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Azula straightened from where she was kneeling before the cold porcelain and wiped her mouth. Her stomach had rebelled for the third time today and she was getting sick of being sick. Just a few more days, she thought, grabbing a disposable toothbrush and rinsing the foul taste out of her mouth.
She strode out of the bathroom and her husband frowned in concern, “Azula, you’ve been getting sick a lot recently. You think you should go see Katara?”
“Aang, it’s just stress.”
“But you’ve never reacted like this…”
“Let me count, one, Gyatso is retiring and we’re inheriting the company. Two, We’re acquiring Boomerang corp. and bringing them under the Avatar umbrella, and three, we’re striking a collaboration deal with Future Industries to manufacture a new affordable car. Did I miss anything, Aang? I’m perfectly justified to feel a bit stressed right now!”
Aang nodded and silently passed Azula a tissue; she nodded in thanks and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m sorry, I really don’t know why I’m reacting this way.” Aang wrapped her in his arms and they stood silently until Azula’s watch chirped that their car and driver were there.
They walked outside to the company car holding hands and slid in. Azula promptly cracked open her folders and a pack of ginger snaps while Aang pulled up personnel reports on his Hawk-y.
As they took their private elevator up to their office, Azula turned and lost the few crackers she had eaten on the ride over. Aang rubbed soothing circles on her back with one hand and held her hair back with the other.
“That does it. I’m calling Katara.”
“Please don’t. It’s just stress.”
“What if it’s not? You want me to live with the guilt if it’s something serious?”
Azula sighed heavily as she logged a biohazard incident report and clean-up request. “Does it have to be Katara?”
Aang cocked his head, “Well, she’s a doctor and I thought…”
“We’re getting there, we are, but….”
“You still hate showing weakness. Can I call Katara at least and get a personal recommendation?”
Azula shook her head, “Call Yugoda, she’ll have somebody that can come out here.”
Aang nodded and walked over to his connected office, already dialing.
Azula was working hard and snacking on pickle-flavored potato chips when there was a knock on the door. She pressed the buzzer and the door opened to reveal… Katara. She shot bolt upright, “AANG! WHAT IN AGNI’S HEARTH WERE YOU THINKING!?!? I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL HER!
Katara’s brows knitted together as Aang popped his head and stared at her in astonishment, “I didn’t… she’s not… Why are you… I mean Azula’s fine, not that she’s not…”
Katara’s eyes frosted over as she slipped into her professional doctor mask. “Well, that’s not why I came, but what’s going on? It has to be serious if you’re calling for a doctor.”
Azula sunk back into her chair, already regretting her outburst, “I’m fine,” she said in a flat monotone.
“And I’m the king of Omashu.” Katara snapped back. “Clearly, something’s wrong. Now, is it bad enough for me to force a vital check or can you make it to a hospital?”
“No, it’s probably nothing.”
“Song’s coming as a precautionary measure.”
Katara waved her hand at Aang, “Be a dear and let the girls chat?”
Aang nodded and closed his door.
Katara strode across the office and sat across from Azula. “Ok, look, I know Aang is pretty much the only reason we’re civil to each other, but I am a doctor and I took an oath to help anyone. Can I at least check your blood pressure and vitals?”
Azula rocked slightly in her chair, “I’d rather not… It’s nothing against you, but-”
“You still have trouble letting people in, don’t you?”
Azula glared, “Did Aang tell you that?”
“Suki actually. You’re kinda jumpy, are you su-”
“Yes.” Azula snapped and spun away from Katara to dab her eyes dry. She turned back around, “So what brings you out here?”
“Aang actually, but he didn’t call me. His birthday is coming up and I was wondering if we wanted to throw him a surprise party?”
Azula considered, “Well, everything should be wrapped up by then so yes, that sounds good. I can’t really spend anytime on planning though.”
“Well, we all know he just needs you there to be happy, but Zuko, Sokka, and I have some ideas, and I was wondering if you wanted to contribute.”
Azula shrugged and pulled out her checkbook, “How much were you thinking?”
“Tui and La, Azula! I meant ideas, not cash.”
Azula looked at the checkbook and tears welled up in her eyes. “Is my money not good enough? I’ve earned every bit of it.”
Katara vaulted the desk and pulled Azula into a hug. “It’s ok, it’s ok, relax.”
Azula pulled herself together quickly and Katara narrowed her eyes at Azula who glared back at her. “So… this isn’t normal for you.”
Azula shook her head.
“Let me guess, severe vomiting? Weird food choices?”
Azula glared harder, but shrugged, “Fine, you’ve guessed it. Aang’s concerned about the vomiting.”
“Azula, can I be blunt?”
“Are you ever not?”
“When was the last time you had your period?”
“It wasn’t that long ago, it was…” Azula trailed off, thinking. “It was the last week of July or first week of August.”
“Azula. What month is it?”
Azula frowned, “November.”
“And…”
Azula double-checked the calendar, “It’s November…. No. Impossible.”
“You’re young, married, and the symptoms line up.”
“No, what I am is stressed. I’ve been working through Agni and Tui trying to get these deals closed, Gyatso is retiring, and…and…” Azula sat heavily. “You really think so?”
Katara shrugged, “It seems likely.”
“What’s the fastest way to check?”
“I can check at my office and I’m off today so I can get you right in.”
Azula nodded and strode over to the door, “Aang, come on. Katara is going to check me out at her office.”
Aang shot up straight. “Wait, really?”
Both women nodded and he snagged his coat. “Well, let’s go then.”
Katara drove them over to her clinic and took them in through the back. “Aang, can you wait in my office while I examine Azula?”
“Sure. Love you, princess.” Aang kissed Azula and vanished into Katara’s office.
Azula sighed heavily, “Let’s get this over with.”
Katara ran her tests quickly and looked at Azula, not saying anything, but simply nodding. Azula burst into silent tears and Katara sat with her, quietly passing her tissues and letting her collect herself.
After she composed herself, she looked at Katara, “Can you get Aang?”
Katara stood and brought Aang back in.
Aang quickly saw Azula’s tear-stained face, “Princess, you ok? What’s going on?”
“The test was positive,” Azula said bluntly.
“What test? Cancer, Lyme’s, mad hippo-cow disease; what is it?”
“Pregnancy.”
“Pregnancy…but that means you’re…”
“Pregnant? Yes, that appears to be the case.”
Aang laughed, spinning her around, and Azula slowly grinned as their new reality sunk in.
“This is the best day ever, princess!”
Azula nodded slowly, rubbing her stomach. She turned and vomited into the nearby bin. Straightening, she wiped her mouth. “Will you tell your child to behave?”
“Our child, you mean.”
“The way she’s treating me, Aang, this is all your fault.”
Aang grinned sheepishly, “Sorry.”
Azula sighed. “It’s worth it.” She drew Aang to her in a hug, “We’re going to be parents.”