In the weeks that followed, Katara felt as if her whole world had turned into a big jumbled mess. When she wasn't dissolving into tears over every little thing, she was snapping waspishly at everyone. Her crazy zig-zag emotions were driving her crazy- and dreaming about Zuko every night wasn't helping.

Sokka had noticed the weight his sister lost and the dark circles under her eyes. Even Aang and Toph, who they had discovered in the Earth Kingdom and was now Aang's official earth bending teacher, had noticed. And she was blind!

So when Katara and Sokka suddenly erupted into a huge fight over- as far as everyone else could tell- absolutely nothing, Toph decided something needed to be done about it. She liked Snoozles and Sugar Queen had nearly taken his head off before storming away.

"You have to talk to her," Aang said.

"Why me?" Toph said, surprised, "I hardly know her!"

"Because you're a girl," Aang said, as if that clarified the whole thing, "She needs some... sisterly advice."

"I'm an only child, idiot," she grumbled.

"So am I.. sort of," he said, "Please, Toph, Sokka is too mad and I'm worried about her."

"Fine," she growled, "I'll go talk to her- but if I'm not back in fifteen minutes, you better come save her!"

Toph approached the Water bender cautiously. How did one bring up such a subject? Especially since they weren't overly close and she had no knowledge of "sisterly things" what so ever. She had no idea. "Katara?" She felt bad now that she had heard the other girl crying.

Katara dashed the tears from her eyes even though Toph couldn't see them. "I-I'm sorry, Toph, did you need something?"

The Earth bender sat down beside the Water girl, dangling her toes in the water. "No," she said, "But I thought you might."

Smiling sadly Katara drew her knees up and rested her chin on them. "I'm sorry I yelled at Sokka," she said.

Toph laughed. "I bet the look on his face was pretty good though," she said, "What was it you called him- dim witted sloth-trout? Oh I gotta remember that one!"

"It was pretty funny," Katara said. They fell into a comfortable silence again for a while.

"Still, though, you've been kind of..."

"A jerkwad?" Katara said, wincing. Toph smirked. "I know, I'm sorry. I will try to be better about that. I've just been feeling so... off... these last few weeks."

"Are you getting sick?" She shrugged. "I don't get sick often, but maybe." She sighed. "Well, I suppose I have to go back sometime..." Toph felt her get up and waited a few minutes before joining her on the path back to camp. She 'felt' where the older girl was with her feet, not wanting to slam into her.

Suddenly Toph grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop. Something was wrong. "Katara, why do you have two heartbeats?" she asked, a stricken look on her face.

"What? Two..." Everything suddenly clicked. The color drained from Kataras face and she sank to the ground. "Oh my Gods." Her frantic mind raced. When was the last time she had gotten her period? The week before the Island!

"Katara, what's wrong? What is it?" the younger girl was thoroughly confused and upset. "Do you want me to get Aang, or Sokka?"

The water benders hand shot up, grabbing Tophs wrist. "No, please, you cant ever say anything about this to either of them! Please Toph, I need you to promise me!"

"I don't understand!"

Katara took a deep breath. "Are you sure? Theres no doubt, theres defiantly two heartbeats?"

Toph adjusted her foot in the dirt and screwed up her face, concentrating hard. "Yes," she said at last, "The second one is faint and fluttery, but its there. What's going on?"

Pushing her own warring thoughts aside, Katara drew a deep breath. "Toph, do you know what it means when you miss your period?" She couldn't believe she had to go through this with a complete stranger- well almost anyway. She suddenly missed Gran-Gran more than ever! Confused, the younger girl shook her head.

"No."

"Ok... You only miss your period when you.." she stumbled over saying the words out loud and placed a hand over her stomach, "When you are pregnant."

"Why?" "Because you have a baby growing inside of your body." She was still idly stroking her abdomen, thinking about the baby inside her, trying to calculate how far she was. Anything to keep her mind from panicking!

"How did it get there?"

"Didn't your mother tell you anything?" The Earth bender shook her head and Katara rolled her eyes. "When two people... love... each other," she fumbled, "They... lie down together, really close, and..." Tui and La, how was she supposed to explain that part? "And they kiss... Toph, do I really have to go on?" Her face was flaming, not because of what she was saying, but what she was remembering. The way Zuko trailed his lips over her throat and slid his hands down to cup her breast, his thumbs grazing over her sensitive nipples...

"Your heart is beating like crazy.. are you ok, Sweetness?"

Katara shivered. "Just... fine," she said, shaking her head to clear her thoughts, "But anyway... so that's how you get pregnant. I haven't gotten my period in over a month."

