Here's the third chapter hope you enjoy!
Chapter 3:
Secrets
Katara smiled as she watched the harbor come into sight as she thought that it seemed like only yesterday that they had set sail and not a month ago, but then again to her it seemed like time was traveling extremely fast since she and Zuko had married four months ago. Katara pushed away from the railing and walked back down to her and Zuko's room to find him gone and a note on the bed. She scanned it to see if it said where he was and smiled at his weak attempt to give subtle directions. As she walked up to the bridge of the ship she thought about the changes in her moods lately: Moody, sick, not able to eat, and, as Zuko had found out, not in the mood for his not-so-funny jokes.
"Zuko I saw Toph and Aang while I was waterbending." said Katara as she stopped next to him.
"I know. How about you go back down and get some of your fresh air?" asked Zuko as he looked up from a map the captain had given him.
"Ok, I'll be up there after I change out of these thick robes. I'm glad you thought of taking some light robes and some of our, as kids call them, rebel clothes." Katara laughed after she said this as she thought about one kid who had started the term 'rebel clothes', which had caught on.
"Yeah I figured you wouldn't want to wear them everywhere." said Zuko as he became engrossed in studying the map.
Katara sighed as she entered her room to change and thought not for the first time that her husband was the nicest man in the firenation.
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Zuko thought that if Katara didn't get to feeling better before they left after Christmas he just might become the nicest man in the firenation from trying to make her feel better. He sighed as he walked back up to make sure things were in order and thought that he was glad he had known Katara before they had married so he knew most of her moods, but even with that advantage, Zuko thought with her recent change in moods he'd be running to Aang for advice.
"Zuko don't take any offense at this but I'm glad to be out of those robes, I feel better already. I feel bad for you wearing all those robes all the time since you were a kid, I mean you let me dress light but all them robes, whew!" exclaimed Katara as she came up next to him and leaned on the railing next to him.
"No offense taken I actually hate wearing all those robes all the time too that's why I take trips so I can ditch these robes." Zuko smiled as he admitted this, he would never tell his generals this of course but that was the reason why he took so many.
"Oh really and no ones never been suspicious?" asked Katara with a raised eyebrow. "If not I might have to come supervise these trips."
"Ha-ha, your welcome to come any time. Vacations might be fun with you tagging along." Zuko smiled as he saw what looked like Aang trying to win an argument with Toph but even though she'd started her own earthbending academy, it didn't seem like she'd slowed down any. Zuko whispered that maybe that's why Aang was in such good shape because of her drilling which made Katara laugh but she said that he was probably right.
"Zuko, Katara! It's so good to have you for Christmas here." hollered Aang who, even at the age of seventeen, was as energetic as he was the day he woke up at the South Pole.
"Thanks for inviting us." replied the twenty-one year old and much calmer Zuko with a smile as they walked to the carriage that would take them to the Bei Fong estate Toph had inherited when her parents had died due to an illness.
"Zuko can I talk to you in private about something?" whispered Aang as they watched Katara and Toph go off on their own.
"Sure I need to talk to you too." replied Zuko as he followed Aang into a joining garden.
"So what's up?" asked Aang as they walked through the garden.
"I don't know I'm just worried about some stuff." Zuko shrugged as he sat down on a rock behind him.
"You worried about you and Katara?" asked Aang as he petted Momo who'd landed on his shoulder.
"Not myself. Katara's been acting weird lately."
"Probably just feeling the effects of having people look up to her." Aang smiled reassuringly.
"Your turn now, spill it." Zuko knew from experience that if he didn't push, Aang would just put it off.
"Ok I need a favor I don't want Toph to be alone when the baby comes so I was wondering if maybe we could come stay with you so if I'm called away on business she would be with friends." asked Aang as he looked back at the entrance to see Katara coming.
"Me and Katara won't mind." replied Zuko as they walked toward the house. And as they walked back to the house Zuko didn't think that Aang's explanation worked for him. There had to be something more wrong with Katara and he was going to find out.
Later that evening…
"Toph I need to talk to you." said Katara as she came in to her friends' room. "Why were you napping?"
"Huh? Oh I just felt a little tired was all." said Toph as she sat up and smiled.
"Are you sure? Maybe you should go see a doctor." Katara felt her head but felt nothing.
"Aang has me scheduled for a visit. Maybe you should come have the doctor examine you because of your symptoms." said Toph as slapped her hand away.
"Alright if you insist." said Katara as she got up and checked her appearance in the mirror, a habit from being the Fire Lady. "Well let's go see if our husbands are ready to eat."
Katara hummed as she walked toward the room where her friend met with anyone important. She knocked and raised her eyebrows as she heard what sounded like someone falling.
"Katara what did you need?" asked Aang as he opened the door with a red mark on his forehead from falling.
"I was coming to see if y'all were ready to eat." Katara peeked past his shoulder to see Zuko putting three candles back on the table they were originally on.
"Yeah we'll be there in minute." Aang shut the door leaving Katara more confused than she was when he'd opened it. Odd thought Katara as she walked back to the dinning room to wait with Toph. They waited five minutes before Zuko and Aang came in.
"What did you guys talk about?" asked Katara as she sipped her tea and looked to her friend who was smiling. Zuko nearly jumped at her question and started stuttering like a five-year-old. Aang did the same thing except he answered with the defense that they talked about Avatar/Fire Lord stuff.
Katara thought that this would be an interesting Christmas if everyone was keeping secrets.