Zuko laced his fingers with Katara’s as they walked down the icy road. They never really hid their relationship, but public displays of affection stopped at pecks at the door.

“Are you ready for this?” He asked, pulling her closer and leaning over so she could hear him in the crowded street. She was staring down at her feet, mind distant and eyes glazed over. Zuko was leading her through the Water Tribe village, steering her around the various carts and large, strange animals. “Katara?”

“Hmm?” She turned her ear closer to him so she could hear, but otherwise kept her eyes out of focus, yet trained on the dirty streets beneath her feet. Zuko laughed.

“I asked if you were ready for this.” He responded. Katara shrugged.

“I mean, I have to tell them eventually.”

She was dressed in a dark, loose dress, hanging down over her now growing belly, although all of that was hidden beneath her large, trailing coat. It had been a month and a half since she had told Zuko about the budding human inside her, she had told no one else though, and as everyone was gathering tonight for her birthday would be a perfect chance to tell everyone.

“You’ll do fine, if anything, you’ll be delivering the best news of the year.” Zuko comforted, squeezing her hand.

“But I’m not married…” She chose her words carefully, still not wanting to pressure Zuko. As she had said before, he was free to help or leave.

“Is that what you’re so worried about?” Zuko stopped walking and used Katara’s momentum to turn her towards him. He unwove their fingers so she could turn and took hold of her with both of his hands. “That’s not what matters. What matters is that this,” he moved his hand down to her slowly growing belly, “has two parents that will love it and each other.”

“… You told Iroh.”

Zuko winced. She was right, he had vented to his Uncle about being anxious about the child. Iroh had grown extremely excited and was about to start making arrangements before Zuko told him not to let it slip to anyone. He moved his hands to her back and pulled her close, resting his chin on her head. Her arms stayed lip at her sides, slowly tugging at the hem of his tunic.

“That’s not the point. Katara, I’m here for you, no matter what… Unless you want me to leave.” Zuko paused, heart pounding as he waited for a reply.

“No, I want you here, you just don’t have to be here. Or something.” Katara said and pressed her face into his chest with a defeated groan. “This is going to be a lot tougher than I thought.”

Zuko laughed. “Of course it will be.” Katara pinched him and he laughed again. “That doesn’t mean that you are in this alone. Sokka and Suki will supportive and I’m certain that Hakoda will welcome another grandchild.” He kissed the top of her head and stepped back, letting one hand slide down her arm to return to the interwoven grasp they had been holding a moment ago. However, this time around, she rested her head against his shoulder. She still dragged her feet, and stared downward, but she was much less alone this time.

A few hours later, they arrived back at the South Pole’s newly-made palace. It wasn’t so much a palace considering how much the South Pole had lost during the war, but since many of the Northern Waterbenders had moved, they were helping to rebuild and helping to restart trading with all the nations. Hakoda was happily living there, although he was still trying to convince his son, daughter-in-law and their twins to move in with him. They were hesitant.

Currently, Katara was living with him. She usually did when she came back to the village. Tonight was her birthday, her twentieth, and a large celebration was planned. In the North Pole she would be not only be married, but the little stranger inside of her would not be the first. However, in the South Pole, most of the women ended up leaving because of the lack of variety and adventure. Some of them came back and some of them didn’t. Recently people had been returning to their birthplace to visit, if not permanently stay.
Zuko walked Katara up to the palace doors. She took one step higher than him so she could look at him, playing with the fur lining his collar. She tugged on it lightly and smiled as she looked at his shoulders and chest to make sure it looked right.

“You look good in our clothes.” She said, smiling weakly, her mind still elsewhere.

“It’s a bit thick…” Zuko half-complained.

“Coming from the man who’s countrymen decided to land in the hottest part of the world and wear heavy, dark clothing and armor?” Katara shook her finger at him playfully. “For shame.”

“I’ll be here by sunset.” He smiled and she leaned down to kiss him. He stepped back down and she straightened and turned. With one last glance to him before walking through the door, she was inside.

She let the door close on it’s own, although she peaked out the window carved beside the entrance and watched as he turned and trotted down the steps with his hands in his pockets. Just watching him, she was proud that he was the father of the baby. She not only admired him for his logic and strength, but he was damn fine to look at.

She turned and started down the halls, laden down with bags for the party tonight. She dropped most of them in the kitchen with the chef (a very eccentric elderly man from the North Pole who lived for food, wine and sex), who thanked her greatly. The last bag was hers alone. She would spend the rest of the afternoon getting ready. She moved down the halls until she found her the corridor leading to her room, running into a familiar face along the way.

“Aang!” She smiled, although she was completely stunned to see him. Now, although she was in love with Zuko, she had to admit that Aang had grown into quite the man and Avatar. He was still a glistening baldy with a heart bigger than the Earth Kingdom, but he had matured greatly… Plus he had grown taller than everyone.

