A/N: Hey guys! Here with the start of the family vacation which will be broken into 3-5 chapters. I haven't yet figured out how long I wanted this theme to be but I assure you all at the end of it, you will all be quite satisfied I hope before we pick up with the issues of the council, Northern Water Tribe, Ursa's grand scheme, Azula seeing Ozai again, the investigation of who poisoned Ozai and two new faces to the story. But in the meantime, please enjoy this chapter and thank you all for Reading! XD
Chapter 36: Part 1 of Family Vacation
Finally making from the capital to Ember Island, taking several hours to reach, the makeshift family entered their refurbished beach house. Zuko had the damages repaired and things replaced that were ruined by the last time he and his friends visited. Once their luggage was placed in the house by a few servants that accompanied them, Zuko had them dismissed to an inn they would stay at. He wanted mostly for his family to be left alone. The servants would come to clean and fix their meals but spend most of their time away from the beach house.
Everyone grabbed their luggage and started heading to the rooms that Zuko assigned them to. Hakoda and Ursa shared a room. Aang and Sokka got their own rooms, since they share one at the palace. Katara also got her own but its was adjoined on both sides with Zuko's and Ozai's. Her room just had to be in the middle of the two.
Since it was midnight and they were all tired, unpacking would wait till morning. While the rest of the group started heading off to bed, Katara could not find rest. She couldn't sleep. Her mind wouldn't allow her. She felt panicked. So much was going on and there was so little she could do.
The waterbender went through her belongings and pulled out the vial Ami gave her. Grasping it in her hands. This gave her some sense of relief. An escape that didn't require a huge plan or reinforcement. One swig of this and her problems would be gone. She could relax again. Her eyes shut as she continued to hold it in her hands. This wasn't her decision alone. There was still someone she needed to tell and perhaps, since she couldn't sleep anyway, she should do it now. Already Ursa knew. It did not comfort her in the least that that vile woman knew her secret. Katara didn't trust her. Not for a second. There was a strange glint in her eyes when they spoke earlier. Like she was plotting something. If Katara was going to decide to keep this child she needed protection from that mad woman. No telling what she was planning.
Stripping out of her travel clothes off, Katara switched into a knee length nightgown. Once she was in her more comfortable sleepwear, Katara tip toed over to the back of her room where a door leading to Ozai's room was. She grabbed the doorknob and took a deep breath. She could do this. So what if he had been ignoring her for even longer than she had him? He was just upset she wouldn't tell him right? So if she tells him, he'll be fine? Well not so sure about fine but no doubt more responsive to her than he had been. In her other hand, she held the vial. This was their escape if they came to that decision. This would end both their soon to be greatest obstacle.
One more deep breath and Katara turned the doorknob, slipping quietly into the room. When she closed the door gently behind her, she noticed that the man she had come to see was already passed out in his bed. The sight had slightly irritated her. Not because of him but because she was going to have to wake him up. Walking over to his bed, the girl climbed into it and crawled over to him, kneeling beside him.
"Ozai." She whispered as she leaned down into his ear. "Ozai."
Failing, Katara took her finger and started poking his side which did absolutely nothing. She had then moved her finger to his face and poked his cheek receiving a small stir. Sighing as he still hadn't woken up, she hung her head. She really needed to talk to him and now was the best time while her mind was made up. The waterbender had no other choice but the resort to desperate measures.
Climbing on top of him and straddling his waist, Katara sat on him. She looked down at his sleeping form beneath her and prayed he wouldn't be angered too much but she really needed to wake him up. Experimentally, she wiggled her hips and then grinded into him. It didn't seem to work at first but then she got a bit aroused by doing it and grinded harder. Even if he was asleep, not all of him was. This was so wrong but it was to wake him up, right? At least that's how this started. She continued doing this until hands gripped down on her waist and stopped her. Yes! He's up! Then there was an angry growl. Shit! He's pissed!
The waterbender was immediately flipped onto her back on the space beside her and wrist moved above her head while she still held onto the vial. Above her, she saw a very angry and very dangerous looking man that looked like he was seconds from tearing her apart. Note to self, never do this again.
"You're awake." Katara stated the obvious with a nervous smile.
