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North and South part II

They had all made plans to regroup in Hakodas' office at city hall a few hours later. While the other members of Team Avatar had left to try and track Gilak and his men, Ari and Suki had been waiting with Hakoda and Malina in his office.
"Hakoda, rest." Malina urged the man, trying to get him to lay back on the couch in his office.
"I don't think I can, dear. Not until we find the Earth King." Hakoda told her, his face etched with worry.
"I don't think he can either. Poor thing is worried about his master." Malina said turning to look at Bosco.
"Not his master. His best friend." He replied following her gaze.
"Is there anything I can do for either of you?" Malina ask kindly, rounding on the two very tired pregnant women sitting in the armchairs.
"We'll be fine, but thank you Malina." Suki responded with a weary smile, as Ari nodded in agreement.

Hakoda looked up as he heard the soft hum of noise of several people walking towards his office.
"Team Avatar! Any progress?" Hakoda ask them as they arrived, looking tired and a little bit beaten down.
"I'm afraid not." Aang told him with a disappointed frown.
"Thod and his crew left footprints, but they lead into a maze of underground tunnels." Katara explained.
"Tunnels that go on for miles and miles... I could feel them." Toph added looking temporarily defeated.
"It'll take us days to search through all of them." Sokka told him slumping into the chair with Suki.
"Maybe weeks." Zuko added as he got closer to his own wife.
"We came back to check on you guys." Sokka said throwing an arm over Sukis' shoulders and pulling her closer.
"And on Bosco. Look what we brought you buddy! Some yummy dried fish! You want some fish?" Katara said offerng Bosco a snack.
"Listen, team. We'll rest for a little bit, but we need to get back out there as soon as we can!" Aang told them, trying his best to rally.
"Yeah. No disrespect to the Earth King, but that guy won't last long in a freezing tunnel!" Sokka said nervously.
Hakoda heard a noise coming from the window, crossing to room he discovered a waiting messanger hawk.
"A message!" Hakoda told them with surprise.
"What is it?" Katara ask him curiously.
"It's from Gilak. He wants to make an exchange. The Earth King's life for mine. Tomorrow evening." Hakoda read aloud.
"Can I see it?" Sokka ask taking the message. "Gilak wants to meet at the Bridge of No Return."
"The Bridge of No Return?" Toph ask him.
"An old rope bridge up in the mountains, not far from here." Katara explained.
"Supposedly, the bridge was how the tribe used to deal with our criminals." Sokka told them.
"If you did something really bad, the tribe would make you walk across and then make sure you never, ever came back." Katara added looking increasingly worried.
"The terrain on the other side is the most treacherous in the entire South Pole. Nothing stays alive there for long." Sokka told them.
"Yikes." Aang said cringing.
"So Gilak wants to meet at the bridge; him and his army on one side, Dad and Team Avatar on the other. He'll send Thod and a couple of his disciples over. We'll have to willingly allow them to chi block all of our benders." Sokka explained.
"What?!" Toph said horrified.
"Makes sense. They know we can easily overpower them otherwise. They're essentially asking us to lay down our weapons." Zuko explained getting up to pace the room while he rubbed his chin.
"Then, as soon as Dad starts over, Gilak will send Earth King Kuei over. Any funny business, and Gilak cuts the bridge." Sokka told them.
"You know he's going to cut the bridge no matter what, right? Even if we give in to all of his demands. No way Gilak's going to pass up the opportunity to get rid of two of his enemies at once." Zuko told them, crossing his arms.
"Zuko, that's so... cheaty!" Aang said making a face
"Not just cheaty. Evil." Katara added looking horified
"I used to be a bad guy. I know how bad guys think." Zuko shrugged nonchalantly.
"I can't believe that gasbag has the gall to think we'd actually agree to this!" Toph yelled cracking her knuckles.
"He has all the leverage." Sokka replied calmly.
"That's right. He knows that if anything happens to the Earth King, the Earth Kingdom is likely to start a new war." Zuko explained.
"Kids, I can't let you go through with this! Getting chi blocked would leave you vulnerable to who knows what!" Hakoda told them.
"It's an impossible situation." Malina added sadly, wringing her hands.
"Nothing's ever impossible! We'll come up with something! So what's the something we're gonna come up with, planner guy?" Aang ask Sokka optimistically.
"I thought you'd never ask!" Sokka replied brightly. "First we need to find a way to protect ourselves from their chi blockers, some kind of a thin flexible armour. Just enough to protect our chi points, but easily hideable under our thick parkas."
"Like chainmail?" Ari offered with a frown. "It's usually made up of interconnected rings."
"That would be perfect, but we'll have to modify it slightly." Sokka told her nodding his head in approval.
"I'll have my metal benders work on it." Toph offered with a yawn.
"Good. If we can protect ourselves from the chi blocking, we can still pretend that it worked, and get the jump on them." Sokka said, his eyes sparkling in excitement. "Now we just need a way to keep Gilak from cutting the bridge once he sends Kuei across." He said rubbing his neck.
"We need someone in place on the other side." Zuko told him, crossing his arms.
"I'm not much of a fighter, but I can do it." Malina offered hopefully.
"It's too dangerous." Hakoda told her, shaking his head.
"What if she had help from my metalbenders?" Toph ask.
"That's a great idea, Toph!" Sokka cried out. "Once they ambush Gilak and his men on the other side of the bridge, we can jump up and apprehend the chi blockers that had already been sent over." Sokka said pacing the room.
"We really need to get some sleep first though." Aang told them all.
There were grumbles of assent all around. The prep work would have to wait for the morning as the entire team was now in desperate need of rest.

