a/n As in my early-on chapters, the changes in POV overlap just a little (only in the beginning of this chapter).

Chapter 39 ~Get Well Soon~

-Zuko-

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. He saw Azula's lightning leave her fingers, arch through the air, and head towards him. All he could think was No, I'm not dying like this. He had a life that he really wanted to keep living. He had a beautiful woman who loved him and who was carrying his child. He pictured a beautiful baby girl with her mother's blue eyes and dark hair. He would not give up. He would get a chance to hold her. He wouldn't leave her and Katara. There was no way he would let Azula end his life before it really begun.

As the lightning grew closer, his body seemed to know what to do. His hands met to catch the lightning, prepared to redirect it. The instant the lightning entered his body he felt the energy course through him. It was too much, too exhilarating. His legs grew weak and his right hand sloppy. He knew he was supposed to set the pathway for the lightning through his stomach, but his hand didn't cooperate. Instead, his fingers crossed over his heart. Oh no. He knew his mistake immediately. His heart started beating at an intense rate like before. It hurt with every violent thump. No! He gritted his teeth and forced his hand to continue. The electricity needed to leave his body. As his legs began to give out, his hand completed its journey and lightning shot from his right fingertips and out the open window. Just before his body crashed to the ground, he vaguely heard Azula gasp and then his world went black.

-Katara-

He was gone when she awoke. Her furs felt empty without him. It was still pretty early, so she wondered where he might have gone already. She was feeling surprisingly well so far, no nausea. The sun was peaking and its rays were warm. It's going to be a nice day she thought. She ran her hands over her still flat stomach and couldn't help but smile. She was going to have a baby. No, they were going to have a baby.

She utilized the peaceful moment to try to calculate when the baby would be born. The spring perhaps she settled on, before the Summer Solstice. Which meant the baby was conceived…? There was suddenly a tortured scream echoing through the temple. She leaped to her feet and darted outside just in time to see a bolt of lightning explode out of the tower and into the sky.
"Zuko!" she yelled in horror. It made sense. He had to be there. She started running towards the tower without another thought.

As she ran she never knew if Azula would be around the next corner, waiting. She must have broken free to be able to conjure the lightning. The only way Katara could hope to subdue Azula is with bloodbending. It wasn't a happy thought, but Katara was prepared to do it, if necessary. After Azula was restrained, Zuko would become her primary focus. The scream that had ripped through the morning had belonged to him. Now, as she ran, she could only pray that he was all right.

When she reached the top of the tower, she was out of breath but ignored her aching legs. The door to Azula's room was closed, but there was white light coming from between the cracks. What? She hurriedly pushed aside the door and prepared herself for the worst.

She hastily took in her surroundings.
"Yugoda?" she gasped. The woman had her back to Katara and hovered over what looked like a giant basin. At the sound of her name, Yugoda looked over her shoulder.
"Oh thank the Spirits you're here." Yugoda said surprisingly calm, "Come here, quickly." Confused Katara glanced around the room. In the corner, she found Azula unconscious and wrapped in some kind of white jacket. So where was Zuko? The basin. After realizing this, Katara dashed to Yugoda's side. There he was, all but his face submerged in the glowing water with his eyes closed and shallow breath.
"Zuko?" she whispered tentatively and caressed his cheek. "What's wrong? What happened?" she demanded. She already guessed what happened, but now she hoped Yugoda wasn't involved. Katara knew of Yugoda's 'solution' for Zuko's heart problem. If Yugoda had somehow planned for this to happen… Katara's hands shook slightly as she withdrew them from the water.
"He'll be fine." Yugoda said dismissively. Katara opened her mouth to start yelling, but Yugoda continued. "See for yourself. Just feel him." Katara didn't say anything, but lowered her hands into the water. "It's gone, right?" It was. The strange thrum she felt within him ever since Azula first struck him with lightning was gone. Now all Katara felt was a steady heart.
"Why is he unconscious?" she asked quietly.
"He hit his head when he fell. Not too hard, enough to knock him out, but he'll be fine." Katara nodded along as Yugoda spoke. Everything sounded fine, now she just had one more question. She turned her head away from Zuko to look Yugoda straight in the eyes.
"Did you intend for this to happen?"
"No," Yugoda said, affronted.
"Then how did you get here so quickly?"
"When Zuko went in I waited on the other side of the door in case something went wrong, good thing too."
"It sounds to me like you planned this. You caused him horrible pain! You could have killed him!"
"I'm a healer. I do not want to cause people pain."
"But you once told me that sometimes pain was necessary to make sure the patient was okay in the end. After all, this was your solution." Katara was working herself up again. "'Have Zuko struck with lightning to flush out all traces of electricity within him,' right? You knew how I felt about this. You told me the lightning had to go back through his heart. That it was the 'only way.' He could have died!" she gestured to his unconscious body. "Tell me truthfully: Did you tell him, about your 'cure'? Did he know?" Had the two of them planned this together? She couldn't believe Zuko would be so deceptive, but what if he thought it was the only way? She paused, waiting for Yugoda's answer.
"Katara you shou-" Yugoda started, but Katara cut her off.
"Don't tell me what I should do! Just answer the question!"
"No," a voice croaked behind her, "I didn't know."

