Reviews, reviews, thanks a ton! This chapter is thanks, credited to, and dedicated to my good friend, Lauren! Thanks!

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

Caught

Zuko held Katara all night and tried to get her talk, but Katara was as stubborn as her element during a storm. No matter how much Zuko hushed her and told her that it would be okay, she couldn't seem to clam down.

And it wasn't until six o' clock that morning that Katara had finally fallen asleep in the safety and warmth of her husband's arms.

"I love you," Zuko said, laying Katara down on her side of the bed and kissing her cheek softly. He brushed a lock of her chocolate brown hair out of her face and left his hand there for a minute. He loved Katara and would do anything he could to protect her and make her happy.

Zuko sighed as he laid down himself. It had been a long night and he needed some rest of his own.

Two months had passed since that sleepless night for the family and since then, Katara was six months in, and had taught Niamne how to sign, brining her into the world that she had promised Sokka she'd introduce her niece too.

She loved Niamne to pieces and didn't want her to miss out on anything. Katara had also taught Niamne how to lip read and was working on it.

Sokka was happy with all the effort his Tara was putting into helping his daughter, but Katara stressed to Sokka that sign language was the best way for them to communicate with Niamne and the only way for her to communicate with them.

Sokka understood this, but he still wanted his baby girl to get the best of both worlds.

But little did Sokka know that his desire would back fire.

Sokka was writing a letter to his father in the late afternoon when Niamne came in. She was naturally bored and wanted Sokka to play with her. She put a hand on his shoulder just like her Aunt Tara had taught her to do when she wanted someone's attention. This gesture was also used for people to get her attention as well.

Sokka looked up from his letter and smiled.

"Hi, Sweetie," Sokka said, signing the first word. "Do you want to play?"

Niamne nodded and held her arms up to be picked up.

Sokka did so and set his little girl in his lap. He loved Niamne with all his heart and he didn't like what was going on, but like Katara had stressed, it would be okay in time.

"All right, want me to read you a book?" Sokka asked, signing the last word.

Niamne nodded and signed "please" and "thank you" making Sokka's heart melt.

"Aw, you're welcome, sweetie. I love you." He said, signing the whole phrase, then hugging her tightly and warmly. It was his favorite and Niamne seemed to enjoy it as well.

Niamne signed right back without hesitation and emphasized it by wrapping her arms around Sokka's neck and laying her head against his shoulder for a cuddle.

Sokka sat there, just relishing in his time with his baby girl. He loved Niamne so much and he was grateful to the Heavens above for sending her to him.

Just then, Suki came in. She gave Sokka a glare and smiled at Niamne.

"Sokka, Hon, we need to talk," she said, her tone one of severe sternness.

"Uh, okay," Sokka said. He gave Niamne a kiss, which she returned and told her in sign language to find her Aunt Tara.

Niamne nodded and gave her mother a kiss and hug before leaving to find her aunt.

The girl went from room to room, but couldn't find her aunt. She didn't know that Katara had gone down to the stream and she had really wanted to spend time with her. Not finding Katara anywhere, Niamne decided to go and color.

As she was heading back to her room, she decided to see if her parents were done talking yet. She wanted to see if Sokka would color with her.

When Niamne got to her parents' room, she peeked her head around the side of the door and what she saw made her freeze in her tracks. Her parents were standing inches apart and the look on their faces was one of anger.

She just stood there, feeling scared, but unable to move.

"I'm sorry!" Sokka shouted, feeling frustrated. "She asked me to play with her, what was I supposed to do? Ignore her! I'm not going to ignore my baby when she wants to spend time with me. I love her too much. Besides, I don't see you hanging out with her."

Suki gave Sokka a glare.

"You know perfectly well that Niamne is closer to you than she is with me. I know she loves me and there are times she prefers to be with me, but most of the time, it's you she wants. And I'm not jealous, I'm just pointing something out."

Sokka nodded, recognizing that Suki was telling the truth.

"So what is this really about?" Sokka asked. "I don't like fighting with you, but sometimes it seems like that's all we do. What's wrong, Honey?"

