Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender purely begins to Mike and Bryan. This is just my vain attempt to live past the series finale.

Summary: Building a new world is never easy. Years after the end of the war, one night between Zuko and Katara leads to the reveal of hidden truths and disrupts their plans of the peaceful lives they thought they'd have. Even when everything spins wild, they will always find each other. They could fight the entire Fire Nation together, but what are they willing to sacrifice when the other is on the line?

Last Time…

The next afternoon, Katara found herself in her favorite spot, just outside of the compound that was built for Toph's Earthbending school, leaning against her usual tree by the water's edge as she stared at the river's slow moving current, close enough that she could dip her toes in if she wanted. After a morning of council meetings, she cancelled Bloodbending training again, Toriq and Akna agreeing to the day off with equal looks of confusion. She let her mind wander as she traced the water's movement with her eyes. Before she knew it, the bright sky had darkened to a fiery blend of orange and purple and the town was dotted with lamplight. When she heard rustling behind her, she whirled around defensively.

Her mouth fell open as she let out a relieved sigh and she scrambled to her feet. Zuko stood at the river's edge with her, not dressed in his Fire Lord robes for once, a shy smile on his face as his eyes found hers. Katara nearly tripped in her haste to fling herself into his arms. As soon as she was within his embrace, felt his warmth on her skin, and the clean, masculine scent of sandalwood filled her nose, tears began to stream down her face.

Zuko's lips were pressed in her hair as he laughed. "I missed you too, Katara." When he pulled back to look at her, his joyful smile fell immediately and he asked in concern, "Katara?"

"I have to tell you something."

His brow furrowed in confusion and he shook his head. "Katara, it's okay. Whatever it is, it's okay," he assured her.

When his arms pulled her back in, strong and steady, Katara was so tired that she didn't have the energy to resist. Her eyes and face were sticky with salt and her throat felt raw. Zuko didn't dare move until Katara's breathing had steadied.

Eventually, she asked, "Can we talk at my place?"

"Of course."

Since they had to walk through town before getting to the building that housed Katara's apartment, the two separated and walked side-by-side at an appropriate distance. Zuko could feel Katara's eyes glance towards his face and he fought the urge to meet hers, keeping his gaze forward and his expression impassive. They nodded in acknowledgement to the various townspeople that greeted them. She led him into her building, grateful that since it was the dinner rush, everyone would already be home or out so the entrance hall was empty. They surreptitiously made their way into Katara's apartment and she let him in first while she closed the door behind them. She lingered by the entrance, nervously chewing on her bottom lip and letting silence fill the space between them.

"Katara, did I make a bad call? Should I not have come early?" Zuko's face was tight with anxiety and he began to pace in her small kitchen. "Agni, I should've known that I'd be disrupting you. I just missed you so damn much and I wanted to see you sooner and tell you what happened with my father—"

"No, Zuko, I'm so happy that you're here."

Zuko froze and looked up, his mouth half open as she interrupted his rambling. "You are?"

Katara nodded mutely.

Zuko frowned at her in puzzlement. "Then, what's going on?"

"Can you please sit down?"

"Not until you explain why you're so upset."

"I need you to sit down. The way you're pacing is putting me on edge and I'm worried you might let your anger get the best of you without meaning to. And I don't want your temper setting off my temper."

Golden eyes narrowed but the tone of decisiveness in Katara's voice had Zuko sitting down at her kitchen table rigidly. Katara took a deep breath and sat next to him.

"I…" Katara looked up, and instead of revealing the news outright, she pivoted, asking, "Zuko, we agreed that no matter what, we'd still be best friends right?"

Zuko blinked. "Yes…" he said hesitantly.

Katara could see the thoughts on his face as his mind raced, the panic settling in his expression. She hurried to cut him off but he asked brokenly, "Do you want to end this? Us?"

"No. No, of course not," Katara said emphatically. She fidgeted uncomfortably and her shoulders slumped as she sighed. "Zuko, I don't know how to put this gently, so I'm just going to say it, okay?" She took another grounding breath and closed her eyes. "I— I'm pregnant."

