Author's note: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender or any of its characters.
Prologue June 2006
Zuko's eyes fluttered open in the early morning hours. His heart plummeted when he realized he had to leave soon to catch the plane. He placed a chaste kiss on Katara's neck and shoulder before unwrapping his arms from her body. Katara gave a contented moan. Zuko quickly dressed, removed his suitcase and bags from the closet and then left leaving the apartment keys behind. End of prologue
"Mommy, come on!" 5 year old Lily ran ahead of her mother.
"Lily slow down," Katara called after her.
Lily bounced on her toes as she waited for her mother to catch up. Katara seated herself on one of the park benches while Lily ran off to play on the playground. Pulling out her book Katara couldn't help but notice someone standing a few feet away on the pavement. The man had shaggy dark hair, was wearing a red t shirt and jeans. He looked awfully familiar. No, it can't be, Katara thought. As the man made his way up the bike path Katara got a view of the man's other eye. Her heart stopped, that unmistakable scar. Katara took a deep breath trying to remain calm, yet a million thoughts ran through her head. She tried to redirect her attention to her book but couldn't. What was Zuko doing here after all these years? Katara couldn't take her eyes away from hi,. He looked as handsome as he did the first time she met him back in high school. Zuko didn't even know he had a daughter. He had been gone by then.
2006
Katara was sitting on a bench on campus when someone came up behind her and gave her a kiss on the neck. "Zuko!" she giggled looking around to make sure no one was watching. "Oh come on you know you like it," he said. Katara couldn't help but grin.
2012
Katara sometimes thought about the old days, but tried not to dwell on it. She thought about Zuko as she and Lily walked home. After giving Lily her bath and putting her to bed Katara seated herself at the kitchen table and retrieved Lily's kindergarten registration forms. She read all the info about the curriculum that was going to be taught. Pulling out the fill in register sheets, she needed Lily's birth certificate to fill in some of the information. Katara had purposely left Zuko's name out of the document because he wasn't deserving of the title. Katara was the one who changed Lily's diapers, stayed up with her at night, and dried her tears. She tried to give Lily everything a parent should but couldn't give her a father.
Lily resembled her father more than her mother. The only thing she inherited from Katara was her complexion everything else was purely Zuko's. Lily had a right to know who her daddy was and she couldn't keep Lily a secret forever from Zuko. After filling out all the forms Katara fell asleep. The next morning Katara helped Lily get ready ready to go to her grandparents'. Hakoda and Gran Gran watched Lily during the day in those summer months.
"Grandpa!" Lily exclaimed as she ran into Hakoda's arms as soon as she got out of the car.
"I'll see you later, dad," Katara said giving her father a kiss."Be good for grandpa. I love you," Katara bent down to kiss her daughter.
"Bye, Mommy," Lily said waving her hand. Both waved to Katara as she drove off.
Katara worked at JcPenny in the big mall. When Lily would start kindergarten, she wouldn't have to worry about someone watching her. Katara couldn't afford daycare so in the summer her family helped out. While sorting some clothes, she felt her iphone vibrate.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Sugar Queen!" came a voice.
Katara grinned, "Toph, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine. Hey I'm going to Applebee's for my lunch break, wanna come with?"
"Sure, I've got some news to share with you . Listen I gotta go, I'll see you later," Katara said then hung up.
When it was time for lunch Katara drove to Applebee's to meet Toph for lunch. Once they were seated Toph asked, "How's that little bugger, Lily doing?"
"She's doing great. She's starting kindergarten in a few weeks and is excited about going to school and being a big girl," Katara's heart warmed talking about her little girl.
Toph took a gulp of her beer, "Man she's getting big."
"Lin is starting first grade, right?" Katara asked sipping her margarita.
"Yeah, her stupid ass father is still refusing to pay child support. He says he can't afford it, bullshit, he's probably gambling it or spending it at a club," Toph said. She was a single mother like Katara.
"I feel awkward around other mothers because I'm so much younger than them. I feel like they're judging me," Katara said.
"Just because those women waited till marriage to turn in their v card doesn't make you any less of a mother than they are," Toph said. The waiter brought them their food.
"Have you met any nice mothers?" Katara asked.
"Oh yeah, most mothers are just fine. Just don't let those mothers from Hampton End stick their noses up at you," Toph said biting into her burger. Hampton End was the wealthier side of town.
"Zuko's back in town," Katara announced out of the blue.
"That jerk that left you without an explanation?" Toph asked.
"Yeah," Katara said.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from him," Toph said. A part of Katara wanted to follow her friend's advice, but she was still curious about why Zuko was here after all these years.
