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Chapter 4: Pregnant!
She was pregnant! She looked at the pink plus sign on the test stick and felt tears on her cheeks. She was so happy! She got out of the bathroom and then out to the living room where Zuko was waiting to hear the news. When he saw the tears he quickly got up and pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry Tara. Please don't cry. We can try again. As many times as…" She cut him off with a finger on his lips and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh Zuko I'm going to be a mother!" she cried with joy. He pulled back quickly and looked into her eyes. He could see the joy in her eyes and hugged her to him once more. "Yes! Congratulations Tara. I couldn't be happier!" he pulled her to sit in the couch and asked, "Want me to call Yagoda and make an appointment?" Katara smiled but shook her head no. "Don't worry about it Zuko. I'll let you know when if you still want to go." He decided not to push it. But he kept his arms around her and smiled to himself. He was going to be a father! He felt so proud. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and asked if she needed anything. "Do you want to go lie down? Are you ok? Nausea? Should I get Meng to prepare lunch for you?" He heard a small chuckle in response. She pulled back and beamed at him, "Looks like I've acquired a man-servant!" she laughed. "Anything you need Tara." Was the rather serious response she got from Zuko. "Let's just get to work Zuko." She said getting to her feet. He looked like he would like to argue but let it slide. "Ok we're getting that fruit salad you love so much to celebrate though ok?" he said instead. "Sounds good to me!" was her answer. And they left and went downstairs.
They left Yagoda's office later in the day after she assured her everything was fine and she'd be seeing her at her next routine visit. Zuko drove as usual but Katara wanted to visit Toph so she asked Zuko to just drop her off. He agreed on condition that she'd call him when she wanted to come home. So after popping in to say hello to Toph and promising to visit, the proud dad-to-be left the women to themselves.
"Pregnancy suits you Sugar Queen." Toph smiled at her friend. "How're you doing though? Any problems? And do tell, what's going on between you and Sparky?" Toph asked with a smirk on her face. Katara's blush disappeared into her hairline. "Nothing is going on ok? We're friends. Best friends nothing more!" she huffed. "But Sugar Queen, you're carrying his baby. And I don't know about you but when I first got pregnant I was turned on all the time! I'm told it was all those hormones doing a number on me!" she cackled. "Oh so that's what it is? I thought I was going crazy getting all hot and bothered around Zuko because…" Just realizing what she'd just let slip to Toph she covered her mouth and groaned. "Aha! I knew it! So what's stopping you from taking it to the next level? I mean he's already got you knocked up. What's the big deal?" she teased. Katara looked at her friend like she'd grown two horns and a tail. "Toph! Zuko has commitment issue remember? Besides he didn't get me knocked up. I got myself knocked up at the clinic with his aid, ok?" Toph got serious though, "Katara, Zuko's only got commitment issues because he doesn't have the right girl. Besides I see the way he looks at you. Sometimes you're so blind!" Katara looked down at her hands and asked in a small voice "You really think so Toph? Cos I can't have another Jet happening. And this time it would totally kill me. It's Zuko!" Toph hugged her friend close. "It won't Katara. And I know you're scared not just because he's your best friend and business partner. But because you do love him."
Katara tried to put her conversation with Toph out of her mind as she saw Zuko's ML pull up. She got in and tried to peck Zuko's cheek in greeting only for him to turn his head quickly at the last moment and give her a light and quick kiss on her lips. "Hey Tara." He said in a low voice as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened with that killer smile of his. Katara blushed and looked away quickly hoping he didn't notice and responded, "Hey Zuko." The ride home was quiet. Not their usual comfortable silent ride. But a slightly strained silence. Where Katara was trying very hard to not let her imagination run away with her. And Zuko was thinking how he could get Katara to let him spend the night. He wasn't planning on anything more than cuddling. And he'd spent the night in her apartment before. But that was on the couch because Katara had been sick and he didn't want her alone. They got home too quickly in his opinion. But before he could come up with something Katara spoke. "Zuko, I'm a little tired. Could you please pick up a salad downstairs for me? Oh and please ask Meng to not put a little vinaigrette and some mustard on my salad? I want the pigchicken salad. Thanks!" She didn't wait for a response and quickly got out of the car and went upstairs.
