Okay, it's time! Here we go, I'll post comments on the bottom so you can read this… hope you enjoy!
Sokka put a hand on her knee.
"Is it time?" he asked.
"Yea," she said, her breathing quickening.
"Okay," he said, directly looking at everyone. "Who knows how to deliver a baby?"
Silence.
"Anyone?"
Toph spoke up. "Hey, count me out. I'm blind and don't know what to look for."
"Well, it can't be me," Sokka said. "I faint. Zuko?"
"No way."
"Mai, Ty Lee, you're girls. Can you help her?"
"No, we've never done this. We're royalty."
"Well," Sokka said. "We're in trouble. The only one who knows how to deliver a baby is the one having the baby. What do we do?"
Katara groaned. "Sokka…" He turned back to her side and put his hand on her belly. He felt a lot of movement. "What do we do?" he asked.
"I'll direct you if you all help me through it," Katara said through clenched teeth. She was sweating hard. "Sokka, go get one of the blankets. Toph, make a rock pillow behind me to support me. Zuko, heat up some water. Mai and Ty Lee, go get the cloths. Hurry!"
As the storm grew, so did her pain. When everyone was ready, she started to give directions. "Someone put the blanket over my stomach and legs. I'll take off my armor and pants, but the rest is all you. I need Toph to feel my stomach to find out when the contractions are. Zuko, can you support my back? Mai and Ty Lee, hold my arms. Sokka, I know you faint and go insane when this happens, but that was years ago. You're a man now. I need you to help bring this baby into the world without going insane."
"You mean…"
"Yeah,"
"Oh."
His eyes widened, he threw his arms in the air, and ran in circles, screaming. "AGGGGGHHHHH! AAAGGHHGGGGHH! AAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!"
"Sokka, calm down," Katara yelled as she breathed out. "Ty Lee, please make him calm down!"
"I'm on it!" Ty Lee said as she cart wheeled over and landed on Sokka. She jabbed him in the neck, which immediately stopped his yelling and running around. She led him back over and he sat down. "I'm sorry," he said as he breathed in deeply. "It's okay," Katara said as she leaned back against Zuko's arm and breathed heavily.
"Okay, Zuko, heat the water to near boiling and everyone stick your hands in. It cleans you of germs. Go!"
Once they were all clean, Toph started out by placing her hands on Katara. "Wow, that baby's movin'," she said jokingly, but then she focused. "Okay, a contraction is coming. Sokka get ready. Katara, ready?"
They knew it was there when she tensed up, screamed, groaned, and pushed. Sokka saw nothing, but he kept trying to keep his sister going, and he knew he had to be strong for her. When the contraction was over, she leaned back against Zuko. He had a worried look, but she smiled weakly at him, and he wiped her forehead with a clean, wet cloth. "Toph," Sokka asked. "When's the next one?"
"Now!"
Katara pushed and strained, and clenched her teeth as she squeezed Ty Lee's and Mai's hands. She leaned forward, and Sokka was waiting for something to happen.
A half hour went by with nothing seen. He looked at Zuko. "Shouldn't something have happened by now?" he asked. Sokka looked at Katara, who was looking tired. "Katara, what do we do?"
"Maybe the baby's turned wrong," she said as she tensed up again. She pushed as the rest tried to find out how to help her. Toph put her hands on Katara's stomach. "The baby feels fine," she said. "It's facing the right way…so what's wrong?"
Katara sighed. "I don't think I can take this anymore." She tensed up as another wave of pain rushed over her. She cried out. "Katara," Sokka said. "I think you just need to push harder. Come on! Don't give up! Push!"
Katara pushed and screamed as she squeezed Mai's and Ty Lee's hands again. Sokka kept yelling, "Push!" as she was trying to bring her baby into the world. Finally, a head appeared. "Katara, you're doing it!" Toph cried as she felt the baby move. Zuko was drying Katara's face as he whispered in her ear. "You can do this. I believe in you. Aang believes in you."
She relaxed as the wave went away, and Sokka got the cloths ready. "Another on the way!" Toph yelled as Katara tensed up. The pain overcame her, and she pushed. Sweat dripped from her face as she looked upwards, pain searing through her stomach and legs. She screamed and cried out as she felt the baby moving towards Sokka. She then relaxed, but Sokka yelled at her. "Don't worry about the contractions now, just push!"
"Push!" the rest of the group yelled.
"It's coming, Katara!" Toph cried.
Sokka got ready, and with the cloths, held them out. Katara's body shuddered, and she pushed one last time as the baby fell into Sokka's open arms.
Suddenly Aang jolted upright from his sleep. He felt like he had been shocked with electricity, but in a strangely good way. Something had happened. He looked at his tattoos, which were glowing as if he was in the Avatar State. But he looked at his pendant, which was glowing too! He didn't know what happened, but he knew it had to be big. He had never been more confused, but he shrugged it off as soon as they stopped glowing. He lay back down on his bed, wondering what in the Spirit World had happened, if it even was the Spirit World.
