Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Denial
"So you've been sick the last two mornings?" Neo asks me.
"Yeah," I sigh crossing my arms.
"Well, I guess we should see if you have a temperature first," Neo says and places a thermometer in my mouth before I can object. "Keep that in, or you'll be in here all day," Neo orders and I roll my eyes. After a few minutes Neo takes the thermometer. "Humph, you're temp is normal," Neo says looking at the reading.
"Great, so am I free to go?" I ask as I get up.
"Not so fast," Neo says and pushes me down by the shoulders back onto the bed. "You can't be sick for no reason," Neo says and begins scratching his head.
"Well, until you have a clue, can I leave?" I ask annoyed.
"You see, I have an idea. The thing is I need to ask you something and you need to answer honestly," he informs giving me a freakish smile.
"Okay," I say hesitantly as I shift myself uncomfortably.
"Have you and Zuko ever…," Neo starts and pauses.
"Ever what?" I ask though having an idea on what he's thinking. "Oh my god, you think I'm… no that's impossible," I say trying to convince myself.
"So you and Zuko never…ya know," Neo starts again.
"Well, we did but, I can't be pregnant," I start.
"Why not?" Neo asks raising an eyebrow.
"Because I just can't be," I start getting really annoyed at this conversation.
"When did you begin getting sick?" Neo asks.
"Late yesterday morning," I say quietly bitter.
"And you were fine by the afternoon?" Neo asks.
"Yeah," I murmur.
"Alright, and when did you and Zuko…you know?" Neo asks.
"Like two weeks ago," I say and he gives me another freaky smile.
"You see that's the average time women begin getting sick. Two weeks after the time of…," Neo begins.
"Okay I get it," I say before he continues. "But, you don't know that for sure, do you?" I ask wanting desperately not to be pregnant at this point in time.
"No, but come here tonight and I'll give you a specific kind of fruit. It doesn't have a name but it helps pregnant women not be sick in the morning. If you're not pregnant then you'll still get sick," Neo explains.
"Great, a magical unnamed piece of fruit," I say "that could totally ruin my day."
"It's not magical, it just has this specific chemical," Neo says.
"Whatever, can I go now?" I ask wanting to get out of this room.
"Are you going to tell Zuko?" Neo asks as I walk toward the door.
"No, I don't even know if I am yet," I say placing a hand on the doorknob.
"Haley," Neo says obviously wanting me to tell him.
"Look, if I am pregnant I will tell him…eventually," I add the last word quietly.
"I'm sure he's bound to notice at some point or another," Neo implies.
"What's your point?" I ask.
"When are you going to tell him?" Neo asks again.
"I was thinking never," I say giving a small smile and Neo frowns at me. "Fine, I'll tell him after this whole battle we're planning; that is if I'm pregnant," I say.
"Why after?" Neo asks.
"Because I actually want to be a part of this battle," I explain. "And if Zuko finds out I'm pregnant I'm not quite sure how he'll react. He'll probably lock me in my room or something," I start.
"Lock you in your room?" Neo asks amused.
"Probably not, I'd probably blast it down or something. Anyway don't tell him okay," I plead.
"Alright, I won't tell him," Neo says unsurely.
"Thanks," I say before walking out the door. I begin walking down the hallway and head outside. As I walk out to the opening, I spot Zuko looking at me. He says something to Jee who waves at me. I wave back as Zuko begins heading toward me.
"So what's Neo say?" Zuko asks.
"He said that I'm probably fine but he'll give me some medicine tonight just in case," I tell Zuko.
"That's good. It's not good to be sick at a time like this," Zuko adds.
"I know," I sigh. "So what did Jee want?" I ask changing the subject.
"He wanted to know what I plan on doing if we win this battle and thus the war," Zuko replies.
"So you still plan on taking the throne?" I ask.
"Yeah, I'm next in line so, I might as well," Zuko says.
"Attention everyone, four more ships are landing at the base of the mountain. It looks to be of the Earth Kingdom," says Jee looking down below over the side of the mountain.
"I bet it's the Kyoshi warriors," Katara says walking past us toward the side of the mountain. "And probably Sokka too," she adds.
"Ninety-five ships," Jackie says walking toward us. "You guys better hurry to Iroh before someone spills the beans before you two even get a chance," Jackie suggests.
