The Last Five Minutes

Author's Notes:
This is the first story I'm going to write with seriousness in it. Ever since the ending of the series, I always wondered 'what would happen if.." on a lot of occasions with the story line that was originally created. The first points of these thoughts are covered in this first chapter. If anyone has any questions about anything here, please feel to leave a review with your question/concern and I'll answer it upon an AN in the chapter following.


I own nothing of this story and do not make profit from it.

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Katara's footsteps hurried through the halls of the Fire Nation's Palace. Several servents bowed to her. She was known as Lady Katara in many places. An ambassador of the water tribes. She had walked the halls of the palace many times before with Zuko. Knowing where he could be was just a matter of finding him. He wasn't in his personal study, nor the audience halls. Gardens were empty. That just left the former War Rooms. Turning down hall way after hall way, she approached a large double door. She paused, her light blue robes swaying to finally meet her ankles as she stood there. A few torches lit the hallway where she'd just come from. Her hair was up in a bun but that didn't stop her from sweating profusely. It had been three months since she'd seen Zuko. "Three long months.." her voice was soft, distant even. She heaved a heavy sigh and closed her eyes tight as some tears threatened to fall.

A hand fell on her shoulder and she jumped, startled. "Lady Katara, I'm sorry but Fire Lord Zuko is to be undisturbed right now. He is meeting with King Buumi of the Earth Kingdoms as we speak." Katara turned to see a young man clad in a red tunic and pants with black trim. His hair pulled tied back at the base of his neck as it fell down his chest half way down his torso. His dark brown eyes were smiling at her. "I will notify the Lord when he is out that you have arrived." He removed his hand from her shoulder. "Was there something you needed? I can deliver a message to him if you need." Katara growled at him and turned back to the large double doors. "Ma'am! Please!" he ran in front of her to block her path as two guards stood at the ready, their spears now crossing in front of her path.

"I must see him immediately." She stated flatly. She was in no mood to be messed with right now. Her fists clenched at her sides. "You will announce my presence." The servent shook his head and she grew more angry. "When will he be out of there?" He opened his mouth and she interupted. "You know what? Nevermind." She turned around. "Deliver this to him then. Lady Katara is waiting for him in the springs. When he meets with me, absolutely no one will be allowed in the wing until further notice. Oh, mess this up.." Katara turned back around to the young man and stormed into his personal space. He stumbled back as she looked into his face. "I will castrate the three of you with an ice dagger. Do I make myself clear?" His brown eyes grew large and the two guards gulped. She turned back to the hall way and stormed off. Though she spoke angrily, she was all but mad. In truth, she was scared. She hung her head and covered her face into her hands for a soft sob. Regaining her composure quickly, she dried her eyes and slowly made her way to the wing of the palace with the Springs.

The servent turned around and his eyes pleeded with the other two. They backed off from him and allowed him into the room, slowly opening the doors. The man took a large breath and slowly walked in. He tread carefully. The last man that interupted a meeting like this was fried on the spot. Zuko had no tollerance for such disrespect. A fireball rushed by his head. "I thought I told you not to disturb me. This had better be important!" Zuko snarled at the trembling man. "Spit it out!" His right hand became engulfed in flames. King Buumi sat in a chair across from where Zuko stood. A map of the Earth Kingdom spread over the table. Three green feathers adorned a headband strapped to his head that matched his green robes. "Alek, do not make me tell you again!" Zuko yelled out to the tremorous man when he did not answer quick enough. The fire on his right hand lit up even more showing the light red color of the robes he wore with golden trim.
Alek stood up right at first and then bowed deeply to the Lord. "Many appologies for the interuption. Lady Katara said it was urgent and-" Zuko fired a ball at his feet and he jumped back with a startled yelp. Another one hit his arm and he stumbled to the floor. Terror filled his eyes as Zuko now towered over the man. Alek quickly sat up on his knees and placed his hands on the floor in a bow.

