A/N:

Part 3:

Six Years Later…

Lu-shin had finally returned home from the academy and Katara couldn't bring herself to stop kissing his cheeks and hugging him tight. She had missed her son while he was away and to have him back to be taught what his role in the kingdom would be, she was so excited. Ozai and her had worked hard making she they were prepared to show him the ropes, so that when he turned sixteen, he could claim the throne to be the Fire Lord the country needed.

"Mom, stop it." Her twelve year old son tried shooing her away.

"Sorry, my love." Katara apologized. "I've just missed you with all of my heart."

Lu-Shin chuckled, "I can see that. Where's grandfather?"

"He's busy delegating the servants to move my things since the Fire Lord chambers will be yours." Katara explained to her son as she walked beside him. "The Fire Lord office is also being renovated for you as I will no longer be needing them."

Lu-Shin looked at his mother, "Wait, then how are you going to work as regent?"

Katara cleared her throat a little, "I'm actually letting your grandfather take over things from here on out." She told him. "I believe I've done my part and I should take a step back to let him guide you into becoming the Fire Lord you are destined to be."

Lu-Shin eyed his mother funny. "Then what's going to happen with you?"

"Oh, I was looking at a villa in the Western Provinces. Somewhere I can unwind and relax for a while. It won't be forever. Just a few months to a year." Katara told him.

"But why? I always thought you and grandfather would teach me together."

"Your mother is tired, Lu-Shin." Ozai approached them to greet his grandson. "She needs to take a break."

Lu-Shin looked between his grandfather and mother and saw them looking at each other with a gleeful look on their faces. He didn't know what was going on but he felt something was going on and he didn't like it.

Showing her son to his new chambers, Katara gave him a tour and his grandfather asked him what he wanted to be changed around here. Lu-Shin took in the chambers and asked his mother how she had managed to live here by herself for so long. His mother patted his head and told him not to worry about that as when he came of age, he'd be able to find his Fire Lady to reign beside him.

"But you and dad got married young, right? Do I need to marry right away?"

"No."

"Yes.

Ozai and Katara looked at each other.

Clearing his throat, "It's wise to marry right away to secure your own heirs."

"Yes, but you're in no rush, Lu-shin. Your father and I knew we were working on borrowed time, so we rushed things along to make sure you were born." Katara expressed. "There's no need for you to do the same since you have much more time than we did."

Ozai added to that. "I say it's never too soon, son. Try taking a look around court at the beautiful women. Surely, you will find one for when you come of age."

Katara nudged him and he glanced down at her.

"Please don't argue." Lu-Shin said as he saw his grandfather and mother eyeing each other due to their opposing remarks. "I'll just worry about that when the time comes. For now, I just wanted to know when you were planning to leave, mom."

Katara sighed, "In a month. I'm going to make sure you're settled in before I leave. Your grandfather will be here to help you through the rest."

Lu-Shin sighed. "Can't you just wait a year."

"No." The two of them said in unison.

Lu-Shin raised a brow.

"I mean," Katara chuckled awkwardly. "It's best I leave as soon as possible. I think its the best thing for my health that I do this."

"Then you'll come back?"

Katara nodded. "I'll come back."

Once Lu-Shin settled into his chambers, Katara and Ozai left him to rest from his travels. They made their way through the halls to his domain to have lunch together and discuss what their plan was.

Over the last six years, the two of them managed to keep everything a secret and only three people were aware of their relationship. Zhu-Shang, Natsuki, and the Southern Chieftain. Things were going smoothly and they couldn't be happier. However, a few weeks after Ozai's birthday, Katara came to him with news that she was pregnant. They were compromised. Having an abortion had crossed their minds and they discussed that it was the only way to keep their romance a secret. But neither one of them wanted to go through that as it would deliver a devastating blow to them both. So, they decided to keep the child.

It was their plan to have Katara step down as regent to allow Ozai to take charge and guide Lu-Shin when he returned home while she left the capital to have the baby in private. They wanted to tell Lu-Shin about them before she left, so he wouldn't feel lied to. However, Katara was starting to get the feeling he wouldn't take well to them being together.

"We should still tell him." Ozai told her as they ate.

Katara sighed and shook her head, "I just know he'll hate us for being together. Even more when he finds out we're expecting."

Taking her hand in his, "Sweetheart, if we don't tell him, he'll hate us more. Besides, the council approved a long time ago for you to have a consort. He knows you're allowed to move past his father."

"I know but it's different because the man is you." Katara explained. "We're his mother and grandfather. We're not supposed to cross the lines we have crossed. He knows that."

Ozai sighed, "Let's just slowly introduce him to the idea of us being together. Once it seems like he can stomach it, then we'll tell him."

Squeezing his hand, "Okay, my love."

Kissing her hand, Ozai smiled at her and glanced down at her small belly she was hiding well under her robes. "Just worry about yourself and the baby."

….

Lu-Shin was prepared by his new personal servant, Jee, and escorted out to the dining room where his mother and grandfather were already present. The two were talking amongst themselves with his mother sitting at the foot of the table while his grandfather sat beside her. The prince took his seat at the head of the table and was served his plate.

"Good morning, Lu-Shin." his mother smiled her sweet smile at him and him beamed back at her.

"Hey, mom."

Picking at his salmon with his chopsticks, "How are you feeling this morning, son?" Ozai asked.

"I'm good, grandfather. Just trying to get used to it all." Lu-Shin admitted.

"Well, don't you worry. Your mother and I are here to help you every step of the way." Ozai said as he took Katara's hand in his and they smiled at Lu-Shin.

Lu-Shin couldn't help but notice the two holding hands. He averted his eyes like it was something he wasn't supposed to see, not realizing the two saw this and slipped their hands away from one another.

Clearing her throat, "So, I was telling your grandfather that you've been excelling in history, arithmetic, firebending, and political sciences. That and you've taken on sword fighting."

"I hear your favorite weapons are the dual daggers. Take after me and your father. Daggers were always my favorite and your father, he loved dual weapons, specifically the dual broadswords. He was better with those than he was at firebending." Ozai told his grandson.

Katara nodded with a smile, "Yes, your father would be proud to know you've decided on that as your choice of weapon."

Lu-Shin sighed and nodded, "Hey, can we not talk about my dad?"

Katara and Ozai exchanged looks before looking to the prince to nod.

Later that day, Ozai gave Lu-Shin a tutor of the wing of the palace that housed the different magistrates and ministers' offices. He explained the duties and responsibilities of all of them as well as which ministers worked closely with the Fire Lord. Then they went through the halls of the palace that housed the portraits of all the previous Fire Lords of the Yong dynasty. Lu-Shin was able to name them and their accomplishments, when he got to Sozin and Azulon, he stopped naming their accomplishments in order to criticize them.

