Disclaimer: Don't own Avatar or its characters.
*O*O*O*O*O*O*
"What do you mean?" Zuko asked surprised. "How can you tell this early?"
"I just know it." Katara seemed determined that she was right. Zuko nodded and looked at her stomach.
"At least, we're engaged." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. He smiled too, but on the inside, he was screaming in fear. My father wasn't the best father in the world. How can I be a good father? He thought to himself.
*O*O*O*O*O*O*
Sokka lied on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The darkness of the night was overwhelming. He was subconsciously asking for help; from anyone. He hasn't really had much good experience with the other gender; however, now he has a chance to try again, but he isn't sure if he should take it.
"What do I do?" He screamed to no one in particular.
"You take it." A silky voice came out from nowhere. The now scared-out-of-his-wits Sokka screamed like a girl and pulled his blanket to his chin.
"Who is it?" He whispered raspily.
"Sokka, it's me." A white figure came out of nowhere. Pale lavender cloth wrapped around her glowing skin. Her pure white hair flowed from the non-existing wind and her eyes sparkled; her lips were icy and cool.
"Yue." He whispered as he took off the blanket.
*O*O*O*O*O*O*
It was a warm Fire Nation morning. The sun was slowly crawling up into the sky to wake up the inhabitants underneath its glowing rays. Today was the day Iroh would come to visit. He already knew of his nephew's engagement and was happy for the couple. Gossip spread fast in this world, and the Avatar's cancellation of his engagement was already worldwide-news. The Fire Lord's engagement, on the other hand, was quite new and was still making its way to the rest of the nations.
Zuko was sitting and drinking his tea peacefully. Toph and Arianna came up behind him, laughing at some distant memories, and seated themselves beside the Fire Lord. Toph didn't really wake up this early, but Arianna was rubbing off on her.
"What's up Sparky?" Toph asked Zuko. He turned around and shrugged. Toph was unaware of the engagement; everyone was, except for Arianna. After all, she was family and had pried it out of Zuko before he left with Katara a few days ago. Zuko had wanted to announce the engagement when his Uncle arrived and Katara solemnly agreed.
Arianna smiled at her older cousin while sipping some of her own tea. "I can't wait to meet General Iroh." She politely announced, "He must be a great guy if he can make such great tea." Zuko lips curved as he felt the tea dripping in his throat.
"You better call him Uncle. He doesn't like being called General Iroh." Toph pointed out. Zuko nodded in agreement.
Arianna made sure to note that in her mind so she doesn't accidentally call the man General Iroh. The three sat in silence, drinking.
"Twinkle Toes is sick." Toph announced. Arianna stared at Toph with sympathy. She knew how close the two were. "Katara's thinks he has some sort of fever. I'm not sure."
Why is Katara bending? She's supposed to be careful! She's carrying our baby now, doesn't she know that! The inner Zuko was screaming.
"He'll get better." Zuko smiled, "He always does." He recounted the time he believed Aang was dead. No one could possibly kill someone as optimistic, playful, yet as powerful as Aang.
*O*O*O*O*O*O*
"Katara?" Zuko whispered as he looked for his fiancée after his meeting.
"Yes, Zuko?" She looked at the shocked expression on his face and became scared.
"I have something to tell you." She nodded, "The Dai Li leader, I don't know his name, is plotting something. They have some new rebel group called the Black Agni. It's against the Fire Nation and the Avatar for siding with me."
"Is Azula in on it?" Katara asked warily. Zuko shook his head resulting in a sigh of relief from Katara.
"But, we need to be careful. With the baby too." Zuko looked at her abdomen and Katara lifted his chin.
"The baby will be okay. And we'll plot against the group after the marriage, okay? Let's announce the engagement today, like planned, and get married in a month. Just our friends and family. We don't have time for a big event."
Zuko nodded and walked away.
*O*O*O*O*O*O*
"Thank you." The waiter smiled as he took another sip from his tea.
