A New Era

The End of the Summer

After 2 months of being married, Katara and Aang were happily living in the Air Temple, enjoying the married life. Aang was meditating in the the Wooden archway with stone designs and incense burning. He breathed in and out, focusing on nothing but his breathing and the sound of his heartbeat. Katara was in the garden, a basket in hand as she was collecting some vegetables and herbs.

"How does steamed Veggie dumplings sound for dinner?" Katara yelled out Aang was brought back to reality as he heard Katara.

"That sounds great!" He said, trying to close his eyes and go back to meditating. Katara found some Ginger root hidden in the rich soil. She smiled to herself.

"Guess what I just found?" She yelled once more. After yelling, she felt a bit dizzy. Aang sighed as he realized his mediation would have to be cut short.

"What did you find?" He asked putting out the incense. He sat up, waiting for a response.

"Katara?" He yelled out as he walked out into the grass. He soon heard a thud from the garden. He started to run towards it.

"Katara!" He yelled as he turned into the garden to see Katara collapsed on the ground, the basket of vegetables spilled everywhere as she still clutched the root in her hand. He sighed and picked her up, knowing this was a symptom of her disease.

"I guess it was ginger." He said sadly. She moaned as he laid her on their bed upstairs. He tucked her in bed as he called the medicine girl from the Air Acolytes about a mile from their temple. Aang did worry, even if he knew the cause. 

Katara slowly opened her eyes, seeing the sunlight through the window. She saw a few birds fly by as she brought her hand to her head to ease her throbbing headache. She noticed Aang sitting a chair next to her, looking down until he noticed her awakening. He launched himself at her, pulling her into a hug. He soon separated seeing her sitting up and holding her head.

"What happened?" She asked. Aang brought her a cup of a creamy green liquid with a foul smell to Katara.

"Your disease acted up, you were out for 4 days. Drink this, it will taste bad but it will cure your headache." She took a few sips, gagging at the disgusting taste. Within a few seconds, her headache started to feel a thousands times better.

"This will happen every few months or so, its not fair to you Aang." She said. Aang kissed her softly on the lips, holding her hand and then brushing aside her hair.

"I promised to be with you through sickness and health. I will never regret this promise Katara." He said. Katara smiled as he gently squeezed her hand.

"I'm not tired, do you just want to talk for awhile?" She offered. He nodded as he climbed into bed with her, wrapping his arms around her and making her feel safe.

"So...How's life?" She asked jokingly. He laughed a little and so did she. He sighed and looked into her eyes.

"There is something I wanted to talk to you about... but it can wait until you feel better to talk about it." He said nodding it off. Katara raised her brow.

"I'm fine. Tell me." She said sternly. Aang looked down for a moment.

"Now that were married... maybe it's time we talked about-" he trailed off looking into her sapphire eyes.

"Kids." She finished his thought. He rubbed the back of his neck. He nodded as Katara looked down at her stomach.

"Tell me, do you want to have kids because you want them, or out of obligation to continue your kind." She said. Aang stood silent for a moment.

"I've always wanted kids, even when I was in training to be a monk. I always thought it would have been impossible since of my position at the time. But now, after 100 years, after the war, after meeting you, it all seemed possible again. Yes, the Airbender race needs to continue, that is true, but only 1 Airbender is needed to carry on my kind. I will be happy with whatever our children turn out to be, as long as their ours." He said. Katara smiled. She rubbed her stomach.

"This might be a good time to tell you then." She said smiling. Aang looked her puzzled. She placed his hand on her stomach.

"I was waiting for the right time, Aang..." she said still holding his hand to her stomach. His eyes widened.

"I'm pregnant." She said. Aang's mouth dropped, not a word coming from his mouth. He looked down to her stomach and moved his hand around a little, looking Back up at her and laughing. He swooped her up and clutched her head, her laughing as well. He let a tear fall down his cheek and so did Katara. He soon sat her down and hugged her tightly, letting go, holding his head in astonishment.

"Wow!" He said. Katara smiled. She rubbed her hand over her stomach.

"I found out last week. We're going to have a baby!" She said. Aang ran over to his desk and dipped his paintbrush in the ink next to him and started painting words on several pieces of parchment.

"What are you doing sweetie?" She asked titling her head a bit. Aang quickly finished up the several scrolls and called over some messenger falcons from the windowsill.

"I'm sharing the good news with everybody!" He exclaimed. Katara looked off and sighed.

"Are you sure you want to do that now? Don't you want to wait until... it's safe?" She said. He was in the middle of tying the scrolls on the birds but he stopped before he sent them off. He sat next to Katara, the birds still waiting on the windowsill.

"What do you mean?" He asked. Her eyes started to water.

"I didn't think this would really matter until now... but my family kind of has a history." She said. He tried to wipe away some of her tears.

"What kind of history?" He asked worried. She tapped her fingers together.

"The women in my family have a history of miscarriages." She said bluntly. Aang raised his brow.

"What's that?" He asked. Katara was a little shocked that he didn't know what a miscarriage was, but then again he didn't know what sex was until 2 years ago due to him being raised by monks and all.

"It's um, when a woman is pregnant with a baby but before it is ready to be born, it kind of, dies." She said. Aang face dropped.

"Oh. That can h-happen?" He asked panicking. Katara put her hand on his.

"Sadly yes. Not every baby can survive. My mother had 2 miscarriages before Sokka and 3 before me. My grandmother had it worse before my dad and her mother before his." She said still crying. Aang squeezed her hand.

"Why didn't you ever tell me this?" He asked rubbing his forehead.

"Because if you knew I didn't think you would want to marry me knowing I could ruin your chancing of having Airbender babies." She said sobbing. And placed his forehead on hers.

"Katara, you are the only one for me. I will make sure that I will do everything I can to make sure our children are happy and healthy. We can do this." He said looking into her eyes. She pulled him into a kiss before smiling.

"Send the messages. I'm just gonna have to be really careful until my 3rd trimester." She said. He sprang up and sent the birds into different directions. He looked back at her confused.

"A 3rd tri-what?" He asked. Katara smiled as she shook her head.

"Mr. Avatar, I need to teach you about pregnancy."