**I am so sorry that this is so late. I completely lost inspiration for this story. BUT! The story literally hit me one morning and the inspiration came back. I hope you enjoy this chapter!**
Zuko was getting worried. Katara had been in the room with her mother and the new Palace Physician for some time now… Was everything okay? Was she alright? What was taking so damn long?!
The door opened slowly, and Katara's head peeked out of the door, a soft smile on her lips. "Everything is fine, Zuko." She stepped out, a bright smile on her face.
Zuko felt wave of relief wash over him as he pulled Katara into his arms. "Thank Agni." His lips pressed against hers, turning up in a smirk when she moaned softly. "Later, my love. I have a meeting in a little while. Why don't you go seek Ty Lee and spend some time with her?"
Katara nodded, feeling the sorrow overcoming her. She did not want to worry Zuko about her condition. She did not want to tell him for she feared he would find a new wife who could give him an heir.
Turning away from her husband, Katara began walking down the hall, feeling the tears coming fast. She could barely walk fast enough to round the corner and let the tears fall. She kept her sobs quiet, covered her mouth and cried. Katara had to get to the privacy of her own chambres, had to get out of the eye of the servants or else questions would rise; Why is the Fire Lady crying?
Katara sniffed, wiped her eyes and began walking towards her destination.
*.*
"Ty Lee?"
Katara's hand knocked on the acrobat's door, waiting patiently for her friend to answer.
The door swung open, and Ty Lee stood before her, smiling brightly. "Katara!"
Katara blushed upon seeing Ty Lee still in her nightgown. "Hi, Ty Lee. Sorry to bother you… but I need to talk to someone. Do you have time?"
"Of course! Come in." Ty Lee stepped aside to let Katara in, smiling brightly.
The door closed quietly behind them, and Katara watched as Ty Lee skipped over to the bed and lay across it smiling.
Eyes watching the gymnast, Katara began to relax. The fear and distress of the news she had received slowly began to ebb away, a feeling of calm settling inside of her. That was the thing about Ty Lee Katara loved so much. No matter her mood, when she was around Ty Lee she instantly felt at ease, and the negative emotions stirring around inside would be forgotten. Ty Lee always put Katara at ease, and she never even had to say a word to her. Perhaps it was her pink aura.
Katara chuckled softly at her thoughts, causing Ty Lee's head to perk up.
"So what is it you came by for? Not that I mind." Ty Lee smiled brightly at Katara then rolled over, giving Katara room on the bed to stretch out like she was doing.
Letting the ideals and ways Katara had to act in the public eye leave her mind, Katara flopped on the bed, stretching out and laying her head on Ty Lee's stomach. "Well… It's complicated."
"We have all day." Ty Lee gently stroked Katara's hair.
Katara sighed and nodded slightly, "I um…" Katara felt the tears building in her eyes. She couldn't bring herself to say the words. She was still… not in denial but… she couldn't believe that she couldn't-… She didn't want to believe it… "I can't have children…"
Ty Lee's hand stopped mid-stroke, her soft brown eyes widened. "Katara… A-Are you certain?"
"The Palace Physician confirmed it… I went in thinking that I was pregnant, since I haven't bled in some time… only to find out that I can't- that I'll never-" A sob cut Katara off as it fell from her lips.
Ty Lee sat up, wiggled until she was lying beside Katara, and pulled the weeping girl into her arms to soothe her. Katara cried and sobbed into Ty Lee's chest. She needed this. She needed to break down and let all of the emotions out. It was the only way she'd be able to face the truth and be able to tell Zuko about it.
As Katara's crying slowly ceased to hiccups, she promised herself that she'd tell Zuko the moment she saw him next. She would tell him the truth… even if it meant he would no longer love her and take another wife.
*.*
During the meeting, Zuko's mind was elsewhere. He was not listening to the diplomats arguing over the most recent outbreak of non-bender activists. Instead, the Fire Lord was thinking about his Fire Lady. He could tell something was wrong the moment she walked out of the Health Ward. He was determined to find out what it was when he returned to their room for the evening. He didn't like his wife being distressed, nor did he like not knowing what was bothering her.
"Zuko!" A voice hissed at him and slapped his leg under the table.
Zuko snapped his head towards the woman sitting beside him and glared at her, "What, Mai?"
"They're beginning to catch on that you are spacing out-"
"My Lord," A man rose to his feet before speaking, "I suggest we take care of these activists with force. The Avatar's tactics are to try and reason with them, and look how well that's been working. If we use force-"
"If we use force then that only proves their point. They claim benders are suppressing them, belittling them due to their inability to bend. If we use force then that will only cause more riots. We do not need things to escalate any more than they already have." Zuko's stern voice echoed in the large room.
"If we do nothing then there may be killings next!"
"We have to put these activists in their place!"
"We can't just sit around and do nothing! They are a threat to the Fire Nation and the other Nations!"
"Violence isn't the way we should take care of things!"
The men of Court were in an uproar. Zuko's head began to throb as the voices of the men began to rise in volume. Slamming his fists down on the table, Zuko stood and yelled, "Enough!"
The room silenced.
Zuko's cold golden eyes scanned the members of Court before stepping away from the table, "This meeting is over." He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.
Walking down the halls of the Palace, Zuko's mind was running faster than a dragon in peak flight. How could the men of Court be so thickheaded to want to counter the activists with force and violence? That was only adding fuel to their fire. Once violence came into play, the activists would become out of control.
