Unwanted Treasure

By: Sailorjj07

12. The Eighth Month

A/n: Alright yall. This chappy is PROBABLY gonna make you sad. Episode 20 gave me lots to work with, so this fic will be over soon, since Katara's pregnancy is practically over. Please remember, that this fic occurs in month spans, so you have to think of how long everyone is spending time together. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS REVIEWED! I appreciate your love!

Disclaimer: I do not own!

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Actions

(Me!)

Zuko's an idiot. He won't let me go! I want to freaking go with him and he won't let me go!

"Katara, it's too dangerous! Think of the baby!" Zuko yelled, glaring at me from the other side of the room.

"I AM thinking of the baby! If you go alone, the baby won't have a father! Can YOU deal with that?" I accused, my own eyes narrowing at him.

Aang still hadn't came back and we couldn't wait anymore. We had to move or the war would never end. With or without Aang, we had to do something.

So we had planned to split up. Sokka, Suki and Toph were going to stop the Fire Nation navy. All of our Masters were going to take back Ba Sing Se from Fire Nation rule. Zuko, Appa and I were going to take on Azula.

But Zuko refused to let me go.

"I'd rather be dead, than my heir be dead!" Zuko yelled back. I wanted to slap him. Didn't he care about how I felt? I wanted to be there! I needed to be there!

"You need me! You can take your sister on alone."

"Katara, it's dangerous! Don't you understand that?!"

"Of course! But TOGETHER we can take her down, Zuko! I won't even be close enough for her to hurt me, I promise!"

"That doesn't mean Azula won't try! Don't you understand, Katara? She'll kill you first." Zuko's golden eyes were hard to look away from. He looked so sad; he really didn't want me to go.

I stepped over to him and grabbed hold of his hand. I implored him with my eyes, hoping he would break and agree to it: "Zuko, you've just let me in. Please don't push me out. Don't push me away. Let me be there with you, BESIDE you. I want to fight for a better future for our baby...I have to be there."

Zuko sighed. It was a deep, heavy sigh and I could tell he didn't want to give in. But he had to. I wouldn't let him leave to fight his sister without me.

"Fine. You must stay behind me at all times. We'll use EVERY precaution to keep you away from my sister. Katara...I want to protect you. And I promise I will." Zuko's eyes were sad, but he was determined. We had to do what we could with or without Aang.

An Hour Later

We were getting closer and closer to the Fire Nation. I could see the palace in the distance.

"Hey Katara," Zuko murmured from the front of Appa. I looked up from my knitting, which I hadn't done in a very long time. I used to hate it, because I felt like it was too girly. But now, I was happy for it. It relaxed me a lot.

"Yes?"

"I want you to know that...Well, no matter what...I..." Zuko cut himself off and I could hear the frustration in his voice. What was he trying to say?

"You?"

"I....Never mind."

We were quiet as we got closer and closer to what could possibly be the last time we spoke to one another.

"Zuko..."

I focused my eyes on his back, putting the knitting down in my lap. I had to tell him this, "Zuko, I love you...I never thought I would but...I do. Just promise me...Promise me, you'll answer me when all of this is over."

Zuko turned around and I stared into the golden eyes that I used to hate. His eyes were clouded as he looked at me, but I could see something rare behind them...Joy. He was happy.

"You have my word, Katara."

And then we were silent as Appa flew into the Fire Nation capital. It was vaguely empty, even from my position in the basket. I could see the crown raised above Azula's head and knew we had crashed her coronation.

Wonderful.

"I now crown you-! Oh!"

"Sorry to interrupt, but you're not going to become Fire Lord today." Zuko cried, jumping off of Appa. Azula glared at him, but laughed in his face anyway.

"Ha, that's a laugh. Who's going to stop me?"

"I am." Zuko replied, and his voice was deadly serious.

"You're hilarious."

I hopped off as easily as I could manage. I'm still agile for a pregnant girl, you know.

"And you're going down."

"Says the fat pregnant girl who can barely walk. Zuko, why'd you bring her here? Do you want your baby to die?"

"Shut up!" I cried, before Zuko could open his mouth to say anything. He stared at me, a slightly surprised look on his face, "My baby is going to help me fight you. So get ready to taste the power of your niece or nephew, Azula." To add insult to injury, I patted my stomach, "Say hello to your Auntie, little one."

Zuko gave a soft snicker, before he turned back to watch his sister. The man behind her slowly began to place the crown on her head, but Azula held her hand up.

"Wait! You want to be Fire Lord? How about we settle this, just you and me? I challenge you to an Agni Kai!"

I glared at her for her stupidity. Surely Zuko would never agree to-!

