Archive of Our Own

Katara had always imagined herself as a mother. She wasn’t sure how or when, but the simple thought of raising a small creature and watching them grow had been a constant in her mind for as long as she could remember. However, the details of that vision began to shift the day Azula entered her life. Being a mother had always been part of her plans, but she had never considered the possibility that the baby might have another mother too.

Still, every time she looked into Azula’s golden eyes, she understood that this was never going to be an issue.

After they married, Katara started looking into adoption, thinking it would be the next logical step. She even asked Zuko about the legal processes in the Fire Nation. But, of course, Azula had other plans.

“The Fire Nation is insufferable when it comes to matters of succession,” Azula remarked one afternoon. “If our child isn’t biological, if they don’t have a drop of my blood or yours, they’ll never have even the slightest chance of being considered for the throne. That could be…exhausting.”

Katara stared at her, bewildered. “Azula… you know how babies are made, right?”

Katara’s comment was enough to trigger an extensive monologue from the firebender. Katara watched in fascination as Azula explained the entire reproductive process of komodo rhinos and how they managed to procreate without needing to "copulate" (Azula’s word).

“So, we would simply need to find a donor from the Water Tribe,” Azula concluded, as if discussing a trivial matter. “That way, our child would also carry part of your heritage, while I would take care of carrying the pregnancy.”

Katara blinked, processing the words.

“You?” she asked, surprised. “You want to get pregnant?”

Azula looked at her confidently. “You’re the best healer in the world, Katara. I wouldn’t trust my life or our child’s to anyone else. And besides… I don’t want to see you suffer. I can handle it.”

Katara smiled, stepping closer to take her wife’s hand. “You never stop surprising me.”

And although that version of motherhood wasn’t one she had ever imagined, in that moment, it seemed like the most perfect one of all.

Finding a donor hadn’t been difficult. The hard part was finding one who understood that, under no circumstances, was he going to sleep with Azula. That particular detail took longer than expected, and nearly half the male population was on the verge of annihilation, courtesy of a certain overprotective waterbender.

However, after months of planning and preparations, the day Azula got out of bed in their Ember Island home and ran to the bathroom to throw up, Katara followed her with a mix of excitement and anxiety. She knelt beside her and gently gathered her wife’s hair as the Fire Princess remained hunched over the tub.

“For your sake,” Azula murmured between gasps, “I hope this is what I think it is… and not that you’re just enjoying my misery.”

Katara smiled and placed a soft kiss on her wife’s head. “Why can’t it be both?” she teased, unable to hide the happiness sparkling in her eyes.

Azula opened her mouth, ready to complain, but another wave of nausea cut her off. Katara, now more certain than ever about what this discomfort meant, couldn’t help but smile as she held her wife close.

Third Month

The first three months were especially hard for Azula. Even with Katara’s care, who watched over her health as if it were a personal mission, the firebender woke up each day with intense nausea that drained her. Both had decided not to tell anyone about the pregnancy, at least not for now. They feared something might go wrong, and neither was ready to deal with the reactions of friends and family if that happened.

However, as the nausea began to subside, Azula’s belly started to become more noticeable. The robes she usually wore barely managed to conceal her growing bump, and it wasn’t long before others began to notice as well.

That night, they were having dinner at the Royal Palace with Zuko, Mai, and Izumi. The meal consisted of komodo chicken, one of Azula’s favorite dishes. Or at least, it used to be. This time, the mere smell of the food made her stomach churn. She tried to hide it, but Katara noticed immediately.

“I’ll order something else for you, okay? Don’t force yourself,” Katara whispered softly with concern.

Zuko, who had been watching his sister curiously, raised an eyebrow. “Wasn’t this your favorite dish?”

Azula replied with her typical arrogance, “Tastes change, Zuzu.”

However, before the topic could be dropped, Mai, who was calmly wiping Izumi’s mouth with a napkin, asked directly, “How many months are you?”

The table fell silent. Everyone, including Zuko, stared at Mai in surprise. She simply rolled her eyes and continued eating. “Please, it’s obvious. No one who trains as much as you gains weight so quickly and in such a… specific way.”

Katara and Azula shared a moment of silent understanding, knowing there was no way to keep the secret any longer.

Mai sighed as she fed a piece of turtle-duck to Izumi. “Besides, I hear you vomiting every morning. It’s quite annoying, to be honest.”

