'Katara my dear, it is good to see you.' Former General Iroh beamed softly as he entered the infirmary ward. It had been several months since he last visited the palace, but he was just as Katara remembered; his smoky grey hair fell lightly upon his shoulders where it was not gathered into an orderly top knot. The fresh scent of some sort of herbal infusion drafted forwards with his stride. Katara embraced a warm smile upon seeing the elder man.

'Uncle Iroh, it is always a pleasure.' Her blue eyes sparkled with affection. She was genuinely pleased to see him. Iroh had been and continued to be a pillar of strength and reason to the two royals; acting as a father figure to them both, and always with a pot of tea to hand, he had even insisted that Katara call him 'Uncle' as well. He strode peacefully across the room and sat in the same wicker chair that Zuko had just a few minutes earlier.

'How is Ba Sing Se? I've heard such amazing stories of the developments in the lower ring.' Katara chirped brightly, turning to face Iroh, who smiled endearingly, placing a comforting hand upon her feverish shoulder.

'Always the diplomat Lady Katara. So concerned for the needs of others. But how are you my dear? I must admit, I was most shocked to hear of you taken ill.' Iroh's golden eyes narrowed in concern upon the water bender, who despite her best show, was clearly weak and fighting back pain. Her tanned skin was white washed and dampened with a mist of feverish sweat, and although she hid it well, from time to time a pain-stricken grimace flashed across her tired face.

She felt Iroh's warm, caring hand upon her shoulder. She knew he meant to comfort her, but his pity was more than she could take right now. Katara scrunched her eye's tight and angrily fought to keep the tears from pouring down her face. She knew it was hopeless, her lip trembled wildly and she gave in to the on pour of emotions she had bottled up. How she wanted Zuko right now. His dais came first, always, she knew that, but still. Katara buried her face into the soft cotton of the pillow, a wash with embarrassment and overwhelmed with pure exhaustion. She felt the warmth retreat from her shoulder and Iroh withdrew has hand and sighed quietly. Allowing her for a few moments to sob silently into the bedding.

'You must never give in to despair my dear.'

Katara tried her best to regain her composure, breathing deeply and clenching tight handfuls of the bed covers.

'Allow yourself to slip down that road and you surrender to your lowest instincts…In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself.'

Katara lifted her face to peer at the former general. He met her gaze with a look of perfect calm and understanding.

'That is the meaning of inner strength.' His voice was soft and flowing, running circles around Katara's mind and forcing her to sigh a brief smile. She out stretched her hand and was met immediately by Iroh's, who held both of his firm hands, cupped around her one.

The sound of feet broke the silence. A small figure appeared in the door, a young woman, dressed in the traditional Water tribe robes, befitting a woman of her age. She walked into the room, with great confidence, A smile radiating across her face.

'Lady Katara, Former General Iroh.' She bowed swiftly but respectfully, never breaking her cheerful disposition.

'My name is Chiluna.' She took three more confidents steps towards to bed, untying the water pouch from her belt.

'Would my Lady prefer privacy whilst we commence the healing session?'

Iroh knew that she meant no offence to him, but still he felt the pang of not being wanted. But still he rose to his feet steadily,

'Of course.' He beamed down to Katara. 'We shall resume shortly, perhaps over tea? As I recall, the kitchen here serve a most wonderful blend of fire lily infused with flame ginger.' Katara smiled after him as he exited the room, lost in his day dream of tea. Chilune approached the bed further, having already drawn a portion of water from her pouch and gloving it around her hand. As she folded back the cotton sheet that covered The Fire Lady's belly, a thought flashed in Katara's mind,

'Where is Miss Kanora?' she wondered out loud.

'Kanora? Oh yes, of course.' Chiluna was focused almost entirely on her healing, watching the pulsating disc of water melt effortlessly through the skin, then snapping her attention to the water bender.

'I expect she will be packing my Lady.'

'Packing? Is she leaving us?'

'It was most strange my Lady, a few moments ago, she burst into the common so elated. Told us that she was moving to Omashu, tonight! Being relocated to the Oma memorial Infirmary.' Chiluna stopped briefly, the thought washing over her, 'First time she'd ever mentioned moving though. I had no idea.'

'How strange.' Katara mused

'Hmm…. Okay, well. Is there anything else that I can do for my Lady?' Chiluna poured the glowing water back into her pouch and buckled it back to her belt, still smiling.

'No, Thank you Chiluna.' Katara smiled softly and watched as she turned and walked towards to door. 'Oh actually,'

'Yes my Lady.'

'Should you see Former General Iroh, please could you inform him that we are finished here?'

'Of course my Lady.' And Chiluna left the ward, as brightly and confidently as she had entered.

It was sometime before Iroh returned. Katara lay restfully upon the bed, she figured that he must have ventured in search of Tea of some kind. But she did not mind the quiet. She lay listening to the sound of her own breathing, both tender hands placed softly upon her belly. She had never felt so drained, like all the water I the world had simply disappeared. The hot air choked her with every breath, and every pulse that sent her blood gushing round felt like a struggle to summon the strength. She tried to calm herself, thinking of the beautiful baby girl that lay sleeping inside her. My baby Ursa. My beautiful baby Ursa.

'Nephew! Is your meeting over so quickly?' Iroh's voice carried clearly down the long corridor. Though Zuko was approaching quickly, his stride powerful and headstrong.

'Uncle? I thought you were with Tar- …Lady Katara?'