"Fire Lord Ozai Yong, the usurper and war criminal, known for stealing the throne from his brother and murdering his father, passing blame on his missing wife, Fire Princess Ursa." Lu-Shin said as he looked at his grandfather.

Chuckling, "Is that what they say about me in the academy?"

Lu-Shin nodded before looking at the portrait of his father, "Fire Lord Zuko Yong, firebending instructor to the Avatar and the ender of the 100 year war. Known for ending the 100 year war alongside a diverse group of friends and the Avatar. First Fire Lord to take a Water Tribe princess as his wife. Shortest reigning Fire Lord next to Fire Lord Ozai Yong."

Ozai folded his arms and stepped up beside his grandson, "One day your portrait will go up on this wall and you must ask yourself what would you want your son, your grandson, and his son to say about you. Surely, you would want good things to be said. That you achieved something for the betterment of the country or even the world, like your father. I want you to ask yourself what kind of Fire Lord you would like to be. What will be your mission during your reign? And by what means are you willing to make that mission a reality?"

Lu-Shin sighed and shrugged, "I guess I want to be like my father or Fire Lord Lao-Faang. Both Fire Lord's that ushered in a period of peace. But there's no war now, so I guess, I want to bring about prosperity but you and mother have already managed to reestablish the nation's wealth after my father gave up reparations. So really, I don't know what kind of Fire Lord I want to be."

Placing his hand on the boy's shoulder, "You have time to figure that out, my son. Just make sure it is something you are passionate about."

Lu-Shin nodded.

Taking his grandson to the Fire Lord's office and letting try out the seat to see if he fit it, Ozai told him they would start their lessons every weekday here.

"So will mom come back to be regent again after she takes her year break from here?" Lu-Shin asked.

Ozai clasped his hands behind his back, "I do believe your mother wants to retire from her role at court."

"Has she told the council this yet?"

Ozai shook his head.

"What made her want to step down?" Lu-Shin asked as he slouched in his seat.

Shrugging his shoulders, "I don't profess to know what your mother thinks all the time, Lu-Shin. I suspect the role has just taken its toll on her. She is afterall a Water Tribe woman. The court still gives her a hard time about it."

"And will they do the same with me since I'm half Water Tribe?"

"I do not believe so." Ozai told him. "You look very much like your father and you're a prodigy firebender. I believe you will have the entire court's respect."

Lu-Shin looked away from his grandfather and ran his hand along the mahogany wood of the desk. "Can I ask you a serious question, grandfather?"

"Yes, anything." Ozai replied happily.

"What was my father really like?" Lu-Shin asked in an almost whisper. "Was he really as they say he was?"

Ozai sighed, "Depends on what they say about him?"

"They say he was self-righteous but in a good way. Still tried to uphold his pride in being a Fire Nation man but found the beauty in the world beyond here while in exile. Said he was a royal that lived amongst the common people and spent his four years trying to cater to them. Pandering, they called it."

Ozai chuckled, "Pandering? Your father pandered to no one. He was stubborn above everything. Didn't let anyone tell him shit unless he already believed it. I don't know how he and your mother got along seeing as they are the same way in that regard. And yes, your father found beauty in the world beyond the Fire Nation, I mean, look at your mother. A beautiful woman with a beautiful heart. She's taken care of this country on his behalf all because your father chose wisely about who his wife would be. Even if he didn't know it, your father didn't know it, he was highly intelligent. Struggled with his emotions, yes, but he was as quick as a whip. Very much so."

Lu-Shin nodded at this. "Mother never really talks about him."

"Because she lost him at a young age, Lu-Shin. Your mother loved him very much." Ozai told him.

Sighing, "I guess you're right. I just wish I got to know him."

"Yes, you would have been proud of the man your father was."

Later that day after going over his lessons with Lu-Shin, Ozai headed to Katara's chambers and was let in by Zhu-Shang. Katara was preparing for her midday nap when he entered. Zhu-Shang was disrobing her and he was able to see the small roundness of her belly. He couldn't help but feel some pride. Six years of being ever so careful, he still ended up knocking her up and creating life inside her. Never in a million years would he have thought he'd have such a relationship with a Water Tribe woman, let alone his son's widow.

Seeing him smirking at the sight of her, Katara giggled and shook her head. "Proud of your handy work, I see."

Ozai walked up to her as Zhu-Shang removed her outer robes. "Don't put this all on me." He chuckled. "I warned you this would happen."

Rolling her eyes, "You did not."

"I did." He insisted.

"Ozai, you said you had a dream I'd get pregnant."

"Yes, and I was right." Ozai placed his hands on her waist and looked over her small belly. "I hope it's a boy."

"I want a girl." Katara told him.

Smirking down at her as he held her to him, "You'll take what you get, woman."

"I should be saying that." Katara told him.

Leaning down to kiss her, Ozai felt her hands cup his face and drink him in. He was about to pick her up and take her to bed when Zhu-Shang cleared her throat. Breaking their kiss, Ozai glanced over at the servant.

"Her grace needs to rest." Zhu-Shang told him.

Looking back to Katara, he saw her nod at him and he sighed. "You haven't wanted to have sex since you've gotten pregnant."

"I'm just tired, Ozai."

"Yes, I've heard that often."

Katara playfully hit him, "This is your fault."

"Our fault." Ozai rolled his eyes as he groaned and kissed her forehead.

…..

Lu-Shin didn't know what was going on but something was off, he just didn't know what it was. His mother was leaving in a few weeks to live at a villa in the western provinces, his grandfather was being vague about why, and when the two of them were together he noticed they acted weird. Like his grandfather and mother were always standing so close to each other around him but if anyone else came around, they distanced themselves. Sometimes his grandfather was handsy with his mother around him, hugging her, holding her hand, and Lu-Shin even saw his grandfather staring fondly at his mother when she wasn't looking. He felt like maybe his grandfather might have a crush on his mother but he wasn't sure he should ask him about that.

At the moment, his grandfather was going over the different noble households and the families in close proximity to the throne. He told Lu-Shin that he wanted to pick his wife from one of these households as it would benefit him to keep those families appeased due to his father disappointing them. Suggesting that Lu-Shin pick a wife from the Fang family, the current head of the family having a granddaughter that was just a year younger than him.

"The Fang's? But mom hates the Fangs and they hate her." Lu-Shin pointed out.

Ozai sighed, "Your father was supposed to marry Lady Mai. She's the daughter of the Head of the Fang Family. She was very hurt by his marriage to your mother as she was always brought up to be his wife but your father wanted to marry for love and not duty. Her daughter is who I want you to marry."

Lu-Shin tilted his head, "So you want me to marry for duty?"