Zuko and I look with big eyes at each other. "Right, let's go," I propose and Zuko and I head fast to the side of the mountain.
"So how are we gonna tell him?" I ask looking down at the approaching people.
"I never actually planned that," Zuko murmurs.
"What? How could you not have a plan to tell your uncle?" I ask freaking out as the people draw even more closely.
"Well, sorry. We have to think of something though," Zuko insists.
"Hey Jackie, can you get the word out that no one here is allowed to let Iroh know about the engagement before we tell him?" I ask.
"No problem," she says and begins walking around whispering to people.
Soon the troops of people arrive to where we are. Everyone first turns quiet. Not realizing the awkwardness Sokka comes toward us.
"Good to see you," Sokka says and everyone begins to try to act normal again in a weird way.
"You too," Katara says coming hugging him.
Iroh walks up to give Zuko a hug and Zuko hugs him back.
"So how'd your trip go?" Zuko asks.
"Pretty good, although the people from the spirit monster village was kind of freaking out; apparently they remembered you and me," Iroh starts. "So anything interesting happen on you trip?" Iroh asks and the gaang standing a bit away from us begins talking excessively to each other.
"We went to a festival. Phil and Ning won the dance contest," I say stalling.
"That's great, so who's Ning?" Iroh asks.
"She's General Fong's daughter and she wants to help us," Zuko says fast and I shift my stance.
"Okay, what's going on? First everyone was really quiet when we got here and now you two are acting strangely," Iroh ponders.
"Um," I stutter and Zuko and I look at each other. "Excuse us for a minute," I say and pull Zuko a few feet away from Zuko. "You tell him," I say.
"I don't know how to tell him," Zuko says back quietly.
"He's your uncle. You two have spent the last two years together; if anyone would know it would be you," I state.
"Would you like some tea, Uncle?" Zuko asks turning around and I give a small smile.
"Love some," Iroh says happily but still eyes us strangely.
"Great, kitchen's this way," I say and start toward the door to the temple. Iroh and Zuko are close behind me. Zuko grabs the teapot and we all sit down at a table. Zuko pours us all some tea.
Iroh takes a sip and looks at the two of us. I stare at my tea waiting for Zuko who's staring forward to begin speaking.
"Okay, what? Am I not allowed to help with this battle or something?" Iroh inquires.
"It's not that," I say still looking at my tea.
"Then what?" Iroh insists.
"I'm engaged," I say quietly.
"Congratulations, do I know him?" Iroh asks.
"Yes," I say waiting for Zuko to cut in.
"Well, who is he?" Iroh asks and I scratch my head trying to think of a way to buy time.
"Me," Zuko finally says and Iroh looks at the both of us.
"That's great. When did you two get engaged?" Iroh asks happily.
"At General Fong's base," I say finally looking up.
"You know Zuko that's not really romantic," Iroh insists and I give a small smile.
"It was at a waterfall garden a little bit into the forest," Zuko says giving me a small glare for leaving that detail out.
"Well, that's wonderful," Iroh says. "When will the wedding be?"
"After this battle," Zuko says as our eyes meet.
"Good, a marriage would be a happy ending to this awful war," Iroh says. "So who all knows?"
"Everybody here," I say quietly.
"Oh, so I'm the last one to know?" Iroh asks with a hint of sadness.
"You would have been the first person we would have told if Haley hadn't told Jackie," Zuko ensures smirking at me.
"I didn't know that she would tell everyone," I insist.
"It's alright," Iroh chuckles. "I thought that you two had some chemistry."
"Yeah, right," I murmur.
"I'm serious. Why do you think that I made Zuko go on a date with Jin?" Iroh asks and now we both look with curious glares at him.
"Huh," I say confused.
"If you hadn't gone out with Jin would you have ever realized that Haley might be the one?" Iroh asks and Zuko shrugs. "And you Miss Haley, do you think that you would have had the guts to try to make Zuko change his mind back at the crystal catacombs?" he asks.
"I dunno," I murmur and Iroh smiles and walks out of the room leaving the two of us bewildered.
"Since when did he know?" I ask confused.
"I don't know," he says quietly and gets up.
"Come on; let's go see what everyone's up to?" Zuko says holding out his hand.
