Chapter Text
A month had passed since we returned from our trip, and so much had changed.
Zuko had finally put an end to the arranged marriage, telling Mai that he didn’t care if he was cut off—he wasn’t going through with it. To no surprise, it didn’t take much convincing before she agreed, seemingly relieved.
Meanwhile, Zuko and his mother had stayed in constant contact, exchanging letters, video calls, and visits. Just being with Iroh had done wonders for her—she had come alive again, brighter than before. Her memory, however, remained about the same.
And as for me and Zuko?
We had moved in together a few weeks ago, and our relationship was thriving—or at least, it was. But now…
Now everything might change...
"Oh, my God."
My hands shook as I stared at the little plastic stick in front of me, the two bright pink lines taunting me. My stomach twisted, sweat beading on my forehead as my pulse thundered in my ears.
No. No. No.
"What does it say?!"
Suki was knocking urgently on the bathroom door, her voice edged with excitement and impatience. Meanwhile, I was frozen, gripping the positive pregnancy test like it might disappear if I held onto it tight enough.
Sweat beaded on my forehead, my heart hammering in my chest. There was no way this was happening right now.
Not after last night.
Not after the massive fight Zuko and I had—about this exact thing.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," I whispered again, gripping the counter for support. My entire body felt too hot, my heart racing like I’d just run a marathon.
"Katara!" Suki’s voice was sharper this time, her knocking growing more frantic.
I forced in a deep, unsteady breath, willing my legs to work as I unlocked the door and stepped out.
I couldn’t even form words—I just held out the test.
Suki snatched it from my hands, her eyes widening instantly. "Holy shit!" she gasped, her face lighting up in excitement.
But then… her smile faltered.
She took one look at my face—at whatever pale, wide-eyed expression I must have had—and her excitement shifted into concern. "Katara, you don’t look so— Oh, shit!"
Everything tilted. My knees buckled, my vision blurred, and the last thing I heard was Suki’s panicked voice before the floor rushed up to meet me.
When I came to, the first thing I felt was the gentle warmth of a hand cupping my face.
The second was the soft taps against my cheek.
"Katara? Baby, wake up. C’mon."
I groaned, waving the hand away weakly, still disoriented.
A relieved chuckle. "Oh, thank God."
I blinked, my vision blurry at first, until Zuko’s familiar golden eyes came into focus.
"Are you okay?" His voice was soft but strained, his brow furrowed with pure concern. "Suki called me—said you came out of the bathroom and just passed out. I got here as legally as possible."
I chuckled weakly, still dazed, as he helped me sit up. "Legally as possible?" I murmured, my head throbbing. "Zuko… did you get pulled over?"
"Not important," he dismissed,
immediately helped me, his hands firm, warm, steady.
"Baby, what happened?" His voice was gentle but urgent, his fingers brushing my cheek as he searched my face for an answer.
My entire body went rigid.
I couldn’t tell him. Not now. Not yet.
I swallowed hard, forcing a weak smile. "I think I was dehydrated," I lied.
Zuko frowned, clearly not convinced, but instead of pressing, he let out a heavy sigh and pulled me into his arms.
"You scared me to death..." he whispered against my hair, his grip tight, almost desperate.
I closed my eyes, my heart aching at how much I loved this man—at how terrified I was about what came next.
Because sooner or later, I’d have to tell him the truth.
I was pregnant and I had no idea how he was going to take it.
~Last Night~
"Why won't you just answer the question?!"
Zuko ran a frustrated hand through his hair, his jaw clenching as he refused to meet my eyes.
"Because it’s not important."
A sting of hurt rippled through me. "It’s important to me, Zuko!"
I tried to choke back a sob, but it broke through anyway. My chest ached, and I felt like I was losing him—like the more I pushed, the more he slipped through my fingers.
Zuko exhaled sharply, his eyes dark with frustration. "Katara, we’re not even engaged, and you’re already talking about kids!"