Zuko came up 20minutes later and knocked on Katara's door to be met by a showered and changed Katara. 'She looks so damned beautiful. I've never seen her glow like this.' He thought to himself. But he kept a straight face and raising an eyebrow asked, "Mustard, really Tara?" Katara took her salad off his hands and grumbled "That's what baby wants to eat tonight ok? No knocking baby's tastes." He just chuckled and sat down opposite her with his Lasagna. They dug in and dinner was almost as quiet as the drive home. Katara kept stealing glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking and she seemed to be looking at him speculatively. That had him wondering what was on her mind. He asked how her salad was and if she needed extra mustard. She just laughed and asked for some olives. He cleaned up the dishes when they were done and was wondering how he could ask to stay over when Katara asked if he'd like to watch a movie with her. He jumped at the chance and suggested one of her all time favorites."Let's watch 'The Cave of Two Lovers' Tara." She seemed a little surprised but got up and put on the DVD.
Halfway through the movie Katara had trouble keeping her eyes open and started nodding off. Zuko just let her sleep till the end and then turned the TV off. He picked her up gently so as not to jostle her awake and carried her to bed. Having not had the chance to ask he made to lay her down and leave but she clung to him when he tried straightening up. He took that as a sign from the universe and taking off his shoes, got into bed next to her. It just felt so good to be lying next to her. As sexy as he found her, he noticed he enjoyed just being able to hold her while she slept so much. And it made him wonder why he hadn't made a move sooner. What if one of her other relationships had worked out? He just thanked his stars and decided he wasn't going to rest till she was truly his woman. Not just the mother of his child; which truth be told wasn't how she saw herself. But that was just semantics as far as he was concerned. Zuko went to sleep very content with his lot that night.
Katara woke up to a warm embrace which she snuggled into and then froze. Her eyes snapped open and she looked up only to see Zuko gazing down at her. "Good morning beautiful." He said with a crooked little smile. "Um…yeah… good morning Zuko. I think one of us is lost. And since this looks like my bed that would be you." She said in a little above a whisper. She was a little dazed to say the least. She felt Zuko's chuckle rumble in his chest since she was still lying in his arms with her leg thrown over his thighs! And it felt so right to wake up to his warmth and so wrong because she wanted this every morning already! Zuko just gently extricated himself from her and her bed and asked if she would like breakfast in bed. She just nodded more to clear her addled brain than as an answer. Zuko turned as he got to the door and asked with a serious look on his handsome face "Can we talk Tara?" She nodded again and wondered who that was and what he had done to her playboy best friend. Or was this how playboys 'played'? She prayed it wasn't so.
Zuko brought her a tray with a bowl of her current favorite serial and a glass of orange juice. He left to fetch the jar of milk and came in with a bowl of cereal for himself. She thanked him and ate her cereal in silence. When she was done she made to get up but Zuko took the tray off her and asked her to stay. She did as he asked and wondered if it was a good idea to talk in her bedroom considering she was big bundle of hormonal mess. She would just concentrate hard and keep him from finding out! Plus she was certain whatever it was Zuko had in mind for their discussion wouldn't involve the use of her bed anyway.
"Do you have any idea how adorable you look when you're deep in thought and worrying your lips?" Zuko asked from his place at her bedroom door. Apparently he had been there for a while. Katara blushed and asked looking away, "Where is Zuko and what have you done with him?" He came to sit beside her and took her hand in his. "I just wanted to let you know I was going to leave after putting you to bed. But you were sleeping so soundly and you had your arm around my neck and I couldn't bear to wake you. If I've offended you I want to apologize." Katara hadn't expected that but managed to conceal her surprise and smiled instead. "I know you're an honorable person Zuko. Even for a playboy. It was actually nice waking up warm, not to mention the breakfast in bed." She chuckled. "Come on Tara, my playboy days are over you know? I'm going to be a dad now." He said with a smirk. Katara just laughed and shooed him out "Yeah sure big daddy. You can leave now so I can get dressed." Zuko got up with a mock wounded look on his face. "But Tara we just spent the night. Surely you don't mind changing in front of me?" He got a pillow in his face for that one before Katara pushed him out the door.
All in all her reaction was better than Zuko had anticipated. This might not be as difficult as he though! The universe had finally decided to smile on him he thought. About time too! He let himself out and went to get ready for work. Now all he had to do was implement the wooing phase of his plan. They were already really close enough for her to not feel too awkward after last night. He decided to read everything he could about pregnancy so he could be prepared for anything that might come up in his quest. He was trying to woo the mother of his baby after all! And he couldn't wait!