Katara opened her eyes and watched Zuko carefully after she got the words out, noting how the color drained from his already pale face and how his hand tightened around hers. Zuko sat unmoving, his face blank. Katara's chest tightened and her stomach rolled with anxiety. "Zuko?" she prodded.

"You're… pregnant," he finally said, his voice small. He stared at her in disbelief, his heart pounding, the sound of his blood rushing echoing in his ears. Zuko felt as though the ground beneath him had given way.

Katara began to explain in a rush, "I haven't seen another healer to confirm yet. But Toph told me when she came back from the Fire Nation yesterday Or at least she brought it up. She was worried that something was wrong because she said there was something off with my heartbeat." After a quick breath, she quickly added, "But it wasn't my heartbeat at all. My heartbeat is fine. The strangeness she was sensing… It was a second heartbeat along with mine… the baby's."

"You're pregnant," Zuko said again.

Frowning in bemusement, Katara replied, "I… yes. I-it's very likely. I should still see another healer just to get a second opinion and confirm," she said slowly. "But I wanted to tell you first."

His voice was weak as he replied, "I'm going to be a father?"

Katara's head spun from the simultaneous look of fear and hope in his eyes. She couldn't get a clear read of how he felt. "Um… yes? This baby is yours. Obviously," she added carefully, still unsure of how Zuko felt about the news.

Blinking, Zuko shook his head. "How did this— Katara, you're the best healer in the world," Zuko said matter-of-factly.

"I would think that you'd remember how this happened," Katara retorted sharply.

Zuko glared at her but the glare quickly fell as he ran his hand through his hair. "Of course I know how," he grit out. "But Katara, you're a damn Waterbender. And I thought you were drinking that tea! Did you plan to get pregnant?"

Katara took in a sharp breath, clearly appalled at his suggestion. "Do you really think I'm capable of something so conniving? And you could've pulled out so that I wouldn't have to remember to bend anything out in the first place," she bit back heatedly. "We're both at fault here."

"I thought we were being careful enough. Katara, I just got my country back to some semblance of structure and order. I barely have time to take care of myself! How the hell am I supposed to take care of a child?"

"You think I can? Because I'm a woman? I had plans, too, Zuko! I wanted to do more and I can't exactly do that with a baby strapped to my back the entire time. I didn't plan on getting tied down this early!"

The two glowered at each other, their chests heaving. After a few moments of tense silence, Zuko watched Katara's face crumple and she sank back into her chair, the fire leaving her eyes as she covered the miserable expression on her face with her hands. Zuko hadn't even realized that he also shot out of his chair and was towering over her. His stomach dropped as he realized as he had done what Katara predicted and let his temper get the best of him. He lowered down, kneeling in front of Katara. He tentatively reached out a hand, gauging Katara's body language carefully. She peeked out from behind her hands and her gaze softened, though it remained wary. Zuko placed his hand on her knee, hoping she'd understand what he couldn't say as he stared the floor shamefully.

Quietly, she asked, "Don't you think that I feel like a complete failure right now? This happened because of two reasons: I'm either not competent enough to bend everything out or I'm not competent enough to remember to drink a damn cup of tea. Or both for all I know. Because I got so swept up in what we have… had?"

Zuko's head jerked up to look at her, his face paling again. "Had"? he croaked out.

She closed her eyes and exhaled forcefully through her nose. "I'm only human, Zuko. So are you. Do you think this is how I imagined telling the father of my child that I was pregnant? Because to be perfectly honest, it's not. This wasn't part of that plan and I'm freaking out and terrified—"

Immediately, Zuko felt a crushing wave of shame come over him and he cut in firmly, "You're not a failure. You're not stupid. You're right and I shouldn't have said that or accused you. I don't know what the hell came over me."

Katara's shoulders rose as she hunched and curled in on herself protectively. "You're scared, too. You're doing such great work for the Fire Nation and I know how hard you've worked and I've ruined it."

He swept back errant curls from her face and locked eyes with her. "We're both responsible here. And who knows? You still could have gotten pregnant even with precautions. It doesn't matter how we got here. We're here and we have to deal with it. And you're not the only one who got caught up in what we shared in Ba Sing Se…" Zuko's heart pounded in his chest. "What I still feel."

