Chapter 21:
MorningIt was several hours past dawn; the sun indicated that it was around 9 am. Suki leapt up out of bed and ran straight for the bathroom.
"What's wrong Suki?" Sokka said groggily.
There was no reply, only coughing. Sokka rolled out of bed and went to the bathroom to check on Suki.
"Are you ok?" He asked as he rubbed his eyes.
Suki was bent over the toilet bowl coughing and throwing up.
"Go away. This is really unattractive." Suki half-laughed.
"I don't care." He smiled and moved closer to hold back her hair.
"Thanks Sokka." Suki continued to throw up for the next 5 minutes.
"Are you done yet?" Sokka laughed, still holding her hair in his hand.
"Yeah I think so." She smiled, then her eyes suddenly bulged and she threw up all over Sokka's feet.
"Oh my- I'm so sorry Sokka!" Suki looked as if she were going to cry.
"It's not a big deal… why don't we clean this up?" Sokka shrugged and grabbed a towel.
He began to mop up the puke and Suki grabbed another towel to help Sokka.
"Sorry." Suki sounded so guilty it was rather pathetic.
"It's not a big deal! Calm down, there's no reason to feel bad." Sokka said as he finished mopping up the puke. He went over to the sink and washed his hands, as did Suki.
They both got dressed and brushed their hair and teeth. Suki put on her betrothal necklace and finished pulling up her hair. Sokka put his arm around Suki as they walked out to the main room.
Katara, Aang, and Toph were sitting on the couches and armchairs sipping hot tea that Iroh had provided for them.
"Good morning everyone." Suki smiled and waved.
"Good morning Suki! Good morning Sokka!" Aang cheerfully greeted the two.
"Morning guys." Toph said. Her feet were perched on the table and she had one arm behind her head and the other hand was holding her steaming hot tea.
Aang got up from the armchair to give to Suki and joined Katara on the couch.
"Thanks Aang." Suki smiled at him as she sat down on the chair.
Iroh had brought enough tea on the tray for Sokka and Suki when they decided to arise from the dead.
Sokka handed Suki a cup of tea and stood behind Suki's chair since there was not enough room for him to sit.
"Don't drink it too fast- you don't want to burn it." Sokka whispered into Suki's ear, fearing they would let the secret out.
"We already know Sokka." Toph said.
"Damn you and your good hearing!" Sokka said grudgingly. "Wait- EVERYBODY KNOWS?" Sokka almost spilled his tea all over Suki.
"Yeah… sorry to burst your bubble." Aang said apologetically.
"Why- how- but…" Sokka sputtered.
"Are you going to finish any of these sentences and questions?" Toph said sarcastically.
"I'm the meat and sarcasm guy, not you Toph." He scolded. "Suki, how does everyone know?"
"Girls talk Sokka. Then you boys ask questions and bother us until we answer them. You of all people should know that."
"I do- but you know I'm a little hurt that I didn't know until last night and I seem to be the last one to know."
"I didn't know until really late last night Sokka." Aang chimed in.
"Whatever." Sokka set down his tea and crossed his arms angrily.
"Oh calm down Sokka. Who's the one being hormonal?" Suki teased.
Sokka remained in his grumpy position while the conversation carried on.
"So we kind of need to discuss who's going to what part of the world." Suki began.
"Well I can find my own way home to Gai Pan. Don't worry about me." Toph said, her hair still carelessly in front of her face.
"We were planning on going to the South Pole." Katara said to Suki.
"That's what we were thinking too. We thought that we would stay in the South Pole until we had the baby so you and Gran Gran can help me, and then we'll move between the South Pole and Kyoshi." Suki explained.
"Sounds good to me." Katara said, finishing her tea.
"Come on Mr. Grumpy-gills we should go grab something for breakfast." Suki said, putting her empty cup back on the tray.
"Fine." Sokka said sourly.
Suki began to stand up and Sokka helped her. Suki stopped him, and continued by her self.
"I'm not useless Sokka." She laughed. "I mean, I'm barely even showing… if at all."
Suki and Sokka left the room and walked over to the Jasmine Dragon.
The quaint teashop had a few people in it, either playing Pai Sho or discussing business matters.
"Good morning Iroh." Suki said warmly.
"Good morning mother-to-be." Iroh smiled.