Azula let out a resigned sigh. “Three months,” she finally confessed.

Zuko, who was in the middle of bringing his chopsticks to his mouth, dropped them upon hearing the confession. “Wait, what?!”

And then, the inevitable question escaped his lips: “How… how did you do it?”

Azula looked at him with her characteristic superior expression. “Komodo rhinos,” she replied with a light, sarcastic smile.

Mai nodded casually. “Makes sense.”

Zuko stared at her incredulously. “What do you mean, ‘makes sense’?! How does that even work?!”

Azula, seeing that the news was already out, pushed her plate aside and gave her brother a playful look. “You'll understand when you grow up.”

Zuko frowned. “But I already have a daughter.”

Azula shrugged. “That doesn’t mean anything.”

“You little-”

The rest of the dinner passed with a playful exchange of insults between Zuko and Azula, though they were careful not to say anything inappropriate in front of the little girl. Sometimes, their dynamic was more like that of two children than adults, but deep down, they both put Izumi above everything else.

Fourth Month

Azula stared at herself in the mirror, completely naked, observing every small change in her body. When Katara entered the room, she raised an eyebrow and slowly approached her wife.

“Not that I’m complaining,” Katara commented with a playful smile, “but… should I be worried about this?”

Azula let out a small sigh before answering, her gaze still fixed on the reflection. “I needed to see how much weight I’ve gained already. It feels like none of my clothes fit.”

Katara, with a tender smile, wrapped her arms around Azula from behind, hugging her gently and placing her hands on her belly, which now proudly showed the signs of the little life growing inside. “As if you didn’t love having new clothes,” Katara teased.

“I’d love it more if it weren’t such… enormous clothes,” Azula retorted. Finally, she let out a sigh, almost in surrender, and added, “But I guess you’re right.”

Katara rested her cheek on Azula’s shoulder, letting her lips softly brush the Fire Princess’s neck. Their eyes met in the mirror, and Katara’s gaze filled with admiration as she spoke. “You look so hot.”

Azula opened her mouth to reply, but at that moment, they both felt it: a faint movement, like a whisper of life, coming from Azula’s belly.

“Did it just…?” Azula whispered, standing completely still.

The baby, as if responding to its mother’s question, moved again, this time with a little more strength. Katara and Azula looked at each other, their eyes shining with excitement. Neither of them needed to say anything; the joy and love they shared in that moment spoke for themselves.

Azula couldn’t help but let a genuine, vulnerable smile form on her lips, while Katara looked at her as if she had never seen her so beautiful before.

Fifth Month

They had decided that it would be best for Azula to give birth in the Fire Nation, mainly for the comfort and space the palace offered. However, before traveling became too cumbersome due to the pregnancy, they chose to spend a few months in the Southern Water Tribe.

One cold night, as they rested in their igloo, Gran Gran appeared at the entrance, carrying a pair of thick blankets to ensure Azula slept more comfortably. With her usual warmth, the elderly woman entered slowly, her gentle gaze settling on the couple. Taking advantage of the fact that Azula was already in her pajamas, Gran Gran gave her a small smile and, with a twinkle of excitement in her eyes, asked softly, “May I touch your belly? To see if I can feel my great-great-granddaughter.”

Azula didn’t hesitate for a second. Gran Gran had welcomed her as one of the family from the very beginning, without any prejudice or reservations. If anyone had earned that gesture, it was her.

The elderly woman placed her hand gently on Azula’s belly, and they waited in silence. Several long minutes passed in which the baby seemed calm, leading Gran Gran to sigh with a sad smile. “It seems she doesn’t want to move today…”

But as if the baby had heard those words, a little kick crossed Azula’s belly, causing the elderly woman to let out a light, joyful laugh. Her face lit up with the brightest smile, a smile that quickly spread to both Katara and Azula.

“She’s going to be a lively, healthy little one,” said Gran Gran affectionately as she caressed the belly with tenderness. Then, she looked at both women with eyes full of pride and love. “Well, I’ll let you rest. Good night, my girls.”

Gran Gran gave them both a gentle kiss on the forehead before retiring to her igloo.

Katara, with a smile, finished arranging the blankets around Azula, making sure she was as comfortable as possible. Azula, after adjusting her posture for a moment, gave a triumphant thumbs-up.

