Disclaimer: Don't own A:TLA for god's sake! Jeez!

Note: This is a challenge fic issued by 4EverSleepingDragon.

Warning: mpreg (male pregnancy), possibly OOC-ness, and an AU-fic as well. Also, there is yaoi (slash) in this story, so if you are against that, please leave. Do not say I did not warn you. Mild cursing…

Thank you for the reviews!

"There ya go." The old healer told him as she finished wrapping his hand. "It's gonna bruise rather nasty, but it'll heal eventually."

"Thanks." Zuko muttered as he studied his tightly wrapped fist.

"Ah no problem, dearie. You ain't the first one like this."

"What?" Zuko snapped his head up to look at the old woman. She just grinned her toothless grin at him.

"I used to work in the army, dearie. I helped heal 'em poor benders after those horrid battles and I got to meet some mighty interesting folks."

"…Great…" Zuko answered, not really sure what the old woman was rambling on about, and not really caring to know either.

The old woman paid no heed to him though. She just kept on grinning and talking. "I healed all sorts of folks. Waterbenders, they were mighty quiet folks; Earthbenders, they were the ruder ones…always crackin' a joke behind someone's back; and Firebenders."

Zuko's head snapped up at that. Not many healers were willing to heal Firebenders.

The old woman chuckled a bit. "Them Firebenders were the skittish ones. Quite like those rhino monsters they ride all the time.--"

Zuko snorted at that. Firebenders like Komodo Rhinos? Please.

"—Could hardly get 'em to stay put! They were always staring around, lookin' for a way out. Couldn't approach them without them threatening to burn you to crisp!" She chuckled again. "But they were mighty nice in the end. Nope, ya usually don't expect that from a Firebender… But they were nice once you them to trust ya."

Zuko watched the old lady in amazement. Not many would be willing to hang around a Firebender for so long… Or to even admit that Firebenders were human.

The old woman sighed, still grinning. "And then there was a young 'un. Barely 25, me thinks. He was the most skittish lil' thing I had ever met! Couldn't keep him down without tying him to the bed! Not to mention the fact that the other Firebenders, 'specially one, would always be tryin' to shield him from us. Not that I blame 'em. The kid DID arouse much interest from the others… Not many of 'em seen a boy heavily pregnant."

Zuko snapped his head up at that. Did he just hear that?

The old lady took no notice however. "Poor kid. Never seen a young 'un suffer so." She shook her head. "But them Firebenders took real good care of the kid, always watchin' over him and such." She finally looked at Zuko right then, studying him a bit before grinning. "He reminds me of ya, though you're much younger than he was. But anyways, that kid had that baby right in our tent! Lordy, lordy! I ain't NEVER seen messier pregnancy!"

Zuko paled. Okay. He did not need to hear this. "Excuse me—"

The old lady just kept on rambling. "Blood was everywhere! On the ground, the tables, the beds, even on those white sheets! I don't think we ever managed to get that blood out from those sheets…" She turned her head to lazily look at the pale boy. "We had to cut that young 'un open to get the baby out, ya know?" She shook her head, looking away again. "But like I said—"

Zuko shifted uncomfortably. This was WAY more than he needed to know. "Ma'am? Can—"

"—And Spirits! We had to use almost an entire box of them pain-relievers afterwards!—"

"Miss?—"

"—And then the stitches! Woo-wee! It took forever to try and stitch him up!—"

Zuko was getting tired of being ignored. Not to mention the fact that he was starting to get light-headed from the very vivid images entering his mind… "Can I—"

The old woman chuckled as she shook her head, still lost in the memory. Looking back at the teen, she patted him heartily on the back. "But, the baby was a strong, healthy one! 'Course, the poor boy had to stay in bed for two weeks after the birth, but they were both as healthy as they could be. Me thinks you'll be fine, after you get through the blood and guts part."

Zuko gulped. "You're not helping, you know."

The old woman flashed another toothless grin at him. "I know, dearie, I know."

"We can't stay here long." Aang remarked, putting down his tea cup onto the table. "We've already stayed here too long. We can't risk being caught."

Katara nodded in agreement. "But where will we go?"

Aang thought for a second. "I still need to learn Earthbending…So… Let's go to Omashu!"

Iroh almost choked on his tea, quickly setting the cup down to avoid any spills, he cleared his throat. "That seems like a good idea, young Avatar, but I believe you've forgotten something…"

Aang shook his head. "No I didn't! Bumi won't mind you guys once we explain the situation!"

"I doubt very much we will be able to get close enough to Omashu to explain anything." Iroh commented dryly.

Sokka said nothing, thinking it best to keep silent. Iroh was still pretty mad with him.

Katara, however, nodded. "He's right Aang. Iroh and Zuko aren't really welcome anywhere. Not to mention Zuko's pregnant now…" She shot her brother a weary look. Sokka just grinned sheepishly back.

Aang sighed. "But where else can we go? I know Bumi. He and I were best friends with Kouzon…a firebender."

"But Aang, that was a hundred years ago!" Katara remarked. "There's a war now."

"I know, but think about it. Bumi is the only one among the other Earth Kings who'll give them a chance." Aang answered, hinting towards Iroh.

Iroh frowned. "That might be true, but it does not necessarily mean it will go that way. Time changes things all the time…" He glanced at the young airbender and sighed. "But if there is no other choice…I will go."

"What about Zuko?" Sokka asked quietly and carefully.

Iroh's frown deepened. "I know my nephew. He will not be left behind. If we try to leave him, he'll just follow us on foot. We will have to take him with us."

