Words: 552

Title: So…

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any characters from it.


Katara was so busy fawning over her young child's newfound ability to crawl that she almost didn't hear the polite "ahem" coming from her open doorway. Her eyes flew to the red, sleek armor of the visitor and she stood, casually placing herself between the man and her baby. "Can I help you with something?"

"The Fire lord requests you and your daughter's presence…immediately."

Katara raised a sarcastic brow towards her visitor. 'Oh, he does, does he?'

"Well," she said icily, hefting the small girl up to rest on her hip, "then the Fire lord can come ask me himself."

"As you wish." It was a new voice that said this, but not an unfamiliar one.

Katara rolled her eyes as the messenger looked shocked for a moment, before he nodded and bowed to the intruder, leaving the couple (and child) to themselves.

"What do you want?"

He sighed and fumbled with something until the rustle of paper could be heard, "I received a letter about four months ago saying that I had a daughter somewhere. It also told me not to try and find her. I assume you're familiar with this?"

"Of course, I wrote it. That doe—"

"As soon as I received this, I left to search for her…"

"Chasing, the one thing you know how to do…"

"…And finally found you here. Of all places, I should have guessed you would return…home." He said 'home' reluctantly, as if he didn't want to admit to himself that this was her home.

"…and?"

"'And'? She's my daughter, Katara! Did you think you could just keep her from me!"

"Well I had hoped so."

"Why?"

Katara was surprised by the weakness in his voice, the desperation of it…but she ignored his question and repeated her own, "What do you want?"

"I want our daughter. I want a home, I want…you."

Katara looked at him, then her daughter, "Zuko…look at me, I'm not fit to rule the fire nation. I'm a waterbender, not an Empress. And do you really think your country would accept a child born by water? Don't go all 'hero' on me and say you don't care, either," she warned as he opened his mouth, "you may not, but you're not just Zuko anymore, you're Fire lord Zuko. You have a whole empire's wants and needs to look out for. Can you really promise a good life for your daughter?"

Zuko paused, then reached out and ran his finger down the little girl's cheek. She grabbed it gleefully and attempted to eat it. He smiled, "I don't know, Katara. I really don't know. But I'll try; I'll do everything for her, for you…for us." He pulled his hand away from the child and looked deeply at the woman in front of him, "I know my people may not agree, but the war is over. It's time for change. Please, Katara."

The young woman sighed, "Alright, you get one chance. But you're breaking the news to her about why she doesn't get to see Gran-Gran everyday." Katara unceremoniously plopped her daughter in Zuko's arms, who held her tightly, eyes wide with surprise. He watched as she walked out of the hut, then looked down to the small gurgling girl in his arms.

"So…pretty nice weather we've been having lately, huh?"


Well what would you say to a daughter you didn't know existed?