The Notebook-
Based of the acclaimed novel/movie "The Notebook"
I was inspired to write a zutara fic after seeing this movie, it inspired me and showed me that through all the trials of life, love still manages to find a way to survive. So I was like hey, after reading so many other wonderful Zutara stories about love and honor, or horror and hatred I was like, I'm going to write one that has all those things mixed together. So ladies and gentlemen, I give you "The Notebook", enjoy.
The sun peeked out over the eastern border of the ocean, giving off an orange hue on the surface of the water. Clouds parted gracefully as the sun began to make its ever present climb towards the sky, the birds glided across the open air splashing down causing the calmed waters to disperse. Life began with the sun, everything its gentle rays touched brought a more vibrant and lively existence to whatever creature it be.
Standing out on her balcony an elder woman watched as the same traveler in his boat crossed the water, parting the birds around him making his daily travel to see her. Her grey locks dangled down her back curled as they always were, her red shawl draped across her shoulders as the gentle breeze grazed her face. Sighing she closed her eyes inhaling the salty sea air then opened them gently as there was a knock at her door.
"My lady, it's time for your breakfast," a woman dressed in white stated softly as the elder woman crossed the threshold of her room and out the door. They made their way down to a small dining parlor where there were elders all around, eating, chatting or simply sleeping in their chairs. The sight at times saddened the woman as she would come into this room every day, three times a day for her morning, afternoon, and nighttime meals. But whenever she came here she was never alone, she was always joined by the same man everyday and while they ate he would read to her about two young lovers and their struggle to keep their love alive. Everyday this man came, but every night after the final chapter
was read she would forget everything and he would come back and start from the beginning.
For three years he did this, not once complaining about having to read to this old woman, instead he always came with a gentle smile, ember eyes glowing magnificently and an overall presence that seemed too familiar. But it was too hard for her to remember who he was all the time.
"Hello my lady," he bowed his head to her slightly as he took his seat across from her, "and how are we today?" he questioned her and the nurse who brought them both food.
"She's doing fine my lord, as always we have our good days and our bad days," she winked at him placing his food down before bowing, "today is a good day," with that she left the elderly couple sitting at the small table by the window to eat in peace.
"Today has been fine," the woman began as her eyes roamed over to the book next to him, "you have come to read to me have you?" taking a small drink from her wine glass she looked at him over the rim.
"I have, only if you will allow it," he stated softly with a smile as he began cutting his meat on the plate.
"Yes," she said slowly as she too began to eat, "yes I would like that very much, thank you," with that they continued to eat in silence.
Once the meal was finished the elder gentleman led his companion out on the terrace where he sat her down in a cozy cushioned chair then preceded to sit across from her. His withered fingers swept through the pages, each moaning slightly as they were forced over until he found where he had left off.
"Oh yes," he began as he leaned back, a smile forming in the crook of his mouth as his eyes glanced up at her then back down at the reading, "it was in the summer of Fire Lord Ozai's fifth year as leader and the Fire Nation was in a huge up roar. Everyone was preparing for the summer solstice festival and the anniversary of the young Fire Lord's continued reign. The festival was a place where many magical things happened, celebration, adventure, memories that would remain and of course young love," the man glanced up at the woman seeing her settle herself in her chair quite comfortably as he continued.
"They met on the opening night of the festival, she was a young Water Tribe beauty and he was a Fire Nation Royal. He had seen her only a few times with his cousin Zhen's girlfriend Ty Lee and he couldn't help but stare as she and Ty Lee moved gracefully about the dance floor, their bodies swaying to the music…"
Flashback:
"Who is that girl Zhen?" Zuko had asked as he continued to watch this exotic woman gracefully dance between partners, among them her date.
Zhen followed Zuko's gaze to see him staring at the young Water Tribe girl and smirked as he patted his cousin's shoulder gently, "She is out of your league cousin," he snickered seeing the glare his cousin gave him he continued, "her name is Katara, she is the daughter of Hakoda, Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. She's only here for the summer and then she returns to the frozen tundra of the south," he smiled as he watched his girlfriend wave preciously at him, he waved back.
Zuko watched as the music had finished and the two girls approach them, their hands around each other's shoulders.
"Who is that with Zhen?" Katara whispered as they neared the two boys.
"Oh!" Ty Lee squealed as she had forgotten to introduce the two, "that's Prince Zuko, Zhen's cousin, quite the catch isn't he?" she jabbed Katara in her side lightly giving her a wink in the process.
When they had reached the two Katara's date came up wrapping his arm around her waist leading her off to the 'Lovers Tower.' Zuko watched as she looked back at him for a mere moment, her eyes locking with his then turned back and continued to talk with her date. Ty Lee and Zhen joined them, waving Zuko to follow and follow he did.