My heart lurched painfully.
I had brought it up casually at first, just a simple question—Do you ever see us having a baby together someday? But the moment I asked, he started dodging it, avoiding eye contact, brushing it off like it was nothing.
And I knew what that meant.
He didn’t want to talk about it.
But I kept pushing.
I had to know.
"Do you just not want to have a family with me?!" I threw at him, my voice cracking.
His entire body tensed, his fingers curling into fists at his sides.
Then, suddenly—
"KATARA, STOP!"
His voice boomed, loud and sharp enough to make me jump.
A rare explosion of anger.
My breath caught, my eyes widening as a crackling silence filled the space between us.
Zuko’s breath was heavy, his fists clenched at his sides, his expression a storm of anger and something else—something deeper.
Then, just as quickly as the explosion happened, his entire posture shifted—like he realized what he’d just done.
Without another word, he brushed past me, snatching his keys off the counter.
"Where are you going?" My voice was shaky, my hands fisting at my sides as I forced myself to stay strong.
Zuko’s golden eyes locked onto mine, hard, conflicted, distant.
"Away from you."
And before I could say another word, before I could fix this, he slammed the door behind him.
I blinked up at him, still reeling from everything. His arms were wrapped around me, his heart still pounding against my ear, his touch steadying me—but my mind was spinning.
Last night…
Last night we had fought about having kids.
And today, I was proud new owner of a positive pregnancy test hidden in my dresser, and a secret sitting heavy on my tongue.
I swallowed, my lips parting slightly, my breath shaky.
I needed to tell him.
But how?
How do you tell the man you love—the man who just stormed out on you over the idea of kids—that he was already going to be a father?
The movie played softly in the background, but neither of us was paying attention.
Zuko was on top of me, his lips hot and urgent against mine, his hands working quickly to undo the buttons of my pajama top. My fingers tangled into his soft, dark hair, pulling him closer as I let out a breathless sigh.
"Let's never fight like that again…" he murmured between kisses, his lips skimming my jaw, my neck, making my entire body shiver.
I cupped his face, forcing him to look at me, my thumb brushing over his cheekbone. "Never," I whispered back.
His lips curved into a smile before he leaned down to kiss me again, deeper this time, his body pressing into mine. He hitched my leg over his hip, his grip firm but reverent, making me giggle against his lips at the quick motion.
"I love you so much," he whispered, his voice husky, full of undeniable devotion.
A lump formed in my throat, my heart swelling and twisting all at once.
"I love you too," I murmured back, my hands sliding over his shoulders, committing the warmth of his body to memory.
Then—reality crashed in.
My stomach twisted, the weight of my secret suddenly feeling too heavy to ignore.
I bit my lip, taking a shaky breath before slowly sitting up, pushing gently against his chest.
Zuko’s brows furrowed in confusion. "What’s wrong?"
I hesitated, my pulse pounding in my ears.
"We need to talk," I finally whispered.
The shift in my tone made his entire body tense.
His golden eyes searched mine, his expression shifting from lust to concern in an instant.
"Talk?" he repeated, his voice quieter now, more cautious.
I swallowed hard, feeling his warm hand on my thigh, his steady presence beneath my trembling fingers.
This was it.
I had to tell him.
I had to tell the love of my life that everything was about to change.
I swung my legs out of bed, my heart hammering wildly as I crossed to my dresser. My fingers shook slightly as I carefully pulled out the three pregnancy tests, holding them hidden between my palms.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly turned back toward Zuko.
"I love you," I whispered softly, voice thick with nerves and sincerity.
He tilted his head, a gentle, curious smile forming on his lips as he reached forward to cup my cheek. His thumb gently brushed over my skin, eyes softening. "I love you too. Is everything okay?"
I swallowed hard, gazing deeply into those beautiful golden eyes of his—the eyes I had come to cherish and rely upon for comfort and strength. And then, slowly, I opened my hands, silently offering him the tests without a single word.