Toph thought about it for a moment. "Does Aang know?" she asked, "Oh, he's gonna go all 'Avatar State' when he finds out!"

Katara rubbed her forehead with her hand, a twinge of regret making her heart heavy. "That's why no one can know, Toph. You can't tell Sokka and you can't tell Aang, ever!"

"You can hide something like that?"

"For a little while, until I figure out what to do. Please, Toph, can you do this for me?"

"Don't you think Aang should know he's going to be a dad?"

Katara blinked. "Aang? Wh- Toph, no."

"No, he shouldn't know?" "No, he isn't the father, Toph."

"Well, who is then?"

She hesitated. "It's... complicated. Can we just leave it for now?"

Tophs mind raced. Something wasn't right about this. "Sure, Sugar Queen," she said, "For now."

Relieved, she hugged the younger girl quickly. "I have to get back. Thanks, Toph." She needed a plan and she wanted to check herself over with her water bending, just to double check. She was torn between wishing Toph had made a mistake and truly being pregnant. In no way was she ready for a baby, but... to have a piece of him to hold onto... She felt tears burn behind her eyes and willed them away. It was too late to cry over spilled water, she told herself. Yes, she needed a plan.

Long after dinner, when everyone had gone to bed, Toph lay in her earth tent and thought about Katara's pregnancy. Twinkletoes was not the father. No one else ever showed much interest in Sweetness, or she in anyone else. Except... She burst out laughing. Sweetness and Sparky? Oh why hadn't she seen it before? It made perfect sense! The way the two of them 'fought' wasn't the only reason their heartbeats sped up so much.

Someone banged on the wall and she dropped one side, still laughing. "What's going on?" Sokka grumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"I didn't mean to wake anyone up," Toph laughed, "I just had the best... dream... about Sparky and flaming diapers!"

"Diapers?" Aang asked.

Katara felt the color drain from her face. Please don't, Toph... Sokka laughed. "Flaming diapers? Like anyone would want to get close enough for Sparky to breed! Ha!" He stumbled off to bed and Toph slid her wall back up. Aang cast an uneasy look toward Katara before walking away, too.

For a long time after going back to bed, Sokka lay awake. The idea of Sparky changing diapers had been funny, two hours ago. But then the thought stuck with him.

Why would Toph be dreaming about Sparky? What had her and Katara talked about at the stream? Did Katara tell her what had happened on the island? He was going to ask Toph in the morning. Something had to be done with his mopey sister.

The next afternoon Sokka watched his sister stir the pot of rice. She had flatly refused to talk about what she and Toph had discussed- and the earth bender was as tight lipped as she was! Katara was different since they had rescued her. He thought about the way Zuko had touched her that day, about the way he had looked at her. Anger rose like bile in his throat. How could she let him do that? What else had she let him do? He shook his head, trying to shake the thoughts out. Not Katara, not his baby sister, she knew better- was better!- than that. He should have been there for her. He felt like he failed in protecting her. How had that Fire Nation scum gotten her out of camp in the first place? He knew all too well the look she had on the Island. He didn't want to admit it, but his baby sister was in love with the Fire Nation Prince. The knowledge left a bitter taste in Sokka's mouth. Aang loved her, why couldn't she just love him back? He had seen the way the Airbender looked at her, too. Same look, he thought angrily. Katara was just going to have to get over it- the Fire Nation was not taking another member of his family away from him! It was as simple as that!

Katara stared up at the moon. Between thoughts of her impending motherhood and the full moon, she had found herself out here every night for the last week. She lay her hand over the barely discernable bump that protected her baby. His baby. Their baby.

Tears pricked her eyes. He had been right and she hated him for it. He was never far from her thoughts and her heart ached for want of him. She couldn't sleep in this awful land, surrounded by all things Fire Nation and missing him all the more for it. How could she stay here? The Fire Nation was his home, not hers. There was almost no water here for her. Nothing but dry heat waiting to choke her. Food here was spicy and constantly made her sick. The clothes were clingy and she often wore her cloak, even on the hottest days, for fear someone would notice the change in her body. She was terrified someone would guess at her secret. She was afraid Sokka would find out and hate her. And Aang... He only looked at her with a slightly hurt look in his eyes now. Did he know?

For a while she thought things had gone back to normal. She thought about the series of event leading up to now. Se was sure that Sokka guessed at something, even he was careful around her. He tried not to mention Zuko around her and no one talked about her time away. Almost two months had passed since she was rescued. And not one minute had been easy for her. At first, she was so depressed that it seemed like all she did was cry. Even Toph had tiptoed around her. And then she had gotten angry, snapping at everyone around her for next to no reason. All she wanted was to be left alone. She wasn't fit to be around. It was like she had woken up one morning, realizing how much harder she was making things- on herself and the others. Then she started getting sick at all hours. Foods she had loved now tasted like ash in her mouth, turning her stomach. At first she thought she was getting a cold. And then Toph had heard that heartbeat.

