Chapter 15- The Next Airbender

Inspiration music: Creed- With arms wide open

Sokka could hear the cries of his sister echo through the vast halls within the avatars home. She had been in labor for some time now, almost too long it seemed. He got up and considered sticking his head back into the room once again to offer his help, just as he was about to make his way towards the door, his wife ran out of the room and almost into him.

"Suki, what…what's wrong?" he asked eyes wide with fear.

"I'm not sure, Sokka…the baby is caught, I-I mean it won't move past a certain point. I'm afraid it's taking too long, and honestly Katara is in a lot of pain and is exhausted. I'm running out in search of some information from the library…anything to help me with this. Aang should be able to heal any wounds…should it…should it come to that," she said, looking for any sign of nausea on his face. His track record with seeing births wasn't the best.

"I'll go and be with them in case they need something, hurry" he said, and then catching Suki's arm added, "don't worry. She's strong. We'll get through this."

Suki nodded and ran out to the library.

Sokka took a deep calming breath and headed into the room. Katara had been reduced to a low moan of pain in her exhaustion, her face was white as a sheet and there were large circles under her eyes. Aang was holding her hand, staring out the window, tear stains running the length of his face; he turned to face Sokka when he heard him approach. Sokka was completely taken aback by the look of misery on the avatar's face. His jaw was clenched and his grey eyes lacked their usual shine, there was a hardness there that Sokka had never seen before. His countenance changed however when he went to the basin of water beside her bed he cooled the water slightly and dipped a rag in it, which he applied to Katara's head, dabbing at the sweat that was pooling on her forehead. There didn't seem to need to be words exchanged between the two of them, and he felt as if he were intruding. Wordlessly he grabbed the used rags and water basin and went to fetch more, but before he could make it out the door, he heard Aang quietly speak to Katara,

"Sweetie, will you be okay if I go check on the children, and speak with Sokka. I'll be back in 3 minutes."

She could only nod her assent.

"Anything I can bring you?"

Her head shook slightly.

He kissed her softly and squeezed her hand before heading out the door with Sokka. When the door had clicked behind them Sokka pulled Aang to face him, "Is she going to be ok?"

Aang hung his head, "I-I don't know Sokka. She's so weak."

"And the baby?"

"We don't know," he said as yet another tear escaped his eye.

Sokka pulled his brother-in-law into a tight hug, "I'll stay with her for a minute. Take a break, go check on Kya and Bumi."

Aang nodded, slightly ashamed of how great his need to get away was.

Kya and Bumi were in the care of some of Aang's most trusted air acolyte pupils.

They were playing happily practicing some airbending forms with them. For a moment Aang was hopeful. He was blessed, he had two beautiful children that, although they were not themselves airbenders, were well trained in the aspects of his culture, not only trained, but proud of it. Upon seeing their father approach they ran to him and they embraced for a moment.

Bumi smiled widely and climbed to his father's shoulders.

"How's mother?" Kya asked, at 11 she was able to see the worry in her father's eyes.

"She's tired. They baby is being stubborn," then seeing the fear in her eyes he added, "but she's going to be fine. They both are," he put a hand on her cheek and smiled at her which seemed to quell her worries. "Now, I need to get back. You two be good, and patient."

"Like good air acolytes?" asked Bumi with a smile.

"Yes, exactly like that," said Aang with a chuckle. He hugged them once more and went off to be with his wife again.

The door to his room was open and it was eerily quiet. Panicked he raced in to find a solemn looking Sokka with his hands on Suki's shoulders, Suki was checking Katara's pulse and Katara's eyes were closed.

"KATARA!" he yelled and raced over to her side.

"Shhhhh, Aang, calm down, she's fine, just tired. Her pulse is strong," said Suki.

Nevertheless he put his hand on her chest to be sure. In response to his touch she opened her eyes to smile at her husband. He managed to exhale then and took his place on her other side.

"Aang, I've already talked to Katara, and we're ready to do this. The baby is not going to be able to make it if we wait any longer. I need to perform a cesarean. I can do this. I've had to perform worse during the war. I will need you to be ready however, to heal her when I'm through. We have been able to obtain some numbing herbs, she won't feel anything.

He looked at his beloved wife, exhausted from her trauma, looked in the eyes of Sokka who was torn between his corncern for his sister and wife in this instance.

"I'm ready when you are Suki. I trust you," he said.

Suki administered the anesthesia and preformed the incision quickly. She pulled the baby out quickly, cut the umbilical cord and handed it to Sokka, in just a few swift motions. Aang, water glowing over his hands was instantly ready to heal the cut.

Katara's eyes widened as she saw the baby being passed to her brother, she was impressed that Sokka was able to keep his stomach with all of the blood, she even saw in his eyes the same awe that he had when he first saw her other two children. She saw Aang, terrified, working over her, all in slow motion. She felt the sensation return to her abdomen as he worked out the effects of the herbs as well and felt the dull ache of the trauma, but she did not hear a cry. Where was the cry?

Almost as if on cue she heard it, and Sokka quickly passed the baby off to Aang. The baby stopped crying and with uncanny alertness looked wide eyed at Aang and cooed.

"It's a boy," said Sokka softly, smiling at his brother-in-law.

Katara sighed happily, another boy for her husband. Aang slowly crept over to her and held the little one close to her so that she could get a good look at him.

"Oh, Aang! He has grey eyes. He looks just like you," she said excitedly.

Aang was astonished to find how true this was and grasped his little hand in awe. Just then his little nose scrunched up and he let out a huge sneeze that almost knocked a shocked Sokka off his feet.

They all looked at each other- astonished and then they burst out laughing.

"That's not normal," said Sokka matter of factly.

"He's- he's an airbender," said Aang, completely in awe, grasping Katara's hand.

"What should we name him?" she asked smiling.

"Tenzin," said Aang softly kissing his little nose.

"Tenzin," repeated Katara smiling as Aang handed him to her, "welcome to your home, sweetie."

Tenzin was immediately able to nurse and didn't seem to experience any residual problems from his long stay in the birth canal.

Aang sat next to Katara on their bed, placed one arm around her and let the other smooth the dark hair of his son.

Sokka put an arm around Suki who said, "Katara you'll need to get some rest, no lifting for a good 2 months at least. I'm sure you'll have plenty of little helpers though…speaking of which."

Thunderous steps were heard approaching the room and Kya and Bumi burst in to see their parents and new brother. Aang smiled at his children raced over to the bed.

"Carefully," he said as he used his air bending to slow the jump that Bumi was attempting.

"Say hello to your new brother, Tenzin," Katara said smiling, and she turned him to face his siblings.

"Wow dad, he looks just like you," Kya exclaimed.

Aang smiled proudly.

"If you ask me he looks kind of funny," Bumi replied.

Sokka laughed thunderously behind him, "that's exactly what she meant Bumi." Suki just shook her head and put her head in her hands.

Aang happily pulled his two eldest children into a bear hug and spun them around the room.

"Just remember, you all look at least a little bit like me," he said with a twinkle in his eyes, "luckily your mother has helped ease the harshness, in all three of you," he added smiling at his newest son, the newest airbender.

Authors note: I have never been so emotionally invested in a chapter. I hope you enjoy- please let me know of any criticisms! peace!

-the evenstar