A/N I made a slight mistake, it seems like we have two more chapters to go! xD

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(The eve of Zuko's birthday...)

Completely ecstatic, Katara happily walked out into the fresh, warm gardens. It was still the beginning of spring, but it was warm like the midst of summer.

She passed rows of roses and shrubs until she came to a little fountain in the middle of the garden. There, she sat down on the edges of it and carefully extracted a string of thin water, playing with it.

"Hey Sugar-queen."

Katara turned her head and saw Toph coming towards her. The girl had really grown and matured. She grew a head taller and had lost most of her baby fat in her cheeks, giving a more sharp image. The blind earthbender sat down beside Katara and spoke immediately.

"Katara, are you pregnant?"

"Who told you?"

"I noticed the first time I stepped off of Appa to greet you guys. You weren't moving, but there were other vibrations coming off of you."

"Wow, really?" Katara asked, amazed at her friend's sense of touch.

"Yup, I also know that Angry Boy's the dad, am I right?" She inquired.

"How do you know all this!? I haven't told anyone, and neither has Zuko."

"Just a lucky guess." Toph smirked standing up and walking over to one of the white roses adorning the garden, softly stroking the petals as if they would break under her touch.

So, Toph, how are things between you and Aang?" Katara asked, actually curious of the two 14 year olds.

"Things were ok...before." Toph replied.

"Before?"

Toph sighed, letting her hand go down to her side. Slowly, she sat down on the soft grass and explained, "It just seems that now, he's just avoiding me. It happened right when he came with Appa to the estate and that's when he started acting really strange. On the way here, he wouldn't talk to me unless it was something about setting up camp." That's when Toph wondered aloud, "Katara, did I turn ugly over the four months that he hasn't seen me? Or, do I act too much like a...guy?"

"Toph! Don't say that! Girls need tough exteriors too! And why would you say you've turned ugly? You look great! In fact, a few of the noble's sons that are attending Zuko's birthday seem to be attracted to you." Katara replied, grinning, hoping this fact would help Toph out of her cloudy state.

"Really? You mean it?" She asked, wonder and excitement building in her voice.

"Really, I mean it. Aang's probably not ignoring you, but is afraid to talk to you because you're just the type of girl that he might like."

"Thank you Katara. What would I do without you?" Toph said, turning and walking back out of the garden.

But, before Toph walked a few feet away, she felt a low thump and a sharp gasp.

"Katara!" The young earthbender ran towards her fallen friend and kneeled beside her. "What's wrong?!"

Katara moaned in pain, using an arm to hug her stomach with, "Toph...I think..."

"Want me to go and get help?"

"Ye...Yes..." She stuttered out, whimpering again at the sharp pain coursing through her body.

"Uh, ah, stay here! I'll go and get someone!" Toph ran through the bushels of roses, quick as possible bound for the palace and to get anyone that might be of help.

Right as she stepped in, she bumped into all three of her other friends.

"Toph! What's the matter? You look flushed." Sokka exclaimed, helping her regain her breath.

"Katara...Katara...she's out in the garden, by the little fountain. She's in real pain right now...I think the baby inside her is-."

Zuko and Aang almost shot out of the palace.

"Go Sokka, I'll catch up soon."

The blue eyed warrior nodded ran off, trailing not too behind of Aang and Zuko.

Zuko ran through the maze of roses and bushes until he saw the small fountain, along with Katara on the ground, hugging her stomach.

"Katara!" He ran to her side and lifted her off the ground.

Without a word, Katara whined and gritted her teeth, sweat now glistening on her brow.

"Hang on Katara, we're going to get you to the infirmary, ok? Everything will be fine."

"Just hurry up!" She barked out, feeling like her whole being was being torn inside out.

Just as Aang arrived, he saw Katara clutching her stomach with Zuko carrying her.

"Aang, go and tell the medics in the infirmary to set up a bed, we'll be right up."

The young Avatar nodded and ran back faster than he did when he came there.

