Archive of Our Own ^beta

He was running as fast as he could in these damn Fire Lord robes. He really needed to consider a less robe-ie outfit but that would have to wait for another day. The note the servant handed him made his heart stop. “It’s time” was all it said but it said enough. He bolted from the table leaving mid meeting with apologies quickly explaining there was an emergency. The planners he was meeting with, regarding the upcoming Fire Lily Festivals, were left startled at the abruptness of the action. He’ll have to remember to ask someone to reschedule and fill in for him. Right now, he was just doing his best to get to his chambers, to get to her, before it was too late.

Both Imperial Guards stationed at his suite jumped into action as soon as they saw him running down the hallway, opening the doors so he could enter without stopping. He went through the living room but just as he arrived at the bedroom doors, he was blocked by that insufferable woman.

“Sorry Fire Lord, you can’t go in there.” She had the nerve to put her hand on his chest preventing him from grabbing the door handle.

“Like hell I can’t!” Zuko’s fingers twitched as he wondered if he could get away with setting the woman on fire, just a little bit. If only his wife didn’t need her.

“Zuko?” He heard the sweet voice on the other side of the door. “Lula, let him…” she paused with a groan “…in please.”

No one could deny what the Fire Lady wanted, especially him. Zuko gave Lula a triumphant smirk before switching to worry as he registered that groan was because his wife is in pain.

Lula sighed and moved to unblock the door knowing she would not win this battle.

He saw his wife standing in the middle of the bedroom rubbing her back focusing on breathing. She looked at Zuko as he walked in, her smile lighting up the room. “Zuko, you came!” She reached a hand out to him.

He quickly gets to her side gripping her hand and waist to help hold her up. “Of course I came, Katara. Your note said ‘it’s time’. Why aren’t you in bed?” He angrily turns his attention to the woman that followed him into the room. “Why isn’t she in bed!?”

“She needs to walk around. It will help with the labor.” Lula replied casually. Unfortunately, she is one of the handful of people not intimidated by his temper. When Katara told him she was pregnant 7 months ago the only thing she requested was to bring midwives from the water tribes. Lula is the most respected midwife in the Northern Water Tribe. She not only agreed to temporarily move to the Fire Nation but also to take a young Southern Water Tribe midwife, Sakari, under her wing.

“But, it’s too early. You said we had another month before Steam Baby came.” Zuko glared at the midwife as though that would help delay the labor.

“Yes, that was the thought but the baby has decided to come now.” Lula, trained by her mother and aunties, helped deliver hundreds of babies over the past 40 years. While the men in the Northern Water Tribe never attempted to go into the birthing room, she has a lot of experience dealing with impatient fathers-to-be.

“Tell Steam Baby it’s too early!” Katara, Lula and even Sakari all laugh at the worried Fire Lord.

“Sorry Zuko.” Katara cupped his scarred cheek while kissing the other. “Steam Baby gets to decide when they come.”

Zuko huffed and started rubbing his wife’s rounded belly. “But your father and Gran-Gran aren’t here yet. They were supposed to be here for this.”

Sokka and Suki, along with their 18-month-old son, Chayton, arrived a few days earlier, shortly followed by Aang and Toph. The rest of her family, however, were still on their journey to the Fire Nation.

“They’ll be here tomorrow night. Who knows, I may still be in labor when they get here.” His wife said the last part so casually that he nods until it registers what she meant.

“WHAT?” Panics sets in.

On one hand, he was not ready for this to happen right now. They were supposed to have more time to prepare. It was too early. He needs both Katara and the baby to be healthy. He takes a few breathes to get back into control of himself.

On the other hand, Zuko couldn’t wait for the baby to be born so they can finally pick a name and everyone can stop calling it Steam Baby. They decided to wait to meet Steam Baby, rrrh, before figuring out the name. He couldn’t remember if it was Toph or Sokka who started the nickname but it ended up sticking. After only a few weeks everyone in the palace, including Uncle, started calling it that awful name. Zuko even tried ordering everyone to stop using the name until Katara politely told him he had been using “Steam Baby” for over a week without realizing it.

Zuko focuses on his wife, voice softening. “What can I do?”

The Fire Lady’s eyes lit up at the offer, “you can put your heated hands on my lower back.”

