Fire Lord Zuko slept like a rock. His head on the pillow and his arms wrapped around said pillow, his long black hair was spread out on his pale bare back, ending just below his shoulder blades. He licked his lips in his sleep, and muttered something unintelligible. His wife, Katara, slept next to him, curled up her head resting on her pillow, and all was peaceful in the house of the Fire Lord.
A sharp wail punctured the night’s heavenly silence. Zuko groaned and rubbed his face into the pillow. Maybe if he pretended to be asleep Katara will get the baby. “Mm…Zuko, your turn,” Katara muttered. Zuko didn’t answer. “Zuko, I said it was your turn,” Katara repeated. Zuko didn’t answer; still hoping Katara would think he was still asleep. “Zuko, I know you’re awake,” Katara rolled over annoyed to stare at her husband’s face. “You don’t sleep like Sokka, who’s dead to the world when he sleeps,” Katara shook Zuko’s shoulder. “I know you’re awake, so wake up and get your son,” Katara growled. Zuko continued to be asleep. “Now, Zuko!” the Fire Lady said. Zuko groaned and snuggled into his pillow. Katara rolled her eyes. “Fine! I’ll get him!” Katara flung the blanket off of her body and got out of bed. Zuko sighed and snuggled into his pillow. You should’ve been a good husband and got your son for your wife, he chided himself. He groaned and rolled onto his back, and blinked his eyes opened.
Katara came back a few minuets later, still a bit angry with Zuko. She crawled into bed and her husband pulled her close to his chest. She felt him kiss the back of her neck gently. “How is he?” Zuko asked softly.
“Well, maybe if you would have gotten up and check him! You would know how he’s doing!” Katara growled. Zuko frowned.
“I’m tired, I was working all day,” Zuko smiled.
“Oh, and I wasn’t? I’ve been up three times with him! And you fake sleep every time it’s your turn!” Katara growled.
“Katara,” Zuko nuzzled her neck. “Let’s just go back to sleep,” he sighed.
“No! He’s also your responsibility Zuko!” Katara elbowed Zuko in the gut.
“Ow,” he groaned, letting go of her. “That was a cheap trick Katara,” he rubbed his abused ribs.
“Well, it worked,” the waterbender growled snuggling into her pillow. Zuko groaned and knew well enough to leave her alone.
Let’s just hope he doesn’t cry again tonight, Zuko thought.



                                                          ***
                                                          

Dawn came, and the Fire Lord blinked his eyes open tiredly only to groan upon hearing the sharp wail of his son. “Well, I guess he’s a firebender,” Zuko muttered, as he got out of bed. Katara moaned and rolled over, only to find her hand meeting warm silk sheets. “I got him Katara,” Zuko leaned down and brushed some hair away from his wife’s cheek. “I got him,” he repeated before kissing her cheek gently. He slowly made his way to his son’s room, which was jointed to their room.
Zuko yawned as he opened the door to see the lavish crib where his son slept. He smiled as he walked closer to the crib. He placed his hands behind his back and peered at the ten-month-old baby boy. The little boy was named Takao.
The little prince stopped his crying upon sensing the presents of his father. The tiny boy opened his large golden eyes. He had a thick mop of inky dark brown hair. He had his mother’s tan skin and his father’s face. Zuko smiled down at his son, pride welling up in his chest. “Hey,” he whispered softly, scooping the baby up gently. “You kept your mother and me up all night you know that, don’t you?” Zuko cooed.
Takao giggled softly, nuzzling his father’s neck. “Are you hungry?” Zuko asked. The baby cooed happily. “Oh, I get it, you just wanted someone to hold you, hmm?” Zuko asked. “Let’s go wake up your mother, hmm?” Zuko walked out of the room.