He could see the moment of relief in her cerulean depths when Katara found the sincerity in his amber eyes.

"I don't know what to do," she admitted, looking down and gesturing at her stomach. "This is not exactly the adventure I was imagining or looking for at the moment."

Zuko continued to stroke her hair soothingly and nodded understandingly. "Me, neither," he agreed. "But I am ready to be there in any way you want me to be."

"What should we do?"

Zuko pulled back, raised an eyebrow, and spoke carefully. "It's your body, Katara, I could never tell you what to do with it."

Katara eyed him dubiously. "Didn't seem that way the night this baby was conceived."

He couldn't help but crack a lopsided grin. "Always looking for a fight," he murmured tenderly. He gave her a quick kiss, a chaste press of their lips, but the affectionate gesture seemed to soothe Katara enough.

Katara insisted stubbornly, "Perhaps, but while it's my body, this is our baby, Zuko. I didn't want to make this decision without you present. I couldn't do that. I don't want you to feel like you're being forced into this, like I trapped you. You're right— there's so much on your plate. And adding a baby born out of wedlock to a Water Tribe commoner isn't exactly something that will be easily accepted by your people. I don't want you to feel like you have to do the honorable thing because I already know that you would, even if you didn't want this baby. And I can't let you do that for us. I can have this baby alone and we'd be happy and safe in the Southern Water Tribe if you don't want anything to do with it. You wouldn't even have to acknowledge it—"

Blinking at the rapid-fire speech coming out of Katara, her words slowly sank in and Zuko suddenly felt like the room was spinning. Zuko interjected pointedly, anger evident in his tone, "I thought I get a say in this?"

Katara stopped short and responded meekly, "You do."

"Then I'd appreciate if you let me speak for myself. You're getting worked up over your overthinking rather than over anything I've actually said. I'm still taking it in… I mean…"

Zuko laughed humorlessly, the sound somehow only slightly hysterical. He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "This isn't the way I wanted to tell you, but I want you to know so you don't think that I'm being entrapped or coerced or whatever nonsense is running through your mind."

"Tell me what?" Katara demanded, her tone slightly sour by his flippancy.

"I love you."

"You— what?" Katara had been ready to counter the logical point she was sure he was going to make. But she found that she didn't want to offer a rebuttal for what he just told her.

"I love you, Katara." Zuko's voice was soft, unbelievably tender. "I'm in love with you. I have a feeling that you already knew that, but I want you to hear it from me. I want you to know it, not just have a suspicion. And I'm not just saying this because you're pregnant with my child and it's the honorable thing to do. If I wanted to do the honorable thing, I'd just demand we get married right now, whether I loved you or not. But I'm not and I won't. Because I know you're not ready for it."

Katara's eyebrow raised and filed his last few sentences away in her mind.

"Because it's not the honorable thing to be in love with you. Falling in love with you was as easy as breathing."

"You love me?" Katara questioned in disbelief.

"I do. And I felt this way before you told me you were pregnant with my child. You can ask my uncle and your brother if you don't believe me because I told them I loved you back in Ba Sing Se. And I'll feel this way no matter what we decide to do. So don't be afraid that you're going to hurt me or lose me. I'm here. I'm with you. I'm yours."

Katara's eyes turned glassy and she threw herself out of her seat and into Zuko's arms, throwing him off balance. He let out a grunt and quickly caught the both of them so that he wouldn't put any weight on Katara when they fell to the floor. They were sprawled on Katara's kitchen floor, with Katara on top of Zuko while she grasped his face, her hands fisting in his shirt to bring him in for a long kiss. Zuko nipped at her full bottom lip, groaning when she opened up for him, allowing him to deepen the kiss, his hand entangling itself in the mass of hair at the nape of her neck while his other arm tightened around her waist to pull her close.

"I think this is how we ended up with our baby," Katara teased breathlessly once she pulled up for air. She sat back to allow Zuko the chance to sit up, but he held onto her, readjusting her so that she settled more comfortably in his lap when he lifted himself up into a seated position, one of his hands splayed across her lower back, the other still embracing the back of her neck. Katara couldn't help but smile at the sight of the Fire Lord sitting with her on the kitchen floor of her tiny apartment, looking at her like she was his whole world.

