Chapter 7:
Katara and Zuko were relieved when Toph and Aang agreed to babysit. They left Zara at their house before going out to dinner, just the two of them. They had a lot to talk about. Even though their previous argument had been resolved, there were still questions that needed to be raised from Katara and answers that Zuko needed to provide. Normally, when the two friends went out for dinner, their evening was filled with playful banter and love. But tonight was different. Neither of them spoke very much.
They ordered their food and ate it in silence as opposed to engaging in conversation. Zuko kept his head down and his eyes on his plate, even though he knew Katara was trying to make eye-contact. Katara forgave Zuko but she still felt hurt and betrayed. She had demands and worries that she wanted to express so badly but wasn't sure if this would be the right time to do so and Zuko wasn't making it easy at all. The fact that he was practically ignoring her, already put up a wall of discomfort between the two adults. Katara hated it. They've never acted like this towards each other before. But they also didn't have a baby back then. Katara was going to carry on eating but she couldn't take the silence anymore.
"Please talk to me", Katara begged.
It caught Zuko by surprise and he looked up from where he was, but still he didn't make eye-contact. Katara could tell that this was hard for him as he wasn't really a "in touch with his feelings" kind of guy, so she was taking it easy on him. Zuko adjusted his tie which seemed to be choking the life out of him before resting his arms on the edge of the table. His lips trembled as he moved them but didn't speak, he was thinking of what to say exactly because right now too much was popping in and out of his head. Where does he start? How does he start?
"I'm not sure what you want me to say", he replied.
He chugged the wine down his throat as if it were whiskey or hard liquor. Katara had never seen him do that ever. She sighed before responding. But when Zuko finally looked at her with a blank expression on his face, she knew she might not have made things better after all. He shrugged his shoulders then moved his head in her direction, indicating that he wanted her opinion.
"I-", Katara started but then sealed her lips when her mind went blank.
"Look, I'm sorry is that what you want to hear?" Zuko blurted out.
Katara stared shocked, that wasn't what she was expecting but it wasn't bad.
"Well it's a good place to start", she said.
"Hmm", was all Zuko said.
"So what now?"
"We wait"
"Huh, so we just sit still and wait for strangers to take our baby!?"
"For the last time Kat, she's not ours!"
"You sure? Or you just don't want her to be?"
"KATARA!"
"ANSWER ME!"
The two best friends stared at each other with hurt in their eyes. The restaurant was now silent as people dropped their own conversations and listened to theirs. Zuko was about to retaliate when his phone buzzed. He shook his head at the blue eyed female across from him, as to say "you're lucky". He picked up his phone and his eyes went wide.
"The DNA results are in", he breathed.
Neither of them said another word. Zuko dug some cash from his pant pocket, not caring about the number of the bill, he thew it at the waiter. The poor guy was young, a college student maybe. He watched the duo run out and wondered what the hell just happened.
~OoooooO~
"I'm nervous", Zuko whispered.
"Well you wouldn't have to be if you didn't do any of this!" Katara retorted.
He glared at her but when he caught Zara staring at him confused, he smiled innocently. The baby girl smiled back before attempting to put her toes her mouth as she always did, it was super adorable and always had Zuko gazing in awe. Katara sighed as she stroked her long hair. She didn't show it, but she was also nervous.
What if Zara's parents were still alive?
Do they know where she is?
Are they going to take her back?
Why did they abandon her in the first place?
Were they finally going to get some answers?
Fear and anxiety started swirling in Katara's stomach as they waited patiently. They weren't a lot of people in the waiting room, just a few older folks. One old lady kept looking at Zara, then at Katara and Zuko. When Katara's met her gaze, she pointed fingers between them and Katara understood and simply nodded. She wasn't going to explain her whole situation to everyone.
"Katara Wallace and Zuko brown?"
They turned their heads and faced the door at the same time. There was a doctor with blond wavy hair and red glasses. She wore a pretty smile as she shook their hands and led them down a hallway before taking the trio into room E16. She gestured for the two friends to sit before shutting the door gently and walking over to her desk.
"Hello Mr brown and Miss Wallace, I'm doctor Rosa", the doctor said sitting down in front of them.
"Its a pleasure Doctor", Zuko said shaking her hand.
"Before I give you the results, I just have one question if you don't mind. Are the two of you a couple?" Doctor Rosa asked taking off her glasses and resting her elbows on her desk.
