No, I swear this has nothing to do with Zutara Week '09 Blood although it very well could if I wanted to I suppose.
I know the last couple chapters have been a bit on the fluffy side so this one should change that a bit since it is supposed to be a drama. And there's no bitchy Katara.
Ch 20: Blood
"So I'll see you tonight then?" Katara didn't even glance up from squatting down in front of their daughter as she checked and double checked that Aani's parka was on tight before hefting herself back to a standing position. Her belly was large now as it was when she was full term with Aani and there was still another month and half to go. At least she didn't allow it to bother her as much as it had during their first pregnancy. In fact she enjoyed being pregnant, even with those crazy mood swings, she loved feeling the life that she and Zuko made move inside her. Even Zuko admitted to her one night as he rubbed the seaweed lotion on her belly that he loved her pregnant.
Aani hated the parka since her body ran a bit warmer than her mother's, but she had no control over it. Starting to scrunch up her face to throw her tantrum about the matter, Zuko picked her up and loosened the ties and took off the hood giving the much needed cool air she wanted. Beaming at her dad in appreciation, Zuko smiled, lightly tapping her nose, "Be good for mom, okay?" Aani nodded and hugged him. Katara wrinkled her nose
Katara was off to training the young women at the healing center and was dropping Aani off at Yuki's. The men would be leaving for a seal hunt in about an hour. The seals were so plentiful right now that it shouldn't take hardly any time to fill the quota. Sokka was eager to go since he hadn't been on a hunt since he was nine-years-old, so actually woke up early to meet them. The couple watched as he and Toph made their way slowly towards their house.
"Hey I don't want to see that!" Katara jokingly called out to the newlyweds when they stopped to kiss.
Toph just stuck out her tongue in the direction of her voice.
The day went on fairly uneventfully. Toph had come with Katara to the healing center and listened intently at the women. She even offered to show off her ability to "read" people from their vibrations, much to the tribeswomen's' amusement. Then they went to Yuki's so the kids could play together and pick up some new baby clothes Yuki had made. After sewing Toph's wedding blanket, Katara stopped her sewing projects. She didn't want to tempt fate more than she had.
The men set up camp about five miles out from the village and in groups of fours, made their way to the air holes in the ice to begin the hunts. Sokka was practically hopping in excitement as they approached their air hole. Zuko held back his laughter as did Ranku. Setting up the blind, they didn't have to wait long before the first head popped through. Sokka got his first kill. Hunting was in his blood and where Zuko had been disgusted, Sokka felt great pride. The day progressed and as they expected, it didn't take long at all before there was a good size haul of seal carcasses. As they were packing up the sleds though, the wind picked up and with it snow. A blizzard was coming and fast.
Knowing there wasn't time to get back to the village, the men quickly built shelter thanks to the water bender in the group, a fire was started thanks to the firebender, and meat was sliced and cooked thanks to Sokka.
They all hoped it wouldn't last long. All were eager to get back to their families, especially Zuko. As night fell, he got a sudden feeling that something was wrong. Something terribly, horribly wrong. Sleep did not come easy to him and as morning came the uneasy feeling did not stop. He felt this sudden urge to get home and probably would have if the other men hadn't stopped him. "What good would you be as a firebending icicle?" Begrudgingly he agreed, but he kept to himself despite the other men's attempts to calm him especially Sokka's attempts, well except the polar bear dog that sensed Zuko's emotions and did not leave his side. Zuko almost appreciated the furry companion nestled next to him.
For three days the men and the dogs were stuck in the little shelter with the carcasses that they managed to bury to keep frozen so they wouldn't rot. Thankfully the carcasses they had fed them all as they waited out the storm. Mid-morning on the fourth day, the blizzard was over. Packing up their things and unburying the seals, they headed home.
As much as he hoped that uneasy feeling was unjustified, it slowly increased as they made their way home.
***********
Toph stayed with Katara and Aani. As they sat eating dinner, she observed that there was one less person there. "Where's Iroh?"
Katara snickered as she wiped soup from Aani's mouth before the little girl could run away laughing. "Over at Nivi's."
"Sheesh. He's been there like every night since the whaling celebration thing," Toph observed. "Why doesn't he just move in with her and call it good?"
Katara looked at Toph oddly, "That seems kind of silly since he's leaving with you guys when you all leave."
"Didn't he tell you? He's planning on staying. I would think he would have at least let Sparky know."
Aani went to Toph, patted her shoulder, "Oo pa-ee?"
