Chapter 12: Things found out and told

Sokka's POV

I kneel down next to the prince. He was resting on his side, his eyes closed. I turn him over so I could pick him up bridal style. When I slip my hands under his legs I feel something wet. I pull out my hand to look at it, a dark red liquid spotted parts of my palm. "What happened…?" I whisper to myself, as I pick up the prince. He was pretty heavy and I must say I'm not the strongest. It seemed to take me forever to carry Zuko home. I knock at the door using my foot, hoping the old man inside would hear.

The door squeaked open and Zuko's Uncle was on the other end rubbing his eyes. When he took a good look at me he panicked. "What happened? What is wrong with Zuko?" He asks me.

"I don't know, I found him like this." I explain, the old general then guides me to a bed where I could lay the prince down.

"He's bleeding too.." I tell Iroh. The old man nods and sets to find out exactly where his nephew is bleeding from. I leave the room once I see that he has to take Zuko's pants off to get to the wound. I'm told to bring water into the room once Iroh noticed me leaving. I do so, but try not to look at Zuko on the bed. Once I've set the bucket of water down I leave the room again. I hear whispers begging the prince to wake up. After about fifteen minutes of this a groan echoes throughout the little house.

"….Uncle?" Came the soft voice of Zuko. I smile to myself happy to hear the prince is all right, or at least conscious.

"Try not to move Zuko," there was obvious relief in the old mans voice.

"The baby!" Zuko bursts out.

"What about it?"

"Is it still with me? Did…did I lose it?"

"No…but you almost did. Zuko, what happened?'

"Almost did? How do I almost have a miscarriage? Tell me the truth Uncle!"

"Shhh, Zuko, calm down. Relax, or you will lose the child." What are they talking about? Babies? Miscarriages? Why would they be concerned about these things? I continue to listen to the conversation between the two. "You were very close to losing your baby. I don't think your body ever expected you to really get pregnant. Your muscle is weak and at any sign of stress your womb will literary drop the baby."

"What…what do you mean 'drop it'?"

"Like I said your womb isn't strong, because I doubt your body expected you to get pregnant. If the muscle relaxes too much, the egg—your baby will slip out. Causing a miscarriage."

Zuko lets out a relieved sigh. "So I'm still caring it? I didn't lose it?"

"No, but that doesn't mean you won't later on." Iroh explains in a somber tone. I try to figure out exactly what I just over heard means. Is…is Zuko pregnant? But how? I think I would have noticed if he had boobs, and was really a girl. But he looks like a guy to me. I don't get anymore time to think about this as someone touches my shoulder. I jump and let out a little 'yelp'. When I look up a see the cheerful face of Iroh. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Thank you for helping my nephew, you are welcome to spend the night. After all it is quite late."

"Thanks, I'll take you up on that." I say. Honestly I didn't want to walk the streets this late. I had ignored the weird murderous scary people on the way here, but I lost my bravery once I reached this house. Iroh goes to get me some blankets and pillows, I'm put into the same room as Zuko. The prince didn't notice me, but was staring at the ceiling instead. I slip under my blanket and turn my back to him. But I had the urge to face him. He was still wide awake so I couldn't, it was so quiet it really bothered me. I shift uncomfortable under my sheet.

"How'd you find me?" Came Zuko's voice out of the dark. I turn to face him, after all it's only polite right?

"I don't really know. I just had a nightmare and ran out of my house to be honest." I laugh nervously. I could hear Zuko let out a sigh, his eyes drift closed. He turns his back to me and soon enough I could hear the deep breaths of sleep. I stare at him, thinking back on the conversation he and his uncle had. What does it all mean? Could Zuko be pregnant, at least that's what it sounded like. I think back to the dream that had made me leave my house to find the prince on the street. There was a baby in that dream. I also remember the other dreams I've had with Yue and a baby in it. How I never saw the baby's face and how Yue always told me someone needed my help. Was it the baby that needed me? Was it Zuko's baby? Or am I still dreaming? 'Cause I'm pretty sure Zuko doesn't have any boobs and unless he's a very masculine woman, I don't see how any of this is possible.

