Disclaimer: I own nothing
The scorching July heat and the dreadful August rains passed by without Zuko even noticing, he was too busy settling into married life, which was a lot simpler than he thought. He and Katara practically did everything they were doing before, except now, she was present in some of his council meetings, had more of a say in his decisions, and pretty much bossed him around. So really, it was nothing new.
But she did take care of him as a wife would her husband. She healed his injuries when he sparred, when he was having a bad day she would serve him tea and message his head, she listened to his rants with a keen ear and an earnest heart, she did all of the behind the scenes work for dinner parties and galas that he had to host, she kept up to date with palace life and what was going on, it even got to the point where she started to pick out his clothes for him and told him his daily schedule as she put the crown in his hair in the mornings.
All in all, he liked married life…a lot.
The only thing missing was the intimate aspect. Which they did it once and so far she wasn't pregnant, they'll have to do it again eventually. But Katara knew that.
It took her a day or two to finally be able to look at him again without blushing after their wedding night. But after she got over the awkwardness, she and Zuko sat down and had a real talk about their future and children.
She said she understood her role and was more than glad to fulfill their obligation, but it had to be on her terms and when she was ready, which Zuko completely understood. If she was the one who had to carry it around for nine months and then push a watermelon out of a hole the size of a quarter, then she could do whatever she wanted. He told her absent mindedly that he was just the sperm donor and all she had to do was name a place and time and he'd be there. That comment made her laugh so hard the tea she drank came out of her nose.
He wasn't itching for a child, he wouldn't mind one, but it wasn't on the top of his priority list. Besides he was only twenty one, almost twenty two, he didn't feel like he was old enough to have kids, as silly as that seemed. And Katara made it perfectly clear that children were definitely not on the top of her priority list yet. "Maybe in another couple of years," she had said and he whole heartedly agreed.
He could wait another couple of years.
Zuko made his way to his sitting room, whistling a song. He'd been having a good day so far and wanted to share the rest of it with Katara. He didn't know when it started to happen, but now he always wanted to share everything with her.
When he walked into the sitting room his whistling died down when he saw her bedroom door was closed.
It shocked him because her bedroom door was always open, no matter what; it was one of her idiosyncrasies that always baffled Zuko. He noticed her ladies maids sitting on each side of her door knitting and made his way over to them. "Is the Lady ill?"
Kyung and Chae stood and bowed "Yes, my Lord, Lady Katara has been ill all night."
Zuko knitted his eyebrows; she was fine yesterday morning, maybe she had a bug? It was that time of year. "Did she say what was wrong with her?"
"No my Lord, she just asked that we made sure no one bothered her today."
Zuko nodded "Thanks," he said before gently opening the door and walking in.
Katara must have been feeling ill because even her drapes were closed, leaving the room in total darkness. When his eyes adjusted, he looked over at her. She was curled into a tight ball on her side, her back facing him. She let out a groan of pain telling Zuko that she was very much awake.
"Katara?"
He heard Katara groan "Go away, Zuko."
Zuko made his way over to her bed and sat down, placing a hand on her shoulder "Your ladies maids said you aren't feeling well. What's wrong?"
"I just have a stomach ache," Katara said curling herself tighter into a ball.
"What did you eat yesterday? I can tell the cooks to never make to again," he said with slight anger.
Katara slightly laughed before wincing "It's not that type of stomach ache."
Zuko looked at her confused "Then what is it? Do you have a stomach bug? Maybe the kids at the orphanage gave you something?"
"No, it's not a stomach bug," Katara said before groaning.
Zuko knitted his eyebrows, he didn't understand. If it wasn't a food bug and she wasn't sick then what was wrong?
He heard Katara sigh in agitation "I have cramps, Zuko."
"Oh," he said before realizing why she had cramps. "OH!" A blush crept its way up his cheeks.
"I always get intense cramps; they keep me up all night and pretty much debilitate me for the day." Katara said as winced again.
"Is…is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" Zuko asked the blush still heavily on his cheeks.
Katara timidly looked at him from over her shoulder "Heat makes them go away."
