"Push!"
Suki groaned, her hands clasping tightly to Sokka's as the midwife encouraged her. "I am!"
"Push harder!" the old woman scolded, rapping her on the knee with her gnarled knuckles. "I cannot see the head yet. Push!"
Aang looked on from the doorway, a frown on his face. Suki had been pushing for hours now with no results. He shifted from foot to foot. "Something doesn't feel right." He murmured to himself.
"Got that right." Toph sat just outside the door, her hands covering her ears. "Are babies supposed to come out feet first?"
"What?" Aang asked sharply.
Toph shrugged. "That's what it's doing. Hey!" She shouted as Aang seized her hand, tugging her into the delivery room . "I don't do babies, Twinkletoes!"
"Well, you're doing this one." Aang muttered at her before explaining to the older woman what Toph had sensed.
"Hmm." The woman said. "We have to turn the baby."
"What?" Sokka yelped as Suki squeezed him harder.
"Out." The old woman pointed. "Avatar, do you want to do it?"
"I never have before." Aang admitted. "But I've read about it."
"Scroll learning never did anybody no good." The old woman said, grabbing for Aang's hands and pressing them to Suki's abdomen. "You little one, stand at the end. Tell us when you see something stick out."
"Umm…" Toph said, positioning herself between Suki's legs. "I'm not sure I'm okay with this."
Aang listened carefully as the midwife told him what to do, following her advice and directions cautiously. He could feel the life inside Suki, the precious unborn life that meant so much to so many people already.
"There," the woman said. Aang thought her name was Kiri. "it's turned. What do you see?"
"A swamp creature." Toph snapped. "What do you think I see? I see nothing!"
"Then move." Kiri snapped, directing Aang to take her place. "And you push!"
Suki moaned and did as she was told.
"I see it!" Aang shouted.
"We can all hear just fine." Kiri jibed, her hands still on Suki's belly. "You better catch it."
Aang didn't have time to ask for more instructions before a clean cloth was thrust into his hands scant moments before a red, tan baby appeared. He caught the baby's shoulders, easing the child from its mother.
"What is it?" Suki gasped, the healing woman already at work on her.
Aang swaddled the newborn in the clean cloth, cutting the umbilical cord with the whale-bone knife sitting nearby. The baby let out a squalling yell, waving its tiny fists. "Do you want to see for yourself?"
"She'll be asleep soon, dummy, just tell her." Kiri snapped.
Aang smiled at Suki, gently bouncing the newborn. "You got your wish. She's a girl!"
Suki beamed at him before the gentle bending lulled her to sleep.
"I need to work on her." Kiri told Aang and Toph, giving them a significant look. "Why don't you two get out."
"Don't need to tell me twice." Toph muttered, gripping onto Aang's elbow so he could lead her into the next room. Sokka would be there soon, once he finished getting his children their midday meal. There was a basin of water, fresh linens, and tiny clothes insulated with white fluffy fur. Aang dipped her in the water, washing off the birthing fluid and running a hand over her hair. Using the water, he ran a healing check over her, pressing slightly against her hip to fix the bruise that had come from turning her.
"She's perfect." He murmured, grinning down at her big eyes. Unlike Sokka's other children, she had Suki's deep blue grey eyes instead of the clear blue of the water tribe. But she had Sokka's dusky skin tone and dark hair, and when she smiled he could see Sokka in her chubby baby dimples. He tucked her inside a layer of soft fur, shielding her against the cold that filtered in under the door.
"Wish I could see her." Toph whispered, standing beside him.
The baby started to squirm and wail, shaking her tiny feet. "Here." Aang said, thrusting the crying infant into her startled hands.
"What? Aang!" Toph fumbled for a moment, panic clear on her face.
"Like this." Aang helped her cradle the baby's head with one hand while tucking her arm under to support her body. Toph was clutching her. "Not so tight."
