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As Aang finished the many times rewritten letter he planned on sending to Katara, another burst of pain shot out from his leg. He tensed up and looked at the doctor, who was cleaning the burn. "Yowch!! Can't you be a little gentler?" he said through clenched teeth. "No," the doctor said. "It must be cleaned thoroughly which will cause pain, or else you die and/or lose your leg. Which do you prefer?"

"Pain," Aang mumbled. He hated being cooped up here. He was an Air Nomad, born free. But he felt physically and mentally unmovable in this room that seemed to get smaller by the second. He called for a messenger hawk, and gave the bird a letter. "Southern Water Tribe," he commanded, and off it went.

Tears came to his eyes as the doctor scraped another burnt layer of dead cells off of his blackened bone. "Aggghhh!" Aang yelled, trying not to scream. He held onto a brick, trying not to crush it to dust in his grip from his earthbending, but scared that he would break it without earthbending, the pain was so agonizing. He also wanted to smash the brick against his head, but he couldn't. Through clenched teeth, he managed to make a sentence: "Don't—you—have—any—numbing—medicine—you—could—give—me?" he said, squinting.

"Yes, but it wouldn't work on a wound this size."

"Anything will help; please doctor, I am suffering here…"

"Alright. I'll be right back with it."

It was late at night, and already Aang was late home. He looked out the window at the star-filled sky, and closed his eyes. He fell asleep dreaming of Katara, his family and friends, and the war.

Toph, Sokka, Zuko, and Hakoda stayed up all night watching Katara. Some of the women came with their own cure for morning sickness, and the group tried all of them. Now, they were all fast asleep in her tent, and Katara straightened up for the first time in a few days. She felt wonderful! She didn't know what had been wrong with her, but the feeling was gone. She decided to cook breakfast for everyone. And now, she didn't think that she was going to die.

As everyone got up, they could see (and feel) that the medicines and cures had worked. She was smiling and that shine in her eyes was back. "Katara!" Sokka yelled. "You're okay!" he ran to her in only his sleeping shorts, stupidly forgetting that it was the South Pole. "Shit!" he cursed under his breath as he ran back inside. She laughed, a deep and joyful laugh, something that they had all missed. Zuko came out, as he remembered clothes in one of the coldest places on earth. She stood up straight and smiled. He smiled back. She ran to him and jumped into his outstretched arms. He stroked her hair as tears fell. "You're okay," he whispered. She smiled into his hug. "I don't think you're going to die," he said. She looked up at him. "So what was wrong with me?" Zuko's face became serious. "You'd better sit down with the others," he said. He opened the flap. She went inside. Sokka was tying his boots and Toph was brushing her hair. Hakoda was still asleep, and Katara leaned next to him. She kissed her father on the cheek, and he woke up. He looked at his daughter.

"Katara!" he yelled, as he came to his knees and hugged her so tightly, that she almost choked. "Okay, dad," she whispered. There were tears in his eyes. She almost never had seen him cry. The last time she saw him cry was when he held her mother as she died 8 years ago. "Dad, what's wrong?" she asked, worried.

"Katara, we thought you were going to die! I can't handle that. Not for you or Sokka. But now, I'm so proud of you!" he hugged her again, but she pulled away.

"Why?"

Hakoda looked at the other three. "You didn't tell her?" They all shook their heads.

"Tell her," Sokka said seriously. "She needs to know…"

"Sugar Queen, we found out something last night."

"Something big," Zuko added.

"Is Aang alright? Where is he?"

"He's not back yet," Hakoda said. "But the news is about you. Great, wonderful news."

"Katara," Sokka said gently, "you're pregnant."

Silence filled the tent and the only sound was the cracking of the fire outside. The group looked at Katara, who stared at the tent's wall. Toph snapped her fingers. "Katara? Sugar Queen, are you okay?"

"I'm pregnant?" she whispered. She broke into a huge smile and tears filled her eyes. "At least I'll live," she said, laughing. Everyone hugged her as her father kissed her forehead. "I'm so proud of you," he said, smiling.

"Boy, Twinkletoes got to work on the first night. Who knew he had it in him?" Toph laughed as Katara blushed. "So," Katara said, "I'm three months pregnant?"

"Yeah," Sokka said, smiling at his baby sister. He hugged her.

For the next two weeks, Katara felt so happy with the life inside of her. Aang was always with her, now as the child was his too. And yet every day, her smile fell a little more because Aang never showed up. Everyday after her chores, she looked to the Northeastern sky. She never saw Appa.

As a third week went by, Zuko came to join her. He put his arm around her shoulder. "He'll come," he said. "He promised you. And I've never seen him go back on a promise. He loves you. He probably just had some more business to attend to, you know, Avatar things." He tried to make her smile. "Or do you miss Appa more? 'I'm Katara!'" he mimicked her in a girly voice. "'Hey Appa! Don't tell Aang, but you're the one I missed. You're so brave and strong. Oh, Appa!'" She laughed as he hugged her. She buried her face in his coat. "Thanks, Zuko. I just worry, you know? He should have been back by now. I want him to enjoy this time with me." She took Zuko's hand and placed it on her lower abdomen. He felt the small bump that she was now showing. He smiled as he squeezed her hand. "He'll be fine, Katara. He'll send a message if he can't come right now."