“You dork,” Katara said, laughing as she lay down beside her. Without saying anything more, she slid a hand under Azula’s pajama top, seeking to feel the baby herself. This time, the movement was almost immediate, much quicker than it had been with Gran Gran.

Azula raised an eyebrow. “Does the baby like you more, or…?”

Katara smiled and, gently caressing her wife’s belly, explained calmly, “When you’re standing, the baby settles deeper into your pelvis, so the movements feel less. But now that you’re lying down, you’ll notice them much more.”

Katara turned to look at her, expecting a response, but Azula remained silent, gazing at her with an intensity that Katara couldn’t quite decipher. “What’s wrong?” she asked, slightly confused.

After a long sigh, Azula finally replied. “I never forget how much I love you. But it’s incredible how, even now, I keep falling more and more in love with you.”

Katara felt her heart melt. Although Azula’s softer side was becoming more frequent, it was still rare to hear her so open and vulnerable. Gently, Katara kissed her softly. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” Azula replied, her voice low but sincere.

Katara lay completely by her side, keeping her hand on Azula’s belly, enjoying the sensation of the baby moving beneath her skin.

“Do you know what else happens this month of pregnancy?” Katara asked with a playful tone.

“What?” Azula responded, somewhat curious.

Katara lowered her hand to Azula’s belly button, which now stuck out due to the baby’s growth, and touched it gently. “This.”

Azula narrowed her eyes. “Tell me that goes back to normal.”

“It’s supposed to.”

“Supposed to?” Azula repeated, frowning.

Katara leaned in and kissed her neck before settling in closer. “Good night. I love you.”

Azula, unwilling to let it go, insisted. “Supposed to?!”

Sixth Month

A month after arriving in the Southern Water Tribe, Azula reluctantly had to admit that the pregnancy was affecting her ability to perform everyday tasks. The growing weight of her belly was starting to interfere with her usual lifestyle. It wasn’t so much that she surrendered to the fact; rather, it was Katara who first noticed how exhausted she was. Azula had insisted on helping with the daily chores, but when Katara saw her struggling to reach a fish she was cleaning, the fatigue evident on her face, and the way she was breathing heavily after managing it, she made a decision.

“You’re incredibly stubborn, you know that?” Katara thought, but she didn’t say it out loud.

That night, as Katara was packing some of their belongings, she broke the silence: “Tomorrow, we’re going back to the Fire Nation.”

Azula, from the bed, raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Azula, please,” Katara replied softly but firmly.

Azula frowned, ready to argue, and started to get up to refute Katara’s reasoning. But as soon as she tried to stand, a sharp pain in her lower back forced her to stop and fall back onto the bed, clenching her teeth.

Katara knelt beside her, her expression a mix of empathy and silent triumph. “See?”

Azula let out a sigh, looking at her with resignation. “Fine… Alright, we’ll leave tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” Katara said, her voice softening at the sight of Azula giving in, something that didn’t happen often.

She set aside what she was doing and sat next to Azula on the bed, taking her hands gently. “Three more months, and we’ll be able to see her little face,” Katara whispered, her eyes shining with excitement as she thought about the future that awaited them.

Azula looked at her; she couldn’t help but share the same anticipation.

Katara brought one of Azula’s hands to her lips and kissed it softly. “But for now,” Katara continued with a warm smile, “I’m going to give you a good massage to reduce the swelling in your legs. And I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re comfortable on the ship back.”

Azula, exhausted, nodded silently and let herself fall gently back onto the bed. The weight of her pregnancy and the emotional strain of the past few weeks were beginning to take a toll. Surrendering to Katara’s care didn’t seem like a bad plan after all.

Katara began to massage Azula’s legs, using gentle movements to relieve the accumulated tension. Azula closed her eyes, letting Katara’s soothing touch relax her completely. In that moment, surrendering didn’t feel like defeat but rather a necessary respite on the journey they were sharing together.

And as sleep began to claim her, Azula couldn’t help but smile slightly. If she was going to yield to anything in her life, at least it was in the hands of someone who loved her unconditionally.

Seventh Month

Azula sighed in frustration as she picked up the book she had set aside for the tenth time that day. But she had barely read a line when the bedroom door opened, revealing Katara, who entered with a gentle smile. Azula glared at her, clearly annoyed.

“And what’s with the angry face?” Katara asked, approaching her.

“I have to go to the bathroom every few minutes because this little bug is crushing my bladder,” Azula complained bluntly.

