Why hello, my lovlies. Fancy seeing you here again after so much time. (Believe me, I know how ridiculous it is.) But hey, that's life. And this prompt is becoming so epic that I've decided to split it again. Sorry guys.

Hope you guys had a wonderful holiday season! And I also hope this is worth the wait.

Winter

Katara waited by the docks, her stomach twisted with trepidation. She tugged her cloak closer to her body, more for comfort than heat. While Fire Nation winters were apparently much cooler than its summers, they were nothing compared to South Pole temperatures year-round.

She looked at the guard flanking her out of the corner of her eye. Ever since it was confirmed that she was with child, Zuko insisted she have a bodyguard. At first she was offended, as Zuko of all people should know that she could take care of herself. But when the Fire Lord had explained his reasoning, that she was his intended and the mother of his child and someone people would likely target, she conceded his point. She knew he was just being cautious.

But she really wished it was Zuko who stood at her side now, not this guard that didn't understand her anguish. Unconsciously, she rubbed her burgeoning belly.

As the ship came closer, the waterbender was able to make out her brother on deck, waving his hands wildly. Despite her nervousness, Katara couldn't help the smile that took over her face. It had been a while since she had seen Sokka, and she had genuinely missed him.

By the time the ship actually docked, her arm was sore from all the waving. Sokka practically ran off the boat, only backtracking to aid his visibly pregnant wife.

Katara smiled at Suki, happy to see her friend as well. What she didn't expect was for another person to come off the boat. "Toph?" she exclaimed, dumbfounded.

The earthbender grinned, always happy to make an appearance. She had grown up nicely—her face was rid of its previous baby fat, and despite never growing taller than five feet, her body was lithe and womanly. Happy to have her feet on solid ground again, she was the first one off the boat. Her mouth opened, obviously about to give one of her sarcastic remarks, but it quickly closed, her head cocking towards Katara in confusion. "What—"

Katara caught her in a fierce hug. "I'll explain in a little bit. Just not here," she whispered pleadingly. Over the earthbender's shoulder, she saw Sokka and Suki finally making it onto the dock.

Hugging wasn't Toph's style. Usually, she would sigh loudly when Katara hugged her, allowing her to do so but not reciprocating. This time, however, her hands slowly made their way up to the object poking her chest. Her unseeing eyes snapped up to the general direction of the waterbender's. "Katara!" she hissed.

At the sound of her own name from Toph's lips, Katara cringed. No nicknames meant the earthbender was serious. "I'll explain!" she promised again. "As soon as we get somewhere quieter."

"Is this a group hug?"

At the sound of her brother's voice, Katara reluctantly let go, hoping Toph wouldn't out her. "No," she replied to Sokka's grin. "You get your own."

It was comforting to be in her brother's arms again. He was taller than she remembered, and was starting to grow a beard. But he smelled the same, and the familiarity of it all made tears start to prick her eyes.

She sniffed, and Sokka pulled back incredulously. "Are you crying?"

"Of course not," she huffed, wiping her eyes quickly. "I'm just happy to see you guys, is all." Damn hormones.

"We're happy to see you too, Katara," Suki said warmly, wrapping her in a hug. There was an awkward moment when their bellies bumped, and Suki pulled back, looking smug.

Katara's eyes widened in alarm. She knew! So far, Sokka was the only one who didn't seem to catch on, and for this, Katara was grateful. The reason she has sent for them in the first place was to tell them, but now was not the time to do so. There were too many eyes and ears, and this was a conversation that needed to be had in private. She sent Suki a pleading look.

Suki's lips pursed together, but she didn't say anything. She stepped back, thoughtfully rubbing her own swollen belly.

Katara took that as a good sign. She nodded to the guard, who began to lead them further into the palace.

"What took you guys so long?" The waterbender asked, hoping to distract Suki and Toph long enough to get to her room. "I sent that message almost three months ago."

Sokka grinned, wrapping his arm around his sister's shoulders affectionately. "We were in the Earth Kingdom," he explained. His head inclined towards Toph, and Katara took that to mean that the earthbender had just decided to come along for the ride."The hawk made it down to the South Pole, but Dad forwarded it to us."

Katara tensed at the mention of Hakoda. Sokka looked down at her curiously. "Did he say anything to you?" she asked.

"No." Sokka frowned. "Was he supposed to?"

