Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or anything associated with it except my fanfiction
Writing a book is very tedious, I will say that. I've have it mapped out since last year, but I'm only halfway through the first draft... don't expect me actively writing on here till at least the beginning of summer. :(
Katara could feel it. The tight bundle of chi in her stomach, an anomaly that had seemed insignificant before, but was now too apparent, too large, to ignore. She was pregnant.
She closed her eyes and laid back on her rocking chair, protective arm over her new child. Bumi and Kya were playing outside, laughing and shouting in their bid for innocence, a desperate attempt at assuming a normal childhood. Being the children of the Avatar did nothing to help in this matter, nor did the glaring fact that neither of them were airbenders - Kya being a waterbender, Bumi taking after his uncle as a nonbender - do anything to assuage the pressure on them as legacy of the most accomplished healer in the world and the Avatar himself. Katara felt a twinge of sadness and sympathy for them. She had known the consequences and the risks of marrying the most powerful bender in the world - welcomed them, not for what they were, but for the person who possessed those titles, the person who never failed to remind her what it was to smile, to laugh, to be happy and content with the life she had. Even then, she couldn't help the knot of guilt gnawing at her chest. Kya and Bumi were strong, resilient, happy children - but their lives were tenuous at best, even under a gilded facade. She only hoped they would not bear too much ill will later on in life...
No. She would not think that. She would do her best for them. That would be all she could do. And she would have to be satisfied with that. It was only unfortunate that she devoted more time to Kya than to her eldest, fostering the girl's waterbending and healing. Katara could tell that her mother's namesake would gain much prowess in the bending field, and was strongly reminded of her mother. Despite Kya's obvious uniqueness, Katara was distinctly reminded of her and her mother's strength of character, occasional stubbornness, and of course, the name they had chosen for her. Aang had insisted, staunchly saying, despite Katara's admittedly reluctant, false protests, that as mother and protector of Katara, the first Kya deserved some sort of recognition, some sort of honor. And thus Kya was named. Bumi was a pretty apparent choice. His mannerisms and ingenuity were all reminiscent of Aang's old friend, and thus he was named. King Bumi stayed around long enough to see Bumi grow from a tiny swaddle of blankets into a young, rambunctious boy with the king's wit to boot. It was no surprise when, on his deathbed, of all the things he could have said, he decided to speak with Bumi and Bumi alone, and when only one had come out, it was as though they had undergone a transformation. More mature. But still ridiculous, as shown when Bumi was laughing and sprinting maniacally from an obviously angry Kya, for what Katara couldn't see or hear or tell. But they were a happy family, if an imperfect one at that.
Katara wondered what she would tell Aang. Using her healing powers, she would be able to discern the gender - and potential bending power - of the baby. She had found that out by accident by testing it out as a whimsy on Bumi. She was heartbroken when she admitted to Aang her premonition of the baby's bending status, and more so when her predictions turned out to be true. With Kya, she didn't need to sense that she was a waterbender - she felt it in her very blood, the virtue of which she refused to think about terribly thanks to Hama - but she still felt averse to the realization that two children in, they had had no luck. It was flabbergasting to have a nonbender as a child of the Avatar and a bender, and its very occurrence shook Katara to the core. Bumi and Kya were her children, and she loved them very much. That was all. It was only unfortunate that the circumstances of their rearing muffled the resounding rejoice of their births.
But it wasn't the time to think that way. It wasn't ever the time to think that way. They were happy, truly happy. Missing a piece in their lives, imperfect, but still very happy. And the more the merrier, went the saying. And that was what Katara felt, and more, as she touched, physically and spiritually, the glowing bundle of joy and love she now carried anew.
All the same, curiosity cast away contentment. She wanted to know, needed to know. The irresistible call of the unknown and its subsequent discovery drew Katara like a lemur to moon peaches. Not wanting to squander a second of time, she hastily rushed over to the sink, mindful of the fragility of her state and her burden (burden? Burden? Such an inaccurate, negative word that did poor to describe what she was nurturing...) extracted some water into a bowl, and, too excited to return to her chair, she took her shaking hands, hovered them over the water, and as she bent the water to envelop her hands, they began to glow. Squeezing her eyes shut, she took the altered water and placed it on her stomach, heart leaping with wild hope, yet restrained with caution of the worst.