Zuko looked at her before it hit him, heat, she wanted heat and he just so happened to be a firebender who can make heat in his hands. "Uncurl yourself," he said as he kicked off his boots and laid down next to her.
Katara uncurled herself just enough to let Zuko's arm go around her waist. She directed his hand to her pelvic region where the pain was the most and instantly sighed in relief when the cramps started to ease up as Zuko heated the spot.
"I haven't slept all night because of these stupid cramps," Katara sighed out "thank you."
"I'm happy I could help," Zuko said as he put his nose in her hair and inhaled slightly. The scent of orange blossoms filled his senses, making him smile "plus, it gives me an excuse to cuddle."
Katara laughed as she laced her fingers through his "I thought you weren't a cuddler?"
Zuko smiled and hugged her closer "I lied. I am a huge fan of cuddling, especially if it's with a pretty girl."
He felt Katara smile "Too bad I'm not a fan of cuddling with jerkbenders."
"Uh, that's not what I remember when we were in the South Pole," Zuko said smartly. "If I remember correctly you were all up on me."
Katara guffawed "Excuse me sir drool's a lot, the only reason I cuddled with you was because you were a warm body that kept me from freezing to death, what was your excuse?"
"I like to cuddle with pretty girls."
Katara couldn't help but laugh again making Zuko pull her even closer to him. She sighed, she was beginning to love these rare moments were they acted like an actual couple. "So how was your day?"
"My day was good, no one in council fought today, I got word that some governors are banding together and using some of their own money to try and help the provinces, thanks to you."
Katara humphed "It's about time they started to do something. What else?"
"Umm, I got a letter from Sokka. He said that their trade is picking up greatly and that we're going to able to trade more with each other. Which brings me to more good news, Ba Sing Se is going to give me their answer in two weeks on whether or not they're going to start trading with us and I think it might be a yes."
"That's excellent;" he heard Katara say sleepily "I'm sure they'll say yes."
Zuko just gave her a noise of affirmation and closed his eyes, letting Katara's slowing breaths lure him into a nap as he heated his hand some more, making her sigh in contentment and snuggle closer to him. Good council meeting, good news, and a good afternoon nap with his wife. It had definitely been a good day.
.0.
Katara growled in agitation as she tried on another pair of trousers. 'Why don't these pants look good on me?' she thought angrily as she studied herself in the full length mirror 'They looked good two weeks ago! Maybe it's because I'm getting my period? That would explain the cramps.' Katara shook her head 'No my period was supposed to be here last week why am I bloating now? Wait…' Katara stopped and looked into her eyes through the mirror "Kyung, what date is it?"
"It's September the ninth, my Lady."
Katara did some calculations on her fingers before freezing; she had missed her last two periods and now this month's was late. "How did I not notice before!" Katara asked herself as she put her hands in her hair in distraught.
"Notice what, my Lady?" Kyung asked as she looked at Katara.
Katara turned towards her and grabbed Kyung's arms "Kyung, I need you to get me something from the market. It's top secret and if anyone asks you about it lie and tell them it's for someone else hell tell them it's for you."
Kyung looked at her with wide eyes "What am I getting, my Lady?"
"I need you to get me a pregnancy test."
Katara bit her nails as she anxiously watched the little vile sitting on her bathroom counter, the liquid inside swirling around.
"Come on, come on," she said with impatience.
Her pulse picked up when she noticed that it was starting to turn color only to have it stop all together as her heart drop when she saw that it turned purple, the color it was to turn if it was positive.
'I'm pregnant?'
Katara picked up the tiny vile and examined it "I can't be," she whispered. Throwing the vile out the open window, Katara sat on the edge of her bathtub, her head in her hands. "I can't be pregnant. There's no way." In the back of her mind she knew that it was very much possible, she and her husband did have sex.
An idea popped into her mind as she stood. Lifting her tunic, Katara covered her hands in water and roamed the glowing liquid over her stomach. She almost sighed in relief, thinking that the test could of given her a false positive, until she felt a tiny dull heart beat that she was definitely sure was not her own rapidly beating heart.