The next evening Suki and Ari were waiting together in tense silence. They both hated that they had been left behind, even if they understood why. This was just the first of what would be many situations they would be left home during. That knowledge did not make it any easier knowing that their loved ones were in danger, and they were not there to protect them. Trying to accept the change that they couldn't be on the front lines of every fight wasn't going to do anything to allay thier fears that night.

The time passed far to slowly, but eventually their daring conquering heroes returned to them.
"How did it go?" Suki ask excitedly, jumping up as soon as Sokka walked in the door.
"My plan worked perfectly." Sokka told her with a wide grin, kissing her soundly.
"They thought they chi blocked us, just like we had planned, but my chain mail design worked perfectly..." Sokka began explaining and Ari cleared her throat.
"The chain mail ARI helped me design worked perfectly, they had no idea we weren't really chi blocked. Malina and the metal benders got the drop on Gilak and took out the soldiers on the other side of the bridge. Then we stood up and Katara and Toph trapped the ones on our side, and when Gilak realized he was cornered he tried to burn down the bridge even though he was on it too! It was crazy! Zuko put out the fire, but the rope snapped anyway. Zuko was able to save Kuei, but Dad, Malina, and Gilak were still hanging onto the bridge. Aang flew down and grabbed dads hand and tried to fly up with all three of them but they were too heavy. Gilak fell and Malina tried to sacrifice herself for Dad, but at the last second Katara rescued her! It was incredible!" Sokka told them, finally stopping to take a breath from his rapid fire story telling.
"Wow that was one crazy story." Suki told him, eyes wide.
"Are you okay?" Ari ask Zuko quietly.
"Yes. I'm fine. And now that that's over, I just get to spend my time here with you." Zuko told her nuzzling her neck.

The next day Sokka and Katara took Suki and Aang with them on a long overdue trip to their mothers' grave, so that they could introduce the most important people in their lives to their mother. It was somber for them all but cathartic none the less. That evening however a lively dinner had been planned at Kanna's with each of them making a speciality dish of their cultures, even if Ari couldn't be super specific about the origins of her own offering in mixed company.
"Every good southern girl knows how to make fried chicken." She had told Zuko in the privacy of the kitchen, while wondering if a nice cold pitcher of sweet tea would be too radical for their friends.
"I'm telling you Pakku, this isn't right! I'm just not used to having other people in my kitchen!" Kanna complained from the other room.
"Oh, for just one meal, relax and enjoy yourself!" Pakku told her patting her hand lovingly.
"He's right, Gran-Gran. The kids want to serve you. Let them serve you!" Hakoda assured her.
"Yes, Bosco, I very much agree. The warmth and care of the folks down here? This is just about the highest form of civilization there is!" Earth King Kuei told his bear Bosco.
"Hope you're all hungry, because we've put together quite a feast!" Aang told them as they all followed him out of the kitchen with their our dishes.
"Northern-style seaweed stew!" Katara announced, setting down the tureen of stew she had learned how to make during their trip to the North Pole.
"Steamed tofu!" Aang said setting down the bamboo steamer basket.
"Braised turtle-duck!" Toph presented on a serving plater.
"Fried Chicken!" Ari said presenting her own serving platter.
"Extra-spicy fire noodles!" Zuko told them setting down another tureen.
"And last but not least Mooncakes!" Suki said presenting her dessert.
"Mmm, this all smells so good! Less talking, more eating!" Sokka said salivating over the feast in front of him.
They had an amazing night full of the warm joy of good food and even better company. For just one night everthing was right in their world.

