Katara

3 months later

Being Fire Lady was possibly the most fearsome challenge I had faced yet. It wasn't that the job itself that scared me it was the thought of failure, of making an error. I want so much to impress the council, noblemen and most especially the people. The palace staff was now under my control as were their finances. Maze the head of the palace staff was a God sent. She was warm and spent many of her days helping me learn how to run a staff and manage their finances. Every day for the past three months I get up, dress, take breakfast with Zuko, and then walk the halls with Maze as she made her rounds. She says that I am now well equipped to manage things on my own. Today is the first day since the wedding that I haven't walked with Maze. Zuko was gone already to an early meeting with his advisors, Ty Lee was back at the circus, and I'm sad to say I haven't made that many friends. I missed Toph and Sukki, even Sokka and especially Aang. I felt strange today, unbalanced. Perhaps it was because of the new moon or perhaps because I hadn't practiced my bending in so long but today I felt strange. I got up and went to my wardrobe. Zuko had had the palace seamstress make a set of sparring clothes. There was a set of red pants that came the knee, a top the showed most of my stomach and a pair of gold armbands. I put the clothes on and put my hair in a braid and set off for the training grounds, hoping to bend this feeling out of me.

As I entered the training grounds, Jiang, head of the palace guards approached me.

"My Lady, we were not expecting you today. Do you need anything?" He asked

"Yes, actually, would you mind having someone bring in a couple water barrels? I'd like to practice my bending today."

"Of course my Lady, I will have those here immediately." He bowed then departed.

I began walking watching some of the men on the grounds train until Jiang found me telling me that he had a special section for me where I would have access to all the water I would need. Thanking him I found my way over to the special training area. It was perfect. It contained a small, circular pool with jars of water surrounding it. I turned and saw Jiang at the entrance.

"The Fire Lord had this place constructed for you when he announced your engagement. It's completely closed off from the rest of the training ground so you may practice here in peace and in whatever garments you want." I blushed at that. Zuko apparently told his guards that I liked bending in my bindings. I'd have to thank him later tonight for this. It wasn't just a place to bend it was a place to escape, to be just Katara for a few hours. I stripped down to my bindings and brought the water to me already feeling the peace my element brought.

Zuko

3 months later

The council had been especially trying the past week. Ambassadors from both the water tribes and Earth kingdom had been present at the palace for 3 years now as part of a stipulation of the peace treaties created after the war. They were here to ensure that the Fire Nation was fair in its trading with other nations and other dealings. The water tribes were friendly and open insisting that the Fire Nation and Water tribes were family now since the wedding. The Earth kingdom however was a little bit more challenging, to say the least. The Earth Kingdom had trouble letting go of wartime hostilities. They still weren't convinced of the Fire Nation's determination to make peace. They demanded the most money and trade their demands would have bankrupted the Fire Nation within the first year after the war. I've fallen asleep to many in my office to be sympathetic. Which is where I am now, trying somehow to finish the piles of paper work and unanswered Earth Kingdom demands. I heard a soft knock, Katara. She always came to get me sooner or later.

"Come in." I said. She gently pushed the door open smiling. She was in a soft blue night gown and a red robe. She smiled and came around to the back of my chair putting her arms around my chest.

"Come to bed Zuko." She whispered softly. I smiled, that was all it took. A quiet whisper from her and I'd do anything. She took my hand, as I put out the lamps, and lead me down the hall to our room. When we got to our room she let my hand go. I went to the bathroom then came back and stripped down to just a pair of light paints. Katara had already crawled into bed and I quickly joined her. I put my arm over her waist and puller her closer.

"You should really start coming to bed Zuko." She said her eyes trained on mine.

"I know, I'm sorry, there's just always so much to do." I said closing my eyes. Her hand brushed over my face and settled on my cheek.

"Zuko I have something to tell you." She bit down on her lip clearly nervous about whatever she had to tell me. I just looked at her waiting for her to tell me. "I… I think… I think I might be… pregnant, Zuko." Happy. There was no other way to describe how I felt. Overjoyed, happy, words could not describe it. I smiled kissing her, every inch of her face. But within the euphoria of my joy I had a weight pressing down on my chest. What if I became my father, what if I hurt this child, was cruel, or distant, or unloving. I couldn't bear the thought.

"You have no idea how happy you've made me. As a wife and now as a mother! Katara we're going to have a family." She smiled, giggling.

"You're not angry?" She asked.

"Angry? How could I be angry? I'm ecstatic, excited, anything but angry."

"Good. I have an appointment with the palace physician tomorrow. Will you come with me?"

"Of course! I want to be there every step of the way." She smiled even more if it were possible.