"No, thank you." Iroh bowed. He just helped another person with his famous advice. The waiter was having 'love problems' and Iroh was glad to share some insight while he poured some tea for the man.
Iroh had always been there for his nephew, and now he was sharing his wonderful wisdom with everyone who needed it or asked for it. He was still the jolly, tea-lover man. The Jasmine Dragon was becoming a quite successful franchise and was spreading throughout Ba Sing Se. It never reached the rest of the Earth Kingdom, but Iroh always believed in taking one step at a time.
He looked at the sunrise from the ship and smiled. He was almost there. And he couldn't wait to meet his new niece. Of course, he had always known of Ursa's brother and his drastic fate; but he never knew that he had a daughter before he got banished.
*O*O*O*O*O*O*
"Aang! He's coming!" Arianna shouted for the resting Avatar as she whizzed through the hallways.
She finally found his room and shook him till he groggily woke up.
"What?" He mumbled. "Iroh came!" She smiled brightly. He quickly jumped up and walked to his dresser. He noticed that Arianna was still and the room and turned around.
"Sorry. I'll be outside." She closed the door behind her and patiently waited for him to get dressed.
"Okay!" He opened the door, "Let's go!"
The two ran to the entrance of the Palace; everyone else was already there. The old man came out of the palanquin and bowed to its holders. He came up to Zuko, who was smiling like there's no tomorrow, and commented on something. "Zuko, you always knew that I never liked the palanquin. I can walk very well by myself!" He smiled and hugged his nephew.
"I know. I just thought after a journey like yours, you'd be tired." He explained. Iroh nodded and walked over to Katara, Toph, and Sokka.
"My, you have grown up so much!" He hugged the three of them. "I brought gifts!" Sokka smiled and started jumping up and down.
"Katara," Iroh looked at her, "Pakku wanted me to give you this. It's a moonstone powder." He handed her a shiny container whose contents glistened like ice. "It has special powers, but it's up to you to figure out what they are." She smiled and hugged him. He whispered in her ear, "Congrats on the engagement."
"Sokka," Iroh walked over to him, "It's your boomerang. One of the members of the White Lotus found it and made sure that I give it back to its rightful owner. Don't lose it again." His face becoming more serious, "I won't be around much longer." Sokka smiled and hugged his old friend.
"Toph." Iroh patted the young girl on her shoulder. "I think you might like this gift. It's something I found." He handed her a brown rock. "Wow. A rock."
She mocked.
"No. It's special. And I'm sure Aang would recognize it. Ask him." He smiled at the Avatar and walked to him.
"Aang. It's been a long time. I remember when Zuko was chasing you all over the world!" He chuckled, "You were just a young, naïve child. Now, you are a man. I give you this." It was a glass sculpture of the Spirit of Destiny.; something the monk's believed was very sacred. She was a beautiful spirit with red hair and pale white skin. Aang's eyes stared at the gift like it was too holy to touch but gradually took it into his hands. "I'm sure you know what this is and how carefully you must guard it." Aang nodded. Iroh smiled and walked to the last person.
"Arianna." She smiled and looked up at her Uncle. Just by looking in his eyes she knew that he was no regular old man. He was joyful, kind, and filled with wisdom that she'll never see in her life.
Iroh looked into her brown eyes and could see her entire life: her struggles, family heritage, love, and many more.
"You are destined for great things, my daughter." He smiled, "You have the blood of two warring nations; the blood of fire and water. My gift to you is this." He handed her a necklace. It was a simple chain with a locket shaped like the Fire Nation emblem. She opened the locket to find a drop of water floating inside it. The locket seemed to be bending it by itself. Everyone gathered around to see it.
"There's fire inside the drop!" Sokka shouted. Everyone stared at Iroh with baffled expressions.
"It's special." Iroh explained to Arianna. "It was your father's." A tear rolled off Arianna's cheek. "He made it as a symbol of harmony between the two nations and your parent's marriage. Guard it with your life."
She nodded and wiped the tear away.
"Now where can we drink this tea I brought?" Iroh chuckled and walked inside the palace.
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