"Huh?"
"She wants to know who Sparky is," Katara translated, cleaning out the bowls from the night's dinner. Toph nodded and reaching in the air for the little girl pulled her into her lap, "That's what I call your dad. Just like I call your mom Sugar Queen."
Aani laughed. That was a funny name. She tried to say Sugar Queen and it came out all funny making everyone laugh at her attempt.
Katara finished cleaning and sat down next to Toph while Aani raced around them then played with the drum she had gotten from the elders, then the spinner thing while the two grown-ups talked. Aani started getting tired and began rubbing her eyes. Looking to her mom she crawled over to her and sat in the ever shrinking space that made up her lap. Trying to get comfortable, Aani finally nestled in the soft warmth of her body and fell soundly asleep.
"So you guys are leaving soon?" Katara asked, kissing the top of her daughter's head as she ran her hand over the black hair.
"Sokka's waiting till you pop those ones out so he can meet his new batch of nieces or nephews or whatevers. Then it's back to work for us." Toph almost had a hint of sadness at this.
"What is it you guys are doing exactly? I know you guys are plotting something but what?"
"I can't say because I don't even fully understand it. I know Iroh is planning with the White Lotus, and Sokka is being inducted into the order soon. All I know for sure is that a revolution is coming. It's pretty bad out there Katara. Honestly you're lucky to be stuck out here. The South Pole doesn't have much to offer His Royal Highness so he leaves you alone."
"What is it like out there? I know it wasn't too bad when I was trying to find you guys, but it's been a while…" Her voice trailed off. Half of her didn't want to imagine the world they now lived in.
Toph nodded, "He's taken over everything. Remember how Fire Nation was everywhere before, well now it's ten times worse. Even folks from the Fire Nation hate what the world has become. It wasn't what they expected. Everything goes to him. The taxes are so high that even the rich are hurt by it. Hell, my own family is hurting and we were the wealthiest family in Gaoling, but he lets them continue with their trade routes so it's not too bad. He only tolerates you if you have something to offer him. "
"Is anyone doing anything? I mean other than you guys and the White Lotus?"
"Yeah. There are a handful of groups out there but Ozai is tricky and smart. We have to be very careful and plan the revolt at the perfect time. Right now, it's just too soon. Our resources need to be built up before anything can be done. But believe me, its coming."
Katara nodded and murmured a "good". Carefully maneuvering Aani in her arms as she attempting to stand, Katara suddenly felt a sharp pain then something warm dribble between her legs. At first she thought her water broke, but it felt thicker. Looking down she saw the blood on her pants. Her breath caught in her throat as panic began to overtake her. Quickly laying Aani down, falling to her knees she crawled to Toph.
"Oh, Gods! Toph, something's wrong," Katara breathed, trying not to wake her daughter. Toph turned her head to get a better listen to Katara's voice. Reaching her hand up, Toph placed it on Katara's belly. Feeling the vibrations from within, Toph's eyes narrowed in concentration.
"Something's torn or broke. The heartbeats are steady but one of them is starting to slow. You need to get help Katara." For the first time in a long time, Toph felt truly helpless. Standing up, she managed to find her way out the door leaving Katara alone on the floor clutching her stomach as if that would prevent whatever was happening. Guiding herself on the igloo she began shouting for someone to help. Within moments, a group of tribespeople were in the igloo, the women assuring Katara it would be okay as they helped her up. The men meanwhile had lifted her up and began carrying her to the midwife's house. Aani woke to the commotion and began crying in her confusion. Why were all these people here? Why was Mom crying? Toph had managed to find the little girl and took her in her arms. One of the older women told Toph that it would be best to stay here. She would look after her and Aani. Toph grunted in disgust. She hated being treated helpless.
"I can help. Please let me help!" The tribeswomen looked at her and said fine, guiding her behind Katara to the midwife's house.
Hearing the noise outside approaching her home, Nivi and Iroh quickly dressed and pulled back the flap to find Katara being carried. Nivi saw the blood that trailed underneath Katara and knew this wasn't good. Toph explained to Nivi what she had felt. For being blind this little earthbender gave a trove of information that would otherwise have been missed. The placenta had detached and one of the babies' heartbeats was starting to slow down. Nivi thanked her and asked that she continue feeling for the heartbeats and to let them know of any changes. Toph became the human heartbeat monitor for mother and unborn children.
Guiding them to the delivery room, Nivi and her assistant, who lived next door and had rushed over, undressed Katara down to her inner most clothing, leaving her undershirt on but removing the blood soaked pants and underpants.
