Surprisingly, the Fire sages were almost happy at Zuko's announcement that Katara was carrying his child. They were happy with the fact that the Fire Nation would soon have an heir again. They were less happy that Katara was a water bender and that she would become Fire Lady. Zuko explained to them that she had become indispensable to him. The sages grumbled but accepted Katara as their future Fire Lady.
The sages did insist that the wedding take place as soon as possible before Katara's pregnancy began to show. The pregnancy could wait until after the wedding to be announced publicly. Zuko and Katara both inwardly sighed at their insistence but knew the sages were right. Before ending the meeting, they agreed to the announcement for the upcoming wedding to be announced the following day and for the wedding date to be set for a month out. That also meant that they needed to have a conversation with Sokka that evening.
As it turned out, Sokka brought up at the subject at dinner.
"Katara, I have been wondering when we are going to head home." Sokka announced after the servants had finished laying down the platters of food. Katara stopped scooping food onto her plate at her brother's statement.
"You want to go home?" Katara clarified.
"Yes." Sokka nodded, sounding a bit annoyed. "We have been here several weeks, and I think it's time to go home. Suki also needs to get back to Kyoshi Island." Katara set down her plate and looked at her brother in the eye.
"Sokka, you and Suki can leave at any time, but I am staying here." Katara stated firmly. Zuko squeezed her hand in support as Katara continued. "I won't be returning to the South Pole other than to visit." Sokka looked so confused by his sister's words.
"Why would you stay here?" Sokka questioned. Katara took a deep breath and told her brother the secrets she had been keeping from him.
"I will be staying here because I am marrying Zuko next month, and I am carrying his child."
"Marrying Zuko? Carrying his child?" Sokka repeated several times like his mind couldn't process what she had just said.
"Sokka?" Suki touched his arm after he repeated Katara's words for the fifth time. That touch seemed to jolt Sokka out of his confusion, and he suddenly was staring daggers at Zuko.
"You got my sister pregnant?" Sokka yelled.
"Yes." Zuko affirmed, not cowering in the face of his friend's anger.
"How could you?!"
"In my defense, I didn't know it was her at the time the deed was done." Zuko blushed as he remembered the night in question.
"How could you not know who you were fucking?!"
"Sokka!" Both Suki and Katara exclaimed at his crude language.
"Well?" Sokka expected an answer, not caring his use of the word at that moment.
"It was in Ba Sing Se. I was dressed as the Blue Spirit and Katara was in a cloak. She was attacked and I saved her. Things just happened quickly. Right before the final battle, Katara discovered she was pregnant. I found out after I was crowned. Because of Aang's reaction to Katara not feeling the same towards him, we decided to keep it a secret for a while until things calmed down a bit. We spoke to the fire sages today and it has been decided that we will marry next month. The reason we are telling you this now is because the wedding announcement will be made tomorrow to the nations. I know you are angry, Sokka, but I love Katara. I will marry her with or without your approval." Zuko explained, holding his chin high as he watched Sokka.
"You will, huh?" Sokka finally replied, seeming to be calming down. Zuko just nodded in confirmation. "I am not happy about this, but I have seen you two together the past few weeks and you do seem happy."
"I love him, Sokka. I think I did before I knew the Blue Spirit was Zuko. My love only grows for him daily now. I will miss home, but I am looking forward to my life here." Katara informed her brother.
"All right, Katara, I think I can accept this. I assume it's all right if we stay for the wedding?"
"Yes, of course. Toph is staying anyway for the foreseeable future, and we already sent word to your father about the wedding." Zuko replied.
"I am sure Dad will have a thing or two to say about all of this." Sokka mused before turning to Suki, who had been silent during the whole exchange besides her joined outrage with Katara at Sokka's language. "I suppose this is why you have been changing the subject every time I have brought up going home."
"Don't blame her, Sokka. I asked her not to say anything." Katara quickly defended her friend.
"Don't worry, Katara, I am not mad. I understand." Sokka smiled at Suki. "But we will be talking about this later." Sokka wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Suki.
"And you are angry about thought of me of doing that with Zuko." Katara gagged and rolled her eyes at her brother.
"Can we change the subject? Perhaps we can talk about the wedding." Suki said, blushing. "Oh, have you guys thought about what will happen when Aang hears about the wedding?"
"What wedding?" Toph asked as she entered the room, late for the meal.
"Zuko's and mine." Katara replied cheerfully. She was happy that her brother had come around quicker than she had expected.
"It's about time." Toph exclaimed. "Congratulations, Sparky, Sugar Queen!"
"Thank you." Zuko and Katara said together. They shared a quick smile at their synchronization. It came from them working and spending all their time together.
"Now, not to put a damper on things, but Suki has a point. Twinkletoes is not going to be happy about this whole situation." Toph replied.
"Well, the announcement is going out tomorrow, so we expect he will show up in the days following." Katara answered.
"He is going to find out eventually. I didn't really wish it to be this soon, but we need to be married for the child to be the next heir. That is better to happen sooner rather than later." Zuko continued.
"What if he attacks?" Sokka questioned.
"If he is dumb enough to risk everything we just accomplished over a girl, then maybe he shouldn't in the position he is in." Zuko said coldly. Katara raised an eyebrow at him for his phrasing.
"Isn't that what you are doing?" Sokka asked Zuko with a grin.
"Well, it's not the same thing exactly. We love each other, and my council approves the marriage. Aang doesn't care if Katara loves him or not. He still thinks of her as his girl." Zuko countered.
"Geez, Sokka, could you make our relationship sound less romantic?" Katara scoffed at her brother.
I am sorry, Kat, but with the depth of Aang's feelings for you, we have to take the fact that Aang might attack into consideration." Sokka said seriously.
"I know." Katara replied sadly. She looked at Zuko with a mixture of love and sadness. "What should we do?"
"Prepare ourselves as much as possible and quietly. I suggest we all resume training sessions. Toph, will you speak to the generals and have them do them same." Zuko commanded. Toph nodded, and everyone looked very serious as they resumed the meal