The water dropped out of Katara's hold as she stared at her stomach in shock "I'm pregnant," she whispered before looking at herself in the mirror, tears coming to her eyes. It's not that she didn't want a baby; she did, just not now. She was only nineteen for spirits sake! She suddenly felt angry as she examined herself in the full length mirror "One time I accidently forget protection with Aang, not pregnant. The one time I do it with Zuko, pregnant. Stupid firebenders and their champion sperm," she angrily mumbled to herself as she left the bathroom and stomped all the way to the palace healer.
Katara twitched in agitation as she watched the healer roam over her stomach with a stethoscope. She figured she might as well see the healer, just in case she was wrong. But the smile coming to his face confirmed to her, that she wasn't at all wrong. "Congratulations my Lady, you are indeed pregnant."
Katara put on a smile as she lowered her shirt "I am?" she asked as she feigned excitement on the outside, but on the inside she felt dread.
"You sure are. I would say about thirteen weeks, almost out of the danger zone of miscarriage."
Katara smiled as the healer put the stethoscope down "But I wouldn't be too concerned; you are perfectly healthy and from what I can hear the baby has a strong and healthy heartbeat. But if I may be so bold in asking this my Lady, how did you not notice that you were late last month?"
Katara gave a convincing laugh "I'm always so busy that sometimes things like this slip my mind."
The healer smiled "Being Fire Lady is a busy job."
Katara nodded before standing, "Thank you, sir. Is there anything else I need?"
The healer nodded and handed her a vile of orange liquid "This is a pre-natal vitamin solution. It should be taken once a day at meal time, I'll have more made for you this afternoon."
Katara bowed "Thank you so much."
The healer bowed back "You're welcome my Lady, and please remember that you are pregnant now, you should lighten your workload so you don't put too much stress on yourself and the baby."
"Thank you." Katara said one more time before exiting the healer's office.
'How am I going to tell Zuko?" She thought.
All of a sudden, her dread and angry dissipated. When they had the discussion of children, they had agreed on having kids in another couple of years, Zuko having vehemently stated that he was absolutely not ready for children.
Katara felt like crying, how was she going to tell him?
.0.
"Will you please just tell me what has you in such a tizzy?" Zuko asked as he watched Katara's knee bounce up and down as she looked out the balcony doors.
Katara looked at him with wide eyes "I'm not in a tizzy."
Zuko gave her a look and making her eyes go wider "I'm not."
"Then why is your knee bouncing? You only ever do that when something makes you nervous."
Katara placed a hand on her knee to stop the bouncing "I just…have something on my mind."
"Like?" Zuko asked as he took a sip of tea.
Katara sighed and stood. Walking towards the balcony doors, she watched as the early afternoon rain hit the window panes harshly. 'I have to tell him,' she thought 'it's only right. Besides, what is he going to do? Deny my child; I would never stand for it.' Katara watched Zuko through the window, calmly sipping his tea as he watched her, concern and affection etched on his face. 'He wouldn't do that. But still, how is he going to take it?' she felt like crying…for the fifth time that day. "There's something I need to tell you," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Zuko set his tea cup down as he watched Katara "What is it?"
Katara lowered her head as she felt the built up tears slip down her cheeks "I'm pregnant."
"What?" Zuko asked in shock as he sat forward.
"I'm pregnant."
Zuko tried to wrap his head around the new information, Katara was pregnant. Katara was pregnant. Katara was pregnant! A smile formed on his face as he stood, a warm feeling forming in the pit of his stomach before exploding, making him feel giddy. Walking towards her he gently grabbed her elbow and turned her around.
"Why are you smiling?" she asked in a teary voice "Aren't you upset?"
Zuko's smile widened "Of course not!" he said as he hugged her tightly "Katara you're pregnant!" Zuko grabbed her face in his hands and wiped the tears away "Why would I be upset? We're going to be parents!"
He kissed all over her face making her laugh "How far along are you?"
Katara sniffed "The healer said about thirteen weeks, it has a healthy heartbeat and all."
