Chapter 3 of Zuko's sick day, since I got such lovely feedback for this story here is another chapter :).
This chapter is set a week after Lee was born.
It was early morning and the trees were caught in a soft breeze that blew them from side to side, Katara sat on a bench in the garden, looking down at her bundle of joy in her arms, Katara sighed happily and kissed her sons head. Everything seemed so perfect, she had a husband who loved her dearly and a child that seemed to complete her life. She couldn't help but frown when she thought of her mother and how she would have been a grandmother if she hadn't been killed. Katara tried to block the thought out but it was slowly engulfing her mind like a wild fire that could not be stopped.
Katara did not see that Zuko had stepped out into the garden; he snuck up behind her and gave her a quick peck on the head. Leaning in close to her he whispered "Morning Gorgeous" Katara could sense the playfulness in his voice as he sat down beside her "How's my little man doing" he said stroking his sons head, Lee was fast asleep. "He's cute when he's sleeping" Zuko said whiling chuckling slightly, Katara couldn't take it anymore, she handed him the baby and stood up.
"Mother I miss you so much" Katara mumbled to herself as she walked slowly down to the pond, silent tears slid down her face. Zuko watched her with curiosity as she used her hands to bend some water out of the pond - she froze the water into long thin icicles before throwing them into a nearby tree, she screamed at the top of her lungs before bursting into tears. This woke the baby up and he started to cry, Zuko yelled for a servant to take the baby back inside the palace before he rushed to his wife's side and held her close trying to calm her down.
"Shh it's alright, I'm here." Zuko said softly, firmly holding her to his chest. Once Katara couldn't cry any tears she looked into her husband's dazzling amber eyes, instantly felt a lot calmer she wrapped her arms around his waist.
Zuko gently released his grip on her but rested his hands on her hips. "What happened back there, Katara, why do you suddenly start crying." he asked softly, stroking her hair.
"My...my mother" that was all Katara could mutter out before more tears started flowing out again. Zuko held his wife firmly again, knowing what she meant – she was still not over the loss of her mother. "It's okay, it's okay" Zuko said as he rested his head on top of hers "I'm sure if your mother was still here she would be very proud of you." That's all he could say before just holding her letting her sob into his chest.
Once Katara had calmed down again she breathlessly mumbled "Did you...did you mean what you said...about my mother?"
Zuko led her back inside the palace before saying "I did mean it, I know I'm proud of you" he said as he gave her a loving smile, they shared an embrace before a servant came up to them and said "Fire lord Zuko and Lady Katara, you have visitors".
The pair broke from their embrace and Katara gasped in surprise when she saw who was behind the servant. "Toph, Aang, Sokka. What are you all doing here?" she ran up to each of them and hugged them tightly.
"Easy Sugar Queen, I may be tough but not that tough" Toph said laughing.
"It's good to see you again Katara" Aang said as he departed from his hug, Aang had become a lot taller last time Katara had seen him, also he's become muscular.
"Katara why are your eyes-" Sokka was about to say before Toph cut him off, she hit his arm to make him be quiet, he stayed quiet and sulked.
"Oh it doesn't matter" Katara said as she made her way back to her husband "I bet you guys are hungry, if you go into the dining room there will be lots of food. When you're done a servant will show you to your rooms" with that last word Sokka rushed to the dining room followed by Toph and Aang.
"That should give us enough time to ourselves" Katara said mischievously as she ran her hands up and down her husband's chest. He smirked at her, picked her up bridal style before carrying her into their bed chambers.
An hour later Katara was snuggled up to Zuko's chest with the covers over them, all their clothes were discarded in the corner of the room. In the next room they could hear their sons cries, Katara got out of bed to put on robe and went into the room to give their son a feed.
When she was finished she went back into the bed chamber to find her husband sitting up in bed, reading a book, by the nightstand was a candle flickering in the dim light. The robe was took off and she let it drop to the floor before she crawled back into bed with her husband
Zuko put an arm around her as he put his book on the nightstand. "I love you " he whispered in her ear before he met her gaze.
"I love you too my fire lord" she said smiling before kissing him on the lips. Zuko traced a finger up and down her spine, earning a shiver from his wife "Now how were where we?" he smirked.
"I think I know" she smirked before pushing him down further on the bed and kissing him again.