He nods, glad to be able to do something, does what she asks. She moans in relief. The sound runs deep into Zuko. He reminds himself that now is not the time for that and now that Steam Baby is coming, it won’t be time for a while. Agni, how was he going to keep his hands off of her for however long it takes for her to recover.

He smirked remembering Katara being surprised the pregnancy wasn’t affecting their sex life at all. She had been warned early on by Lula, Gran-Gran and other mothers that their husbands were hands off once they all started to show. Not Zuko. No, he has been hands, and everything else, on since she told him about the baby. Zuko even wanted to have sex with her even when she felt as big as a manatee-whale, her words. He thought she looked beautiful. His love for her grew even more, if that was even possible, knowing that she was carrying his child.

Lula was a bit shocked when the Fire Lady first discussed it with her. The Northern Water Tribe midwife assured her that it was safe for her and the baby so Katara was oh so happy to let him seduce her.

Once Zuko’s hands help relieve some of Katara’s pain, he removed his outer robes and Fire Lord crown to be more comfortable. He just needed to focus on helping Katara deliver their baby.

For several hours, Zuko walked around the room with Katara, held her hand, rubbed her belly encouraging the baby to come out safely, and her lower back when the pain struck. He kept asking her if she needed anything. He kept quiet when she glared at him telling him to shut up. He really hoped she didn’t mean it when she told him that he was to never touch her again. Ever!

Katara wasn’t kidding when she warned him that it could take all night. Dawn was here but the baby was not. He never left the room except for a few minutes to talk to the guards. He helped her into bed when she couldn’t walk anymore. When it was time to start pushing, he sat behind her to support her body and hold her hand.

While resting after a contraction the door swung open startling everyone.

“Gran-Gran!” Katara relieved to see her grandmother. “You made it!”

“We did! Just in time too, thanks to your husband.” The elderly woman took Sakari’s place on the other side of her granddaughter. She picked up the towel and wiped Katara’s forward before giving her a kiss and taking her free hand.

“What?” Confused she turned to look at her husband. “What did you do?”

He just smiled and promised to tell her later.

Lula has been directing when to push as well as when to rest. Katara is getting tired feeling like she has been pushing for days. “Okay Katara, one more push on the next contraction and that should do it.”

“That’s it, Katara. You’re almost there.” Kanna encourages her.

Katara shaking her head breathing fast. “I can’t. I can’t.”

Zuko shifted to get a better look at her face. “You can do it, Katara. Look at me.” He waits until she does, brushing away her tears. “Breathe.” He encourages her to take slow breaths until she starts to calm down a bit. “You are the strongest person I know. You can do this. I’ve got you.”

With a sob, Katara nods feeling his support. She returns Kanna’s encouraging smile. She could do this. On the next contraction she pushes eventually letting out a scream until the baby finally comes out.

“There we go, baby is here.” Lula announces before they hear a beautiful tiny cry. “It’s a boy!”

“A boy. It’s a boy Zuko!” Katara exclaimed. “We have a baby boy!”

Zuko can’t help but smile back at his wife. He could not believe what Katara just did and now they have a little boy. He kisses her forehead. “Thank you, Katara.”

Lula places the baby on Katara’s stomach and does an initial check to make sure he is stable before letting Sakari dry him off a bit.

Zuko stares at the little guy in awe. “He’s so beautiful. He’s so tiny. Is he okay?”

Lula assures him, “he is a bit on the smaller side but everything looks great with the initial checks. He has a strong set of lungs on him which is a very good sign.” To Katara she explains the next steps. “We’ll give it a minute or two before we separate you both and then we can move him up to your chest.”

Katara can only nod. She wipes a few happy tears from her face never taking her eyes off of the newborn prince, her other hand cradling his body to hers.

Lula finishes checking the Fire Lady and tells Sakari they can get ready to cut the umbilical cord. Sakari grabs two clamps and places them on the cord. She then passes a pair of scissors to Lula who pauses, looks up and stares at the Fire Lord. “Would you like to cut the cord?”

Zuko feels nervous for some reason. “Cut? The cord? Will I hurt him?”

Lula chuckles. “No, Fire Lord. You will not hurt him.” She had a feeling he would appreciate being involved which he is grateful for. “Come here.” She hands him the cutting implement.