-Zuko-

Oblivion. Sweet oblivion. No pain. Nothing. But wait. Why was he thinking? What had disturbed him? A voice, a woman's voice, was yelling. He tried to ignore the voice, but it only grew louder. Who was it? What was she saying? Zuko strained his ears to try to decipher the sounds around him. He struggled to envision the speaker (or yeller). Katara. The answer snapped to him like a spark. It was Katara. He then started to fight the dark haze. With effort, his eyes flickered open.

He didn't bother wondering why he was in water and took in the scene before him. Katara was yelling at Yugoda about his heart. Was it possible? Had Azula unknowingly done him a service by trying to kill him? Was he cured?
"Did he know?" was the last question Katara hurled at Yugoda. Yugoda noticed that he was awake and tried to get Katara to turn around, but she was stubborn. "Just answer the question!" she insisted.
"No, I didn't know." He replied sitting up and she whirled around to face him. The relief she felt was evident. Her whole body relaxed.
"Zuko," she breathed. Then her expression hardened, "Don't you ever scare me like that again!" He couldn't help laughing. Her expression remained stern, but he could see her lips twitch, wanting to smile.
"Come here," he said through his laughter and reached for her hand. She grasped his hand probably before thinking it through, because she yelped when he tugged her into the tub with him. He laughed harder as he whipped the water from her eyes. Then she started laughing too.
"I mean it," she said as her giggles died down.
"I know, I'm sorry." He had no intension of spending any more time unconscious.
"Come on," she said seemingly satisfied and nudged his soaking wet shoulder, "Let's get out of here." They stood, climbed out, and he noticed that Yugoda had slipped out of the room. Wait. Where's Azula?
"'Zula?" he asked spinning around.
"She's…" Katara looked around too, "She was over there, unconscious, but now…"
"Yugoda must have taken her with."
"Funny how we didn't notice either of them leave."
"Well, I know I was a little distracted." He admitted, grinning down at her, "Your sleep clothes are very…erm…transparent when wet." She glanced down at herself and snorted. When she looked back up at him, he loved the expression on her face. It was exasperated, but loving. Her wry smile and warm blue eyes reminded him why he never wanted to leave her. Oh, and there was another reason why too. His hands rested on her waist and smoothed over her stomach.
"I'm all wet now." She remarked as if just realizing it.
"I like you wet."
"Zuko!" she admonished and whacked him on the arm. He grinned. Every so often things like that just slipped out of his mouth and he didn't have time to feel embarrassed.
"I'm wet too, if it makes you feel any better." He said and she sighed.
"Well, not for long I suppose." She took a step back and used her bending to pull the water out of his soggy clothes. Removing the water from her own clothes was trickier, but she managed. She was so amazing. "I'm sorry I couldn't get your hair," she said when she was through, "but I'm guessing you don't want to suffer from a dry scalp for a while." He shook his head and grinned.
"Let's go tell everybody the good news."
"I thought we agreed!" she gasped, "After the wedding!"
"No, the news about my heart," he smiled, "But I can't wait to tell them about our other news." His hands caressed stomach again. It was still hard to believe.
"Me too," she said softly and she looked down at his hands. She slid her hands over his before she gently removed them, "Come on. I'm hungry." Their eyes met in a knowing smile and they headed for the door.