Zuko lifted Katara slowly and ran back as gently as possible, trying his best not to create a whole lot of bumps on his way into the building. He ran even faster when he heard her give out a pained shout, almost sounding like an animal yelping in heat.

The minute he got there, medics hurriedly took her out of his arms and placed her on a tough looking brown fabric and they each lifted on of the four corners and swiftly strode into the infirmary, closing the huge red doors behind them.

"Is Katara gonna be ok?" Sokka asked, running down the hall towards them with Toph trailing beside him. He stopped besides Zuko and stared in the direction the young Fire Lord was staring. The next few moments would be the most nerve-racking moments everyone would endure.

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Almost towards nightfall, a medic walked out of the infirmary, opening the red twin doors with ease and beckoned Zuko in, who was nervously pacing back and forth in front of the door.

Slowly, he walked behind the medic, nervous about the whole entire event.

"Lady Katara should be fine by tomorrow morning, seeing as how she is a waterbender, her body does heal more quick than others. The child is fine as well, very healthy, but is to remain in here for at least one more week before it is ok to release her to you." The medic said, never turning back to Zuko to face him directly. They kept walking until Zuko asked suddenly, "Wait, her? So the child is a girl?"

"Yes." The medic simply stated before going back to stroking on characters on a little scroll. Hearing as how quiet it was, he spoke up again, "I understand that in Fire Nation tradition that having a girl as the first born is bad luck to the family, but you mustn't worry over her."

"Oh, no, it's nothing like that, it's just...I would like to see her please."

"Right away, just down this hall and to the right." The medic guided Zuko through and finally arrived at the room. Katara was sleeping peacefully on one of the white cots, her hair seemed stained with sweat. Beside her was a little cradle, barely coming up to the edge of the white cots. Zuko took a deep breath and walked over to there. He gently grabbed Katara's hand and looked into the cradle.

There, in the bundle of blankets, was the little child. Sleeping gently as the cradle gently rocked. The child had the same complexion as Katara, only, with a slightly lighter hue, along with that, the softest black hair Zuko had ever touched. He kneeled there, lightly rocking the tiny cradle back and forth slightly, while holding Katara's hand.

"Beautiful, isn't she?"

Zuko snapped his head towards the left and saw Katara weakly opening her eyes, the grip on his hand slightly tightening.

"Yes, she is." He replied, before softly rubbing the top of her hand gently with his thumb.

Katara weakly smiled and closed her eyes once more, drifting off to sleep.

Zuko kneeled there, never wanting to go. But, he knew he had to. Tomorrow would be a tiring day. He stood up, kissing her hand lightly before letting go and walking out of the room.

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"Get up Zuko! You must get ready! Some of the guests are here already!" Iroh exclaimed, shaking Zuko awake.

"Ergghh..." He moaned, before angrily flipping over the sheets and storming into the wash room.

Iroh beckoned two servants to lay out the clothes suited for this day.

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Once he was all dressed, Iroh hurried him out the door. Almost pushing him out.

"Uncle, is Katara ok?" He asked, yawning.

"Yes, yes, she is, in fact, she go up and dressed herself this morning and is waiting for you."

Zuko sighed a bit of relief out and he walked faster, not wanting Iroh to keep pushing him on his way like some little kid.

Like his uncle had said, there were a few people already arrived here for his 19th birthday. A few nobles, successful merchants, some high spiritualists, and some leaders of other small towns.

"Now Zuko, you must be in the grand meeting hall by sunset. That is when you shall give a speech."

"Yes, uncle." Zuko said, tired of this whole ordeal.

"Good." Iroh stated before disappearing down the hall.

Zuko sighed and walked towards one of the gardens, wishing to get away from all this madness. Nonchalantly, he walked towards one of the rose beds and noticed someone there.

"Katara?"

The figure looked startled and turned around, indeed, being Katara.

"Are you ok?" He asked, walking towards her.

"Yes, I'm fine." She replied, responding to Zuko holding her hands.

He smiled, absolutely loving how the dress she wore showed her slim figure, which now returned to her once more. The little furs sewed on to the sleeves and edges made it look warm, but the slits up the sides of the dress left it for the imagination.