"You're on."

'WHAT?!'

I turned to look at Zuko, completely surprised. Did he want to die?! I could see the faint smirk forming on Azula's face.

"What're you doing?" I whispered fiercely. This was NOT the plan. "She's baiting you. She knows she can't take us both so she's trying to separate us."

"I know. I can take her this time."

"Even you admitted you needed help taking her down, Zuko. What's so different this time?"

"Somethings wrong. I can feel her slipping." Zuko's golden depths were calculating as he watched his sister and I couldn't stop the panic flooding in my heart. Just because she was slipping didn't mean he could win. That only meant he had a better chance.

"And this way...I can keep you and the baby safe. Katara, I can't..." Zuko turned to look at me, directly in the eyes, "I can't lose you. Not yet. With or without the baby, I need you...I really, truly need you."

I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. This was not the time. He had promised that he would wait. He gave his word! Now, what would he live through this fight for? ...Stupid Zuko.

A faint smirk crossed Zuko's face, "Don't worry. That wasn't your answer. I still have a promise to keep."

I released the breath I hadn't known I was holding. I'll say it again...Stupid Zuko.

"Well, now that that lovely heartfelt confession is over, let's move along. Please, Zuko, follow me. And bring that fat girl with you." Azula lead us into what appeared to be a huge courtyard. As she made her way across the dirt, Zuko stopped me at the entrance.

"Katara, you stay here. This is my fight."

"But Zuko-!"

"Katara." His voice left no argument. He was extremely serious. I nodded and planted my feet where I was, rooted to the spot. I would stay where I was, even if it killed me.

"Thank you." He whispered and then he made his way bravely across the court. I watched in fascination as he and his sister began their battle, blue and orange flames swirling and colliding with one another.

It was like a fireworks display, except it was much more deadly.

"What no lightning today?!" Zuko cried, across the field at his sister.

She gave him a crazed look, then mixed it with a glare, "You want lightning? I'll show you lightning!"

Azula began to charge up her energy and then the lightning began to crackle and pop all around her. She aimed and fired, but as she shot I realized her aim was off.

Where was she aiming at?

I watched on, but then I realized that the blast went completely past Zuko and further back.

SHE WAS AIMING AT ME!

"NO!" Zuko cried, and I closed my eyes to wait for the lightning to hit me.

But it never came.

Instead, I watched as Zuko's body became motionless in the air in front of me. He sank to the ground like a rock, groaning loudly.

"ZUKO!" He had taken the hit for me. Zuko had gotten in front of his sister's lightening blast and took the shot. For me! "NO!"

I tried to get over to him as fast as I could. If I got to Zuko, I could heal him; I could help him get back up and finish his Agni Kai.

But she fired at me first. I dodged, moving as fast as my bulking belly would allow me. It was hard, but I wouldn't die. I refused!

"YOU BITCH!" I cried, kneeling to dodge another blast of blue fire. I could see Zuko struggling to get up, but he couldn't get to me.

I was on my own.

I dipped and dodged out of the way of the flames as best I could. I ran past a fountain, diving behind a pillar as blue flames blasted at my back. Luckily, the pillar saved me.

But I still felt pain. A shot of pain rippled through my body from my stomach, and I leaned over, breathing deeply.

"Aw Zu-Zu, you don't look so good! You're gonna let your fat whore fight for you?"

I glared and skated on ice out of my hiding place. Azula threw flames at me, but I was faster, skating along to another set of pillars. A blast sent me flying and I rolled, landing on my knee thankfully. I was gasping for breath...this was too much to do with a nearly ready baby in my belly.

I looked around me for something — anything — that would help. And then I saw it...A sewage system! And there was a chain too!

I hid and waited...Azula would find me soon enough. Another stab of pain racked through my body and I wondered if I had gotten hit. I didn't remember it...

But I had other things to focus on. Azula had found me: "There you are, you filthy peasant!"

I stood still, acting as if I was surprised to be caught. She stalked over to me, her crazed expression still on her face. Just as she moved to bend a blast at me, I glared and did my own bending. I shot the entire cage of water up and made it into one huge glob.

Azula stared at me wide eyed as she remained frozen to one spot. I heaved a sigh of air and began to move around in the stand still glob of water. I moved my body and chained Azula up, wrapping her wrists.

As soon as I had the chains secured, I dropped all the water down, gasping for breath. Azula struggled to get free, but I didn't have time to worry about her. Nearly skidding on my knees, I ran over to Zuko; I had to help him as soon as possible!

My hand was covered in healing water as soon as I reached him. He groaned like he was fighting for his life on the inside. I was so tired...but Zuko had to be saved.