For a moment, Zuko just stared, confusion flashing briefly across his features as he carefully took the tests from me. Then, realization dawned, his eyes widening, lips parting slightly in shock.
He was silent.
Just staring down at them.
Fear gripped my heart, panic spiraling through me. "I know... after last night, this probably isn't what you—"
Before I could finish, Zuko suddenly surged forward, scooping me into his arms and lifting me clean off the ground. A startled gasp escaped my lips as he squeezed me tightly against him.
"Woah!" I squeaked in surprise, my heart racing even faster.
He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, excitement blazing in his own. "Are you sure? Like... absolutely, completely, SURE sure?!"
I blinked, momentarily overwhelmed, the shock quickly giving way to relief, joy, and overwhelming happiness. Tears stung my eyes as a smile slowly spread across my face.
"Ye—yes," I said, voice quivering with barely contained emotion. "Are you... are you happy?"
Zuko exhaled shakily, pressing his forehead gently against mine, holding me close as if he never intended to let go. "Katara, I'm ecstatic."
That was all it took. The dam holding back my emotions shattered. A soft sob escaped my lips, happy tears spilling freely down my cheeks.
And then I noticed it—his shoulders trembling, his breathing uneven, soft sobs matching mine.
He was crying too.
Holding onto one another, we stood in the middle of the bedroom, our tears blending together, shared joy and relief washing away all our previous fears.
"I love you so much," Zuko whispered, voice thick with emotion as he cradled my face gently between his hands, thumbs brushing away my tears.
After a few moments, Zuko gently guided me to sit on the bed, never once letting go of my hand. We sat side by side, trying to regain our composure, yet unable to stop the soft, joyful tears still slipping silently down our cheeks.
“I can’t believe it,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion, eyes still glistening as he looked down at our intertwined fingers. “Katara, we’re…we're having a baby.”
I smiled softly, squeezing his hand. “We are.”
He took a shaky breath, brushing a few lingering tears from his eyes. When he looked back at me, those golden eyes were filled with so much raw tenderness, so much hope and love, my heart felt ready to burst.
"I know it's sooner than we planned, but…" he began gently, voice careful. "Katara, I want you to know I'm right here. No matter what. I'll never leave you to do this alone."
I laughed softly through the tears, leaning into him, resting my head on his shoulder. "I know," I whispered gently. "I never doubted it for a second."
He turned toward me, cupping my cheek, guiding my eyes to meet his. "We can do this, right?"
I smiled warmly, nodding as my heart fluttered. "Together, we absolutely can."
He leaned forward, kissing me tenderly, lovingly, pouring every ounce of emotion he had into that one perfect moment. When he finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine again, softly murmuring, "I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have stormed out like that. I just—I got scared."
I shook my head gently. "No, I'm sorry too. I panicked and said things I didn't mean. But this…" I placed a hand over my stomach, smiling shyly. "This feels right."
Zuko placed his hand over mine, gently rubbing his thumb over my skin. "It feels perfect."
We sat together quietly, allowing the weight of the moment to settle in—this huge, life-changing news neither of us had expected so soon but that suddenly felt like everything we'd ever wanted.
Then, after a moment, Zuko gave a shy laugh. "God, I'm going to be a dad."
I laughed softly, leaning against his shoulder. "Yeah, and you're going to be an amazing one."
He exhaled slowly, pulling me closer. "I promise I'll spend every single day trying."
I rested my head on his shoulder, our fingers laced tightly together as we stared toward a future that had just become clearer and brighter than ever before.
We weren't just partners now; we were becoming a family.
And somehow, even though we'd never expected this moment, it felt exactly like it was always meant to be.
I was still soaking in the warmth of the moment, fingers tracing soft patterns against the back of Zuko’s hand, when I noticed a sudden shift in his expression.
His brows furrowed, his golden eyes flickering with something new—something very close to panic.
I sat up, immediately on alert. "What?"