She froze, palms suspended, water shimmering. She wondered if it was better to leave things in the dark. She didn't like the feeling that she was practically dictating the entire course of a child's - her child's - life by just waving some water around.
But only for a moment. She set her face determinedly and plunged her hands to her stomach.
She slowly closed her eyes, focusing her attention on divining the baby's... attributes. She felt uneasy calling them that, but that was what they were, characteristics of the baby. Gender, bending, age in womb... she couldn't say much with certainty, but she was accurate enough. Aang would have wanted to know, anyways. Well, that, and how they had conceived a baby again... although Kya and Bumi were two years apart, it had been seven years since the former was born. Katara suspected that, after Kya was born, Aang had given up on hoping for one last airbender to keep the traditions and histories of the Air Nomads alive, and that he had decided to content himself with what he had. Katara blushed, appreciating this sentiment as one that showed how Aang truly cared for individuals, even if they cost his own personal goals.
Perhaps that was why one time, after one especially intimate night of undying love, she might have neglected her contraceptive methods...
Returning her attention to the baby, she began discerning things. The baby's gender. Male. The date she obviously guessed, roughly two months prior. It was a late discovery for certain, but all the same... it was going to be born sometime in the fall.
Fall. The season of airbenders.
Katara's pulse quickened. There might be a chance. A slim one, but one that existed. Hastily, eagerly, cautiously, tentatively, she probed a little further, tense with anticipation, anxious of the result -
Her pulse fell.
Dizzy, she staggered around the room, finding herself back in her rocking chair. Back and forth, she soothed herself much as her mother had soothed her as a mere babe, as she had soothed her children before they knew any words and mewled helplessly. Her arms grabbed the sides of the chair as she held her secret with her, wondering just how to tell Aang, about the baby and... the other important things.
Unfortunately, she didn't have much time to think. A sudden clamor arose outside, suggesting the visitation of someone of paramount prominence. It could only have been Aang. The world was at peace, and even if it were not, all visitors announced their entry to Air Temple Island in advance. The fact that this visitor came without warning could only mean that the Avatar had returned home, and the welcoming shouts of "Avatar!" confirmed these suspicions.
It was too late to hide.
She slowly stepped outside, ready to greet her husband with open arms. Aang was talking animatedly to Shung, leader of the Air Acolytes. About what, she was not concerned about, but something deep inside of her, an echo from the past, felt a savage sense of triumph that many of the female Air Acolytes Aang had been well-acquainted with, including Xing Ying, had relocated to the Eastern and Western Air Temples. Although she did spare a compassionate thought for their safety and wellbeing from time to time, she didn't forget the times where Aang spent much, much more time on those girls than he had spent on her... or on the boys!
But all was done and past, for now, Aang only had eyes for her. As she walked up to him, Aang hastily attempted to end the conversation tactfully and conclusively, that Shung's sour face did not agree with, but he was able to end the conversation, and hastily waved everyone off. Bumi and Kya, attracted to the commotion, stayed. After all, it was their father and mother that were talking.
It was a conversation Katara deemed appropriate for them to hear.
"Sweetie!" Aang broke out in a tired, lopsided grin that never failed to steal her breath. This made her feel all the worse for what she was going to tell him... "How are you doing?"
"Gee, thanks a lot, dad," Bumi muttered under his breath.
Aang's smile faltered. "Hi kids... I'm sorry, I didn't see you guys there..."
"No, we get it," Kya answered quickly. "Rough day for you. Well, almost every day's a rough day for you, but... we get the point, don't we, Bumi?" Now, with Bumi's guard caught lacking, Kya swiftly attempted to elbow her brother in the stomach. But Bumi was too wily and quick. He darted out of the way, made a face at Kya that Katara was going to have to reprimand him for later, and the two children set off, continuing their mad chase from before.
