Zuko paced the parameter of the pond, frantic eyes scanning the placid surface for any sign of movement. Katara quickly caught up with the distraught prince, and winced when she saw the bleakness in his eyes. Kaiya had been missing for well over two weeks, and Katara knew that Zuko feared the worst. She had tried to tell him that nothing could happen to the little turtle-duck on the palace grounds, but he had replied that accidents could occur, along with illness, poachers, etc.
Now he sat down at the pond's edge and stared across the water, his arms resting loosely on his upraised knees. Katara sat next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder, offering him what comfort she could. As the morning dragged on, her eyes began to droop until movement on the water's surface caught her attention. She focused on a small moving dot, and began to grin as the dot grew closer and separated out into several recognizable shapes.
"Zuko, look, isn't that," she began, and felt him stiffen next to her when he caught sight of the rapidly approaching shapes.
They climbed to their feet, and Zuko's face broke out into a huge relieved grin as Kaiya's ribbon came into view. His grin grew even wider when he saw six tiny turtle-ducklings trailing after their new mother. He sat back down at the pond's edge, and Katara watched as Kaiya and her brood all climbed out and made their way to the prince.
"Oh, what have we here?" Iroh asked, coming upon the scene a little later. Kaiya and all six of her babies were snuggled in Zuko's lap, sound asleep.
"Kaiya's new turtle-ducklings," Katara answered, reaching over to move one of the sleeping babies onto her lap. The little thing was looking crowded amongst its brethren, and had been in danger of falling off Zuko's leg.
Zuko looked up at his uncle and saw a familiar twinkle in the older man's eyes. Resignation fell over him like a cloak, because he just knew what was coming.
"Congratulations, you're a grandmother!"