AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 39

Athlea looked forward, eyes wide. She exhaled for a second and looked back at Dai. She immediately started shaking her head in denial. "No... no... no, no, no," she said, a frown on her face. "That's impossible! No...!" she exclaimed. She looked back forward in disbelief. "...I lost it?" she suddenly asked in a much lower voice, filled with pain and sadness.

"Katara?" Aang called. "Is everything okay?"

Dai put a hand on Athlea's shoulder. "Yes," she said softly. "That explains your dizziness and headaches lately. The stress was too much."

Katara stood, her eyes round, her hands folded in front of her chest. She moved off toward Aang. Dai moved to help support Athlea and Zuko came and kneeled in front of her. "She was pregnant," Dai said softly. "She miscarried." Zuko was halfway through running his hands through his hair, but he stopped, eyes wide. "I'll leave you two alone." She stood and walked to Brasa, clutching her icy staff close.

"Wh..." Zuko's gaze snapped toward Athlea, turning into a glare. "I told you not to fight!" he yelled. Athlea frowned. He dropped to his knees, hugging her roughly, holding her close to her chest. "I told you to stay home and not fight," he muttered through gritted teeth.

Athlea embraced him, her arms around him, her cheek on his shoulder. "...I didn't know..." she said. She closed her eyes, a few tears falling down her cheeks. Behind them, Sokka and Toph approached Dai, speaking to her quietly.

"I know," Zuko whispered, his face in her neck. "If you knew you would've stayed home. I know that." His tears wet her neck. After a moment he sat up, wiping her neck with his hand and cupping her own neck in both hands.

She opened her eyes slowly to look at him. "We'll be okay," she said.

"Yeah," Zuko breathed softly. "Yeah, we will. Are you okay now?" he asked gently, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She smiled softly, her eyes still sharp with pain. "Should I bring you home?" He kissed her cheek, his breath catching in his chest. He gently wiped her tears away, his hands shaking a bit.

Athlea took his hands in her own, which were shaking. Zuko leaned forward and kissed her, then pressed his cheek to hers and looked down at her stomach. "I am not going home. I am fighting." She leaned in, kissing his cheek as well.

He blinked up at her and leaned slightly away from her kiss. "Althie..." His eyes grew sharp and Athlea blinked, looking up at him as he stood, walking quickly back to Eld. "Back to the palace," he said loudly.

Dai stood, waving an arm. "Well, jeez, Zuko? No conversation?" He jumped on Eld, whipped the reins, and Eld flew away. Dai glared up at him and screamed. "What about your fucking wife?!"

Katara blinked after Zuko. She jumped to her hands and rushed to Athlea, grabbing her arm to help him up. "Come on," she murmured. "He didn't mean it. You know how he gets."

Sokka and Aang both turned to watch Zuko leave. "Man, what the fuck?!" Sokka called out. He facepalmed.

"It's fine," Athlea said to Katara. Aang turned to her. "I'll talk to him," the firebender reassured.

Athlea and Dai mounted Brasa to fly back to the Palace, Toph, Aang, and Sokka getting on Appa. With Katara's and Dai's help, Athlea made her way inside, and everyone parted ways.

***

A/N rough battle... and poor Theaaa. she's so maternal... i cryyyyyy