Ozai didn't seem too happy with this. He hated being caught off guard. "What the hell were you doing, girl?!" He hissed quietly.
"Trying to wake you up." She was still smiling fearfully.
"That's not what it looked like." Ozai retorted.
Katara's smile dropped and she got serious. "Well you sleep too heavily and it was impossible any other way, so I did what I had to do."
Letting go of her wrist, Ozai got off of her and moved back to his side of the bed. Pulling his legs over the edge, "What do you want?" He said drowsily. It was kind of funny to her as she sat up, she had never heard him sound so tired before.
"I wanted to talk." She said moving up behind him.
"Talk you say?" Ozai looked over his shoulder. "You grinded on top of me while I was asleep because you wanted to talk."
The waterbender nodded her head quickly and fixed the hem of her dress. As embarrassing and wrong it was to do to him, she had no other choice. Well maybe she did but that was the only choice that came to her head at the moment. She was just desperate wake him so she can finally tell him. But seeing how much of a jerk he's being, maybe she shouldn't tell him at all. Not like it will lift his spirits anyway. He'll probably get more angry at her. Force the liquid from the vial down her throat and cause the miscarriage. This pregnancy might make him hate her and then she'd have to go back to fighting with him like they did in the past or maybe now, he'll not even endure her presence.
"What is that in your hand?" He said taking it from her hand before she could even move to stop him. Looking at the dark liquid substance in the glass vial, Ozai shot her a curious look and stood up from the bed. "Are you trying to poison me, waterbender?"
Though it came out like a tease and he was clearly smirking as he asked the ridiculous question, it deeply offended her that he would suggested she would do that to him. Katara lunged forward and snatched the vial back, growling at him as she did. "If I wanted to do that, wouldn't I have done so while you were a sleep?"
Ozai continued smirking at her, "You've never been the type to do things the easy way. So it's only natural to assume."
Angered by how frustratingly a jerk he was being, Katara climbed off the bed and started walking back to her room. I shouldn't have come. If she had known being woken up in the middle of the night made Ozai more of an asshole than he already was, she would have waited till morning to talk to him.
"And where are you go? Didn't you wish to talk?"
"Not anymore."
"Well you've already woken me and I'm not sure I can go back to sleep after that little method you used, so I advice you start talking or we can continue our feud for another week." He told her.
Damn it! Now she had no choice. If she wanted to enjoy her vacation, have less to worry about with her situation and Ursa's possible scheming, she needed to tell him already. It's been a week. She's had plenty of time to come to terms with things. Well not really but Ozai needed to know before she made her decision. Turning back around, Katara stumped over to him and grabbed his hand. Looked him dead in his eyes and placed his hand over her abdomen. Better to just be straight forward and get this over with.
"I'm pregnant." She said as she looked away from him and down at where she put his hand on her stomach.
There was silence. Katara didn't bother looking back at him for fear of his expression. He was mostly taken by surprise but also growing angry as well. She didn't want to see that kind of look on his face as he was being told that she was pregnant. The moment continued to go silent until the girl was lifted up and placed on the edge of the bed, Ozai kneeling down in front of her, between her leg. Staring intensely up at her.
"You're lying." He says.
"I'm not!" Katara finally looked at him. "That's what Ami said and even if she didn't, I haven't had my cycle in two months."
Another pause.
"It's yours, if you try to say something stupid like it's not, I'll freeze you into an early grave."
Another long pause. Ozai dropped his head in her lap.
"This can't be possible. The servants had herbs put in your tea. Even your idiot brother was slipping some in your drink at one point. How is this possible?" His voice was unreadable to her. She couldn't tell what was going on in his head but it seemed he was in disbelief.
Katara started worrying Ozai was about to become upset with how he seemed to be assessing things in his mind. She clenched the vial in her hand and brought out in front of her.
"Ami gave me this." she tried to get him to look back at her so she could read his face. "It'll force a miscarriage."
Ozai's head rose back up and he stared at the vial, his expression contorted into a frown. The waterbender became fearful that he was angry with her and was about to hold her down as he poured the liquid down her throat. His eyes were practically set ablaze as he looked at the container. He reached for it, yanking from her hands and Katara yelp, knowing what was coming next but never came as he looked dangerously at her. Gold fiery eyes narrowed at her as she saw his lip form into a snarl. Spirits she was in trouble.