A young girl ran up behind them. "Miss Katara! Miss Katara!

"What is it, Lu-Kai?"

There's a message waiting at the messenger hawk house. Come quickly!" she said as she ran away.

"Wow, that was fast," Zuko said sarcastically.

"Wanna go with me?" she asked as she took Zuko's hand. "It might be from Aang!" she started to run as he tried to catch up. "You're a fast runner!" he said, laughing. "Be careful, though! Katara, wait up!" She just ran harder. She got to the messenger hawk house, and the clerk looked up. "Katara! You have a very important message waiting." He handed it to her. "From the Avatar," he said as he winked. Her smile shone through her whole face as she thanked him and ran out, just as Zuko got there, leaning on the wall, catching his breath. As she ran past him, she yelled, "Come on, Zuko!" and he groaned as he started to jog to her tent. She was waiting for him to get there before she read it, but she just said, "sit down," as she opened the letter. She started to read:

Dear Katara,

I hope this message finds you and everyone else well. By the time you get this, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko are all probably back by now. I would have been too, except some problems arose. I am fine, but I cannot go home for a while. My duties must be finished before I can come home. I also cannot come home because the doctors are forcing me to rest for a few months. Don't worry, nothing serious. They just don't want to lose me if it affects me. I hope you and everyone are doing well. You have no idea of how many times I think of you each day. I miss you so much, and I love you. My heart aches so much for you. But I promise you I will come back home. I just don't know when, at least 5 months. Tell Hakoda that the plan is still on. Gather the troops, and as the Avatar, I appoint you as head general and admiral of the waterbending and water tribe warriors. Do not worry about me. But I do worry about you. Please write back to the outer wall of Ba Sing Se. I am posted there, and will get your message as soon as it comes. Tell Sokka that he needs meat and sarcasm to win. I believe in him. Tell Toph to find some rocks to punch. Tell Zuko to continue his broadswords. Tell them all that I miss them and wish they were here supporting and fighting with me. I wish you were here with me, and you are always in my heart, mind, and soul. Also, I never got to thank you for your pendant you gave me. I keep it with me always. It's not the original one, though, is it? I don't want you to forget your mother. But it reminds me so much of you, so if it's the original, I need to give it back when I get home. It means so much more to me if you wear it. Anyway, tell me what's new with everyone, including you. I want to know. I'm sorry I left as soon as we were married. I hope the love we have together is still strong. I love you.

Aang

Katara's eyes teared up as she read his letter. "He's okay," she said as she handed Zuko the letter. "He's alive."

"Yeah," he said as he frowned. "But he's not going to be back in time to see your baby's birth."

"I don't care," she said. "I just want him to be safe."

Katara left Zuko and went to write a letter to Aang. She filled it with love, telling him about everyone, everything, and the plans for the battle. She told him the number of troops, the question of when the last battle actually would be, and more. But she sent the letter without telling him the good news. She only said that she loved him and that she'd hope that he'd get well.

She went to the hawks and picked the fastest one. As she watched it fly away, she felt her stomach and the tiny bulge that came from it. She smiled sadly, but decided to go to Sokka's tent.

She found her brother in his tent. He was sewing up a hole in his pants. Since he grew up, he developed a thought that women weren't only for cooking, cleaning, and mending. So he took up sewing. And he told Katara only that it even relaxed his nerves. "If you tell anyone, I swear you are dead!" he yelled. But she knew he'd be okay with it.

"Hey," she said as she walked in and sat down next to him. "Hey," he replied, as he put his pants and sewing away. She leaned on him, and he relaxed his chin on her head. They had gotten so much closer too. They were the best of friends, and almost inseparable. He patted her stomach. "So how's Sokka Jr. today?" he asked playfully. "Fine!" she said, smiling, and then sighed. "Sokka, I received a letter from Aang."

"Great! What'd he say?"

"Oh, just how he can't come back for a few months, and he wanted to see how everyone was doing."

"He can't come back for a while? Why?"

"He said he got injured a little bit and that the doctors won't let him leave. But it's alright."

"Is he going to be back in time? You know, for his and your baby?"

"I don't think so."

"Oh."

There was silence except for the wing rattling the tent. "I am the general and the admiral for our troops though. And I cannot be both, so, Sokka, I make you the general."

"Really?"

"Yep!"

"Cool!"

Katara kissed her brother on the cheek and got up. "I'm going to go take a bath," she said as she opened the flap. "My back aches too. You want to come with?"

"Sure. I haven't had a bath in weeks!"

"Ugghh, Sokka, why not?"

"I was busy, and lazy! Let's go! And let's take Zuko and Toph with us!"

