Chapter 17

In the two weeks since they had left Omashu, Katara had struggled to sleep every night. She knew that difficulty sleeping was part of pregnancy but it wasn't her baby that kept her up. It was her worry for his father. There had been no news other than a rumor or two they picked up when they sent people into villages for supplies. Apparently Zuko had been seen in a town a few days north of Omashu and the ensuing fight had destroyed a large swath of forest. No one seemed to know anything about what had happened to him or her brother.

If her nights were restless, her days were worse. She woke early, so long used to waking with her lover, headaches and poor appetite plaguing her days. The ever present restlessness and need to bend an ocean wasn't helping anything.

On the second day out of Omashu, two of the younger warriors had approached her. They had apparently taken issue with her choice in husband despite her father's approval of the firebender. One of them was halfway through offering to raise her baby alongside any children they would have as well when he found himself frozen upside down, ten feet up a tree with his friend. Her bending was still unstable and she thought briefly that she may have overdone it but her fury burned those musings right upp. The two clueless young men were sent back to Omashu to travel with the other half of the tribe. Hakoda explained that they were lucky they were not home or their dishonor would have had much graver consequences.

Since then she had spent most of her time walking with either Toph or Gran gran. Suki had been happy to learn that when Hakoda had free'd his men, her warriors had escaped as well. They gone back to Kyoshi for the time being so she had decided to return as well. Katara had promised to pass on her goodbye to Sokka. She said they had talked about their relationship the night before he had left and Sokka had left it up to her. Personally Katara felt it was for the best even if it would hurt her brother. If the war ended tomorrow and went their way, that had always been Suki's plan. Sokka would never have been happy living in Kyoshi.

Gran gran had told Katara that the walking would be good for her, keeping her body strong while it grew to accommodate the baby. For her part Katara missed the rickety carriage they'd left behind in the Fire nation dearly. Her feet ached as much as her head and they still had at least two weeks to go before they reached Ba SIng Se. Gran gran had also told her that her worrysick sleep was dangerous and she should try not to fret so. The spirits were watching over Zuko and her brother so they would be fine. How she knew that Katara had no idea.

As the sun made its way across the western sky, Toph strolled over to her. Her hands were folded behind her head and she looked in Katara's direction with a contemplative face before speaking.

"How has your bending been? Still having trouble controlling it? I ask because I know you haven't been to see Silaqqi yet and I thought tonight maybe we could go together. I realize you don't want to think about this baby being the avatar but it is a possibility and she is likely your best shot at finding out any time soon."

Katars sighed heavily and glared at the short earthbender before throwing her hands up in defeat.

"Fine. I still don't see what good it will do finding out now. Let's say you're right and Zuko and I are going to be raising another avatar, what then? We are weeks away from the safety of Ba Sing Se and I have no idea when I will see Zuko again." Toph brought a hand to Katara's arm as the older girl hung her head in defeat. "We'll go see her after dinner." Nodding, Toph walked silently beside her the rest of the evening until they stopped for camp.

Silaqqi's tent was by the edge of their encampment. Katara's stomach was in knots as they made their way to see her. She had thought the idea ludicrous when first presented to her but the more she thought about it the less crazy it seemed. She knew that the strange power surge she'd been feeling the last 6 weeks was not normal for a bender's pregnancy. The timing was too perfect and wouldn't it just be like the spirits to have the next avatar born to the Fire Nation Prince and a daughter of the Water tribes. Now that she was going to possibly find out, she wasn't sure how she felt.

Silaqqi was sitting outside of her tent appearing to be waiting for them. Her eyes opened at their approach and the knowing look in her eyes sent a shiver down Katara's spine.

"I wondered when you would come to me dear. The spirits have been quite bothersome ever since we met you on the road. I have hardly been able to sleep for all of their whispering and nagging." She stood and beckoned them into her tent. "Come, we shall see what you have done to pique their interest so." Katara hesitated until Toph jabbed her in the arm and she followed the old woman. Inside the tent, the old woman had lit a torch that stuck out of the ground at an odd angle. As Katara and Toph stood awkwardly, she dug around in a sack and eventually brought out a small jar filled with charcoal paint. Scooping a small amount into her fingers, Silaqqi approached Katara and drew a half moon over a rune on her forehead and long dark lines down her arms.

"Sit girl." Katara obeyed instantly at her tone and tugged Toph down beside her. Lighting a bundle of herbs in the torch and placing it on the ground beside herself, Silaqqi placed her hands on Katara's shoulders and began chanting in their native tongue. Her words gradually became less articulate as she slipped into a trance, her head swaying gently. Suddenly she went rigid, and Katara's own head lolled back and she felt her hold on reality slip. From somewhere far away she heard Toph call her name but she could not answer. All the world was a night sky and innumerable voices filled her ears. Aang called to her first. She thought he said her name and something after she couldn't make out before the clamour overwhelmed her. It was as though 2000 consciousness were all together at once and trying to tell her something.

