AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 79

"So expecting, huh?" Irene asked, a pleased smile adorning her features, her gaze on the fire in front of her.

"Yeah... We are," Athlea responded, smiling. Zuko sat to her right.

"Guys!" Sokka called out, rummaging around there stuff madly.

"What is it?" Toph, on the other side of the fire, turned toward him.

"Have you seen Boomerang? I can't find it anywhere! I swear I left it here!"

"You always lose that damned thing," the earthbender responded, rolling her eyes.

Irene looked at Sokka and raised an eyebrow. "Check where you left it last time, or trace your footsteps," she suggested with a shrug.

"Since you're a healer," Katara interrupted, blue eyes on Irene, "will you check on the babies? I'm not experience with them, and there was something going on that I couldn't figure out last night." Irene raised an eyebrow and blinked, glancing at Athlea, then Katara.

Zuko glanced at Athlea. "Something going on that you didn't tell me about?"

Katara shook her head. "I can tell the baby is healthy, though." Zuko frowned.

"I'm sure it isn't anything serious," Irene finally responded. "Some babies tend to have a lot of movement and some don't. We can check," she said with a smile. Katara nodded, leaning over Athlea next to Irene.

Athlea turned to Zuko. "I don't think there's anything wrong," she agreed with Katara. Irene pulled a bit of water from the cave wall and held it over Athlea's stomach, her eyes fixed on the cloth on top of Athlea's skin, concentrating.

Sokka suddenly burst toward the fire from the edge of the cave. "What are you doing?"

Katara turned to Sokka, frowning. "Dai still isn't back yet?"

Sokka turned his attention to Katara and shook his head. "No. She really tends to run away," he sighed. "She should really stop it. It's worrying, especially in situations such as these."

Katara giggled. "I think it's sorta funny. She just disappeared and appears as needed." She shrugged.

He glanced around. "I guess I'll go look for her."

Toph giggled. "Take a left and go forward. She's in there."

"Ho--" Sokka stopped and just shook his head, wandering away.

Irene's smile had brightened, and she giggled. "Wh-what's wrong?" Athlea asked, eyes round.

"Oh, nothing, nothing." Irene glanced up at Katara. "There's nothing abnormal, nothing to worry about." She turned to face Zuko. "You're having twins. That's why there's a lot of movement." Athlea's jaw dropped.

Zuko froze, staring at Irene. "I'm sorry, she's what?" His voice rose with confusion and surprise before he turned to Athlea. He hugged her tightly, whispering in her ear. Athlea hugged him back softly, smiling slightly and kissing his cheek.

Irene giggled. "Yeah, twins." She smiled. "Doesn't surprise me. Twins run in the family--my brother and I, for example." She looked at the fire, then back at the pair. "Do you want to know the genders?"

Athlea's eyes turned to her mother and she blinked. "The genders?" She was quiet for a moment, then glanced at Zuko.

"I think Zuko will glow like the sun if both are boys," Toph giggled.

"He already looks like a little ray of light," Aang teased.

Zuko blinked, then nodded eagerly. "Yes. Yes, we do," he said, glancing back at Athlea. She glanced up at him, smiling and looking at the ground. "Please." He glanced briefly at Toph, then Aang, before his eyes locked on Irene again. He pulled Athlea closer.

"Please, mother," Athlea agreed softly.

Irene tilted her head the slightest bit, eyes softening. After a moment she nodded and took a deep breath. "You're having twin boys. Congratulations," she said, smiling.

"Heh, called it!" Toph cheered.

"Toph the fortune reader," Aang chuckled.

"Twin... boys..." Athlea blinked, smiling, and turned to Zuko. "Two Princes."

Zuko smiled, leaning his cheek against Athlea's. "Two boys," Zuko responded, raising his eyebrows. "We'll have our hands full, that's for sure."

"Unless you're lucky and our babies are quiet," Irene responded, eyes shining.

Zuko laughed. "Look at us. Do you think our babies are going to be quiet?"

Suddenly Irene hugged herself. "I'm going to be a grandmother!" she announced happily.

He blinked, looking at Irene. "Oh, and just so you know, your husband and brother are at the Palace." He bit his lip. "Probably should mention that." He went back to embracing Athlea, holding her to himself.

"Someone can't give his partner space," Toph teased quietly.

"We're celebrating," Zuko muttered, furrowing his brows.

Irene narrowed her eyes, interrupting. "That son of a bitch. How many?"

"How many what?" Athlea furrowed her brows.

"Women. How many women do I have to kill?"

Athlea blinked, eyes going a bit wide. "None...?"

Katara laughed. "He isn't with anyone," she told Irene. "He's been looking for you all this time."

Irene crossed her arms. "That idiot is a flirt. I know him."

"Speaking of celebrations, how will the party be when you welcome the twins?" Toph grinned at Zuko. "Massive, right?"

Zuko lit up. "We could do a festival!" he agreed with Toph, for once.

Athlea blinked a few times. "More glitter!" she announced happily.

"Wasn't it enough at the Spring Festival?" Aang asked awkwardly.

"Never enough." Athlea smiled, then glanced at Zuko. "You owe me a seal plushie."

"If you want glitter, you get glitter." Zuko's eyes were shining. He rolled his eyes. "Wasn't it a whale? Or do you think you get two now?"

Athlea giggled. "Both, please."

He touched his nose to hers. "I'm sure the Water Nation will have some."

"Come to think of it, did Sokka get lost?" Aang suddenly asked.

***

A/N now Sokka and Dai are both missing but be real, that's normal