"Zuko." You woke up late in the night as you were gently roused by Zuko's tossing and turning body. "Zu."

He sighed and looked at you.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I have a lot on my mind." He admitted as he pulled you close."

"Tell me 'bout it." You implored sincerely, causing the dam in Zuko's mouth to break. And you tried your best to listen without falling asleep.

However, one thing at the end caught your attention.

"You's gonna go... look for ya ma?" You asked.

"Yeah... I was thinking I might have to." He stroked your cheek. "It's important to me."

"Can it... Can the you leavin' part..." You cursed your own eyes as they stung with salty water. "Can it wait 'til we have the baby?"

"Why are you crying, my love?" The words slipped out of his mouth and he blushed, not usually one for endearing names. "Shh, shh, shh."

He wiped at your cheeks and held you close.

"I think it would take a while for me to get all the information to be anywhere near leaving anyway..." It bothered him to no end to see you cry. It was entirely out of character. "So, I can wait. I'll wait. I'll wait, YN, don't cry."

"It's the baby, makin' me cry. I ain't cryin' over you." You tried to be sassy, but it just came off as pathetic.

"Okay, YN." He kissed your head. "I know you wouldn't cry over me. I'm not that special."

After a few moments of you calming down, Zuko spoke again.

"I was going to leave you here with Iroh for the remainder of your pregnancy. Mostly to avoid the assassins..."

"Was?" You picked up on the past tense.

"Yeah. I can't." He mumbled.

"Why?" Your fingers traced up and down his chest.

"I love you so much, YN." He squeezed your shoulders and wrapped his legs around yours. "I realize this now even more. And maybe it's just seeing you so big with my baby, but I don't even want to let you out of my sight. I want to protect you at all costs. And I know Iroh could probably do a better job at it... But think of everything I would be... have been... missing."

Suddenly, you felt the familiar butterfly kiss kicks in your ribs.

You took his hand and placed it over the movement.

"Like that." He breath was stolen away. "You'll be in my bed. By my side. We'll put you back in Fire Nation clothes. I want you near me whenever possible. Because I love you and I love our baby."

"I love you too, Zuko." You kissed his bare chest. "And 'sides. Pretty easy to stay alive when you's a blood bender."

He mentally smacked himself in the head.

"Yeah, I guess assassins would have a pretty hard time getting to you, huh?" He laughed.

"Hope you got the right clothes waitin' for me. I ain't gonna fit into ma old stuff too well." You admitted.

"You don't have to wear anything at all if you stay in my room." Zuko's tone shifted and his hand drifted lower as the kicking subsided.

"I'm in ya room right now and I still got clothes on. Ain't seem like ya care too much." You flirted right back with him.

"Oh, I'll show you how much I care." He growled. And he was definitely going to.