"That looks perfect on you." Zuko marveled at the purple, silken garment that hung off of your body.

"I feel like Imma gonna explode..." You complained.

"Any day now, correct?" He asked as he wrapped his arms around your stomach. "Stay off your feet love."

His affection was showered on you, now that you were mostly restricted to his rooms. Dressed in Fire Nation clothes and isolated from those who weren't of the most trusted level, Zuko was comfortable enough to have you live freely in the palace. But the thought never left his mind.

What if the baby is a water bender? Then, they'll have to go back to the Swamp with YN... And the thought made him sink with dread.

It took only months for bending to manifest. Firebenders, took even less time than that, often sneezing out fire at only weeks old.

"Ain't ya talkin' to Auntie today?" You had taken to calling Azula by that special name. It was true that she was indeed an aunt, but it was less endearing and more of an eye-rolling move on your part. It would be a long time before you trusted that girl to be a real part in your baby's life.

"Yes. I didn't tell her about the baby of course." He admitted as he sat down and pulled you down next to him. "But it's time for me to start planning the adventure for my mother."

"Oh yeah..." You fiddled with his hair, which was down and needed to be put up. "I gotta talk to ya about that..."

"You can't ask me to postpone it any longer!" He looked at you with stern eyes.

"I ain't." You looked back at him annoyed.

Zuko sighed.

"Go ahead. I'm sorry. You know how I feel about it."

You crawled up on the bed and hoisted your large body up, beginning to finger comb his hair and put it up in his bun.

"I ain't want ya ta miss the baby's first year, ya know? I know ya stayin' the first few months... But how 'bout we come with ya?" You suggested. "I'll carry 'em and we can travel like the old days!"

"No!" Zuko looked shocked. "It's not safe for a baby!"

"It'll be fine!" You bopped the side of his head. "And 'sides! Whole GAang, plus Fire Lord, plus blood bender. Baby gon' be fine."

He groaned and put his face in his hands.

"You already decided this, didn't you?" He asked.

"Yeah. So ya better scoot to Auntie 'fore she lose more brain." You laughed and tapped his shoulder. "Imma nap."

And shaking his head, Zuko decided to do just that. It was a long walk over to the palace area where Azula and other people with special needs or impairments were taken care of; almost forty-five minutes. And within those forty-five minutes, you began feeling the sharp pains of what you knew was going to be the beginning of the end of this pregnancy.

"Fuckin' Zu. Always with the bad choices. Leavin' when he oughta stay..." You groaned. "Hope he come back in time... I'll send someone out in a bit... I figure I got time."