For those of you reading Fate Deferred, this takes place in that universe, at the South Pole, about three years before the present day storyline.

For those of you not reading Fate Deferred...why aren't you? But enjoy the fluff anyway. ;)


Katara's back was aching, her feet and ankles were too swollen for her boots, and the baby was doing some kind of acrobatic routine, kicking her relentlessly. Kida had assured her all of this was normal, but Katara didn't find much comfort in that at the moment. With only a month to go before her expected delivery, she felt she had earned the right to stay in bed today, so that's what she was going to do.

She heard the door creak on its hinges, and she opened her eyes. Zuko tread softly into the near darkness of their bedroom, carrying a tray. "I brought you some tea," he said in a low voice. "And something to eat, if you're up for it." He set the tray on the bedside table, and helped Katara to sit up. Everything was so difficult for her these days.

With a mumbled word of thanks, Katara accepted the bowl of sea prunes he offered her. She took a bite without much enthusiasm. "Needs more salt," she commented.

Zuko chuckled, sitting down on the bed and draping one arm over her knees. "You think everything needs more salt now."

Katara huffed and set the bowl aside. It was true she had been craving salty foods, but that was hardly her fault. She would feel more like eating when the baby wasn't punching her in the stomach anyway. She tried the tea instead. "Now this is perfect," she said appreciatively. "You've gotten a lot better at making it."

Zuko shook his head. "Your grandmother made the tea," he admitted.

Katara snorted in laughter, and took another long sip. "Well, at least I have her, then," she joked.

"Can I get you anything else?" Zuko asked, curling his hand around the back of her leg, just above her knee. Even through the blanket over her legs, she could feel how warm his hand was. For someone who complained so often about the cold of the South Pole's winter, he certainly always felt warm enough.

Katara closed her eyes and leaned back against the headboard. "No, thank you," she said, content with just the tea for now. When she had finished it, she set the empty cup back on the tray and scooted down the bed to lie on her side again. It was pretty much the only comfortable position she could lie down in now.

"You should probably eat more," Zuko admonished her gently, his hand sliding up her thigh to rest on the small of her back. The baby gave another flurry of kicks.

"Maybe later," Katara groaned.

"The food will be cold later," Zuko pointed out.

Katara grinned into her pillow. "You'll reheat it for me," she said. There were some advantages to having a firebender for a husband, after all. She shifted slightly, trying to get more comfortable. "My back is killing me," she complained.

"Well, in that case," Zuko said, and the hand on her back grew even warmer, tracing slow circles over her sore muscles. Katara let out a sigh of relief. Oh yes, there were definitely advantages to having him around.

But her reprieve was short-lived. The baby writhed and kicked, showing no sign of settling down. With her large belly now pressed against Zuko's side, he must have felt the movement, too. He placed his other hand over her swollen abdomen and leaned in close. "Calm down, little one," he said with the tenderest smile Katara had ever seen. "Give your mother a break for a while."

And the baby obeyed, as if he already knew his father's voice.