"He knows too?" Sokka raised his voice.
"Oh calm down silly." Suki shushed him. Sokka 'hmphed' and crossed his arms again.
"Did you enjoy the tea I brought everyone this morning?" Iroh inquired.
"Yes I did actually. Thank you." Suki said.
"Any time."
"So we were wondering if you could recommend somewhere that was good for breakfast."
"What are you in the mood for?" Iroh had a good place for every kind of food.
"Pastries. I really want a custard tart." Suki sounded excited.
Iroh laughed. "Well I know all about pastries." He patted he round stomach. "If you head right when you leave the courtyard, then you walk for maybe half a mile and turn right again into this tiny little shop in an alleyway. Don't worry, it's safe."
"Thanks!" Suki grabbed Sokka's arm and trotted happily out of the courtyard.
"What's your deal Sokka? You're acting like a 5 year old." Suki said as she pulled on his arm.
"I thought I would be the first to know." Sokka scowled.
"Well I intended to tell you first." Suki laughed. "But that kind of didn't work, because when Katara, Toph, Mai, and I were talking yesterday morning we figured it out. So they were kind of the first to know, but I didn't really want them to tell anyone so everyone else knew before you. Well not really- because they told all the boys at around the same time. If that makes any sense, because I am babbling rather a lot." Suki laughed.
"I get it. I guess I am acting like a 5 year old."
"Oh I think we're almost there. That looks like an alley!" Suki ran ahead and Sokka ran to catch up.
It was not in fact an alley but a major roadway with an ostrich-horse running down it. Sokka pulled Suki back and spun her around to face him.
"You've got to be more careful!" Sokka scolded her.
"You should've seen your face!" Suki laughed and smiled at him, while blindly walking back into the street.
She managed to cross safely, as did Sokka and they continued on for about 5 minutes to the pastry shop.
Sokka looked down the alley and turned to Suki.
"This doesn't look safe."
"Iroh said it was perfectly fine, which you would know if you were paying attention when he said it."
Suki trotted down the alley carelessly, skipping slightly. The whole idea of having her own baby to love and play with all day made her very excited.
"Come on Sokka, it's fine. Plus I want my egg custard tart really really badly."
Suki waited until Sokka was at her side before she opened the door to the pastry shop.
A little bell chimed at the top of the door as they entered the dark room. It had some old tables and chairs, with candles on top for light.
The back of the store was cases and cases of pastries. There were all sorts of sweets from every nation.
"Welcome!" The shopkeeper said.
"Hi!" Suki said cheerily.
"What can I help you with?" The shopkeeper asked.
"Well I want an egg custard tart please. Do you want anything Sokka?" Suki asked, turning to her boyfriend who still didn't look pleased.
"I'll have a blueberry muffin please." Sokka said.
"Do you think we should bring something back for Aang, Katara, and Toph?" Suki inquired.
"Aang likes egg custard tarts, Katara likes blueberry muffins too, and Toph wasn't particularly friendly to me this morning so she can fend for herself."
"Ok, so that's two egg custard tarts, two blueberry muffins, and a lychee nut muffin as well."
"All good choices." The shopkeeper beamed.
"How much?" Suki asked, pulling her coin purse out of her pocket.
"3 copper pieces." The shopkeeper replied.
"Sounds reasonable." Suki said as she pulled three copper pieces out of the purse and placed them on the counter.
The shopkeeper had put the food into a bag to take with them back to the apartment.
"Thank you!" Suki said cheerily as she took the bag and walked out of the store.
Sokka followed Suki closely.
"What's your problem?" Suki asked when they got outside.
"Nothing." Sokka retorted.
"Really? Because your face, arms, and attitude say otherwise." Suki said, upset with his behavior.
"I'm still a little mad that everyone knew before me."
"Why does it matter?" Suki asked.
"I don't know, it just does!" Sokka got defensive.
"Ok, well next time I know anything about the baby, I will try to tell you first." Suki kissed him on the cheek.
"Ok, sounds good to me." Sokka finally sounded happy.
"Good!"
The two walked happily back to the apartment hand in hand.
I finished my chapter! Now the story only has a couple more chapters to go until its done. So enjoy it! Lol, I thought I would update before the new year so I could get my goal of 1000 hits for this month. Well, I gotta go to a party so, happy new year!