Chapter 1

The Jasmine Dragon was flooded with cheerful costumers on the beautiful spring morning in Ba Sing Se. Three of those costumers included a twenty-three year old Sokka, twenty-two year old Katara, and twenty year old Toph. After the war had been won, the Gaang had helped where they were needed most: the restoration movement, helping Zuko find his mother, etc. For all but the Fire Lord and Avatar, life had seemed to settle down. Sokka was getting ready to take over as chief at the Southern Water Tribe, Toph had her Metal Bending Academy, and Katara was now a water bending teacher in the South Pole.

Katara looked around her table smiling at her brother and best friend. The tea shop bustled with the clanking of tea cups and the chattering of people.

"Where's Suki?" Katara asked taking a sip of her Ginseng tea.

"Kyoshi Island, as usual. They're going to be here by dinner though" Sokka said.

"Why are you guys here so early?" Toph asked.

"We thought we were actually going to be late. Why are you here so early?" Katara answered.

Toph shrugged her bare shoulders and replied,

"I enjoy the old man's company. Oh, and you guys too"

In the back of the Jasmine Dragon, Iroh peered out through the small window and saw the three young people laughing and teasing at his table. He had been honored when his nephew and the Avatar had written him asking if they could hold a reunion at the tea shop. The friends had not seen each other in four years and Aang felt it was time they all took a small vacation. As he watched on, Suki entered the tea shop wearing a lovely red dress and no make up, much to Iroh's surprise.

"Sorry Uncle. Am I late?" Zuko asked coming through the back of the tea shop to greet his uncle.

"No, no, Zuko. You're right on time. Your friends are here too"

Zuko hugged his uncle in a loving greeting and Iroh, with an innocent smile on his face asked,

"Could you be a help and go get the crate of jasmine leaves in the back?"

Zuko looked at his uncle questioningly, but sighed and went to find the crate. Making sure his nephew was out of sight, Iroh quickly went to the friends.

"Pardon my intrusion, but I need Miss Katara's help with something in the back."

"Sure Iroh." Katara smiled.

But when she stood up, she saw the retired general had already disappeared in the back. For an old man, he moves fast, she thought.

Heading to the back, Katara saw the boiling tea pots and organized tea boxes that gave off their sweet scents. She went to round a corner but stopped short in surprise when she almost ran right into a man wearing red and black.

"I'm so sorry-Katara?"

"Zuko! Hi!"

Katara was almost shocked to see the handsome twenty-four year old Fire Lord. His sun gold eyes seemed to instantly melt her, and she had to release a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

"I'm glad to see you again" he smiled.

"Yeah! Same here! Where's Aang?"

"He didn't come with you?"

"No! Umm, no. He..that...no he's not here yet"

Katara wanted to smack herself in the face for stuttering. She knew Zuko was coming, and she knew he was twenty-four, but she was not, under any circumstances, prepared to see his manly features. Even with him fully clothed, Katara could see Zuko's broader chest and shoulders, and more muscular arms. His matured face had light stubble from a growing beard. Before she could embarrass herself even more, she smiled nervously saying,

"I'm going to go join the others again. Before Toph drinks my tea"

Zuko nodded and watched her go feeling speechless. She was beautiful! She wore a light blue summer dress with white lilies embroidered on it, and had her dark brown hair left hanging down. The low humidity in Ba Sing Se had her hair curling ever so slightly. Zuko smiled to himself when he saw her curls bounce with ever step she took.

"Miss Katara has grown into a lovely woman" Iroh said calmly standing next to his nephew.

"She's...she's even prettier than I remember" Zuko admitted in an almost whisper.

"So what are you waiting for nephew? Entice to her..."

Zuko shook his head without saying a word. As he neared the table with his friends, he felt that old familiar knot form in his chest when he spotted a smiling Katara. The knot that formed from a combination of nerves and excitement whenever he was around her. He thought she had been beautiful four years ago when she helped him in the palace, but now...now she was much more of a woman. She lost what little baby fat she had had in her face and her hips were somewhat fuller. Although he didn't dare look, he knew her chest was fuller as well.

"So Sparky, what has you so jumpy?" Toph asked getting right to the point.

Zuko looked at the blind earth bender and was surprised to see she was quite pretty in her green strapless dress that was similar to what she wore in the fire nation when they were younger.

"What?" he asked.

"Your heart...I can feel it hammering like a construction sight. Is something wrong?"

Zuko cursed at himself and answered,

"Just excited to see you guys again. That's all"

Before Toph could reply with something sarcastic, Suki stood up and exclaimed,

"Aang!"

Sure enough, Avatar Aang, wearing his orange and yellow monk robes, walked into the tea shop smiling and waving. Katara noticed the bags under his eyes but didn't say anything about them as she hugged Aang awkwardly. A part of her still felt bad about what happened between them but she knew they were too old to dwell on that now.

The group sat around after the greetings were all made and Sokka announced,

"Alright! Now that we're all here, let's go eat! Coming with us Iroh?"

Iroh shook his head and held up his hand,

"No, but thank you. But if the offer still stands, I will join you for dinner tomorrow evening"

Walking to a restaurant Iroh suggested, Zuko found himself walking next to Katara.

"How's the South Pole?" he asked, although he knew very well how it was from the letters Sokka wrote.

"Great! Buildings are restored, bridges are built. You should come see it sometime."

"I'd like that"

"So...how's Mai?"

"Last time I heard, she was visiting Ty Lee on Kyoshi Island. She doesn't live in the capitol anymore. We...we're not...together anymore"

Katara tried to keep the smile from forming across her face. This small talk was killing her and she had no clue why. They had written letters to each other before, and yet, now that they were standing face to face, she felt like a fifteen year old girl again and had no clue what to say.

Arriving at the restaurant, Toph and Suki reminded Sokka to behave, with which he replied,

"Hey! I'm not that greedy little kid anymore! I have table manners! It's Toph we have to worry about!"

"Excuse me?"

"Guys not tonight. Can we go one day without trying to kill each other at a table?" Katara asked.

Toph, remembering what Iroh had whispered to her, quickly said,

"Whoah, there Sparky! Sit next to Katara, if you set something on fire, like me again, then at least she can put it out quickly."

"I don't have my short temper anymore Toph."

"You are such a liar today Sparky!" she smirked.

At the table, Katara and Zuko began talking to each other like old times. Katara asked about his mother, and Zuko asked about her students. Towards the end of the night, Zuko had Katara laughing. He loved the sound of her laugh and remembered his uncle's words.

"How long are you here for?" he asked her.

"Just over a week. You?"

"Same. Would you...tomorrow...would you like to have lunch with me?" he whispered so Sokka wouldn't hear.

"Is Fire Lord Zuko asking me on a date?" she whispered back feeling pretty smug.

"Yes...a date..."

"I'd love to."

Zuko felt excitement in his gut, something he hadn't felt in a long time. Winking at her, he said,

"But this time, don't disappear on me".