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Father’s Day in the Southern Water Tribe took place in the winter, as opposed to the Earth Kingdom or Fire Nation, where June was the beginning of summer. Katara had grown accustomed to more mild climates over the years, basking in the sun in the Fire Nation, or the moderate, seasonal temperatures of the United Republic. Going home was always refreshing, especially when the Fire Nation summer heat could be oppressive outside of Ember Island, but home was also brutally cold.
Stepping off the airship and into the familiar crunch of snow felt like diving into a bucket of ice. The harsh, icy winds hitting your face were enough to jolt awake someone who was comatose. Luckily, as Zuko always had said over the years, the warmth of the people in the Southern Water Tribe far made up for the frigid cold — even in the dead of winter. Which, also meant it was pitch black outside.
Zuko especially came in handy here this time of year. His firebending easily lit the way, and he was tugged around Wolf Cove with requests to light all sorts of bonfires, torches, and campfires. Of course, the people of the Water Tribe could ignite their own flames, but having an automatic lighter was quite nice. Although Katara didn’t love how her community hogged her husband extra in the winter, she did begrudgingly share. At least she’d have him all to herself when they went to bed.
And despite the total darkness, the day always seemed to go so quick when she was back home. There was so much to catch up on with old friends and so much to fill her father and Gran-Gran in on. Everyone went to bed pretty early in the winter too. The darkness made everyone so tired, and the frigid cold was hard to bear for long.
Katara lied awake in her private igloo she was afforded since becoming a married woman. It was a bit snug, but quite cozy. A fire glowed over the hearth and a cozy crib sat nearby, cradling her baby: Kya. Katara was flitting through a novel that she was only half paying attention to, waiting for her husband to come home and come to bed. This was supposed to be her time with the firebender. It was his first Father’s Day, after all. He should get to spend the evening with his wife and daughter.
The waterbender stood up from her cozy bed and walked over to her baby girl who was fast asleep. It was her only Kya's second time ever in the Southern Water Tribe, and her first winter here. All the elders remarked how big she’d gotten and fussed over her all day long. No wonder Kya was tuckered out. Katara's father, of course, hardly wanted to let go. Katara adored her baby girl, but did welcome the chance for a break. Mothering a baby under one-year-old was no small feat. Besides, it was Father’s Day, so Grandpa Hakoda could get all the time he wanted — well, unless Zuko demanded it. She supposed he took precedence in the pecking order. But, Zuko was exhausted too, and he knew Hakoda got much less coveted time with their princess.
Katara tenderly stroked Kya’s tiny face with her index finger while she rocked her little cradle, smiling gently as her perfect baby slept. She had jet black hair like her father, but it was already growing in the same, wavy texture that she had. Kya's complexion was a chestnut brown, a bit lighter than her own, and her eyes shone that beautiful golden hue of her husband. She was truly the perfect blend of them both.
As the new mother leaned down to press a loving kiss to her baby’s head, wind swooshed in, startling her, but then quickly snapping away. Kya began crying at the sudden noise as Katara picked up her baby, shushing her quietly, bouncing her in her arms as Zuko ducked through the low entryway before fully getting inside.
“Aw, I’m sorry, turtleduck. Daddy didn’t mean to scare you,” Zuko cooed, walking over to his child and pressing a kiss to her soft forehead. “He didn’t mean to scare Mommy either,” he added, moving then to kiss his wife, brushing his cold nose against her warm one.
“She’s exhausted, she’ll go right back down, I think,” Katara replied, returning her husband’s kiss with a sigh. She was glad to have him back to herself. “How was your evening? So much for lending a quick hand after dinner,” quipped Katara.
Zuko smirked, shaking his head as he began to undress his several layers. Katara had made him his own thick, summer parka. It was a labor of love, alongside her grandmother and other women in the tribe. It had patterns sewn into it that represented the Fire Nation, but was still the classic, Water Tribe blue. “Well, I knew that as soon as they said it,” replied Zuko with a small laugh, hanging up his parka.
Katara chuckled, lying down an already-soothed Kya back into the cradle Hakoda had carved her when he’d heard the news she was expecting. It had little penguins engraved on the sides and the Water Tribe insignia at the top, along with lines of Water Tribe patterns.
She then stepped over to her husband, smiling at him as she began to tenderly undo his scarf from his neck and head, hanging it up with his parka. Katara then pulled off her husband’s damp, icy mittens, tucking them together and putting them in his parka’s pockets. Zuko smiled warmly at Katara, quiet as he watched her work intimately at undoing the buttons of his undercoat. There was nothing but the sound of the crackling fire and whistling wind between them as the snow drowned out any other noise.
Katara stopped midway on Zuko’s buttons, pressing her hand to his cold cheek. Usually, it was she who was cold, and he was warming her up. Zuko instinctively leaned into his wife’s touch, his eyes fluttering shut as Katara’s thumb stroked over his skin. “You’re a wonderful father, Zuko,” Katara whispered, her thumb then tracing lovingly over Zuko’s chapped lips as he pressed a little kiss to the tip of the digit.
His hand reached up to cup Katara’s wrist as his eyes fluttered open, coated over with unshed tears that glistened in the low light of the fire behind them. “Thank you, Katara,” he murmured back. “You’re an amazing mom.”
She shook her head with a smile, leaning up on her toes to kiss him more deeply, both her hands cupping his cheeks then. “Kya is so lucky to have you as a dad. She couldn’t ask for a better one… I always knew you’d be a great dad, Zuko, but… you’ve still managed to blow me away with how naturally good you are with her,” Katara told him sincerely, her hands still on his chilly face as she held his gaze affectionately. Katara knew how afraid Zuko had been to be a father.
