14

Stress

Zuko discovers Katara haggard and with lack of sleep after his voyage to Ba Sing Se. He hasn't anticipated Katara subsequently worn out. But reasonable, without Zuko's help, managing baby Zvi must have been challenging.

"Katara," he says the moment he spots her. He hastens to kneel by her side, where Zvi is snoozing in her arms. "I'm sorry for being away for so long. Why didn't you get help?"

She merely glares at him. Positioning Zvi on the bed, she fiercely says, "This is my baby." Katara marches into the bathroom and empties the water basin by flicking her hand. She had bathed Zvi. "I am caring for him, without anyone's help."

Zuko understands. Independent Katara evidently would insist on working alone. It's how the Water Tribe children were raised – by their parents. When Zuko was a child, he was brought up by his mother. The longing for Fire Lord Ozai ached.

Zuko should have known better than to instruct servants to aid his wife in his absence.

Kneeling down, he tenderly runs his fingers along the angry lines creasing her face. At a young age, she shouldn't look like this. "Go to sleep," he urges. "While Zvi is sleeping."

She considers this, but as she's about to nod, Zvi wails. Even from this distance, Zuko hears his son thrashing about in the sheets. "Mama! Mama!" Zvi sniffles in the next room.

Katara sighs, brushing her tangled hair over her ears. Her shoulders droop. "It hasn't even been an hour," she says irritably.

It almost seems as if her whole body collapses. He can't begin to imagine the stress she's experiencing. There are nights with two hours of sleep. She spends spare hours training, working to get back into shape. Then she washes and cleans and attempts work a Fire Lord's wife should not do.

But Zuko loves her too much to stop her.

As she stands, he places a hand on her shoulder. She tries brushing it aside, but he holds his grip. "Katara," he starts. He directly looks her in the eye, giving her that pleading expression. "Go to sleep. Please."

Katara hesitates, but she eventually gives in. She requires the sleep to feel like herself once more. He sees that she hasn't in a long time.

"Feed Zvi," she instructs, handling him a warm bottle of milk. Katara relaxes with a smile. "Then pat him until he burps."

This is his first time caring for Zvi without Katara. Everything that Zuko does, Katara criticizes him. He laughs and then nods. It will be a new experience. It's father-son bonding time.

Zuko leads Katara to the bed. Then he turns to lean over the crib, ruffling his son's spiky hair. "Hey, Zvi," he gently greets.

Zvi breaks out into a smile and says, "Father!"

"Shh, shh," Zuko says. He carefully picks Zvi up, like Katara has taught him too. Raising the bottle of milk to Zvi's lips, he says, "Let's not disturb Mama now."

He glances back to see her fast asleep amongst the covers, already lightly snoring.