Summer faded to fall and though the weather didn't change much Zuko could feel the change in the air. Soon it would be winter and he would be holding the dinner and ball for Aang to get all the nations to formally sign an agreement to help the world.

Zuko sat in his office going over the paperwork, there was so much more of it than he had ever thought. The guest list for the gathering was quite large, all the royal families would be attending as well as any noble families that had wealth they could spare. Hakoda would be sending Sokka in his stead, with Suki and their little girl Satomi. Toph and the Bei Fongs would be attending, as well as Uncle his mother and Azula. From the Northern tribe Zuko wasn't sure who would be attending. Their chief Arnook was getting older and not up to the long journey to the Fire Nation, Zuko suspected that he would be sending his second, Hahn, in his place. Zuko didn't know much about Hahn other than his experiences when they had fought. Sokka had told him that he had been engaged to Princess Yue, Arnook's only heir and was given the role of becoming the next chief for this reason.

Zuko looked up from his papers when he heard a knock on his door.

"It's open," he called setting aside the guest list, he would go over it again with Mai later and see if there was anyone she wanted to invite just for fun. Mai opened the door and gently closed it behind her before she went to sit across from her husband.

"How goes the guest list?" she asked gesturing to the open scrolls on the table. Zuko sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"It's a lot more work than I think it's worth, but I think I have every notable person there. The royal families of course along with all the noble and wealthy families I could think of. Invitations will be sent out to those who aren't already aware at the end of the week."

"We should invite the Kyoshi Warriors as well. They helped so much during the war and continue to work on their own. Also Ty Lee is with them, it would be nice to see her again." Zuko nodded and added the Kyoshi Warriors to the list quickly.

"So what have you been up to all day?" he asked, Mai had been sick lately and he had asked her many times to go see one of the healers.

"I went to see a healer this morning, I know, I know, it's about time. She said nothing was seriously wrong it's a common symptom." Zuko frowned, trying to figure out what she was getting at.

"Common symptom of what?" he asked finally giving up on trying to guess.

"Zuko," Mai said softly as she took his hand and smiled. She pulled his arm over the table and placed his palm on her belly. "You're going to have an heir." Zuko froze, though the position he was in was very uncomfortable he forgot all about it. He was going to have a child, he wasn't quite sure when it had happened, he had begun spending more night with Mai so he couldn't keep a clear track. He looked at his wife and saw that she was absolutely glowing and for the first time he wondered if he would be a good father. He wouldn't be like his father that was certain, he hoped in fact that he might be like his uncle. Zuko stood and made his way to Mai's side of the table and pulled her into a hug.

"This is wonderful news," he told her as he kissed her cheek. "Do they know when you're due?"

"Well they can't be certain, but they think he was conceived around the tenth of jiu yuè and so would be due early liù yuè."

"He?" Zuko asked with a laugh as he pulled away to look at her, there was no possible way of knowing until the child was born what the gender would be. Mai blushed slightly.

"Well I don't know for sure, but I just have a feeling that our child will be a boy."

"Well, let's not start choosing names and decorating his room until we know. Now go, relax a little. I'm going to finish up here and then we'll have lunch." Zuko kissed his wife on the forehead and headed back to his scroll double check that he had everyone on the list before giving it to one of his advisors to send out. As Mai left Zuko found himself deep in thought, not about the dinner, but about his child. To his surprise he was actually excited for it, the baby made Mai so happy and perhaps the fact that he was happy by this news meant that once and for all he could stop what he had with Katara.

A month had passed since Mai had told Zuko about the baby and it was early shí èr yuè. They had just come back from Mai's parent's house having told them the news. Zuko was waiting until his Uncle and his mother came to tell them in person. They would be arriving in less than a week. Aang and the major royals were already there, though it was Zuko's home and Nation he let Aang lead the proceedings.

"Thank you all for attending, Sokka Water Tribe, Hahn Water Tribe and King Kuei of the Earth Kigdom," Aang greeted and nodded to each in turn.

"You will be the leader of this alliance and Chief Hakoda's daughter your wife, and I'm assuming second in command. Will Chief Hakoda not be joining us?" Hahn asked, ignoring Sokka. Aang held back a sigh, the two Water Tribesmen had never gotten along.

