ARC 4: They Built A Path To Be Together

DAY 23: Reconciliation

Zuko hisses her name, tapping her awake.

"Huh—

He covers her mouth and she panics; there must be intruders in the house. But then he points to their daughter, nestled between them. Not surprisingly, she's awake. She rocks from side to side, tilting slowly, slowly, and then she lands on her side.

"That's it," Zuko says, "Before you know it she'll be running circles around us."

Katara laughs, even though it's just before dawn and she'd love to go back to sleep. Sometimes it feels like she's the only person around here who actually needs sleep. She yawns and forces herself up.

"Why don't you sleep some more?" Zuko suggests, as if he has read her mind.

It's easy for him to suggest it; he looks perfectly rested.

"She'll need to eat soon," Katara says, "And she smells funny."

Zuko sits up, tipping the baby on her back. Aikka slobbers and begins to rock herself again.

"I'll change her," Zuko says, "You can—

Katara glances at him, "We never got married."

He blinks.

"Married?" he squeaks.

Katara can't help laughing.

"Don't look so shocked," she says, "We have a baby; we're basically acting like a married couple already. I just…in my tribe getting married is important. This doesn't feel right until we do."

Zuko looks confused (he comes from a Nation where modesty means significantly less than a parka…so that's not too surprising).

"Katara…I'm not so—

"I know," she says, slipping out of bed, "Things are crazy right now; we've just gotten over things and we, frankly, might die in two weeks and I know we're still working on this, but—

"Katara, stop talking."

She glances at him, holding out a fresh nappy and cleaning cloths. Zuko hands her Aikka.

"I want to get married." He says.

She squints at him, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," he says, "You just surprised me."

"Oh."

She hands back a newly diapered baby and Zuko starts dressing her. Aikka blows bubbles at him. They both move around in silence for a few minutes, contemplating, considering, thinking.

"Did you really mean it?" Katara finally asks.

He nods, "I want to be with you. And if we win, then we really will stay together this time."

Katara smiles.

Aikka yawns. She smells like poop again.

Katara stops smiling.

It's that special sort of hot that makes a person about as lively as a jellyfish. Katara and Tiph are flopped out in the shade with Aikka between them. Aang and Zuko are training in the sun and Katara does not envy them (except a shirtless Zuko is…well…).

Aikka makes a fussy noise, the kind that usually means she wants her human pacifier. Katara groans.

The whining quickly turns into crying.

"Make it stop." Toph moans.

Katara grunts, but picks up the baby and begins undoing her top. She pokes Toph when Aikka is quiet and safely feeding.

"Piss off." The earthbender says, rolling over.

Katara rolls her eyes. She twists her hand and the air around them freezes.

"That's the stuff." Toph sighs, pacified (seriously, Katara might as well be her mother too).

Aikka eventually decides she's not interested in feeding, but luckily Zuko approaches just as she starts to fuss again (Aang is fleeing for the beach behind him).

Toph sits up. "Guess that's my cue."

She hops up and takes after Aang, muttering under her breath about airheaded earthbending students. Meanwhile, Zuko takes Aikka and tickles her belly. She giggles.

"Are you giving mommy a hard time?" he babbles to her.

She wiggles and coos at her father. Katara can't help but smile. She memorizes the image in her mind, closes her eyes to savor it.

"I need to talk to Sokka," Zuko says, "will you come?"

She shrugs. They haven't spoken much since Zuko agreed to get married—then completely dropped the subjects (it's been days and she's not super thrilled with him right now).

But she follows him anyway.

They find Sokka and Suki in the kitchen making out instead of making lunch (Katara sighs).

"Sokka."

They spring apart, flushed. They don't even bother trying to hid it (there's not really a point—they've all walked in on each other at least once now).

"Heeey, Zuko." Sokka drawls, moving away from his girlfriend.

"I want to marry Katara." Zuko says.

Silence.

Sokka's face grows deadly calm, Suki looks shocked. Katara can hardly believe her ears (Aikka gurgles).

"What can you offer her?" Sokka asks, crossing his arms.

Tears spring into Katara's eyes; he could have walked away, but responding in lieu of her father is tantamount to considering a suitor on her behalf.

"When the war ends," Zuko says, "I will see to it that she wants for nothing."

Suki steps away, glancing between the two men (on Kyoshi Island, a woman asks a man's mother for his hand). The correct response to Sokka's question was something like, I swear to feed her, clothe her, and protect her children (but Katara suspects the Fire Nation follows a different tradition).

"In the South, I would need evidence that you could feed her and protect her, give her a good life," Sokka says, "But there's no telling what the coming weeks will bring."

He sighs and turns to his sister, "Katara, do you accept this man, Zuko of the Fire Nation?"

She nods, "Yes. I do."

Zuko blushes, "In the Fire Nation—

Sokka waves a hand, "I give you permission. Be off with my sister before I change my mind and gut you—or before she does, for that matter."

Zuko glances at Katara and she mimes slitting his throat (she's still annoyed, but less so. She makes the gesture to freak him out and it works).

"I'm still going to marry you, though." She says.

They're married at sunset.