One-shot: things with Zuko and Katara got a little steamy on their adventure to find the man who killed Katara's mother
One-shot: after Zuko saves Katara she's extremely grateful
Years after the war: Aang is doing his avatar thing all over, Katara is an ambassador from the Southern Water Tribe in the Recovery Effort Council; reconnects with Zuko while Aang is busy
Dressing for the Council meetings was easily the worst part about them. All the layers and symbolical pieces of the ceremonial robes are really too much, Katara thought to herself as she finished tying her outer belt so that the silver embroidered Water Tribe crest hung facing outwards at just the right height. Not even chiefs wore anything this elaborate, it wouldn't make any sense in the frozen tundra of her home.
Katara left her room and began walking towards the council meeting room, running through the important points of the day's meeting and composing her argument for her own proposals. The purpose of the Council when it formed eight years ago was to establish a better, more cohesive, way to work on the recovery effort of the Hundred Year War. The Council was essentially a group of ambassadors from every nation working together on bringing the world onto balance.
Katara, and probably the other Council members, all supported the idea of a group of global representatives working together for peace but the result was much more of a political mess than was intended. Every Council members is supposed to argue for what is in their nation's best interest and cooperate with the interests of the others but too often finding that cooperation is slow and difficult.
Even the name of the group itself was in dispute with different nations calling it different things: "The Council for Recovery Effort" or CRE was one, "The Global Council for Balance and Unity" another. All members just called the group the Council to avoid any unnecessary disputes.
Today's topic was related to the status of the former Fire National colonies in the Earth Kingdom, the same issue the Council had been debating for the past two months. Although, Katara had to admit, they had at least made some progress and were getting into the details of what an independent city (or maybe nation?) would be governed like. Either way Katara had already decided she was at the end of her term on the Council, she would officially be leaving with the approval of the colonies bill. Most Council members did not stay for long anyway, just long enough to see their major projects make it through voting and initial implementation then move on to some other position with less stress. It was ten years since the war and Katara was ready for a rest, if only for a short time.
When she was honest with herself, however, the truth was that she was lonely. At the war's end, Aang and she had tried to make things work, finding time here and there for dates but they never had the opportunity to take things very far. Katara made the decision to return to the Southern Water Tribe good and Aang continued his work with Zuko and other nation leaders.
Six years after that, when Katara was first elected to the Council and traveled to the Earth Kingdom at the start of her term, she and Aang reconnected. They were seriously together for a few months but eventually they admitted to themselves and each other that they had moved in different directions since the war. They parted on good terms and worked together often on the Council. They had even started training together twice a week to stay sharp and to have some fun.
Living in the Southern Water Tribe there had been a few short flirtations but that was it. While serving on the Council she'd had a few relationships other than with Aang that never went anywhere but it was nice to have a short reprieve from the loneliness of working all the time. Ah work.
Today's meeting would include the usual five Council members—Katara and the representatives from the Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, Former Colonies (their name also in dispute), and Northern Water Tribe—as well as the Avatar and leaders from all Nations. The Council would be finalizing plans for the future of the Colonies today and presenting the proposal later in the week. It would be Katara's last major legislative work and, she thought, the most important.
The Council room was stuffier than usual, making the formal robes Katara wore for every meeting especially uncomfortable. The additional personal was accommodated as well as could be with the usual round meeting table replaced by a semicircle so that the Council members could address each other and the visiting Nation leaders.
The Council members were all milling about, greeting visiting dignitaries and friends. Katara and Aang were making their way through the crowd looking for anyone important to talk to, discussing their last sparing match, when they spotted the Fire Lord's party. Aang always spent a good portion of the year in the Fire Nation working with Zuko but it was the first time Katara has seen him in years, he rarely had reason to visit the Council.
Katara lead the way to the Fire Lord and when Zuko saw his friends moving towards him he broke away from his staff to greet them. He gave Katara a quick hug and took Aang's hand enthusiastically.
"I was hoping to see you both," Zuko said, smiling.
"It's been so long," Katara said, somehow surprised to see him so happy, it really must have been a long time since she had seen him. Maybe it was her own discontent that made it such a surprise.
"I've already been briefed on the Colonies proposal, it sounds amazing. You all have put so much into this; I hope everything goes well today."
"I really hope it passes," Katara responded, her feelings mixed about her time with the Council ending.
There was some commotion at the front of the room and Katara saw that a few of the Council members had made their way to their seats, they were ready to begin the official presentation of the bill.
"Excuse me," Katara said to Zuko and Aang formally with a slight bow before lightly shoving both of them and adding lightly, "we'll need to catch up after this."
The presentation when smoothly, no outbursts from the crowd was a good sign. The final vote was being tallied now and Katara was attempting to appear as calm and regal as she could with all eyes on the head Council table, waiting for word in the numbers.
And then it was done. The Council secretary read out the vote and the room erupted in applause: the bill had passed.
There was a reception planned for those present for the vote and everyone poured out of the Council room to the large adjoining atrium. Katara sat frozen for a moment in shock before the idea that her last Council meeting had just come to an end set in. The other members turned to her as they all stood to make their way to the reception, shaking her hand and congratulating her and each other.
They all made their way into the atrium and fanned out, looking for constituents to thank. Katara, no longer a part of that world, spotted Aang and Zuko her brother and Toph. She joined the little gathering and greeted the new arrivals. Katara had seen Toph regularly both in and out of Council meetings, she was involved in the formation of security for the Colonies, and of kept in constant touch with her brother but his presence here was a surprise.
"What are you doing here?" she explained, pulling him in for a tight hug. It had been two years since his last visit.
"Suki is in the city recruiting and we made it into a small vacation," Sokka responded releasing his sister. Suki and Sokka had been married for five years now.
"Where is she, did she come with you?" Katara was slowly getting into the party mood and couldn't want to have the time to really see her friends.
"Nah she wasn't really feeling up to it when I left, I skipped the Council meeting and just showed up for the party."
"Party? This is a formal reception for the passage of a law," Toph interjected.
"Sorry our Council formalities aren't up to your party standards, Toph," Katara retorted.
"No she's right," Zuko countered. "We will have to have a real get together. It's only just after noon so why don't we have real get together later tonight, I'll rent out the Orchid Room for us."
The Orchid Room was one of the more exclusive restaurants in Omashu but of course the Fire Lord could rent the whole place on a few hours' notice. Show off, thought Katara with a smile.
"It's settled then," Sokka said with finality. They all agreed, laughing at Sokka's take charge attitude making an appearance.
"I hate to do this," Aang said, "but I really need to do some mingling here." Being political was definitely the worst part of being the Avatar at these events but they all understood.
"Yeah I should probably be getting back myself, see how Suki's feeling," Sokka added.
After finalizing the details for their "get together" later that night, the old gaang split up to get back to their official duties.
Katara was excited to be able to reconnect with everyone and was already thinking over what she would wear.