Ozai nodded. "You have to correct the mistakes of your father just like your father corrected the mistakes I made. Besides, I married for duty and it wasn't that bad."

Lu-Shin raised a brow, "Your wife ran away from you."

"Yes but for me, I didn't really feel all that bad about the marriage."

"Mom says you were a manwhore that cheated on his wife plenty. She said my dad told her how you always had a different woman every night."

Ozai rolled his eyes, "As Fire Lord, one of your perks is, because of the fact we marry for duty often, being allowed to have concubines and lovers."

"But why not just marry for love?" Lu-Shin asked.

"Because keeping the families of the highborns appeased is more important." Ozai told him.

Lu-Shin sighed and shook his head, "So, you'd appease the noble families over your feelings for my mother?"

Ozai was caught off guard as he looked at his grandson.

"I know you like my mom." Lu-Shin told his grandfather. "It's okay, I won't tell but if you're just going to put the noble families over her, then I don't think I want you with her. At least my dad put her first."

Katara entered the room where Ozai was giving lessons to Lu-Shin and overheard Ozai telling Lu-Shin that he wasn't wombing his way out of doing his duty to the realm. She peeked in and saw Ozai had Lu-Shin in a headlock, rustling his hair as her son laughed.

"What's going on here?" She smiled at the two.

Lu-Shin brushed his hair back in place as his grandfather let go of him. "We were just playing around." He smiled at his mother.

"Lu-Shin thinks I have feelings for you." Ozai told Katara.

Katara giggled, "Oh, does he now? Lu-Shin, do you really think your grandfather has feelings for me?"

Lu-Shin looked to his grandfather and then back to his mother, nodding.

Giggling, "What makes you think that?"

"He's always with you."

"We're co-regents." Katara pointed out.

"Yeah but-"

"Sweetheart, you're being mischievous, just tell the boy." Ozai told her.

Lu-Shin was confused by his grandfather's words to his mother and looked to her.

Katara sighed with a smile and walked over to her son, pulling her outer robes open to reveal her baby bump. Lu-Shin's eyes widened at his mother.

"B-But you haven't taken a consort yet!" Lu-Shin said as if it were impossible for her to be pregnant even so. "How?"

Grinning over at Ozai, Katara rubbed her belly and giggled. "Turns out your grandfather, here, does actually have feelings for me."

Lu-Shin's mouth dropped.

Ozai smirked as he walked up beside Katara, placing his arm around her. "And your mother is madly in love with me too. I mean, literally can't get her to keep her hands off of me."

Katara elbowed him in the gut while beaming at her son. "I hope you can accept us, my love."

Lu-Shin looked from his mother to his grandfather and shook his head, "I told you you could date my mom, not get her pregnant."

Ozai shrugged, "It happens."

Lu-Shin sighed, "So, since you guys have been keeping this secret, I guess it's sort of taboo, huh?"

Katara nodded.

"Then maybe we should change that." Lu-Shin said. "Can't you guys… like… not care what people think of you both being together? It's not like it's illegal and I don't want mom to have to leave just to have the baby before anyone finds out."

Katara sighed and turned to Ozai. The two whispered amongst themselves as Lu-Shin just stood there trying to listen in on what they were saying. His mother rolled her eyes at his grandfather as he threw his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.

"You're right, Lu-Shin, we'll have a talk with the council tomorrow morning." Ozai told his grandson.

Lu-Shin beamed at this. "Just don't cheat on my mom, okay, grandpa?"

"Can't make any promises." Ozai joked.

Katara elbowed him in the gut again.

Wincing, "Oh, honey, you're going to have to go easy on me. It was just a joke."

"Don't get that playful with me." Katara said before closing up her robes and strutting off.

Lu-Shin shook his head at his grandfather, "Why are you so troublesome, grandpa?"

Rubbing his middle, "It's in our blood, Lu-Shin, we can't help but be troublesome."

…

The council was utterly taken aback by the confession of the Fire Lady and her co-regent. It was unfathomable what they were saying. A six year long relationship? Impossible. There's no way they would dare cross those lines. However, Katara revealed her pregnant belly as a result of their hidden relationship. The council felt deceived and were not accepting of the relationship right away but they did express there was no legal action they could take against them as there were no rules against their relationship.

Word got out and everyone eyed the two before whispering amongst themselves whenever they were together in the halls. Ozai didn't seem to care, kissing her hand and showing his affection to her publicly like it was no big deal now that they were out in the open. Yet, Katara felt uneasy and hated the scrutiny of the court after her affair with her father-in-law went public. However, she had no regrets. It needed to be done. She was pregnant and Lu-Shin was right when he told them they needed to not care what others thought. In the end, there was nothing anyone could do about their relationship or their positions. Ozai was born into the royal line and so was Lu-Shin. Katara had been married into it and appointed regent by her late husband. No one could do anything about them.

At least that's what they thought.

They were having dinner with their family when the council barged in with the Fire Sages and stood before the dining room table. Ozai got up and narrowed his eyes at them, demanding to know what this was about.

"Fire Lady Katara is to step down as regent and live the remainder of her days as Queen mother to the Fire Lord. Her duties are simply to support the ascending Fire Lord as a mother would her son, she is to have no hand in political matters or matters related to the duties of the Fire Lord." The head Fire Sage stated.

Furrowing his brows, "You can't do that." Ozai clenched his fists.

"It's fine, Ozai." Katara rose from her seat and held her hands over her growing belly. "I accept these arrangements."

Lu-Shin glared at them, "Is that all?"

The Fire Sage shook his head, "We also ask that your public display of affection be kept to a minimum. It is bad enough a taboo relationship exists such as this one, do not flaunt it in our faces so pridefully."

Ozai scoffed under his breath. Like hell. He'd display his affection for everyone to see. Six years of hiding their relationship, he wasn't to bend to these asshole's will any further than he already was. Surely, they did want things to get ugly.

"Very well." Katara replied.

"Thank you, your grace, for being cooperative." The head Fire Sage responded.

When the sages left with the council members, Ozai turned to Katara and told her that he wasn't conforming to their rules. In the end, he and Lu-Shin were the ones calling the shots.

"This is a learning lesson, son. Don't ever let these fucks around here think they have any authority or power over you. That will only cause them to disobey your command. That can never be allowed." Ozai told Lu-Shin.

Nodding with a stern look on his face, "As soon as I'm Fire Lord, I'll make them pay for who they speak of my mother."

"Lu-Shin, you don't have to-"

Ozai furrowed his brows at her, "Let the boy feel how he must, Katara. He's going to be their sovereign. He needs to carry his emotions like one. In four years, Lu-Shin will be Fire Lord and no one but his wife will have a say during his reign."

Katara sighed, "I don't want my son to be vengeful. Do not teach him to be angry."