"She's so warm." Toph whispered. "So tiny. So frail. But so strong." She slipped a free finger into the baby's tiny hand, her face lighting up as she felt the miniscule fingers grip her. "Too bad she's not an earth bender. She'd be amazing."
"You never know." Aang murmured, a strange fuzzy feeling coming over him at the sight of Toph grinning down at the girl. "Suki's from Kyoshi. It could be in there."
The little girl's eyes squinched up and she began crying. Toph looked at Aang, distraught. "What did I do?"
"Nothing." Aang laughed. "She's probably hungry. Sometimes if you rock back and forth it helps." Toph began jerking from side to side. Aang laughed again, laying his hands on her shoulders, standing behind her. "Slower." He moved her from side to side, guiding her. "Smoother." Her shoulders brushed against his chest, her long silky hair brushing against his tunic. He had to resist the urge to pull her against him and rock her along with the small child. He shook it off, stepping away, watching Toph do it on her own. Slowly the baby's cries settled into mewls , her big eyes closing, delicate lashes laying against her cheeks.
"You're doing great." He murmured.
"Where is she?" The door banged open and a harried looking Sokka burst in, his wide blue eyes taking in Toph and Aang, staring back at him. "Did you guys have a baby too?"
They looked at each other before bursting into laughter. "No, Snoozles, this one's yours." Toph said, handing over the sleeping baby.
"Mine." Sokka murmured, taking her in his arms easily. "How's Suki?"
"Sleeping." Kiri said, emerging. "You can go in with her, but do not wake her up."
"Thank you." Sokka said. "Did she mention a name?"
"No." Aang said. "She went to sleep too fast."
"I'm sure you guys will pick a great one." Toph added.
"Thank you." Sokka repeated, giving them a quick smile before heading into the delivery room to be with Suki.
"You can go away now." Kiri said bluntly. "Your help was appreciated."
"Thanks." Aang mumbled, taking Toph's hand and leading her out before she could snap back.
"She's a nasty woman." Toph grumbled.
"She's just doing her job."
"Hmph." Toph giggled. "I can't believe Sokka thought that was our baby. What an oaf!"
"Yeah." Aang grinned. "Any baby of yours would have much darker hair." He reached down to tweak her nose. "Maybe even those green eyes."
"I don't know if I want to have kids." Toph said softly, her hand tightening around Aang's.
"How come?" He asked. "Kids are great!"
"What if…" Her voice trembled. "What if they're like me?"
Aang stopped, his boots crunching to a halt in the snow. He took her other hand so he held both and bent down. "Like you? Toph, any kid would be lucky to be like you. You're tough, you're strong, you're beautiful, you can take care of yourself, you can do anything."
"I can't see." She whispered.
"So what?" Aang said. "What you can do is amazing. Not even earth benders who can see can defeat you. You're Toph!" Seeing this vulnerable side of her was making him nervous, but also honored. "You're the melon lord!"
"Heh." She wiped away a stray tear. "That's right."
"Don't worry." He pulled her to him, enveloping her in a hug. "Any kids you have will be just as amazing as you."
"Thanks, Aang." Toph pressed her face against his chest.
They remained standing together in the snow for a long moment, breaking apart reluctantly as Hakoda walked up to them. The chief's wise eyes flicked between the two, taking in their still-joined hands.
"Is Sokka with her?"
They nodded.
"We're setting up for the naming ceremony. Would you two like to come help?"
"Sure!" They answered together, glancing sideways at each other.
"We'd love to." Aang said.
Hakoda nodded, quirking an eyebrow, and turned to lead the way back to the main part of the village.
OOO
"A problem?" Katara murmured, turning over onto her back, wrapping her arms around Zuko's neck. She allowed him to kiss her again as her eyes swept the forest. "Hmmm."
"Did you see them?" Zuko whispered, his hand stroking along her ribs.
"Yes." Katara said. "Not hiding very well."
"Not at all." Zuko murmured against her neck.