"K-Katara..." He murmured, and I ignored him, focusing on my work. My stomach was hurting, a lot. I bit my bottom lip to keep from crying out, but it was hard.

I had to wake Zuko up first.

As another ebb of pain racked through me, Zuko's eyes shot open and he began to cough, before he took my hand. I helped him stand up, and together we watched Azula scream and sob like the child she was.

But then the pain began again and this time I cried out.

"Katara! Are you ok?"

"I...I'm f-fin-" I couldn't even get it out. The pain kept coming now, and I could tell it wasn't going to stop. I fell to my knees, while Azula screamed and cried behind us.

"Katara!"

It wasn't going to stop. I screamed at the top of my lungs as the pain hit me full force and then it stopped. I collapsed on the ground, and my pain began again.

I felt wet between my legs and started to panic. The baby wasn't due for another month! I couldn't have my baby here! Not now!

"Katara! Katara!"

"Zuko...I-It's-! AHHHHH!! It's time! Oh Goddess, it's time!!" I cried from my position on my back. I was holding my stomach and I couldn't stop screaming.

Then the liquid began to pool around me and I knew it. My water had broken!

"Katara! Katara, stay with me!" Zuko began to look frantically around us, as I screamed again and tried to open my eyes.

It wasn't working.

Suddenly, Azula and Zuko got quiet. I screamed again in the silence, and forced my eyes to open. A person was coming closer, with long, jet black hair and a red robe.

"Hey, you there! Go get a doctor! We need to get her to a midwife right away!" Zuko cried, but the person continued to walk in our direction.

"...No. I won't." The voice was definitely female and slowly it got closer to us. I groaned and began to practice my breathing, like Sonatia had taught me.

"M-Mai?!" Both Azula and Zuko said at the same time. She smirked at us and I screamed yet again, glaring at the bitch who I knew wanted to kill me.

I could see it in her entire demeanor as soon as she walked over. She held a dagger in her hand, and was steadily walking closer to me. I forced myself up on one knee and stood up. I was shaking from the effort it was taking.

"I hope you die giving birth," Mai spat out at me and I glared at her, getting ready to bend. But suddenly my legs gave out and I fell down on one knee, biting down on my lip.

"Mai, you can't! Don't do it!" Zuko cried. He looked panicked but he made no motion to move.

"If she's not here, you'll love me! If that baby isn't born, I can get you back!" Mai twirled the dagger in her hand and got closer to me.

I breathed deeply and bent water around me, building a wall of ice. One dagger got stuck in the wall, but she whipped out five more, though they missed. She really was trying to kill me.

I kept with my slow breathing, pacing myself. I could beat her. She's nothing compared to Azula.

"I'll kill you," I whispered, with my voice dangerously low. I could feel an unknown power surge through me. I had no idea where it was coming from but it was enough. I stood up, still breathing as slowly and deeply as I could.

Zuko was frozen to his spot and even Azula was staring at me. Mai's eyes widened in shock, but then she sneered, daring me to try.

And I meant what I said. She would NOT hurt me or my baby. I was a Master Waterbender. I'd show Mai what I was made of.

Especially since Zuko made no motion to move.

I began to move my hands, bending the water around me. I had ice spikes in an instant and I was going to use them. "Now, die!"

The spikes flew amazingly fast, and Mai dodged four of them, before she got hit by three. They lodged themselves into her arms, and I kept slamming spikes at her, not caring how bloody she was becoming.

She threw daggers at me and I swiped them away with a wave of water. Glaring at her, I slammed wave after wave into her and then I bent a blob around her. Much like I had done Azula, I bent the blob around her until she started to choke, watching as she tried to claw her way out of the water.

"Katara, no! Don't kill her! She's going to suffocate! Stop!" Zuko finally moved to grasp at me, and shake me out of my anger.

Her eyes were rolling to the back of her head when I let her go. She sank to the floor in a heap and I watched in satisfaction. Damn Zuko for stopping me. I could've killed her.

"Get off of me!" I screamed, still trying to keep my breathing low. The pain was bearing into me, threatening to pull me under. I fought it as hard as I could, while pushing Zuko away, "I hate you! You didn't do anything!"

"K-Katara, I-!" Zuko cried, though he didn't move at all. And why would he? What I said was true.

"Get away from me!" I started walking. It was slow moving but I did it. I knew I couldn't skate on ice as I had done before but I could get away. I walked slowly away, with Zuko staring after me. But soon, I couldn't even see where I was going anymore.

Zuko was screaming my name loudly as everything went black.

End Chapter 12