She shook her head a little too quickly, her loose curls dancing around her head. She had sent her father a letter as well, explaining her situation, and he had yet to respond.

A little anger was expected. But Katara was afraid that she had shamed him, shamed her family.

Swallowing down her sudden anxiety, she pressed, "What were you doing in the Earth Kingdom?"

There was an awkward silence, and she noticed when Sokka and Suki shot each other glances.

Toph scoffed. "Aang asked them to come."

Now she understood their reservations. "Did he?" she said a little too airily.

Sokka gave her shoulder a squeeze, then retrieved his arm. "He's thinking about starting a city there, one where all nations would be welcome to live. And since I'm next in line to be chief, he wanted my opinion on things."

"If this is supposed to be for all nations," Katara started, annoyance bubbling up, "why didn't he ask Zuko as well?"

Sokka held up his hands, clearly wanting to remain neutral. "I have no idea. But to be fair, the ideas are very, very rough. And he just wanted to talk to me about some of the technical stuff." He paused. "Where is that jerkbender, anyway?"

"Meeting. He'll join us for dinner."

They all paused when the guard suddenly opened a door. "Your chambers, my lady."

Katara smiled softly. "Thank you."

"Is there anything else my lady requires?"

"Can you make sure all of our guests' things make it to their rooms?"

The guard bowed deeply. "Of course, Lady."

Katara could feel incredulous eyes on her, and a fierce blush took over her face as she ushered her friends inside the room and closed the door behind them.

Sokka quirked an eyebrow at her, his gaze quickly distracted by the size and grandeur of the room. He whistled low. "Say what you want about the Fire Nation, but they sure know how to treat their guests. Less than a year here and they're treating you like royalty."

Katara winced. "About that…"

"Fess up, Sugar Queen," Toph snapped, arms crossed.

"I'd like to know what is going on as well," Suki said slowly, her eyebrows cinched with worry.

Sokka's head whipped between the three of them. "'What's going on'? Something's going on?"

This was it. She didn't think she would be this nervous—she had very easily accepted her pregnancy, her mothering nature making the idea of motherhood seem like a walk in the park. Telling her brother though…

Before she could think too much about it, she unclasped her cloak, allowing it to fall to the ground.

She wasn't surprised when Sokka didn't react. Though her belly was slightly extended, Katara didn't yet show the other signs of a Water Tribe woman with child. While the few pregnant Fire Nation women she had seen remained relatively slim throughout their pregnancy, and Earth Kingdom women, like Suki, became round only in their stomachs, Water Tribe women were different. Their bodies were naturally sturdy, made to handle the rough climate and to help their offspring do the same. When puberty was finally done with Katara, her hips had grown wide, her breasts and bottom full and round. Her body was made to comfortably house and nurture children, and now that she actually was with child, she knew she would only get fuller and rounder. She had to use a lot more cloth to bind her chest down as it was.

So, because she knew her brother wouldn't get it, she grabbed his hands and placed them on her belly. "I'm pregnant," she blurted.

Sokka had not been expecting that. "What!" he shrieked, eyes wide as saucers.

It all would have been hilarious under different circumstances, but as it was, Katara felt her eyes begin to sting. It didn't take much to set her off these days. "I said—"

"I heard you." His hands roamed her stomach gently, still skeptical. When Katara chanced a look at his face, she saw it had morphed from a shocked expression to one of cool anger. "Does he know?"

"Of course he does," Katara snapped, defensive.

"Then why isn't he here with you?!" Sokka raged. Suki put a hand on his arm to calm him, but from the tightness of her mouth, Katara could tell she was upset too.

"I already told you why," the waterbender yelled back. "He's in a meeting!"

There was an awkward pause, and Katara's words echoed in the silence. Sokka visibly deflated in his confusion. "What?"

"I don't believe it," Toph said loudly, gaping in awe.

Katara spared her a glance, then looked her brother straight in the eye. "Aang's not the father. Zuko is."

Comically, Sokka and Suki's jaws joined Toph's in reaching for the floor.

"No way," Suki breathed.

"What—when—" Sokka stuttered, flabbergasted.

"About five months ago." She wished everyone would stop looking at her like she had suggested a polar bear dog had fathered her child.

"How—"

"How do you think, Sokka?" she snapped, face warming in embarrassment. She gestured to Suki and her gigantic belly. "I assume you know."

"They bumped uglies," Toph told him helpfully.

Katara cringed, wishing the conversation was over. "Thanks, Toph."

