Chapter 10: Returning Home
Katara Pov
It wasn't until after two week that we were permitted to return back to the palace, Ozai was there to greet his children with open arms. When he pulled Zuko into a hug I saw his eyes flicker to me and fill with lust. The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I felt myself cowering at his scrutiny. Ty lee who stood beside me, saw the look he gave me and took a step towards me as if to block his gaze from me. I know I had not been friends with Ty lee long, but it was very nice of her to protect me from Ozai's unwanted attention.
Zuko, oblivious to his father's unwanted attention, wrapped his arm around my waist, and led me back to our bed room. Kissing me with fiery passion he closed the door behind us. I pulled away with a chuckle.
"ZUKO!" I said as I turned my back to unpack the bags that lay on our bed. He wrapped his arms around my waist and started kissing my neck and pushing aside my robe to reach my shoulders.
"Zuko, I want to accomplish some of the unpacking tonight before bed." I told him gesturing to the mountain of clothes laying on our bed. The sun had already set by the time we made it back to the palace, and I was exhausted from today's travel.
"Fine" He replied with a chuckled before going to unpack his own bag. I went through my cosmetics bag that Ty lee had packed for me, which contained make up, my toothbrush, and month cycle clothes. Thats when it hit me, I had not received my month cycle. I dropped the my toothbrush and hair brush on the bed, and felt my eyes widen in shock.
"No…." I whispered to myself, my mental math already kicking in.
"You okay, Katara?" Zuko called from inside the closet where he was hanging up his robes.
"N...Nothing...I just remember I left something in Ty lee's bag." I said walking towards the door. As soon has I heard the door click close, I ran through the halls of the palace. I turned down a hall and ran right into Mai.
"Watch where you're going …peasant" She shrieked, that is when I noticed she had her hand on the fire lord's bed chamber door.
"The fire lord requested an audience with you?" I asked pointing in the direction of the door
"YEAH…., lets go with that one" She answered rolling her eyes and opened the door only to disappear behind it. I walked the rest of the way to Ty Lee's room with a look of disgust.
"What's cooking good looking?" Ty lee asked from her place at the vanity when I walked in.
"Huh...oh nothing" I said shaking the thought of Mai and Ozai together out of my mind. Ty lee looked back at me through the mirror with an eye brow raised.
"Okay" She said as she went back to brushing her hair.
"Actually...Ty lee in general how do Fire Nation women find out their pregnant?" I asked looking down at my feet.
"What Katara...I did not hear you" She said turning around to look at me
"How do you know if your pregnant" I asked quieter still looking at my feet
"Well if you miss your cycle, you start throwing up, you eat more, and towards the middle of pregnancy you start to get fatter. Why?" She asked smiling softly at me
"Oh no reason" I said looking past her to myself in the mirror, trying to find to find a swell in my abdomen.
"Katara...you don't think your...Oh MY GOSH...YOU DO!" She shrieked as she jumped up and hopped over to me and hugging me close. "Oh sorry forgot for a minute" She said letting go and smiling down at my belly.
"What No...Ty lee" I said trying to deny it, than I started to cry. I walked over and sat on her plush hot pink bed. "What am I going to do?… What if it's the fire lord's?… What will Zuko say?"
"Katara you do not know for sure yet, you need to be positive about this before you freak out. Then you and Zuko can raise the baby and live happily ever after" She said coming over and hugging me.
"But Ozai said if Zuko got me pregnant he would have to intervene. Even worse i dont know whether Zuko or Ozai is the father." I said remembering the morning we had breakfast with Azula and Ozai. I felt like I was going to get sick all over Ty lee's floor.
"Katara don't worry, We will take care of it when the time comes, but you at least have to let Zuko know what is going on." Ty lee said almost motherly.
"I know" I whispered looking down at my hands. Ty lee held me closer and I cried into her shoulder. We sat there, me crying out my heart on Ty lee's shoulder for a good half hour.
"Come on, I will go with you back to your room" She offered, "you shouldn't put this off longer than necessary."
"Ok" I said through a hoarse voice. We walked side by side in silence through the dark halls. When we walked past Ozai's room, Mai was walking out with her robe tied loosely around her waist, her hair astray, and she had a scorched hickey on her neck.
"MAI?" Ty lee gasped looking her friend up and down.
"What...Don't judge me Ty lee" Mai said storming away from us.
"I have to go talk to her. Are you going to be okay from here?" Ty lee asked
"Yeah... go give her hell" I told Ty lee as I turned back towards my room. I walked the last few steps and they seemed to take every thing out of me.
I pushed the door open and saw the lights were dimmed. Zuko was under the covers already, his soft snore the only sound in the room.
"ZUKO?" I whispered, but got no reply. I closed our door with no noise, changed into my pajamas and slipped under the covers. I looked at Zuko, his scar side was towards me as he lay on his back. His breathing was even and he looked so peaceful. I smiled softly, while I laid a hand on my stomach I allowed myself to fall asleep.
Sure enough that night my dreams would be plagued by images of tiny babies who looked like Zuko. For some reason those dreams did not give me fear, but rather pride.