Haha...yeah, I have to say that the last chapter was cute and funny at the same time. Hum...I never knew I could do that. Ah well...ONTO IT!

Oh, and also credit goes to Katara Waterbending Master23 for the idea for a SOOOOOOON upcoming chapter!

The Zutara Family
Summary: Following the struggles of Katara and Zuko as they have a family (nine kids) and Zuko decides with his taking the throne...
Rating K+ or T
Major Characters: Katara (27), Zuko (29), and kids (oldest to youngest as they'll come): Heishui, Little Zuko (Lil' Z as kids call him), Zarina and Zerifina, Jailia, Kaelea, Annalea, Kiki, and Heziah.
Pairings: Katara/Zuko, Toph/Aang, and Sokka/Suki and family relationships
P.O.V.: Third Person Omniscient

Well--This Sucks...

Katara crossed her arms and looked at Zuko. "But why?" she whined again. "I'm sick of this!"

Zuko sighed and smacked his forehead. ''Because, Katara, I told you: bedrest until you're due! That's what the doctor said."

Katara huffed. "Well it's boring. I hate it."

"Yeah, well, I hate your mood swings, so we're even," Zuko muttered under his breath. "Look, Katara--"

''Hey, Zuzu, got a minute?"

Zuko clenched his fists. "How many times have I told you NOT TO CALL ME THAT!" he spun around and glowered at his sister.

Azula just smirked. "Oh, lighten up!" she said, rolling her eyes. "I think you better not have any more kids for a while. You're starting to get stressed."

"Finally!" Katara threw her hands up. "I've been telling him that for weeks. To take time off me and go do something."

Azula looked back to her brother. "She's right and smart, ya know. Which is why I came to get you."

Zuko looked back at Katara, who waved her hand at him. "Go. I'm probably just going to sleep, anyway. I didn't get much last night."

"You su--"

"GO!"

Zuko huffed and followed his sister hesitantly. "What do you want?" he snarled at her.

"Oh, what is the matter with you!" Azula shook her head. "Seriously, lighten up, take a breather, and chill out. I know she's almost due, but relax!" she rolled her eyes again. "And I wanted to talk to you."

"About?" Zuko was surprised at this.

"Oh, just something we all like to call, 'Being Fire Lord'," she said. "You promised Katara that you'd take the position once the baby was here, right?"

Zuko nodded. "Yeah."

"Did you mean it?" Azula asked. "Or was it just a stalling move to buy some time?"

Zuko's insides churned. Azula had undoubtedly caught him. "Eruhm...uh..."

"I knew it," Azula smirked. "You don't want it...how come?"

Zuko sighed. He was tired of explaining this. "I just don't want to rule, is taht so wrong?"

"Well, yeah. Because if you don't, who will?"

"Uh--YOU. Which is exactly what you want and why you dragged me out here," Zuko said.

Azula shook her head. "I don't want it. Please, are you stupid?" She paused. "Come on, Zuko...what's the REAL reason why you don't want to position?"

Zuko sighed. "One word: Dad."

"Meaning...?"

"I don't want to end up like him," Zuko shrugged. "I don't want to be the kind of ruler he was."

"A great one you mean?" Azula raised her eyebrow.

"No...the kind who favours one kid and hates the other," Zuko said, avoiding his sister's eyes. "The kind who disownes his family."

Azula sighe deeply. "Zuko, I really never liked Dad favouring me. And even though it seemed like I did back when we were growing up, it was just because he didn't like you. I know he hated you, but that doesn't mean that Itotally did."

"So you admit that you DID hate me somewhat?"

"Yes," Azula said. "But not for the reason you think. I hated you because you got so much love and attention from Mom."

Zuko thought. "But, you never liked Mom. You were always being disrespecful to her."

Azula shrugged. "Force of girl's habit. It was the age." She pasued then said, "I always hated the way Dad treated you...even though it seemed like I loved watching you fall and fail, it was all a big bluff. It wasn't until when Dad sent me out to find you and Aang that I realized that he was just using me because he hated you so much."

Zuko listened intently. "So, you admit to hating the way Dad treated YOU?"

Azula nodded. "Yeah. It wasn't fair to the both of us for your birthright to be taken away and for me to get it automatically. I didn't want to rule then, either. I was too young and I knew that Dad was just using me as a pawn."

Zuko only nodded and picked a leaf off a nearby plant. "So you see my reason for not wanting to take the position?"

Azula nodded. "Yeah...I do...but what are you going to tell Katara? She's expecting you to keep your promise."

Zuko shrugged. "Eh...I got a few more weeks to think of something."

"Uhm...Zuko..." Azula swallowed hard.

"Eh?"

"I don't think you do..."

Zuko followed his sister's gaze to find Sokka and Aang running towards him. "It's--" Sokka gasped for breath. "Katara's water--broke..."

Zuko and Azula exchanged looks, then both ran following Sokka and Aang. "Still think you got a few more hours?" Azula asked her brother.

"I think my time just ran dry," Zuko replied.

"Then you better think of an answer and plan FAST..."

Sorry it's so short. There was a little bit of a background for you on Azula and Zuko and how they veiwed their family issues.

JayJay