In her distress, only bits and pieces of words from Nivi and the other healers reached her ears. Katara knew something was horribly wrong. She prayed. Please let the babies be okay. Please. Please bring Zuko home. Where is he? Why isn't he here? I want Zuko. Katara began crying out for him. Iroh, not knowing it was bad luck for men to be here during delivery, gripped her hand and began brushing aside her hair. He reassured her Zuko would be home soon and that she needed to relax. But instead she heard the voices around her.
"We can't get the bleeding to stop."
"She's losing too much blood."
"We have to get the babies out," Nivi ordered.
"There is something at the bottom, like it's covering a hole of some kind?" Toph said confused feeling the beats of Katara's and the children's blood as it coursed through her body. She was familiar with her own body parts and tried to associate them to Katara's but she wasn't sure how the pregnant body worked and what things were called.
"The placenta. It must be covering the cervix."
"It could kill them both if we tried to have her deliver."
"What do we do?" another voice said.
The debate continued. Nivi had delivered breech babies and big babies and small babies and dead babies, but this was something she had only been told about. Suddenly did not feel qualified and she could not have this young woman die. She had seen that too and vowed to do everything in her power not to let it happen again. She ordered her assistant to get the other healers and the shaman. Some prayers might be what they all needed.
Iroh who continued holding Katara's hand, spoke up, "There is something that was done in the Fire Nation that may work. I have seen it done."
He had indeed seen it done before. What he failed to mention was that his wife had not survived the procedure though his son had. But Ursa had survived as had Zuko. Iroh believed it was from the loss of his wife that the doctors learned and were able to save both mother and child the second time around. Both women had Katara's condition, and he had seen firsthand what could be done. He just prayed that she would have the strength that Ursa had to survive it. But this little waterbender was more powerful than he knew.
Nivi started to protest. It was bad luck enough that he was in here with all the women. And he would suggest that he could deliver the children? Preposterous! Instead of a protest though, Katara gripped Iroh's hand tighter, tears streaming down her face, "Do it! Just get them out! Please just save my babies!"
All the women, in shock of what was happening, had to work fast or else they would lose Katara and the children. Iroh nodded to Nivi and to the several other women there to assist. "Do you have anything to make her sleep? She should not be awake for this."
Nivi nodded and quickly went to the basket grinding the proper herbs then mixing them with the proper liquid. She quickly went to Katara ordering her to drink. Katara barely was able to stomach the mixture, but within moments blackness surrounded her as the anxious voices around her faded to a hum then to silence.
Iroh and the attendant cleaned her lower abdomen with an antiseptic then grabbing a knife, Iroh heated it so that it would cauterize the flesh as it cut into her reducing the blood loss as much as possible despite how much she had already lost. Pressing into the flesh of her skin above the curls, through the muscle and into the womb, he cut her open with the water gushing around his hands. Reaching inside, he felt for a head and there it was ready for him. Carefully pulling he brought the child into the world. She was small, but looked quite healthy otherwise. Quickly passing her to the attendant, Iroh found the second child. Gently grabbing the second child, he maneuvered the head out first. It was blue. This wasn't good. Continuing to pull the child out, they found the boy barely alive. It was his placenta that had detached early depriving him of the vital air he needed. That was what had caused the bleeding. Nivi's youngest assistant though took the child in the blanket and began trying to get him to take his first breath. Then he did so, weakly.
Using his field training skills as well as Nivi's knowledge of the womb, together they cleaned Katara up as best they could then with the utmost precision closed Katara up, smearing the antiseptic herbs onto the incision. Instructing Toph to continue monitoring Katara's heartbeat, they went to the newborns. Though small, the girl cried heartily. The boy however was limp and while not lifeless was not thriving as well as he should have. Iroh held the boy to his body rubbing him on the back to not only keep the child warm but to instigate breathing. Both children were watched through the night and after a few scares that the boy would not make it, by morning all were well. Except Katara.
She had lost a lot of blood and after she had woken from the potion that had rendered her unconscious she was forced to drink tiger seal blood. It was believed the blood would strengthen her and restore what was lost. It made her sick to think about, but she had to admit she did feel a little better after she finished each bowl that was placed at her lips. She was also given medicine to lessen the pain she felt in her lower abdomen. Iroh explained to her that they had to cut her open in order to get the babies out. It was then, through the cloud of pain and memories, she had asked to see her babies. They brought them to her and she was able to see them for the briefest moment before she passed out again a smile on her face. Upon awakening several hours later, she asked for Zuko. She was told that he was still out on the hunt. Someone had gone to get them, and found that there had been a sudden blizzard at the hunting grounds so it could be hours or it could be months before his return. This wasn't what she wanted to hear. She wanted her husband. Now. And in her frustration, over everything, she cried until she passed out again.