He got a warm bear-seal blanket and warmer boots and followed his sister out. It was snowing, but the siblings could still find their way. They got to Toph's tent and opened the flap. She was meditating and bending a piece of rock. "Hey Toph, do you want to come with us to the hot springs?" Sokka asked.

"Sure!" she said as she got a furred blanket, socks, and mittens. She walked out, took Sokka's hand, and waited as Katara got Zuko. They all walked in silence, hand in hand, towards the waterfall hot springs.

This is going to feel so good, Katara thought as she shivered while taking everything off except her undergarments. She jumped in, glad that the water was almost boiling hot from the underwater volcano below. She swam underneath, and then Sokka, Zuko, and Toph waded in. She swam over to meet them and they all went under. She went under too, but went farther down. The three came up, heads steaming, while Katara swam to her favorite place. She had meant to take Aang to it, but never got the chance. Sokka knew of it, but to Katara, it was her spot.

It was a huge opening in a sea crystal area that never melted, and she swam up, breathing in as she hit the surface. She got out of the water, staring at her cave. It was warm inside there too, with light reflecting through the snow and crystals, and soft, green Arctic moss on the ground. This was her spot. It was a giant rock cave under the ice, which was filled with priceless crystals. She only cared about their beauty, as they shimmered and she saw the glorious colors of the prisms. She walked around, seeing that everything was still the way she left it 6 years ago. She had gone to it the day before she found Aang in the iceberg and their adventures started. It seemed like her dreams had always come true in this special place, because that day 6 years ago, she had wished for a life changing adventure. And it had happened.

She came to the last stop, a clear crystal mirror from the floor of the cave to the ceiling. She used to love standing in front of it, looking at herself, trying to figure out who she was and who she was destined to be. Now, as she looked, she hadn't seen herself in a long time. She looked so much older. She turned to the side and saw her bulge. She had never been pregnant, and as she thought about it, she became scared. She looked at her stomach, put her hand to it, and thought of how she didn't tell Aang.

She left the cave and, finishing their swim, Katara went back to dry off in front of Sokka's fire. She was covered in blankets and was very comfortable. But she felt guilty about not writing about the baby. Her hand instinctively went to her bulge.

"Sokka," she started, "If you were Aang, and your wife was pregnant, how would you feel if she didn't tell you?"

"You didn't tell him?"

She shook her head. "Sokka, I was scared. I didn't want to tell him because he would worry about me. His duty to the world would be crushed. His mind would be on me and the baby, not on the Fire Nation and the war. I care about him that much. I knew the challenges I would face as the Avatar's wife, and I humbly accept them, even if he cannot enjoy this moment with me. When we traveled with Aang all over the world, we grew used to putting our lives on the line to help him. And he did the same, but more us than him. And now, we must protect and help him once again."

"Katara, I understand, but this is not the same as when we were kids. New life," he said, pointing to Katara's belly, "is precious. I know Aang loves kids, and he'd be that happiest father in the world, but you should have told him. What? He comes back and there's a new baby? A surprise? Protecting and helping him would be telling him and helping him fight, not sitting back and doing nothing."

"We're not sitting back and doing nothing, Sokka! Aang can't be in every corner of the world at once. He needs friends and family like us and our friends all over the world to help him gather an army of the world to take out the evil part of the Fire Nation. Sokka, I can't worry him about our baby! I'm not going to tell him!"

"Then I will!"

"You'll break his heart, Sokka, knowing he can't come home to enjoy it!"

"At least it won't be a heart attack when he comes home to a kid he never knew about."

"He'll understand, Sokka…"

"No, he won't."

"Just listen!" She yelled. He shut his mouth. Her voice quieted down. "Sokka, please, you've got to trust me. I can't hurt him like that. I know what I'm doing, please…"

"Fine," he sighed. "I'm just trying to be a good friend and brother."

"You're the best that ever was," Katara said. "And if Aang doesn't come back in time, I know you'll be a great uncle. And it gives you practice before you marry Toph. When are you going to ask her, anyway?"

"When I can take a trip to her parents and ask for her hand. But they don't even know me. So I'll have to bring her with, and show them how much I love her. But I don't even know when the right time is."

"Any time is the right time, Sokka,"

"You and Aang are an example of just the opposite."

"We had no idea that that would happen to us, Sokka. It's not our fault."

"You're right."

"He didn't—wait, what?"

"You're right. You two were ready to just be together. But you had no idea that the war was going to come back. I'm sorry, Katara. I'm just worried about everyone. I usually try to keep my feelings in and be brave. But I can't every once in a while. I'm about to explode, Katara! I worry about everyone. When we thought you were going to die, I couldn't imagine life without you. As you died, I would die too. I can't…I can't imagine any of you dying. And for that, I am going to protect you—and everyone else—with my life. I promise you."

"Sokka, I will protect you with my life, too."

Okay, so Aang's not coming back in time. But Katara won't give up hope. Please read and review! Thanks everyone! You make me feel wonderful!

Peace and love(that's my friend's saying),

Avatarone3