The next week had been nothing but peaceful domestic bliss. But by the end of the week with no sign of a baby Suki was growing increasingly irritable.
"Gah! I'm so uncomfortable! Why won't this baby come already!" Suki exploded one evening; and Aang, Katara, and Toph had the good sense to quietly sneak out the front door.
"The baby will come when it's ready." Ari tried to reason with her friend in a soothing voice.
"Well I'm ready now! Get out of there! This is your eviction notice! You are officially past due!" Suki yelled at her stomach.
"Suki maybe you shouldn't yell at the baby. What if it's like fishing and your just scaring it away." Sokka tried to reason with her.
"Don't even talk to me! You did this to me!" Suki yelled at him irrationally.
"Suki. We wanted a baby. We decided this together." Sokka said feeling a little hurt at first but speaking softly.
"Ugh! I know. I'm sorry Sokka. I'm just so ready to be done." Suki apologized to her husband, feeling absolutely miserable.
"Shh, it's okay. You are so strong and you have done such a good job growing our baby. It will really only be just a little bit longer, take this chance to rest." Sokka said trying his best to comfort his wife as he rubbed small circles on her back.

A week past and Suki finally went into labor. Her contractions had started by mid morning; Sokka had predictably gotten over excited, running around, but this was just another wait. Suki had enjoyed an easy pregnancy but she wasn't getting away so easily, her labor ended up lasting for three days. Katara and Ari had stayed with her the whole time.
"Almost there Suki, one more push!" Katara urged her on as Suki held Ari's hand tightly and pushed with what remained of her strength.
Suki and Ari heard the baby cry and looked up in wonder at his little red face.
"You have a beautiful healthy baby boy!" Katara told Suki with a proud smile as she quickly wrapped the little one in a blanket before she handed her her baby.
Sukis' face lit up with bliss as she gazed lovingly at the bundle of joy in her arms.
"Can I come in yet?" Sokka ask from the doorway.
"Of course silly! Come in and meet your son!" Suki told him gently.
"My son!" Sokka said happily as he came in and looked at his child for the first time.
"He looks like Sokka." Ari told Suki with a smile.
"Figures." Suki said pouting. "I spend 9 months growing him and he looks just like his dad." She huffed.
"Can we come in too?" Aang ask quietly from the door.
Suki nodded at Sokka.
"Everyone come in and meet the newest members of Team Avatar!" Sokka called out to the other 3 still waiting in the living room.
"He's so cute!" Aang told them.
"Does he have a name yet?" Toph ask.
"We decided Koda if it was a boy." Suki told them.
"Hi Koda, welcome to the team." Aang told the newborn.
"How are you feeling Suki?" Zuko ask his friend.
"Tired and sore but good. Really, really good." Suki told him, her face awash in contentment.
"Alright everybody out! Suki needs to rest!" Katara ordered, pushing everybody out of the room except Sokka. Giving the new parents a bit of space.

A week later it was Ari's turn, though true to form for her the baby was four weeks early. Rowan had been six weeks early and Ari was just happy that her pregnancy had lasted this long without the help of modern medicine. Though truth be told her health had been in much more capable hands with Katara than it had ever been with the inattentive doctors modern medicine had offered back home. Ari felt completely safe in the capable hands of the young healer. Unlike Suki who had had a slow labor, Ari's was quite fast. Ari's labors had always been like a runaway train, once they started they couldn't be stopped. She had awoken that day with contractions and by suppertime she was already nearing the end of her labor. Also unlike Suki, she had insisted Zuko be with her for this moment; as such when the time finally came to push she had the support of both Zuko and Suki there to hold her hands.
"Alright Ari you're finally ready to push. Deep breath in and... go." Katara urged her along as another contraction crested.
Ari didn't hold pack even a little, this had always been the easiest part for her. Her pregnancies might be crazy hard but her deliveries had always been a piece of cake. Not that she had particularly enjoyed having to go the all natural route this time, she had always been very fond of the painlessness post epidural.
"Wow! He's here that was fast." Katara said in shock as she caught the baby.
"I kind of hate you right now." Suki whispered with a laugh to her best friend, putting their heads together lovingly.
"Well..." Ari panted to Katara.
"Sorry yes, you have a beautiful healthy crown prince." Katara beamed at her, finally passing Ari her baby.
"He's perfect!" Zuko told her as he looked at his wife and child with adoration. It had been absolutely incredible to watch his wife bring their child into the world, and he was so grateful to her for insisting he be there for this moment.
"You want me to go get the others?" Suki ask the couple quietly.
"Yeah I'm ready." Ari told her with a smile.
"Hey guy's we have someone you should meet!" Suki called out the door.
"Already? That was fast." Aang said.
"You weren't that fast." Sokka told his wife.
"Don't remind me. Maybe your kid just has a fat head." Suki teased her husband.
"Hey!" Sokka said covering Koda's ears protectivly.
"Everyone meet, Crown Prince Roku of the Fire Nation." Zuko announced holding his son up.
"Aww, you named him after me. You shouldn't have." Aang said wiping away a fake tear.
"Or, uh, my great grandfather." Zuko told him with a frown.
"It's okay. I like my version better." Aang told him with a grin.
"You did good Ari." Toph told her.
"Here. Give me the baby." Suki said taking him from Zuko. She walked him over to where Sokka was standing with Koda. "Roku. Koda. Koda. Roku. We're going to be living together for quite awhile so I expect you two boys to become best friends just like your parents." Suki gently instructed the two tiny boys.
Ari laughed at her friends antics.
"Alright that's enough. Ari might have shot that baby out of her like a cannon ball, but I'm sure she could still use some rest." Katara said with authority, shooing everybody but Zuko out of the room.
Zuko and Ari finally alone just stared in contentment at their very own little bundle of joy.
"He looks just like you. He's so beautiful. " Ari told Zuko as Roku stared up at his parents with amber eyes.

