CHAPTER 14

KATARAS POV

It had been five days sense Katara had broken up with Zuko. There was now an awkward dynamic between their friend group. Suki usually chose to be around Katara and Toph usually preferred to hang out with Zuko. Rarely did they ever all spend time together any more. They were now just three days from Ember Island. It seemed to be nearly impossible to hide her pregnancy now. She was just about at the five month mark and even her oversized gambeson wasn't enough to hide the protrusion of her belly. Toph had advised her just to lay low until they reached the island. She had been camping by herself on the outskirts of their regimen where no one could see her during the day. She'd follow the sounds of their marching and caravans and travel beside them, hidden amongst the trees. As she moved in silence through the forest she wondered if Zuko had noticed her absence. Guilt still ravished her every now and then when she thought of him. She tried her hardest to replace the thoughts she had of Zuko with the thoughts of her baby. What would she name them? Who will they look like more, her or Zuko? Will they like the snow just as much as she did as a kid? It was all exciting to think about, but equally as scary. She had as much of a chance dying on this mission as she did making it to the South Pole in one piece.

Katara stopped in her tracks gasping when she felt a sudden kick in her stomach. She pressed her hand to her bump in amazement and wonder. It felt as though her child was doing cartwheels inside of her. She laughed, yet her laughs soon turned to sobs. She yearned to share this moment with Zuko. She wanted to press his hand to her belly and show him the life they'd created. She wanted it so badly it hurt. But Katara pressed on, once again pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind.

That night Toph brought her her dinner like every other night, but this time she was leading a black horse.

"This guy's for you" she said handing her the reins. Katara smiled petting the stag along it's nose.
"You really didn't have to Toph…" she had noticed Toph had been increasingly nice to her the past few weeks. She was always attentive to her needs, even without Katara asking.

"You don't need to be on your feet all day…it's a small sacrifice". Toph ate with her that night going over their plans for Ember Island.

"I was able to contact the King and he has arranged for the air nomads to send a bison once we arrive. The bison know's the route to the South Pole so you will be all set. There's an oversized cloak in that bag for you to wear when you're around Zuko for the first day".

Katara breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought she would have to travel by boat across the South Sea, which would have been a perilous journey even for a water bender. Traveling by sky bison would make the trip significantly more safe.

"You will need to take a boat from Ember Island to Shu Jing…the bison will be waiting for you there. If you don't arrive within two days time, it will leave you." Katara nodded her head in understanding.

"The journey will be seven days, you will need enough food to last for that time. Suki can make a trip to the markets once we get to Ember Island". Katara's heart was full. Her friends had gone out of their way to make this journey happen for her. It was bitter sweet. She knew they didn't fully agree with her decision to keep this secret, but they loved her enough to respect her decisions and help her where she needed it.

"How have you been feeling?" Toph asked after a long stretch of silence.

"Good…the baby kicked today." Toph gave a soft smile, her sightless eyes igniting with mirth. She reached her hand out to Katara's belly, gently placing her hand there. They waited awhile in silence until there was the faintest kick. Toph gasped, her face erupting into an earsplitting grin.

"That was an Earth bender kick little guy, you sure Zuko's your daddy?" she laughed. Katara snickered slapping Toph across the arm playfully.

"Of course he is Toph don't be ridiculous! Besides…how do you know it's a boy?"

"Not sure, he just gives off boy chi" she explained. Katara rolled her eyes knowing her friend couldn't see. Both girls finished up their dinner and continued to talk. Toph asked her about her plans once she reached the South Pole. Katara described the ceremony they would give her and what the birthing process would be like in her culture. Regardless of this child being born out of wedlock a princesses's progeny was held in high regard. Children of the chief's bloodline were ritually protected and revered amongst her people. Toph sat in wonder as she listened to her friend passionately describe her home land. By the time they were done the stars were bright in the sky, almost drowning out the half moon's light.

"Everyone should be in their tents by now" Toph said "let's go". Katara slipped her oversized cloak on and followed Toph back to the camp where she slipped into the tent she shared with Suki for the night.

ZUKOS POV

Today was the day. Today Zuko, Suki, Toph, and Katara would officially step foot onto Fire Nation territory. Ember Island. This island had been a safe haven for him growing up. It was a place that his family often vacationed in the winter months to escape the rain. Growing up he had more freedom there, the stuffy rules of court life didn't apply on Ember Island. He always looked forward to these vacations, especially sense his father often left him and his sister alone during them. Ozai would prefer to bring half of his harem and stay in the guest house with them for most of the trip. His father had no time to push his children's fire lessons when he had concubines to entertain. He recalled how deeply that used to hurt his mother, but the memories of having her unbidden love and attention without his father in the way outweighed the bad. Today, a half of a decade later, that same island would act as a refuge for him and his friends.

