Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Author's Note: Technically, this was a scene left out of Chapter 44 rather than the Epilogue of Destiny's Call, but I still think it qualifies.

Water Tribe Lullaby

"Waaah!" A baby's cry rang through the night air. Sokka was just registering this when he felt a gentle nudge on his shoulder.

"Your turn," said Suki, sounding exhausted.

"Mmphgnd," mumbled Sokka. At age 17, waking up quickly was still not part of his repertoire, at least not when there was no immediate threat. The back of his mind tried to warn him that there would be one if he didn't get moving, but his sluggish body simply couldn't respond.

The thump on his head a second later was nowhere near gentle.

"Ow!" he exclaimed, sitting up suddenly and rubbing the sore spot. I had to marry a warrior.

"It's your turn," Suki repeated, slowly and emphatically.

"I can't feed him," he protested. He didn't really expect this to work. It hadn't worked for the last three nights. However, his recent lack of sleep was inhibiting his creativity.

"I just did," answered Suki, lying down and closing her eyes. "He just needs to be held and talked to."

Sighing, Sokka lurched to his feet and stumbled to the next room. The original plan had been for their newborn son, Mako, to share a room with them. Suki had quickly found, though, that every murmur and shift he made in his sleep woke her up, which meant that she got even less rest than she otherwise could have. Besides, Katara was staying with them and wanted to help out, and she was understandably reluctant to go into the bedroom of her brother and his wife in order to pick up the baby. There was obviously nothing of note going on in there currently (not even sleep, really), but it was the principle.

Sokka had already reached the doorway to the nursery before he realized that the crying had stopped. He peered cautiously through the gloom. Katara sat with the baby in her arms, rocking him back and forth and speaking softly to him. Then, she began to sing, very softly:

Sleep, sleep, my little one
Sleep while we wait for the rising sun.
Winter's here, making endless night,
But your smiles give my heart light.

Sleep, sleep, though the day draws near.
Light shines on all when the summer's here.
Snow and ice shine clean and bright,
Until then, my dear, good night.

Sokka withdrew out of sight and held tightly to the doorframe with one hand. He recognized the song as a Southern Water Tribe lullaby their mother used to sing to them. It wasn't just the song, either. Katara looked so much like her, sitting there with the baby. Sokka could almost believe it was a strange, impossible vision of his mother, holding him. His eyes began to sting. He would not cry. It was just that he was so incredibly tired, that was all.

Peering around the corner, he watched Katara kiss the baby gently, but he didn't want to disturb the scene. As quietly as he could manage, Sokka retreated to his bedroom.

"Katara's got him," he explained, not even sure if Suki was awake enough to hear it. She murmured something that sounded like an acknowledgment. Sokka slipped gratefully back into bed. He was scarcely aware as the thought crossed his mind that Katara was going to make a great mother someday. An instant later, he was asleep. In the morning, he would remember only the song and wonder why it was stuck in his head.

--

Author's Note: I guess it was about time I did a little tribute to Mako, so there it is. The sleeplessness after a baby is born is one of those things that people can tell you, but you don't really understand it until it actually happens. I wrote the poem myself. I originally came up with the idea of a Water Tribe lullaby to work into Destiny's Call (it was going to be after Zuko sang his song, to give you an idea how long ago it was). It just seemed like too much of a diversion, and I never wrote it down, so this is what I remember combined with a few new lines.

Review responses:

vanillalilies: Well, cute and funny is kind of what I'm going for, I guess.

Billeh: I haven't noticed much difference when it comes to men. My 48-year-old husband talks and acts like a 15-year-old sometimes.

redskin122004: I might be mistaken, but weren't you the one who said you already knew it all?;) Glad to help, anyway!

Aangsfan: Thank you very much!

MyOtherName: Check your reviews for Captive. Increased sexual desire is quite common during the second trimester, due to the combination of hormonal changes and the fact that the woman feels healthy and full of life. My brother was tall, but his knees still ached for practically the entire time he was 14 and 15. He outgrew a new suit in 7 months.

poka: I've had the complaint (with Destiny's Call, mostly) that I use too much dialogue, but since I was basing it on the TV show, heavy dialogue seemed appropriate to me. Anyway, I'm happy you thought the balance was good.

PrincessAirana: Wow, I didn't know it was so hard to find! No, it's not done. I don't really know how many chapters it will be. I'll just add new ideas as they come to me.

inlovewithkatara: Thanks; I plan to!

libowiekitty: I didn't think it was that funny, but thanks!

intricate designs: Thanks!