"Zuko!"
"What?" Zuko snapped as he turned around. The glaring gaze of Mai met his eyes.
"Don't speak to me that way. Just because you are angry with those idiots doesn't mean you can be rude to me. Got that?"
Zuko sighed and shook his head, "I'm sorry, Mai. I'm just frustrated." Zuko rolled his shoulder, the clinking of the armored robes he wore sounding as he did so.
Mai stepped forwards, "Why don't you and Katara take a vacation for a few days so that you can get your mind together?"
"And leave the Fire Nation in this state? No thank you." Zuko began to walk down the hall again, but Mai was quick to fall in stride beside him.
"A break from all of this will do you well. Think about it, okay Zuzu?" Mai teased.
Zuko scoffed, "Sure, Mai."
The girl was quiet as they walked, the only sounds that echoed in the hallway were their footsteps and the soft sound of her robes brushing the floor as they walked. "Have you been to see Azula?" Mai spoke quietly after sometime of silence.
"Not for some time…" Zuko replied, the soft undertone of guilt was evident in his voice. "I haven't seen her in a while…"
"I was going to go see her before sun fall." The invitation for Zuko to join her was a silent one, but could be heard in her words.
Zuko kept walking, his thoughts taking a sharp turn from the activists to his sister. He blamed himself for the sick, twisted things their father had done to her as a child, still did to her when she was a young woman. Their father- Ozai- had put Azula through so much, and Zuko never caught on. As her older brother it was his job to protect her, no matter how cruel she was towards him… His duty was to protect her, and he wasn't able to. However, Azula was safe now that their father was dead and burned to ashes. But even though she was safe from their father physically… the mental and emotional trauma he put her through still lingered. It was all Zuko could do to admit her to a mental health clinic just outside of the city limits. Zuko avoided visiting his sister due to the guilt he felt. He was the reason she was there. If he had protected her when they were younger…
"I'll go with you." Zuko said softly as he approached his bed chambres. "Just before sundown."
Mai smiled softly as she watched Zuko walk into his chambres, closing the door quietly behind him.
Sighing, Zuko leaned against the door, wishing the tension he felt from the day would vanish.
A pair of soft lips touched his, and he felt that tension slowly fading away with each loving kiss from his beloved wife. "Hard day?"
"Very…" Zuko pulled Katara into his arms, breathing in the soft scent of her hair before placing another kiss upon her lips. "Mai and I are going to visit Azula at sundown. Would you like to come?"
"Of course." Katara smiled, "I can give Azula the gift I got her in the market."
Zuko smiled down at Katara then walked around her, shedding the armored robes from his body. Katara walked up behind him and helped with the clothing. "The Court wants to respond to the activists with violence. I'm trying to keep the issue on the table as long as I can, because violence will only make things worse, but they're beginning to win." A soft sigh left his lips as Katara placed a kiss on his bare back.
"You're so tense…" Katara's soft hands began pressing into his back, "Go to the bed."
Zuko complied with his wife's request and walked over to their large canopy bed, laid down across the silken sheets and waited for his wife to climb onto his back and begin to massage away all the stress he felt pent up.
Katara smiled as she looked at Zuko, his body lying straight on their bed clad only in his loose trousers. She walked over and climbed onto the bed, then straddled him. "I'll make you feel better, Zuko." She whispered seductively into his ear. Her hands began to press and knead at the tight, overlapped muscles in his handsome back. Soft moans and sighs fell from his lips as her hands and fingers worked magic on his back. Katara whispered soothing and slightly sensual words into his ear.
Feeling his wife's finger's pressing into his back, hearing her sexy voice whispering in his ear… Zuko was turned on. He shifted his hips, pressing his growing arousal against the mattress. He let out a soft moan and Katara began to catch on.
She wanted to tell Zuko the truth- that she couldn't have kids, but now didn't seem like the best time. She could hear the strained moans being swallowed by the pillows, could feel his hips shifting just enough to get some form of friction. Leaning down, Katara whispered in Zuko's ear, "Take me, Zuko."
No sooner than the words left her lips he had her pinned underneath of his strong body, his lips pressing against hers.
Remaining clothes were shed, touches were quickly exchanged, two bodies became one. Katara's mewling and whimpering sounded beautifully in Zuko's ears as he picked up the tempo of his thrusting. Zuko saw tears forming at the corners of Katara's closed eyes, and knew her body had responded to his out of desperation. Something was bothering her, and it wouldn't be the first time she turned to sex to help get her mind off whatever it was. Zuko slowed his hips and sat back, pulling Katara up with him. He watched as she used his shoulders to rise and fall onto him, his hips moving up to meet hers.
"Katara…" Zuko claimed her lips, wishing deep down she would just tell him what was bothering her.
After the couple had come down from their high, they were holding one another tightly. Katara's head was resting on Zuko's rising and falling chest, Zuko's arms were wrapped tightly around her waist.
"Zuko…"
Zuko's golden eyes looked down into the deep depths of blue. "Yes, Katara?"
Katara looked away, her heart pounding due to the anxiety creeping inside of her, tears beginning to form in her eyes. When she looked back up at Zuko, her stomach flipped. Even through all the inner turmoil she was fighting off, Katara whispered softly. "I can't have children…"