Thank you so much to those who review. I love you all dearly! :D

Again, I Bella'd the kids' names but I figured I should stay true to my habits because they die hard.

Two parts here. If you enjoy it, let me know! And if you don't, tell me what to fix and I'll try to. :D

Almost everything was set for the trip to Ba Sing Se. Appa had been sent, with a letter attached to his saddle urging Sokka and Suki's presence, to the South Pole. Katara had taken charge of gathering supplies in the village and Aang had taken is upon himself to help Yukya in her Waterbending.

Zuko contented himself with watching the Avatar and the little girl spar. She was incredibly talented, he had to give her that, though it did not stop Aang from planting her firmly on her bottom time and again.

"You know, Uncle Aang," Yukya said, wringing the water from her long dark hair. "You could take it easy on me."

"Then you'd never learn," he replied, teasingly. "No one took it easy on me."

"Yeah, but you had to save the world. I have to pass one exam."

Aang chuckled. "Pakku was hard on Katara."

"Papa Pakku's hard on everyone. He's a grouch."

Zuko watched with amusement as they started another round. He envied the ease they interacted with. Yukya even included him in her direct family.

All too quickly the Fire Lord lost interest in their games and slipped silently away from the pair. He found himself wandering away from the Avatar's small home and into the village. Maybe he could find Katara and help her tote supplies.

For once Zuko was dressed down. His clothes were simple Earth Kingdom attire. No one paid him any attention and truthfully, he reveled in it. The anonymity gave him a freedom he had not experienced in years.

The villagers milled about the marketplace in an easy, relaxed manner. All faces that were not bartering were smiling and bright. It warmed his heart to see peace in action. With each face he tried to memorize his resolve to stop his sister grew stronger.

Zuko would be damned before the world became what it once was.

"Zuko?"

The Fire Lord turned to see Katara heading in his direction. A sack was slung over her shoulder. It was laden with all sorts of food and equipment. Once she was close enough, he took her load from her.

"Thanks," she said with a smile.

"Not a problem. Are you finished?"

"I just need to find some ginger and we'll be ready."

Zuko motioned in the direction he had come from. "There's a stall near the end that has some."

She smiled and started walking the way he had pointed out. Zuko followed obediently.

"Did you have fun watching Yukya and Aang?"

Zuko nodded. "They're entertaining."

"They have their moments."

They grew quiet as they approached the stall. The Waterbender stepped forward to make her purchase, leaving Zuko on the path. No sooner had she immersed herself in the cloud of the ginger's scent than she was behind the stall vomiting.

"Katara?" Zuko hurried to her side, dropping the satchel at the front of the stall as he did.

She held up a hand to make him stay away. "I'm fine."

"You've been sick since we left the North Pole." He frowned.

"Climate change. It's rough."

"This always happens?"

A pause. "No."

"You're sick," he stated firmly. "Maybe we should delay the tri-"

"I'm not sick," Katara snapped, righting herself so she could look at him.

Zuko snorted. "If you're not sick why do you keep throwing up?"

"I'm pregnant."

Another silence engulfed them. The Fire Lord was shocked by her response and unsure of what he should be doing at that moment. Katara stood staring at him, her fists balled at her sides.

"H-," Zuko struggled with the words that would break the silence. "Have you told Aang?"

Katara shook her head. "Now's not the time. He'd fret and that's the last thing we need, Zuko. A fretting Avatar."

She was right.

Releasing a long breath, Zuko ran his hand through his hair.

"You'll have to tell him before long."

"I know. I'm already starting to show. Zuko, please don't say anything"

He had no reply. Turning, Zuko retrieved the satchel of food and returned to Aang's home. Katara followed shortly behind him.

That evening passed as many others had. The Waterbender and the Firebender did not speak and the Avatar and the child played Pai Sho. The following morning the small group set out on foot for the great city of Ba Sing Se.

"HEEE-YAAA!"

The wood behind Sokka's head split a heartbeat after he dove into a snow bank.

High-pitched giggling met his ears once he poked his head out of the cold ivory hill.

"Suna, sweetie. You need to warn people before you fling a boomerang at them," he said firmly. "Unless, you know, you're fighting them."

The little girl he spoke to rocked sheepishly on her heavily booted feet. She was a pretty child with wide blue eyes, light brown hair, and a light complexion. Out of all his daughter, she was the only one who did not look like she was from the Water Tribe.