Zuko gulped. "You keep referring to it as our baby. And not just in a clinical sense."

Katara froze and her smile disappeared. "I am," she hedged.

"It seems like you've already chosen what you want to do then," he suggested.

"I… I guess I have." Katara hurried to add, "But I want to know how you truly feel and make the decision together."

Zuko told her meaningfully, with no hesitation to his voice, "I said that it's your body and your choice, Katara. To be honest, I couldn't imagine not letting this pregnancy continue. But if you weren't ready and that's what you wanted, I'd support you. If we decide to go through with it, which I'm thinking we both want, you will not cut me out of my child's life. I will be a part of it. I want to be a part of it."

Katara took several breaths to calm the flutterbats in her stomach before confirming, "You want to have this baby?"

"I want to have this baby with you," Zuko affirmed. "I want it so much it hurts to think that you'll take it away from me and that I won't be there for it."

"As long as it's what you want, I could never keep the baby from you. Truth be told… I don't understand how you're being so calm."

His lips twisting into an ironic half-smile, Zuko returned, "You mean after I was being a dick and accused you of planning it? If I'm being honest, neither do I. I might just be in shock, but I'm also terrified."

"We'll figure it out," she said reassuringly.

He saw how Katara's entire mood lifted but then fell just as quickly. "I should mention that it's still early…"

"Early?"

"Depending on how you look at it, the baby's fetal age is ten weeks from probable conception, but twelve weeks in gestational age from my last cycle. Either way, the first trimester is crucial in a pregnancy's viability. There's a chance that," her face contorted into a grimace, "I could lose the baby. It happens more often than most people think."

Zuko stiffened. He hadn't thought of that and there was a sudden flare of pain that tightened his chest and made it harder to breathe. Closing his eyes against the thought, he told her, "We handle whatever comes our way together."

Katara's face turned stricken. "We still haven't talked about what happened with your father and what that will mean—"

He pressed his lips together, but he jerked his head once, effectively cutting Katara off. With no uncertainty in his voice, he told her, "For right now, I want to be happy with you and celebrate our baby. We can talk about that tomorrow with Toph."

Katara stared into his golden gaze resolutely. Zuko felt his own smile carve its way onto his face after seeing the one that lit up Katara's face. He belatedly realized that the taste of salt on his lips was from his tears, but he couldn't be bothered to be embarrassed because Katara was also smiling through her tears. Her face was open and joyful, the same look mirrored in her blue eyes. He leaned down and gently pressed his lips against hers, coming away with a tender smile.

"We're having a baby," Katara said, wonder awash on her face.

Zuko nodded and his grin widened. "We're having a baby."

Zuko arrived at the training compound after a brief, unofficial meeting with the Fire Nation councilman. He knew the councilman was surprised to see Zuko since he was a few days early and Zuko didn't intend to use this time for work, but since Katara was busy, he figured he'd get a head start.

He watched as Katara bid goodbye to Toriq and Akna, signaling the end of their Bloodbending training. While Akna had paid his unexpected visit no mind, Toriq raised an eyebrow at him knowingly. Zuko resisted the urge to wipe the smug smirk off of the male Waterbender's face with a well-aimed fire punch in favor of greeting his favorite Waterbender, who approached him with a warm smile that immediately removed thoughts of Toriq from his mind.

"Good class?"

"Very. But I'm tired." Katara saw how Zuko immediately furrowed his brow and she quickly told him, "That's completely normal and nothing to be worried about. To be honest, I thought it was normal before realizing I was pregnant."

"You should—"

"I'm taking it easy, Zuko. Trust me."

He didn't look any less anxious, but Zuko nodded and together, they walked out in the direction of Katara's apartment, where Toph would be waiting for them. After a night of snuggling and soft kisses as they privately celebrated Katara's pregnancy, they knew they'd have to discuss Zuko's conversation with Ozai eventually. Katara's stomach turned in knots at the thought of what the former Fire Lord might have planned. As they approached her building and walked through the halls to her apartment, they saw Toph alone in the hallway, waiting at Katara's door, her lips pursed.