His face was shadowed now. "What did you just say?" He knelt down and grabbed the tunic, pulling the man to his feet and then lifted him up. Zuko stared into the eyes of the messenger, waiting. Alek tried to loosen the grip of his lord on his tunic as he struggled to both breathe and inform the Fire Lord. "L-lady-y K-ka.. Katara, my l-lo-o-rd..d" His sentence chopped up by not enough air, Zuko brought him down to his face.
"Enough of this. Lord Zuko, he is trying to tell you. Allow him to speak and then punish him if need be." King Buumi chuckled and pulled up his cup of tea to his lips. "Just because he mentions the Lady, does not mean you need to get so uptight. Loosen up." He sipped the warm fluid with a satisfying, "aahh"

Alek hit the floor with a thud and a loud but short cry of pain from the impact. Zuko took a few steps away from him, folded his hands behind his back and waited. The servent slowly stood up and Zuko snapped at him again, "Well?!" Bowing deeply, Alek began again.
"My Lord, Lady Katara has arrived unexpectedly. She asked me to deliver to you a message. The Lady will be at the springs when you are finished.. She.. she asked you to hurry. It sounded urgent." He flinched when he heard foot steps. Though they were walking away from him.
Zuko sat back down across from King Buumi. "Anything else?" He was highly annoyed. Alek took note of this. "No, sir." Alek spoke quickly. He was lucky so far that he hadn't been roasted like the last unlucky servent. "Then get out. Inform Katara I will be a while longer. See to her needs and leave her be." Zuko's voice had softened quite a lot. His temper calmed and his hand no longer seered with flames told Alek he was in the clear for now.

"Yes sir." He took his leave quicker than his response. The large doors closed and he shakily fell to the floor with a sigh of relief. The two guards looked at him. At least there wasn't another body to clean up after. Alek was shooken. Fire Lord Zuko never made simple threats. He always followed through with them. Had King Buumi not been there, he'd surely be a heep of ashes by now. Alek made a mental note to thank him later on. For now though, he needed to carry out his newest orders. Using the door to stablize himself to standing, he glanced at the two guards. He smiled, "we're in the clear for now.." they breathed a sigh of relief as he started to walk off. Now he just had to survive the water master. He swallowed hard, almost sorry he too up this job.

***

Katara turned the corners in a slower pace than when she first arrived. She vividly remembered where she'd been. Her goal was the springs, to wait for Zuko. He needed to know! Tears threatened to fall once more but she forced them back. A female servent bowed to her and handed her a fluffy red towel as she approached the hot spring wing of the palace. Another servent handed her a small basket with a cloth, soap and shampoo for her to use. They each bowed to her and left. Sighing, she opened the doors to the washing area. 'Good. No one but me.' Closing the door and walking to the corner of the room, she set down the basket and towel. Her next inspection would be the spring area. Relieved that no one else was indeed there, she relaxed a little.
Though there wasn't another person there, some might come in after a while. Opening the doors to the hallway again, she beckoned a servent girl to her. "I am expecting the Fire Lord. No one is to enter whilst we're here. The girl blushed and nodded with a curtsey. "Thank you." Shutting the door once more, she began to undress. Her blue robes tied together at the waist by a dark blue sash had become dirty. She frowned at them, musing as to how that could have happened. She'd only just arrived in Sozun today from a ship. Sighing, she filled a small bucket of water and pushed them down into the warm fluid to soak. Sitting down on a bucket, she pulled up some water using her bending skills and proceded to rinse her body. Katara was shocked at how much dirt came off her body.
Disgusted, annoyed and now seeing how truely long it had been since she bathed, she took her time to wash herself. The soap she'd been given smelled like lilacs and she inhaled the scent deeply. After a good scrubbing of her body, she began to rinse the suds off herself. A soft knock on the washroom door sent a chill up her spine. It opened slowly but not all the way. "My Lady Katara, the Fire Lord wishes you to know he will be here shortly. If there is anything you need, please let me know and I wll fetch it immediately." The servent she'd met earlier stood on the other side of the door patiently for her answer. He heard a splashing of water and grunting.
Katara sighed. "A brush would be nice.. Have the cook make me something, please. Soup and a pheasant." The door closed and she breathed a sigh of relief. She started to rinse her hair again when the door opened slightly again. "Yes?" She said, slightly annoyed. An arm extended into the room, a brush in the hand. The hand set the brush down and the door closed again. She smiled. He was a good servent. Bending up some water, she reached at the brush with the liquid and froze the end around the wooden handle. Picking it up, it floated through the air to her body. Taking ahold of the handle, she let the water splash down onto her body as she brought her hair to the front of her body to untangle it.