******************
Zuko and the men finally arrived home after four long brutal days of being trapped in the snow. They heard the drums roll for them announcing their return. In the square, families waited to greet their men. Sokka and Zuko noticed that Katara wasn't there. But Iroh and Toph were.
"Where's Katara?" Zuko asked smiling. Deep down though he knew that funny feeling he had had that first night out in the storm was real. "Where's Aani?"
"Sokka, let's go home. We need to leave them," Toph ordered quietly. She would tell him what had happened alone. It was his sister, but the husband and father overruled any position he may have in this situation.
His uncle waited till they were gone before he shook his head. "There were… complications."
Zuko felt the wind get knocked out of him, knees buckling beneath him. The world spun out of control. No, No, NO! Was she dead? Were the babies? Oh Agni, please, please, please… he thought. Iroh caught him and Zuko clutched his parka. Only bits and pieces of what Uncle said floated through his crazed head. Katara, lost, blood, alive. Daughter, healthy, small. But it was two words that nearly stopped him dead. Son, weak.
He didn't hear anything else. He didn't hear that the child was fine.
Another daughter and a… son? Weak. Zuko shook his head as tears fell from his eye. A weak son for the weak son. The voice in his head sounded strangely like his father's.
"Where are they?"
Iroh smiled gently. "They are at the birthing center. Aani is staying with Yukiko. Such a lovely young woman."
"Aani?" Zuko whispered. How was his little girl throughout this? "Is she okay?"
Iroh nodded and smiled gently, "She is fine. Wondering where her mom and dad are, but she is fine. Come. Let's go see your wife and children."
Nivi was waiting for him as they approached the birthing house. "May I see my children first?" he asked weakly. He had to make sure they were okay first. He knew Katara was strong and she'd be okay, but something within him told him to see the babies first.
She smiled tenderly at him, "Of course," as she led him back to the nursery. The mid-wife's assistant had one bundle in her arms while she removed the blanket over another bundle. She bowed her head respectfully to Zuko when she saw him enter the room.
His breath caught in his throat. He couldn't move. Were those his bundles? But they were so small? They can't possibly be them. Then he heard the squeak and short cry that only newborns can give. The breath he held released. The assistant held out the child in her arms to Zuko for him to hold. Slowly approaching, he took the bundle in his arms. It was his daughter. Not yet three days old, but a month and a half earlier to arrive than they expected.
She had just been fed so slept soundly in his arms, nestling her head naturally into the crook of his arm. She was beautiful to say the least. She looked exactly like Aani except she had his mouth and narrow eyes and thick brown hair like Katara's. He was curious what he eye color was. And as if on cue, she opened her eyes to him, showing off her beautiful blues before smiling and going back to sleep. After staring at this gorgeous little girl, tracing her tiny features with his finger, for what felt like the briefest of moments, but in reality was about ten minutes he handed her back to the assistant and held his arms out indicating he wanted his son. The assistant switched the children in his arms. And there he was. So little, littler than he sister, but so handsome.
Tears came to Zuko's eyes. His son was wide awake, staring up at his father with curiosity in his golden eyes. He was the spitting image of him, just with darker skin. "My son," he whispered as he planted a kiss on the little boy's forehead carefully supporting the neck with his large hands.
He glanced up to Nivi who watched with sheer concern and love. She understood all too well the loss of a child. But this couple was lucky. Both children would be fine despite the boy's rough beginning. "He is strong," she said gently, "We thought he might not make it. But he never gave up."
The tears that had pooled at the edges of his eyes fell. Iroh had come to him and placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder. Zuko looked up into the older man's eyes and gave a look that said more than any words ever could. This was certainly his child. His son.
"Would you like to feed him?" Nivi asked, holding out a bowl to the firebender. Zuko looked at it wondering what on earth he was supposed to do with that. Wasn't that Katara's job or at the very least a woman's? Seeing the look of confusion on his face the midwife explained that Katara was still too weak to hold the children but they were able to express the milk from her so the children would have her nourishment.