"What do you want to do?" Katara asked, trying to steel her mind against how good his kisses felt.
"Options?"
"We could ignore them." She replied, closing her eyes to concentrate. His golden eyes gazing down at her were distracting. "Fight them. Avoid them."
"Ignoring them could be dangerous." He rumbled. "Fighting them would be loud, could draw attention. But avoidance," He nipped her neck, making her squeak. "could allow us to return with reinforcements. Sweep the forest for all of them."
"Sounds like we have a plan." Katara said, frowning up at him. Was he really trying to feign ignorance of the soldiers watching them or was he as distracted as she was. "I have an idea."
ooo
"You do this for fun in that Agni forsaken country of yours?" Zuko cried, holding onto Katara to keep from plunging into the stream.
"Yes!" She cried back, looking over her shoulder at him.
It almost made it worth it to Zuko. Her blue eyes were lit up with her excitement, her smile dazzling from ear to ear. Her brown hair flowed behind her from their speed, glimmering in the sunlight, her arms outstretched in front and behind her, catching the wind and helping her to keep balance.
They had gone to the stream under the pretext of bathing, both highly aware that they were followed to the banks. Katara had enticed him in, still not explaining her idea, then suddenly gripped him to her, creating a long flat sheet of ice beneath their feet and used her water bending to shoot them downstream, the water erupting into sharp ice spikes behind them before quickly melting, disallowing their followers from sliding down the ice after them.
She was moving them at a high speed, the sheet of ice congealed into a rounded plank, skimming across the surface of the water.
"Usually we do it down a glacier." Katara called back to him, the wind whipping by his ears almost drowning her out. "Just relax, let your body bend."
Zuko grumbled about bendy water benders before resettling his feet farther apart on their ice board, his hands moving to a better grip on her ribs, allowing him to look over her shoulder. Her body was aligned sideways, first foot pointed towards the edge of her board, second foot perpendicular pointing towards the bank. He tried to mirror her stance and found it easier to stay upright.
Katara glanced back at his strained look and giggled. "Hold on!" Gesturing, she created straps of ice over his boots, locking him to the board. "Better?"
Zuko nodded. "Yes."
She beamed before turning back to the stream ahead. The current was picking up as they continued downhill, the waters by the banks turning frothy. Zuko gripped her tighter as the board rose and fell, bouncing over small waves.
"Zuko!" She called, and he heard the tenseness in her voice. He looked ahead, golden eyes widening as he saw the deep rapids, the bank rising steeply on both sides. "Hold on tight!" She gestured again, yanking his ice-straps forward so his feet lay right against hers, ignoring his yelp of surprise. His arms enclosed instinctively around her waist, hugging her tight. She pitched back, angling the board and bending her knees so the board skimmed sideways, riding along the water at an angle. Zuko hummed deep in his throat, sure that at any second they would fall, but Katara caught them and swung to the other side of the river, avoiding the rocks and debris in the center of the rapids. Using her back foot she steered them onwards, jumping the board over a slim fallen log, landing them safely on the other side at the base of the rapids and in smoother water.
"You okay?" She panted, allowing the board to coast, using her bending only to keep them afloat.
"I'd like to try that on a glacier some time." Came the quiet response.
Katara looked over her shoulder and had to stifle a laugh. Zuko's hair was a big snarl, and she was sure her own wasn't in much better condition. "We're going to get to the village and look ridiculous."
Zuko released his vice-grip on her ribs and reached up to pat his hair. "Great."
"We're almost there." Katara said, looking down stream. "I think." The river turned around a bend, carrying them with it. Ahead of them the river forked, one way smooth and still, littering with trailing reeds while the other rose again into soft rapids, traveling sharply to the right.
"Which way?" Zuko murmured, trying to ease knots from his hair.
