Zuko's POV:

I hesitated with my hand resting on the doorknob, I was not looking forward to doing this. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open, walking into the bedroom I shared with my wife.

"Lunch already?" Katara smiled, I closed the door and leaned back against it. I stared up at the ceiling willing myself not to cry again, I had to stay calm for her.

"Katara." My voice betrayed me and Katara instantly knew something was wrong. I walked over to her and sat on the bed, so she wouldn't get up.

"Zuko?" She sat up, placing her hand gently on my shoulder. "What's wrong?" I covered her hand in mine, squeezing it gently for a moment before I turned, finally I forcing myself to look her in the eye.

"Katara, I really need you to not freak out. I don't want anything bad to happen to you or the baby." I placed my hand softly on her belly, she frowned.

"Zuko when you start off a conversation by telling me not to freak out you only make me worry more. What's wrong?"

"It's Zari." I didn't wait long before continuing, not wanting her to feel the same agony that I had waiting for my idiotic guard to tell me what was going on. "Ozai took her." I measured the look on her face, it went from shock, to horror, to anger, before worried tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Zuko! How could this-" A soft moan silenced her and she rubbed her bump, she was upsetting the baby.

"Katara, I need you to try and relax." I gently pushed her back down to her pillow. Maybe I'd made the wrong decision telling her? "I've dealt with the guard who was watching Azaria and I have a group of men being assembled to go out and search for her. I promise we will find her."

"Zuko! She's only a little girl! You of all people know what Ozai is capable of!" My wife frowned and I caught her looking at my scar, she sat up again. "The guards obviously can't be trusted with our daughter's safety! We need to go look for her!" She stood up, her eyes squeezing tight against pregnancy pains. I shook my head.

"I shouldn't have told you." I stood and wrapped my arms around her, leaning my forehead against hers.

"What do you mean!? Of course you should have told me! Azaria is my baby girl! She needs me!" I cut her off before she could finish her rant.

"So doesn't she." I rubbed her belly, feeling the baby's distressed kicks under my palm. "You are an amazing mother and Azaria knows you love her." I could see how stressed Katara was and the baby's kicks grew more and more agitated.

"Zuko!" She frowned, but I wouldn't budge.

"You know how much I love when you have my back in a fight, but I need you to sit this one out for the sake of our second daughter. I don't know what I'd do if anything were to happen to her too." This seemed to placate Katara a little bit, I could tell she was still upset though.

"I want to help." She frowned, allowing me to lower her onto the bed so she was sitting again, the move seemed to tire her out more than usual and my worry started to grow. I really didn't want Katara to go into early labor because of her stress. I couldn't be forced to choose between being there in my wife's time of need and going to find my eldest daughter, she needed me too.

"I need you to stay here just incase Azaria finds her way home on her own." I knew it wouldn't happen, but I needed her to feel important. "Zari is our daughter, she has to be a strong fighter." I didn't know how strong a fighter she could be at four years old, but I watched Katara visibly relax.

"Well, okay." She sighed, readjusting herself on the bed, I pulled the blankets up for her and kissed her gently.

"I love you Katara. You know that I'd do anything for you." I didn't think she understood that when I said that, I truly meant it. I would do anything.

"I know." She smiled. "I love you more."

"Impossible." I laughed a little.

"Zuko?" She took my hand, squeezing gently.

"Yes?" I gave her my full attention as she spoke, staring into the endless depth of her blue eyes.

"Find our daughter and bring her home." There was a strange fire behind her eyes, something I'd never seen from her before.

"I promise I will."

"Do whatever it takes." Her eyes bore into my own and I frowned slightly, wondering what she was thinking.

"Okay." I answered carefully.

"No. You don't understand." She shook her head going on to explain. "I want you to do whatever it takes for you to get Azaria back. I don't care about anyone else. When someone messes with my family all bets are off. Do you understand?"

"I'll do whatever it takes." I told her, my voice matching the conviction hers held. I sort of liked this side of my wife, I thought as I left the room. Quickly, I made my way to my private study and pushed my desk over, lifting a loose board in the floor. Looking around first, I picked up my dual dao swords and my Blue Spirit sneak clothes. After all these years I was pretty sure only the Avatar and maybe my Uncle knew who was really behind the mask, but they never betrayed my secret. I hadn't used it in years, but today I received one very important reason to wear it again, I slid my desk back into place before gearing up for my mission and quietly slipping out the window. If Ozai thought he was going to keep my daughter from me he was in for the fight of his life. I was no longer the scared thirteen year old boy he'd underestimated me to be.

A/N: A bit of a slow chapter I'll admit, but Zuko did have to tell Katara that their daughter was taken and it was a great time to tell you that they're expecting another girl.

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