"I'm not. I'm teaching him to challenge his anger and put it to good use. He's a firebender and our element is heavily influenced by our emotions. He needs to learn control and discipline within himself before he can lead others." Ozai told her. "That's something I should have better taught Zuko."

Katara sighed and nodded, "Very well. You are his regent. I trust you will teach him and teach him well.

The following week, Katara moved into the Queen Mother's palace that was separate from the main palace but not far from it. Zhu-Shang remained her servant and by her side as a few new servants were assigned to her. Katara was provided with caregivers that would help her raise her child once it was born and allowed a monthly allowance from the treasury that the regent and then Fire Lord would regulate and determine. Her life would from now on be one of leisure. Ozai told her to think of it as a reward for her hard work but she knew it was meant to be a punishment for conducting herself the way she had with him to the point she ended up pregnant. They couldn't remove her title, only the regent or Fire Lord could but they could reduce her involvement in assisting her son in his ascension to the throne.

As she was settled into her new home, Ozai showed up to inform her that his brother was planning to visit. She sighed and shook her head.

"Iroh won't be happy with this." Katara told him.

"Oh, he's already said he's disappointed in me." Ozai stated. "He told me not to make my feelings known to you and I've done more than that. Expect him to lecture us."

Katara sighed as she watered the flowers Lu-Shin had brought to her as she rubbed her belly with her free hand.

Glancing at her growing belly, "How many more months till I meet our child?" He asked in a lighter tone.

Smiling, "Three."

"Only three?" Ozai was a bit surprised. "You don't look big enough to only have three months left. This must be a girl."

Katara giggled and nodded, "It is."

"Huh?" He asked questioningly.

"My healing ability let's me feel for their chi and their developing body. We're having a girl and she's a waterbender." Katara beamed at him.

Ozai couldn't help but smile. While he wanted another son, he was still happy to find he was having a girl and went to embrace Katara. He held her to him, cautious of her round belly, and kissed the crown of her head. "Never would I have ever thought I'd father a waterbender."

"I feel the same way about having Lu-Shin. Never dawned on me I'd have a child with a man I saw as my enemy and already I've done it twice." Katara giggled as she cupped his face. "Ozai, thank you for being here with me through everything."

Running his hand over her hair, "I wish I could marry you, Katara. Take you far from here and live without all the prying eyes." He told her.

Beaming up at him, "Anywhere and anything is fine so long as I'm with you, my love."

The two exchanged a passionate kiss and the servants pretended to not see the regent take the Queen Mother to her chambers. When the door shut, they all continued on with their work and left the area to give them privacy.

…

Lu-Shin listened to his grandfather, mother, and great uncle arguing in the sitting room while he tried to focus on the work his grandfather gave him to work on. It was a bit difficult to do with all the constant shouting around him but he tried nonetheless.

"This should have never taken place!" Iroh yelled at his brother. "You took advantage of the poor girl!"

"I'm a woman, Iroh, and no one took advantage of me. I love him and I have for a while. Why can't you accept that?" Katara tried to keep her cool.

Iroh scowled at Ozai, who was tired of arguing with him. "I can't accept this. You are my late nephew's wife. He would never go for this. Never! I knew Zuko well, better than either of you it seems, and I know Zuko would be devastated by this!"

Ozai snapped as he watched Katara break down in tears over Iroh's words. "You watch your fucking mouth, Iroh! You know damn well Zuko wouldn't want her to be alone! Even if it meant the two of us are together! I've been good to my son's wife all these years! I've taken care of her and helped her through her regency!"

"And you slept with and impregnated her!" Iroh hollered at his younger brother.

Ozai stormed up to Iroh and scowled down at him, "So what?! We're together! Nothing you or anyone else can do about it!"

Iroh sighed and glared at Ozai, "I'm done discussing this with you, brother. You know you're wrong."

With that, Iroh left them to go to his guest quarters and Katara sighed to herself as Ozai placed his hand to her lower back, allowing her to lean on him. She was exhausted and didn't want to discuss this anymore.

"Continue helping Lu-Shin, Ozai. I need to lay down." Katara told him.

Kissing her forehead, "Rest easy, sweetheart."

The following day, Lu-Shin went to visit his mother in her separate palace and saw his grandfather was there. She was helping him dye his gray hair back to black so he could maintain his youthful appearance. Lu-Shin always thought it was weird that his grandfather liked to hide his age though everyone was well aware he was late into his fifties. As he walked up to them, the prince saw his mother smile at him as his grandfather told him he'd be ready for their lessons in an hour.

"Can ask you guys something?"

The two nodded.

"After I become Fire Lord, what will you both be doing?"

Ozai lifted a brow, "Well, your mother would remain Queen Mother as her title and I assume whatever role you give me at court. Until you're married we will live at court with you to insure you're not alone."

Lu-Shin nodded to this answer. "What about the baby?"

Katara continued running the dye through Ozai's hair using a small brush, "Your little sister will be with us, of course. Because she's not born from a sitting Fire Lord, she won't have the title of princess even with your grandfather's royal blood but she will have a noble status as a Lady. So, after you ascend the throne, becoming Fire Lord and marry eventually, we plan to move to a villa out west."

Sighing to himself, "Then I should find a wife soon?"

"No, you don't have t-"

"That would be wise, Lu-Shin." Ozai cut Katara off.

"Lady Chisya Fang, do you think I should have her visit?"

"Fang?" Katara raised a brow.

Ozai smirked, "Of course, I'll arrange a meeting between you two. Let me reach out to her parents. Give me till this afternoon."

"Thank you, Grandfather." Lu-Shin bowed his head before leaving.

As her son left out, Katara stopped doing Ozai's hair and eyed him funny. "Fang? He wants to meet Chisya Fang? Mai Fang's daughter?"

"Yes, I suggested to him a while ago that he should set his eyes on the Fang family for a wife."

"Why?"

"Because his father was originally betrothed to Mai Fang but disregarded the arrangement to marry for love." Ozai explained. "While I no longer fault him for that as you were an equally good candidate to be Fire Lady as you are dutiful and an exceptional daughter-in-law, I can't say it was wise of him to leave a sore taste in the mouth of the Fang family. They are a prominent family with ties to all the great households, including the royal family. Lu-Shin needs to make up for his father's mistakes as Zuko made up for my mistakes. Lu-Shin should be allowed to court the Fang girl and arrange to marry her when they both come of age."

Katara furrowed her brows at this. She was never for her son marrying for anything less than love. An arrangement of marriage based on duty really didn't sit well with her but there was nothing she could say as she no longer had any dictation over the direction in which Lu-Shin was led. However, Ozai could be swayed to reason, she just had to find a way to convince him as it seemed he had this all thought out.