Katara closed her eyes and knelt, leaving Zuko to stand behind her. Trailing her fingers in the water, she sent out her consciousness, streaming through the water. "The right one will get us there faster," she murmured. "in a half hour. But the left will be smoother." She looked up at Zuko. "It'll take maybe another couple hours if we go that way."
"The left." Zuko replied, his voice raspy.
Katara waited for an explanation of his choice but he gave none, just continued to glare at the massive knots twined between his fingers.
"Okay." She said, standing again to propel them towards the left fork. The river was gentle, flowing along smoothly amidst the vegetation. Birds chirped as frogs and turtles plopped into the water away from their passage.
They floated along in silence, looking through the trees for any sign they had been pursued. The woods were silent, the only sounds from the animals as they went about their lives.
"Can you stop?" Zuko asked, as they passed by a particularly overgrown bend in the stream, a grassy bank sloping gently to the water. "Pull this thing over to the side or something?"
"Sure. Why?" Katara asked, changing their direction to land against the bank, the ice board dissolving as they stepped off.
Zuko looked down at the water; it was clear and even, free of debris and algae. "I'd like to take a swim."
"Is this about your hair?" Katara asked, smiling. "I can fix it if you want."
"I also feel sticky." Zuko said, frowning as she giggled. "It has been a long couple days."
"That's true." Katara agreed, watching from the corner of her eye as Zuko stripped down to his shorts, folding his clothes neatly before laying them on a nearby log. "I'll...umm…keep watch."
Zuko turned to her, his body firm and athletic, substantial muscle roping around his arms, torso, and legs. Katara remembered when he had been a lean, wiry teenage, his muscle more like vines than tree limbs. The change was…intriguing. "You're not coming in?"
"I'm okay." She said, although she desperately wanted to swim. She didn't think she could handle undressing around him. Not after the night before. "I'll bathe when we get there."
"There won't be time." Zuko said, walking towards her. "We will have to move fast before they scatter even more into the woods."
"Lucky we're on an island." Katara said, backing up a step. "Not far for them to go."
"Still." Zuko murmured, coming up close enough to her so she could smell his scent. It reminded her of spices, cinnamon and cloves with a hint of smoke and brimstone. "Better to do it now." Moving as fast as a striking snake he snatched her around the waist, ignoring her whoop of surprise as he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, her fists beating against his back.
"Zuko, what-?!" She didn't have time for much more before he jumped with her into the water, sinking below the surface of the waist-high water.
She rose first, gasping for air, her clothes entirely soaked, her hair a heavy curtain down her back. "Zuko!" She sputtered, glaring as he surfaced beside her, water running in driblets down his chest. "You jerk!" She slapped his chest and he caught her wrist, hauling her forward and up, her knees clutching around his waist, his lips catching hers is a wet kiss. Katara returned it, her mouth sealing over his with a soft growl.
"You could have warned me." She whispered, her fingers scraping along his wet scalp.
"Did you mean what you said?" He murmured, ignoring her protest. "About belonging to yourself?"
"Yes." She replied, feeling his hand slip down to grip the back of her leg, his fingers tracing circles on her thigh.
"You don't want to be with Aang anymore?"
"No." She gasped against his lips. Admitting it out loud made it real, but she knew deep inside herself it was true. The period of her life being Aang's girlfriend was over.
"Do you want to be with me?"
"Maybe."
"Katara." He growled, tugging on her lip with his teeth.
"Maybe." She repeated, smiling as he frowned at her. "Show me what I'd be missing."
Zuko rolled his eyes at her and dropped her, letting her splash down into the water.
She rose laughing, spitting water at him that missed. She reached down into the water, tossing her water logged boots to shore, feeling the soft mud of the riverbed beneath her toes. Striking out, she swam in circles around him, arms and legs carrying her with practiced ease through the water. "If you catch me I'll let you help me with the rest." She teased, amused by the consternated look on his face.
His hand snaked out faster than she expected and grabbed her wrist, her head bobbing under the water from the sudden halt. He towed her towards him, her hair streaking behind her. "I accept." He said, smirking at her.
