Chapter 42

I.

Time went by as the girls sat nibbling on the snack s and delicious food Zuko prepared. Katara's thoughts strayed everywhere: From Zuko's hands to Aang's determination to fight without her and then to Suki's enormous stomach which could pop any day.

"I can't take this sitting down stuff anymore," Ty Lee pulled on her braid and blew out air from her pouty lips. Katara couldn't help but feel slightly jealous her. Such a cute little figure, such big eyes.

"I know what you mean. I am not some little girl needing to be home while dad fight." As Katara said this, memories of her own father washed over her in happy but morose memories as well. She was glad to have finally reconciled her feelings of the past to her father a while before. "I have a right mind to head out there."

"No, Katara." Suki struggled to stand, Ty Lee held out a hand for Suki to hold and get her bearings. "I need you both here. What the guys saw was probably very frightening."

"Well, I hope they're alright." Katara said and took up their bowls. She kept feeling goose bumps run up her arms. It was weird really. Everything she did brought thoughts of Zuko flying into her face. His caresses were pure fire, his eyes glowed each time he saw her, and then he cooks so well. Is this what eroticism was? Thoughts that could brandish a soul without the person even being there? What would it be like to lay with Zuko?

From the looks of his well endowed piece- probably pretty painful at first but-

"Katara, did you hear me?"

"Yes?" Katara placed the bowls and other trash away in the kitchen and rejoined the girls.

"What were you doing in there?"

Katara shrugged, but she noticed Ty Lee's wink of confidence. Ty Lee. The little girl who humped Zuko.

Katara rolled her eyes and felt a shiver, a cold piece of air from outside sweep through. Looking out of the window behind Suki, she observed billowing clouds and what looked like a parade of wings.

"Girls, look at this!" Katara waved them over; Suki shifted some to look behind her and out the window.

"Are those…birds?" Ty Lee's eyes squinted into the darkening sky.

"Yeah. It seems to be a million birds."

"I don't think those are birds, Katara." Suki's face looked pasty white. Katara was concerned. "Those things don't look right."

Katara looked again.

Where were the guys?

II

Zuko fought the dirt and rocks flapping up against his skin. Aang was already in the Avatar State and hard to communicate with. Sokka remained crouched low behind a very tall rock, in the thick of groves.

"It looks like a bird dragon," Sokka shouted over the steady beating of wings. Zuko felt for his swords. He constantly had new swords. Some remade, some brand new.

"Whatever they are, they look oddly familiar." Zuko cast a knowing glance in Aang's direction.

Visiting Azula's grave was a huge mistake.

"I get the icky feeling you know something I don't." Sokka swatted at something on his arm. Zuko came closer to him. Perhaps he can tell Sokka.

"Aang's been visiting my sister's grave."

"What!"

"Shh shh," Zuko stooped low and told Sokka everything. Sokka's eyes grew wide in surprise and then finally lowered in understanding.

"I see." Sokka said. They both looked in Aang's direction. The Avatar's legs were folded, criss crossed, his eyes closed but a ring of half-moon blue light shone from the slits. His bald head was glowing, making him look like an innocent child but a wise, old man.

Well, not too wise if he visits graves in secret without telling his wife.

Zuko swallowed hard. Aang was his friend- true. However, matters of the heart proved to be much too strong whenever he got near Katara.

"Look out!" Sokka threw his boomerang in a high arc and it knocked a medium sized black feathered bird down to the ground. Blood spurted forth from its long neck.

"They look like flying turkeys!" Zuko exclaimed.

They remained in hiding. Both feeling like wussies, but unable to do anything until after Aang assessed the problem and find the weak spots of the huge beast, whose wingspan covered an entire horizon before their eyes. Smaller versions of the beast, the black birds with the long red necks and shiny, ebony feathers stormed the skies and pecked at whatever they saw.

"The birds are in connection to Azula. Aren't they," Sokka said between closed teeth.

"Uh huh. Yes they are." Zuko put his head down in his hands. All he wanted to do was go back to where Katara was. He was not n the mood to fight birds.

What's taking Aang so long?

III

Another dead one lay near her feet.

Several of the nasty looking black birds have burst through the living room area's window and one of them actually pecked its way through the stalagmite housing. Strong beaks!

Suki was protected by Ty Lee, who shielded her, even though Suki grew red faced (finally enhancing her color) when she adamantly wanted to "stomp the darn things. Ty Lee provided goo cover while Katara froze, whipped, and killed the few that did get in.

They all three used some stones and other materials to board of the windows. Katara discovered that her and Aang's home did have some weak spots (figuratively speaking as well) and would need to relocate soon.

She watched as Suki waddled back to the couch and slump down. She slid from Ty Lee's hand. "I am so tired," she commented.

"Sorry we made you work," Katara said sympathetically.

"No, no. That's not it. My back hasn't been feeling great lately, but I wanted to work out some muscle kinks anyway."

"Yeah, instead of just the genital muscles," Ty Lee joked. Katara smiled.

"Uh huh- Oh, OHHHHHHH!" Suki wailed in pain, her face twisted like a screw. Katara rushed over. She already knew.

"Suki," she asked. "Is it time?"

Suki couldn't speak, just nodded her head and held her abdomen as another wave of pain made its stamp on her face.

Katara has helped with a number of deliveries but having Ty Lee there helped. "Grab me some fresh linen from the back Ty Lee, and get me some hot, boiled water- quick!"

Ty Lee became the speed demon in getting what Katara and Suki needed. Katara saw the sweat forming on Suki's upper lip and ordered her to breathe rhythmically and in staccato and to announce each birth contraction.

After while, Katara could see a breach under the blanket which discreetly covered Suki. The baby's head was crowning and the moment was so very near to hold her precious niece or nephew.

"Okay, push!"

Suki clamped down and heaved, pushed and did the same again. "OW! IT HURTS! I'm- going to- kill -your brotherforstuffingthisinmeI swear!" Suki growled.

Katara held her laugh back. It was funny but not funny. "Alright. We're almost there, hon'." Katara had a towel laid on her lap as she sat on a small stool. Ty Lee's hand was surely crushed by now from Suki's squeezing. She mouthed the words "Help me" to Katara.

The slick, wet slurping sounds from the sliding baby was further announcement the new child was almost here. Katara helped Suki by gently grabbing the small baby's shoulders.

IV.

Zuko should have learned more about using his own Chi as Azula have mastered since before Sozin's Comet arrived. He focused and found himself scorching the black beasts in mid air. Smoke and ash took over the sky. He spat on the ground and continued hurling firebombs in the air.

That's when he heard a shout. From Sokka?

"Out of the Way!" He heard the boys say. Zuko spun around and before he could blink, a talon landed heavy across his chest. Skin flayed open and blood leapt from his chest into the grim face of the mutant fowl.

He hit the ground stiff. His eyes opened and closing. He saw a fuzzy image of the Avatar. Eyes blue, and questioning. Looking his way. Sokka slinging his boomerang, battle cries flapping against the day.

Then for one brief moment, he saw her.

Saw her for how she probably looks now.

A floating image of Azula. Pale face, sunken skin, black eyes. Huge black wings arced from her shoulder blades and she mouthed something he couldn't understand.

Before blackness took over.

The End

A/N: Book 2 will take place from here. Get ready for more of Katara, Aang, and Zuko and of course the arrival of a new baby!