Zuko swallowed hard, his grip tightening around mine. "We have to tell your dad."
I blinked. "Well… yeah?"
His panic deepened. "Katara, he can’t know we have sex!" His voice rose slightly, his eyes widening. "The man will kill me!"
I snorted, biting my lip to keep from laughing at his sheer terror. "Zuko, I'm literally pregnant. I think he can figure it out."
Zuko ran a hand down his face, visibly spiraling now. "No, no, no. Maybe—maybe you tripped and fell on something. Maybe it’s an immaculate conception—"
"Oh my God." I cackled, smacking his arm. "You sound insane!"
"I feel insane!" he whisper-yelled, eyes darting around like my dad was about to burst through the walls like a spirit of vengeance.
I grabbed his face, forcing him to look at me, amusement dancing in my eyes. "Zuko. My dad is not going to murder you."
He narrowed his eyes. "Bold assumption."
I rolled my eyes, but my heart swelled at how deeply he cared about my family’s approval. "Listen, he’s gonna be shocked at first, sure. Maybe even a little mad that we didn’t plan this. But he loves you."
Zuko exhaled sharply, still looking very much like a man preparing for war. "You’re sure?"
I grinned, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss, feeling the tension melt from his body. "I’m sure."
He sighed dramatically. "Alright. But if he so much as reaches for a weapon, I’m running."
I laughed, resting my forehead against his. "Noted."
"Happy Thanksgiving, Daddy!"
I wrapped my arms around my father, holding him tight. It had been too long since I last saw him, and I’d missed him so much.
"There’s my girl!" Dad said, squeezing me back before casting a sharp gaze toward the man beside me.
"Zuko."
Zuko straightened immediately, standing stiff as a board as he held out the bottle of wine we had brought for dinner. "F-for you, sir!"
Dad eyed him for a long moment, then took the bottle with a short, approving grunt.
"Daddy, be nice," I chided, shooting him a knowing look.
His lips twitched slightly, but he gave nothing away.
As of today, I was 16 weeks along, and we were finally ready to tell everyone. My stomach was a knotted mess of nerves, but underneath it all, I was thrilled—bursting at the seams with excitement.
I couldn’t wait to share our news.
We all made our way to the dining room, Sokka and Suki already setting the table while Zuko kept glancing at me nervously. He was still sweating bullets over how my dad was going to react, and honestly? It was adorable.
Dad settled into his seat at the head of the table, his voice booming as he turned his attention to Zuko.
"So, Zuko."
I saw Zuko visibly jump at the sound of his name.
"H-how’s the tea shop running?"
Zuko cleared his throat quickly, sitting up extra straight like he was about to be quizzed on world history. "O-oh! Um, it’s going good! You know, uh—hired some more help!"
I grinned, jumping in. "And a new menu!"
Zuko visibly relaxed as I nudged him, my wink pulling a small, grateful smile from him.
Dinner started smoothly. The turkey was perfectly cooked, and Suki was the first to enthusiastically compliment my father’s work.
"The turkey is great, Hakoda! It’s very good!"
Approving nods went around the table.
But as for me?
I was two seconds away from vomiting all over my plate.
Something about whatever was in front of me was violently attacking my morning sickness—which, at this point, was just any-time-of-the-day sickness.
Dad caught my hesitation immediately.
"Katara, why aren’t you eating?" he asked, concern flashing in his eyes.
Zuko and I exchanged a quick glance, the moment of truth creeping closer and closer.
"Oh, um," I stammered, forcing a smile while trying not to breathe in the smell of the food in front of me. "Just trying to figure out where to start!"
Dad nodded, then suddenly stood up, heading to the kitchen.
"Oh! I almost forgot!"
The moment he pulled open the fridge, I felt it coming before I even saw it.
He reemerged with a massive bowl, placing it directly in front of me, the steam rising ominously into my face.
"Sent straight from Gran-Gran," he said proudly. "She knows how much you love anglerfish stew, so she sent this over."