Taking her hand over his shoulder and squeezing it, "It is my hope the two fall in love and this arrangement could be one of love as well as duty."

"Yes," Katara said in an unsteady voice. "Love is something I want for my son."

"But if they don't fall in love, that's fine too. He will be allowed to have consorts and concubines." Ozai informed her.

Balling her fist on his shoulder, Katara snatched her hand from him and glared at him. "My son won't be a whoremonger."

Ozai looked over his shoulder at the woman, "Katara, no one said-"

"I don't agree with him marrying for duty, Ozai. He's a child born out of love between two people that were still able to honor their duties. He should have the same." Katara told him.

Sighing as he got up and turned to his concerned waterbender, "Katara, this is how things are done here. I understand you want for him what you and my son had but sometimes that's not always the wisest of choices. I'm his regent and I know what is best. Let me guide him as is my duty to do."

"But Oz-"

Ozai lifted his hand for her to stop and shook his head, "I never asked you how you felt about this, Katara. This is my job. Now, let's finish this dye so I can set up a meeting with the Fangs."

Katara furrowed her brows at him and shook her head, "Do it yourself." she told him before strutting out of the sitting area to her rooms and slamming the door.

Ozai sighed to himself.

….

Ozai sat in the lounge area across from Lady Mai Fang, her husband Kyuma Fang, and their daughter, Chisya Fang. Lu-Shin sat to the left of him as Katara sat to the right of him. The room was offly quiet and Ozai felt it was due to the fact that Lady Mai and Katara were giving off an uncomfortable tension in the room. He knew he needed to clear the air in order for any of this to work, so he skipped straight to why he asked them here.

The regent explained that due to his son not honoring his betrothal to Lady Mai, he wanted his grandson to strike up a courtship with Lady Chisya in order to repair the relationship of the Fang family to the crown. It was his intentions that if the two courted now, that by the time marriage was a concept for the two, that they'd be very smitten with each other and there would be no reason for it to be broken off. This sounded great to the Kyuma, who expressed that since marrying his cousin, Mai, that he worried about the relationship of the Fang family to the crown. He agreed to the courtship but Mai stopped him right there.

"So, you mean to tell me that you want your grandson, a half-blood, to be with my daughter? You do know she's a nonbender? With half of Prince Lu-Shin's parentage being of the Water Tribe, who's to say that the next heir will even be a firebender?" Mai expressed her concerns.

Offended, Katara opened her mouth to say something but Ozai cut her off.

"My grandson is a talented firebender. Even more so than your former friend. I assure you, even with her nonbender status, I believe they will have a firebender heir on the first try when the time comes. The firebender trait runs strong in the royal household, Lady Mai. There is nothing for you to worry about." Ozai assured her.

Mai pulled out her fan and fanned herself as she looked to Katara, "Even so, I worry how my daughter will be treated. Giving one's daughter up to her husband's family can be hard. How will I know she won't be mistreated by her mother-in-law?"

Katara glared at Mai, "I have no ill feelings towards your daughter, Lady Mai. I assure you, so long as she is good and dutiful to my son, I will never mistreat her. Never."

Scoffing, "I can see on your face now that you are opposed to this union." Mai fanned herself and looked away. "You can't even pretend to be for it."

"I simply want my son to marry for love. However, if this courtship turns into one of love, I will be in full support of their union."

"And if not?"

"If not-"

"If not, she will still honor the union no matter how she personally feels and your daughter will not be mistreated. I will personally see to that." Ozai cut Katara off again. "Katara has no say over the matter. Lu-Shin has already expressed wanting to be dutiful to his role as Fire Lord and to his people. He knows it serves the nation well to be on good terms with a family like the Fang clan."

Mai closed her fan and sighed, "Very well. So long as you can assure me that my daughter is be fine, I will agree to allow her to court Lu-Shin. But if this arrangement is broken off in the same manner as my arrangement to Zuko was, the Fang clan will have much to say on the matter and it won't look good for the royal household."

They all rose to their feet and the Fangs bowed to them. Lu-Shin was nudged by his grandfather to do what they went over before the meeting. The prince worked through his nerves and walked up to Lady Chisya, presenting her with a hairpin with his family's dragon symbol on it. A gift that would symbolize her being the prince's betrothed. Katara swallowed hard at this and twiddled with her fingers before the Fang family took their leave.

When the family was gone, Ozai turned to Katara and frowned at her.

"You couldn't at least act happy for your son?"

Frowning back at him, "Ozai, I don't know what you expect of me. I told you I was not in favor of this."

"But mom, it is what needs to be done. Don't you understand I can't marry for love like dad if I'm going to be an even better Fire Lord than him. The Fang family raises their daughters with the notion that one of them will become Fire Lady. It is only wise that I pick my wife with this in mind." Lu-Shin explained to his mother. "I know you want me to marry for love but I just don't see that happening. Please, let grandfather and I deal with this without your objections."

Katara felt a little hurt by this but swallowed it down and nodded. "Very well, Lu-Shin, I respect that you're growing into a man and that your grandfather is trying to prepare you for your ascension. I just want you to be happy."

"My happiness lies with my duty, mother. So long as I know I am doing my all for the country, I am content."

Ozai opened his mouth to say something but Katara didn't want to hear it and left. She clearly didn't agree with any of this but Lu-Shin delivering the message to her was best since she wouldn't listen to him. She had to understand that they were normal men and that the Fire Lord had to do more than consider his feelings on the matter. If Zuko had more time, Ozai felt he would have abide to his duties and taken Katara for a lover instead. However, knowing his life would be short lived, he chose to be happy in the end and disregarded his vows of duty.

Iroh was sitting in the gardens having tea while watching the turtle-ducks when he spotted Katara making her way to him. He sighed and poured another cup, having it ready when she approached and took a seat across from him. He saw her brows furrowed with worry and deep thought.

"What is it, my niece?" Iroh asked her.

Accepting the cup of tea, Katara held it in her hands and sighed as she stared down at it. "Ozai arranged Lu-Shin's marriage to Lady Chisya Fang. I expressed my feelings on the matter and they both shut me down. I don't know what to do or how to feel."

Iroh sighed and nodded, "It's what's best, Katara. My nephew disgraced the Fang family when he broke off his engagement to Lady Mai to marry you. My brother and great-nephew are simply doing what is best. I'm proud of them both for going this route."

"But what about love, Iroh?"

"What about it? As members of the royal household, love is rare and unlikely to ever occur. Having a sensible and reliable partner is what's desired most of all. The Fang family raises women that are prepared to meet the needs of the Fire Lord and the country. You want this for your son, Katara. There is no better woman suited to be Fire Lady than one from the Fang family." Iroh explained.