Tears fell down Sokka's face as he laughed with joy. The baby started crying as he cleaned it off, and Katara sighed, leaning on Zuko's shoulder. He kissed her cheek, and smiled as tears gathered in his eyes too.
And for the first time since he was burned 9 years ago, tears fell out of his bad eye too.
Mai and Ty Lee were crying, because of happiness, but also because Katara had squished their hands in her grip.
But everyone gathered around and relaxed as Sokka finished cleaning the cleaning the baby, and Katara held out the new blanket. He lightly placed the baby in Katara's arms, and he sighed. "Katara, you have a daughter."
She smiled and cried as she kissed her baby girl and wrapped her in the blanket. She held her close and rocked her. "Aang," she whispered, looking up. "You have a daughter." She looked up. "Thanks, you guys, for everything." She held her daughter close. "Sokka, I thank you the most. You didn't even faint."
"Yeah," he said. "How about that?" he laughed lightly, and fell over. They all laughed.
"I'll wake him up," Toph said. They all expected her to hit, kick, or earthbend him up as she kneeled next to him. But she simply gave him a kiss, and he woke up. "What I miss?"
Everyone laughed as they gathered around. Katara showed everyone the baby, and they all held her. Sokka sat next to his sister with his arm around her. He kissed her forehead. "Aang would be so proud of you," he said as she leaned on his shoulder. "I know I am." She smiled.
A while later, Sokka got up and walked over to Storm. He placed a hand on her neck, and then turned around. Even though three were Fire Nation, the view he saw was his family.
A few hours later, the four girls plus the baby were asleep, and the two young men sat staring at the fire. Suddenly Sokka spoke up. "Zuko, I thank you."
"For what?"
"You saved my sister's life."
"Well, she's my family, and I care about her. Like you do, only you care more."
"I couldn't bear to lose her."
"Yea," Zuko said, thinking the opposite about his sister.
"I'm going to the tribe to tell my father. Want to come?"
"Sure."
Getting out by waking Toph for a second, the two snuck across the landscape as the clear moon shone full.
"Sokka?"
"Yeah?"
"I think your niece is an airbender."
"WHAT?"
"I have proof!"
"Zuko," Sokka said, stopping for a minute. "Aang's the last one. His daughter couldn't be one because he's not…oh…" he said stupidly.
Zuko gave him a sarcastic look as they continued through the snow. The storm had disappeared completely, and the small, cool breeze blew through his hair and over his face. "She's an airbender," Zuko thought as he looked at the sky.
As they peeked over the wall, they saw tents in a circle. "That's where my dad and the last warriors are." Sokka said. "We need to get over there."
The two snuck over the wall and crawled on their bellies in the snow.
"Hey you!" They heard a guard yell. They both froze. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Getting some firewood."
Sokka knew that voice. His dad!
"All prisoners are to be in their tents after dark," the guard said. "Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir." His father sounded beaten.
"Get back to your tent!" Sokka heard the soldier shove his father down, heard a groan and a thud as Hakoda hit the snow. Sokka heard the soldier start to beat and kick his father.
Sokka's anger raged inside him. He couldn't take it anymore. He unsheathed his sword and lunged, but Zuko caught him. "No!" he whispered through gritted teeth. "We don't want to be seen. He'll be fine, Sokka."
Zuko let go, and Sokka put his sword away. The beatings continued, and Sokka tried not to cry out to his dad. The soldier yelled for two others.
"Put this prisoner in his tent!" he yelled, and the two men grabbed Hakoda by the legs and dragged him to his tent. They dragged him to the front, dropped him, and walked away laughing. Through a space between tents, Sokka saw his father's mangled body. "Get up," he whispered, but the warrior's body didn't move.
Once he was sure there were no guards around, he ran to his father's side. "Dad! Dad!" he cried, putting his father's head in his lap, trying to revive him. "Let's get him inside," Zuko said, opening the tent flap. Sokka dragged his father inside and covered him in a blanket. He wiped the blood away from his father's face. "Dad?" he looked at Zuko, and then back to Hakoda. "Dad?"
Hakoda's eyes fluttered open. "Sokka?" he whispered. Sokka sighed and looked at Zuko with a smile. "You okay?"
His father smiled. "Never…ughh…better."
"Zuko, can you heal him?"
"Yea."
The ex-prince set his hands ablaze once more and ran his hands over the warrior's body. He helped Hakoda sit up and leaned his back against the tent. "Thanks," he said, and then turned his attention to Sokka. "How's Katara?"
"Well…"
"Well, what?"
"You have a granddaughter," Sokka said, smiling. Hakoda smiled proudly. "My brave daughter," he said, wiping his tears. "My brave son. You have all been through so much. And I am proud of all of you." He sipped the tea that Zuko handed him. "I just wish Aang were here to hold his daughter," he added. "But Katara knew the risks of being the Avatar's wife, and wasn't afraid to accept them. Anyway, we need a new plan. We need to get everyone back into the crystal caves. We need to climb on board the ships and rescue the women, kids, and the other warriors. We must bring all of the polar eagles to the caves. I will go back with you two. I want to see my granddaughter, and plan our attacks. Let's go!"
