Sometime later, Aang went to Zuko's room in a daze. Zuko looked up when the door opened, hoping to see Katara. He sighed when he saw it was just Aang. His eyes widened when he saw the tears on the boy's face.

"Aang, what is wrong?"

"Katara...she doesn't love me." Aang sobbed out. Zuko slumped back against the pillows. He had seen that for himself over the past weeks. Katara must have just finally told him the truth.

"I am sorry, my friend. Love can be tough." He knew a thing or two about unrequited love, but he didn't think Aang would welcome the news of his own feelings towards Katara.

"Love stinks." Aang declared as crossed the room. "I have come to say farewell. I think its best I leave for a while. Start my tour."

"If you think that is best." Zuko agreed. "You are always welcome here."

"Thanks, Zuko. I will be back to visit soon. I will be leaving in the morning after I have said goodbye to the others." Zuko shook Aang's outstretched hand and watched him leave his room.

"Poor kid." Mai mumbled as she came in from the shadows. Zuko looked shocked to see her. She seated herself on the side of the bed

"Mai, you were released!"

"My uncle pulled some strings, and it helps when your boyfriend is the Fire Lord."

"Mai, about that..." A knock interrupted him and Katara poked her head in. She looked around the room and spotted Mai. Zuko watched her face pale a bit, but Katara just smiled.

"Oh, sorry, I can come back later." She quickly closed the door. Zuko silently growled in frustration but turned back to Mai.

"Ah, I see." She stated quietly. Zuko blinked in confusion.

"See what?"

"What you were trying to say. I hope she is worth it."

"Worth what?"

"Your love." Mai answered. Zuko blinked again and then shocked covered his face. He loved Katara!

"Mai, I am so sorry."

"Well, as you should be." She laughed bitterly. "She is a good fighter though. Good luck, Zuko." She kissed his cheek and rose.

"Goodbye, Mai."

Katara didn't answer Zuko's summons when he sent for her. She just sat in her room, contemplating what she should do. He clearly was still with Mai and was happy with her. She didn't feel like it was her place to ruin that for him.

"I am sorry, little one. It looks like you won't have a father after all." She stated sadly as she rubbed her slightly rounded abdomen. Hearing a noise, she suddenly looked up to find Zuko standing in an open panel in her bedroom wall. His face was sickly pale. She rushed to him.

"What are you doing? You shouldn't be out of bed!" He didn't protest as she helped him to a chair opposite of the one she had just vacated. "You are going to reopen your wound." Zuko waved her away.

"Who..who were you talking to you just now?" Zuko managed to ask.

"What do you mean?" Katara sat back down as she was afraid her knees would give out. He had heard talking to the baby growing inside her. How was she going to explain this?

"You said 'I am sorry, little one. It looks like you won't have a father after all'. What does that mean?"

"I think you are hearing things, Zuko. I didn't say anything."

"Yes, you did, Katara. I heard the sadness in your voice, and you were holding your stomach." Zuko looked down at her stomach and then back up at her. He took in her pale face. She was biting her lip as if she was nervous about something. "Aang said you don't love him. Is there someone else?" Katara just nodded. "And is he the father of your child?" Her eyes widened in surprise that he had figured it out so quickly, but just nodded again.

"And when were you planning on sharing this with the rest of us?"

"I hadn't thought that far ahead yet. Toph has already figured it out. Sokka will flip out. I needed to deal with Aang first and then the baby's father, but he is involved with someone else. I am not sure he would welcome such news." Katara swallowed hard at the memory of Mai on his bed.

"What can I do to help?" Zuko squared his shoulders, despite his heart breaking inside his chest. He couldn't believe she was in love with someone else.

"Nothing, Zuko. I, um, don't think there is anything you can do."

"How did this happen, Katara? I didn't know you were even seeing someone." Zuko changed tactics.

"It was a one-time thing." Katara answered vaguely, hoping to get him to drop the subject.

"You weren't..." Zuko paused. "Were you?" It took Katara a moment to realize what he meant.

"No, it was consensual. Thank you for your concern. Mai is a lucky woman to have such a caring boyfriend."