Once again, feeling hurt by this, "Then what about me?" Katara teared up a little. "Was I not suited to be Fire Lady?"

"Oh, Katara, don-"

"I feel like Zuko might have been better off not marrying me. I mean look at me! I couldn't even run the country on my own, I had to get help from Ozai and we started sleeping together three years into working side by side." Katara dropped her head into her hands. "Now, I'm pregnant and the council had the sages remove me as regent. I have no say in my son's future and even Ozai won't hear me out on this. I just want happiness for my son."

Iroh took Katara's hands and tried reassuring her, "How do you know this won't make him happy? Lu-Shin might end up becoming smitten with Lady Chisya. You have to give it time. While I might have an issue with how my brother has managed things with you, I sincerely believe he has Lu-Shin's best interest at heart. Which is why he's allowing them to court so early. That way feelings have time to grow between them and Lu-Shin can have a chance at love as well as follow his duties."

Sweeping her loose hair out of her face, Katara couldn't say Iroh was wrong as she had seen Ozai work very hard over the years all for the sake of her son and he was doing a wonderful job leading Lu-Shin down the right path. This couldn't be any different. A Fire Lord was duty bond and while Zuko had the luxury to marry for love despite the somber circumstance, Lu-Shin did not. Even with her wanting to fight for his right to love and a happy marriage.

Sniffling and wiping her tears away, "Think I need to go home for a little while."

"Go home? You don't mean-"

Katara nodded as she calmed herself down, "I need to see my family and be comforted a little."

"Can my brother not comfort you?"

Shaking her head, "Not in the way I need to be comforted right now." She told Iroh. "I'll go get Zhu-Shang to pack my things and I'll prepare myself for a departure."

"You should probably make my brother aware." Iroh suggested.

Katara shook her head, "He'd only stop me."

"Rightfully so. You're into your third trimester, my dear." Iroh pointed out. "You won't be able to travel back in time for the birth of the baby."

Katara sighed, "I wasn't planning to." she said as she got up to leave.

It was nearly dinner time and Ozai hadn't seen Katara all day. He worried that she was really upset about him arranging a marriage for Lu-Shin. However, he and Lu-Shin had a long deep conversation about it and they both agreed to it before he moved forward with setting the meeting with the Fangs. Knowing she'd be in a bad mood, Ozai had gone into the city to get her a gift he was sure she'd appreciate as a woman that loved jewelry, a ruby ring with a gold band on it. He wanted it to be a token of his love for her since they couldn't get married like he wanted them to, he could however, make the gesture of letting her know he wanted her as his wife if ever possible.

But, when he arrived at the Queen mother's palace, Ozai was told by the guards that Katara had left hours ago and would not be returning for a while. He thought perhaps that meant she went somewhere like the gardens and would be gone for a few hours. However, he discovered that Katara was gone from the palace, gone from the city, from the Fire Nation, she had returned home. Furious by her leaving without saying a word to him or Lu-Shin, Ozai hurried to his rooms to back something to leave but was stopped by his brother that entered his chambers without prompt.

"Katara needs to spend time with her family, Ozai. She hasn't been home in years." Iroh told him.

Turning around in a fit of rage, "So you knew she left to go home and said nothing to me?!"

"Brother, you need to remain here with Lu-Shin."

Ozai scoffed, "You stay here with him. I'm going after Katara."

…..

Arriving home, Katara was greeted warmly by her brother's family and embraced by each of them, including her young nieces. Sokka and Suki showed her to their home they shared with her father. When they reached there, Hakoda came out the house and looked his daughter over, seeing her pregnant belly. He sighed and placed his hands on his hips.

"So the rumors are true, huh?" He said.

Sokka eyed his father, "Dad, stop. We talked about this."

"Oh, hush up, Sokka. I knew years ago about her and her father-in-law having a relationship with each other. I just never thought it would go public and she'd end up pregnant. Thought my daughter was smarter than that."

Katara sighed and walked up to her father, "Dad, try not to be too harsh on me. I came home to see you all and have a good time."

Hakoda rubbed his neck, "Fine. I'll let you settle in before I lecture you."

Katara giggled and nodded as she hugged him.

Returning his daughter's hug, "Glad to see you're home."

Settling in, Katara saw her brother enter her guest rooms and noticed his arms were folded.

"So…you and Zuko's dad…y'all are really together." Sokka said in an unreadable tone. "Didn't realize villains were your type but when I think about you and Jet, then you and Zuko, I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

Katara dropped her gaze from her brother as she placed her hands on her belly, "Ozai isn't how you think he is…he's-"

"Yeah, I get it. The few times I visited you and saw how he treated you, I figured maybe he isn't so bad." Sokka said as he leaned against the dresser. "I guess you guys were fooling around during some of those visits. But how's he treating you? Good I hope."

Katara nodded as a small smile formed on her lips, "He's very good to me. Caters to my every need and looks for any excuse for me to not have to bother myself with things. He's a good man underneath it all, Sokka."

"Then that's all I care about. Just felt like you should know I'm not condemning you for sleeping around with your father-in-law."

Katara giggled, "Thank you, Sokka."

"I'll warn you now, dad is not too happy about you and Ozai being a thing but me and Suki support you."

Seemed her brother was right but she already knew that. Her father wasn't so happy when he found out six years ago at the summit meeting in Ba Seng Sei. However, Katara told herself she wouldn't care too much. She cared that her father had an opinion about her life and the events that took place in it but she didn't care what his opinion was. He didn't have to like it. He wasn't in her relationship with Ozai and didn't like Ozai all together anyway, so of course he didn't support them. But that was fine. He was still her father and she was still his daughter. He couldn't possibly hate her, could he?

Helping Suki in the kitchen prepare dinner, Katara assured her sister-in-law that she didn't mind helping despite her before of the royal status nowadays and seven months pregnant. However, she wasn't allowed to do much other than cut the veggies and stir the pot. As they were chatting amongst themselves about how things were for them, Hakoda entered and asked Suki to give them the room. Suki looked at Katara and the waterbender smiled at her, assuring her she'd be alright.

As Suki left, Hakoda gestured for his daughter to take a seat and he sat across from her, clasping his hands together as he eyed her sternly.

"We haven't spoke since Ba Seng Sei six years ago." Hakoda said. "That's mostly to do with you refusing to write me back but I'll let that slide for now."

"I've been busy, dad." Katara told him.

"Not busy enough to leave that fire bastard alone, I see. Look at you," Hakoda couldn't take his eyes off her belly and shook his head. "How could you let this happen?"

Katara sighed and placed her hand on her belly, "Dad, this will be your granddaughter. A waterbender like me. You come to love her as you love your other granddaughters."

