Chapter V: Big Sister
In the early morning hours, Aang moved swiftly and silently through the quiet house until he came to the doorway that led to the Master Bedroom, the one that he shared with his gorgeous wife.
He paused, making sure that the tray that he carried was balanced well on a single hand before he opened the door, gazing inside.
His beautiful wife was asleep, just as he expected. And, for that, he was grateful. He stepped inside, shut the door, and moved over to her side. He leaned down and brushed a kiss to her forehead. "Katara…" He whispered, and she stirred in her sleep, slowly rousing under the gentle insistence of her husband.
She turned onto her back, smiling at him. "Good morning, Aang…" She said, stretching and yawning. "What's the occasion?"
"Just spoiling the best wife in the world." Aang said, producing a tray filled with a light breakfast of fruit.
Katara smiled at him. "You know, you wouldn't have gotten away with this last time."
"I know." Aang commented. "But all the better to take advantage of it now that you're not feeling sick all the time." His eyes drifted down to her middle as she sat up in bed. No one else would be able to notice the change in her figure, but Aang knew Katara's body like he knew his own. He could see the slight rounding of her stomach that signaled that she was a scant few months pregnant with their second child.
Unlike Katara's first pregnancy with Kya, which had been about as bad as pregnancies could get without going into the realm of being unhealthy; this second pregnancy was going remarkably well. She wasn't getting morning sickness, she wasn't having bad reactions to foods, and she'd only had a little bit of fatigue. If Aang had tried bringing her breakfast in bed while she was pregnant with Kya, she would have screamed at him to get the food away from her under threat of castration and rushed away to vomit. This time, the food smelled so delicious and set her mouth watering.
Katara gazed at the selection, noting that he had brought her all of her favorites. "You're offerings are adequate." She said, smiling to show that she was joking.
"I'm glad they please you, my lady." Aang replied with good humor. He picked up a piece of fruit and started to hand feed her. If it were any other man, Katara would have insisted that she could feed herself, but with Aang, it was just romantic. Aang was a naturally kind and gentle person, and when she was pregnant, he down-right spoiled her.
She ate her fill, a bit more than usual considering that she was eating for two now, and gave her husband a loving kiss. He returned the gesture, loving every moment when her lips were against his.
Aang pulled away, his hand caressing the slight bump on her midsection. "So… when do we tell Kya the good news?" Aang asked.
"Very soon. Maybe even today." Katara said, her fingers meeting Aang's over her abdomen. "She's bound to notice something soon and make some sort of comment. We can't have another… Toph incident."
Aang winced. When they had found out they were pregnant with Kya, they had been over the moon about it, but they still wanted to keep the news to themselves for just a little while. But all their plans for secrecy had gone up in smoke when they attended the formal dinner celebrating the founding of the United Republic.
Toph had just barely found them when she had suddenly loudly congratulated Aang for 'knocking up Katara'. What had followed was a very uneasy silence before they were ambushed by reporters and were forced to confirm the news. At least they had trusted that Toph had learned her lesson and wouldn't go blabbing her mouth again. But all it would take was one comment from Kya asking why her mother was getting fat, and everyone would know.
"Sokka is still complaining about how we told the newspapers before him." Aang sighed. "But… today, Katara? What if she asks…?" Aang trailed off.
"Asks what?"
"You know… where babies come from." Aang whispered. It was a dreaded milestone for any parent.
"We tell her the truth. A kiddie version of the truth, but still the truth. That's how it's done in the Water Tribes." Katara said easily. "How was that handled among the Air Nomads and the monks?"
"Oh… if we were old enough, we were told the truth. But if the Monks felt you were too young to know the truth… they'd tell you a fanciful tale about a Sky Bison spirit that delivers babies to loving couples as a reward for their devotion towards each other."
Katara smiled and giggled at the thought of all the Air Nomad children who thought that babies were delivered by a Sky Bison spirit. "And were you ever fed that little story?"
Aang blushed. "Yes. But I was about seven when I asked!"
"We tell our children that Mommies and Daddies love each other very much, and that they sometimes lay down together and make a baby together." Katara said.