"My father has chosen to send me in his place much like how you were sent in place of Chief Arnook," Sokka replied tersely. While Hahn had been chosen to go because Arnook wasn't doing well, his own father was planning on stepping down from his position and letting the new generation take over.

"On the next full moon, everyone will be represented," Aang said dodging the question. He didn't need to explain Hakoda's absence and he didn't' want to get involved in their dislike for each other.

"A lot can happen in a month," Hahn said to himself, though the others ignored him and turned talk to how the signing and dinner would go.

The week passed quickly and soon Zuko found his home filled with people. At the dinner Zuko sat at head of one side while Aang sat at the other, for this Zuko was grateful, it meant that Katara was far away and he could share his wife's enthusiasm as they told everyone the news. From his end of the table Zuko could just make out Katara, she had been listening to him tell the guest about how Mai was convinced she was carrying a son and how she already had decided the name Sheng Li perfect for their prince. Zuko's smile faded a little when he saw the look on Katara's face, but resolved to talk to her later. The rest of the dinner passed by uneventfully and Zuko enjoyed letting Mai talk while he listened and would add a comment now and again. He was having a great time watching his guests interact with one another. His uncle and mother were sitting on Mai's right and he was listening intently on how Mai had chosen the name. On his left Zuko had the Earth King who was chatting pleasantly with Ty Lee about his bear Bosco and down from them a bit sat Toph and the mechanists's son. Teo he believed his name was. Zuko smiled a little as he watched the two interact, perhaps there would be another wedding soon and then all the gaang would be married. Zuko's eyes slid down the table to Azula, she had chosen not to sit close with the Fire Nation family and instead found herself sitting next to Hahn. Zuko frowned a little, he wasn't sure if he liked the way Hahn seemed to be talking to her, but she was Azula and she knew how to take care of herself and then some.

After dinner and before the dancing and festivities began Aang made his great speech and one by one, beginning with Zuko, the royals, then the noble and wealthy signed the treaty in favour of an alliance to do all they could to help in any way they could with the rebuilding of the world.

"For the first time in over a hundred years this world stands united," Aang said lifting the scroll for all to see, the room was filled with applause and as Aang packed it safely into a wooden box music was beginning to play. The business portion of the evening was over, it was time for the celebration of the global unity to begin.

Zuko danced once with Mai before she decided to sit out with Azula and Ursa. The healers had warned Mai to take things very easy, thing weren't going as smoothly as they hoped and everyone was concerned about the unborn baby. While Mai sat and watched Zuko stole Ty Lee for a dance and even danced once with Toph, though the dance with Toph was more ridiculous than trying to be elegant. When he stopped to catch his breath and chat with some of the men Katara caught his eye and then headed down a corridor. Excusing himself from the group Zuko slowly headed down the same corridor as she did.

A pair of hands pulled him into a shadow and kissed his lips. Zuko didn't protest though he did feel a twinge of guilt when he thought of his wife in the main chamber.

"How many did you love before me?" Katara asked softly as she broke their kiss.

"None."

"And after me?" she persisted and she traced the shape of his face in the dark.

"None in the same way I love you," he replied. While it was true, he loved no one like he love Katara he couldn't say, even to himself, that he didn't love his wife. He just loved her in a different way.

Hahn had watched the Fire Lord and the Avatar's wife leave, he looked around and realized that no one but him had noticed, there was just too much going on. He searched for the Avatar and gently pulled him aside.

"May I speak with you?" he asked softly. Aang frowned, confused, but nodded. They spoke softly in a corner of the room away from the others.

Katara smiled and pulled him through a door way that lead only to a broom closet. After a short, time they leave, Katara first and then Zuko going down a different corridor. They rejoined the party without drawing much attention to themselves.

After Hahn finished speaking with the Avatar he went back to the festivities. Aang remained where he was for a moment before looking around to see if he could find Katara. He found her with Sokka, Suki and the little baby Satomi.

"Here you are," Aang said with a laugh, "I thought I lost you."

"I was just saying good night to Sokka and Suki, and little Satomi," she added touching the baby's feathery hair.

"It's getting late and Satomi needs to go to bed or she'll be crabby tomorrow," Suki said with a smile. "You're so good with children Katara, I can't wait until you and Aang have your own." As they leave Sokka glanced suspiciously at his sister, he had notice that Zuko had been absent earlier. He sighed inwardly, he had a feeling that they hadn't ended anything.