"Sure?" Katara questioned, although she knew how stubborn the Prince could be. They'd been traveling with them for two months already and had had time to get better acquainted.

Iroh nodded.

"But won't it take a long time to get to Omashu?" Sokka asked.

Aang nodded. "It'll take a month, even with Appa. That is, if we don't make stops."

Sokka sighed. "But knowing you, we'll probably stop at every port along the way so you can do your Avatar thing."

Aang grinned sheepishly. "Hey, it's part of my job!"

"But where'll we get money?" Katara piped up. "Zuko's going to have to eat a lot more if he's pregnant and we don't have much money... And we can't exactly go get a job."

Iroh allowed a small smile on his face. "We will deal with that when the time comes. And when it does, I will take care of it."

"Take care of what?"

The four snapped their heads up to see Zuko in the doorway of the kitchen, looking curiously at them. He was paler than normal, and he had a hand placed on the doorway to balance himself.

"Zuko! You should be in bed!" Iroh chided, standing up and walking over to him. But Zuko shot him a glare and ignored him, turning instead to Aang. "What is going on?"

Iroh sighed inaudibly, knowing that Zuko was still mad about earlier. He'd have to talk to him later and apologize.

Aang smiled a bit at Zuko. "We've decided we're going to go to Omashu, so I can learn Earthbending."

Zuko snorted. "You're joking right? Or have you conveniently forgotten that I am the Prince of the Fire Nation?"

Aang shifted uncomfortably, letting Katara answer for him.

"No, we didn't. But Bumi, the King of Omashu, is a close friend of Aang's. We're hoping he'll overlook the fact that you're both Firebenders and royalty."

Zuko rolled his eyes. "Fat chance. But we have no other choice, do we." It wasn't a question, but Aang nodded anyways.

Zuko sighed then shot them all a hard look. "I am going with you."

"We know." Katara replied calmly. "We figured you wouldn't be left behind."

"Good." Zuko answered, a satisfied smirk on his face.

There was a small silence, then, "We'd better start packing." Sokka said, standing up from the table.

Katara looked horrified. "Oh no you don't! I'm packing!"

Sokka stared at her. "Why? What's wrong with the way I do it?"

Katara shot him a pointed look. "Do I really have to answer that?"

Sokka's mouth dropped open as he followed his sister out the door. "What does that mean!"

"What do you think it means, Sokka?"

"You know, that's just mean!"

"It's true...—"

And the squabbling siblings disappeared down the hall, heading towards their room.

The three watched them go, before Aang stood up. "Well, better make sure they don't kill each other…" He quickly hurried after the Water siblings.

Zuko blinked as he watched the airbender disappear, and turned to follow when someone grabbed his wrist.

"Let go, Uncle."

Iroh sighed, but kept his grip firm. "Zuko…"

"I don't want to talk."

"Nephew…--"

Zuko rounded to face his uncle, his eyes blazing. "Damn it, Uncle! You said what you wanted to say, what more do you want!"

"That I am sorry."

Zuko blinked at that, staring at the old man. He hadn't been expecting that. More insults, curses or something, but not that. "What?" He asked dumbly.

Iroh stared at his nephew sadly. "I did not mean what I said. At all. I do not know what came over me to say such horrid things and I am so sorry for saying them." He paused, waiting for Zuko to say something, but when he didn't he continued. "I did not have a right to say such things. I really do want grandchildren, and yes Zuko, from you. But I suppose the suddenness of the situation got the best of me. I did not expect you to get pregnant at the age of sixteen."

"Uncle…" Zuko started, but Iroh shook his head.

"Let me finish, nephew." He took a breath. "It is not your fault, well, not entirely. Sometimes at this age, people have a hard time understanding the true consequences of their actions. I should have warned you or spoken with you on that subject, but I never did find the time. I am sorry. Really."

Zuko listened quietly, and sighed. "I'm sorry too, Uncle." He finally said. "It was…an accident…really." Zuko looked away quickly after that, not knowing if he was trying to convince his uncle or himself on that.

Iroh gently turned his nephew's face to look back at him. "Nothing is ever an accident. Everything happens for a reason." He stated quietly. "And although I do not approve wholly, that boy does love you."

Zuko scoffed at that. "No he doesn't Uncle. He's just like everyone else." With that, he gently slid his hand out from Iroh's grip and went after the trio.

Iroh sighed and crossed his arms. He was not quite as sure as his nephew was on that matter, but no matter what, he'd watch over his nephew. And if that boy managed to hurt Zuko in any way…well, let's just not go there.

"Thank you for the help." Zuko said politely, bowing to the old healer. The woman smiled at him and bowed back.

"It was no trouble, dearie. Just take care of yourself, ya hear? You're not only watchin' out for yourself, you're watchin' out for a lil' baby. Be careful on what ya do from now on." She told him before handing him a leather pouch.

Zuko took it and stared at it, a little confused.

"Medicine." The healer explained simply. "'bout ten vials of medicine for mornin' sickness and cramps. Take just one spoonful a day and it should last for nine months."

Zuko glanced inside the bag and saw that she was right. Ten metal coated vials of clear blue liquid. "Thank you." He said again, bowing for the last time before climbing on Appa's back. Iroh tried to help him up, but Zuko just refused it silently.

Aang glanced back to see if everyone was on and jerked the reins a bit. "Yip, yip!"

Appa let out a groan as he took to the sky.

Well, that was the end of the second chappie. Hope you guys liked it!

Read and Review please, and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism accepted.