A/N: Mock Round Submission for Avatar: the Last Writer Competition

Team: Water Tribe

Category: Drabble

Prompt: 4. (Title) "'Til the End."

Word Count: 549

"It's not looking too good, my Lord. She's put up as much of a fight as her body will allow. There's nothing more the healers can do. I'm so sorry." The head healer informed Fire Lord Zuko about his ailing wife, squeezing his shoulder for comfort before leaving the two elderly lovers alone.

Zuko sat frozen in his chair, trying to absorb the words that had been spoken to him. He tried picturing a world without his wife, her laugh, her smile, her hand to hold, her advice, her lectures, her eyes. The same eyes he'd been looking into for the past 50 years of their marriage. The same eyes he'd watched become wrinkled from laughing over the decades. The same eyes he might be seeing for the very last time tonight. If only she'd open them. She's been in a deep slumber for the past few days, the healers had exhausted every treatment they could, and nothing helped. Deep down, Zuko knew this was the end, but he didn't want to believe it. He wasn't sure how he'd carry on without his Fire Lady by his side. Yet, he also wasn't sure he wanted her to stay in this world any longer if it meant she was suffering. The sickness had taken all her strength from her, she had been bed-ridden for months. He knew that this was the worst form of torture for his wife, she was always one to be mobile, never a home-body. Whether she was travelling for Fire Lady business, or just to see her family, she was always on the move, helping those around her.

As Zuko was lost in thought, he didn't notice his wife stirring in the bed beside him. She slowly blinked her eyes open and smiled when she saw her husband in the chair beside her bed.

"You'll give yourself even more wrinkles if you keep your brows furrowed like that, love." She croaked out in a weak voice. She reached a shaky hand out to smooth his forehead into a more relaxed position.

"You're awake!" Zuko gasped in surprise, immediately grabbing the hand that had touched his face, bringing it to his lips to give it a tender kiss, before resting it back on the bed. "How are you feeling? Are you okay? Can I get you anything?" He rushed out, ever the doting husband.

"No, no, Zuko. I just want you to stay right here with me. I wasn't expecting to see you here so late. Don't you have a meeting with King Bumi in the morning?" She questioned, letting out a hacking cough.

"That meeting was four days ago, love. I've postponed all my meetings until further notice anyway. My main concern is being with you." Zuko replied, brushing some of her gray hair away from her face.

"Zuko! How long do you intend to ignore your duties to sit with a dying woman? I can't believe you'd do that." She tutted at her foolish husband.

Zuko scoffed and rolled his eyes at such an absurd question. He leaned in closer to her and stroked her face lovingly. "Oh, Katara…I'm staying with you 'til the end. I love you." He whispered while gazing into her beautiful blue eyes.

"Until the very end?"

"Until the very end."