As she waited for him to say or do something that would no doubt be hurtful, something unexpected happened. The vial went up in a blue flame and was smashed in his hands. Katara's eyes widened and she moved forward reaching for her already destroyed escape.
"No!" She shouted as she fell from her seat on the edge of the bed and tried to scavenge the liquid with her bending before the fire burned it away.
From behind she was pulled back by her arms and stopped. She fought against them, trying to break free and gather what was left of her escape. It was being burned away right before her very eyes and as one of her hands got loose, she tried to bend it away from the fire. However; she was then forced onto the floor with both hands back above her head. Tears were rolling down her face as she looked at the last remains burn away.
"Let go of me!" She screamed.
"I'm not letting you kill my child!" Ozai roared at her.
Katara froze and looked up at him. "What?" Her voice cracked a bit.
"You're trying to take my only child from me, Katara. I'm not allowing it." He seethed through his teeth.
The waterbender's eyes became huge. He wanted it. He wanted their child? Actually wanted this? Her breathing became erratic. But this couldn't be! He was supposed to make her take the liquid. She was supposed to take it. They were supposed to end this now before it made things worse. What was he thinking?! They couldn't keep this baby! No way they would be allowed!
"We can't keep it!" Katara yelled and tried to break free but his hands tightened in her wrist.
Ozai glared at her. "And why not?"
"The council! They'll find out!" She explained frantically. "They'll take me and either force a miscarriage themselves or wait till it's born and take it from us! We can't keep it!"
Katara started crying as the thoughts of what might happen played through her head. She couldn't bear the thoughts and for nights after discovering her condition, she had nightmares of what would happen. It plagued her. A child being torn from her arms. The eyes focused so heavily on her. Senselessly tearing her apart. Hearing cries and screams. Her name being yelled and turning around she watched Ozai fall on his knees reaching out to her as blackness fell over her sight. When she opens her eyes there's nothing. Just darkness and the sound horrid screaming. She replayed this dream over and over. Each night it becoming worse and worse. More realistic. Painfully realistic.
"I can't! I can't!" she cried as her body laid flat on the floor, giving up. "They'll take it from us! They'll take us from you!"
Ozai watched the genuine fear in her as she wept. She had likely been enduring it this entire time. Her mind had her visiting dark places. Ultimately, deciding that aborting their child was the only way to keep those dark places from surfacing in the light. But it didn't need to come to that. He wouldn't let it come to that. He had told her already, had he not? Their foes would not touch her.
"I already said I wouldn't let them harm you." His voice was calmer.
The man let go of her arms and pulled her from the floor, setting her back on the bed. Placing himself between her legs, Ozai pulled up her nightgown, ignoring her resistance and revealing her stomach. He then wrapped his arms around her waist and brought his lips to her stomach, kissing her belly. Katara looked at him, once again in shock, as tears fell from her eyes.
"I'm not letting them touch you or our child, you hear me?" Ozai gazed up at her, though in a softer expression, he was without a doubt serious. "I swear it." He returned his attention on her stomach and kissed it once more. "I will protect you."
As he laid his head back into her lap, Katara looked down at him tearfully. Hesitantly she placed her hand on top of his head and brush his hair out of his face, then rested it there as she looked at him. His eyes were closed. His arms were wrapped around her hips as he laid his head in her lap. His breathing began to even as if he was falling asleep. It made her sleepy just watching him. For some reason she forgot about what was weighing so heavy on her mind. All she could think about was how tired she was and how little she had been sleeping the last few nights. Ozai knew now. He wanted to keep it. He would protect her. He promised. There was nothing to fear. She could sleep now.
…. .
The following morning, Aang had bumped into Hakoda in the hallway on their way to dining room for breakfast. The two greeted each other drowsily. Last night there was a bunch of yelling and screaming. No one needed to ask who the voices belonged to. But anyway, pretty much they all lost sleep from the ruckus. Whatever issues the couple had, they needed to take the fighting outside and far away from where everyone was trying to sleep.
Aang nearly bumped into a wall when he realized it wasn't a wall. "Oh sorry!" He said rubbing the front of his head.