He had been excited, of course, but he was scared too. And she didn’t blame him, even if she herself didn’t fret for a moment over his capacity to love their baby. She completely believed and trusted he’d be a good dad. But, she knew his past. She knew that his own father was wretched, and so of course he’d have his hesitations — his deep-seated fear. He’d been worried about being a bad husband, too. But, he was an incredible husband. She couldn’t dream up a better husband than Zuko if she tried. And he deserved, today of all days, to know it.
Zuko’s eyes softened and his heart melted in his chest to hear Katara speak those tender words. He laughed warmly as she looked him over and his gaze held the same deep love as his hands rested on her waist. “I just love her so much,” Zuko replied with another small laugh and a shrug, “And you.”
Katara smiled, sharing in his warm, quiet laughter as she kissed him again, tugging his half-unbuttoned coat’s collar so he was at her level. “I love you, Zuko. So much,” murmured Katara, “And I hope you had a good first Father’s Day… even if you had to spend it running around Wolf Cove doing old people a bunch of favors.”
The fire lord’s heart warmed to the brim at his wife’s words and loving kisses. How could he not have had a great Father’s Day? This room alone meant he did. He never in his life thought he would get to be so lucky. Zuko never imagined he’d get to marry for love. He’d always been a romantic at heart, loving the novels and plays his mother showed him. But even as a boy, he figured he’d be arranged a marriage, and just hoped they’d find love somehow. And then, before he confessed his feelings to Katara, and after Mai had left him, Zuko figured he was destined again to an arranged marriage. He prayed to at least find friendship with whoever his wife would be.
But to get to not just marry for love, but marry the love of his life? His best friend? His person? His soulmate? It all felt too good to be true. He still almost kept waiting for the other shoe to drop or the catch. How could he get to be so happy? How could both of them get to be so happy with this life they built? Zuko sometimes had to pinch himself to make sure it was all still real. Even amidst the turmoil of being fire lord, and his past, and all his mistakes… in his family life, Zuko got to be so, so happy.
Then, Kya came along. He’d been terrified, but she’d taken his world and tilted it on its axis in the best way. Zuko didn’t know he was capable of such a fierce love. He would do anything for Kya without hesitation. She made his life so full, so bright, so wonderful. She was absolutely perfect in every single way. Nothing could compare to the love he felt in this home — and here, in the Southern Water Tribe, of all places. Funny enough, he felt more at home here than he did in Caldera.
“I don’t mind helping out, even if it is just lighting a bunch of fires,” replied Zuko with a small laugh, “And, having a lot of soup. There’s no saying no to soup,” he added, patting his very-full belly. “I had a great Father’s Day. How could I not?” he assured her.
“Good,” Katara said, pecking Zuko’s cheek before finishing undoing his buttons. She set the garments aside as Zuko kissed her temple before sitting on the chair by the door.
“Do you think your dad had a nice day too?” asked Zuko, glancing up at his wife as he began undoing his heavy, winter boots.
“Oh yeah, he’s just delighted we made it down here this year, and with little Kya of course. That alone has him thrilled,” Katara said, looking over at their sleeping bundle of joy. “Sokka and Suki got caught up in that storm, but they should be here any day now too. That's all he needs.”
“It’ll be good to see them. I haven’t seen either of them since right around when Kya was born,” added Zuko, giving his second boot a final tug before setting it by the door beside Katara’s. It felt delightfully warm in their igloo with the fire roaring. Zuko was always impressed how toasty the igloos could get despite literally being made of ice. He already was warm enough to remove his wooly shirt, left just to his undergarments.
“Are you sure we didn’t offend your uncle?” asked Katara, walking over to wrap her arms around Zuko’s torso from behind.
“No, no… we spent last Father’s Day with him. He knows we’ll visit longer when we get back. He doesn’t mind the wait,” Zuko replied, using his bending to add some flame to the fire. “He knows he gets to see little Kya a lot more than your dad, too. It’s a lot easier to close the teashop a few weeks than get away from being chief.”
Katara gave Zuko a squeeze before he turned around, wrapping his arms around her in return. “That’s true,” Katara agreed, resting her head on Zuko’s chest. “You would know… which is why I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Hey, of course I’m here. I wish we could stay longer,” replied Zuko, his cheek resting on Katara’s as his hand stroked circles on her back over her blue nightgown. He pulled away then, kissing Katara’s cheek. “Let’s get some rest.”
Katara nodded in agreement, happy to finally curl up in bed with Zuko. Zuko lied down, sighing as his head hit the pillow. There was nothing like getting into the warm bed after a long day out in the cold. Katara followed suit, snuggling against Zuko as she nuzzled her head into the fluffy pillow beside him.
Zuko then tugged the fur blanket over, holding it close to his chest. He was still working off a bit of the cold from being outside. Katara pouted then, sitting up to tug back at it. Zuko then smirked, tugging it a bit back towards him.
Katara leaned over, looking down at her husband, “Zuko, hey, I’m cold too!”
“You’re always hogging the blankets! It’s my turn now!” he teased in respone, tugging them in closer towards him.
“Zuko!” Katara complained, “Stop taking all the furs!”
“Well, you don’t even need the furs. I have ways of keeping you warm,” Zuko quipped teasingly, turning over on his back to look up at Katara with a smirk. She laughed then, leaning over him, her long, undone hair hanging over Zuko's face.
“Is that right?” she asked, tilting her head. “Well, why don’t you come demonstrate then?”
Zuko smirked, sitting up and turning over so that he was now the one hovering over Katara instead. He leaned down, his long, silky hair hanging over her, and began peppering Katara's face in kisses before moving down to her neck, smiling against her warm skin over her pulse.
Katara smirked again, her arms wrapping around Zuko's strong back as she turned to whisper in his ear, “I was thinking it might be about time to make you a father of two.”