Zuko smiled again as he kissed her on the lips, he didn't care if they weren't at that stage, he was too ecstatic to think about what stage they were at. When he pulled away he grabbed her hand and smiled "Let's go tell uncle." He said as he pulled her out of his office and towards his uncles.
Katara's laugh resonated throughout the hallway as Zuko burst into his uncle's office, startling Iroh and the two advisors sitting in front of him.
"Uncle! We have wonderful news!" Zuko said as he pulled Katara in front of him and wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands on her stomach.
"What is it?" Iroh asked as he and the two advisors surveyed the two, smiles on their faces.
Katara smiled as she placed her hands over Zuko's "We're going to have a baby!"
Iroh made an excited noise and quickly walked towards them with his arms open wide. He brought Katara into a hug as Zuko shook hands with the other two men while they congratulated him.
"I'm going to be a granduncle," Iroh told the two advisors excitedly.
"You're going to be a grandfather," Zuko corrected as he hugged the older man. He felt Iroh hug him tighter.
"Congratulations my Lady," the two advisors said as they bowed and took turns kissing her hand.
Katara smiled and bowed, her heart feeling light "Thank you."
Zuko and Katara looked at each other as the three older men talked excitedly. Grabbing her hand, Zuko gave her a genuine smile making her heart leap.
She was suddenly very, very excited to be pregnant.
.0.
News of the pregnancy spread like wild fire. Letter's of congratulations from all over the world flowed in. Even Hakoda, who Zuko feared a reaction from, congratulated him and offered advice on how to handle the emotions of a pregnant waterbender "Being surrounded by them all the time you learn things that definitely need to be passed on," he had wrote. Opening the letter from Sokka, Zuko could help but laugh out loud.
I'm going to kill you.
P.s. Congrats.
Was all it said and he smiled, typical Sokka.
"Did you get a letter from Sokka too?" Katara asked as she walked into the sitting room, tying a cloak around her neck.
Zuko looked at her and nodded, smiling wider as he looked at her slightly swelled stomach that was peeking out from underneath her dress, a warm giddy feeling making its way through his body. "He said he's going to kill me and then he said congrats."
Katara laughed "He asked me how I could let this happen and then he said congrats and to have fun in child birth."
Zuko laughed "Good to know he's not upset."
"Of course he's not upset. He's probably bragging to everyone that he's going to be an uncle," Katara said as she stood near him "Oh I forgot something hold on!" Katara disappeared back into her room as Zuko stuffed Sokka's letter back in the envelope and stood.
He was going with Katara to the flower market today which shocked her, for he never had any interest in going with her before. He told her that he wanted to start connecting with his people more, but in actuality he wanted to be close to her, in case something happened. It's not that he didn't think her personal guard and ladies maids wouldn't protect her, but she was pregnant and it made him nervous when she wasn't in his sight. Zuko even started checking up on her periodically throughout the day which made her scoff and roll her eyes "Honestly Zuko, it's only been a week and you're already starting to freak out. Nothing is going to happen to me," she had said yesterday as she pushed him out the door.
"You'll come and get me if anything happens right?" He asked which made her smile and place a hand on his cheek.
"Nothing is going to happen. But on the off chance that something does happen, you'll be the first to know. Now go," she said as she moved her hand from his cheek to his face and pushed him away "council is going to be in session and you know how grumpy the advisors get when you're late."
Zuko smiled and turned his attention back to Katara, who was humming a tune as she walked out of her room, a basket in her hand "Ready?" she asked and he nodded, a smile coming to his face when she took his hand.
The market place was packed as Zuko watched people barter and trade while Katara looked around one of the numerous flower carts. "What do you think of these?" Katara asked as she studied some green flowers.
"They're flowers." Zuko said lamely, tugging on her hand that still resided in his.
Katara rolled her eyes at him before looking at the flowers again "They're green, I'm not a huge fan of the color green. But this is the last month they'll be in bloom until next summer."
Zuko snorted "Are you really agonizing over flowers?"
Katara looked at him and stuck her tongue out before turning to the vendor that had been watching them with a smile "I'll get them."