Most of the guests leave within a few days of the dinner Toph, Iroh, Ursa and Azula had all left together with the Earth King that morning and only Katara, Aang, Sokka and Suki were left. While Mai sat on the balcony with Suki, Sokka and Satomi Zuko excused himself, claiming he had a bit of paper work he wanted to go over before nightfall. Sokka watched him leave and shook his head sadly.

Looking around carefully Zuko went through the hidden door to his and Katara's little oasis and found her already waiting for him.

"How did you escape Aang?" he asked as he sat down next to her.

"He wanted to speak to Roku about what he's doing, he's on Crescent Island with Appa and Momo," she replied watching the reflection of the sunset on the water. "What do you think happened to them? Roku's children," she asked suddenly.

"Well I know one at least got married and had children and that there was a daughter who got married and had children of her own. Roku is my great-grandfather on my mother side," he replied surprised he hadn't told her this before. "As for the others, who knows. They had lives and just lived."

"I find myself imaging a home for us, much like the quiet cottage Roku once had," she said with a smile. "I decorate it. Scrolls and book against one wall, a window facing the sunrise with candles so you can meditate... a child."

"Would it be his or mine?" Zuko asked having a feeling that Katara was about to deliver the same news Mai had given him not that long ago. He found that he wasn't as happy to hear it, probably because he knew the little life inside her probably wasn't his.

"I have no way to tell, unless they're a bender now would I? I love Aang, as I'm sure you love Mai. I only wish that the spirits had allowed us to be together, without having to lie and cheat."

Appa landed softly, it was only just after nightfall he headed towards the room Zuko had given him where he found Sokka.

"Sokka? What're you doing? Where's Katara?" he asked looking around as Sokka froze.

"I was looking for a tea Katara mentioned she had that would help Suki sleep," he explained as he headed towards the door. "I'm not sure where Katara is, she mentioned having to go down to the kitchens. When she gets back can you ask her about that tea?" He waited until Aang nodded before leaving and running to the turtle duck pond he had seen Them go to before.

"You're going to get caught! Both of you! He's looking for you right now,

he'll see you! I told you this would happen!" Sokka said in a harsh whisper as he found them heading towards the palace

"Go down that corridor, it passes by the servant quarters, he won't see you if you go that way," Zuko said pointing the way. He gave Katara a peck on the cheek and a smile of gratitude to Sokka before heading off in his own direction.

"I'm tired of this. I'm tired of lying for you," Sokka muttered as he hurried down the corridor with his sister. "I'm sick of it."

"Then don't do it," Katara replied as she reached her room. She took a deep breath before opening the door. "There was a serving girl who burned herself quite badly on the kitchen fires, she's doing better now," she said with a smile as she got ready for bed.

"I didn't ask were you were. Your heart is pounding," he observed placing his hand over her heart, while he wasn't as trained as Toph even he could feel it through the stone floor.

"Is it?" Katara asked innocently as she slid into bed. "Probably from worry about the girl, she hopefully won't have any scars."

"Katara?" Aang asked, his voice a little unsure. "Is there anything I can do to make you happier. I want to make you happy."

"I'm fine. I have a kind husband and we have a child on the way, what more could I ask for?" she smiled and gave Aang a peck on the cheek before turning over to go to sleep.

AN: I looked up what the months and days of the week were in Chinese (I think this is mandarin, but I'm not positive) I opted to use Chinese because to me, the Fire Nation seems to have been based very heavily on that culture. Also because the Fire Nation has been "in power" for so long it makes sense to me that the other nations would use the same names, though they do have their own. The Fire Nation method is just the most common. Jiu yuè is September and liù yuè is June. This chapter was very hard for me to write and I'm amazed it turned out as long as it did. As usual please review, there's a handy little guide on my profile for those who just aren't sure how to do a good review. In case it's a little unclear Katara is due around the same time as Mai, though a couple months later. And she is pregnant with Tenzin, no steam babies yet lol. The next chapter will focus more on Hahn and Azula as well as Mai and Zuko. There may also be a bit of a confrontation between Zuko and Aang…. Katara of course will be taking it easy, not good for a pregnant lady to be flying all across the world after all.