"I just got a mental picture!" Sokka shrieked. "Was that necessary?"

"Yes," Toph replied, grinning evilly. "Yes it was."

"That's not all." Katara swallowed nervously. "We'rekindagettingmarriedinaweek ."

Unfortunately for her, Suki had bat-like hearing. "Married?" she gasped, pulling Katara into a hug. Their bellies ensured hugging would be awkward for a while. "That's so great! Oh wow, Katara!"

Toph's unseeing eyes widened. "You and Sparky are getting married?"

"Yeah." The waterbender let go of her sister-in-law, turning to her brother again. "And we're announcing it to the world in a couple days. That's why I sent for you and Dad. I wanted you to hear it from me, and hopefully get your blessing." Katara's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Sokka looked strangely calm, even smiling. "Aren't you mad?"

Sokka blinked. "Why would I be mad? I'm happy for you, Kata. Really surprised, but happy."

"Yeah," Toph piped up, "Who knew Sparky had it in him?"

"I'm glad he finally took charge of his life," Suki said serenely.

Katara was dumbstruck. "Wait, what?"

"We're just surprised it took Zuko so long," Sokka told her. But at her baffled expression, he sighed deeply. "She still doesn't know, does she?" he asked Suki conversationally.

"You have got to be kidding me," Toph growled. "Please tell me you're not serious."

"She has to know. They're getting married," Suki pointed out.

They all looked at Katara expectedly. She held up her hands defensively. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Sparky's in love with you," Toph said bluntly.

Her first reaction was to laugh. "Right."

Sokka smacked his forehead. Suki sighed deeply.

"Since when?" the waterbender asked, playing along.

"Since he was sixteen," Sokka retorted. "Have you seriously never noticed?"

It was the that Katara realized that her friends weren't joking. "Wait, what? No he hasn't! Zuko is just my best friend—"

"Who has loved you practically since he met you," the earthbender countered, crossing her arms.

"Why would he want to marry you if he didn't love you?" Suki asked gently.

"Because I asked him." She couldn't believe that all three of them believed this ridiculous idea. "It was convenient. He needed a wife and heir. I was willing to be his wife, and carrying his heir."

Toph grinned. "That was conceived—"

"Because we were drunk!" The words echoed in the room, and Katara's mouth snapped shut in mortification. She fiddled with her hair, convulsively twisting a curl around a finger. "We don't even remember it," she continued, eyes on the floor.

Sokka smacked his forehead again. Katara was reminded of years ago, when the nomads' songs were too much for him to handle. "Katara," he groaned.

Suki shook her head. "Poor Zuko."

"What do you mean, poor Zuko," Katara demanded, offended.

"He's in love with you, and you're only marrying him because you're knocked up," her brother pointed out.

Her hands went to her hips, glaring. "Did he ever tell you he was in love with me?"

"Not directly." Sokka held up his hands placatingly. "But he did in so many words."

"You must be more blind than me if you never noticed," Toph commented. "His heart beats faster than a rabbiroo when you're anywhere near him. Why do you think he and the moody girl could never make it work?"

Katara shook her head. "You're all crazy. It never worked with Mai because they weren't compatible."

Suki shrugged. "Ask him then, Katara. He won't lie to you."

For some reason, the thought of it left a pit in her stomach. "I will," she replied stubbornly.

Luckily, the conversation was dropped when the guard knocked, ready to escort them to dinner. Katara stomped ahead of the rest of them, annoyed. The idea was farfetched—there was no way Zuko had loved her since the war. She would have noticed if he had. She was not oblivious.

Katara watched with amusement as her betrothed and her brother engaged in a greeting that was unbefitting for the Fire Lord and the future Chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe. As soon as Zuko was in sight, Sokka had him in a headlock, much to the chagrin of the guards. Katara waved them away, allowing the boys to continue their inelegant struggling in peace.

"Hey there, jerkbender," the warrior greeted, giving such a massive noogie that Zuko's crown went askew. "It's been a while."

There was a bit of scuffling, then it was suddenly Sokka who was in the headlock. "That it has, peasant. That it has."

Suki rolled her eyes, and Katara shook her head.

Toph sat in a chair, propping her feet on the table. "You might want to stop that," she sniggered. "The last time you wrestled with someone from the Water Tribe, you got her pregnant."

In his mortification, Zuko dropped Sokka like a hot potato. Katara felt her face get hot. "Toph!"