As Katara paid, Zuko returned to surveying the market, catching the stares from most of the people around them.
"Katara," he whispered "why are they staring at you?"
Katara didn't look at him as she placed the green flowers in her basket, "They're not staring at me, they're staring at you," she said as she tugged him along.
He made a face "Why?"
"Because they're surprised to see you, maybe if you came here with me more often they wouldn't be."
'Oh I plan on it,' he thought as he looked down at her stomach again, the warm giddy feeling returning.
It felt like hours to Zuko, as Katara dragged him from cart to cart. He didn't understand why she even bothered to buy flowers when every women and child seemed to have been giving her some every step she took.
He watched for the eighth time that day as Katara accepted a bouquet of blue flowers from an elderly woman. A smile was on her face as she placed them in her already overfull basket and thanked the woman.
"We should go back it's going to be chilly soon," he said as he took the heavy basket from her.
Katara looked at him with excited eyes "I know! I'm excited that it's actually going to be below ninety degrees."
Zuko playfully rolled his eyes at her as they made their way back towards the palace. Autumn was quickly making its way in as the leaves began to turn colors and the wind blew harsher with the promise of a cold winter. Zuko inwardly groaned, it wasn't even fall yet and he could already tell it was going to be a really cold winter. It might even be one of those rare winters where snow actually fell, but he was severely hoping it wouldn't be.
When they made it to the palace Katara handed him her cloak "I have a tutoring session with Yao in twenty minutes, will you bring these up to my room please? Kyung and Chae will know what to do with them."
Zuko gritted his teeth at the mention of her Yao's name, he didn't like or trust him. But he wouldn't deny Katara her right to be tutored. Zuko knew it was always one of her dreams to go to university after the war, but now that she was Fire Lady, her position had forbidden her to attend, so if this was her only way then he'd have to grin and bare it.
"I can find you a much better tutor," he said as he took the cloak from her.
"Yao is a perfectly fine tutor," Katara said calmly. "Besides, it would be terribly rude if I told him I didn't want to be tutored by him anymore because my husband is jealous."
"Any self respecting man would understand that," Zuko mumbled.
Katara laughed "I'll be back by eight, I'm craving noodles tonight, have them ready when I come back?"
Zuko nodded as he ran his free hand along her stomach and Katara smiled.
"Thanks," she said and kissed his cheek before walking away. "Oh and regular noodles this time, the spicy ones made me nauseous," he heard her call before disappearing down another hallway.
.0.
"Hey Katara," Yao said as she made her way towards the library table he was sitting at.
Katara smiled and sat down "Hey! How's it going?"
"It's going well. How's it going with you? How's the baby? Has it started to kick?" Yao asked as he opened the travel thermos and poured her tea.
Katara laughed "I'm doing well, the baby is fine, and no not yet, the healer said I should start to feel kicking anywhere between sixteen and twenty five weeks. Seeing as this is my first pregnancy he said it will probably be more towards twenty five."
Yao smiled as he handed her a cup of tea "That's very exciting."
Katara nodded as she sipped her tea "I'm excited."
Yao laughed as he opened a text book "So what do you remember from our last session?"
Katara yawned as she made her way out of the library, waving to Yao as he retreated out of the palace.
She turned forward and saw her personal guard Shin walking towards her "Good evening, Shin."
"My Lady," Shin said as he bowed. "The Fire Lord has requested that I escort you back to your room."
Katara rolled her eyes as her anger spiked "He's ridiculous," she said, fuming as they silently walked back to her room.
When they arrived, she gently wished Shin goodnight before opening the door and slamming it, startling Zuko who was reading a book in the sitting room.
"Oh," he said as he sat up "you're back."
"I don't need to be baby sat Zuko! I can make my way to my room by myself." She yelled as she crossed her arms.
Zuko sat the book down and walked towards her "I know," he said cautiously "I didn't send Shin to babysit you."
"Then why send him at all?"
"I just want to make sure you're safe. If something were to happen to you I'd be devastated and not just because you're pregnant with my child," he said earnestly making Katara's face soften and tears come to her eyes.
"Oh spirits," she whispered "I'm such a bitch aren't I?"