Hakoda sighed and looked away from his daughter, "As much as I respected your late husband for the kind of man he became, I never wanted you to marry him, but I accepted that because he went against his people's custom all for the love he had for you. He was an honorable man and I hate that his time was short on this earth."

Katara fell somber, "My time with Ozai surpasses the time I had with Zuko. I love them both but Ozai, he-"

"He's your father-in-law!" Hakoda raised his voice. "Not just that but he's a wicked bastard! Older than me! And I don't trust him! He could very well be using you!"

Sighing as she rolled her head to the side, "Dad, we've been through this several times already. Ozai is not the man you think he is. I've seen him up close and in action. Even now as he is teaching Lu-Shin, he's incredible with how he's raising him to be the next Fire Lord."

"Katara, I didn't raise you to defend scumbags."

"No but you raised me to be brave enough to have my own mind and think for myself." Katara told him. "Ozai is a good man. He has his shortcomings, yes, we all do but he's been an amazing person in my life since he's come into it. I won't let you write him off as evil. Not to my face."

Hakoda stood up, "That man is-"

"I'm what, Hakoda? Please, tell me about myself like I don't already know."

The two turned their heads to see that Ozai was present. He stood with a frighteningly angry expression on his face as he looked at the two and Katara averted her gaze as she knew he was not going to have pleasant words for her or her father.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?! My village?!" Hakoda hissed.

Ozai narrowed his eyes at the Chieftain, "I'm here to deal with your daughter. She thinks running off without telling anyone is acceptable. I'm here to give her a piece of my mind."

Hakoda looked from Ozai to his daughter. "You ran away?"

Katara sighed and rubbed her temple, "I didn't run away. I just wanted to come home for a while."

"Not without speak to me or informing anyone! You're fucking pregnant and with my child and you thought you had no right to tell me where you and my child were going! I never took you for an imbecile, Katara!"

"Hey! Watch how you speak to my daughter!" Hakoda shouted.

Ozai glared at Hakoda, "You shut the fuck up, you piece of shit!"

Katara stood from her seat and walked up to Ozai, "Ozai, I-"

Grabbing her wrist, "You're coming back home. Lu-Shin is worried sick about you and you didn't even let him know where you went!" Ozai growled.

Hakoda grabbed Ozai's wrist and squeezed it, "Unhand my daughter!"

"Dad!"

"Hush up, Katara, I'm not letting this bastard drag you out of here. You came here for a reason and I believe it's safe to say, he's the reason." Hakoda deduced.

Ozai frowned at this and let go of Katara's arm as he eyed her. "You left because of me?"

Katara looked away.

"Why? What even happened for you to-...This is about the Fang's, isn't it?"

Exhaling, Katara hugged her arms around herself, "I don't want my son marrying into the Fang Clan. They might breed women fit for the role of Fire Lady but I watched how Mai had little not emotions and Zuko told him how she found everything so boring and dreadful. I don't want my son with a woman that doesn't having feelings and is cold. Not when I raised him with so much warmth."

Ozai scoffed, "You sound like my ex-wife. She didn't like Mai for Zuko either but that changed nothing."

"Well, it did, actually. Zuko married someone with a heart."

"He married someone that forgets she has a duty to uphold over her feelings." Ozai retorted. "Even your son understands duty comes before everything else. The privileges you and his father have had are not the same privileges he will have. Stop living in this fantasy world that everyone gets to be with who they love just because they want it to be so! You're an intelligent woman, so I expect you should understand that the rules of a commoner don't apply to the world of the aristocracy!"

Katara narrowed her eyes at him. "Is that so?"

"Yes, not everyone can be with who they love all the time. You just got lucky."

"I did, did I?"

"Yes!"

"Then I guess I need to uphold my duties over my feelings." Katara unfolded her arms and placed them on top of her belly. "And so should you."

Raising a brow, "What are you talking about?"

"Your duty is to be regent and to guide Lu-Shin to become the Fire Lord he needs to be. My duty is to be a supporting figure through all of it and to remain out of political matters. I am to be a dutiful daughter-in-law and respect my in-laws as if they are my own family." Katara told him as she scrunched up her face in anger. "I haven't done as I'm supposed to. Veering away from my duties."

Ozai groaned, "You've been handling your duties as you should for years, Katara. Stop being dramatic."

"You're right but I have failed in some areas. I will correct those mistakes." Katara bowed her head. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention."

Hakoda and Ozai were a bit confused as they watched as Katara led herself out of the room.

"I'll gather my things and we can leave." Katara said as she left the room.

Hakoda looked from his daughter to Ozai and looked him over. "You haven't a clue but you've thoroughly pissed her off."

Ozai scoffed and rolled his eyes, "She's upset. She gets like that sometimes. Nothing I haven't dealt with already."

Scowling at the man, "Good luck this time around."

….

Having returned to the Fire Nation, Katara was placed on bed rest as she was close to her due date. However, she disregarded the palace physician's orders as she knew the best way to deliver a baby was not on her back waiting for the contractions to come. Zhu-Shang held her hand every step of the way as she paced herself around her palace trying to induce labor and ordering the kitchen to make her overly spiced food. She wanted the child-birthing to go much smoother than it had when she had Lu-Shin, her son tore her open, and left her with many painful stitches that scarred her till this day.

This did not sit well with father of her coming child. He felt she was rushing the child's birth along before it was time but Katara shut him down and shut him up. He knew nothing about the labors of having a child. This was something that in some cases killed a woman and she would not allow herself to leave her children behind, so she would do as she must. Against the judgment of the physician and her irritating father-in-law.

One day while doing slow and steady squats with Zhu-Shang helping her maintain her balance, Katara saw Ozai make his way to her with the palace physician behind him. She rolled her eyes.

"The physician says you need to be in bed." Ozai said as he stopped a foot in front of her.

"The physician said the same thing when I gave birth to Lu-Shin and I nearly died." Katara folded her arms.

Ozai looked from her to the physician, "Is this true?"

"Her grace hadn't followed any of my previous instructions either. I told her to do perineal massages or increase sexual activity during her third trimester, she refused to do either." The Physician stated.

Ozai sighed and told the physician he would deal with her and dismissed him.

"Zhu-Shang, give us the room." Katara ordered her servant.

When the servant and physician were gone, Ozai scowled at Katara.

"What is your problem?"

"Nothing. I don't have a problem." Katara turned away from him and walked over to her plants, beginning to water them. "You're the one with a problem."

"Me?! I'm trying to help you!"

"Maybe I don't want your help." She said nonchalantly.

Ozai growled. "What is going on with you? Why are being so damn cold at such a critical point in our relationship? We're about to have a child together and you're acting like you were when we first met."

"What you said to me in the South Pole, it got me thinking, I don't want to continue this relationship." Katara told him outright.