Sakari holds the umbilical cord, pointing to a spot between the clamps. “You can cut right here.”

Zuko glances back at Katara for a moment. She looks at him with so much love. Something he never thought he would ever experience in his life. Even Kanna is smiling at him as though cutting the umbilical cord is a great honor. He looks at the baby again before taking a deep breath and cuts the cord. He lets out an exhale when nothing bad happened.

“Good job dad.” Lula turns her attention back to the Fire Lady. “Alright mom, it’s time for some skin-to-skin contact.”

Katara lowers her gown while Sakari helps move the baby to her chest. “Look at him Zuko. He’s perfect.”

Zuko agrees.

Kanna puts a hand on the baby’s head, “Tui and La, bless this child.”

“Congratulations, granddaughter.” She kisses Katara and the newborn prince before touching Zuko’s shoulder. “Congratulations, grandson.” Zuko freezes. This was the first time she ever called him grandson. He doesn’t get to respond before she leaves the suite to tell the others the good news.

Once Lula and Sakari have performed the rest of the tasks after the birth, the head midwife makes sure Katara and the baby are still doing well.

“Would you like to try feeding him now?”

“Oh yes!” Katara discussed with him one night her worries about being able to nourish their children. She mentioned a couple of women from her tribe that were not able to nurse. He suggested discussing this with Lula and Sakari. His wife was surprised he joined the discussion, making notes of the other possible options. He even hired a wet nurse to be on standby and ordered the kitchen to stock formula just in case. He also sent formula to healing centers around the Fire Nation for the women who were not able to breastfeed their children. When Katara found out, she thanked him with a special night where she turned the tables and proceeded to seduce him. And what a night it was.

Sakari helped Katara as it was a struggle at first, but after several frustrating minutes, the baby at last latched on. Finally, Katara was able to relax. “I did it! He’s feeding.”

Zuko strokes the little prince’s cheek. “There you go little guy. Eat up.”

They watch the baby as he ate, checking over his features. Ten fingers, ten toes. He has tan skin and dark brown hair. When he finishes eating, he opens his eyes to reveal a golden color.

“He’s a perfect mix of us.” Zuko whispered in awe.

“He is. Would you like to hold him?”

“Yes, but…”

“But?”

“What if he doesn’t like me? What if I hurt him?” Zuko still worries about being a father even though Katara has assured him several times since he found out she was pregnant.

Understanding his fear, she shows her husband compassion. “I know you, Zuko. You could never hurt him. He’ll love you.”

Zuko nods and prepares to take on this important task of holding his son for the first time.

“Take off your shirt.”

Zuko looks at her with mischief. “Katara, I don’t think now’s the time for that.”

“Zuko!” She blushes at his words. “It’s for the skin-to-skin contact with the baby.”

“I thought that was for you.” He proceeds to remove his shirt as Katara starts tugging at it. “Okay, okay.” He sits closer to Katara so she can place the baby into his arms. She gives little tips to help him secure the baby and support the head until Zuko feels comfortable holding the boy on his own.

Zuko stares at the prince as several emotions fill him. What he wasn’t expecting was the pain that overcame him. “Agni.” He said softly. “He…he couldn’t…he couldn’t love me.”

“Zuko?” Worry filled Katara.

“He couldn’t love me. There was nothing I could do to make him love me. He just couldn’t.” Tears start falling down his cheeks.

Katara rubbed Zuko’s back trying to help calm him down. She looks at Sakari, with a soft but urgent voice tells her, “Go get Iroh, quickly!” Sakari fled out of the room followed by Lula as she moves into the living room shutting the door giving them some privacy.

“It’s okay, Zuko. I’m here. We’re here.” She adjusts her gown before Iroh arrives and continues to comfort her husband. She attempts to dry his eyes, kisses his scarred cheek and leans into him whispering words of support over and over again.

The bedroom door opened after a quick knock and in rushed Iroh with a concerned look. He looked first at Zuko seeing the tears. He then saw the baby Zuko was still holding before checking on Katara. “Is everything okay?” He cautiously asks.

“Uncle…he couldn’t love me,” Zuko choked back tears as he looked at the man walking towards him.