"Alright," I say as I take his hand.
We head out to the deck just as Jackie runs up to us.
"Come on, we have to decide on a plan for this war since we all are here now," Jackie says and motions for us to where the gaang is on a stage type thing.
I walk onto the stage and look out to everybody. Everyone is in groups according to where they're from.
"Okay everyone. The plan is to split up," Sokka starts. "Aang, Katara, Jackie, Phil, Toph, Haley, Zuko, Iroh, Ning, and I will be on a ship or Appa. Once the Fire Nation is in view we'll go underwater and head toward the castle. We'll come up through the basement of the palace and Zuko will lead Aang to the Fire Lord while the eight of us guard the castle. Now we need you to take out the Fire Nation from two sides so they have their defenses stretched out. It'll make it easier but barely. We'll have to attack on the day of the solar eclipse to even stand a fighting chance. They're bending will be down but they still have the best archers in the world not to mention their technology. We need to keep a level head about this. Haley, can you figure out how many ships there are and try to keep the same type of benders on the same side?" Sokka asks and everyone turns to look at me.
"Sure, are the people who were here first going to take our ships?" I ask.
"Yeah, that'd be fine," Sokka says and I sit down writing down everybody and their ship numbers.
Northern Air Temple- nonbenders/ fly 3
Freedom Fighters- nonbenders 2
Gan Jin's- nonbenders 1
Zhang's- nonbenders 1
Spirit Monster village- nonbenders 3
Kyoshi- nonbenders/earthbenders 3
13
Earth King- earthbenders 30
General Fong- earthbenders 6
Haru's village- earthbenders 10
46
Zuko's crew- firebenders 10
Jeong Jeong- firebenders 1
Jee and crew- firebenders 10
21
North Pole- waterbenders 20
Hakoda- waterbenders 4
South Pole- waterbenders 3
27
Total: 107
Divide into 53 and 54
Earthbenders plus Kyoshi warriors, northern air temple, and Freedom Fighters 54
Everyone else- 53
"I guess I was a little bit off with my math," I think as I look at the numbers. "Um, can firebenders and waterbenders work together?" I ask everyone after finishing my calculations.
"We're willing to if you guys are?" Jee says standing up to face the waterbenders. Katara and Sokka's dad, Hakoda, stands up and so do all the rest of the waterbenders and firebenders.
"If my children trust you guys, we're willing to give it a go," Hakoda ensures.
"Great," Jee says and he and Hakoda shake hands.
"Good, so Haley, you have them split up?" Aang asks and everyone turns to look at me.
"Yep, I'll say your group and I'll point to where you should go so you can all get to know and trust each other. Just wait until I'm finished, okay?" I ask and everyone nods.
"Great, alright, Earth King and his fleet, General Fong's fleet, Haru's village, Kyoshi people, Freedom Fighters, and Northern Air Temple people, that way," I say and point to my left. "Everyone else, this way," I say pointing right. Soon everyone gets up and intertwines their people to get to know their new companions.
"Okay, everyone listen up," Phil yells above the crowd and everyone falls silent. "Jee and Hakoda, and everyone else on their side, you guys are going to leave before the sun comes up. You all need to get to the southern side of the Fire Nation; which will take longer. The eclipse is in one week, and we don't need anything bad to happen so we can't take any chances. Now everyone else we'll be leaving in the late morning. We can't leave too early so the Fire Nation won't know the full aspect of what's happening," Phil finishes.
"It's getting late," Katara says and I look up at the black sky. "If you're hungry, Cho and Ning made some food; it's in the kitchen. If not head to bed; we all have huge days ahead of us," Katara says and people begin getting up.
"I'm going to go get my medicine," I whisper to Zuko as the last few people are heading inside.
"I'll come with you," Zuko says.
"That's okay. Iroh probably wants to catch up; so you go talk to him and I'll meet you back in the room," I say pushing Zuko toward Iroh.
"Okay," Zuko says hesitantly probably wondering why I don't want him to go with me.
I rush toward the door and turn a few corners before finding the medical room.
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Thanks for reading. Please review. I'll update soon.
Uh, school begins on Tuesday. Well, at least I'll get to see people I haven't seen all summer.
Anyway, thanks again.