"I look stupid..." Zuko complained as he sat next to you.

"Nah, ya look good, Zu." You stroked his hair out of his face. "Long hair."

"I'm growing it all out. Traditional for the Fire Lord." He touched your face back lovingly. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah, I do." You kissed his jaw and then nuzzled his neck.

"If you're not careful, you're going to make me show off what made you pregnant in the first place..." He mumbled to you as he let out a sigh of relief and held your head to him.

"Ain't no one care. Dinner, then we can go my room. Well, my house I guess now. I got my own stuff 'cause of the baby."

"See? Look at all these perks." He laughed as you kissed his neck again and laid on his shoulder. Zuko slipped his hand through your dress and laid it on your stomach. "There's even more for the baby should they become the Fire Lord."

"Don't start with me right now!" You slapped his chest. "Eat your damn stew. Ma's bringin' it now."

Zuko grimaced. As you mother put a bowl in his hands, he looked at you for support. But instead, you were digging into yours. 

"It's real good!" You nodded with a mouth full of bug stew. "Eat."

He looked up to see your entire family eyeing him. It was a test, he figured. Reject the food, reject the family. So with a gulp, he went for it.

"Oh..." He swallowed. "It's not that bad. In fact..." He took another bite. "I like it pretty well. It's different."

Your mother came over and smacked his back.

"So glad ta hear!" She smiled a big smile. "I make a mean bug stew."

"That ya do, Fei." Huu agreed.

"Oh shut up!" She scowled. "I ain't pickin' you, you fat old man! We done had our babies. Go bend a vine or somethin'!"

You laughed wildly as Zuko looked bewildered.

"She always talks to 'im like that. Don't mind 'er," You laughed.

"Will you pick me at least?" He asked.

"I dunno, Zu, look around at my great options." You cracked up more, laughing loudly as Zuko looked to see men loudly slurping stew, picking at their ears, noses and toes.

"How did you end up so..." He admired you openly, with hearts in his eyes. "Perfect?"

"Stop it..." You blushed and gave him side eyes as he bumped your shoulder with his.

"It must be that pregnancy glow, but you're looking even better than usual." He continued complimenting you.

"Stop!" You blushed harder.

"That, or the swamp fog is really getting to me." He wiped his forehead jokingly as you slapped at him again.

"I will change my mind!" You howled, "I will make ya sleep in the boat!"

Zuko let out a chuckle, set down his bowl and pulled you into his lap, feeling a sense of freedom surround him. The Swamp people were nothing like the Fire Nation people, just like his Uncle had said. But instead of making him uncomfortable, instead of making him feel out of place, it allowed him to open up. 

I don't want to go back. He thought as he touched your stomach again. I'd rather just... stay here.