“Who, nephew?” Iroh looked at the bundle in his nephew’s arms confused, wondering how it could have caused Zuko to feel this way.

“Father. There was nothing I could have done to win his love, ever. He held me right after I was born and immediately wanted to throw me away. He…he couldn’t love me.”

Iroh felt for the young Fire Lord. “I’m so sorry Zuko.”

“I’m holding my baby and already feel so much love for him. I would do anything for him and I only just met him. He doesn’t need to do anything. If he is a fire bender, a water bender or even if he is a non-bender, it doesn’t matter to me. I love him so much. Father took one look at me and…” Zuko looked at his own son with a sob admitted the truth about the man he desperately wanted to love him while growing up, “he just couldn’t love me.”

Iroh’s heart was breaking for his nephew. He placed a hand on Zuko’s shoulder trying to put together the words to comfort him. “Zuko. You have unconditional love for your child. That is how it should be. Your father, unfortunately, only has conditional love, which not the kind of love you deserve. You have been a better husband, leader, and now a better father than Ozai ever was. You have broken that cycle. I’m so proud of you, nephew.”

Through the tears Zuko finds a smile for his uncle. “I have a son.”

“May I see him?” Zuko adjusts the angle of the bundle he cradles so Iroh can see the face. “A beautiful baby boy. Congratulations nephew, and congratulations Katara. You are feeling well?”

“I am, thank you Uncle.” Katara smiles at the wise old man before resting her head on Zuko’s shoulder.

“Have you come up with a name for little Steam Baby?”

Zuko shakes his head. “Not yet. We want to spend some time with him before we figure it out.”

“A good plan, nephew. I’ll leave you three alone then?” Iroh questions if he is still needed.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Iroh sees that his nephew is doing much better and quietly closed the door behind him.

Katara gave her husband a few moments before wiping his tears and then her own. She asks softly, “are you okay, Zuko?”

Zuko nodded not looking up. “Yes, I just…I mean I knew in my head that it wasn’t my fault but now holding our son I think I finally realized it in my heart.” He finally looks at Katara, “now, what are we going to call him?”

As they spent time getting to know their new son, Katara remembered to ask Zuko how he helped her family get to the palace in time. He explained that he sent a request for several water benders that were already at the palace to go on one of the fastest Fire Nation ships to help bring her family to shore quickly, but safely.

“I love you, Zuko.” She kisses him lovingly.

With a name decided upon, it was time to introduce the prince to the rest of the family.

Iroh, Ursa and the GAang have been waiting in a nearby room since the news of Katara being in labor spread. Hakoda joined them when he finally arrived at the palace. They passed the time talking, taking predictions about when the baby will get here, if it will be a princess or a prince, playing games with Sokka and Suki’s son, taking naps when the hours passed on, and requesting lots of food. Sokka insisted on the latter. There were cheers when Kanna found them and told them the good news of the birth. Worry overcame the room as Sakari burst in asking for Iroh to come quickly. When Iroh returned from his visit there was relief that everything was still okay. He did, however, leave out the emotional epiphany Zuko went through.

Once the newly expanded family was ready for visitors it was decided to split up the group to prevent overwhelming Katara and the baby. Kanna, Ursa, Hakoda and Iroh are in the suite’s living room waiting for Katara and Zuko to formally introduce them to the newest edition. Sokka decides to wait to meet the little prince with the rest of the GAang later.

Finally, the Fire Lord opens the doors from the bedroom holding his heir. “Come meet our son.”

Everyone gathers to get a glimpse of the newborn before Zuko hands him to his father-in-law.

“What a handsome boy he is.” Hakoda carries the baby to sit on the chair next to the bed Katara sits up on. “I remember when you were this small.”

Ursa hugs her son, cupping he unscarred cheek. To this day, only Katara ever touches his scar. “Congratulations, Zuko. I’m so happy for you and Katara.”

“Thank you, mother.” The young Fire Lord still can’t believe she was back in his life. He hated that they missed so many years together, but she is here now. His son and other future children will get to know their grandmother. “Where’s Kiyi?”

“With Noren in our rooms since we didn’t know how long Katara would be in labor. We’ll bring her by tomorrow if you and Katara are up for it.” Ursa puts her hand on his arm as they watch over the rest of the family.