Oh. No.
The instant the smell hit me, I almost choked on my own breath.
I barely managed to keep my composure, swallowing hard as my throat tightened.
"O-oh…" I stammered, fighting for my life as my stomach rolled dangerously. "She—she shouldn’t have…"
The entire table paused, all eyes zeroing in on me.
I froze, trying not to breathe, praying that nobody noticed—
Until Sokka did.
His sharp, suspicious eyes narrowed immediately.
"Hey… since when do you not love Gran-Gran’s anglerfish stew?"
Crap.
I panicked, gripping Zuko’s thigh so tightly he flinched.
This was it. The moment we had to tell them.
Zuko visibly paled, throwing me a desperate look.
And then, just as I opened my mouth to respond—
I gagged.
Right there, at the dinner table.
Everyone stared.
Sokka’s jaw dropped. Dad’s eyebrows shot up. Suki’s fork clattered to her plate.
Zuko let out a high-pitched nervous laugh, voice cracking as he blurted out the words we had been dreading all night—
"Katara’s pregnant!"
Silence.
The kind of silence that could crush an entire kingdom.
My entire soul left my body.
Dad blinked once. Slowly. Expression unreadable.
Sokka looked between the two of us, pointing wildly. "Wait—WAIT—" His eyes bulged. "You mean like, WITH A BABY?!"
"What other kind of pregnant is there?!" I snapped, my face on fire.
Dad’s gaze shifted between Zuko, me, and my stomach, the gears grinding painfully slowly in his head.
And then—
"YOU GOT MY DAUGHTER PREGNANT?!"
Zuko jerked so hard, his knee slammed against the table, knocking over his plate and sending a fork flying into the mashed potatoes.
"SIR, I CAN EXPLAIN—"
"EXPLAIN?! OH YES, PLEASE DO!"
Zuko’s mouth snapped shut so fast I swore I heard his teeth click together.
Dad’s eyes were locked on him, his expression a terrifying mix of rage, betrayal, and confusion—as if he was physically holding himself back from strangling Zuko across the dinner table.
Zuko sat stiff as a board, his hands gripping the arms of his chair like he was bracing for imminent impact. "We-well—" he stammered, his voice shaky as hell. "One night—a f-few months ago—we—"
I kicked him under the table so hard he jolted.
"Zuko, WHY would you answer that?!" I hissed, my face on fire.
He looked at me like a trapped animal. "I panicked!"
Dad, meanwhile, was processing that sentence far too slowly for my liking.
"I’m sorry. MONTHS?!"
Zuko swallowed audibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing in pure terror.
Sokka’s mouth was hanging open, eyes darting wildly between us. "Oh my God. I thought you two were still in the ‘holding hands in separate beds’ stage—"
"Sokka, NOT NOW!" I snapped.
Dad’s glare was now burning holes through Zuko’s soul. "Katara. Just how far along are you?"
The entire table went silent.
I took a slow, calming breath before answering, "16 weeks as of today."
Dead silence.
Dad’s jaw clenched. His hands curled into fists on the table.
Zuko let out a strangled noise, looking like he was seconds away from passing out.
Sokka, however, had done the math.
His eyes bugged out. "Oh. My. GOD."
He pointed accusingly at Zuko. "THAT MEANS IT HAPPENED UNDER OUR ROOF! AT CHRISTMAS!"
I slapped a hand over my face, groaning. "Sokka...it's Thanksgiving, that would be literally impossible."
"IN YOUR CHILDHOOD BEDROOM?!" he practically screeched.
Dad visibly twitched.
Zuko’s soul had completely left his body. "Sir—please don’t grab the carving knife—"
"WHO SAID I NEED THE CARVING KNIFE?! I HAVE MY BARE HANDS!"
Zuko shot up from his chair, knocking it over, fully ready to bolt. "FOR LEGAL REASONS I’D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IT WAS VERY CONSENSUAL AND FULLY LOVING AND—OH MY GOD, PLEASE DON’T KILL ME—"
Dad stood abruptly, his chair scraping across the floor.
