Chapter 27

Telling the story of where he and Sokka had been for the last four months lasted well past dinner. Zuko had been right about Katara being angry again. When he told them about the fight that had nearly cost Sokka his life she had been apoplectic. How could they have been so reckless as to have gotten themselves in such a situation in the first place? Who cares that they had gotten away or that they had succeeded in fooling his father. After telling about the preternatural wind and fire that had allowed them to escape, she had quieted suddenly and sat that way through the rest of the tale.

Iroh had been impressed with his decision to involve Lieutenant Jee. He recognized the strategic advantage it would give them in the future to have such a respected military man on their side. Iroh admitted that since Aang's death, many of their allies had grown fearful of another open attack. Since the fire nation had taken such a hit with the destruction of the air fleet, they had decided to take a break from more fighting.

"I want you to have this time with your family Zuko. It will be a long and bloody fight when it comes to it. Get married, welcome your baby and enjoy a simple life with the people you love while you can. It will likely take more than a year before we are ready to strike at Ozai again." Smiling at them both, he stood. "Now, I think I have exhausted my welcome for the time being. I know miss Katara has much to share with you as well." He gave her an odd look before he turned to her gran gran. "Miss Kanna as always, a pleasure."

Katara's grandmother hugged Zuko before she retired as well. She was thankful the spirits had kept him and her grandson safe and brought them home. Kanna quite liked him and how happy he made Katara.

Once they were alone, Katara stood and he pulled her to him. She clung to the front of his tunic and nuzzled into his chest.

"I still can't believe you're really here. I've spent so many nights imagining having you back that this doesn't feel real." Zuko more than understood. He kissed her then, at first softly, then gradually deeper until they were both breathing hard. Katara took his hand and led him to her rooms.

Zuko noticed they looked like she hadn't used them in weeks. Her bed was made and the air slightly stale. Before he could comment Katara was kissing him again. Her hands sliding in between the layers of his tunic, pulling it open and down his shoulders. She touched every inch of him, tracing the scar on his chest. Zuko had found the twisted flesh there hideous, another visible reminder of the hatred in his family. Yet she kissed it now with adoration.

"I love your scars Zuko. They remind me how strong you are." Her touch was electric as she ran a thumb along his burned cheek. "How much you've overcome," she traced the starburst on his chest again, "and how much you love me."

Taking her in his arms, Zuko kissed her with abandon.

oOoOoOo

Later they lay wrapped in each other's arms. Katara spooned against him as he held her close, his nose buried in her hair. She savored the feel of him against her, his hand idly tracing patterns on her swollen belly. When their little one made itself known by kicking against Zuko's hand again, she decided to tell him what she had learned from Aang. Rolling in his arms to face him, Katara kissed him languidly as she considered how he might react. FInally she pulled back and took his face in her hands.

"I have something to tell you Zuko. Please, don't freak out ok?" He frowned but nodded anyway. "Do you remember how my bending has been kind of off lately?"

"How you've been having trouble controlling it? Ya, why?"

"Well, after you and Sokka left it only got worse. I have a little more control now but I'm still kind of… off. Anyway Toph kept bothering me about it and eventually I went and talked to Silaqqi. She did something, some kind of ritual, anyways I went into a trance and was in the spirit world. I saw Aang." Katara paused as she saw a look of understanding creep slowly onto his face. "We talked for a while and… Zuko our baby… He or she is the new avatar."

For a long moment, she wondered if he hadn't understood. He frowned and blinked at her several times before suddenly breaking into hysterical laughter. Katara glared at him as he lay back and put a hand over his eyes as tears leaking out the longer he laughed. She sat up on her elbow and smacked him across the chest.

"What is wrong with you? This is serious! I don't see what about this situation you could possibly find so damn funny!"

Zuko batted her hands away as she made to shove him again and started to control himself. Taking a few deep breaths he rolled himself back to face her with an apologetic smile. He evidently found the look on her face comical because he laughed shortly again.

"Oh Katara, I'm sorry but you've got to see the irony. I spent almost four years sailing around the world looking for the Avatar in the hopes that my father would take me back and restore my honor. As if that were something he could take and give arbitrarily. My father, the man who always told me how weak and pathetic I was, how lucky I was just to be alive. Now you tell me my firstborn is going to be the Avatar. The most powerful and influential person in the generation. The very thing I spent so long searching for. It's just insane. Can you imagine what he'd say."