"I'm really glad you are well." He said, hugging her tightly. "I myself, frankly, don't want to have this party. It's such a drag."

"Why? It's your celebration, your day, why wouldn't you want to celebrate it?" Katara asked, gently playing with his soft black hair.

"Because, I'd much rather spend the day with you, rather than with other girls dancing."

"Why? Little Zuzu, doesn't want to dance?" Katara cooed, giggling.

"Shut up." He said, smiling. "I want to dance, just not with other girls."

"Hmmmmm." Katara responded, gently closing her eyes, burying her face in his shoulder, absorbing the warmth of this body.

As the two stood in the middle of the rose beds, unknown to them, someone was watching...watching the two whisper light words to each other to make them smile and giggle. A smug smirk spread wickedly across the pale face as it continued to watch them from behind a willow tree. Red eyes flashed cunningly as the figure strode away, that smug smirk still rampant on its face.

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Sunset fast approached, shading the grounds in bright yellow and pink.

Zuko took a deep breath and walked up to the height of the small podium and once at the top, looked down at the crowds of people, all focusing their attention on him.

"Welcome to my birthday, I hope you all are enjoying yourselves as well as feeling comfortable. I would just like to say...thank you, for coming." Zuko stepped down from the podium and then immediately heard the soft music of the stringed instruments resume their pieces.

He sighed and was immediately approached by Katara.

"Happy Birthday Zuko." She handed him a small blue cloth bundle, no bigger than an infant's fist.

"What is it?" He asked, gently taking it from her hands.

"Just open it! You'll see." Katara replied, grinning.

Zuko obliged and unwrapped the blue bundle, bringing out a dark blue bracelet. It's design was simple and clean, no complicated designs or patches.

"It's a Water Tribe warrior's bracelet. I couldn't make you a better one so I-,"

"I love it." Zuko tightly embraced her and planted his lips onto hers.

Katara pulled away and whispered, blushing, "Someone might see."

"So? Let them." He smirked and kissed her again, roughly. Her mind swirled quickly around her head, making everything seem blurry.

They pulled away and Katara helped him put the bracelet on, it caught the lights of the torches brilliantly.

"All of the bracelets mean something different. Gran Gran told me that the design I made stood for honor and bravery." Katara smiled, looking up into his topaz eyes.

"Thank you...this is the best present I could've gotten." He said softly, causing Katara to blush.

The two stood there staring into each other's eyes until a sharp, playful voice rang through.

"Hey Katara!"

She spun around and saw her airbending friend rush up to her.

"Hey Aang! I haven't seen you for a while!" Katara gladly hugged him, now not having to slightly bend her knees to adjust to his height.

"Me neither! I was...just wondering if..." He blushed, twiddling his fingers.

"Sure I'd love to." Katara laughed, loving the adorable grin he gave before grabbing her wrist to drag her to the dance floor. She looked back at Zuko and asked silently with her eyes.

He responded back by closing his eyes and nodding with an approving smile. He watched as the duo twirled and stepped and laughed across the dance floor, earning glares from the noblemen and women. Slightly laughing himself, a figure slipped next to him, holding a inky black fan with a blood red circle in the middle.

"What do you want?" He asked, saying it through gritted teeth, still smiling to hide his displeasure.

Why does that bitch have to follow us?

Us? Don't you mean me?

That's what I said!

"Still spending time with that Water Tribe girl? You do know she's nothing to anybody? She doesn't belong in the Fire Nation in fact, low life scum of a-."

Zuko angrily slammed a hand onto the wall right next to her head, his glare digging into her eyes.

"Don't you ever...talk about her like that ever again!" He growled out. "You don't even know her that well!"

Qing Re laughed lightly before unfolding her fan again, "I'm just saying Lord Zuko, a lot of noblemen might get suspicious when they see you with that Water Tribe slut."

Before getting into a fit of rage, Zuko roughly grabbed her by her thin wrists and dragged her away from the dining hall. He dragged her through the dark corridors before opening the door to his room and throwing her in there. She stumbled a bit, then regained her balance.

