Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters, or the original Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I stood impatiently just below the steps to the entrance of the palace. The stone path that lead to the gate was rather lengthy now as I gazed at my surroundings. At one time I might have thought it was impressive and even go as far to say it was beautiful. Each brick carefully cut to look as if it was simply picked up, found in it's jagged, rough state. The plants picked mainly for their color. Maroons, scarlets, crimson. Named the hue of red and it'd be here.

Now as I stared the path I was rather irritated. I would have to wait longer than necessary to see her. Ever sense I was crowned Fire Lord I was mainly stayed in the Fire Nation. She decided not to make residency in her original water tribe, but instead travel with the Avatar.

My thoughts were still of her, which caused me to glance over at the woman standing next to me. Mai. We had been through a lot, yet somehow she saw something in me. I know I should have thought more of her, cared for her more, anything, but I just couldn't. She angered me more than she pleased me even after all this time.

Mai stared at her nails, already bored of the visit before our guests had stepped inside the palace grounds. She crinkled her nose unattractively when she saw a scrape of dirt under one nail. With a sigh she called for a servant who quickly headed over to her.

I soon lost interested, turning back to the gate. I hadn't noticed, but the large doors were already opened and a couple headed up the stone path. My eyes drifted immediately to the woman in blue attire. Her hair was kept in the familiar two small loops in the front, each had two beads inthem. The rest of her hair was in a complicated, yet graceful and beautiful twisted bun at the back of her head. One section had a blue comb woven in and the end of her hair was tied together with blue, silk ribbons. Though it was terribly hot outside she was in full water tribe costume. A cloak made of a light blue, decorated with a crescent moon and brilliants stars. Her dress was made of beautiful, dark blue fabric. When she looked up at me a warm smile lit her face.

"Zuko, it's been too long," She lifted her arms as if to hug me, but then looked over at the Avatar from the corner of her eye. He stared at her, love written all over his face. So she instead grinned wider and bowed slightly to me. Then she turned to Mai, who didn't even pretend to be pleased by their arrival.

"Fire Lord Zuko, it has been too long, old friend," Aang spoke this time. He had grown a little sense over throwing Ozai. He still wore the monk clothing, he was still bald, and still carried around a staff/glider.

"Yes," was all I could say. It wasn't that I didn't want him here, just that things had changed. After I had searched for him and tried to kidnap him for so long it was hard becoming allies. But we eventually were able to call each other friends. Then when we went off to our separate duties Aang changed. His personality was different. I'm not able to explain, but there was something different. Though, maybe I was the one who changed. There was something between us and I seemed to be the only one who noticed.

"Katara and I have an announcement to make," Aang declared as he wrapped an arm around her waist. I half grinned in an attempt to hide the fact that I found the showing of affection strange. The monk must of have found some hidden confidence between the time they had seen each other and now.

"Aang," Katara's blue eyes flickered downward as if ashamed by the announcement. Her cheeks burned a bright red. "Could you not wait until we were at least inside?"

I looked over at Mai and was surprised to find her somewhat interested. Having such a long relationship with her I had come to know when something caught her attention. Mai's eyes flickered from Aang then to Katara and back, settling on the first. A single dark brow rose up slightly, though her hand was still held up as if she would go back to examining it in a moment.

"We're engaged," The Avatar's smile grew even wider as he stared at his fiancée. "We plan to get married in spring."

I told myself I wouldn't make another fanfic, espcially one for this because I don't know a lot about it, but here it is. I have more written, but I just wanted to leave it at that. You'll find out Zuko's reaction later. ;)