"Well… I guess that doesn't sound so bad." Aang said. "But, Katara… only sometimes?"
Katara hit him with her pillow. "You're insufferable, you know that?"
"But you still love me?"
"Of course I do, you silly man." Katara kissed him. "So… we're telling Kya today?"
"I suppose we must." Aang said. "Do you think she'll be excited to be a big sister?"
"It's hard to say. She can be, or she can be like Sokka. Apparently, he sulked for days when he found out that he was going to be a big brother."
"I can imagine him doing that." Aang said with a smile.
Katara smiled back at him. "There are days when I think she still would have preferred to have a pet polar bear-dog than a baby sister."
"Are you kidding me?" Aang asked. "Have you seen the way he spoils Kya rotten? If he didn't have you for a sister, he never would have gotten his niece."
Katara had to admit that he was right. "And he'll probably go just as crazy for this one." She gripped his hand against her abdomen. "Especially if it turns out to be a boy this time. He's never really forgiven us for having a girl first."
Aang nuzzled his nose against hers. "You know that's not true. He's crazy about Kya. I mean, sure, he has his heart dead-set on a hunting trip with a nephew, but…" Aang trailed off. "Wait…" He pressed his hand up to the stone wall above their headboard. Katara fell quiet, knowing that he was feeling the vibrations of the house. A few seconds later, he removed his hand and pointed at the closed door and then held up three fingers in a silent countdown.
Three… two… one…
Right on cue, the door burst open, revealing their five year old daughter. "Mommy! Daddy! Wake up!" She yelled, running and taking a flying leap onto the bed. Before she could land on her mother's lap, Aang scooped his rambunctious daughter right out of the air and curled her against his chest. Kya didn't mean to, but Aang didn't exactly want her jumping on her mother at the moment. It had happened almost daily since Aang and Katara had discovered their new pregnancy. Kya didn't realize that Aang stopped her from jumping on her mother to stop her from accidentally hurting the growing baby; she just thought it was a fun game.
Aang played off his worries like it was a game, crushing his daughter to his chest and kissing her forehead.
Kya responded with a squeal, "Daddy! Your beard tickles!" She pushed him away.
"Aw, but sweetheart, you know how much Daddy loves you!" Aang replied.
"I love you too, Daddy." Kya said, finally allowing her father to kiss her forehead without a fight.
Katara watched her husband and daughter, her heart melting at the sight. She reached over, running her fingers through her daughter's bed head. Kya turned, smiling brightly at her mother. Katara smiled in return. Kya looked so much like her, but her smile was most definitely Aang's.
"Kya, your father and I have some very exciting news for you." Katara began.
Kya crawled off Aang's lap, settling herself between her parents. "Yes, Mommy?"
Katara exchanged glances with her husband, who nodded at her. She smiled back at her daughter. "Well, something very exciting is going to be happening in a few months."
"More Bending lessons?" Kya asked.
"No, even more exciting then Bending." Katara smiled.
"Are we going to the South Pole to visit grandpa?" Kya asked.
"No, we're not going to visit grandpa." Katara said. The girl had only been to the Southern Water Tribe a handful of times, but she loved it there. "Even more exciting."
Kya thought for a few moments. "I give up."
"Okay." Katara said. "Mommy and Daddy are going to be having a new baby." Kya's mouth dropped open. "You're going to be a big sister in a few months."
To Aang and Katara's shock, her reaction was not what either of them expected. Aang had expected her to be excited, and Katara had expected her to get grumpy. Instead, Kya burst into tears.
"Kya, what's wrong?" Both Aang and Katara asked in unison.
"I don't wanna new baby!" Kya cried.
Kya had gone to her room in tears, leaving both Aang and Katara highly confused and shocked. They both knew that it was going to be a change and a challenge, but they never expected Kya to be so against the idea of having a brother or sister.
Aang wanted to ditch the meetings in Republic City that were scheduled for that day, but he also knew that he couldn't. It wasn't like your average meetings were nothing was talked about or done. They would be nominating people to be a member of the United Republic Council, and he absolutely could not miss it.