"No no, we're just best friends", Katara answered.
"Oh right, I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry it's just the two of you look great together"
Neither Katara or Zuko commented on that, they just blushed and smiled. They didn't find the doctor's words surprising, everyone they knew has said the same thing for years. Ever since high school, their friends always made bets on when they would start dating - but they never did. The two friends had an amazing bond, they just didn't want ruin that by over complicating everything. Relationships can bring people closer, but they can also bring chaos. They didn't want to risk that, because if they did...there would be no going back.
"Anyway, according to the results little Zara's biological mother is a woman called Sofia Zane. She only immigrated a month ago. Zara's father is unknown and not in the picture", Rosa explained.
"Wow, thanks doc. Is there anyway we can meet her, we're sure she's been worried sick looking for her daughter", Zuko said.
But the doctor looked down sadly. She turned away from the duo for a few minutes and stared at the documents in front of her. Zuko and Katara both looked at each other before raising an eyebrow. What the hell was going on? There seemed to be something they were missing, since Doctor Rosa looked distressed. They waited for her to resume but she didn't.
"Doctor Rosa is everything alright?" Katara whispered.
"Sorry about that. As I was saying, Sofia Zane immigrated here not long ago but...", Rosa started but then swallowed anxiously.
"What doc?" Katara pressed.
"Sofia Zane was killed in the terrorist attack last month", she revealed.
Katara put a hand on her mouth in shock and Zuko's eyes were wide. Doctor Rosa nodded sadly. No one spoke, there was a pregnant pause in the room. Katara had tears in eyes but she trying to hold back sobs, Zuko's face turned pale and lifeless. Now he wished he hadn't found out, he wished he had left it alone like Katara asked. The two adults looked at Zara who was sleeping soundly in Katara's arms, she had absolutely no idea. Guilt started to consume Zuko, there had to be something he could do. No, he knew exactly what he had to do.
"How do we legally adopt her?" He asked.
"What?" Katara prayed he wasn't joking.
"You were right, you were right this whole time. There's a reason we found her, the two of us out of everyone in the city. I'm so sorry I wasn't listening, well I am now. She has no one left and since we've kind of been doing it already..."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"You're damn right I am. Doctor Rosa, how do we legally adopt Zara?"
Doctor Rosa smiled. As a doctor, she has seen many cases like this and not many ended happily. But this one was special somehow, she had to help. She got up out of her seat and hugged the duo. Normally, she wasn't to get attached to patients or their cases but she couldn't help herself this time.
"Well there is a whole process you will have to follow and it's not simple, especially with a situation like Zara's. Are you prepared for that?" Doctor Rosa warned.
"Whatever it takes", Katara answered holding Zuko's hand.
"Then I will be happy to point you in the right direction", Rosa replied with a grin.
~OoooooO~
After a long day, the two best friends crashed at Zuko's place for the night. The events of the day had clearly been unexpected but things always turn out the way they should. Katara and Zuko couldn't be happier. Zuko laid on his side right next to Katara, who's head rested on his chest as they watched a new movie that recently came out - Everything everything. It was about a girl who risked her life for love, well that's according to the trailer. The movie itself had just started.
Katara couldn't stop smiling when she thought of the future, she was going to be a mom. Although she had a lot o experience with Sokka and kids, raising a baby girl that isn't your sibling or your student was going to be different. It was going to take time, effort, commitment and sacrifice. Some days are going to be harder than others. Some days she may want to quit...
But she will keep on walking.
Her decision had been made, she was doing this and she was going to do her best.
Zuko was worried. Of course he was excited about his new life with Katara and Zara, but he was also afraid. What if he failed? What if Katara rejects him and he screws up with Zara? He had to face it, one way or another he always screwed up. But that doesn't mean he was going to stop trying. He made a choice, and Zara was counting on him. Yes, his daughter was counting on him.
No matter what will come his way, he was going to be resilient.
This was going to be very new to the both of them, but they will always have each other.
Many will expect them to become lovers or get married but that is not an obligation, besides, they enjoy and value their relationship more than anything. And now, they will have to grow stronger together in order to give their daughter the world.
Because their princess deserves no less...
Author's notes: And that's the end of this fanfic folks! Thanks for being loyal readers! Stay tuned for Raising a baby as friends 2! In the mean time, check out my other stories if you like. Peace out 3!