Suki sighed as she tried to put her feelings into words that weren't hurtful. She hated fighting with Sokka as well. "I don't know. I really don't. But sometimes, I feel as though the tension of everybody around gets to me." She paused. "I feel like Toph and Aang and Katara and Zuko. I hate it!"

Sokka pouted angrily. "Yeah, well, it doesn't really go all in for me, either, Suki! Don't think it's just you!"

"I don't!" Suki shouted. "But why can't you just understand the fact that Niamne can't get everything she wants! I don't care if she's deaf or not! You can't baby and spoil her forever!"

Sokka was extremely mad now. "Why not!" He yelled. "She's my little girl and I can baby her if I want!"

Niamne was in tears by now, and she had caught some of the words through lip reading, something her daddy had been teaching her behind her Auntie Tara's back.

And now she was sure her parents were arguing because of her.

Niamne ran, unheard, from the room. She had forgotten all about coloring and was just seeking some cuddle time form someone.

Mainly her Auntie Tara.

Meanwhile, Toph was holding Tiani and rocking her gently in her and Aang's room. She loved her kids very much, but every mother had her favorites. Toph wasn't sure how it was for her older sister, considering Katara only had one, but she was sure that once Katara and Zuko's family grew by two more, Katara would certainly have a favorite among them.

As Toph held her baby girl close, she started feeling sick, but she managed to hold it at bay. There wasn't anything that was going to keep her from spending time with her girl. She hadn't seen Tiani for a few days and she wanted to spend some one on one time with her.

As Toph sat there, she started talking to Tiani. Tiani was a good listener and Toph knew she could tell her anything in the world and she wouldn't care.

"Mommy, are you feeling better?" Tiani asked, concern for her mother in her voice.

Toph nodded, even though it wasn't true.

"Yeah. Mommy's feeling better. Listen, sweetie, Mommy needs to tell you something," Toph was a little shifty, but felt as though she needed to shar this information with her daughter more than anybody else at the moment.

"What?" Tiani asked, her pale green eyes sparkling with excitement. "What is it? What is it?"

Toph laughed softly.

"Well, Mommy is going to have another baby."

"Anowder sister for me?" Tiani asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

Toph giggled and nodded. "Maybe."

"Does Daddy know?" Tiani asked, fingering her mother's hand and wedding ring Aang had given to her gently.

Toph shook her head. "No. Not yet. I'm going to tell him though, but I'm not sure when."

Tiani nodded, satisfied with her mother's answer for now, rested her head against Toph's shoulder, content at the moment. She was with her mother and that's all that mattered to her right then.

Meanwhile, Katara had just gotten back from the stream. She enjoyed Waterbending and prayed that she would have a Waterbender soon. She wanted to share her talents with her own little girl...or boy, whatever the case.She loved Waterbending and she loved teaching younger kids how to do things.

As Katara walked through the door, her thoughts were interrupted when Niamne came running around the corner. She practically threw herself at Katara, wrapping her arms around her leg. She was still crying and the tears were coming steady and fast.

"Niamne? Honey, what's wrong?" Katara asked, signing as she gave her niece a hug. She pulled away so that Niamne could see her fingers, unaware that her neice could also read her lips.

Niamne tried her best to explain what had happened.

"But why would Suki yell at Sokka?" Katara wondered aloud.

Niamne shook her head and signed that she didn't know.

"You don't know what?" Katara asked, a little confused by her niece's actions.

Niamne, feeling frustrated gave Katara a glare that she recognized all too well as a stare her brother would have.

"Okay, none of that." Katara told her, gently, while signing as well. "Auntie Tara's not mad at you, sweetie. I'm just trying to understand what you meant by what you said just now. What don't you know?"

The girl sighed and tried again. She repeated what she had signed before, but added something on the end of it this time, making sure Katara understood her.

"You don't understand why your Mommy yelled at your Daddy." Katara said, making sure she got every word right.

Niamne nodded, grinning. She was glad that she and her aunt were on the same page now.

"But how did you know what I said?" Katara asked, totally confused now. "I didn't sign."

"It looks like your niece picked up a few tricks from your brother," Azula said, coming around the corner with Heishui in her arms. The two were going for a picnic.