Zuko's POV

I sleep a dreamless sleep. I needed the rest bad, my body utterly exhausted. I was happy to hear that I hadn't lost the baby. But then again I ask myself, if I really would have cared if I did have a miscarriage. I mean it's Jet's child, I didn't plan on having it. Hell, I didn't even know I could. But a part of me was happy and relieved that I was still with child. Another part was still in a little panic, after all I was unable to firebend for a while. I hadn't asked Uncle about it, but I wonder if there was a good explanation for it as well.

I hear chirping and a light was shining against my eyelids. Slowly I open my eyes. The sound of rustling bed sheets echo throughout my room. I sit up in my bed, feeling a little dizzy. I watch Sokka as he folds up the sheets he was sleeping in on the floor. The water tribe boy gets up and then only notices that I was awake.

"Oh, good morning Zuko." He smiles at me. I ignore him and just turn to look out the window. Sokka leaves the room to go put away the linen.

I sit for what seems like a long time in the room by myself. A strange sensation of loneliness came over me. I try to push this feeling away by distracting myself with other thoughts. I put my hand on my stomach…how long has it been? How many weeks since this child was conceived? It's hard to tell since I've slept with Jet more then once. But if it was conceived on the very first night I was with him, then I'd say it's about three to four months along. Three months in Ba Sing Se…how many more moths will I spend here? Or should I ask how many more years?

"Zuko." I turn to the person who called my voice. It was Sokka, he had a wary smile on his face, as he walk towards me. "So you feel ok?" I nod my head, the loneliness deepening inside of me. Maybe because I know he's leaving…but why would I care? Then the strangest thing happened. A tanned hand ran through my hair, as Sokka smiled at me. I look at him with amazement. Such affection I've never gotten from anyone other then Uncle or…mother.

"Well…um I'll come see you tomorrow. I mean if you want me too. If you don't want me too I won't come, I don't want to bother you or anything." The boy babbled on and while he was catching his breath to start another sentence I stop him

"I…if you want to come over tomorrow, I could care less. Just shut up, you stopped making sense a long time ago." I say rudely, the water tribe boy nods and walks out my bedroom door. Soon the sound of the front door closing is heard.

The lonely feeling creeps up on me again, and I don't quite understand why it's there. Uncle then steps into my room, and sits on the edge of my bed.

"Did you tell him?" He asks me, I look at him confused. "I think he overheard our conversation last night, did you tell him about the baby.

"He's not the father so there's no need to tell him." I explain. I knew my Uncle thought that Sokka was the father.

"Really, I just assumed since he was so interested in you. So who is the father?"

"The boy I met on the boat on the way here…" I mumble.

"Have you told him?" I nod my head. "How did he respond?"

"It doesn't really matter uncle, it was only about the sex. The child is my responsibility alone." I hiss out, not really wanting to talk about this. Uncle drops the subject and gets up from the bed.

"Well I have to go to the tea shop."

"I'll come with you." I say getting out of my bed.

"Zuko, you should really rest." I ignore him and head to my closet to pick out cloths for the day. "Zuko..."

"I just don't want to sit here and do nothing. Uncle I'm fine, I promise. Serving some tea isn't going to kill me or the baby." I explain. My uncle doesn't argue and leaves me alone to change. Once I'm done we both head to the small tea shop we work at. I rest my hand on my stomach as we walk. It's very noticeable now that I've gained weight. My stomach curving out slightly, my stomachs not as flat as it used to be.

I put on my apron once I enter the back room to our place of employment. It was actually relaxing to serve tea. Today it wasn't too busy, but we had a nice amount of business. It was all fine until later on in the evening. That's when Jet walked in, I would have never though I'd see him again so soon. The sight of him infuriated me. I put down the cup of tea I was carrying to a customer and without fear walked up to the Earth Nation boy.

"What do you want?" I whisper harshly. He smirks at me.

"Pregnant or not you're still a firebender and a threat to these people." He tells me and then steps away from me. I glare at him as he points a finger at me and announces for all the customers to hear.

"These two men are firbenders."

A/n: Dum dum dum, well actually this chapter is just pretty much following the show. But still, tune in next time, to see how Zuko handles this. And the baby falling out of the womb because the muscle is to weak to hold it is true. My mom almost lost my older brother that way.