Katara sighed in defeat, raising her arms as he grasped the hem of her soaked shirt, dragging it over her head with difficulty. He tossed it to the bank where it landed with a wet thwhack. Katara kissed his chest as his hands roamed to the hem of her pants, tugging down the rough material with difficulty.
"Are you sure?" he asked, holding her hand as she stepped out of them and tossed them aside.
"Yes, Zuko." She said, taking his head between her hands, her fingers cradling his jaw. His own fingers were fiddling beneath the water with her underbindings. "I'm sure."
"Good." He bent down to capture her mouth, finally locating the knot on her bindings and tugging. They fell apart, turning into one long strand that he coiled up and tossed away. Katara groaned against him as he probed the softness of her backside, his hands spreading and squeezing before running up her back, resting on the flat bow of her breast bindings. "Tell me to stop if-"
"Zuko," Katara said, reaching behind her to pull the bow herself. "stop talking."
Zuko growled at her, swiping her loosened bindings aside, reattaching his lips to hers. Katara ran her fingers down his neck to his shoulders, digging her nails in before travelling down his chest and stomach to the waist of Zuko's shorts. In a quick motion she yanked them down, her hands returning to his hips once he had stepped out of them. His hip bones were sharp and pronounced, his abdomen flat and hard. If she looked she knew she'd see his arousal jutting upwards towards her.
Zuko tasted her tongue, her lips, and he wanted more. He kissed towards her cheek, dipping his mouth down to kiss along her jaw, his hands resting on her ribs. Katara wasn't sure if he was being polite or if he was nervous. She gasped as he moved lower to suck on her neck, pulling himself towards her, his length pressing into her stomach. Her hand moved lower from his hip, gingerly touching the tip of him. He jerked back and she withdrew, worried she had moved too fast, but then his hand was on hers and he placed her back on him, curling her fingers to grip his shaft. He was velvet steel, longer and thicker than Aang was, though a little crooked. His moan rumbled against her neck as she squeezed him, his hand tightening against her ribcage.
Taking his strategy, Katara took his hand and guided him to her chest, leaving him there to figure it out for himself. Her own hand continued upwards, fisting in his hair. Zuko hesitated briefly before his large hand closed around her breast, his fingers overwarm from his excitement. Her nipple was hard, poking against his palm as he squeezed, the fullness of her breast fitting into his hand perfectly. She was perfect. He adjusted so his thumb could brush against the hard nub, eliciting a throaty groan. His mouth was still bruising her neck, driving her crazy as he scraped his teeth against her vein.
Katara squeezed and moved her hand along his length, feeling him swell even further beneath her ministrations. The thought of him going inside her made her squirm, and she knew he felt it. She pumped him against her stomach, bringing her body closer to his so he was sandwiched closely between them. Zuko's other hand rose from where it had rested on hers to cup her other breast, twirling both nipples between his fingers. Katara groaned and Zuko bit her neck, his teeth sinking into the juncture of her neck and shoulder. She cried out and Zuko bucked his hips against her, wanting to be deep inside her.
He released one breast to dip down between her thighs, playing with the soft curls he found there. Under the water it was hard to tell what was her arousal, but once he slipped inside it was apparent that she was ready for him. She was slick and hot, her hips bucking against his finger as he probed inside her.
"Zuko," She whined, and he shuddered at the sound. "please."
"Please what, Katara?" He gasped, finally surfacing from her neck.
"Mmmm." She groaned. "Zuko…"
"Tell me." He whispered, nuzzling his nose against her throat.
"Be inside me." She whispered back, capturing his mouth again, parting her lips when his tongue stroked along them.
He groaned, the connotation of her words shooting straight to his groin, tightening his belly muscles. He dropped his hands to her rear, gripping and pulling, bringing her right up against him, her body almost fully out of the water. She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling her wet, slick body sliding against his. She kissed along his forehead as he nudged against her entrance, his strong arms keeping her supported.