"Oh," was all he could say. Nivi led him to a chair and seated him with the child. She gestured to Zuko to hold the bowl to the child's lips. He could tell it wasn't quite as effective as when Katara nursed but the child greedily took the milk. Zuko wondered if this feeling in his chest was similar to the one Katara felt when she nursed. The little boy brought up a hand and wrapped his tiny fingers around Zuko's finger and squeezed tight as if to say he was not leaving. Zuko gave a breathy laugh trying to contain his joy as his happy tears continued to fall.
Once the child had fed, he continued looking at his father who talked quietly to him then with a loud yawn, quickly went back to sleep. Nivi carefully took the child from Zuko and placed him in the bassinette. "You should go see your wife. She has been asking for you."
He nodded weakly and lifting heavily from the chair, he was led to her room. It was the same one she had been in when Aani had been born. He was frozen to the entryway as if she had used her bending against him. The woman that lay there on the furs with blankets piled high was the shell of his wife. She was pale and looked fragile for the first time since he had known her. Every fiber in his being told him that he was too late. She was gone. Then he heard her speak.
"Hi," she said weakly as she glanced over at him standing in the doorway.
"Hi," he replied. His heart lifted.
"Catch anything?" she asked with a small smile. Zuko couldn't help but let a feeble chuckle come out. How she could possibly think about hunting at a time like this?
He nodded his head, "Yeah, it was a good haul."
"good." she held out her hand to him. He rushed to where she lay on the furs taking the small hand in his strong calloused ones and brought it to his lips as if in prayer, kissing each finger as a tear fell from his eye. Releasing one hand from hers, he swept a strand of hair from her unusually pale face as she looked at him. Her normally bright blue eyes were dull.
"They said you lost a lot of blood," he murmured against the palm of her hand, trying to hide the pain he knew was in his face from her. He was trying to be strong but felt like he was failing.
She slowly nodded, "I heard that too. Did you get to see them?"
"They're perfect," he smiled, visions of the two little creatures filling his mind. "They are so little. But Nivi says they'll be fine."
"Good," she repeated, sleepily letting her eyes close, a slight smile on her lips. "Good."
Nivi had explained everything that had happened. Zuko remained calm, shoving everything down deep. But when he got home, Zuko lost it. Head in his hands, the tears poured down, screams and shouts and items hitting the ice walls in anger echoed in the small room. He should never have left her alone. Thank La that Toph at least had been there to get her help and Uncle too. If Uncle hadn't been there, he would have lost all three.
Oh Gods! Aani! Where was she? Oh, right, Yuki's. Running his hands across his eyes and face to wipe away the evidence of his emotions, he went to get his oldest daughter. She ran to him as soon as he stepped in his friend's home. Zuko held onto her tight and his emotions swept him back up. Crying against her cheek, she patted his head as if to tell him it was okay.
Speaking briefly with Yukiko, he took Aani to visit her new brother and sister and mother. He held her as she gazed down at her new siblings. She stared down at them in curiosity, scrunching her face in thought. What she could possibly think of them, Zuko couldn't even begin to guess. Then she smiled and nodded as if to say to him that she approved. "Okay, let's go visit mom now. You have to be quiet though. Mommy's not feeling well," he tried to explain to her as they left the nursery and went to Katara.
When they got to her room, Aani wiggled from Zuko's grasp and cautiously went to her mom, waking her up in the process. A huge smile spread across Katara's face as she carefully took the little girl in her arms. Aani snuggled up next to her and in her gibberish said what only could be interpreted as "I missed you."
Nivi told Zuko that Katara needed to stay for another week to make sure she was better before she could go home. The babies would have to wait another month. As much as he hated the thought of them being separate, he knew it was for the best and did not protest.
Better for them to be apart for a time then to risk all their lives.
All in all, I'm not terribly happy with this chapter. I'm starting to get a little frustrated because I really want to move on in the story, but I know I need to get some things out of the way first. I curse my impatience! I had to do some medical research on this chapter and twist it to make it more Avatar friendly. This frankly is a lot harder to do than you may think. I hope I succeeded somewhat. And I know, I know. The "weak son" is so terribly cliché but I think I'm allowed a cliché or two.
Next chapter is going to be the kids growing up to around say 10-13-ish. I don't have the patience to write a dozen chapters chronically their entire childhood so I'm kind of summarizing similar to how I did in Courting where there will be several events throughout. Does that make sense? Any suggestions, things you'd like to see, etc? I'm in need of some ideas, especially for the girls, so please let me know.