"What?" The earthbender grinned. "I was just commenting on the fertility of your people."

"We are a very fertile people," Sokka agreed proudly. Katara glared at him, hands on her hips and foot tapping agitatedly. Sokka swallowed, eyes darting to Zuko. "I mean...you! You knocked up my baby sister!"

Zuko paled, hands up placatingly. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, it was an accident—well obviously it was on purpose but I was drunk so it was an accident, and I know that's no excuse—"

Sokka threw an arm around the firebender's shoulders. Zuko flinched. "It's cool, man. Totally cool." He pointed a thumb at Katara. "And everything will stay cool as long as you name your firstborn Sokka."

Toph snorted. "What if it's a girl?"

"Still Sokka." The warrior nodded to himself. "Sokka is a good, strong name."

"I'm not naming my baby after you," Katara huffed.

"I thought we were naming our firstborn Sokka." From the mocking tone of Suki's voice, everyone could tell that her child wouldn't be named Sokka either . "Wouldn't that be confusing if they're both named Sokka?"

Sokka rubbed his chin. "You know, you're right. I didn't think that one through."

"Can we eat now?" Katara interrupted, hoping to stop her brother's thought process before he suggested something more ridiculous.

"Of course," Zuko replied hurriedly, placing a warm hand on her arm and guiding her to her seat. She wasn't made of glass, and wasn't nearly big enough to need help sitting down, but Zuko liked feeling helpful during her pregnancy, so Katara let him dote on her. It was kind of adorable, in a way.

Suki, who was big enough to require help, raised an eyebrow pointedly at Sokka. Luckily, the warrior was good at taking hints from his wife, and he helped her into her seat as well.

Zuko sat at the head of the table, Katara at his left in the spot reserved for the fire lady. Sokka, as the guest of honor, sat at Zuko's right, while Suki sat next to Sokka and Toph next to Katara. Servants brought out a sweet and spicy soup that Katara knew was delicious, but couldn't eat. She and Suki were served a much milder version instead. The waterbender sipped on her soup, frowning slightly.

Zuko noticed immediately. "What's the matter?"

Katara forced herself to smile. "Nothing!"

"I thought you liked that soup," the Fire Lord said worriedly. "Do you not want it anymore? What do you want?"

"I'm fine, Zuko," Katara protested. In truth, she no longer had a taste for the soup, but she wasn't going to be difficult. She had specifically asked for that soup to be served for dinner, and she didn't want to burden the servants.

"Katara." His tone was exasperated, but left no room for arguments.

She felt her nostrils flare in annoyance. "Fine," she retorted. "I want bananas."

Zuko inclined his head, and a servant bowed to them both. "Yes, Lady," the girl said, hurriedly exiting the room in search of the fruit. Katara knew how hard it would be to find them—it was winter, and they were out of season. Exactly why she didn't want to say anything.

When she looked up, she found Sokka, Toph, and Suki all looking at her. Toph's unseeing emerald eyes seemed the most accusatory. See? They all seemed to say. He loves you.

Katara flushed, but held her head up high as another servant removed her bowl. Just because Zuko was getting her bananas didn't mean he loved her. She was pregnant with his child; he better get her every fruit she asked for!

Zuko noticed the look, but mistook it for confusion. "She's been picky about what she wants to eat lately. Not that anyone minds," he added hurriedly, noticing Katara's annoyed expression.

Katara cleared her throat indignantly, intent on changing the subject. "When are you due, Suki?"

"Soon," the Kyoshi warrior smiled. "As soon as we leave here, we're headed back to Kyoshi."

"If the baby is born on Kyoshi Island, it will automatically have citizenship," Sokka explained. He rubbed his wife's stomach gently, and Katara could see the pride and excitement in his eyes. "And Suki would just feel more comfortable there."

"So would I," Toph retorted. "Having a baby in an igloo does not sound fun."

"It's not," Katara admitted. She had birthed enough babies in the South Pole to know. "But to be honest, having a baby is never fun."

Toph slurped her soup. "Well, then it sucks to be you."

"You'll be singing a different tune when you're married," Suki informed her.

"I'm never getting married," Toph snorted. "You? The marrying type. Sugar Queen?" She gestured to Katara with a hand. "Definitely the marrying type. But me? I'm just going to have a lot of no-strings-attached sex. And then when a truly fine specimen comes along, I'll pop out a kid or two."