He stood on the dock of the sail boat breathing in the ocean's salty air. They had been sailing for a few hours now. It felt odd not being surrounded by soldiers anymore. It was just him and Suki on the dock while Toph and Katara took the room below. He had barely gotten a chance to even glance at Katara as they loaded before she went down below deck and shut the door. Toph followed close behind her complaining of motion sickness. It was up to him and Suki to release the sail and steer the boat.

"How do you feel about returning home?" Suki asked from behind him. He turned to regard her. Her short auburn hair flowed wildly in the wind, her grey eyes piercing his.

"It's been six years" there was silence. The rushing of the wind drowned out his thoughts as he looked at Suki.

"I don't know where home is anymore" he finished. Suki stepped closer, standing beside him to watch the waves.

"I know the feeling"

"Home is wherever she is…" he whispered. There was a longer stretch of silence, Zuko thought that maybe she hadn't heard him over the noise of the crashing waves until she turned her head to look at him again.

"She will come around eventually…I know she will" Suki said this with a finality and confidence Zuko didn't have. He wished he was that sure about her speaking to him again. He had been doing well at giving her her space. Katara wouldn't even look at him most of the time so he stayed out of her way. He had barely even seen her sense she'd broken up with him. It was like she was doing everything in her power to avoid him. It crushed his heart that he yearned for someone who wanted so badly to be away from him.

"I'm not so sure about that" he returned. He squinted his eyes seeing a dot of land over the horizon. It was the island coming slowly into view. They would be there within a few hours time, by sunset. The closer they got to the island the closer Zuko got to confronting his father. Anxiety twisted in his gut like a knife. He hadn't seen his sire sense his banishment. Zuko had changed a lot sense then. At that time he had been a 17 year old boy, but now he stood as a 22 year old man. He was a whole head taller, his shoulders broader, and his mind much sharper. He reminded himself that he was ready. He had prepared his entire life for this.

Hours later the sun began to set across the water's horizon. Zuko docked the boat along the peer of his family's old vacation home. He knew it would be vacant, as the royal family hadn't had a vacation there sense his mother, Ursa, was banished. After she was gone his father's true descent into madness began, and there were no more days off to frolic in the sand for the prince and princess.

"Suki, go down and let the girls know we're docking." She nodded at Zuko's command and headed below deck while he extended the rope, tying it to the peer's post. He looked out over the dock observing the desolate private beach. Memories of him and Azula chasing each other along these waters flooded his mind's eye. He gave a small smirk. It was one of the few good memories he had of his younger sister.

He looked back when he heard someone coming up from below. It was Toph, looking disheveled and disoriented.
"Hey Sparky, why don't you and I go scope out the house and get it ready? Katara's gonna be a while she's feeling sick. Plus I'm dying to get on land already" she suggested. Zuko shrugged his shoulders helping Toph off the deck. They made the long trek up the beach and to the limestone mansion. Years of neglect had turned the once white exterior to a weathered beige. Zuko kicked the lock off the handle of the grand door effectively breaking in.

The expansive living space opened before them. The white marbled floors still glistened, extending into a pit filled with deep crimson cushions for sitting. The fire place sat cradled in the middle, suspended by sand washed brick. To the left the open kitchens were nestled in front of floor to ceiling windows, the white counter tops drowning in the natural orange light of the setting sun. A once beautiful vase of flowers sat dead and ashed by the sink.

"I call the third room" Toph grinned, using her seismic senses to floor map the house.

"That was my mom's room. I'll take my old room." Zuko offered. Toph adjusted the bag strapped over her shoulder and made her way down the hallway. Zuko followed close behind. He remembering the path to his old room, and could probably get there with his eyes closed. Toph found her room first, scurrying inside. It didn't take him long to turn the corner down the hallway to find his door. The moment he pushed it open he felt a gust of warm air that smelled of the sea. He saw his balcony had remained open, the glass doors swinging gently in the wind. He looked over at his wooden four poster bed, the sheets still white and pristine. Zuko hadn't seen cloth that clean in ages. He tossed his bag in the wooden chair in the corner. He had always admired the simple design of this vacation home. The furniture wasn't as opulent as in the palace, instead it held a charm that leaned more toward functionality rather than pure luxury. He figured Suki and Katara could share Azula's room. He knew no one would want to sleep in the Fire Lord's quarters. He grabbed his lunch from his bag before sitting on the plush bed. They had all taken rashens from the regimen before boarding the boat, enough to last them all about a week. He tore into the jerky and dried biscuit. He hadn't eaten since that morning and he was ravenous. It didn't taste like much, but it was satisfying nonetheless.