He sat up and ran a hand through his hair as he sobered. "You're positive?" Letting out a shaky breath he turned toward her again and opened his mouth to say something. Before he could speak, anxiety flooded his face and he turned away again and stood. He paced for several minutes, first pinching the bridge of his nose, then shrugging and gesturing as though having a conversation with himself. Finally he came back and sat beside her on the bed, putting his head in his hands.

"I don't understand. Why would the spirits trust us this responsibility? It was dangerous enough last time and all we had to do was teach him bending. Look how that turned out!" When Zuko sat up and looked at her, Katara saw genuine fear in his eyes. "I'm still trying to believe I can be any kind of father at all without turning out just like my own. How am I supposed to be of any use to you with this? I can't do this. The avatar is important and I will definitely screw it up."

Listening to him berate himself broke her heart. Did he still truly think so little of himself? Even after everything he had done to prove himself? Katara hoped for his sake that they didn't face Ozai on a full moon. She swore she would make him feel as scared and powerless as he'd made Zuko feel as a child. Standing in front of him with her hands on her hips, she decided to set him straight.

"You listen to me Zuko. If you think for one second that I'm going to let you run away from this just because you're scared you've got another thing coming." He looked hurt by the accusation in her voice.

"I would never, that's not what I meant…" She cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"I know that Zuko, but I am not going to sit here and listen to you talk about yourself like that. You are too good a man to still believe such lies." The last word was barely audible as she reached out to him. He pulled her to the edge of the bed, resting his cheek against her stomach when she draped her arms around his head. Katara carded her fingers through his hair and kissed the top of his head before she spoke again. "You are the bravest, most loving, most loyal, most honorable man I know. You are going to be a wonderful dad and I don't want to do this with anyone else but you. I know this is a lot. I didn't have a very calm reaction when I found out either. We can do this Zuko. I've had a lot of time to think about this and I think it's gonna be ok." He didn't look entirely convinced when he looked up but didn't say anything when she leaned down to kiss him.

"This won't change anything. We will raise this baby just like we would any other. The avatar isn't supposed to find out who they are until they're 16 anyway. I will teach him waterbending and you can teach him firebending, and everything will be alright." After a minute of contemplation Zuko nodded and slid back on the bed, pulling her down beside him. Katara tucked herself in around him and they lay tangled together in silence for a long while. Just when she thought he was asleep, Zuko spoke again.

"You really think I'll be a good dad?" Blinking up at him, she wondered how long he'd been stuck on that.

"Yes. I know you will be. Speaking of, I'm not sure what it's like in the fire nation but in the southern water tribe fathers are very involved in childbirth." She felt him still beneath her for a beat before a whole new line of questions began.

"Really? What do you mean by 'involved? Is it messy? Is it as painful as I think it would be? Can't women sometimes die in childbirth? Are you going to be ok?" Katara laughed softly and explained.

"Childbirth is rather messy. Lots of blood and… other fluids. It's also very loud." Kissing his chest, she thought about his more serious questions. She should remember not to start these kinds of conversations so late at night. "I suppose I could die if something went terribly wrong but gran gran is a very experienced midwife. I'm not worried. And yes, it does seem extremely painful. I've helped deliver a few babies myself and well, it's called labor for a reason." He let out the breath he'd been holding and ran a hand through her hair. "As for what I meant by 'involved,' it's the father's job to support the mother however she needs. You help keep me strong while I labor to bring your son into the world."

"You keep referring to it as a boy, do you think that's what it is?"

Katara nuzzled into his chest and yawned. She was barely able to form coherent thoughts, how he was still so awake after everything amazed her.

"I don't know really. Some days I feel like maybe it's a boy, sometimes a girl. It's weird to always think of him as an it." She hummed in sleepy pleasure as Zuko ran a hand up and down her back. "What do you want it to be Zuko? A son or a daughter?" There was another pregnant pause as he thought about his answer.

"I'm not sure. Would you want to have any more children after this? If this baby is the Avatar, I don't think he or she could very well be my heir if I become Fire Lord. I don't see how a person could be both Avatar and Fire Lord." Katara hadn't thought of that. He was right of course, it would be impossible to belong to the world as the Avatar does and rule one nation at the same time.

"When we defeat your father once and for all and end this war, I think I would like one or two more. I know you have always had a strained relationship with your sister but I can't imagine my life without Sokka." Still running his hand along her back, Zuko hummed in understanding.

"I won't lie and pretend I don't want a son like any man does, but I would be just as happy to have a daughter. Mostly I want you to be ok. If you're not worried, I won't worry. I think… I think I like that you want me there. I want to be there for you, for that." Smiling, Katara leaned up and kissed him. How could he have ever thought he would be anything like his father? He was much too caring.

"I love you Zuko."

"I love you too."