'Just allowing her some privacy with the healer. I thought I would order some tea to be brought to the infirmary- Ginger has excellent healing qualities.' Zuko was now standing side by side with his uncle, the two now headed together in the direction of the infirmary. Zuko smirked.

'Of course Uncle, I'll have some brought immediately.' His tone shifted slightly, 'How was Katara?'

'She is very emotional Zuko, she has had a rather traumatic time of late… as have you of course.'

Zuko stopped dead in his tracks. The world turned a fuzzy kind of white for a few seconds, and the room span relentlessly around him. He felt the hard stone of a wall slam against his side. He looked down to the ground and instead of his pointed leather boots; he saw his bare feet, bathed in a thick red coat of blood. His gaze traced up his body, his black silk sleep pants, soaked in the threatening liquid, his bare torso smeared with blood, hiding the star shape scar emblazoned just above his belly. His vision snapped clear again and he became aware of his erratic breathing and several voices buzzing around him. He was slumped rather awkwardly against a stone wall of the corridor, and soon realised that the heat behind him was in fact Iroh, grasping him by the shoulders, trying to keep him steady.

'Zuko?... Zuko can you hear me?'

Zuko gingerly got to his feet, leaning heavily against the wall for support. A number of guardsmen and serving staff had gathered around, a hot flush of embarrassment surged through him, but he was not about the show it. He tried to stand as strongly and confidently as he could manage.

'I am fine Uncle… He should continue to the infirmary tower, Lady Katara will be waiting for us.'

'Perhaps we should also have you seen to Lord Zuko? You do not appear well my nephew.'

Zuko made no acknowledgement of his gesture but continued to stride, if a little shakily, down the corridor, Iroh at his heals. When they were out of sight and ear shot of any staff, Zuko felt a strong hand pull on his arm, slowing his pace and turning him slightly into Iroh,

'I know that you are troubled nephew….'

Zuko couldn't make eye contact with the elder man, he had already embarrassed himself today, he was not going to make it a second time,

'But you know… Sometimes life is like a dark tunnel; you can't always see the light at the end, but if you just keep moving… you will find yourself in a better place.'

Zuko sighed and dared to flick his eyes down to his uncle,

'Why do I feel like I've heard that anecdote before?' he breathed, a weak smile daring to break his pristine, lordly expression.

'The old ones are always the best.' Iroh smirked. Looking up at his nephew, eye's full of pride and concern.

Zuko strode confidently into the infirmary tower, Iroh only a step behind. Hopefully news hadn't travelled so fast and he was free from the embarrassment of earlier. He continued his route march to the familiar ward until he spotted a face he recognised.

'Miss Kanora, of the Northern Water tribe. How is my wife?'

Kanora spun around, her face was white washed, her expression rather like a small creature caught in the sights of a poacher.

'Fire Lord Zuko…..I-…er…I…' She fumbled around her words uselessly, drawing up nothing of use to say.

'My wife? Fire Lady Katara? How is her condition? You were treating her just this afternoon?' Zuko's brow raised quizzically, his eye's narrowed in suspicion.

'I-…I'm sorry My Lord, you must have my confused for another healer.' Kanora bowed hurriedly, shuffling a little on her feet. 'I wouldn't know of Her Majesties condition…but I can direct you to her personal healer….Miss… Chiluna… I believe.' She looked up hopefully at the mystified Fire Lord staring down at her.

'But I- ' Zuko began before his thoughts were dashed by a much softer voice.

'Nephew, perhaps we should see Lady Katara now. It is getting late.'

Zuko glanced at the nearby window, the sun was ready to set- was it really that late?

'Thank you Miss…Kanora. We shall see Lady Katara now.' Iroh smiled at the terrified healer, before sweeping his nephew through the adjoining corridor to Katara's room.

Katara's silhouetted form gently rose and fell beneath the cotton sheets. One hand curled delicately around her belly, the other tucked tightly beneath her head, she was sleeping peacefully, finding those few moments between pain and fever.

'I will leave you two alone' Iroh all but whispered, placing briefly, a comforting hand upon Zuko's shoulder. Zuko stepped lightly around the bed and knelt quietly by his wife's side. Her beautiful eye's had fluttered shut, her face still beaded with a feverish sweat, but finally resting. He gently swept a lose curl of hair from her face, the heat of her skin burning his pale flesh. She stirred slightly, but did not wake. Zuko place a timid hand beside hers on her belly, then his face leapt with shock; he felt a tiny little heartbeat, drumming away beneath the skin. He massaged her softly with his thumb, and stretched to place a tender kiss upon her forehead.

'Zuko?...' Katara's eyes lifted heavily and the pain shone through her face once again.

'Shhh… Tara, go back to sleep… I'm here.' He held his hand against her face, stroking his thumb along her hair. He watched as her eye's once again slid closed. Her hand stretched from beneath her head and reached up to grasp weakly around Zuko's arm.

Zuko placed another soft kiss to her forehead.

'I love you Tara' He whispered into her hair.

There was no reply. He gazed down at his wife, once again asleep, or too exhausted to answer. He stayed with her for some time, watching the steady rise and fall of her breathing, as intently as if it may stop at any time. His own eyes grew heavy, he rested his head a moment beside Katara's, on the soft canvas cover she lay on. Very soon to two were sleeping, still holding each other softly. Katara's cheek nuzzled into the downy thickness of Zuko's jet black hair as she drifted further into her sleep.