The night was approaching fast. He wondered if Katara and Suki had gotten settled yet. After he finished eating he decided to look for them. He could show everyone around the house and go over their plans for the next few days to come. Neither of them knew how long they would have to stay there before they received intel from King Bumi, but they had to stay prepared. It could be a week or maybe three, but once they received the green light it was off to Caldera. Destroying the bomb factory would be the easy part…but breaking his Uncle out of prison and facing off with his father was the moment Zuko dreaded the most. He got up from the bed and made his way out of the room and into the hallway. The house was completely silent as he walked to the end of the hallway where Azula's room was. Zuko stopped in his tracks when he heard what sounded like an argument taking place behind the bedroom door.

"Quiet before he hears you!" he heard Katara grumble. Curious, he pressed his ear to the door. What did she not want him to hear?

"But this isn't fair Katara. You're making a decision by yourself that both of you should be making. Think of how Zuko will feel once he finds out you hid this from him…"

"If he finds out". Zuko raised a brow. His stomach dropped as he thought of all the possibilities. He had a feeling she had been hiding something but he couldn't place his finger on it.

"Do you really think you can keep this a secret your whole life? Don't be ridiculous Katara!"

"Don't preach to me Suki! You have no idea what it's like to have a child to protect! I won't allow this La forsaken nation to rip my baby apart like they did Zuko…I can't" she cried. Zuko's heart stopped beating at her words. A child? Katara was….

He could tell that she was crying from the quiver in her voice as she breathed heavily. Zuko put the math together quickly. She was trying to leave in secret. She had been carrying his child all this time and she wanted to leave. He bit his lip as anger spiked within him. It all made sense now. He couldn't believe it. She would have left him without a trace…without any explanation. He wouldn't allow it. He was going to be in his child's life whether she liked it or not.

"I'm sorry Katara…I just-"

"Save it Suki. I'm getting on that boat tonight, there's no talking me out of it"

"I can't help you do this to him anymore"

"Fine…I'll go on my own" she huffed. He heard her footsteps as she headed for the door. Zuko began to panic, backing away from the door. He looked around the hall quickly for a place to hide.

KATARAS POV

Katara pushed past Suki and opened the room door to the dark empty hallway. Fury filled her heart like a blazing fire. How dare she? She knew nothing of how hard this decision was for her. Did she think that leaving Zuko was what she wanted? It was the last thing she wanted in fact. But it was the only way. Grumbling she stormed down the hallway, her oversized cloak billowing behind her. She snuck quietly past Zuko's room and down the stairs to the main floor. She jumped in fright as a shadow passed her peripheral field of vision. She whipped her head around only to find absolutely nothing there.

"Must be my nerves" she whispered to herself as she continued on. She decided to take the long route to the dock, which was through the wooded area surrounding the outskirts of the beach. She looked behind her frequently as she passed through the trees, the feeling of someone following her was ever-present. She reached the shore in no time. The water looked pitch black in the night, and as still as fresh blown glass. She spotted the canoe that Toph had found for her earlier, waddling toward it as fast as she could. Her breathing increased as what she was about to do became more and more real. She had no idea when the next time she would see her friends would be. Katara was leaving her life, her mission, and her lover behind. She was saying goodbye to everything she had worked towards, but she knew it would be well worth the sacrifice.
"Tui and La guide my travels" she prayed as she untied the rope tethering the boat to its post. She braced herself on the post to step into the boat when suddenly it erupted into flame. She screamed as she stumbled back bending water from the ocean to shield her face. After the flames had died down her hands immediately flew to her stomach as she turned to find the source of the fire. To her horror it was Zuko standing there six feet away between the trees. He was breathing heavily, his eyes brimmed red with unshed tears and locked onto her stomach. Her heart threatened to beat its way out of her chest. She had never seen him look so hurt…and angry. She would be lying if she said she wasn't afraid. They stood in silence as the embers from the flaming boat behind her floated around them. Her lip began to tremble as the silence wore on…why wasn't he saying anything?

"Zuko…I'm-"

"Don't" he interrupted holding his hand up to silence her.

"I didn't want you to have to choose" she pressed on desperate to make him understand. He closed his eyes slowly, as if he couldn't bare the sight of her.

"Do you even hear yourself right now?" he said in disbelief.

