In Royal Blue

Prologue

Zuko knew from the first moment he fell for her that red was not the color of love. It was the blue of her eyes and the blue of her element. It was the blue glow from the moonlight that seeped in through the window and bathed her sleeping and naked body. It was the blue that reminded him of the loneliness without her and that she should never be his. Zuko sighed as he gazed down upon her. He thought about how this was all they could ever be: forbidden lovers. He thought that maybe he could live with this for the rest of his life. Maybe the guilt of these adulterous actions would be a small price to pay for this love between Katara and him.

That was until he heard that Aang had planned to propose to Katara.

Then, Zuko was filled with an envy of great proportions. He may have had Katara for a night in his bed, however Aang would be able to have her in daylight. He'd get to boast of his love for her openly without fear of ridicule. He'd get to call her his wife and in the future, the mother of his children. Zuko knew Katara's heart was with him, but he knew also that a life of suppressed love and secrecy was not a good life for her. She needed to be with Aang...it was just better that way. This world was still too full of prejudice for the Fire Lord and a waterbender to pursue their love. "I'm not the one you need," he whispered.

Katara stirred in her sleep, her bare body being exposed from underneath the red, satin sheets. Her eyes opened, her vision blurry for a few moments before her eyes focused on Zuko. She looked at him worriedly, causing Zuko to realize that maybe she had heard him. "What makes you say that?" She asked quietly.

The young Fire Lord sighed and leant back into the pillows. He faced the ceiling. "How much longer must we do this, Katara?" He asked her as his eyes turned to gaze at her face through the moonlit darkness. "I wish we could be more than this."

Katara leant up and rested her head on one hand, gazing down at the man she loved. He was speaking depressing thoughts, but she had been thinking them too...she just never had the courage to say them. Now that Zuko was bringing these mutual thoughts to light, they were forced to discuss the reality and step out from their bubble. It was almost 8 years since the war and they had been secret lovers for 5 of those years. Eventually reality had to catch up with them. "You know I'm much happier with you," she stated as-matter-of-factly, using her free hand to trace the ridges of his bare abdomen.

Zuko nodded. He knew this for he felt the same way. He hated to give her up to another man, but he would never forgive himself if he kept her from a life of happiness. Their happiness could only last as long as the night and he was willing to sacrifice his desires so that her happiness could last all the nights and all the days of her life. "I know and I feel the same way Katara, believe me," his hand found her hand that was on his abdomen. "But I want more than just a temporary happiness for you and I cannot offer anything but that. Aang can offer you a life of joy, marriage, children, and open affection."

Katara felt tears in her eyes and she buried her face in his chest. "What's a life of joy without the one I really love?" Zuko only hugged her in response. For reasons she didn't know, their love had finally been defeated by reality.

"This is our lot in life, Katara: being bound to the duties of everyone else except to each other."

Eight whole years. Eight years since the war's end, eight years of reconstruction, and eight years of pretending to be in love with the Avatar. That was her life and Katara had become numb to the fact that although she was a war hero, her only lot in life was to be the Avatar's trophy girlfriend...end of story. Over the years, she had meant to break things off with Aang and she had hoped that eventually her frustrations and secret love with Zuko would give her the bravery to do so but every time she went to cut ties, she buckled under the pressure. Now at this very moment, Katara found herself in a corner once again, however she knew that there was no evading this one. He hadn't even asked her the question yet but she knew; she knew what was coming.

"Katara, will you marry me?" Aang asked with hopeful yet expecting eyes.

The entire crowd erupted into a fit of surprised gasps and murmurs. Katara looked at her brother and friends to see if they were just as shocked as she was but to her dismay they weren't. They stood with smiles on their faces and Sokka gave her an encouraging thumbs up. Katara looked for Zuko as well but she could not make eye contact with him. His head was low as if he had no interest in looking upon what was happening. She could've broken right there at this sight of her true love. She looked back at Aang. She went cold as ice and she knew she needed to hurry up and give her answer. She wanted to scream no at him; to tell him that she was more than just a trophy. There was so many feelings that ran rampantly in her heart but yet her mind was telling her that the logical thing to do was give in and accept that this was her fate. 'I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't' she thought to herself.

Aang let go of her hand and gulped. What was she doing? She was supposed to jump for joy and say yes to him! This was not going like he expected. "Uh, Katara?"