Suddenly it was quiet and Aang was with her. He looked like he had the last time she had seen him alive on Ember Island, so painfully young. When he looked at her, a sad smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Hey Katara." A breeze only he felt moved his yellow robes as he took a step towards her.

"Aang.." His name came out in a choked sob as she reached for him. She gasped when her hand went right through him.

"Sorry, spirit world," he said as he waved his hand broadly around them. "I'm actually surprised to see you here, though I guess I shouldn't be. I... oh Katara please don't cry." Her tears ran unchecked down her face as she looked at him, her friend. She had thought after he had died how many things she had to say to him. Standing here with him now she couldn't think of any of them. "When I was still alive there was so much I wanted to tell you, to do... well it doesn't matter now." He looked down at his feet for a moment, a frown creasing his brow. "I am so sorry I failed you Katara. I failed everyone because I couldn't do what needed to be done. Now I'm dead and my fight, my responsibility has fallen to you." He looked back up at her. "I hope you can forgive me." She choked out a short laugh and smiled at him.

"Oh Aang, there isn't anything to forgive. You died trying to do what you thought was right. I am sad, so achingly sad when I think about it, but I'm not angry with you." The sad smile again crossed his face as he sat and gestured for her to join him.

"Are you happy? With Zuko I mean. Do you, do you love him?"

Caught off guard by the change in topic, color tinged her cheeks as she answered without hesitation.

"Yes. I love him so, so much Aang." He nodded and suddenly looked sheepish.

"You know, I thought I loved you. I thought that after everything… I never had a chance did I?" Katara reached to put a hand on his shoulder before remembering she couldn't.

"Oh Aang. I did know but I guess I thought saying something would have upset you. I'm sorry, I should have told you about Zuko and I sooner. I didn't want to hurt you." At his understanding nod, she brought a hand to her stomach and smiled. "We're going to be parents now." He looked up at her with a genuine smile then.

"I know. That's why your here, though you already knew that I think."

"Is it true then? Are you.. Is our baby…" She gestured vaguely at him but couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Yes. Your baby is the next Avatar. I'm so sorry you have this burden now. If I hadn't died, Zuko would be the Fire Lord and you'd be his Fire Lady and your child would be a normal bender and life would be so much, well maybe not easier but…" Katara wiped the tears from her face and interrupted him before he could continue his self deprecating tirade of apology.

"Stop that Aang. You died but this isn't your fault. I'm not even sure if it's something you should be sorry about. I mean, I'm definitely a little freaked out but… we can do this. Right?"Aang turned and looked her in the eye, his face serious.

"It's going to be dangerous Katara. Ozai is already bent on murdering his son, if he found out his grandchild was the next avatar you'd never be safe. There's not much I can do to protect you from here." She considered this but before she could think of a response the world around her started to shift. Aang stood and she did too. "I have to go now but, I am sure this won't be the last time I speak to you Katara. Please be safe.."

A wind roared in her ears and suddenly she was back in Silaqqi's tent.

Her whole body went limp and Toph's arms shot out to catch her before she fell. Breathing rapidly, Katara hugged her arms protectively around her stomach and closed her eyes.

The Avatar.

Her child was the Avatar.

She felt Zuko's absence like a sudden wave and she sat up too quickly, tears falling onto her lap as she fought back the nausea.

"Way to scare a girl Sweetness. If I couldn't feel your heartbeats I'd of thought you were dead! What happened?"

It was Silaqqi who answered.

"She has journeyed to the Spirit world. What have you learned child!" She gripped Katara's shoulders and helped her to sit up. "What did the Spirits want with you?"

For a long moment, Katara simply stared at her in shock. When she finally spoke her voice was little more than a whisper.

"I saw Aang. He told me… My baby is the new Avatar." Turning to face her friend, she fought to keep from becoming hysterical. "You were right Toph, I can't… What are we going to do? I need Zuko, I need to tell him. Damn him and his stupid need to protect me." Angry tears continued to fall as she stood and fled the tent, hardly acknowledging the shameness as she left. She could hear Toph behind her as she followed the pull she felt through the trees, stumbling onto the banks of a wide stream. Kneeling there in the cold wet mud, she focused on the frigid water rushing over her hands and took calming breaths.

"You know we can't tell anyone Katara. Not until we reach Ba Sing Se. Even then, the fewer people that know the better. I feel like this might not be the best time, but I so told you so. I can't wait till Sparky finds out. Please let me be there."

Katara laughed and not for the first time, realized how glad she was to have Toph with her.