"Toph!" Katara chastised, though she wasn't really that surprised. "You're sixteen! You shouldn't be talking like that!"

Toph's grinned. "It's true. And for all you know, I've already gotten started!"

Sokka rubbed his temples. "We don't want to know, Toph."

"Damn right, you don't want to know. You wouldn't be able to handle—"

"Bananas, my lady." The same servant from before was back, a bunch of bananas in her hand. Their peels were closer to green than yellow, but Katara didn't care. Her eyes lit up at the sight of them.

"Thank you," she smiled thankfully, immediately peeling one and biting into the slightly sweet fruit. A moan involuntarily left her throat.

Suki laughed. "I know the feeling."

Zuko smiled softly at her. "Better?"

Katara could only moan again in response. She had never tasted something so delicious!

Suddenly, her bliss was cut short. A warm feeling began in her chest, gradually turning to a slow burn. Katara coughed, tasting smoke.

Sokka's eyebrows furrowed. "Are you okay?"

But Katara didn't answer. She only cleared her throat, the burning in her chest intensifying.

"Are you choking?" Zuko asked worriedly.

"It's probably just heartburn," Suki piped up. "I get it all the time. It comes with the baby."

The burning was almost unbearable. Tears sprung to the corners of Katara's eyes, and she couldn't answer her friends if she wanted to. She could barely breathe—it was as if something was burning a path from her lungs all the way up her throat.

It wasn't until she choked up a decent-sized flame that she realized that that was exactly what was happening.

Everyone but Toph was staring at her in amazement.

Sokka's eyes boggled out of his head. "Did you just—" he gestured inarticulately.

"What?" Toph demanded. "What happened?"

"I've never had heartburn that strong," Suki gasped.

Katara quickly placed her cup to her cracked lips, the water healing her singed tongue. Her blue eyes were wide in confusion.

Zuko was the most baffled of all. "You—you breathed fire!"

"Thank you," Katara snapped back, finally able to speak. Smoke funneled from her nostrils as she exhaled. "I didn't notice!"

Toph started laughing. "Really?"

Zuko still looked gobsmacked. "How did you…?"

"Clearly I'm a firebender and never told anyone. How the hell am I supposed to know?" She grimaced, feeling the burn make its way up her esophagus. "It's happening again."

"Don't fight it," Zuko advised dazedly. "Your body doesn't know how to suppress it, so the only way it has to go is out. Open your mouth and flatten your tongue."

Katara did as he suggested, and when the flame erupted from her mouth this time, it didn't burn her. She was no less baffled however. "How—"

"If I may, Lady." It was the same servant, waiting to bring out the next course. Her eyes looked between Katara and Zuko. "Fire Lord."

"What's your name?" Katara asked. The servant was being very helpful. "Do you know what's going on?"

"Ling, Lady. And it is a symptom of pregnancy." The servant girl's eyes were downcast in respect. "For firebenders."

"I'm a waterbender," Katara reminded her.

The servant girl met her eyes for a split second before dropping her gaze back to the floor. "But your child is not."

The table was silent as that little tidbit sunk in.

Katara felt as if the air had been sucked out of her. She had known that her child being a firebender was a possibility, but hadn't expected the flamboyant manner the truth would reveal itself. There was now no doubt of her child's paternity.

Slowly, she turned to Zuko. "Firebender," she said softly.

His golden eyes met hers. "Firebender," he repeated, his voice full of awe. And maybe even a little pride.

Toph snickered. "I told you. Beating faster than a rabiroo."

Katara stepped hard on her foot, ignoring both the earthbender's yelp of indignation and the Fire Lord's look of confusion.

It didn't surprise her that Sokka paid her a visit after dinner. Katara knew her brother like the back of her hand, after all. So when he came to her quarters when she was resting, Katara merely sighed and let him in. The sooner this conversation could be over, the better.

Sokka joined her at the low table in her antechamber, plopping down on the cushion. He refused the tea she offered him, but idly popped little teacakes into his mouth.

After his third cake, he sighed. "Are you sure this is what you want, Kata? Because we can take the next ship to the South Pole. Zuko wouldn't stop you."

"I know that," Katara snapped, angry at his assumption. "Zuko isn't forcing me to stay here. I'm choosing to stay, Sokka."

"I know," the future chieftain placated. "But have you thought it through?"