Zuko knew not to laugh when she was having a mood swing, a word of advice from Hakoda, so he just brought her into a hug "No you aren't."
Katara squeezed him and buried her face in his chest.
"Come on," he said gently "go take a bath and relax, I'll go get you're noodles."
Twenty minutes later her mood swing had passed and she was happily humming in satisfaction as she slurped her noodles as Zuko messaged her ankles.
"I'm only fourteen weeks and I already gained seven pounds and have swollen ankles. Soon my shoes won't be able to fit and I'll look like a whale-seal."
Zuko smiled and put her ankle down "And you'll still be beautiful."
Katara smiled at him "That was cheesy."
"But it made you smile," Zuko said with a grin.
Katara laughed as she put the bowl on her night table and laid back, feeling Zuko's eyes on her.
Does it move?" He asked her gently.
Katara looked at him and nodded "It doesn't kick yet, but it does move."
"Can you feel it?" Zuko asked as he climbed up next to her.
"Sometimes."
Zuko placed a hand over her stomach where their child grew "What does it feel like?"
"Like I have butterflies in my stomach."
He diminished the fire sconces in the room before laying his head on the upper flatter part of her stomach, his hand still resting on her baby bump "I'm excited," he whispered.
Katara ran her fingers through his hair, a smile on her face as she closed her eyes "Me too," she whispered before sleep overcame her, contentment radiating throughout her body.
.0.
Katara roused from sleep as she felt Zuko's warm hand linger on her stomach as he sat on the edge of her bed "Good morning," he whispered. Katara opened her eyes and looked out the window, the sky was still a light purple, indicating that the sun was not even over the horizon yet.
"It's still early," she whispered back as she looked at him. His hair was sticking up on one side and his good eye was still hooded with sleep.
Zuko rubbed a hand across her cheek "I have meetings all day, starting at seven."
Katara hummed as she closed her eyes, sleep still clinging to her "I should get up, I have to put the crown in your hair."
"Don't worry about it," Zuko whispered "go back to sleep."
Katara gave him a grateful smile as she felt him stand from the bed. "I'll see you two at lunch," he whispered before kissing her cheek.
Katara smiled again "We'll see you at lunch," she whispered back and heard her door close gently.
Katara hummed as she walked down the hallway, a vase of red fire lilies in her hands. "Good morning," she said to the guards she passed.
"My Lady," they said in unison as they bowed their heads.
A sharp pain in her stomach made her gasp and stop, the guards rushing over to her. "Are you alright, my Lady?"
She nodded as the pain subsided "I'm alright, it's just the joys of being pregnant," she said as she breathed in deeply. The guards looked at her warily before she nodded again "Really, I'm alright." The guards looked at her one more time before returning to their posts.
Katara gave them one last smile before continuing to her destination. She'd been having these pains for the past three days. It worried her, but there was no blood and every morning she checked for a heartbeat and every morning it was there, strong as ever. She decided that if it happened again tomorrow she would visit the healer.
She smiled when the guards announced her presences and opened the doors. "Good morning, uncle," she said as she walked into the room.
Iroh smiled at her "Good morning, niece. How are you and my grandchild?"
"We're both great. I made you a flower arrangement and thought I'd hand deliver it," she said as she held the vase up.
Suddenly everything became silent and Katara stopped walking. She watched in confusion as she saw Iroh's mouth move before concern washed over his face.
Katara dropped the vase of flowers as the sharp pain in her stomach returned; only this time it didn't fade away.
She felt herself fall to the floor as Iroh ran over to her.
The last thing she saw was Iroh screaming for the guards and looking down at her in worry before her world turned black.
It is confirmed that Korra is going to be an extra 26 episodes after the 14 that will premier in 2013. Making it 52 episodes total! I'm trying to contain my excitement, but it isn't going so well.
I battled with myself about this chapters ending for days and I'm still battling with myself about the next chapter.
Do you guys still love me enough to review? If not you should review anyway, because I love and appreciate your reviews so much, it always brings a smile to my face.
I love you allllll
Until next time!