Keep Me Warm

It was best to visit the South Pole during the summertime. There was more daylight and less blizzards- though still very cold. It was also nice to escape from the relentless heat of the Fire Nation, in Katara's opinion. (Zuko highly disagreed with her.)

Katara sighed as she watched her friends ice skate without her. Toph was clinging to her fiance's arm- it was a wonder Aang had even convinced her to get on the ice she detested so much. And Sokka and Suki were holding little Kya's hands as the small family skated in circles. Kya was nearing two years old, but she took to the ice easily. Sokka boasted at her skills already- she'd be a mighty Water Tribe warrior like him.

"Oh stop pouting so much. You're making me feel bad." Zuko complained, knocking her head gently with his fist.

Katara pushed her lower lip out even further.

The Fire Lord groaned, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Katara! Stop making that face!"

She giggled at her husband, "If you can't stand firm against my pouty face, how on earth will you ever say no to our child's?"

Zuko sighed, resting his hand on her swollen belly. "I have no idea. I'm gonna be such a sucker for her."

"She'll literally be a spoiled princess." Katara teased.

He rolled her eyes at her, mumbling that he already dealt with a spoiled princess of a wife. That got him an elbow to the stomach.

"Hey sis!" Sokka called, skating up to them with Kya in his arms. "Suk and I wanna skate more but Kya needs a nap. Can you take her? Pleeeeaaseeee?"

Katara sighed at her whiny brother. It's not like Zuko was going to let her skate (It is way too dangerous! What if you fell?!) so she might as well let the others enjoy themselves. Zuko helped her to stand up from the snowy bank. Kya buried her head in her father's neck, not wanting to part from him.

"Come on, baby girl. Auntie Kat will sing to you." Katara bargained, trying to coax the girl into going with them.

The young toddler relented, reaching out for her Uncle Zuko. He was the warmest; she often wanted him to hold her.

Sokka skated away, hollering his thanks as Katara untied the skates from Kya's small feet. Zuko wouldn't even let her carry those (What if you cut yourself?!).

"Make sure her feet don't get too cold." Katara warned him.

"Yes, dear." He teased mockingly.

She tucked her arm in his as they slowly walked back to the Chief's hut in the center of town. With her large stomach, she couldn't walk as fast or as far. It would only get harder to walk in the last ten weeks of her pregnancy.

Kya had fallen asleep on the walk by the time they entered the house. Hakoda looked up from his chair by the fire and smiled at them. "Back so soon?"

"Kya needed to be put down for her nap. We got roped into it, of course." Katara rolled her eyes. Zuko went to lay the toddler down.

She rubbed her stomach- seems the little princess was wanting attention.

"Is she kicking?" Hakoda's eyes lit up.

Katara nodded, peeling her coat off. She walked over to her father. "Wanna feel?"

He laid his hand over her stomach gently, beaming as he felt the light kicks beneath his palm. "Hi, Princess! It's Grandpa!"

She giggled, gripping his hand. "Don't rile her up even more. She might kick my ribs out." Katara winced at a particularly rough kick. "Actually I think I'll go lay down too, my back's killing me."

Hakoda squeezed her hand. "Get some rest, sweetie." She slid her hand out of his as she went to find Zuko and take her own nap.

Katara found him in the baby's room, looking out the window and rocking Kya in his arms still.

"You were supposed to lay her down to sleep, babe." She teased, leaning against the doorframe. Zuko turned to her and smiled softly.

"She's just so cute and cuddly. And I can't help but think about how our daughter will be just like her."

Kya certainly looked Water Tribe- perfect for her namesake. Her skin was barely a shade lighter, and her blue eyes a bit darker- but otherwise a spitting image of Sokka. It would be interesting to see if her own child would also look exactly like her.

Katara smiled, strolling over to kiss Zuko's scarred cheek. "What if she looks more like you?"

Zuko shrugged. "I guess that's okay too. She can come out looking like Azula and I would still be thrilled."

She laughed at that, shaking her head. Azula may have slowly but surely redeemed herself, but even still, Katara didn't want her baby to have too much likeness to her biological aunt. Yikes.

"Let's take a nap." Katara tugged on his sleeve after he finally set Kya down on her small cot.

Zuko frowned. "I'm not sleepy. The sun's still up- you know I can't nap during noon."

Katara pouted. "But I'm sleepy, and I need you to keep me warm."

"What am I, your personal heater?"

"Well yeah, that's why I married you."

Her husband groaned at her as she dragged him to her old childhood bedroom that they were staying in for their visit. He complained the whole time as they settled into the bed and under the covers. She steadily ignored him.

But as she cuddled up to him and closed her eyes, he kissed her forehead and caressed her pregnant belly.

He'd always keep her warm.

Dear God this is adorable. Personal Headcannon time. I love the idea of Sokka honoring his mother by naming his daughter Kya. He loves his Respect Women Juice and is very supportive of Kya becoming a fighter. Suki dresses her up in Kyoshi Warrior armor. They are Very Shocked when they learn Kya is a waterbender and send her off to train with her Auntie Kat in the Fire Nation one summer. They have another kid and he is also the spitting image of Sokka but with redder hair but Suki doesn't mind because her husband is Very Handsome (aka HOT). Hakoda would be such a doting grandfather, he and Bato train all the cousins in sailing.