Confused and caught off guard, Ozai's brow twitched. "You don't want to what?"

Sighing as she put the pitcher of water down and looked over her shoulder at him, "I think we should focus on our duties and stop seeing each other like we have been."

"Like hell!" Ozai shouted. "You've got to be out of your mind if you think I'm going to go back to how things were before! Do you not understand that we're having a child together, you idiot?!"

Katara shrugged, "I don't care anymore, Ozai. Just because I'm having your child, doesn't mean I have to be with you in that way."

"Why? Why are you doing this?"

"I don't know. I just know I don't want to do this anymore."

"Bullshit! You're doing this because I arranged Lu-Shin's marriage, a marriage he agreed to of his own choosing!"

"He doesn't know any better!" Katara snapped.

Ozai narrowed his eyes at her, "So this is about Lu-Shin?"

"If he can't be with someone that he loves and cherish, how can we flaunt our relationship in his face?! I mean seriously, Ozai, how can you in the same breath tell me about duty above emotions then tell me you want to remain as we have?!"

Ozai grabbed her arms and held tight to them, "Listen to me and listen to me good, you stupid waterbender. We have both already carried out our duties to this nation. We have worked endlessly and tirelessly for the sake of the people and we've done a damn good job at maintaining nearly a decade of there being no sitting Fire Lord. That's unheard of. So we owe it to ourselves to give into our emotions from time to time. Lu-Shin has yet to pay his dues to this nation for the luxury he has lived in. If he wanted love, he can still have it but Lady Chisya will be his wife nonetheless and you will respect her as your future daughter-in-law like I have come to respect you. Now, stop saying stupid shit before I really lose my temper with you." He bit out.

Katara furrowed her brows at him as he continued to hold her arms, "Fine, Ozai."

"Good. Seems like you've come to your senses."

Katara sucked her teeth and looked away from him.

"You can stay mad all you like, sweetheart, but I still love you." Ozai said as he kissed her forehead and let go of her. "Now, go lay down. I see you out of bed again and I'm going to tie you to it."

Sighing, Katara turned away from him and started walking to her chambers.

Later that night, Ozai was sharing tea with Iroh and Lu-Shin after dinner. Katara didn't say a word the entire time, only answering a question that Lu-Shin asked her before she excused herself from the table, returning to her palace afterwards. Lu-Shin had asked his grandfather what was going on with his mother and he basically told him that she was being moody due to the baby being on its way. Iroh eyed his brother funny and told Lu-Shin he should get ready for bed.

As Lu-Shin left, Iroh asked him what was really going on. He watched as his younger brother sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Katara is trying to end our relationship." Ozai told him. "She thinks because Lu-Shin is not marrying for love at this moment in time, that she and I need to end our affair as she doesn't want to 'flaunt' it in his face."

Iroh sighed, "So, she's truly still upset about this arrangement. I can't say I blame her. She wants what's best for her son and his happiness means a lot to her. She's just a devoted mother, Ozai."

"Well, Lu-Shin is not just her son. He's not an ordinary boy. He is the future Fire Lord. She needs to get that through her thick skull." Ozai said in utter annoyance. "I'm getting tired of explaining this to her. Not to mention, she's busy trying to induce labor all because she had a traumatic birth with Lu-Shin. She needs to stay in bed before she hurts herself."

Iroh nods. "As you told Lu-Shin, her emotions are probably high from the baby's nearing arrival. Take tomorrow off and try comforting her. I know she's probably just stressed with everything that's been going on. Your relationship being put out there along with the issue of the Fang's and now, the baby is near. You should tend to her."

Ozai figured Iroh was right. Lately, he had been so busy with Lu-Shin and other matters that he didn't have time for her. He didn't even remember the last time they were alone and intimate. The physician did say 'that' sort of thing would help with labor. He'd take tomorrow off and spend some time with her. Perhaps he should come bearing gifts to help dissolve the tension between them.

….

Katara eyed Ozai as he was massaging her swollen feet. He had waltzed into her palace with an entourage of servants that carried gifts for her and their unborn child. There were dresses, hair accessories, and jewelry. He even had the servants bring a tray of fruits that he fed to her. Now he was showering her in affection and pampering her, obviously fearing that she'd leave him after their conversation yesterday afternoon. She wanted to stay mad at him but it was hopeless. She never stayed mad at him for long. Ozai never let her.

Sighing as she rubbed her temple, "Ozai, I fear I've been too harsh on you about the marriage thing. I know you've set it up so early to give the kids a chance to fall in love with each other but I've been so caught up in the arrange part that I've ignored your true intentions." Katara told him.

Smiling up at her as he continued rubbing her feet, "You're pregnant, dear. I don't hold it against you to feel the way you have been feeling. It's perfectly normal."

Pulling her foot from him, Katara asked him to come cuddle her and rub her belly as she felt a lot of aches and pains from carrying his child. He agreed and spooned her in her bed, running his hand over her large belly. He felt their daughter kick his hand a few times and smiled at it.

"I hope she's nothing like you." Ozai told her. "Last thing I need is two of you at my throat at all times."

Giggling, "I'm sorry, Ozai."

"You say sorry but I doubt it'll stop you from getting upset with me about something later. You seem to always find something to be mad at me over." Ozai pointed out.

Over the next few days, Ozai made time to be with his lover and ensure her mood was high. By the end of the week, she went into labor and he refused to leave her side, letting her squeeze his hand through the entire process. The physician had to wrap his hand afterwards as she had broken a bone or two through her pained labor. However, he didn't care much, he was completely unaware of the pain in his hand as he was enthralled by the sight of his youngest child.

"Yumiko." Katara beamed at the child as Zhu-Shang wiped the sweat from her skin. "Isn't she beautiful, Ozai?"

Ozai had to say. He had never seen such a beautiful baby girl in his life. All he wanted to do was stare at her for what would be hours. Yumiko. She had a complexion like her mother but his gold eyes. Even while only being a few hours old, he saw her smile at them and her small cries for milk from her mother's breasts were gentle to his ears. And as he watched his daughter feed from her mother, he reached down to caress the silk hair of her head.

Katara could tell Ozai was in love. She had never seen him so bewitched in all the time she knew him. It melted her heart.

"Did you want to hold her?" She asked him.

As he held his infant daughter in her arms, Ozai saw Katara fall asleep immediately and was snoring. He chuckled and looked down at his daughter lovingly as he held her.

"I guess it'll just be us for a little bit." Ozai said as he took her with him for a walk to the balcony. He wanted to show her the view of the moon in the sky and the city they lived in. "Tomorrow, I'll show you around the palace. You'll be its princess. My princess."

…

A/N:

I decided to make this a four part story. So Next chapter will be up soon enough.