Everything had changed. She was pregnant. Joy and terror had warred in her. What would she do? What would the guys say? She couldn't hide it forever. What if Zuko found out? Would he take her baby? The thought terrified her. No, she couldn't tell him, she couldn't risk it. Even if it meant leaving the gaang, she could never let Zuko find out about the baby. A rare breeze blew through the clearing, ruffling her hair and making the hem of her shift ripple over her bare skin.

She sighed in frustration, remembering how his hands had slid over her in the same ghost of motion. So lost in her thoughts had she been that she hadn't heard the cautious approach of the dark clothed stranger. A hand clamped over her mouth and an arm closed around her, holding her tightly against a muscled chest. Terror gripped her and she fought hard against the hold, her scream muffled by the hand.

"Shh, its me, Katara."

Instantly relieved, she sagged against him. Six months ago his voice would have terrified her.. now a little shiver danced over her skin. She pulled away from him and he let her go reluctantly. Nervously, she glanced toward the house where Aang, Sokka and Toph slept. "What are you doing here?" It was like she had conjured him with her thoughts.

"Aren't you glad to see me?" he asked, a smirk on his face. He looked her over, eyes bright with appreciation, "I'm glad to see you."

She crossed her arms over her chest protectively. "No, I'm not glad to see you," she said, "In fact, I think you should leave."

He laughed quietly. "What a pity- I brought you a gift and everything," he said, "Something you left behind."

She gasped when he pulled her mothers necklace out of his pocket. Tears of joy burned her eyes, she thought she had lost it! But when she reached for it, he pulled it back. "Zuko, give me my necklace," she snapped.

"Hmm, maybe if you ask nicely?" he grinned at her devilishly.

Her heart tripped. "Please," she hissed.

He shook his head and crooked a finger at her. "Nicer."

For a moment, Katara was frustrated. Then she smiled. Two could play at this game... She crossed the space between them, pressing against him and running her hands up his chest. "Please, Prince Zuko? Pretty, pretty please?" she purred. Her fingers toyed with his hair and traced the shell of his ear.

"Katara," he growled in warning, eyes narrowed. The little minx had plagued his dreams and teased his senses. Every night for nearly a week, he had watched her come out here. The Avatar was so close but he hadn't even factored in. All Zuko could think about was her. So he had watched, waited.

The first time he had caught her out here alone he had wanted to rush to her side. He had wanted to take her into his arms and tell her how much he had missed her. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the scent that had haunted his dreams.

The weakness he felt toward her made him angry. She had left him. He shouldn't spend so much time thinking about her. He shouldn't have to go through so much effort to see her, be near her, but he couldn't help it. He craved her. So he had snuck around like a stalker, watching her move through the market and following her back to the hut they hid in. He had wondered whose idea it had been to hide in the Fire Nation. It couldn't have been her pathetic brothers, it was a good idea.

If he hadn't been looking so hard for her, he wouldn't have found them. She practically tortured him in her thin shift- sometimes singing by the long dried up fountain in the courtyard. There were times he wanted to march up to her and scream at her. When she cried he had to fight the urge to hold her, to make things better for her. It was confusing and irritating. She made him want to beg her forgiveness, rage at her and cry all at once. Under it all was the burning desire to touch her again, to taste her honeyed lips and feel her surrounding him.

Tonight he hadn't been able to take it anymore. The beast that had raged inside him all week had finally won, causing him to slowly creep up to her. Now, with her pressed into him, all he could think of was being closer. His arms came around her, cupping her bottom and pressing her firmly against his lower half.

She gasped. Her blood was on fire. She should have never touched him! She dragged his lips to hers, kissing him hotly. Gods, how she wanted him! She hated herself for it, hated him, but she couldn't resist. He was like a drug to her, the worst of cravings, and she needed him. Fire erupted in his loins, he was hot and incredibly hard in seconds. His hands fisted in the thin material of her shift, yanking it up.

They separated only long enough for him to pull it over her head and her to yank his shirt off. She shoved at his pants, pushing them down his hips. He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He trailed fiery kisses over her face and neck and she arched against him. Turning their bodies so he could press her against the tree, he angled her body and thrust into her. They both groaned and her nails dug into his shoulders. "I haven't stopped thinking about...wanting this..." he panted, "I lied... I never stop thinking about... you!"

"Zuko..." Her heart soared and her body was spiraling out of control as he moved her hips against him. She tangled her hands in his hair, pulling his mouth back to hers again.