Zuko looked like he was run over by a hoard of flying bisons. His hair all messy. Mouth slightly opened with drool hanging out the side of his mouth. Dark circles around his eyes as his eyebrow furrowed and he carried his pillow in his hands, prepared to pass out at any point. Aang would have thought he was drunk if not for the lack of booze breath.
"Geez Zuko." The monk with his own set of baggy eyes. "You look awful."
Due to the absence of sleep the night before, Zuko's response time was slow and he didn't seem to hear exactly what Aang had just said. "I'm kicking them out!" He hissed sleepily with a tired frown on his face.
Hakoda, looking annoyed with dark circles under his eyes, ran his hand through his hair. "What in La's name were they even fighting about at two o'clock in the morning?"
Ursa joined them, not looking too hot herself. "I don't know and quite frankly I don't care but someone needs to deal with those two."
Unlike everyone else, Sokka was well rested and appeared to be frolicking towards them as he left his room. "Morning guys, hope everyone slept as well as I did. Man are the beds here more comfortable!" Then he walked right pass them to the dining room.
Everyone glared after the boy as they slowly made their way towards their destination. How the hell did he get to sleep through all the arguing last night?
As they seemed to make it to the dining room, Zuko fell out, perfectly positioned onto his safety pillow. Aang couldn't help the chuckle while Hakoda and Ursa went to check on him. This was only day one of their holiday and Zuko was out.
…
Towards midday, after everyone got to catch up on the sleep they lost, Zuko had his family all sit in the living room with him. He wanted to go over what he had planned. Whipping out his map of plans, his audience were already starting to groan and roll their eyes.
"Hey, stop that." He said as he hung the map up on the wall. "Now these are our plans for this week and next week. I planned them out precisely according to all our liking. What do you think?"
Taking a moment to look over the displayed plans, Zuko smiled to himself at himself. He just knew they would love it. But then a boomerang landed dead in the center, then a whale tooth knife, water splashed it, then it caught flame, and some wind blew it out as his mother made a comment about how he needed to spend some time with a few VERY skilled tacticians. Was his plans that bad?
"Look Zuko." Sokka threw his arms around his friend's shoulders and tried to put nicely what everyone was thinking. "Let us go about our day doing what we want and maybe, depending on how decent an idea you come up with, we'll do something together tonight."
Before he could agree or disagree, everyone fled out of the room before he could stop them. No way they were going to let Zuko force them into what he had planned. No freaking way.
…
As everyone made plans among themselves, Aang and Sokka heading to the public side of the beach, Hakoda and Ursa wanting to go out into town, Zuko sulking in his room thinking of a plan for the night, Katara sat in front of her trunk looking for something to wear. She was planning on joining her brother and friend at the beach. They were going to play beach volleyball with some of the locals. She couldn't wait. Finally she gets to have some fun!
"Where are you going?" Ozai walked into her room and crossed his arms over his chest.
Katara gleefully smiled as she pulled out her swimsuit from the time she went to the beach in the capital with that crazy group of noblewomen. "I'm going to meet up with Aang and Sokka at the beach. We're going to play beach volleyball."
Standing up with the swimsuit in hand, she was stopped. "You can't." Ozai said plainly.
"Why not?" She seemed a little confused.
"You're pregnant. You can't participate in that kind of sport or any for that matter." He explained as he walked over to her and plucked her swimsuit out of her hands. "And you're not going out wearing this again."
The waterbender looked at him in disbelief. Was he seriously keeping her from have fun? Seriously? "But I want to go to the beach." She whined.
"And you can but not wearing this or playing a game that'll get you hurt." He told her.
Katara was about to use the 'you're not my dad' line but thought against it since they were the same age. All she could do was pout. How was she going to the beach if she had nothing to wear to it? Ozai turned away from her and walked over to the dresser in the room. Searching through it, he found something appropriate for her to wear and tossed it to her.
"You can wear that." Deciding he'd go ready himself since he didn't trust her to go to the beach without him and not play that silly game with her friends. "I'll be ready in a few minutes. Do not leave without me."
