Twisted Fate | Kataang

Chapter 4: Little Smile

The next two months seemed to fly by for Katara and Haru, and soon enough the time came.

"Push!" The doctor, a water healer, said.

"I'm trying! Oww-ugh!" Katara moaned.

Haru was pacing the floor outside of the birthing tent for what felt like forever when the doctor peered out and motioned for him to step inside.

"Haru," Katara said weakly, taking his hand in hers, "It's a boy."

"A boy? Oh Katara!" Haru beamed, "And he's healthy?" Haru turned towards the doctor for this last question.

"Yes, he seems to be the perfect little bundle of joy, congratulations." The doctor cleaned up and stepped out of the tent, leaving the couple alone.

"So," Katara smiled weakly, "Tyro it is then?"

...

The couple was filled with delight for the next couple of weeks, cooing at and adoring their new baby. Haru lessened his work hours so that he could spend more time with the baby and his wife. There were the obvious parenting struggles too, such as changing diapers, feeding, and crying, but Katara wouldn't have it any other way.

One day, Katara was making googoo sounds at Tyro as she dressed him for the day, causing a little smile to form on his face as he gazed up at her. Haru entered the room and stood behind Katara, hugging her from behind and resting his chin on her head. It was a sweet moment that made Katara's heart flutter, and she couldn't be more happy as they stood there in silence, adoring their little bundle of baby that lay before them.

"I think he has your eyes," Haru said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, I think so too. I think he has your... your uh," It was at that moment that Katara realized the mistake she made. She had not seen any resemblance of Haru in Tyro, and the fear it gave her turned her stomach to knots.

Haru laughed it off, obviously not thinking anything about her lack of words. "It's okay, he doesn't have to look like me. When I was a baby I didn't look much like my father, either," He kissed her head and left the room.

Katara stared at Tyro. She stared hard. His little smile, it almost looked like the smile of... NO. Katara tried desperately to shake the thought out of her head, but her heart ached. She found solace in the realization that she hadn't seen that certain Airbender since she was in Iroh's tea shop, and that was over two months ago. He probably forgot all about the crazy idea... yeah... yeah! Katara smiled nervously to herself, forcing her mind to believe it.