Katara let out a small laugh and gave her wife a soft kiss on the head, her fingers sliding through Azula’s hair. “When they grow up, we’ll tell them how much their mother enjoyed complaining about being sent running to the bathroom.”

“I don’t complain that much,” Azula retorted, giving a defiant look.

Katara smiled, already anticipating the exact moment. She counted mentally to ten, and right when she reached the last number, she saw Azula’s frown deepen.

“You’d be complaining too if you were so swollen you looked like a giant ball, full of pee… but not really full of pee.”

“Azula—” Katara tried to interrupt.

“And the worst part is that this baby is consuming my brain too! I can’t think clearly. It’s like my body only serves one purpose and nothing else.”

“Azula—”

“And yet,” Azula continued, ignoring the interruptions, “the worst part is that I wouldn’t change any of this. Because even though I feel this way, I couldn’t be happier.”

Katara smiled tenderly, leaned forward, and gently placed a hand over Azula’s mouth. “Honey, I was going to say that you can just relax and tell me what you need, okay? I love you, and I couldn’t be happier either.”

Azula, with Katara’s hand still on her mouth, raised an eyebrow as if expecting something more.

“What?” Katara asked, removing her hand with curiosity.

“I need to pee again.”

Katara burst into laughter, not only because of the situation but also because pregnancy had made Azula, the feared princess of fire, seem to forget all her usual composure and vocabulary. Seeing her so vulnerable, so human, filled Katara with a tenderness that she rarely expressed in words.

“I’m sorry,” Katara said between laughs, carefully helping Azula to her feet. “But I promise, when our child grows up, this will be one of the stories we tell the most.”

Azula, already walking towards the door, muttered something under her breath, but Katara knew she was just as excited as she was about the new life they were creating together.

Eighth Month

After lunch, Katara and Azula decided to take a walk to the turtle duck pond. Azula’s pregnancy had her practically immobilized most of the time, and the nights were a torment of discomfort, but Katara thought that a little walk after the meal might help her relax, at least for a while.

When they reached the bench in front of the pond, Azula dropped onto it as if they had been walking for hours. She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed deeply.

“This baby is killing me, plain and simple.”

“Drama queen,” Katara said with a smile as she sat down beside her.

“I’d love to argue,” Azula continued, placing a hand on her belly, “but right now I have that damned heartburn that our child gives me, and I’m about to throw up.”

Katara let out a soft laugh and put an arm around Azula’s shoulders, pulling her close with affection. “You realize you only have one month left until you give birth, and we still haven’t thought of names?”

Azula raised an eyebrow, as if the idea seemed irrelevant. “Is it necessary?”

“Are you planning to call our baby ‘baby’? Or worse, ‘creature’?”

“Ha ha, very funny. But seriously, is it necessary? We’ve always known what she’s going to be named.”

Katara frowned, genuinely confused. “We have?”

“Of course. What better name is there for our daughter than Kya, right?”

Katara looked at her, surprised for multiple reasons, which left her momentarily speechless.

“You once told me you’d love to name her that, and if it makes you happy, it makes me happy too.”

Katara stayed silent for a moment, trying to remember. She had no clear memory of saying that, but she knew Azula had a special knack for remembering the little details that sometimes slipped past her. She had probably mentioned it during a late-night conversation, half asleep, in those soft, quiet chats before sleep finally took over.

“But how do you know it’s a girl?” Katara asked finally.

Azula stroked her belly with a confident gesture. “She’s inside me. I feel her every day. Of course, I know it’s a girl.”

“Is that… intuition?”

“Call it what you want.”

“And if it’s a boy, what then?”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Katara rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, but in the impossible case that the spirits align and it’s a boy, what do we do about the name?”

“We’d have a problem, obviously.”

“Aren’t you going to suggest any names?”

“The only person in my family who matters to me is Zuko, and I’m not naming our son after him.”

Katara burst into laughter. “So, do we need to come up with another name just in case?”

“No,” Azula said, settling more comfortably against Katara’s chest. “Because it’s going to be a girl.”

Katara sighed, but noticing how Azula’s breathing became slower and deeper, she decided not to continue the discussion. She knew how hard it was for Azula to sleep with the huge belly and the baby’s constant kicking, so she preferred to let her rest.