The warning in his words as he left out of her room made the girl want to throw her fist into the wall. How was he all of a sudden making decisions for her? She understood he was concerned about her being pregnant and bringing harm to herself and the baby. But wasn't this a little much? She was only two months. Not even showing. While she would refrain from playing with her friends, she was still wearing her swimsuit. This pink little sundress could go over top of it if they decided to go somewhere from the beach but while she was there, the swimsuit it was.
…
Aang and Sokka were chilling in the sand waiting for Katara to come when they saw the girl running towards them with Zuko and Ozai chasing behind her. She wore a laughing smile on her face as she ran from the two men who clearly looked pissed. What the hell did she do now?
"Katara!" Zuko yelled at her. "Give me back my shirt!"
"Stop running!" Ozai shouted.
The people on the beach watched in shock as the Fire Lord and former Fire Lord chased after the girl. They all heard about the Fire Lord and his family being in town but hadn't expected to see them amongst the public. Usually the Royal family was reclusive during their stay. Seeing them now, on the public side of the beach, chasing the famous waterbender, it was such a rare occasion. To see them be like normal people. How amazing?!
The girls on the beach all checked out the two men behind the girl running away from them.
"Is that Fire Lord Zuko?" One girl put a finger to the bottom of her lip as she saw the scarred but still very attractive shirtless young Lord.
"Yes it is!" Another girl shrieked and clapped her hands together.
A girl who had more of a thing for older men was checking out the former Fire Lord. "Four years in prison has definitely been kind to the ex-Fire Lord." More girls began fawning over the men and chatter amongst themselves. This was a sight to see.
As for the men of the beach, every last one was gawking at the exotic princess they've heard so much about. She was better looking than the stories said. Her brown skin, chocolate wavy hair, and blue eyes were something out of this world to them. They simply could not look away.
"Princess Katara, I heard she's single now." One guy nudged his pal.
Taking a better look at her sexy her body was in that tiny swimsuit, "And hotter than Lord Agni's rays, man."
"Yeah and still off limits." One guy scuffed. "You heard those rumors from the capital. Former Lord Ozai has his eyes set on her. No nobleman at court can even get close to her without facing him." All the guys nearby shivered. That was not good news. They had all better keep their eyes low and stay as far from her as possible.
Katara ran up to her friends and tossed Zuko's shirt in Aang's lap before taking off again, this time towards the ocean. Her brother and the monk looked confused at her as she took her leave. Why was she dressed in that small swimsuit? Zuko reached them and tore his shirt from one of them, sending a glare in the waterbender's direction. He'd go after her but knew she was way too close to a large sum of her element to dare challenge her. Ozai however; didn't seem to care and continued after her.
"What did Katara do?" Sokka asked watching the demon lord chase his sister.
Zuko narrowed his eyes and plopped down into the sand. "I guess my dad didn't want her wearing the swimsuit and she froze him to the wall, then took my shirt to distract me from thawing him out which was pointless. He just melted it himself."
This seemed to make sense to Sokka as he just nodded and continued watching as his sister jumped into the ocean. She splashing around like a kid and twirling, making water bubbles with her water magic. Ozai tried to grab her but every time he got close enough, she'd shoot him with water. Eventually, he went underwater and swam under her. Catching her off guard, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, carrying her back to shore. Katara seemed to still be laughing and wiggled as she was being held up against him. Onlookers could see there was definitely something with the two. They knew from the rumors and how out of character the former Lord was acting. While he didn't seem to be laughing or smiling, he had just chased a girl into the ocean who attacked him with water and didn't kill her. So his feelings were a clear as day to them.
"So I came up with a plan." Zuko said.
Sokka looked at the firebender from the corner of his eyes. "Oh really?"
Standing up to his feet, "Yes. But you'll have to beat me in a game of beach volleyball to avoid it."
The young tribesman looked up at his friend and smirked. This was probably the best plan he had came up with in his entire life. A game to determine what the family will do for the night. Sounds like his cup of tea.
"I win and we go to the theatre tonight." Zuko said smugly. He really didn't want to see a play but he felt like neither would anyone else and would serve as punishment for everyone's criticism.
"I win and we all go to some fancy restaurant that serves the best fire dumplings in town!" Sokka jumped to his feet.