When she was done, she stood up and streched. Her back arching a little and she stood on her toes to get the fullest of the feeling that her body could touch the sky. She looked to the waters of the hot spring. It looked so inviting. How long had she been on the ship? Six weeks? Ending her strech, her wet feet slapping the stone floor as she walked to the waters, she thought of how she'd tell Zuko. Her brow crinkled as she lost herself in thought. She slipped into the shallow end and shivered involuntarily as her feet were encased in the magma heated waters. Such warmth.. Too bad she couldn't enjoy it really. Too much was on her mind. Absent mindedly, her fingers raked through her hair, combing them as she was now waist deep in the spring. She looked down to her feet, but quickly averted her eyes when she did. Was that a door opening on the other side? Freezing in her tracks, she listened intently. The only sound she could hear was the running waters from the spring exiting the mountain and into the pool. It was drained by several ducts under the rocks to poor out into other springs in other areas.

Choosing a rock, she slid her body down into the waters. She could at least try to relax before Zuko arrived. The water lapped at her breasts as she slowly sat down. Fully sitting down, the waters covered up to her neck. Leaning back, sinking down a little more up to her ears, she calmed herself down. The servents were good here. They would follow her orders, so why was she so worried? Her stomach rumbled and she lay her hand on it in a feeble attempt to hush it. A sad sigh escaped her mouth as a tear ran down her face. Sitting back up, she wiped the unruly salt water from her cheek as another snuck from her other eye. Her blue eyes closed as she pulled her knees to her chest as best as she could. "How.. why.. did this happen?" Hanging her head and hiding her face in her arms that hugged her knees, she cried softly. "This is not something I.. we needed.. not now.." her sobs became slightly louder. "Zuko.." she sniffed. "Please. Don't hate me."

"Now why would I hate you?" His voice carried a chuckle as she jumped and gasped, instinctively covering herself from his sight. Zuko stepped into the water and approached her. Katara hurredly wiped her face, even splashing herself with water. Trying to rid herself of the tears. "I heard you crying. Now you ask me not to hate you. I don't think that's possible for me to do. You should know that by now." He stood in front of her now. His pubic hairs peeked over the water line on his body. His tall and muscular body shone with the water that he'd used to wash himself before entering the springs' healing waters. Extending a hand down to her, he encouraged her to stand. "Usually you send word you are coming. Alek told me this was urgent. So speak to me, Katara." His voice was soft, concerned. "If it's enough to upset you so much to make you cry, please don't keep it in." She looked away from him a moment, blushing from his private parts being so close to her face like that. "Don't give me that. It's not like you haven't seen it before. Or have you forgotten and I need to remind you?" He winked and growled seductively at her.

