Zuko wakes up to the crackling sound of Izumi crying through the baby monitor. Katara also lifts her head, slowly moving like an exhausted puppet.
"Go back to sleep," Zuko whispers, "I'll take care of her."
Katara smiles and burrows herself back underneath the covers. Her reply is muffled by her pillow, and there is no hope of understanding what she said.
Zuko take the bottle from the fridge and gently warms it in his hand. Silently, he's thankful to Uncle for teaching him how to warm tea properly. In what Zuko thought were pointless lessons at the time, now fully apply here.
He picks up his fussing daughter and whispers a lullaby as she eagerly sucks on her bottle.
Zuko has been so busy with work, that he's hardly had a chance to spend quality time with Izumi. He's definitely stepped up for holding her, choosing the occasional outfit, and a diaper change here and there.
But this is the first time he's been able to truly sit with Izumi because he's got the day off today. He doesn't need to be anywhere else today.
Zuko holds Izumi long after she's done feeding. She is so tiny, weak, and squishy. He can't imagine ever hurting her. From the day Katara told him that she was pregnant, to the day that Izumi was born, some part of him was afraid he'd hurt her (that he'd be like Ozai, towering and cruel).
Everything Zuko has learned on how to be a father is doing everything that Ozai didn't do; mirroring aspects of Uncle and remembering what advice Hakoda had given.
He never wants Izumi to be afraid of him. He doesn't want her cowering and stiffening up every time she hears his voice. He doesn't want her to wonder if he loves her - and when she inevitably has siblings, she won't compete with them for his affections.
How could Ozai be so cruel, he wonders, it had come so easily to that man, as natural as breathing.
He ponders these things when Izumi babbles as she reaches for Zuko’s face, with a bright, happy smile.
"That's right," Zuko answers her gibberish. "A very good point, Izumi."
He sits with her, just a bit longer.
Katara wakes up feeling more refreshed than she has in a long while. She glances over to Zuko’s side of the bed and finds it empty. In fact, his side of the bed is cold.
She has a vague memory of waking up and Zuko saying something to her - she can't recall what - but she makes her way to the nursery to check on Izumi.
Katara pauses at the doorway. She smiles with such warmth and joy as she observes the scene.
Having Izumi has thrown off Katara's normal sleep schedule; having a baby it is to be expected. She has bemoaned her loss of sleep and time every now and then when things feel overwhelming.
But it's the precious, quiet moments like these. For once, she's awake before the sun rises and thus she's awake before Zuko. Such a rare and momentous occasion.
She sees that Zuko has fallen asleep in the rocking chair holding Izumi, who is also sleeping contentedly wrapped in his arms.
Katara can see the sun start to rise over the horizon, and its rays slowly start to fill the room. As expected, Zuko opens his eyes. He gives Katara a smile as he stands, and after a kiss to his cheek and one to her forehead, they both begin to prepare for the day.
blakekathryn
origamiaround