Aang got excited watching the two. "I'm on Zuko's team!"
"Teams?" Katara was back and finally set on her feet.
Explaining to her the plan, Zuko wanting to go to the theatre and Sokka wanting dinner, Aang told her how a game of volleyball will decide which they'll do. They were going to do teams. Aang sided with Zuko and Sokka was hoping Katara would join in with. Though the waterbender wanted to, Ozai stopped her, silently reminding her why she couldn't play. As upset as she was at first. Wanting nothing more than to crush Zuko and his theatre plan. She loathed it the last time she was there. However; a thought came to mind as she looked at the tall beautiful man she called her lover and she knew exactly what to do. He could play in her stead since she couldn't.
"Well if I can't play then you'll have to play for me." Katara smirked and narrowed her eyes as she playfully poked her finger into his bare chest.
Ozai was about to refuse when his son and Sokka started provoking him.
"Too old to play?" The tribesman grinned.
"No, he's just afraid to lose." Zuko grinned as well.
"You're not going to let them call you old, are you?" Katara pressed herself against him, not caring that people were watching the interaction. She then stood on her tiptoes to whisper something in his ear and backed away, folding her arms as she smirked even harder.
Turning away from the waterbender, Ozai smirked at the boys. "It would seem you boys don't understand the definition of old."
Cracking his knuckles. "Let me give you a lesson. Surely, by the ending of it you'll know that I am far from old."
Sokka and Zuko gulped. They knew they in for it. Even if Ozai was on his team, the tribesman had a feeling he would learn just as hard as Zuko will what old really was. Shit! Why I get myself in these situations?!
…
Prepping for the game, Aang and Zuko stretched their limbs and went over the game plan. Sokka stretched as well but felt it was better to rely on instinct. Go with flow. Adept to the changes of the opponent's strategy. Water Tribe style. That's pretty much how they won the war. As for Ozai, Katara knelt behind him as he sat and bended the seawater out of his hair. She ran her fingers through the long black stands and pulled them all up to go into a man bun.
"Make sure to watch for Aang's feet. He'll lift them both from the ground at once when he goes for the kill. You'll need to take him out somehow before he does." Katara told him as she fixed up his hair. "Zuko's weakness his left arm. Hit the ball to the center and he'll either fumble to get it with his right which will throw him off when he has to serve or he'll miss it. Either way, it'll be in your favor."
Ozai nodded and inwardly smiled to himself, his waterbender already calculating a sure victory. He'll have to thank her for the advice later when she rewards him. She leaned in and snuck a small kiss to his jaw, "Now go crush them for us!"
"With pleasure." He said as he rose to his feet and walked over to Sokka.
The tribesman eyed him curiously. "You seem a little more wicked than your usual not usual self."
"Mess this game up and you'll find out just how wicked I'll become." Ozai stretched as girls from the sidelines stared at his toned body.
Sokka smirked and looked over at their opponents. "Wanting to finally take out the Avatar and your son?"
A devilish laughter fell from the demon Lord's mouth as he shot a glance at the waterbender sending him suggestive looks. Had she forgot people were watching or did she not care anymore? "I'd say I have a certain prize waiting for me later."
Nodding his head in understanding. "Yeah, I'm sure you- Hey! Wait a second! You don't mean-" his eyes bulged out of his head, mouth twitching with disgust as he was paralyzed by the sudden realization.
"Heads up, Sokka!" Aang yelled and served the ball over the net, slamming dead into the unresponsive tribesman's head. He was K.O.
Everyone watching winced at the sight. A few hissed a 'damn' or laughed a 'holy shit'. Katara ran over to her brother and checked on him. She looked up at everyone and said. "He's out."
"Damn! Now we can't do the match." Zuko growled.
"Who said that we couldn't?" Ozai raised a challenging eyebrow. "I'd gladly take you both by myself."
Katara pulled her brother away as they got ready to start up again. She could see this game was about to get more interesting than she had thought. This is going to be so fun. Pulling Sokka up onto the towel he brought out here, the girl took a seat beside him and watched with the large crowd of bystanders as the game began again. I wonder who will?
….
A/N: I wonder too! Hoped you guys liked it! Please remember to review and thanks for reading! XD