She turned her body from him and stood. "Zuko.. I didn't send a message telling you I was coming because I didn't know how to tell you." Her arms straight down at her side, hands in fists, she caught another sob in her throat. "I need your help. But.. But I don't know if you can even help.." She stiffened when the water moved as he walked behind her. His hands gently touched her shoulders then trailed down her arms. He lightly stroked her sides and she shivered. His right hand stayed on her side as his left traveled back to her neck and then her chin, turning her face to him. "Zuko.. I'm-"

His hand covered her cheek as his lips planted firmly onto hers in a deep kiss. She smelled of lilacs. Zuko's favorite scent. She closed her eyes as another tear ran down her face. She slowly turned her body into his. Her breasts pressed against his chest as his arm held her tighter against his body. He inhaled her scent once more before breaking the kiss. He frowned though as he opened his eyes to see her crying. She hung her head and sobbed onto his shoulder. He hugged her close. Sighing, he pushed her away from his body by a few inches and looked down to her eyes. She stared up into the golden orbs of his iris. Even half covered by the scar on the left side of his face, his eyes could stare directly into her soul. She was entranced by his intentive stare. It had been three months since they were last together. "Katara, what is the matter?" He almost demanded of her. Though she was obviously uncomfortable and hurting on the inside, Zuko could not help himself from becoming aroused. The warm waters didn't help the matter. But it was mainly her. She hung her head and looked down as she felt his erection begin to rise. Normally it would have pressed itself up between their bodies. He followed her eyes and froze. "Ka... Katara.." Her stomach buldged slightly, stopping his erection from going any higher. This was certainly something he didn't expect. He placed a light touch on her shoulder and she looked back up to him.

"You can see now.. why I came to you..?" She bit back the sob and trapped it in her throat. Zuko couldn't believe it! "Zuko.. please.. what do we do?" He took her into his arms again. She threw her arms around him. He was still in disbelief. He slowly lowered them both into the water. Regaining his composure, he looked at her sternly and her tears stopped.
His hands touched hers under the water as she knelt in front of him. He spoke softly, "Who all knows? How did you keep it secret? When did you find out? How far?"

Katara took in a deep breath, heald it for a moment, then released it. Her breasts expanded and rippled the water as she did this. "Only Toph. She's the one who found out. Said she could feel another heart beat but could never place where it was coming from. I wore loose robes.. but in time; they won't even work. Three months now.. It happened right after I left then. It takes a month to get home to the south. I was sick almost all the way there. We all thought it was just because I had been on land here taking care of you from your sickness for so long and then suddenly on the ship. But then, a week or so after that, I didn't bleed and I kept waiting. I woke up from an unrestful nights' sleep and found this.." She placed their hands on her abdomen. "Zuko, not even my brother knows! How can I face him now? After not marrying the Northern Tribes' prince, this happens. Sokka will never forgive me. Father... It would kill him to find out. I told Toph not to say anything and I don't think she has."

"What of Aang?" Zuko questioned softly. He knew of their break-up. He'd been there for it, even. But she still had to visit the Air Temples as an ambassador. If he recalled correctly, she was due to visit them again in the next few weeks. He didn't even know of the arranged marriage. He picked her up and pulled her onto his lap. Taking care not to squeeze her too hard, his chin rested on her neckline. He kissed her softly as his arms wrapped around her. Katara's abdomen peeked over the water line and his arm rested on her lap.

Katara's right hand rubbed her left arm. "I can't not visit his temples. He's supposed to be there when I arrive. I can't send some one in my place without a good excuse either. I just don't know, Zuko.." She leaned her body against him. His strong and well muscled chest pressed against her back. He bit his lower lip and muffled a groan as her body shifted. He was still quite aroused, but now was not the time for love making. "Sorry.." Her appology was soft but meaningful. Zuko smiled at her. He hardly ever smiled. "Zuko, I know it's yours. I've been with no one." She felt his body tense up. "Not since you.." she trailed off. They had only had sex once. But that was all it took. Gran-gran had warned her when she was little of this fact. "Maybe... maybe it would have been better if I had just agreed to marry him..?"

"What? You asked me to do what I did so you didn't have to be in that position!" Zuko's voice raised. "You couldn't STAND that you didn't get to choose whom you wanted to marry! Don't even start with that. You are just as at fault as I am!" She flinched at his words. He was right though. It takes two to tango, and tango they did that night. Katara had been a virgin. Zuko changed that. But she couldn't blame just him.