"Trust me Lord Zuko, you can't harm me. Don't even think about it. My father will soon have you off the throne before your birthday could even end." She grinned almost crazily.

"I told you your threats are falling on deaf ears!" Zuko shouted, his hands glowing dangerously hot.

"Is that so?" Qing Re asked, snapping her inky black fan shut and leaving it on the small table next to her.

Zuko stood there silent as she moved about the room studying the brilliant calligraphy scrolls on the walls. He watched her as she stopped in front of one.

"I understand that your uncle is pushing you to court someone." Qing Re said, nonchalantly walking around the room once before stopping in front of him.

Zuko stared back at her, almost glaring.

"Such a shame if you lose your power over the Fire Nation just because you couldn't find anyone suitable."

"What are you getting at?"

Qing Re let out a little sneer followed by a little 'hnm'. Without warning, she easily pushed Zuko backwards onto the bed. Before he could get up, she towered over him, both of her arms on both sides of his head. He saw her smirk once before lowering her mouth next to his ear.

"I can see it in your eyes, you lust for power. Without it, you wouldn't be able to survive." Qing Re said in a snide voice before gently kissing the outer shell of his ear.

"That's not true. Get off right now!" Zuko yelled, cursing at himself for not being able to withstand her sudden assault.

"Say what you want Lord Zuko, but remember this. I can get you anything you want. Anything." She whispered before kissing his neck.

That's when he snapped. Unable to figure out anything going on around him, Zuko stared wide eyed at the top of the canopy bed. His mouth slightly open, while his eyes wide in shock. The only thing going around in his mind was the power and respect Qing Re promised him.

If am to marry her...then...the people in the Fire Nation would start to respect me. They aren't too confident with the moves I make for the nation.

What are you saying!? Just a while ago you hated her guts! Get some sense!

He laid there motionless as Qing Re silently licked his neck and jaw line.

"Just accept my proposal...and you could have all the respect of the Fire Nation as you'd like." Qing Re whispered before continuing.

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Katara ended the dance with Aang and he blushed a little bit before disappearing into the crowd. She laughed a little bit before turning around and seeing no Zuko in the corner where he was before. Quizzically, she raised an eyebrow and confusion was written all over her face.

Before she could get anywhere to go look for him, the double doors that led into the grand hall opened, revealing Zuko, with his head bowed and Qing Re, linking arms with him and smiling, almost smirking.

The crowds of people immediately stopped talking and turned their attention towards the two.

Katara stared with surprised and hurt eyes as Zuko spoke.

"I've decided...to marry Mistress Qing Re. After the marriage...the Avatar and his friends are no longer welcome here any longer."

The hordes of people silently gasped and brought their hands up to their mouths slowly.

Katara swallowed harshly as she stared at the two. She tried to see his face once more, wishing some emotion of disgust or threat was written over it, but he just kept his head downcast, his dark hair in her line of vision.

That bastard! How could he!? Wait till we get our hands on him!

Maybe...this is what he wanted all along, besides...he'd be happier this way.

Hiding tears of shame and hatred, she closed her eyes tightly and bit her bottom lip, turning her head sharply away from them.

"Sugar-queen?"

Katara turned her head towards the voice and saw her friend Toph standing there, her eyes saddened.

Toph walked over to her and ushered her out to the small courtyard outside. "Don't cry, how could you've known that bastard would do something like this to you?"

Without warning, Katara burst into tears, holding her head tightly, bunching up her brown hair at the sides of her head. She roughly dropped to her knees,"Why!? Toph, tell me please! Did he just use me before and now...is he just throwing me aside!?" She yelled, gathering some attention from some of the other people outside.

Toph glared at them to go on with their business and knelt down besides her broken friend. "He doesn't deserve you Sugar-queen, he needed you more than you needed him. Besides, by the way he said those things to the crowd, it seemed forced." Silently, Toph stared at Katara until she calmed down.