Light on his feet he bolted between Katara and her date hearing his cousin's snickers and Katara's protests, "Do you want to go somewhere with me?" he asked, hoping she would say yes, but at the same time wondering why in the world had he just done what he did.
Flabbergasted and upset Katara snatched her date's arm, placing it around her shoulder's as they pushed past Zuko, "No," was all she said as she turned away from him.
"She's with us friend," her date said giving him one of the nastiest glares Zuko thought he had ever seen.
His cousin walked up beside him with Ty Lee in hand as they watched Katara and her date enter the 'Love Tower' that scowered over the entire city.
"Like I said Zuko, she's out of your league," Zhen smacked Zuko's back twice as he laughed watching the young couple ascend towards the top of the tower by the small elevator. Before fully listening to his cousin ramble on Zuko once again bolted through the crowd managing to grab hold of the platform of the elevator pulling himself up and squeezing between Katara and her date once again.
"What do you think you are doing?" she demanded as she looked down, realizing that it was too late to stop now.
"Friend will you get off," the man beside Zuko began as he placed his hand upon his shoulder.
Zuko shrugged it off holding out his hand to shake Katara's, "Hi I'm Zuko, and you are?" his hand still extended, waiting for her to take it.
Rolling her eyes she annoyingly grabbed his hand and shook it while grunting out her name as she glared at him, "Katara," ripping her hand from his once introductions had finished. Suddenly the elevator seized as it jerked about. The mechanic yelled up to the prince with concern and attitude.
"Prince Zuko, there can only be two people in the elevator at a time!" Zuko nodded as he waved at the man below dismissingly. There was a flag pole that extended over the emptiness and Zuko jumped up wrapping his hands around it still facing Katara.
"Will you go out on a date with me?" he questioned.
"What?!" Katara yelled at the man who now dangled over the edge of the elevator, "No I will not!" she crossed her arms as her date wrapped his firmly around her. This started to annoy Zuko greatly.
"Why not?" he seemed confused as to why she would refuse him.
"Because I said no, and you can't just go running around pushing people out of your way to get what you want, now get!" she shooed him with her hands, seeing a twinkle in his eye her brow raised questioningly.
"Alright then," Zuko began, he looked down at the people below and the drop that he was about to take if she refused him, "you leave me no choice," he released one of his hands from the bar receiving a scream from squeeze past Katara's lips and then screams from below in horror. Their prince was about to fall to his death.
"Stop it! What are you trying to do kill yourself?" she demanded reaching one hand out for him to grab, but he refused.
"Not until you agree to go out with me," he stated firmly, a smirk written on his features.
"Zuko! Come on grab hold the bar and stop fooling around!" Zhen laughed as he yelled up at his younger cousin.
"Not until she agrees to go out on a date with me!" he yelled back his gazed remained on Katara.
She threw her hands up in the air as she brushed her date's hands off of her, "Fine I will go on a date with you, just grab the bar please!" she demanded.
Smiling all the while Zuko grabbed hold of the bar taking a quick glance at the hot headed man next to the woman who had caught his attention the first time he had seen her.
"Whoa wait what are you doing?" he questioned seeing her reach out and grabbing hold of his sash that held his pants in place, "Oh no don't, don't do that," but it was too late, she had loosened it enough that his pants fell around his ankles revealing his undergarments and receiving hysterical laughs from the couple along with the crowd below.
"Oh I'm going to get you for that," he said with a smile.
End of Flashback:
The elder flipped the page to begin the next chapter when the nurse came back telling them that lunch was to be served in a few minutes. The gentleman escorted the elderly woman back into the small parlor seating her where they had always eaten placing the book down at his side as their meals were brought out to them.
"I don't think it was very nice for that young woman to embarrass that poor young man like that," she stated softly as she gazed down at the book.
The man laughed as he took a sip of his drink then running a hand along the leathered book, "I don't think he paid much mind to it later, he was after the girl not revenge," he stated softly as he began to peel off a piece of bread, pushing it into his mouth as he watched the woman's gaze remain on the book.
"Well does he ever get to take the young lady out?" she questioned now returning her gaze on the man sitting across from her.
"Now you don't want me to ruin the surprise now do you?" chuckling lightly he watched as a smile crossed her confused features.
"No," she paused, "no I guess not," and with that they continued their meal in silence as they always did.
AN: Ok so like I said above I saw the movie and fell in love with this idea for a zutara fic. Let me know what you think and if I should continue it or not...if so then great, if not then hey it was a good idea while it lasted.
-Turion