As the three men, escaped, they ran across the barren ice and slid to get to the cave. Sokka knocked. "Toph, open up!" The three fell in and were dropped—softly—by the earthbender. As they stood up, Katara saw her father and smiled. "Dad!" she said as she got up, slowly, as to not wake the newest member. She walked toward him. He smiled at her and looked at the bundle. She held it out to him, and he gently supported it. As he opened the blanket, the infant stretched and yawned. She opened her eyes for the first time, and Hakoda saw Aang's storm-grey eyes looking up at him. He smiled as if he couldn't stop. He kissed his granddaughter's forehead, and then studied her. "Your hair, Aang's eyes. Shaped head like yours as a baby, but eyes, nose, and mouth shaped like Aang's. Overall, a beautiful, healthy, young one." He smiled as he wrapped her up again and handed her to her mother. "Have you thought of any names?"
"Well, I've thought of many, but one keeps whispering to me."
"What is it?" Sokka asked.
"Ara," she said. At the sound of it, the baby's eyes opened and looked at her mother. "I think she likes it."
"So much for Sokka Jr." Sokka sighed.
"Why did that come to you?" Toph asked.
"I wanted her to have both her father and I in her name. Aang starts with A, and the last part of my name is Ara. And for the past few weeks, I could swear I heard Aang's voice in my head, in my dreams, saying, 'name her Ara.' So I am."
"Beautiful name," Hakoda said as he motioned Sokka over. "I need to talk to each of you separately, but Sokka and Katara, together."
Katara turned to Zuko. "Can you hold her?" she asked. He looked surprised, but nodded as he carefully took the baby and sat down. It felt so peaceful, holding her that he just stared and never wanted to let her go, but it felt awkward. He had never held a child, let alone a baby. This one was so tiny and fragile and helpless, but Zuko felt that she was destined to have a great future.
When she opened her eyes, Zuko panicked. He turned his head away from her. He didn't want the baby to see his scar. If she did and started to cry, he knew she would always have nightmares; about him, about his face. But when he saw the baby wasn't crying, just staring into his eyes with hers, he didn't know what to think. She looked so much like Aang.
He looked back at her, and she lifted her arms. He didn't know what to do, so he lifted the baby towards his face. The baby looked at his scar, held out her hands, and he brought her closer to his face. She touched his scar, and he only felt calm; love; peace. He closed his eyes as the baby held her hand there, feeling his face, all over his scar, as if she was inspecting it, but somehow he felt that she could see past his outward appearance, to what was in his heart. He took his other hand, and, with one finger, touched her free hand. She grabbed his finger and held on, and Zuko felt that as she grew up, they would have a strong bond.
Gradually as both of her hands fell from his face and hand, he opened his eyes and looked at the now sleeping baby. He wrapped her gently in the blanket and kissed her forehead as he laid her down on his sleeping blanket. He looked up and saw Katara smiling at him.
"What?"
"You and Ara are going to be strong," Katara said as she sat next to him. She looked at Ara, and then at him. "I saw what you two did. You have a bond."
Zuko looked down at the sleeping newborn, and then looked up. "I felt like she truly saw me, for me, not just my scar."
"Perhaps she did," Katara replied. "And maybe also she's just thanking you for saving her life for saving me."
Okay, it's kind of long notes, but this is maybe one of my favorite chapters with Zuko. The way I modeled him in my story and the way he changed so much in the series is now why he's my favorite character. He's now formed a bond with the baby, and as the story progresses, he's her guardian, best friend, mentor, and father (since Aang's gone). He really opens up, and that's why I love him so much! Hope you guys love "the bond" part of the story. It just seemed to fit, like Zuko never holding a baby, ashamed of his scar, until the newborn looked at him and touched it…
Also, just to let you guys know, in my story, Mai also changes. She's not the emo, depressed, little "life is boring" girl. She really changes in my story once she and Zuko come back into each other's lives. Sorry Zutara, but Katara and Zuko are best friends, if that's good enough for you, they are like brother and sister, and love each other a lot in that way.
I hope you guys liked the name Ara. Like Katara said, but by me, it just seemed to come… I know it's not themed with the show, but that's what fanfictions are for, right?
And I hope you guys liked the part with Aang's tattoos AND pendant glowing. I bet most of you guys have already guessed, right?
But thanks to all who have commented! You guys rock! And thanks so much for even making me cry! yeah, I cry when I'm happy or really excited, that started when I saw the preview for season 3, and since then, I've maybe gotten close or cried at nearly every single Avatar commercial, trailer, or video I've seen for the amazing new episodes that were coming…I'm so dramatic, oh well…
But thanks again to all
of you guys, please read and review, and now that this cliffhanger
from chapter 6 is over, maybe I'll post two chapters today… READ
AND REVIEW PLEASE! I want to know what you guys think! Thanks for
everything!
Avatarone3