"I...I think I want to go to sleep right now..." Katara stuttered out.

"I'll walk you back."

The two girls walked back into the building, maneuvering around the hordes of people. Toph grabbed one of the golden door handles and opened one of the double doors easily. She led Katara into the corridors and they walked until they came to the front of Katara's room.

"Thanks Toph...but...um..."

"Yeah?"

"I...I'm going into the infirmary for a bit, I just need to..."

"I understand, be sure to be back in bed, you still feel weak to me." Toph said, before turning around and walking back to the grand hall.

Katara watched her retreating form until she too, turned the opposite way and walked towards the infirmary. The glow of the torches casted long, dark shadows on the walls. She walked and walked until the doors of the infirmary revealed themselves.

Looking around to see if anyone were around, she slipped in and walked until she came to the room in which her child slept. Silently, she walked towards the small cradle and knelt besides it, rocking it softly, watching the little baby sleep. Softly, Katara hummed a lullaby, closing her eyes and rocking the cradle with her right hand.

Before she could finish the song, a sound was heard in the darkness of the hospital corridors and rooms. Automatically, a kunai slid down her arm and into her hand.

"Who's there!?" She demanded sternly, standing in front of the cradle protectively. Tightly she held the kunai handle, her eyes scanning the vast darkness in front of her. Another shuffling sound was heard not too far from her.

"Show yourself right now!"

Red eyes shone dangerously in the shadows of the cots and shelves. A pitch black fan with a blood red circle in the middle was revealed then a person.

Qing Re.

Katara, not letting her guard down, hardened her gaze and held the kunai tightly, her knuckles turning a shade of pale brown.

"Why are you here? What do you want?" Katara spat out.

"Hostile I see, I just came by to see our child." Qing Re lightly chuckled, snapping her fan shut tightly.

"What do you mean "our" child? Don't play coy with me!"

"Well, you see. Me and Lord Zuko now hold the rights to the child, even though you are the birth mother."

"Shut up! Zuko would never court the likes of you!...You must've set him up, offered him a bargin." Katara yelled, not knowing how loud she was speaking.

Qing Re merely laughed loudly, almost cackling. "No bargin was ever added wench, he did it on his own." She paused before speaking again, "If you know what's best for you..." She turned around, heading out, "you'll know your place in the line of society."

Before Katara could curse and yell at the woman, she vanished into the shadows of the night. Steadily dropping the kunai gripped in her hand, she kneeled down and held her head.

That bastard! He did it on his own!? Wait till we get our hands on him!

It was that bitch's fault, she forced him to, I know it!

Standing up, Katara walked out of the room, bumping into someone.

"Oh sorry I didn-." Her eyes widened, then flashed in wrath as she realized who it was.

It the person she least wanted to see at the moment, Zuko.

Quickly, she stepped towards the side, only to have him block her way.

"Get out of my way, I don't want to see you."

"Katara, please, let me explain."

"Explain!? Explain what?" She shouted, hiding enraged tears. Once more, she tried to get past him, only to have him block her.

He roughly grabbed her right wrist and growled out, "Just listen to me! I'm tired of you jumping to damn conclusions without hearing anyone's side! Damn it Katara, can't you see I love y-."

Bam.

Katara glared at him, her knuckles slowly turning red from the impact. Zuko simply froze to the spot, staring blankly with surprise.

"Stop toying with me bastard..." She whispered before running off. Beads of tears flew out from the corners of her eyes.

Zuko brought a hand to his right cheek and rubbed it tenderly, feeling it heat up from the earlier impact. Feeling a bit of copper tasting blood in his mouth, he ran his tongue over the small wound in his mouth, tasting more of the coppery blood. Slowly, he walked down the hallway, feeling alone and forgotten...

Hurt.

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A/N By far the longest chapter ever! 15 pages on Word!

I was gonna make one of the canon characters die in this chapter, but then it would be adding 5 more pages to the already 15 page chapter, so...the death will be in chapter 30, then a bonus chapter that you guys can choose whether or not that I get to post.

R&R