“I guess I can’t wait to meet Kya,” Katara murmured, gently caressing Azula’s belly as she watched the turtle ducks swim in the pond.

Ninth and Final Month

Azula was fed up. The nine months had come and gone, but Kya showed no signs of wanting to come out. The desire to see her daughter’s face mingled with the discomfort of carrying a belly that seemed to occupy her entire body. Each day, it was harder to move, to breathe, and sleeping was out of the question.

That day, Katara was sitting next to her, sewing a small onesie for the baby, while Azula lay back on the bed, adjusting the pillows every five minutes in a futile attempt to find a comfortable position.

“Katara…” Azula said, in a tone suggesting she was about to complain again.

“Yes?” Katara replied, not taking her eyes off her stitching.

“Can you describe what my feet look like? I haven’t seen them in months, and it seems it’ll be even longer before I see them again.”

Katara let out a soft laugh. “Do you have to be so dramatic?”

“Tell that to our daughter,” Azula retorted, looking down at her belly with a mix of exasperation and resignation.

Even though they still didn’t know for certain if it was a girl, Katara no longer argued with Azula about it. She had learned that when Azula was convinced of something, it was better not to contradict her. Besides, there was something comforting about imagining their daughter together.

“She must be very comfortable in there,” Katara said softly. “She’ll come out when she’s ready.”

“What am I, an inn?”

“The best in the entire Fire Nation.”

Azula huffed, clearly frustrated, and with great effort, tried to get up.

“What are you doing?” Katara asked, putting the nearly finished onesie aside.

“I need to walk. I haven’t trained in months, and I’m going crazy.”

Katara, smiling at Azula’s unyielding spirit, stood up as well. “Alright, let’s take a walk, grumpy. Where to?”

“For a change, to the bathroom.”

Katara laughed. “But you just went five minutes ago!”

“Well, tell that to our daughter,” Azula replied irritably, placing a hand on her belly in resignation.

“Azula, it’s impossible that—” Katara stopped when she saw her wife suddenly freeze, her gaze fixed on the floor with a mixture of fear and embarrassment.

Azula looked down, feeling a warm liquid running down her legs. “No way… I…”

“Azula!” Katara exclaimed, worried.

“I told you—”

“You just broke your waters!” Katara interrupted her, excitement in her voice.

Azula stared at her in disbelief. “What?”

“The baby… is on the way,” Katara said, her voice full of enthusiasm, while Azula went from disbelief to panic.

“The baby is already…” Azula tried to say something else, but a strong contraction left her breathless. Katara grabbed her by the shoulders and guided her back to the bed.

For weeks, the room had been prepared for this moment, on Katara’s orders, who had planned every detail. The bed was equipped with extra pillows, clean blankets, and everything necessary for the delivery, just in case it happened suddenly, as it just had.

Katara immediately called for the staff, and within minutes, a doctor and a midwife arrived. Initially, Katara had wanted to help bring her own baby into the world, but the fear of making a mistake due to nerves made her decide it was better to have experts there. She would be at Azula’s side, supporting her every step of the way, unless something went wrong.

“Well, there’s still some time. She hasn’t dilated enough yet,” the doctor explained as she examined Azula.

Katara nodded and settled beside her wife, gently taking her hand. “Everything’s going to be fine,” she whispered, caressing her knuckles.

Azula frowned as another contraction rippled through her, but she didn’t scream. Instead, she looked at Katara, somewhat bewildered. “I thought it was going to hurt more.”

Katara gazed at her with tenderness, knowing what was about to come. She kissed her on the forehead, trying not to show her concern. She wasn’t about to be the one to tell her that everything was about to get a whole lot worse.

Azula had been in labor for hours. The contractions were getting stronger with each passing minute, but the firebender endured them with an almost superhuman determination. Katara, who was by her side, knew that her wife’s pain tolerance was impressive, but seeing her withstand each wave with nothing more than a clenched jaw and white-knuckled grip on the sheets was almost unbelievable. However, when a particularly fierce contraction hit, the first word escaped her lips.

“Damn it!”

The doctor, positioned between Azula’s spread legs, looked up and nodded firmly. “It’s time to start pushing.”

Katara squeezed Azula’s hand gently. “You can do this, Azula. I’m right here with you.”

Azula took a deep breath and nodded, but when the pressure increased as she felt the baby’s head descending, she bitterly regretted ever thinking the pain was bearable.