Aang looked at them, distantly, exasperatedly, lovingly. "Kids," he said affectionately.
Katara sighed. "Hard to think we were like that... if we were ever like that. I'm glad they never had to face a war..."
"Pshhh, don't think that way. And what about our first date together?"
"What?" Katara stared at him blankly. "Are you talking about that dinner at the Jasmine Dra -"
Aang rolled his eyes. "No, silly. After you saved me from that frozen prison I called home for a century. What were my first words to you."
Katara broke out into a reluctant grin as she recalled the memory Aang had brought forth. "'Do you want to go penguin sledding with me?'" she said wryly.
Aang pointed at her victoriously. "See? We were like them, in a war!"
"That was... that was different," Katara said. "You're just a natural bundle of fun."
"One of my attractive attributes, huh?" Aang said, a twinkle of mischief in his eye. A scandalized Katara slapped him playfully while he quickly shielded his body from Katara's vengeful blows. "And what makes you think I didn't pass on my penchant for fun onto our children, huh?" He yawned, and Katara immediately halted her actions. She had forgotten what state her husband returned home in, most nights - that was, on the nights he was able to return home.
"Sorry..." Katara said, but Aang stopped her by rushing in for a heated kiss on the lips.
"You're my forever girl. Don't be sorry. Besides, if I have the energy to dish it out, I should have the energy to take it back in," he said when they broke apart. "Oh, Spirits," he said, leaning on his staff. He never leaned on his staff. "It's good to be home, with a wife and two wonderful children..."
"Three." Katara didn't mean to blurt it out. Not at that moment. There was the chance it would be too much for Aang at that instant, exhausted as he was. But her words were irrevocable as Aang fixated on her sharply. "What do you mean, three?"
Katara was caught in the lights, and couldn't keep things in the dark any longer. "I... I... I'm pregnant," she admitted, and Aang's jaw dropped to the floor.
Bumi and Kya, still chasing each other, tripped, slipped, and stumbled, tumbling into a heap, stunned, forgetting their feud for the moment.
"You're pregnant?"Aang gawked.
"You're pregnant?" echoed Kya.
"We're having another sibling to add to this torment?" asked Bumi. In response, Kya brutally poked Bumi in the stomach. "Stop it! I I'm too ticklish!" he squealed.
"Not the time, big brother!" exclaimed Kya, although she failed to hide the hint of a grin curling at the corner of her mouth. Definitely their father's children, Katara thought.
But when utter silence followed, and everyone looked at her, she realized that they were expecting an answer. Katara stuttered. "Well... uh... a few months ago. I think you know what I'm talking about, Sweetie." Aang began looking less like the Avatar and more like a rouge cherry. The children stared uncomprehendingly. Thankfully, they were too young still to have been exposed to even the slightest mention of that... what she and Aang did.
"What's she talking about, dad?" inquired Kya.
"But... but..." Aang stammered. "... whatever," he said, shrugging. Kya's question lay forgotten, as Bumi suddenly made an attempt to get Kya off of himself, but Kya did not relent.
"Not gonna lie, Kya... you've grown a lot. Your weight actually kinda hurts me." Kya pressed down harder, and Bumi winced with obvious pain.
"Kya! Get off your brother now!"
Kya pouted, but did as she was told. "He's just playing, you know," she said petulantly. "There's no way a seven-year-old girl could possible hurt an older boy by sitting on them. And I'm small for my age!"
"We can never tell with you..." Katara said dryly, about to go on a lecture about taking care of family members when Aang cleared his throat. "So, I found out today, just a few moments before you came back. I felt something before, but I just dismissed it as growing old. But a baby... sooner or later, it becomes hard to miss."
"Considering I haven't noticed a thing, you've handled it very well," Aang said quietly.
Katara shrugged. "It's been two months before I noticed. This baby is surprisingly easy to have."
"As opposed to us?" shouted Bumi.
"Yes," Katara shot back. "I'm starting to wonder if there'll be a correlation between how easy a baby is on the mother in the womb and how annoying they become as they grow up?"