"Well if it isn't the proud parents-to-be," she drawled, hesitation slightly coloring her tone.

Instead of the panic and anxiety they thought Toph's comment would incite, both Katara and Zuko instead found themselves taking her teasing in stride, filling with joy at the title. Toph smiled more relaxedly. "I guess this means there'll be a little Sugar Prince or Princess joining us."

Katara grinned and nodded in confirmation. "Hopefully."

"Congratulations."

Fighting the telling sting behind her eyes, Katara cleared her throat, quietly thanking Toph, and unlocked her apartment, ushering them in behind her. As soon as they sat at her kitchen table, Katara sighed and raised a dark eyebrow at Zuko.

"Putting it off won't make it any easier."

"I guess I should preface this by saying that for the last ten years, I've been almost certain that my mother is dead." He did not miss Katara's sharp intake of breath.

"The circumstances of my mother's disappearance have always been hazy… I remember her visiting me in my room in the middle of the night, the night of my grandfather Azulon's death. But the memory is so muddled that I couldn't be sure that it wasn't a dream. From the time that she disappeared until the Day of Black Sun, I was almost sure that she was dead." He frowned as he recalled, "Then, on the Day of Black Sun, when I confronted my father, he taunted me, telling me that there was a chance that my mother was still alive. It was the first time he mentioned her since she had disappeared and I finally had confirmation that it was possible to find her again. When I questioned him after Aang defeated him, he told me nothing else and refused to answer. I gave up asking him after two years and he's remained silent for the entirety of the last five years. Until I received his message."

"So what's changed?"

"When we finally went to his cell, he refused to speak or say anything on the matter until I met two conditions: that Toph leave and that I agree to Azula's release."

Katara reared back. "Azula?"

Azula's fate and whereabouts had been the group's best-kept secret. They knew that Ozai's supporters couldn't be allowed to know where the Fire Nation Princess was kept in fear that it would incite a coup and worse, it would cause severe regression for the unstable princess. After Katara defeated her during Sozin's comet, they had kept her in a secret, separate cell built by Toph until Sokka and Katara could ensure her secure travel to the Northern Water Tribe. Not even the council elders of the Northern Water Tribe knew. They had only told Iroh and Pakku in order to get their help as members of the Order of the White Lotus in constructing something that would keep Azula and her rigorously-tested caretakers safe from Azula's unpredictable outbursts. Yugoda was the only healer Katara trusted to visit Azula for healing sessions and meditation, far away in the tundra, away from Agna Qel'a, the Northern capital.

"I don't know why he's so interested in her. I mean, obviously, she's his favorite, but that's still not saying much. It's not like my father particularly cared for either of us beyond what use we may be. I also don't know why he's chosen now to ask for her. You would think that he'd demand her right after the end of the war."

"Which leads us to believe that there has to have been a leak and that there's also traitor in Zuko's cabinet that's feeding information to Ozai somehow," Toph concluded. "The timing is strange, too. Ozai opens his mouth for the first time in years after news of Zuko helping to create a new nation? After Zuko helps you pass groundbreaking legislature regarding the teaching of a new, elite bending skill? Something's up. Zuko's latest successes must have triggered something."

Katara hummed thoughtfully as she digested the information. "What else did Ozai say?"

"After I refused his demands? He said I broke the terms of the agreement he set since I brought Toph. Called me a dishonorable bastard for it. Apparently, I couldn't even follow simple instructions," he said coolly.

Anger turned Katara's blood hot. The kettle in her kitchen began to whistle.

"Whoa there, Sugar Queen. Zuko's a big boy. Mean words aren't worth getting worked up over."

Katara huffed and asked them, "Did he say anything?"

"Besides demanding Azula's release? He threatened to destroy everything I hold dear and that my time as a pretender on the throne would come to a swift end. And that if I stepped down willingly, he might show mercy and offer a fast death. So, no. He didn't say anything. But he implied plenty about the possibility of a coup and attempt on my life."

Cerulean orbs narrowed into a dark glare. "I'm going to—" Katara growled.