Katara stood up and began to walk away. Zuko chased her and caught her wrist. She didn't fight him. His right hand closed over her left wrist tightly. She hung her head. "Zuko, I asked you to do what you did because I fell in love with you! It was you whom I wanted to be wi-" she was interupted by the clattering of a tray. They both looked up suddenly when they jumped. Alek had been bringing the food Katara had requested and walked in on the conversation. He stared at Katara's body. His eyes fixed on her swollen abdomen. Rushing of water tore his eyes to the angry and naked Fire Lord. Katara gasped at the sight of the servent.

Alek gulped as Zuko approached him. He and Katara had been so absorbed in their discussion that they didn't even hear the announcement of the food arriving. "How much did you hear?!" Zuko demanded of the servent. He once again towered over the young male. "HOW MUCH!" He yelled down at the trembling man.

He averted his eyes to prevent himself from staring at Lady Katara any more than he had. Lord Zuko had been erect when he stepped out of the pool. Not any longer though. "My Lord, sire.." He hesitated a moment. "I only heard the last bit. I .. I don't know any more than that and.." his eyes darted to Katara who was covering herself as she walked up behind Zuko. "My Lady Katara," averting his gaze again, his face red with a blush. "I will speak nothing of what I heard or.. saw.." He drew in a ragged breath and gasped as Zuko's hands lit up with fire.

"Zuko! No!" Katara drew up some water from the spring and forcefully shoved Zuko to the ground to douse the fires he was summoning. "I asked this man to bring me food. We were distracted. It was not his fault." Alek quickly stood and turned around, standing in place, his eyes distinctly fixed on the door that he'd closed upon entering. Zuko grunted as he pushed himself into a sitting position from his back.

Standing, he paid no mind to the skin that had been torn from the fall. A small trickle of blood ran down his arm. "Alek, absolutely NO ONE is to know of Katara's pregnancy. Do I make myself clear?" His voice was soft but very demanding and firm. "You are to be her personal servent while she stays here, understood?" Alek nodded. "You will fetch Chen, the mute one. She will also help Katara with dressing. Bring her here." Another nod. Alek was sweating now. "Alek." The young man turned his face to look at his lord.

"Yes sir!" He exclaimed. "If I may, sir.." he swallowed as Zuko began to walk back to the water bender. "How do you think the people will react when they find out? About your child.." He saw Zuko stop in his tracks. Alek stiffened, expecting to be ended right there for speaking so bodly. Zuko kneeded his eyebrow. "I shall clean this up and fetch fresh food for the Lady then.. " Alek began his clean up and quickly left.

After a moment, a soft knock on the door was heard. "Enter" Zuko stated. A small blonde woman entered. She wore a slate grey kimono. She walked backwords towards them, stopping when her peripheral vision saw Zuko's physique. Chen bowed to him. "Chen you are to assist Lady Katara with whatever she needs." Chen nodded mutely. She began to leave. "You are also to not give hints to Katara's condition to any outsider of the palace." Chen stopped. Slowly and cautiously, she turned the opposite direction of Zuko to questioningly look at Katara. Katara stood apart from Zuko, her arms hugging herself. Even at the distance they were at, Chen could clearly see what he had meant. A smile crept across her face. She turned wholely and rose her arms to block her view in a deep bow. She nodded to Zuko, eyes closed. "Dismissed." Chen caught a glance at his tall lean body and blushed. Bowing once more, she quickly exited the room to leave them be.

Katara looked up to Zuko. "I didn't want you to hurt that man."

"I know." His voice held no anger. He hugged her. "I have just been very uptight lately. Every little thing upsets me and I don't know why."
Katara smirked and chuckled. "Maybe your body already knew of this." He laughed. Lowering his head, he trailed a few light kisses on the side of her face. "Are you alright? I didn't mean to push you so hard." She touched his arm.

