The next day the Fire Lord went to all his meetings as usual. All the topics that were covered included the national budget, newer schools in poorer regions of the Fire Nation other things of this nature.
"I would like to start this meeting to let everyone know…" Zuko said with a smile "…that Katara and I will be expecting our first child in early February." The council men all stood and applauded their Fire Lord. "Please, now back to business…" he said
Katara already having a miscarriage not that long ago was required to stay in bed, at least for the first 3 months. Katara didn't like this arrangement. "Please let me go walk around…"
"I'm sorry but you can not go walk around."
"Why?"
"…because of…you're previous experience…" the nurse put it extremely delicate.
"Are you going to get everything that I want…?"
"I will let someone know…yes." She said
"Okay…fine." Katara said sitting in the middle of the bed "I want a wide selection of fruits and cereals. And some juice…."
"Yes right away." She said with a smile.
"…and bacon…lots of bacon." Katara said with a smile.
"…okay…yes."
Zuko spent the day in the meetings but they didn't take as long as they would have. They breezed through them so he could get back to Katara. "We and the other council members wish you and Lady Katara the best of luck and hope during these early months."
"Thank you all very much." Zuko said with honesty, and left to go see his wife.
Katara had her 'buffet' in front of her on the bed. She had strawberries, melons, grapes and of course a lot of bacon. Katara had relaxed a bit since the nurse had told her about her bed rest sentence she had her food, and right now she was pretty happy, that was until Zuko walked in.
"Zuko!" Katara shouted at him as he walked in. This scared him a bit.
"Hello to you too." He said
"She will not let me leave the bed!"
He looked at the nurse sitting in the chair in front of the window, knitting something.
"…I think it's a good idea." He said
You could have driven a royal carriage through Katara's mouth at this point. "What? You agree with her?" she asked
"Yes I think you should stay as much of the pregnancy in bed." He said firmly.
The trays of food had been removed and the servants and the nurse had left at this point. "Why? Because of the…." Katara said starting to tear up.
"…no…because if I know you're in bed I could just slip in for some 'lunch'." He said raising his good eyebrow.
"…oh…do the Fire Nation people know how much of a sex maniac you are…?"
"They will eventually…by the time we have had our fifth child."
"…are you going to have the last three?"
"If I have to…I have always wanted a big family." Zuko said sitting down Katara hugging his shoulders kissing the side of his neck behind his ear. Katara whispered something in Zuko's ear that made him stand up and craw on top of his wife. She let his hair out of the top knot, unbuttoned and took his top off. Zuko leaned down and kissed her passionately and said something that made her giggle and roll on top of her husband.
Word got out to the major people in the Royal couple's life. Aang and Toph, Suki and Sokka, Hakoda, Gran-Gran and Pakku, and of course Uncle Iroh. They were sent letters and invitations for a party. This was going to be strictly close friends and family only, something small and close and happy, joyful. This was going to happen in about 4 months so Katara could go to the party, and the 'sentence' would be over.
In the weeks that the letters were sent Iroh had come to the palace to live. "Iroh!"
"Zuko! How are you?" Iroh asked hugging his nephew.
"I am well…and you?"
"Well…" he responded
"How is your shop?"
"Making good money…how is Katara?"
"She is well…about 4 months ago Katara…" Zuko sighed "…miscarried."
"…hmm…not enough tea." Iroh said calmly.
"That's your diagnosis for everything. Anyway Katara is going to be on bed rest for three months…"
"That is going to be fun, you better keep your meetings short and to the point." Iroh told Zuko in a fatherly tone.
"Yeah I know she is so upset that she has to stay in bed. If I hadn't gotten there when I had that nurse might not have lived much longer than she did."
Iroh laughed "You should keep an eye on her…maybe cancel all your future meetings and just spend time with her. That might be the best thing."
Zuko pondered this suggestion from his uncle, and wondered why he wasn't living here in the palace with him and Katara.
Iroh was settled in his room and Zuko was on his way back to Katara in their room.
"Zuko…" Katara said in a scared tone
"What…what is it…is there something wrong?"
