened sigh. Shoulders drooping she went to sit on her bed. "I'm almost tempted to give up the search. But I just want this so badly it's starting to ache!" she said just a little above a whisper. Looking at how dejected she was looking Zuko came to sit besides her and put an arm around her and hugged her. "Cheer up Tara, if worse comes to worse I'll be your donor." She knew he was just saying it to cheer her up but she almost got hopeful. "Yeah sure Zuzu." She drawled to lighten the mood. "Don't call me that Tara. You know how I hate that nickname!" She laughed and ushered him from her room. "I think I'll turn in early tonight Zuko. See you in the morning, alright?" Zuko kissed the top of her head and left with a "Good night Tara!"


Zuko couldn't believe he'd said he'd be a donor to Katara. She was his best friend for crying out loud! Sure she was gorgeous with a body to die for. But she was beautiful on the inside too. An honest, determined, loving and caring woman with a big heart. That's why he felt he wasn't good enough for her. He was too much of a player. And he'd seen what Jet's betrayal had done to her. She'd dated a couple of guys since then but none of them had worked out. What if he made a move on her and ended up losing his best friend not to mention business partner?

Then again, if there was anyone he was willing to put his act together for and settle down with, it was Katara. Now how to get her to get past their status as best friends and see him as a man….. Considering she was trying to have a baby on her own without a man to come and spoil everything. Maybe this whole donor thing could work in his favor. He could picture having a baby with her. He was turning 35 in a month. He needed to settle down. And with a woman he loved too. Because if he was being true to himself, he would admit he loved Katara . And because he was too scared to do anything about it he was hiding behind the mantle of friendship and living an unfulfilled life. Enough was enough. He was going to stand up and be the kind of man his uncle will be proud of. And his child was going to help them even though he wasn't born yet!