"Ready?" He murmured against her neck, his lips playing on her ear.
"Yes." She replied, her heart beating fast in anticipation.
Zuko slowly lowered her onto him, his length peeling her apart as she adjusted after long months. She winced as he filled her, the thought that the feeling was unfamiliar sending a pang of regret through her. Regret that she hadn't insisted with Aang, that their relationship had fizzled out. But she also felt elation, the joyous happy feeling that came from the intimate connection with someone. Someone she had felt strongly about, one way or another, for years.
He stilled inside her, craning his head over in order to reach her the unblemished side of her neck, running his mouth up and down, trying to help her relax. Moving slowly he withdrew, sliding back in easier. Katara's tense body eased and her hips shifted, allowing him in deeper, brushing against her center.
"Yes." She whispered, her hands fisting in his long hair, tugging slightly, her nails scraping against his scalp.
Zuko groaned and moved harder, the sounds of flesh connecting with flesh the only sounds in the still forest. Her skin was cool against him, his body temperature rising the closer he came to orgasm. He sought her mouth and found it, connecting hot lips to hers. His fingers clutched at her rear, squeezing and massaging.
Katara felt herself getting close, the thrusting inside her driving her faster and faster. The past year and a half she had found release by herself. The feeling was completely different, more intense, better. She loved the feeling of closeness he was giving her, the way he felt so hot against her like a physical measurement of his desire for her.
"Zuko," she whimpered. "I'm going to come."
He grunted and went harder, simultaneously sinking his teeth gently into her jugular. She moaned loudly, gripping his hair near the base as she came, her fingernails tracing desperately against his scalp.
The feeling drove him over, his thrust jackhammering for a moment before he stilled, panting against her shoulder. He shuddered once, twice, three times as he shot his seed into her.
It was hot, almost burning. She could feel it inside her, his essence scorching against her cervix as if she were being filled with fire. A different sensation from anything she had ever experienced.
They stayed still for long moments, caressing each other tenderly, the stream flowing by them as birds renewed their songs.
"Hey," She heard his gravelly voice through the haze of climax. "you alright?"
"Yes." Katara breathed, kissing his forehead. "I just…yes." She smiled as he set her down, his hands cupping her jaw. "Thank you."
"For what?" He asked, kissing her. He twirled a wet curl around his finger, noticing that all the knots had washed out.
"Everything." She replied, leaning her forehead against his chest. "For asking, for making sure I was alright, for…you know."
Zuko smirked. "I guess I owe you a thank you as well."
She nuzzled against his chest, feeling sleepy. "Do you want to get going?" She felt surprised that she didn't feel more…changed after having sex with Zuko. She felt surprisingly normal when she thought she would have felt…guilty? Dirty? Instead she felt ethereal, elated. Connected and complete.
"No." He replied, tipping her chin up, smiling at her confused look. "I still have knots in my hair."
Katara laughed. "Well I'm going to go sit. Let me know when you're ready."
She began to walk to the bank, creating ripples in the current with her steps, but Zuko caught her hand and hauled her back, pressing her naked back against his front. His hands roamed over her body, her head tipping back to rest against his shoulder. He brushed against her breasts, her stomach, her neck, her center, her hips, reveling in the freedom to touch her. She eased into his touch, enjoying each swipe of his fingers.
"I will." He whispered, kissing her temple. "Katara?"
"Yeah?" She was fighting to keep her eyes open, wondering if the springy grass and clover on the bank were as comfortable as they looked.
"Do you want to be with me?" His voice held a note of nerves, instantly clutching around her heart.
She turned, laying her hands on his shoulders. "Yes."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A.N.: Sorry for the quick ending, I really wanted to get this posted on time(ish). Love all the reviews, tried to incorporate more Taang, will be more next chapter for sure! :D