"Do nothing. It's not just your safety we have to think about." Zuko looked pointedly at her stomach and Katara reluctantly deflated, though the heat in her stare didn't lessen. "As strong as you are, this little one isn't quite there yet. You're not as invincible as you were."

"Here's what we know: The former Loser Lord wants Azula released so badly, he's willing to give up his only leverage, which is Ursa's location. We can also be sure that he's not demanding Azula's release to make sure she can live out the rest of her days sunbathing on Ember Island. He wants to use her."

"Aang took away his Firebending. He must be willing to bet that Azula would still do his bidding for him," Zuko theorized.

Katara raised her eyebrows. "He betrayed her and left her for dead during Sozin's comet. How can he think that she would still follow his lead?"

Zuko frowned darkly. "Because she did for fourteen years and continued to do so even after he betrayed her and left her behind to become the Phoenix King. I went back to him after a childhood of neglect and abuse. Ozai knows he has power over her. And no matter how much work Azula's done in the last few years with her rehab, her progress is still too fragile. "

"So we protect Azula and keep her away from him and any of his followers. I'll write to Pakku immediately so he can warn the White Lotus."

"Azula can't know," Zuko said instantly.

"No," Katara agreed, "She can't. They have to increase security carefully or else her suspicions will rise and it might trigger a psychotic break. But how do we know this isn't a sick manipulation by Ozai? Does he actually know where Ursa is or is this information the last scrap of power he has over you two?

"He knows," Toph muttered quietly. "The bastard knows and he won't tell us unless he sees Azula in front of him. I can confirm it."

"So we're just stuck?"

"Not exactly."

"Toph," Zuko warned.

"There's something else he's willing to trade the information for."

"Then why don't we just opt for that? It can't be as bad as letting him get to Azula."

"Toph, I told you not to—" Zuko growled.

"Well he actually wants to see you."

Katara's eyes widened impossibly. "Me? What could he want with me?"

"Damn it, Toph!" Zuko yelled, his hand slamming onto the table. Katara jumped but to her credit, Toph remained still. His face was twisted as he snapped at the Earthbender, hissing, "I told you that wasn't an option. I'm not letting my father get anywhere near Katara. Especially now."

"Zuko if I wasn't your girlfr—"

Gold eyes flashed dangerously. "No, Katara, I'd still be this protective over you even if we weren't dating because my father is evil and vindictive and ruthless. That argument won't work here. What ifs don't matter because the reality is that you are my girlfriend and I love you and you're carrying our child and there's no way in fucking hell that I'd let that bastard hurt either of you." He met her eyes meaningfully. "I know that this is hard for you to accept but I can't let you get too involved, not at the cost of your safety or the baby's."

"So what? Do you intend on just keeping me in the dark? Staring out the window wondering when you'll come visit?"

"Why are you being so stubborn about this?" Zuko snapped.

"Me? You're being more obstinate than a buffalo yak right now! Just because I'm pregnant, that doesn't make me an invalid."

"Katara, don't be selfish. This is about more than your capabilities. It's never been about your capabilities— I know how strong you are. But our baby isn't yet and it needs you alive and safe to protect it. Even without you eager to run off and fight, didn't you say that there's a chance we could lose it? That this time is critical and all precautions need to be taken? How can you even think of putting our baby in harm's way?"

Katara reared back from his tirade, his voice ringing in her ears. She saw how Toph's brow furrowed in concern and the look of shock on Zuko's face as his words registered for him. He looked remorseful and opened his mouth in what Katara imagined would be a sincere apology but she shook her head.

"No, Zuko, don't. You're right. I have to remember that there's something more important to prioritize now. I know logically that this is the safest option, but somehow I feel like… like I'm not being helpful and that I'm just a burden for you now. And that everything you were afraid of is just coming to fruition."

She looked up and saw how Zuko stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face. Without breaking eye contact, he asked Toph, "Do you mind giving us a moment?"

Toph stood and quietly made her way to the door. As she passed Katara, she placed a hand on the older woman's shoulder comfortingly. "I'll give you more than a moment. I've said my piece and I'm not needed here anymore. I'll see you two tomorrow to continue discussing next steps," was all she said, knowing that whatever words were going to be said weren't meant for her ears.