Katara realized that she must've looked so foolish. She was making Aang look like an utter fool and her heart sank. He had put her on the spot and the eyes of her friends and every noble person from across the world was staring at her expectantly. If she were to say no, the entire world would see the Avatar be heartbroken. Could she really live with the guilt of embarrassing him like that? Her good nature got the best of her, and against her true desires, she clasped Aang's hand and put on the biggest smile she had ever smiled and hoped no one could figure out that it was fake. "Yes, I'll marry you." Katara knew what she had just done. She had just sealed her fate.

The crowd erupted into a roar of cheers and the orchestra began to play merrily. Aang grinned and swept Katara into a tight embrace, using his airbending to swirl her around in the air. "I love you," he whispered to her as their feet found the floor again.

Katara wanted to cry but if she did, everyone could see her sadness. She latched onto Aang in an attempt to keep the tears at bay. "I love you too." She wondered if she'd ever see the day where she actually meant those words.

"Put the dang necklace on her, already!" Yelled Sokka from the audience. Aang blushed and present the pendant to Katara.

Despite herself, Katara gasped at the beauty of the betrothal necklace. It was a light blue and yellow silk with a gold, glittery pendant that had the Water Tribe and Air Nomad symbols. "Aang, it's so beautiful!" Really, it was so perfect that Katara found herself genuinely happy with the necklace. If only she could've been truly happy with the man she was now betrothed to.

"I'm glad you love it, Katara! I worked really hard on it!" Aang's eyes were as big as saucers as he excitedly went behind Katara to put the pendant around her neck.

Katara reluctantly took off her mother's necklace to allow it to be replaced with Aang's. When it was on her, her fingers went to touch it. It felt so foreign. She would get used to it eventually...she hoped. The crowd cheered once more and thankfully Katara was lead away from the center of the room by Aang to stand where their friends were. She noticed that Zuko was nowhere to be found.

"Oh my gosh, you two!" Suki went straight for Katara and hugged her tightly. Katara returned her sister-in-law's hug.

"It was about time! After 8 years, I thought twinkle-toes would never do it!" Toph nudged Aang with a hard elbow. Everyone could literally hear the air as it left his lungs.

"Uh yeah, thanks Toph," Aang said through the pain. Toph winked in return.

"I'm just glad that there will now be another married couple around," said Sokka as he came to put his arm around Suki, offering his sister and soon to be brother-in-law a congratulating smile. Aang clasped Katara's hand excitedly.

"So, how long will the engagement be?" Suki asked.

Katara froze and looked up at Aang for an answer. The Avatar only shrugged. "I really don't want a long engagement since I really just want the wedding to be simple with only our closest friends attending," Katara couldn't help noticing all the I's in his statement. Of course he wasn't looking for her opinion. "So maybe around 5 months?"

Everyone seemed happy with that save for Katara. Everything was moving so fast and she felt like she was just being swept up with it all. "Wow, 5 months? That's not too far away," she said nervously.

"That's what I'm talking about! Getting it done!" Sokka enthusiastically raised his hand to share a high five with Aang whom returned with just as much enthusiasm.

Everyone began to chat about other little things and Katara found herself looking around the large room. She wondered where Zuko had ran off to and even though she was newly engaged, she was tempted to find him and speak to him. He was really the only person she wanted at that moment. After moments of searching, she sighed and gave up. She told herself that maybe not seeing him at that moment was for the best. If she did see him, she would crumble under his sad gaze and the pressure of separation. He would always be with her she knew, but never like she wanted. They had the potential to be wonderful, but the world could never see that.

The celebration ball had been dismissed and everyone who was taking residence in the Palace was readying for bed. Katara had given her good night wishes to her friends and was now walking alone throughout the large halls. She wasn't sleepy and it wouldn't have done much good to go to bed so restless. Instead, she journeyed the magnificent hallway that connected all of the Palace's guest chambers. Her hand traced the marble wall as she walked. She enjoyed its cool, smooth touch underneath her fingers. As she sauntered about, she realized where she was headed and instantly stopped. If she went further and to the right, she would reach Zuko's chambers...a place she had been to many times before. She wanted to run there and seek out Zuko's love and passion. If anything could ease her troubles it was the loving caresses of his warm and affectionate hands. It was so tempting to go there. There was nothing stopping her for she was a welcomed guest into his chambers...but she remembered who she was now and who she had promised herself to. It pained her that it wasn't Zuko that she could one day call her husband and father of her children.