"Your people need you Zuko…the world needs you. We'll be okay…" she reasoned.

"Without me…"

Katara's tears fell freely. She stepped closer to him willing herself to make him see her reason.

"It was either us or the world. I couldn't put that burden on you"

His eyes shot open.

"And what the fuck do you think I would've chosen Katara?" he yelled. His rising voice caused her to flinch. He had never screamed at her like this. She was filled to the brim with shame and guilt.

"I just…I just wanted…."

"How could you keep this from me? You think so little of me? You think I wouldn't want to be in my child's life?"

"I thought it better to raise them in the South. They will be accepted and loved by my people" she cried.

"What about the love of their father? You would rather them not even know I exist?"

"I would rather your nation not know they exist" she countered.

"Fuck this Agni damned nation! I'll burn it all down before I let you get on that boat Katara" he fumed.

"Zuko please…let us go"

He shook his head slowly his tears falling.

"Is this why you broke up with me?"

"I-yes…"

"You're still in love with me aren't you?" he asked. She nodded her head silently.

"Agni damn it Katara" he grumbled throwing a flaming fist into a nearby tree. She jumped in surprise, cradling her stomach out of instinct. He turned to her slowly and saw her reaction. His face softened instantly. Taking a deep sigh he walked closer to her. He closed his eyes to collect himself.

"I'm sorry for scaring you" he breathed. He looked down at her, his ember eyes aflame. He reached up to trace the sharp contours of her face, cradling it in his hands softly. She melted into his touch. She hadn't felt him in so long it was a wonder she didn't explode. He looked down at her bump. She could tell he was still in disbelief at her state. All this time he had no idea that she was with child, and now here she was before him almost six months pregnant. She knew it had to be shocking for him. He took his other hand and placed it gently over her bump. Butterflies fluttered inside of her wildly, she couldn't contain the sob that erupted from her. Here he was, finally seeing them, finally knowing what existed between them.

"I don't think you understand Kitten…I'd choose you with my dying breath. I don't give a damn about anything else outside of this" he said with finality "and if my duty doesn't fit with both of you inside it…I don't want it"

Katara tried to rack her brain for any excuses to go to the South Pole, but came up short when she looked into his eyes. He wanted them…he chose them. Now she could never deny him.

"You swear it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"By the moon, sun, and Agni himself"

All the tension built up from the past five months released as she fell into him. He wrapped his strong arms around her kissing her with all the passion she had denied him all this time. He kissed both her cheeks and down her neck, falling to his knees before her to kiss her rounded belly.

"I can't believe this" he said in awe, rubbing his large hands across her stomach.

"Are you happy?" she asked sheepishly, afraid of his answer.

"Of course I am. I've always wanted to be a father…Ever sense you've came back into my life I can't stop thinking about having a family with you. Of course the timing isn't great, but we'll figure it out. I'll make sure you're safe…both of you."

She grinned wiping her tears away.

"What about your safety?" she asked. The inevitable battle between him and Ozai weighed heavily on all of them. He stood back up looking at her with a burning intensity.

"I have even more reason to live now. I won't fail." Despite all of the odds stacked against them, she believed every word he said. He would make it back home to them. She knew it in her heart.

ZUKOS POV

Zuko woke to the sound of seagulls outside of his balcony window, gawking loudly against the crashing of waves across the shore. The warm morning air was electric with the rising sun's rays.

The night before had felt like a dream; an alternate reality in which his mind had not yet caught up with. But as he turned over in bed to regard his water bender her swollen belly protruding beneath the white sheets was evidence that it was no dream at all. She was as real as ever, sleeping beside him, a blissful expression draped across her lovely face. He looked at her stomach again, fascinated at how much she had grown so quickly. A part of him was upset that he had not been able to witness each milestone. He wasn't there for her when she discovered her pregnancy…through all the struggles she had undoubtedly gone through. He blamed himself for not seeing the signs. It was all so clear to him now. Her odd behavior in the camp, her distancing herself from him, her not allowing him to touch her. She had been hiding this for months and he had been too stubborn to see the truth behind it all. He had been too worried about himself. He reached out to trace her hairline gently. He still had not processed that he would be a dad soon. With the state of the world currently he couldn't deny that he was afraid. If all went as planned he wouldn't have the time he wanted to invest in his child as Fire Lord. What if the stressors of the job make him like Ozai? What if the only thing that separated him and his father was duty? He would be a newly coronated ruler of a nation who's entire war centered economy would have to be restructured. There would be civil unrest, as his country was severely politically divided. In addition there were a great amount of Fire Nation supremest who would not agree with the existence of his child. They may even try to hurt them and Katara. His plan to make Katara his Fire Lady would be hard enough to execute without an already existing mixed child in the equation.