Katara knew that he didn't want to leave with his daughter in such distress, so she met him at the door and pulled him into a kiss. "You go and take care of things at the meeting. I'll take care of things here."
"Are you sure?" Aang asked.
"I'm sure. I'll talk to Kya." Katara said, kissing him again and sending him on his way. Aang slowly made his way over to Appa, mounted the great Sky Bison, and Appa took to the air headed across the bay towards the city.
Katara sighed and turned to walk back into the house. She made her way to Kya's room. She leaned her ear against the door. She couldn't hear her crying anymore, so Katara assumed that it was all right for her to enter. "Kya?" She called, opening the door just a few inches.
Kya was lying stretched out on her bed, with her face buried in the pillows. Katara walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. "Kya, are you really that upset that we're having another baby?" She asked, resting her hand on the girl's shoulder.
Kya nodded mutely against the pillows.
"Why, sweetie?" Katara asked.
Kya finally turned over so that she could see her mother. Her eyes were red from crying. "I like things the way they are now." She said. "I don't wanna have to share you with a baby."
Katara sighed. "Oh, Kya."
"I don't… I don't want you and Daddy to love me less."
"Where would you get an idea like that?" Katara asked.
"Miki… her parents just had a new baby." Katara nodded. She knew Miki, one of Kya's best friends here on the island. Her parents were Air Acolytes, and just had a baby about six months ago. "Now they don't spend any time with her because they are always with the baby. I don't wanna be forgotten."
"Oh, Kya… come here…" Katara said, opening her arms and allowing her daughter to fall into her embrace. Kya accepted the invitation, squeezing her mother tightly. "Your Daddy and I will not love you less because of the new baby. No parent feels that way."
"But Miki…"
"It's just the way babies are, sweetheart. They are very small, and they cannot take care of themselves. Parents spend a lot of time with new babies because babies need their parents to do things for them."
"Babies can't… get their own food?" Kya asked.
"No, they can't." Katara answered.
"Really?"
"Really." Katara said. "You were the same way when you were a baby, you know. Your father and I barely got any sleep after you were born because you took up so much of our time and attention. So, Kya, I know that it will seem like your father and I have forgotten about you after the new baby is born, but we haven't. We still love you, and we will always love you, no matter how much time and attention the new baby needs."
Kya finally seemed to calm down a little. "When will the baby get here?" She asked.
"About seven months." Katara answered. "Here, feel." She scooted her daughter off her lap and let Kya feel the little bump on her midsection. "Do you feel how Mommy's tummy is a little bigger than normal?"
"Yeah." Kya said.
"That means that your little brother or sister is growing in there right now." Katara said.
"Are you gonna get really big like Miki's mommy?" Kya asked.
Katara smiled. "Yes, but not until the baby is ready to come out."
"Doesn't it hurt to have something growing in there like that?" Kya asked, confused.
"It's uncomfortable, sometimes… especially once the baby starts getting bigger. But, you know what… it's completely worth it." Katara smiled at her daughter.
Aang stepped into his home wearily. He was a little shocked at himself for being so nervous about stepping into his own home. He hadn't been this nervous about coming home since he had those threats from assassins.
But, then again, an unhappy daughter could be far more terrifying than a hundred assassins.
He concentrated on the vibrations coming from the ground beneath his feet. He had expected to find his daughter still locked in her room as she had been when he left, and Katara perhaps working on dinner.
He was shocked, however, to find that both his wife and daughter were sitting on the bed in the master bedroom. Confused, Aang made his way there.
"Is it going to be a boy or a girl?" He heard Kya ask.
"We can't know yet, not until the baby arrives." He heard Katara answer.
Aang opened the door and froze when he saw Kya was in a position that he, himself, did nearly every day of Katara's pregnancy. She was laying her head down on Katara's lap with her ear pressed against the small bump of her midsection. It was much too soon in Katara's pregnancy for there to be movement, but Aang loved being that close to his unborn child. And to find Kya in that position was shocking.
Aang cleared his throat to get their attention. Both of his favorite girls smiled at him. "I suppose… everything's okay, then?" He asked.
Katara smiled, running her fingers through Kya's hair. "Everything's fine now."