When he pulled open the door, they jumped back in surprise.
"Guru Pathik!" Katara exclaimed. The man sat cross-legged just outside the door. He opened his eyes slowly.
"Oh, hello," he smiled and slowly stood.
"Uhm…" Zuko started, he scratched the back of his head nervously. "How long have you been sitting there?" Now he was feeling embarrassed.
"Ever since Yugoda left. Why?" the Guru seemed genuinely curious.
"You didn't…uh…here anything… did you?" Zuko asked.
"I heard nothing except for the hum of the universe." Zuko was less than reassured, but that seemed like all the answer he was going to get. "Now everything is all set for your departure." Katara and Zuko exchanged puzzled looks.
"What departure?" Katara asked, voicing their shared thoughts.
"To Hira'a of course!" Guru Pathik proclaimed and waved his arms. What? Why? I just got here. "I know what you're thinking and don't worry. Azula has been properly secured."
"Are you insane!?" Zuko shouted.
"Not the last time I checked." Guru Pathik joked. "Oh come on, I think it might be good for her to meet your grandmother."\
"She'll try to kill her."
"Then see to it that she doesn't."
"This is not a good idea. What if she escapes?"
"But in fact, Lord Zuko, this is a brilliant idea. I've spent some time with her now, granted half of it could have been a lie, but I think I know the crux of her problem."
"What?" Zuko said tersely. Guru Banana Beard couldn't have possibly riddled out Azula in several days.
"She doesn't know who she is. Without your father around she finally questions who she is and like everyone else, she wants answers."
"And you think our grandmother has the answers?"
"It doesn't matter what I think Rina knows, only what Azula can take away from the encounter."
"Like Rina's ashes?" he sneered.
"Zuko," Katara chided softly and squeezed his hand. Why didn't they understand how dangerous Azula was? She would strike them down with a grin on her face. It wasn't safe. "I think we should do it. You both want to meet her. And I mean, everything is all ready for us to go." He groaned.
"IF I agree to this," he paused and thought carefully, "You must stay here."
"No!" she cried, "Where you go, I go. Besides, if she gets out of hand, I can use bloodbending. The moon is still mostly full, so it won't be very difficult." Yet another reason why they shouldn't do this. He knew Katara hated bloodbending, plus, she was pregnant and he really didn't want her under so much stress and in so much danger. "Nope." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at her sternly, "You're going to stay here." Please?
"I will not." Her expression was just as firm, "I am coming." He shook his head slowly. Not going to happen. He expected her to reaffirm that she planned to come, but she didn't. Instead, she tried a new tactic. Her expression softened and she looked almost imploringly up at him, "Don't leave me." He scoffed and threw his hands into the air.
"Of all the arm twisting things to say! Agni! I never realized how similar you two are."
"Who? Me and Azula?!"
"Yes, you're both master benders and stubborn and always get what you want."
"Does that mean…?"
"Yes." He didn't like it, but he'd agree.
"The three of us…?" she grinned this time. She wanted him to say it.
"Yes, Katara, let's all go visit my Grandmother."

-Katara-

Everything really was ready for their departure and soon they were in the air. The morning was even more beautiful viewed from Appa's back (and wrapped in two furs).

Yugoda and Aang had prepared everything. Appa had been loaded with the supplies they'd need and an unconscious Azula. Yugoda had administered a strong sedative that would keep Azula quiet for the trip. Katara would just have to re-administer it a few times a day.

Before they left, Toph woke up briefly to tell them 'goodbye' then retreated into her rock tent. Katara wished she had more time to talk with the young earthbender. She sensed something had been troubling Toph, but Toph never brought it up. Maybe when we get back… But Katara wasn't sure what would happen after they met with Rina. It all depended on what Azula did. The most positive outcome had everyone returning to the capital with Azula (conscious and not crazy), but the worst outcome involved Azula escaping…

Katara knew they were going on a dangerous trip, but she didn't care. Although, it was both sweet and annoying that Zuko tried to talk her out of going. Like that'd ever happen. Pisha. Katara was well aware that Azula was unpredictable, especially after her stunt earlier, but that was even more reason for Katara to go with them. Zuko would never admit it, but he had a soft spot for Azula. Katara could tell. He genuinely wanted her to get better, not for his sake, but hers. Now, for both of their sakes, Katara hoped Azula would get well soon.

a/n So we know the mystery cure! AND it worked! Zuko's got many problems, but an erratic heart isn't one of them! :)
What did you think? I know a few of you guessed the cure (smarty pants). Also do you believe Yugoda? And if she lied, do you think her actions were justified?

**attention**
Due to severe weather in my area I have been distant from my keyboard and this chapter isn't as well paced as I originally wanted, (but I knew I owed you a chapter). I hope you enjoyed it anyways. I should still have a chapter for you next Sunday (unless things take a horrible turn). Stay safe everyone!