Then there was the alternative possibility. If the plans failed, he wouldn't be around to raise his child anyway. He'd be dead.

He continued to stroke her hair until her cerulean eyes opened blearily. She looked up at him, her face soft. The way she looked at him made his cold heart melt. She looked as if she had been afraid all this time and had finally found her refuge.

"Good morning my sweet Kitten" he whispered tracing her brow with his thumb. Her eyes lit up with mirth at his pet name for her.

"Good morning Zu" she returned. He was propped on his elbow looking down at her as she snuggled deeper into his side.

"it's still rather early, we can stay in bed for a few." She nodded her head, reaching down to place her hands over her belly. He traced down her arm lightly coming to rest his hand right above hers. He felt a faint movement in her belly, causing his hand to flinch away.

"Wha-"

"Keep your hand there" she said quickly. He obeyed her, gently placing his hand back where it was before. He felt it again, the smallest kick.

"He's been really active lately" she smiled, a rose blush spilling across her face. His eyes darted from her face back to her belly as he moved his hand around. He felt more kicks, almost as if the baby was following his hand. Zuko let out a small chuckle. He was beside himself with joy and wonder.

"He huh?" he asked raising a brow. Katara looked away bashfully.

"Toph says he has boy chi…" she explained. He scoffed.

"What would she know?" he laughed. Even though the thought of having a first born son filled him with a sense of pride he didn't think he would have nor care about. Maybe it was the child in him that desperately wanted a do-over; a chance to break the generational curse that afflicted all the sons and fathers in the royal family. Zuko was determined he would put a stop to the abuse and tyranny. He would be one thousand times the father Ozai ever was.

"What do you want? A boy or a girl?" she asked him. He pondered over this question awhile as he continued to rub her belly.

"Honestly I would be happy with either one. A first born son is always a good look to the royal court, but a daughter would be just as precious to me. Having a mini Katara running around would make me the happiest man on earth I think" he smiled. Katara looked up at him quickly wiping away a single tear. He kissed her forehead sitting up a little to cup her full face.

"Katara…I know that you are afraid…hell I am too. But moving forward we need to be strong. I want to make sure that we're on the same page and have the same goals" he pressed.

"What do you mean?" she asked furrowing her browns in confusion.

"You mentioned before that my nation could never be home to you, that you wouldn't feel safe there. But I want to do everything in my power to make it a home for you, that you can grow to love. I want you as my Fire Lady Katara, ruling by my side. I want to marry you and I'm not just saying this because you're pregnant. I've wanted this ever sense I joined Team Avatar and probably subconsciously before that. I want us to be a family Kat…do you want that too?" he begged, his eyes pleading. She grabbed his face kissing him tenderly and nodding her head.

"Yes I want that, with all my heart. I'm just scared" she breathed against his lips.

"I know…and if we win this-I mean when we win this war I don't want anyone questioning the legitimacy of my heir" he said with urgency. She noticed the tone shift in his voice.

"What do you mean?"

"We shouldn't wait. I know it's sudden but I want you officially as my wife before I go off to face my father". His heart fluttered in anticipation at her answer. He hated the feeling of rushing things but he wanted to have his family solidified on paper before he went to war…there was no telling if he would come back alive therefore all of his assets would legally go to them should he not return. And if he did return and Katara was already his wife she would have to be coronated alongside him, and his child crowned as heir and prince or princess…he hoped.

"I-Zuko this is all so…"

"Fast, I know. But we have a little one to think of now" he emphasized by placing both his hands on her stomach "in order for us to have a chance at the court seeing us as a legitimate family we must already be married before my coronation". She nodded her head in understanding.

"Where will we marry?"

He smiled down at her relief flooding his heart.

"We are considered enemies of war in the Fire Nation…but our marriage documents must have our real names on them to be legitimate. But I know someone…well two people on this island who could do it" he grinned. Katara looked at him curiously but nodded her head with a small smile.

"I can't believe I will be your wife" she could not make the deep blush go away on her face no matter how hard she tried. Zuko loved the effect he had on her. The fact that she would be his forever in just a few short days made him giddy with excitement, and Zuko rarely got excited. He bent down to land a chaste kiss to her delicate lips.

"It's been my fantasy for as long as I can remember. Since the day I met you and fought along side you I knew…I was meant for you. Every single day I will try to be a better husband to you than the last day. It will be my life's mission to make you happy."

"As it will be mine" she countered with a smile.

END CHAPTER 14