                                                         ***



He gently eased himself down onto the bed and then onto his back. Takao looked around the room with his golden eyes. Gently Zuko slid him down onto the bed in the space between him and Katara. “Katara,” he whispered, shaking her gently. Katara grunted and blinked her eyes open to see her husband. “I brought a little visitor,” Zuko smirked. Katara pushed herself up a bit to smile down at her son. Takao giggled as his mother’s hair created a curtain around him. Laughing he raised one little fist into the air and opened his hand, to grab some of the soft locks of his mother’s hair. “He rose with the sun,” Zuko said smugly.
“That proves nothing,” Katara sat up against the headboard. “He’s a waterbender,” Katara scooped up her baby and cradled him, tickling his chin. “Aren’t you? A waterbender, just like your mama,” Katara flashed Zuko a grin.
He frowned and shrugged. “That’ll explain why he’s always waking up in the unholy hours of the night.”
“Yep,” Katara giggled, as she put Takao under her nightgown and steered his hungry mouth to her breast. The waterbender sighed happily as she leaned against the headboard. Zuko watched his wife and son.
“Does it…erm…feel…weird?” he asked, somewhat pointing to Katara.
“Does what feel weird?” Katara asked.
“Him…feeding…” Zuko stopped and looked away rubbing his head, a blush creeping up his cheek. Katara looked down before giggling.
“No. Not really. At first it did…but…its kinda relaxing,” she sighed closing her eyes. Zuko nodded, before leaning over and giving Katara a kiss on the cheek.
“I have a meeting in an hour, I don’t know how long I’ll be, but I should be out by early to mid afternoon, I’ll be in my study then, bring him by I’ll watch him until dinner,” Zuko said. Katara nodded before closing her eyes again.



                                                           ***
        


Zuko rolled his eyes, he sighed as the door opened to reveal yet another trio of ministers and military officials. “Fire Lord,” they bowed. Zuko nodded. Before anyone of them spoke, their eyes fell upon the baby on Zuko’s lap.
Takao was happily sitting on Zuko’s knee, up against his father’s stomach, both of his hand holding his father’s larger one, and he was happily chewing on Zuko’s finger, his little gums harmlessly biting his father’s finger. Zuko followed their gaze to his son, who flicked his eyes up at his father only to grin and continue to gum his father’s finger.
“Does he…have to be here?” General Yong asked, pointing hesitantly to the baby. Zuko’s eyes narrowed dangerously, causing the general to gulp.
“Do you have a problem with your prince?” Zuko asked; he could feel his hands heating up. “Because, if you do, by all means tell me.”
“No, your majesty,” Yong muttered.
“You better not have a problem with him! Because if you do, you have a problem with me and my choices!” Zuko growled. Takao stopped chewing on his father’s finger and looked up at him, making a small moaning sound. Zuko looked down and saw his son’s saliva steaming a bit. He smiled and willed himself to bring his temper under control. Once he was under control, Takao began to chew on his finger again. “Now, what do you want gentlemen?”
“Um…we were going to ask if you could call another meeting,” Yong said.
“About what?”
“About…our military situation,” Yong seemed a bit flustered. Zuko paused, thinking.
“No,” Zuko said flatly.
“But, my lord! This is important! We may need to marshal our forces for an attack from the Earth Kingdom! Just because we are at peace, doesn’t mean those barbarians won’t try to attack us!”
“The answer is still no. I have a son to raise, a wife to support and a nation to run. I don’t believe for a second that the Earth Kingdom will attack us. I happen to know personally, Toph Bei Fong, who happens to know the Earth King personally. I can write a missive to her requesting she speak to the Earth King, if that’ll make you feel more secure General,” Zuko said coolly. The men bowed and left. Zuko turned to his attention to his son. “See Takao? That’s how you handle grouchy old men trying to get their way in your court,” Zuko said bouncing his little son. Takao looked at Zuko with a sidelong glance. Zuko sighed in defeat. “You’ll understand someday.”




                                                             ***




Katara rocked her baby signing softly to him, before putting him in his crib. Zuko watching from the door, Katara turned and smiled at him, before walking up to him. “Hmm?” she tilted her head back smiling at him. He kissed her lips softly.
“You were beautiful,” he whispered. Katara giggled softly, as she snuggled into his chest.
“I was just singing him a lullaby,” she said softly.
“You were still beautiful,” he whispered softly, they watched their son sleep before Zuko, using his firebending, killed the candle’s flickering flame. “Let’s go to bed,” he wrapped his arm around her waist and together they left the room.