“Katara!” Aang opened his arms and received her whole-heartedly. They held each other tight before Katara leaned back to look up at her friend.

“When did you get here?” She asked, unable to contain her smiling. It had been almost a year since she had seen him.

“Almost an hour ago, I’ve just been unpacking.” He took her hand, “Let me get a good look at the birthday girl.” He spun her around and, though she was still wearing her coat, “You look beautiful.” She laughed to herself as he kissed her cheek; she wouldn’t look so beautiful in six months. “Where were you?”

“I was out picking up some things for tonight.” She gestured with the bag in her hand and he nodded. “Do you know when everyone else is getting in?”

“No clue,” He laughed. “I got a letter from Toph the other day and she said she had some things to do before she would get to leave the encampment to come down.”

Toph had since joined the Earth Kingdom’s new military. She had risen through the ranks in a record time and was now known as Madam General Toph Beifong, and she was only seventeen. She was helping, like everyone else, to rebuild.

“Sokka and Suki are down the hall and to the left if you haven’t seen them yet and Zuko’s room is upstairs somewhere. He’s out right now though…” She trailed off, wondering where he was.

“Well, let me accompany you to your room.” He held out his arm for her with a grin.

“Oh, I’m just right here,” She laughed, pointing to the door that lead to her room. Aang laughed with her and dropped his arm.

“Well then, I’ll see you tonight.”

They bowed their heads to each other respectfully and Aang moved on down the hall. As Katara began to open her door she paused and watched the Air Bender leave. How would he take the news tonight?

She moved into the room and locked it behind her. She dropped the bag on the bed and pulled out the dress she was going to wear tonight. She pulled off her coat and let it fall to the floor. Next she removed the dress she wore beneath it. At this point, she paused, staring down at the swell in her abdomen. She traced a finger around the outsides before placing both of her palms flat on her belly.

“Hey kid,” She said softly. She didn’t know if it could hear her, but she was going to say what she wanted. “It’s me, your mother.” She sank onto the bed, still looking at her little guest. “I just wanted to… To let you know, that no matter what happens tonight, I’m…” She swallowed. “I’m excited to see you in six months…” She smiled weakly  once again and didn’t notice as her eyes grew moist.

“Katara?”

The Waterbender leapt to her feet with a start, staring at the door.

“Katara, it’s Suki, can I come in?”

Katara scrambled to grab the dress she had bought and yanked it on, covering her belly. She whipped at her eyes and straightened manically before opening the door.

“Sorry, I was getting dressed.” She laughed nervously, hoping Suki would buy it. Her sister-in-law folded her arms and smirked before tailing her eyes down Katara’s tear stained face to her belly. She smiled and raised an eyebrow as if asking if she wanted to change her answer. The Waterbender swallowed.

“When?!” Suki asked, a smile the size of her fans on her face.

“When what?” Katara tried to cover her mistakes and act like nothing was unordinary.

“When did you find out you were pregnant?”

Instantly, Katara grabbed Suki’s wrist and yanked her inside. She slammed the door behind her and rounded on the woman.

“How did you find out?” Katara’s heart was racing, somehow completely oblivious to the joy Suki was experiencing.

“Other than hearing you talk to it? Do you know what it is yet? Who’s the father? Does Hakoda know? What are you going to name it? I’m so happy for you!” Suki unleashed these questions like she had been waiting to for ages. She practically danced across the room, throwing her arms around Katara.

“One at a time! One at a time!” Relief washing through her. If everyone else reacted like that there would be no problem tonight.

“Okay, first question,” Suki and Katara sat down on the bed together. “When did you find out?”

“Last month when I was staying with you and Sokka on Kyoshi, I went to the doctor because I felt sick and he popped the news on me.” Katara smiled as Suki grew excited.

“Okay next question. Who’s the father?”

Katara took a deep breath. “Zuko.”

Katara was almost certain that she would be smothered by how Suki suddenly hugged her. She shouted several things like “I knew it” and “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me”.

“I was planning on telling everyone tonight, so you can’t let anyone know.” Katara said holding Suki at arm’s length. “Not even Sokka…. Especially not Sokka.” Suki laughed.

“Well, there’s no use just sitting here waiting for your water to break. C’mon, I’ll do your hair.” Suki got to her feet and had Katara turn and sit facing the wall with her legs crossed. Suki snatched a brush off of the nightstand and began to comb Katara’s hair out.  “How do you want it?”

“Loose,” Katara gestured to the side of her head, “Just do what you think will look good.”

“So how are you going to tell everyone?” Suki said, beginning to gather Katara’s hair in her hand.

“I dunno, I guess I’ll just make an announcement during dinner.”

“You think that’s smart?”

“Well, how did you announce you were pregnant with the twins?”

“… During dinner.”