"Zuko. Front porch. NOW."
I grabbed Zuko’s sleeve, trying desperately to keep him in his seat. "Daddy, WAIT—"
"Katara. I love you, but NOT RIGHT NOW."
Zuko let out one last panicked wheeze as Dad stormed toward the door.
I watched as my father threw the door open so hard it nearly ripped off its hinges, stepping outside into the cold evening air.
Zuko turned to me, pale as a ghost. "I love you. Please tell our baby about me if I don’t make it back."
Then, like a man walking to his imminent execution, he slowly followed my father outside.
The door slammed shut.
Silence.
Sokka was the first to speak, mouth still hanging open.
"I’ll give him… seven minutes."
Suki sighed, reaching for the wine bottle and pouring herself a very full glass. "Five."
Sokka and Suki’s bets still hung in the air as Zuko stepped outside, looking one second away from passing out.
The door slammed shut behind him, and suddenly, it was just him and Hakoda.
Zuko stood frozen on the porch, the cold air doing nothing to stop the nervous sweat forming at his temple. Hakoda stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, his face as unreadable as ever.
For a long, painful moment, there was nothing but silence.
Zuko cleared his throat. "S-sir?"
Hakoda slowly turned his head, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"So."
Zuko tensed. "So?"
"So," Hakoda continued, voice deadly calm, "you got my daughter pregnant."
Zuko opened his mouth—then closed it. Opened it again—then closed it harder.
Finally, he settled on panicked nodding.
Hakoda exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his head before stepping forward. Zuko instinctively stepped back—and bumped into the porch railing.
Trapped.
"I just have one question," Hakoda said flatly, stopping just inches from him. "What exactly are your intentions with my daughter?"
Zuko swallowed so loudly it echoed in the night air.
"I- I- I mean, sir— I love her! So much! I was already going to propose! Just, you know, without the whole impending child situation but—"
Hakoda tilted his head. "Already going to propose?"
Zuko frantically nodded, fishing into his pocket and pulling out a small, velvet box that tumbled straight to the floor because his hands were shaking so badly.
Hakoda stared at the box. Then at Zuko.
Then back at the box.
Zuko stared at the ground like it was his grave.
"Well, pick it up, son. Don’t leave my daughter’s ring in the dirt."
Zuko nearly threw out his back scrambling to grab it, fumbling it back into his pocket like his life depended on it.
Hakoda sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "You’re seriously telling me you knocked up my daughter and were planning to propose?"
"N-not in that order!" Zuko blurted. "It was supposed to be very romantic! Sunset, rose petals, nice dinner—no pre-baby!"
Hakoda squinted at him. "Sunset and rose petals?"
"Y-yes, sir?"
Hakoda muttered something under his breath, and then finally, finally, he exhaled long and slow.
"Alright."
Zuko blinked. "...Alright?"
"Alright," Hakoda repeated gruffly, giving Zuko a long, hard look. "I’m not happy that this happened the way it did. But I know my daughter, and I know she wouldn’t have chosen you if she didn’t truly love you."
Zuko felt his knees weaken. "S-so... you’re not going to kill me?"
Hakoda shrugged. "No."
Zuko exhaled so hard he nearly blacked out.
"But." Hakoda stepped closer, his voice dropping into something more dangerous. "If you ever—ever—make my daughter cry, cheat on her, or leave her and that baby for even a second—"
Zuko’s soul left his body again. "I would never! NEVER! I would rather be launched into a volcano—"
"Good."* Hakoda clapped a heavy hand onto Zuko’s shoulder, making his entire spine compress. "Because I have a lot of rope. And a boat. And I’m really good at tying knots."
Zuko nodded violently. "Understood, sir.Loud and clear."