"Sorrwee, Daddy," she replied, her voice high and very sprite-like.

Sokka smiled and pulled himself out of the snow. In two long strides he was close enough to scoop the girl up in his arms. Promptly, she wiggled out of his hold and crawled about to situate herself on his back with her arms wrapped about his neck.

"That was a very good practice, Suna, but I think we should go see what Mommy and Aanara are doing."

Suna giggled happily and bounced in place. "Ani! Ani!"

"Yes," he chuckled. "We're going to see Ani."

The small girl tugged happily on the warrior's knot on top of Sokka head as he walked back to the home he had built for his wife as a wedding gift. It was far from spectacular, but Suki and the girls seemed to love it just fine.

Smoke drifted lazily from the small chimney of the building and Sokka could smell the roasting meat on the breeze. It was probably Aanara's work. Though she was ten years old, she was better at cooking than her mother who Sokka was fairly certain burned water.

He pushed open the door and hurriedly stepped inside. Suna dropped from his hold once the door was close and hurried to her older sister who was brushing some mixture onto the slab of meat hanging over the open fire. It made him nervous to watch the young girl be so near to the flames, but he said nothing. Aanara was reserved, but that did not mean she listened to anyone.

"Welcome home, love."

Sokka was pleasantly surprised by the weight pressing into his back and the arms wrapped about his waist. Turning in the hold, he smiled at his wife. In all their years together, she had barely changed from the girl he had met on Kyoshi Island. The only difference was that her curves were more ample and she had lines at the corners of her eyes. He adored those lines more than anything else about her. They let him know just how happy she was with him.

"Mmm. Thank you," he replied as he wrapped his arms about her shoulders. Dipping his head, he stole a quick kiss.

Suki beamed. "I have a surprise for you."

"Well, it can't be another baby. We've got that one covered," he replied, looking pointedly at her rounded belly that pressing into him. "So what on earth could it be?"

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "A flying bison."

It took a moment for that one to sink in.

"Appa? Aang's here?" Sokka grinned excitedly.

Suki shook her head and held up a piece of paper between her fore- and middle-fingers. "No, just Appa."

His brow furrowed as he took the message and read it quickly.

Sokka, Suki, we need you in Ba Sing Se. Urgently. –Aang.

Whatever the note pertained to had to be of the utmost importance. Aang's letters were chummy and never rushed like this note was.

Looking to his wife, Sokka saw her hidden worry plainly in her dark eyes. He frowned.

"We need to go. This isn't like Aang," he said lowly, not wanting his daughters to hear.

Suki shook her head, making her short brow hair fluff out. "I'm eight, almost nine months pregnant, Sokka. I can't travel. I probably shouldn't even be moving about."

Sokka tightened his grip on her and kissed her forehead.

"That doesn't mean you can't go," she said softly.

"And leave you here?" He seemed appalled.

"Sokka," her voice became firm. "The Avatar needs you. Aang needs you. I've done this three times. I've got it under control."

Sokka could not help but smile at her. His brave, beautiful, pragmatic warrior.

"Are you going somewhere, Daddy?"

Suki and Sokka both turned to look at Aanara. She had Suna balanced on her hip. He was surprised. Aanara was a stout girl, but he hadn't realized that she was able to hold her four-year-old sister like that.

"I'm going to Ba Sing Se," he replied.

Aanara smiled. "Will you see the king?"

He chuckled. "Probably not. I'm going to see Uncle Aang."

Aanara shifted Suna who was busy sucking her thumb and twisting her sister's ebony hair around her tiny fingers.

"Is he okay?" she asked.

"I hope so, sweetie."

"Is Aunt Katara with him?"

"Aanara, you're going to quiz your poor father to death," Suki chuckled softly. Breaking away from her husband, the warrioress went to take her youngest daughter to her bed.

Aanara watched her mother until she was in another room then turned her gaze to her father. Her sky-blue eyes were suspicious, but she said nothing as she returned to cooking.

A chill ran down Sokka's spine. She was the oddest child he had ever encountered. It did nothing to make him love her less, but her mature mannerisms were rather spooky. Shrugging off the thought, he walked to his and Suki's bedroom and began to pack the things he would need on his trip.

His stomach was a ball of nerves, but he clung to his bravado perfectly. The tone of Aang's note still bothered him. Something was not right in the world.

Sokka was far from being the brightest candle on the table, but he sensed that much. A change had occurred sometime, somewhere and it was not for the better.