I AM SO EXCITED FOR KORRA! Who else here is a Makorra fan? Anyone? And you have to remember that I'm a Kataang shipper, so this is quite odd, but I'm loving it! Makorra for the win! WOOHOO! And did anyone realize that Korra airs in THREE DAYS! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! *Screams like a fangirl and faints* GOD I'M SO EXCITED! Oh wait, I already said that. Whoops! So go and read my lovely Zutara shippers! I love you all!
Did you guys get the information that Kya (Aang and Katara's eldest child) was a Waterbender and Bumi (Aang and Katara's first son) was a non-bender? I was freaking out because they have a Waterbender, non-bender, and Airbender! The perfect multicultural family! Sorry, I'm probably raining on your parade. I don't mean it! I swear! I love and support your ship to the fullest! I just wanted to inform you if you haven't already Wiki'd it.
SO READ ON!
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After Bumi was born, Zuko didn't know what to do. Sure, he loved his "nephew" dearly, but it just didn't feel right. The boy wasn't a bender at all, which was clear when he became old enough and should have shown at least some signs of bending at the age. His scraggly hair was always falling in his eyes or out of place, but he sure did love the world. And most of all, he sure did love to torment his sister.
Bumi had blue eyes and dark skin like his sister and mother, the only trait he got from his father was his happy-go-lucky attitude toward everything and his love of animals.
Zuko liked to watch as Bumi zoomed around the palace gardens screaming in laughter and picking up random animals that would even let the rambunctious boy near to them. And Zuko would frown, because deep inside, he was jealous and he knew it. If this was his kid, he would see him every day around the courtyard having fun and Katara would be his wife that was pregnant yet again.
Speaking of Katara, she was leaning up against an outdoor chair while Aang played happily with his young children in the garden. She looked content enough as she rubbed her nine month protruding stomach, whispering things to it with a happy smile on her face as she watched her kids and husband play in the yard. She was so beautiful when she looked like she was glowing.
With a sigh, Zuko got up from the palace steps and walked over to Katara, plopping himself down in the chair beside her with a smile.
"How are you doing?" he asked kindly with a smile.
Katara looked up at him, her own smile never fading as she answered, "I've never been better. The baby seems a lot calmer than his brother and sister were when they were in its situation. And in all my full term pregnancies, I have never felt this relaxed. The baby's kicked a couple times, but not hard enough or long enough to irritate me."
The look on her face turned to concern as she looked back at her belly with a sad smile, and Zuko just had to question her, or rather tell her that is.
"There's more to it," he said with a slight frown of his own, lying back in the chair, waiting for her answer.
"Yes," Katara sighed. "I'm concerned about its size. The baby's a bit smaller than its siblings and I can't quite put my finger on it, but this pregnancy was different from my last. With Kya, I felt at ease and warm, like I was underwater. And with Bumi I felt normal, but he sure did kick a lot. And with this one, I feel . . . calm. Like, really, really calm. I haven't really had any major mood swings, and I just feel . . . peaceful. But this is enough change. If this baby doesn't turn out to be an Airbender, we'll be doomed. I don't think I can push through many more kids. Three is enough and I'm getting old. I'm thirty-three!"
Zuko listened quietly for the next couple of minutes as Katara went on and on about being pregnant and having babies. The whole time, all Zuko could do was look at her and think that she was practically radiating beauty. She had the whole three times she was expecting.
And he couldn't help but feel like he had to tell her of his stupid crush soon, or he just might explode.
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After the new baby was born, Katara and Aang stayed on Air Temple Island to take care of the poor thing. It was too small and hungry all the time. And it cried. A lot.
So when Zuko got the chance, he went to visit the family of five.
When he got there, Aang had shown him his room and told him he would be right back, for at that moment, the baby – Tenzin was the baby boy's name – was starting to cry heavily.
But once Zuko heard the door to the nursery open, the crying stopped, and Zuko needed to find out why. It was odd, because the kid cried no matter what. Zuko kind of felt bad for it, actually. The poor little guy was just too small to help it.
So, after setting his stuff up as quickly as he could, Zuko quietly made his way down the hall and to the nursery door, peeking in to see Katara asleep in the bed next to the crib and Aang in the rocking chair next to it, silently rocking the baby to sleep. The little brat didn't seem to be sleeping though, it only seemed to be staring at Aang. Its face was contorted into something of a smile and it was wrapped in a wool blanket securely.
And Zuko only thought one thing; Damn, Aang is too good.
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Katara sat in the kitchen the next day as she ate her dinner. The baby was with Aang and Bumi and Kya were in their beds sleeping the night away.
The pillow next to where she sat was now occupied as Zuko sat himself down to join the tired mother as she lazily sipped at her soup.
"How are you doing?" he asked quietly, so as not to wake the baby that was finally to sleep. "You seem very tired."
"I am," Katara answered. "I'm so worried for Tenzin. Although Aang said that Air Nomad babies were always like this, only they laughed rather than cried. But he said that they were small in general and that they usually were always hungry. I don't know, but I still hope he can grow up healthy. No child of mine will be deprived of anything."
Zuko only admired her all the more when she confessed this, knowing that she was a committed mother was so lovely.
Now, he thought as he scratched his head, now I only have to tell her how I feel.
"Katara," he started, "I have to tell you something."
"What is it?" Katara questioned tiredly, her head in her hand as she ate her noodles.
"I have kind of a confession to make," he began. "You might think this is weird, so don't freak out and please don't tell Aang or he'll kill me, but I sort of maybe might have had a slight crush on you."
Katara turned her head to him a bit to look at him. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was in a straight line. Zuko waited for her reply to him for nearly too long.
"That's ok," Katara finally said, going back to her original position. "I understand and it's ok. And I won't tell Aang, I promise."
Zuko smiled a bit at her and she returned her smile as she finished off her soup.
"Well," she sighed, "I better get Aang before he falls asleep with Tenzin again. Then I'll be off to bed. Same should go to you Mr. Firelord, you have to go into the city tomorrow."
With that, she got up and made her way to the kitchen to clean her bowl. When she got back, Zuko was still where she left him.
"Good night Zuko," Katara waved as she walked into the hall to get Aang.
Zuko only frowned again. He thought that when he told her his feelings that the weight of keeping that a secret would just go away. But it didn't and it was bugging him more than ever. Although he only told her half of the truth, so that must be it.
But what did he expect? For her to run into his arms and leave three perfect children and a husband behind? Well, yes, he was thinking that. But he shouldn't have. She had a baby that needed tending to and her children would be nothing if they lost either a father or a mother, Zuko would know.
And so, the Firelord went to bed that night with guilt ridden all over him, and it didn't make him feel any better.
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Sorry I haven't updated, I got a spree of Kataang ideas and I still haven't got the time to write them yet. So when this idea came up, I had to make time for it. Remember that I'm only a thirteen year old girl with practically no social life and no love interest besides my cartoon crushes for Mako and Aang. But mostly for Aang because now he looks so hot in that beard of his . . . Ehem. Just review and forget I ever said any of that.