Life at the Fire Palace settled down after the royal wedding. Katara's morning sickness still plagued her, but she dived into her duties once she and Zuko returned from their honeymoon on Ember Island. It wasn't long after their arrival back from the island that the fire sages warned that it would soon be time to announce to the world about Katara's pregnancy. Katara and Zuko had shared worried glances as the fire sages continued to speak. They had no idea how Aang would react to the news of Katara's pregnancy. But they knew they really had no choice. Katara was just over three months along and it wouldn't be too much longer before she couldn't hide her growing child. As with the wedding announcement, they reluctantly agreed to have the arrival of the future heir to the Fire Nation announced the following week.

After that meeting, Zuko also met with his head of palace security and the armed forces in the city to discuss the previously laid plans if the avatar got out of control. Both assured him that everything was still in place and would be until Zuko said otherwise. Zuko still expressed concerns to Katara later that evening about the situation. Katara was lounging in their sitting area when he walked into their private chambers.

"How did the meeting go?" Katara asked casually as Zuko began to change out of his formal robes.

"Everything is still in place from before. It will stay there until we say to change it." Zuko replied as he came out of the dressing room in his night clothes. He joined her on the sofa.

"Well, that gives me some relief. I never thought we would be preparing defenses against Aang. I prepared myself for your father's supporters or even Azula's to rebel, but not this. This is just heartbreaking to me." Katara responded. Zuko pulled her into his side as he settled on the sofa.

"I know, love, I can't believe how Aang has behaved thus far. It's scary knowing what he could do." Katara sighed as she laid her head against her husband's chest and a protective hand over her belly. They stayed like that for a long while, both lost in their own thoughts. To their surprise, they fell asleep that way and didn't wake until the sun came shining into their chambers.

For the next few days, both Katara and Zuko were on edge as the day of the pregnancy announcement drew nearer. They kept their concerns to themselves during the day and only voiced them at night in their private chambers.

The day of the announcement came and went without any incidents. The new Lord and Lady of the Fire Nation received many well wishes in the following days from all over the world. The majority of the Fire Nation seemed genuinely happy for their new leaders and what this new chapter represented for their Nation and the world. After several more days of peace and quiet, Zuko and Katara relaxed a bit. Sokka, Suki, and Toph were still there due to the possible attack from Aang. One evening as they gathered around the dinner table, Sokka brought up the subject of him and Suki heading home again.

"I really think the time has come for us to head home. Dad is going to need me to help continue the rebuilding and Suki needs to get back to her warriors." Sokka explained when Katara had asked why. "Our lives are not here, sister dear. Your life is. It's time we all move on with our lives. We will definitely be back in time to see my niece or nephew come into the world though."

"When are you planning on leaving?" Zuko questioned.

"We were thinking by the end of next week," Suki answered. " It just depends on how quickly we can secure a boat going to the South Pole."

"My staff can help you with that," Zuko added., nodding to his brother-in-law. Katara shot him a look of contempt and he just shrugged. "I am just trying to help." He whispered to her.

"Well, stop." She whispered back. She didn't want her family to leave, but she knew that it wasn't fair to Sokka or Suki to keep them here indefinitely. "I will let you go on one condition."

"What's that?" Sokka inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"I know Dad had to miss the wedding because it was scheduled too late for him to come, but bring Dad back with you so he can meet his grandchild," Katara replied. Sokka smiled at his sister and agreed wholeheartedly. Katara then turned to Toph. "Will you be leaving as well?"

"Heck no! Zuko has invited me to stay here as long as I like and I plan on staying until you try to kick me out." Toph answered with a loud laugh and blech. Katara settled back with a satisfied sigh. She was glad that not all her friends were leaving.

Katara's emotions got the best of her when a few days later, she watched Sokka and Suki board the boat that would take them home. Toph and Zuko stood with her as the boat drifted away from the dock.

"Love, you will see them again soon," Zuko reassured her as she silently cried. Katara felt ridiculous for crying so much, but she couldn't stop the flow of tears. Unbeknownst to the group on the dock, they were being watched. As the boat disappeared from the harbor, they headed back up to the palace.

Katara's sadness didn't leave her for the rest of the day. She had spent the better part of a year with her brother and her friends, and to have them gone left her a bit melancholy. She knew it was silly to be feeling this way. Being married to Zuko and expecting their first child made her very happy. After sharing a quiet dinner with Zuko and Toph, Katara went to bed with her husband, but she couldn't sleep. Wandering out to their private garden, she sat down beside a big oak tree and the little pond. The moon was just a sliver in the sky, but Katara didn't mind. She found some contentment sitting under the tree. Unfortunately, the contentment didn't last long as she was whisked off the ground and into the night sky.