He looked down to it. "I'll live. But the negociations with your tribes and my nation just might have to be glanced over a few more times. Water tribes struck first and the Fire Nation does not take threats like this easily. So, Ambassador Katara," his eyes narrowed at her as she looked to him. "What will the Water Tribes do to not forfeit the treaty?"

She thought a moment. Her hands traveled down his chest. Her light touch on his chest made him shiver. Even when she ran her fingertips on the scar on his chest, he stood there silently waiting for her answer. "This." She looked up at him wickedly and she brought her hands to her sides and then up. The water from the springs lept off the rocks and ground around them. He staggered back as she used the water to completely drench him. She surrounded him with it and encased his body in it. "Now, Fire Lord Zuko. We may begin the discussion of the treaty.." The water froze into ice to hold his body. All but his face had been surrounded and frozen from her command. She walked closer to him, smiling wickedly. Regardless that she was three months with child, Katara was still a human being. It had been three months. Three long and grueling months since she knew his touch. "First of all, Fire Lord. I want you at my mercy. Since I carry your heir at this time, I know you won't harm me." She had been so upset about it earlier. But now.. Zuko smirked. What a temptress she was. "Second, Zuko," Sauntering up to him, she trailed her hand down the ice that confined his body until it hovered over his stomach. "Negotiations are over now.." her hand melted into the ice to touch his stomach. She dragged her finger tips down his body until her fingers came into contact with his pubic hairs. The ice melted as her hand went down and froze over again as she passed the spots she was at. He closed his eyes as her finger stroked him lightly. His body started to shiver from the ice so he summoned up his fire bending to keep himself warm.

Unfortunately in doing so, it gave his blood supply the warmth and strength to arrouse him again. He groaned as his member became stiff from her light touched. A hole in the ice was formed to allow it to extend out and stand apart from his body poking out of the ice sheath he was in. Katara smiled as she still lightly played a touch here and there to his extending penis. He sucked in a wild breath and hissed out her name as she brought her lips to the tip and blew lightly on it, then licked him in one long stroke of her tongue. His inner heat began to melt the ice by his body as he writhed. Katara's lips kissed his shaft delicately. Her hand encircled his thickness in a firm grip. Moving her hand on him slowly, she looked up at his face as she worked him with her hand. The moment he looked down at her, the head of his penis disappeared into her mouth, her eyes still on him.

Zuko closed his eyes feeling her tongue dance around him in the warmth of her mouth. His breath held as she drove him into her mouth fully. She lingered there, then slowly traced back up to his tip, her tongue stroking the underside of his swollen member. She hummed, the vibrations in her throat caused him to gasp more, his eyes closed tightly. Zuko squirmed against the ice prison he was in. Katara wasn't re freezing the water around him. She wanted him to take her. But she was playing with him. "Ka.. Kata..ra.. AH!" He jerked foreword as she drove him in and out of her mouth again and again. Her hand went to his lower stomach and she scratched him lightly. His body shivered and more of the ice melted. He had most of his freedom by now.
Katara's eyes twinkled as she looked up at how he was being tortured. He was close now. But she wouldn't be so kind as to grant him release just yet. He was panting when she stood up. No longer touching or administering to him, his face relaxed. Zuko looked at her and growled. He was swollen, his mind racing with ecstasy.

Katara smiled and started to walk away. "That'll do for now, my Lord." She went to sit back in the hot spring and relax a moment more. She looked in his direction. His white skin encased in ice, his throbbing red penis sticking out of the sight like a sore thumb on a minstrel. He panted and breathed heavy. His arms had enough freedom now so he could touch himself. Katara watched in ammusement as his hand circled around his erection. He wanted release badly. "I don't think so." She tsk'd at him and waved her hand up. A ball of water floated up and then slapped itself onto the opening, freezing immediately. He groaned.

