Katara took a deep breath. With the slightest bit of hesitation, she slid back the screen door to her husband's study. She didn't want to bother him at work, and the mountains of papers and books was evidence enough that he was busy today. "This is important," she thought, "I have to tell him."

"Zuko?" she tried to make her voice as soft as she could.

"Katara, I'm sorry but I'm really busy," he responded curtly.

"I know sweetheart, but this is important. Can you please just take a break?"

Zuko hesitated for a moment, then put his quill down and looked up. His young face was worn from months of tireless work. It had been weeks since he had last held her close Katara thought sadly. Such was the life of the Firelord's wife.

"Honey," she began quietly, trying desperately to keep Zuko calm, "I've just been told something horrible. I..." she broke off. She felt tears building up. Zuko walked over to her.

"What is it Katara? What's wrong? I can take bad news," he told her reassuringly. She doubted it.

"I've just met with the court physicians. They've said... they told me that I'm infertile," she managed to blurt out. She began crying openly, tears stinging at her cheeks.

Zuko was silent several minutes, but Katara was sobbing too hard to notice. Finally he spoke.

"So there's no chance that you will bear an child? There's no way you'll produce an heir?" he asked her, his calm unsettling his grieving wife.

"No Zuko. I'm so sorry, but I love you. I do, I love you so much." She told him pleadingly.

"Get out. Get out now, I can't even look at you right now." He ordered her bluntly.

"Zuko, please don't, please! I love you!"

"GET OUT!" He shouted, flames cackling out of his clenched fists. Instead of frightening her, his anger only seemed to deepen Katara's sorrow. She slumped down and cried hysterically, her hands covering her face.

"Guard, please lead my wife to her room," Zuko ordered. Katara felt a gentle hand grasp her shoulder, and she stood up, head bent low in shame.

"Do you need anything, my lady?" the guard asked gently when Katara had returned to her room.

"No, I'm fine," she responded sadly.

"Are you sure, my lady?"

Katara thought for a moment. "In fact, there is something. Can you prepare a ship for me?"

The guard looked at her with a quizzical look, clearly confused by the request. "I could indeed, my lady. Shall I prepare a royal procession?"

"No, just the ship. I'll be traveling alone," Katara informed him.

Although the guard clearly disagreed with her plan, he left to carry out her request.

Once alone, Katara sat on her bed and closed her eyes. She still loved Zuko deeply, and his distaste in her only served to sadden her more. She thought back on how she had ended up as the Firelady, as the wife of Firelord Zuko.

It was over 6 years ago that the war had ended. She remembered walking out onto the balcony of Iroh's tea shop. She had kissed Aang there, as the sun went down the horizon. She had been happy. She had loved him. They had been together for over a year, and she could imagine living her life with the lighthearted airbender.

Her life always had a way of taking sharp turns.

"I'm sorry Katara, I love you, but I can't be with you. As an airbender, I have a dedication to chastity and poverty. The Air Nomads are gone, and I need to keep their traditions alive as best I can."

"You mean, this is goodbye?" She had never cried harder.

"I told you Katara, I'm sorry. I'll always love you, but it just can't be." He had looked sad, tired, torn.

A few months later, she had been in the Fire Nation. Mai had left Zuko. The reasons were never clear. She didn't want to replace Mai, but Zuko had changed so much. He was happier, he enjoyed life more, he was more passionate.

"Maybe that's why Mai left him," Katara thought with a small smile.

Their marriage was as happy as it was controversial. Some people of the Fire Nation were angry to see the Firelord marry an outsider, a peasant from the Southern Water Tribe according to some. If it hadn't been for Zuko, it might have been too much for her. He had been there, at her side. They had loved each other, and that had been enough.

She could remember how excited he had been at the prospect of an heir to lead his lineage on. He had seen it as a bright new opportunity for a new Royal line, a match between the Fire Nation and the Water Tribe. However, several attempts at producing a child had resulted in failure. That had put a strain on their relationship. Zuko began burying himself in his work, and Katara was alone, despite the odd visit from her brother Sokka and his wife Suki, or the even more rare visits from her friend Toph.

"And now I'm here..." Katara thought. She had stopped crying. Her eyes hurt and she was left with an empty feeling. "He still loves me, I know he does."