"Huh? Imagine being annoying? Couldn't be us," snarked Kya, and the two children dissolved into giggles, Kya rolling on the floor. Bumi took the opportunity to scoot a respectable distance from his sister.
Katara sighed, and decided to ignore the children. Maybe they were doing that just for attention. Not that they had adequate attention, likely, but responding to them when they were troublemaking would only cause them to make more trouble, as they would learn that trouble brings wanted attention. And Katara didn't want that. "Aang..." she said, moving on from the frying pan straight into the inferno. "I... I checked the baby."
Aang became solemn. "You... did?" he walked slowly towards her, glider-staff used as a walking stick. "Were... were they..."
Katara shook her head no. "I'm sorry."
"Yay! Another one of us! I mean," Bumi retracted hastily after his mother shot him a reprimanding glare. "... I'm sorry. No, in all serious, I mean it. I know how much it means to you, dad."
"Yeah, we're both genuinely sorry. It's just that one of us doesn't have the brains or tact to say it properly," Kya said, inching threateningly towards Bumi once more.
But Aang was silent, staring dully at Katara, destroying her from within from the hopeless defeat in his eyes.
Aang closed his eyes and lowered his head. "Perhaps it was never meant to be." He looked out at the clouds. "I always wanted someone to be able to pass on the airbending forms... everything else, the Air Acolytes could very well do, but none of them are airbenders." He breathed deeply. "Perhaps this is just the way of the world... the forms can be passed, but the bending - it'll fade away with me, won't it," Aang took his hands, letting the glider-staff fall to the ground, and he looked mournfully at Katara. She couldn't stand it.
She decided enough was enough.
She brought him in for a fierce kiss, greedily grabbing her husband and reeling him in. After a squawk of protest, Aang caved, melting into her as she poured her love and her being into the single gesture. It felt just as it always had - magical, joyous, a world full of nothing but happiness and contentment and the two as they held each other, intertwined forever.
She ended the kiss, just as suddenly as she began it. As Aang sputtered, disoriented by the suddenness of the initiation and withdrawal of Katara, she looked away, ashamed, but the beginnings of a giddiness blooming into existence. "Aang... I'm sorry."
"Huh?" Aang asked. "... what are you sorry about? This is not you. You are the most amazing... the most perfect... why would our children grieve you. I don't care if they don't bend air. I love them all the same, and equally, and fully. They are your children. Our children. And I love them unconditionally, bending be damned," he said fervently. Katara looked at him, aghast, never once hearing him curse. "... sorry for the language..." he apologized weakly. "But I just want you to know... I love you. I love Bumi. I love Kya. And I love our new child. And nothing will change that. You hear me? Nothing." He hugged her.
"Ugh, oogies time. I'm outta here," Bumi said, sprinting away.
"Bumi! Come back!-" Kya called. She crossed her arms. "Humph. I think it's sweet." She huffily got up and followed her brother.
Katara pushed Aang away. He reacted confusedly. "That's not what I'm worried about. You're the most amazing man in the world. I would never doubt your love, or fidelity, or loyalty. But what I mean to say is," she cast her gaze down. "We do really have a baby."
"Yes..." Aang said slowly. "But what do you mean by that?"
"You know what I said about the baby? How it wasn't an airbender?" A brief flash of hurt swiped across Aang's face, but he nodded. "What day is it today?"
"April... April first," he said uncomprehendingly. A light went off inside his head, and he looked at Katara anew, a flame of hope and life igniting within him. "April first," he said, realizing the importance.
Katara smiled, feeling guilty nonetheless at leading her husband so, but as she kissed him fervently, she could see that it was worth it, and Aang's approving smile at her deceitful wile washed away her guilt and replaced it with a mischievous elation, for the baby, and her family, and her life, and most importantly, the biggest prank she had pulled since her plans with Toph.
"April Fools," she breathed. "Tenzin."
Aang looked deeply into her eyes, bit his lip, and nodded. "The perfect name for our new airbender."
Please Review. Sorry for late prompt.