"I will get you for this.." he hissed out, his eyes half lidded. She challenged him with a smirk. Standing up out of the water she stretched and walked past him. Picking up the towel, she dryed herself and headed to the door. "My quarters. Five minutes." She turned to look at him. Steam rose from the block of ice.

"Five? Why so long?" She laughed. The room was filled with steam now. Obscuring her from seeing him. Her laugh faded.

"Because it'll take that long for me to chase you down to get you there." She turned towards the door, grabbed up a soft robe that was folded by it, tossed it on her shoulders and opened the door. Bolting out into the hallway with laughter, her bare feet slapping the floor, the servents barely had time to react. Seeing her running out of the springs with a smile that wide on her face was strange indeed. What was stranger was as they turned around, they immediately had to bow as Fire Lord Zuko ran by them, determination in his eyes chasing after the woman, and a robe in his hand. His naked body streaking past them in a rush.

As he ran down the hall, he realised that the servents were still awake at this time and quickly put his robe on as he continued to chase Katara. He whistled to a guard and pointed to her. The guard took out a whistle and blew it. "I have you now." He said to himself as other whistles blew in response. He stopped by the guard, huffing. "Take her to my quarters." The guard stood at attention and saluted as he dashed down the hall. Zuko smirked and turned in the direction of his room.

They still had to talk about what to do with the pregnancy. More worrysome, she didn't know that Aang had been invited to the palace just yet.

Sounds of her loud protests against the two guards who had to carry her bodily towards his chambers echoed through the halls. He smirked. The talks could wait.

---

Zuko sat on his plush bed, his arms around Katara as she sat in his lap. His legs spread open to allow her comfort, her head laying on his shoulder, turned to one side to look out the window, she felt relaxed in his arms. His left arm around her back to rest on his propped up knee while his other absently-minded rubbed Katara's small stomach through the robes she wore. She sighed softly and his left hand moved to brush her hair from her face. "You know, Katara," Zuko began with a velvety tone. "Ever since that night when this started," his hand softly padded at her stomach and his left hand fell to her shoulder. "I haven't taken another woman. I ask some of the concubines up here to play music for me while I do my papers. But I've not had any interest in taking one."

Katara stirred. "Why?" She looked up to him by tilting her head. He shruged and she closed her eyes. "I meant what I said. Even though you were sick with that poison, I couldn't imagine being alive without you around." Her voice cracked slightly. "I was so angry at father for doing that and I still am. I made brash decisions." Pausing to sigh, she hugged herself closer to his body. "I guess I'll pay for it now. Nothing we can do about it. It's too late." Katara's hand closed around his robe as though it could comfort her more. He held her hand.

"Why must it be a punishment? Can we not look upon this as a good thing?" Adjusting his seating, Zuko hugged her tightly to him. "For now, let's just go with the flow. You are welcome to stay here. In fact, I'd rather you did. So I can see my child growing and be born. It is the heir to the throne now." Katara flinched at his words. "I know. A multi-nation child.." he trailed off and heaved a sigh. Placing kisses on her head, he trailed down to her nose. He offered Katara the rare smile he gave when he was truely content and she smiled back. "With what happened when you were here last, I can understand if you'd rather not. But please come back before it is due?" She nodded to him in agreement of this. "I wonder though. Why do you show signs so early? Most do not show for at least another moon cycle. It's as though it's growing faster than normal."

"Maybe there's more than one?" Katara absently-minded mused aloud. She gasped when she realised what she'd said.

"Let's not jump to conclusions." Zuko nervously stated. "For now, it's one. One is enough." He kissed her head again. "I know you probably don't want to hear this. But Aang is due a visit by tomorrow. Maybe the day after."

Her eyes lowered. "I'm tired." Crawling out of his arms, she nestled herself in the blankets on her side. Zuko sat back a moment more, then lay next to her. His arm wrapped around her waist gently as he spooned her. His mind drifted off as he fell asleep inhaling the lilac scent still lingering on her body at how everything began...