"He needed a wife. He needed an heir. I can give him both," she responded hotly. "And it's a good move politically because it solidifies the peace between the Water Tribes and the Fire Nation."

Sokka frowned. "That may be so. But how do you think the Fire Nation people are going to view the marriage?"

Katara shrugged, taking a small bite of cake. "People will be angry. Some will see it as political, and some will believe it was because of the baby."

"And that doesn't bother you?"

"We are getting married because of the baby," the waterbender pointed out.

"So are you saying that you wouldn't be doing this if you weren't with child?" her brother asked patiently.

Katara spluttered, her face warming. "W-Well I…"

Sokka gave her a long look, only making her feel more on the spot. But before she could get out a dignified answer, he sighed. "Katara, they're going to think you trapped him. That you got pregnant on purpose."

"I offered to go home and he begged me not to," she retorted, pushing her plate away. She suddenly wasn't very hungry.

Sokka's eyebrow raised at that. "They don't know that. You have to be prepared for people's attitudes."

"Why do you think I'm guarded all the time, Sokka? For fun? My pregnancy hasn't even been formally announced." Unconsciously, her hands rested on her abdomen. "I'm not that big yet, so it's been easy to hide it with layered clothing. The only people who really knew were the guards and servants close to me, and even they assumed it was Aang's. Until tonight, that is. I guess there's no hiding it now."

"That'll be all over the palace by tomorrow," he agreed. Reaching over, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. "Looks like Sokka Junior will have a cousin to play with soon."

"Also named Sokka junior," she said sarcastically, winding an arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder.

The warrior grinned. "Yeah, that could be confusing. We'll have to work something out." He gave her shoulder a squeeze. "As long as you're happy, Katara. That's all I want."

Her lips upturned, and she nuzzled further into the crook of her brother's neck. "I know, Sokka."

Her brother kissed her forehead, then proceeded to brainstorm names for her unborn child while practically inhaling the rest of her teacakes.

By the time he finally decided to leave her be, Katara was exhausted. She slipped into a light blue nightgown made of satiny material, looking at her body critically in the mirror. Her belly was much more noticeable when it pushed against the silky material.

There was a knock at her door, and the waterbender sighed, reaching for her robe, then thinking the best of it. She knew who was on the other side, anyway. "Come in."

The door opened, and in came the Fire Lord. He always liked to check on her before he went to bed, making sure that she was feeling okay and that she had everything she needed. At first Katara had protested, not liking the idea of being babied. But as time went on, she realized that she didn't mind so much when Zuko did it. He was never patronizing, and always genuinely wanted to help.

Now, he walked through her antechamber into her bedroom, ruffling away his topknot as he did. He set his crown on her dresser, eyes roving her form before looking politely away. He coughed. "I wasn't sure if you were awake."

"I am," she confirmed, slightly put off by his actions. Why wouldn't he look at her? It wasn't like he had to be modest; he had seen her body before, had more than seen it. But if Zuko was anything, he was a gentleman. "Sokka decided he wanted to have a little talk."

"You too, huh?" He helped her into the slightly elevated bed, then sat down at the foot of it and gently put her swollen feet in his lap.

Katara stifled a moan as his warm hands worked their magic. "What did he want?" she asked breathily.

Zuko shrugged. "He just wanted to let me know that if I ever hurt you or made you unhappy, he was going to beat me to a pulp with the blunt end of his boomerang. I told him if I ever made you unhappy, I would beat myself."

Katara's heart traveled to her throat. Sparky's in love with you, Toph had told her frankly. "Why do you do this, Zuko?"

Zuko's hands slowly stopped working her feet, and golden eyes looked at her in confusion. "Massage your feet? I thought you liked it." He frowned. "If you don't like it, I'll stop—"

"No, it's okay." Katara smiled. "I like it a lot. Forget I said anything."

Zuko's thumb slowly traced her pinky toe. Katara melted into the pillows in response, a shiver running down her spine.

She didn't want to ask the question because she was afraid of the answer. Why, she wasn't sure.

The next morning, Zuko and Sokka were both mysteriously missing. But Katara didn't have much time to reflect on that, as Ling interrupted her breakfast with Toph and Suki.

"I wouldn't bother you, Lady, but it is important," the servant girl said hurriedly. "The Avatar has arrived."

A/N: Hopefully I'll finish this damn prompt before I shrivel and die. This is getting ridiculous, but I seriously can't write oneshots anymore. They always become epics. Let me know. ;)