"If you're heading to your room, you've already missed it," came a voice from behind.

Katara swiveled around to face Zuko. She sighed when she saw him. "I know, I know," she ran a hand through her hair. "I was just walking around. I'm not sleepy."

Zuko switched his cup of tea to another hand. "I can understand that," he sipped his tea.

Katara had a feeling that he knew what she was thinking of and it hurt her that he didn't invite her to walk to his bedroom with him like he always had. "Well, I guess you're ready for bed so I'll just let you go on your way," she began to walk off but halted when she felt a grand grip her shoulder. She turned to see Zuko looking at her with sad eyes.

"I know where you want to go," he started as he let go of her shoulder. "Believe me, I wish you could come with me like you used to, but things are so different now. You're an engaged woman, Katara. It'd be wrong to take to bed the betrothed of another man."

Despite herself, she felt a sudden rush of anger grip her heart. "What's the difference between then and now? What we did when I was just Aang's girlfriend is equally as adulterous to do so while I'm engaged!" She yelled at him, her blue eyes piercing Zuko with an intensity so strong he could've crumbled right then.

"There comes a point where we have to stop living a fantasy, Katara! We have to live in reality now," he huffed and took a step closer to her. "And in reality, you and I shouldn't be together no matter how much we want to. This is our lot in life, Katara: being bound to the duties of everyone else except to each other."

That statement rang through Katara's ears just like it had the last time he said it. She felt hit tears pool in her eyes. "How can moving on be so easy for you? Did you not love me like you said you did?"

Zuko's heart shattered into a million pieces. He hadn't meant to make her feel that way. He disregarded his cup of tea and it went falling to the floor, busting on contact with the marble floor. He swept the sobbing Katara into his arms and held onto her tightly. "Don't ever think for one moment that I don't love you with everything in me," he uttered into her hair. "You are my world, Katara, and to see another man confess his love for you so openly while I can never have that luxury shakes me to the core. This is hard for me too," he began to cry quietly while Katara sobbed into his chest.

Eventually, Zuko couldn't hold back. He swept her off her feet and carried her away to his chambers. He swore to her and himself that this would be the last time they would ever seek out passion with one another. They couldn't reach the bed fast enough and when they did, they clumsily fell onto it. Clothes began to be discarded quickly and skin made contact with so much of a feverish passion that the pair felt like they could burn alive. When Zuko found himself inside of Katara, he felt one with her and she with him.

Making love that night was like no other time they had come together. It was full of passion, desperation, sadness, hurt, and love. They didn't care to try and keep quiet. They allowed their sounds of bliss to ring through the bedroom without any shame. This was their last night together. When daylight was to come, they would go their separate paths.

If only they knew that destiny wasn't always set in stone.

A month had passed since everyone departed. Zuko sat alone in his office, staring out the window. He missed Katara so badly that it hurt. What hurt even more was that even when he saw her again they would still be so far apart. He wondered how she was adapting to her new life as the Avatar's future bride. He wondered if she was slowly becoming at peace with this new chapter in life.

In a matter of moments, a knock came from the door. Zuko allowed the person's entrance and grew curious when he saw that it was a messenger. "What business does this letter offer me?" He asked the man.

The messenger shook his head and extended the letter out to Zuko. "I do not know, Milord. This is a personal letter that has been sent to you with great confidentiality and urgency."

Zuko took the letter and issued for the messenger to leave him. Once alone, Zuko opened up the scroll and instantly recognized the handwriting. It was Katara. Zuko grew worried.

DEAR ZUKO,

I HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I MISS YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO SPEND THE TIME TO WRITE OUT HOW MUCH I MISS YOU SO, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING WAY MORE IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU.

ZUKO, I'M PREGNANT.

Hello, everyone. If you're reading this, I thank you for reading through all that nonsense. I am sure something like this has been done before in the Zutara fandom, but hopefully I can offer a different way of writing it. I want to let you know that this is just my attempt at writing post war Zutara and I do not expect you to love it. I do hope that maybe you will give this story a chance and continue to read! For reference purposes, the ages of the characters are their ATLA canon ages plus 8 years. So Aang and Toph are 20, Zuko, Sokka, and Suki(did we even know her exact age in the show?) are 24, and Katara is 22. I hope you will come back for chapter one to see what lies ahead for our dear Zuko and Katara.

I do not own ATLA.

Forgive any grammatical errors.

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Much love!