Once the quiet click of the door broke the silence, Zuko stood from his seat and walked towards the window in Katara's living room, the glow of the lanterns outside casting shadows on his stoic expression. He crossed his arms and shook his head regretfully. "You're right."

Arching an eyebrow, Katara replied, "I am? Sure doesn't feel like it."

"This is everything I was afraid of… but worse."

Katara's stomach dropped. Her body felt heavy and she couldn't lift herself out of her seat to walk to him, stuck in place.

"What should be one of the most joyous moments of my life… my father has somehow managed to ruin. He's in a fucking cell and he can still get to me somehow! There's a traitor in my cabinet. There is a plan to overthrow me. All the work that's been accomplished with Azula. You. He's managed to snake his way into everything that is good in my life and taint it. I've taken everything that's been thrown at me so far but I don't know how to handle this. I don't know when it's going to end. If it'll ever end."

He turned over his shoulder to meet her with forlorn eyes. "He's already ruined my family once. I can't allow him to do it again. You have to know that all I want is to make sure that the two of you are safe."

"Do… do you know why Ozai is requesting to see me?"

"My instinct and my fear tell me that he made that request because he suspects a relationship between us and that this will unnerve me the most. Logically... you're the best healer in the world. News of your Bloodbending initiative may have reached him. And he might be trying to reverse what Aang did."

Katara's eyes widened. "He thinks I can reinstate his Firebending? He's insane."

Zuko smiled coldly, a dark shadow flashing in his eyes. "Something like that," he muttered. "He's desperate. Which makes him even more dangerous. A big part of me hopes that's his only motivation for wanting to meet you. You'd be useful to him and that makes you safer than if he knew we're together."

Katara had remained the only member of the team who had not met the former Fire Lord. She absolutely refused to at the end of the war and it was universally agreed that there was no purpose to it. Ozai's trial was immediate and his sentencing even faster.

"Do you really think that he knows about us?"

"He might. He can't hurt you from his cell… but whoever is helping him… until I figure out who it is, the Fire Nation isn't safe for you. You can't come."

Katara's face fell but she nodded understandingly. "We knew that we'd have to spend time apart."

"But…" Zuko's voice trailed off, but Katara knew what words were unspoken between them.

But what about the baby?

Rising from her seat to meet him, Katara told him sadly, "I want you to be a part of this experience as much as possible, but I can't possibly ask you to come to Yu Dao more often than necessary. It would raise suspicion."

Reluctantly, Zuko agreed, "And put you two in even more danger."

Katara hugged her arms and shook her head in disbelief. "This isn't fair," she mumbled, blinking back the tears that were filling her eyes. She hastily scrubbed a fist against her eyes to try and staunch them. She cried out in frustration. "Spirits, my damn hormones!"

Zuko reached out and took hold of her wrist to tug her towards him. Weakly, he joked, "Don't blame the baby. You've always cried at the smallest thing."

She huffed lightly and gave him a watery smile.

He stroked her hair. "My uncle will be in Yu Dao by the end of day tomorrow. I asked him to take a detour here before going back to Ba Sing Se. I intended for it to be a relaxing visit for him, but we can take the opportunity to ask him what he thinks is best."

"You should probably drink my tea for me in case he found some more cactus extract. That can't be good for the baby." Katara's mouth quirked upwards. "Iroh will be ecstatic to learn that he's having a grandchild."

Zuko grinned at her before pulling her in tightly and resting his forehead against hers, sighing contently when she wrapped her arms around his waist. "It'll make his whole year," Zuko agreed. He imagined the look on his uncle's face, cleared his throat, and added, his voice thick. "Thank you, Katara."

Katara leaned back to lock eyes with him. "I should be the one thanking you," she said, echoing their exchange from five years prior when Zuko had taken lightning for her.

Zuko released a trembling breath as he beckoned her back into his embrace, holding her firmly against his chest. He responded with "I love you," as if it was the simplest thing in the world. As Katara nuzzled into his chest, she supposed that at the root of it all, it really was.