Chapter Thirteen: Our Dreams Could Shatter In A Heartbeat
Katara sat on the balcony of their home; her hand was on her stomach. She wanted another child so badly. She loved having children. As much as she wished to not have had such a big family, she was quite glad she did. The Fire Nation had not attacked yet. She was worried that they had something big in plan for her people. Her wonderous people who loved peace. They only fought to protect themselves.
"Katara? Love, what are you doing out here so late at night? It has to be nearing midnight. And it is freezing!" Aang came through the sheer, misty blue curtains that blew in the soft, southern breeze. Katara looked up at her handsome husband with a smile on her face, and she held her hand out to him. He took it and quickly sat on the bench next to her, wrapping his arms about her to keep her small frame warm.
"I came out here to think. I'm not tired," she muttered.
"Katara, it is cold out here. You aren't even wearing your parka..." Aang was getting worried. His voice cracked a bit as he spoke. Katara was never like this.
"I was thinking...I want another baby."
Aang looked at his wife, at first thinking she was crazy. But then again, she was right. Of course she was right. She was his Katara. His Katara was always right. Kissing her softly on the neck, he nodded. Katara smiled at him, wrapping her own arms about his neck, giving a laugh. She wanted a baby boy; someone to grow up just like Aang and be as carefree as he was as a twelve-year-old.
"We can try..." Aang muttered, giving her a kiss on the lips now.
"Of course we can try. We always tried new things," she whispered low.
"This isn't necessarily new, but it has been twelve years..."
"Twelve long years..." Katara giggled, then saw a figure moving in their room. "Sora, dear, what do you need?"
Sora's head turned, and she entered the balcony. She was wrapped in a large, fuzzy orange blanket. She walked over to her parents, and Aang lifted her up on his lap. Katara smoothed out her dark black hair. She was a vision of young beauty. All of their daughters were.
"I couldn't sleep. I'm so afraid the Fire Nation will attack in the middle of the night and kill everyone, except me."
Aang froze. He remembered Katara saying that the night before the Day of Black Sun. She had been so frightened; she had been shaking from head to toe, and stayed in the tent the two were sharing. Her hair had been short, right below her earlobes, so no one would recognize her. She wore a red suit similar to Princess Azula's, only minus the armor. That was when Aang had tried to tell her that he loved her.
"Don't think that, Sora! Don't ever think that we'd let everyone in our village die. These are our people, sweetie," Katara hugged her daughter tightly, taking her from Aang's lap. He watched as his wife comforted their youngest child. "You know, I thought that once, and I was wrong. I was the one near death. But your father saved me. That's when I realized how much I loved him, you know that, right? Our love for one another goes into you girls; we wouldn't ever let you die. Nor would we let our people die."
"I know, mommy, but with the Fire Nation out there - just waiting to attack..." huge tears began to well up in the young girl's gray eyes. Katara pulled her into the tightest embrace, holding back her tears.
"Come on, now. I'll sing you to sleep."
Katara set her down and walked with her back to her room. Aang stayed behind for a few seconds, then got up and followed. He loved hearing his wife's voice. It was so smooth; so majestic. She was a vision of beauty, and she was a beautiful singer. As they entered Sora's room, she climbed into her bed, and Katara tucked her in.
"My baby girl, don't you cry.
We are all here, to live and die.
But I will forever, be with you.
No matter what, I try to do.
For we are all, the same inside.
No matter how, you decide.
I'm your mother, you're my daughter.
And I will always, always, protect you..."
Katara continously sung that over and over, her hand smoothing over Sora's hair. Aang stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders. She looked up after Sora's breathing slowed into a peaceful sleep, and stood up as well. Aang wrapped his arms around her shoulders and brought her back into their room, where they 'discussed' having another child.