Katara gave her sister in law a look, but then what Azula said, hit her full on.

"Not a mind reader." Katara said, realization dawning on her. "A lip reader."

Niamne nodded and smiled at Katara, obviously very proud of herself.

Katara gave her niece a small smile in return. She wasn't upset with her, but she was going to have a word with that brother of hers.

Her neice's smile quickly disappeared when Katara asked her another question. She was doing a test, yet little did Katara know how much this question would hurt the little girl.

"Do you know what they were fighting about?"

Niamne nodded, but she didn't answer at first. She was trying to fight back tears, but her heart wouldn't obey her mind and she was starting to lose the battle.

"Niamne?" Katara asked, signing, while talking to her, so she understood what she was saying. "Sweetie, what's wrong?"

Niamne signed her reply before she burst into tears, wrapping her arms around Katara's neck.

"You think your Mommy and Daddy were fighting about you." Katara said, picking her niece's head back up. "Aw, sweetie, it's not your fault. It isn't. Your Mommy and Daddy love you very much, especially your Daddy. Your Daddy loves you more than anything." She paused, stood up, and took Naimne's hand. "Come on, let's get you down for nap and then I'm going to have a talk with your Dad." With that, Katara took her neice to her room and stayed with her until she fell asleep.

About an hour and a half after Katara was sure that Niamne was out, she gave her a kiss, ruffled her hair and left the room. It was time to talk to Sokka.

Katara found Sokka in the study, which was the usual for him nowadays. He was finishing up his letter to their father.

Katara didn't write to Hakota often. She mostly wrote to Bato. Namely because she considered Bato her father, not Hakota. This was because as far as Katara was concerned, after her mother died, Hakota ceased being her father. He had ignored her, neglected her and acted like she didn't exist after Kiani had died. He even went as far as to not say good bye to Katara when he left for the war.

As Katara watched Sokka finish his letter, she felt the urge to rip it out of his hand, but refrained from doing so. Instead, she waited patiently until he was done.

Once Sokka had attached the letter to a pigeon, he closed the window and turned around. It was only when he did so, did he notice Katara's presence.

"Hey Tara!" He said, giving her a smile. "What's up?"

Katara glared at him.

"Don't you 'Hey Tara' me. We need to talk."

Sokka recognized the tone in his sister's voice and it didn't reassure him.

"Is Niamne okay?" He asked, concern quickly filling his whole being for the one person he loved more than the air be breathed.

Katara softened at this. She knew Sokka loved his daughter and would do anything for her.

"Yes, she's fine. She's sleeping. I just put her down for a nap. But Niamne is who we need to talk about, Sokka."

Sokka nodded. He sat down and Katara stood in front of him, one hand on teh table and the other on her hip.

"How long have you been teaching Niamne how to lip read?" Katara asked, catching Sokka completely off guard.

"Huh?" He asked, truly taken aback by Katara's question.

"Don't play stupid with me, Sokka!" Katara said, getting annoyed with her brother. "Niamne just read my lips when we were in the hallway. And another thing, why are you and Suki fighting?"

"Okay, first of all, Suki and my relationship is none of your business," Sokka began, giving Katara a glare. "And secondly, I have not been teaching my daughter how to lip read." He paused and thought. "And thirdly, I don't think you should be yelling. You'll upset your baby."

"Yes you have!" Katara shot back, glaring at Sokka and ignoring his third statement. "She just did it in the hallway! And do you want to know how I know? I know because she 'overheard' you two arguing."

Katara's voice softened as she said the next part. "It scared her, Sokka. She thinks you two were fighting because of her. And when it involves my niece's well being, your relationship with Suki is my business." With that, Katara got up and left the room. She needed to give Sokka time to think and figure out a way to set things right.

Halfway out the door, Katara turned back to her brother. "Sokka, you better figure out a way to fix this. And I suggest that you start with your daughter." She pointed to make it clear."Come and find me when you've straightened things out. I'll be in the garden." And with that final statement, Katara left, leaving a confused and saddened Sokka in her wake.

Dun dun duuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn...tell me what you thought please!

Thanks again Lauren!

JayJay!