"Mai? She is gone." Zuko chuckled. "I realized my heart belonged to someone else."

"Is Mai all right?"

"She will be. Now, we are getting off topic here. Who is the father?" Zuko asked directly. Katara scowled at him.

"That's a bit rude, Zuko." Katara said, bristling. "I don't ask you about your personal relationships."

"Yes, perhaps, but this guy needs to step up and take responsibility."

"He has enough to deal with." Katara fidgeted in her chair. Why wouldn't he just drop the subject? With all the emotional stuff she had been dealing with, she wasn't ready to handle his possible rejection of her or their child. "Why is this so important to you?"

"Because your child deserves to know his father, Katara. As evil as my father is, I still wish he had been there for me and loved me." Zuko explained.

"Like I said, he has more than enough to deal with at this time. I will find the right time to tell him when things calm down."

"What could be more important than his child?" Zuko demanded.

"Oh, I don't know, Zuko! Maybe running a country!" Katara snapped back, frustrated with his badgering.

"A country?" Zuko paled again as he thought back to that night in Ba Sing Se. That couldn't have been Katara, could it? "Do you mean to tell me that it was you that night?" Tired of hiding the truth, Katara answered him honestly.

"Yes, Zuko."

"Then the child you carry is mine?" She just nodded this time. She was suddenly pulled from her chair and into Zuko's lap. His lips came down hard on hers. Katara pulled back after several minutes.

"What does this mean?" She asked trying catch her breath. "Do you have feelings for me?"

"Yes. I love you, Katara." Her eyes widened at his bold declaration. "What about you?"

"I love you too, Zuko." Tears filled her eyes. "I never imagined that you would return my feelings. I was going to tell you about that night and the baby, but then I saw Mai in your room. I was sitting here contemplating what I should do instead. I didn't think you would welcome a child if you were with Mai."

"Oh, Kat, I would never reject any child of mine, no matter the circumstances. It's just a bonus to your love." He took her face in his hands and wiped away her tears. He let out a breath and smiled at her. "I guess this means we have some things to talk about."

"I guess so. Does this mean I have to become Fire Lady?" Katara asked in a bit of shock.

"Well, probably, my love, considering you are carrying the next heir of the Fire Nation." Zuko chuckled. "We will figure it out."

"Wow, what a day." She slumped against him for a moment until he winced in pain. She quickly moved off his lap and glared him again. "What were you thinking, getting out bed?"

"You weren't answering my summons."

"So you decided to sneak into my room?"

"Seemed like a good idea." He shrugged. "I got to hear the best news of my life, so I think it was worth it."

"Cheeky. Are you really OK with having a baby? I have known for a couple of weeks and I'm still getting used to the idea."

"Yes, I think I am. Don't get me wrong, I am scared as hell, but…wait, a couple of weeks?" Zuko grabbed her hands and looked directly at her. "You have known since before the battle began? What were you thinking? Putting yourself in danger like that?!"

"So much happened at once. I didn't even believe it was real until after the battle was over. I, um, found out the night we went to see the play. You see, I never knew you were the Blue Spirit. I had accidentally found your mask earlier that day. I was doing laundry. It was confirmed by the play that night. Then Aang tried to kiss me on the balcony. I discovered the baby later that night. After that, we had Aang and the battle to worry about. I didn't have time to process everything until I was sitting at your bedside. If I had discovered it earlier, I would have bowed out, but you were there to protect me." She placed a hand on his chest and smiled. "You saved us both that day."

"You are never to do anything so stupid again." Zuko said quietly. "I am glad I didn't know about the baby then. I was so scared that Azula would kill you."

"I promise." Katara crossed her heart. A knock sounded on the door. A servant announced that dinner was being served. Katara went white at the mention of food.

"This should be interesting." Zuko chuckled at her pallor. "Should we tell everyone of recent developments?"

"Oh, what about Aang? This day has been eventful enough. I just broke up with him."

"He is leaving in the morning." Zuko said.

"I don't want to add to his hurt. Let just let things be for now. We need some time for ourselves to get used to things too."

"All right, love. It will be our secret, for now."