The next day brought a very happy visitor to their cozy home.
"Poppo's here! Where's my little man?" Hakoda called out as he and Malina walked through the front door.
"Hey dad! The babies are in here in the living room with the girls." Sokka told him.
Hakoda bent over and scooped up the little bundle that Suki had offered him. "Hey there little man!" He cooed to little Koda.
"I hear congratulations are in order." Malina said taking the seat next to Ari.
"Meet baby Roku." Ari said with a smile, repositioning the tiny baby so that the other woman could see him.
"He's beautiful." Malina said smiling at the baby. "I thought you were having twins though?" She ask with a worried frown.
"Well..." Ari replied looking over at Zuko in panic.
"It's okay guys. You can trust her." Hakoda told them assuredly.
Ari let out a worried breath before telling Malina the same old story, she couldn't help the apprehension that had gripped her at having to confide in someone that she had only just met. It wasn't quite the same as when they had told Ursa and Noren, they had been family. With Malina though her tenuous loyalty was to Hakoda, not Zuko and Ari. It was definently a calculated risk that she didn't have a real choice in. Hopefully for her piece of mind Malinas' place in the family would eventually become more permanent.
"That's...Wow!" Malina told them, looking around at all of them in wide eyed shock like she was waiting for someone to tell her it had all been a joke. "The amount of love you all have to have for each other for this to work is just incredible! I'm humbled that you trusted me with your secret and I vow to keep it and add my own aid however possible." Malina declared.
"Thank you Malina." Ari said letting out the breath she had been holding.

A couple of days later Zuko found himself awoken in the middle of the night by Sokka climbing into bed with him.
"Scoot over." Sokka said as he got under the covers.
"Why are you in my bed?" Zuko ask him sleepily.
"Because your wife took mine." Sokka told him grumpily.

From then on Ari and Suki took to sleeping together at night. As Ari had predicted she had a very low supply of milk, basically enough to keep whichever baby hadn't eaten yet temporarily entertained. Suki thankfully made enough for both of them, so they shared the responsibility of caring for the two boys. Typically as soon as one was hungry the other would follow suit. That is how things went for the first 8 weeks after the babies were born. Then one morning Suki woke to the sun shining through the window and realized she had been asleep all night.
"Ari! Ari!" She cried out flailing her arms about and waking the other woman.
"What?" Ari mumbled sleepily.
"Are they okay! They didn't wake up last night!" Suki whisper yelled as she looked at the two sleeping boys.
Ari opened her eyes and both babies were still sound asleep and peaceful.
"They're fine. They did it they finally slept through the night." She smiled sleepily at her bestfriend.

That night the couples finally found their own beds, the only body out of place was the extra sleeping baby between Sokka and Suki.
"Why is Roku in our bed and not with his parents?" Sokka raised an eyebrow as he ask his wife.
"Zuko and Ari needed a night- Alone- if you get my drift." Suki told him.
"Oh, I see. So are we getting a night 'alone' soon." Sokka ask her rubbing her leg suggestively.
"Nope. Not ready yet." Suki told him.
"Awww." Sokka said looking down.

The last two months Zuko was going to be able to spend in the Southern water tribe passed in a blur of domesticity. Here in this house at the far end of the world they were just Zuko and Ari, new parents. The real world intruded here very rarely, though Zuko had regularly been attending council meetings. It had been decided that after he left, Ari would become the temporary ambassador of the Fire Nation; as Fire Lady she was certainly qualified enough.

The day finally came for Zuko to return home and to his duties as Fire Lord. The official story they had decided on would be that he tell the world that she had planned on returning home with him, only they had discovered that Ari was pregnant again before they could depart, and her health was to frail to leave the healers. Zuko would also be announcing the births of the twins Crown Prince Roku and Prince Rowan, upon his arrival home. This would be their first long separation at 8 months long, with Zuko then returning for 4 months, just in time for the "baby" to be born. The cycle would then repeat itself: Zuko would return home alone, announce a 3rd pregnancy and the birth of Prince Aeron, and return 8 months later. Finally after Lily was "born" Ari's health would be "worse than ever", she would then stay another 18 months. The last 18 months of her stay Zuko's visits would be shorter but more frequent as his position allowed. That was how their plans stood as the two lovers said their tearful goodbyes.