“Come on, you need to push now,” urged the doctor, her voice firm but calm.

With her muscles tense and her body burning with pain, Azula obeyed, screaming with an intensity that echoed off the walls. “Fuck!”

Katara felt the bones in her hand crunch under Azula’s grip, but she barely noticed, too focused on her wife’s contorted face. She had brought many babies into the world in her life, but none of those experiences compared to the mix of fear and hope that coursed through her as she watched Azula in that state. She tried to soothe her, to give her strength. “Come on, you can do this. You’re the strongest person I know.”

Azula gave another push, feeling as if her entire body was being torn apart. She had known pain all her life, but nothing had prepared her for this.

“Whose damn idea was this?” she shouted between gasps, her tone blending desperation and rage.

Katara had to bite her tongue not to reply, “yours.” Now wasn’t the time.

“The head is almost out,” reported the doctor, her hands ready to catch the baby as the midwife assisted.

Katara wiped the sweat from Azula’s forehead with a sweep of her hand and kissed her on the temple. “You’re doing so well,” she whispered, though Azula was far from sharing that opinion. To her, there was nothing “well” about this endless torture. She just wanted her daughter to be born already.

“Keep going,” encouraged the midwife, but that only made Azula lose her patience.

“It’s not like I have any fucking choice!”

Azula rarely swore, a detail Katara always found curious and often joked about, saying it was proof of the princess’s vast vocabulary. However, in that moment, her broad lexicon seemed to have narrowed down to a few furious words. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

“Breathe with me,” Katara pleaded, locking eyes with her wife. In Azula’s gaze, there was a glimmer of fear, something that rarely showed. Katara wished more than anything that she could switch places, suffer instead of Azula. She now understood better than ever what her wife had meant when she decided she would be the one to carry the pregnancy.

“Katara, I can’t… I—” Azula let out a heart-wrenching scream, the pain rippling through her entire being.

“Yes, you can,” insisted Katara, squeezing her hand tighter. “You’re the strongest person I know. Breathe with me and push. Come on, love. We’re about to see our daughter’s face.”

Azula’s vision blurred, and the world seemed to fade away, the pain exceeding anything she had ever experienced. But feeling the warmth of Katara’s hand and knowing that, at the end of it all, she would have her daughter in her arms, she drew strength from the deepest parts of her being and pushed with everything she had left.

“The baby is almost here!” exclaimed the doctor.

“Fuck! We’re never doing this again, I’m not letting anything or anyone near me—”

Another guttural scream tore from Azula, while Katara kept wiping her sweat and whispering words of encouragement.

“Just one more push and she’ll be out,” promised the midwife.

“I can’t do it anymore,” Azula sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. The sensation must have been agonizing for Azula to respond like that.

“Just one more time, please,” Katara pleaded. Those words were the key for Azula to find one last bit of strength, and with a heart-wrenching cry, she pushed again, feeling the pressure suddenly give way. In an instant, the pain faded and was replaced by the clear, strong cry of a newborn.

“Congratulations, it’s a healthy girl,” announced the doctor.

Azula collapsed onto the bed, exhausted, while Katara hugged her, tears streaming down her face with joy. The midwife and doctor quickly worked to cut the umbilical cord and clean the baby before handing her to her mothers.

When they finally placed the tiny bundle in Azula’s arms, she cradled the baby against her chest, feeling her warmth and fragility. Azula couldn’t help but cry. In a matter of seconds, that little life had become the most important thing in her existence. In that moment, she made a silent vow to love and protect her for the rest of her life.

“I told you, it was a girl,” murmured Azula, exhausted but with a faint smile on her lips.

Katara, her face wet with tears, gazed at her daughter with adoration. “Hello, Kya. I’m your mama.” She gently touched the baby’s tiny hand, and the newborn grasped her fingers with her small grip. “She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

“She’s our daughter,” Azula whispered in a nearly unconscious breath, after all the pain and effort.

The midwife brought a crib closer to the two mothers. Carefully, Katara took her daughter in her arms to place her in it, but the baby clung to her, and Katara couldn’t bring herself to let go.

The baby had dark hair and pale skin. If she had any resemblance to the Water Tribes, it wasn’t visible right now; however, to Katara, it didn’t matter. She was their daughter, hers and Azula’s.

She had only been in the world for a few minutes, and she had already become the most important thing in their lives.