Hakoda squinted one last time, then, with one final sigh, he patted Zuko’s shoulder—this time, in something almost resembling approval. "Let’s go inside before Katara thinks I buried you in the backyard."
Zuko’s legs nearly gave out from sheer relief.
Sokka was mid-bite into a turkey leg when the door swung open, he glanced up, chewing thoughtfully.
"Huh. He made it."
Suki rolled her eyes and handed him a $20 bill.
I jumped from my seat, and rushed over to Zuko, checking for any visible injuries. "Are you okay?"
"I survived," He swayed slightly, wobbly from the emotional trauma. "Your dad threatened me with rope and a boat, but he didn’t kill me."
Dad cleared his throat, stepping in behind him. "Katara, he was already planning to propose before this happened. I whipped around to Zuko. "You were?!" Zuko nodded frantically, still breathing like he ran a marathon."
"Yes! But now your dad thinks I planned a whole baby engagement scheme!" Dad shrugged. "Well, you still have to actually propose." Sokka perked up. "Oooooh, yes! Do it now! Let’s make it a whole thing!"
I glared at him. "Sokka, I swear to the God—"
Suki smirked. "I mean, you already have an audience."
Zuko looked like he was about to throw himself out the window. I reached out and held his cheek turned his face to mine and gave him a reassuring smile, "Everyone stop! If Zuko is going to propose it's going to be when HE wants to and decides to! there's not going to be any forced proposals, so everyone sit down, shut up, shove food and your mouth, and for the love of all that's holy Dad, STOP GLARING!"
There was a long, silent pause. My outburst hung heavily in the air, and I felt everyone's eyes staring at me, wide-eyed and startled.
There was a long, silent pause. My outburst hung heavily in the air, and I felt everyone's eyes staring at me, wide-eyed and startled.
Even Sokka froze mid-chew, turkey leg suspended comically in front of his open mouth.
Finally, Dad broke the silence. He coughed awkwardly, adjusting his posture and making a show of looking at anything but Zuko. "I wasn't glaring," he muttered under his breath. "Just assessing the situation."
I raised an eyebrow. "Assess quieter."
Suki snorted, quickly turning the laugh into a cough when Dad glared at her next. "Sorry, sir."
Zuko exhaled heavily beside me, still looking slightly terrified but also relieved at my intervention. He whispered softly, "Thank you."
I squeezed his hand gently, leaning into him and lowering my voice to match his. "Sorry my family is…"
He shook his head immediately, the corner of his lips twitching up in a small, genuine smile. "Perfectly yours. Wouldn't change a thing."
Dad gave a dramatic sigh, rolling his eyes skyward before sitting down heavily at the head of the table. "Fine. Let's just eat."
Sokka finally resumed chewing, eyes darting suspiciously between me, Zuko, and Dad. "Well, this is officially the weirdest Thanksgiving ever."
Suki reached over and gently patted his shoulder, smirking. "Don't worry, love. Christmas is coming up soon. I'm sure we'll top this."
I groaned loudly, dropping into my seat. "Please, can we not?"
Zuko finally relaxed slightly, lowering himself into the seat beside me, visibly relieved the pressure was off him for now.
But as we began quietly eating again, I noticed him subtly glance at me, a shy smile forming on his lips. His hand slipped into mine beneath the table, fingers interlacing gently.
"You know," he whispered quietly, leaning closer, his warm breath tickling my ear. "I'm going to marry you someday, Katara. In my own way, on our terms—not anyone else's."
Warmth bloomed in my chest, chasing away the tension and frustration from moments before. I smiled softly, squeezing his hand tighter.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
A loud clearing of a throat drew our attention back across the table. Dad was staring pointedly at Zuko again, eyebrow raised.
Zuko swallowed visibly, quickly sitting upright again. "Right. Eating."
Dad nodded, satisfied. "Good answer."
Beside me, Sokka leaned in toward Suki, whispering far too loudly to be subtle, "Five bucks says he does it at Christmas."
Suki grinned mischievously. "You're on."