“I’ll see how Katara is feeling then and let you know.”

Once everyone had a chance to meet the baby, they left the family to get some rest.

It was finally time for the GAang to meet the newest bundle of joy.

“Oh, he’s so cute! He has his daddy’s eyes.” Suki gushes over the little boy. “Look Chayton, meet your new cousin.”

Chayton blinks at the person smaller than him then shyly cuddles in his mother’s arms. Suki then asks the question everyone has been waiting for an answer to. “So, do we have a name yet?”

“Steam Baby is a name.” Toph points out.

Zuko glares at her. “We are not calling him Steam Baby!”

Katara chuckles before revealing the name. “We do have a name. It’s Kazuki.”

“Kazuki? Like a mash up of your names? Why not just call him Zutara.” Sokka laughs at this own joke.

Zuko rolls his eye at his brother-in-law and best friend. “Kazuki is a Fire Nation name. It means harmony, peaceful.”

“What a great name. I like it!” Aang exclaims while making silly faces at the baby.

“A perfect name for a Water Tribe/Fire Nation baby.” Suki can’t get over how cute her nephew is. She glances at Sokka thinking it might be time for them to bring another little one into the world.

“I mean, it’s a nice name.” Toph agrees, “but I’m going to keep calling him Steam Baby.”

An exasperated Fire Lord rubs his eyes. “Toph!”

The GAang ends their visit leaving the family of three alone. Kazuki is peacefully sleeping in his mother’s arms after another feeding.

“You should get some rest too, Katara” Zuko softly tells his wife.

“I don’t want to put him down yet.” Katara can’t stop smiling at the bundle in her arms. The next time she yawns the Fire Lord puts his foot down.

He sits on the bed reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ear. “You are falling asleep. Please Katara, you’ve had a long couple of days. Just close your eyes for a little while. I’ll keep him safe.”

Katara looks up, “I know you will.” Seeing that Zuko will not let it go, she relents. “Fine, but wake me if he needs me.”

Zuko agrees taking Kazuki so Katara can lie down. Once she is settled, she watches her husband holding the child they made together until she can no longer keep her eyes open.

Zuko gently rocks the little prince in his arms. He walks over to the opened glass door of their bedroom leading out to the balcony. Fresh air blowing gently into the room. The moon is out, shining down on them.

“Hey, little guy. Just in case you didn’t know, I’m your father. I was so happy when your mother told me about you but I was also scared. I didn’t have the best father growing up. Actually, he’s the worst. I thought I was the problem since he was able to love my sister. I just never seemed to be able to do anything right. He even said that Azula was born lucky and that I was lucky to be born.” He paused as he thought about his childhood, that fateful day in the war room, getting burned by his father. “Then I went on a journey with Uncle Iroh, you met him today.”

Zuko gently rubs the baby’s cheek when he stirs making little noises. “I was so focused on trying to earn my father’s love, that I couldn’t see that it was Uncle guiding me in a way a father should.” He paused, thinking back to when he was a hot-headed teenager.

“Then I met your mother, which didn’t start off too great. My fault, not hers.” He thanked Agni every day for bringing her into his life. “I didn’t realize it until later in life, but I was born lucky. I was lucky to have had a loving mother, uncle and cousin. Met a great group of friends, even if they can be annoying. Lucky that your mother fell in love with me and agreed to married me. I am lucky that you were born.

I finally started to believe in myself and figure out what kind of man I wanted to be with the help of all of them. To be honest though, when I became Fire Lord there was a part of me deep down that worried that I would become my father as a leader. What scared me even more than that, was turning into him as a father. Your mother believes in me though. She's convinced that I am going to be a great father.”

Zuko’s gaze moves over to Katara still sleeping soundly.

“Don’t tell her this, but even after she got me to agree with her, there was still a part of me that wondered if my father would come out in me once you were here. I thought I might get some insight after you were born, but I never expected to get an answer to the most important question that first moment I held you in my arms. It wasn’t me that was the problem. I was a good son. I believe now that I am going to be a good father. I will make mistakes but they won’t be the mistakes my father made. He may not have been able to love me but I will make sure you know every day how I much I love you."

Zuko kisses his son’s forehead taking in the fresh baby scent. “Happy birthday, Kazuki. Welcome to the family.”