A/N: A oneshot that's in two parts. This idea had been circling through my mind for quite some time.

I do not own these guys, of course. This was simply for fun.

A quick clarification: Zuko and Katara did not marry straight after the war. I'm thinking two or three years after. Making Katara around eighteen and Zuko, twenty-one. Their child being born around four years later, seeing as I planned the two to have been married for seven years already. And yes, I did name their son after the Prince Lu Ten who died in battle at Ba Sing Se. I figured it was a fitting name, considering the relationship between Iroh and Zuko. I could very well see him naming his child after the son his uncle lost. That, and I couldn't find it in my heart to name the cutie after anyone else but Lu Ten.

Also, there is no Aang-bashing in this. I love Aang, just not with Katara. He grew up to be a very handsome airbender, one that's just made for Toph. Or, of course, Mang! ;)

Anyway, I do apologize for any grammar errors you may come across. It's 12:30 PM, and my eyes are pleading for mercy. As is my brain.

Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame.
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned.

— Try, P!nk

Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, Fire Lady and Waterbending Master, sat on the stone bench within one of the palace's many courtyards. Her smile, radiant and warm, only grew larger as her three year old son crouched down, his weight balanced on the souls of his small feet as he gazed down to the grass were a small dragonfly had landed near the turtleduck pond. "Lu Ten," Katara spoke with a small laugh, "Don't scare the poor little bug away."

Lu Ten looked up with a toothy smile, his blue eyes bright and mimicked his mother's. "Bug not scared! Silly Mama, silly!" He declared, hopping up to run as quick as his little legs would take him toward his mother. Placed to the side of her thigh, Lu Ten's toy soldier and sword rested. He took the sword in his hand and waved it in front of him.

Katara put a hand out to guide the toy away from her legs, "Careful, sweetie." She was full aware of the strength her young son carried, even if the sword was only part of a fun, innocent game he played. She learned quickly when handling Lu Ten as an infant, her nose was an easy target for his head-butt habits. He was almost as hardheaded as his father.

"Mama wants play?" Lu Ten questioned, giggling as he jumped forward and pretended to stab an invisible enemy. He made loud, sharp noises with his mouth as he continued to battle his way through the war field, earning looks from the maids and servants attending to their business as they walked through the shaded path conjoining buildings of the palace.

Katara laughed softly, "No, not this time. Maybe another day, yes?"

Lu Ten looked at his mother to nod and then continued to roll in the grass with his sword ready to strike. Just as Katara expected the young prince to pounce and stab a few more enemies, he stopped. Another smile blossomed across his toddler features. Slightly confused, Katara glanced around the tree behind the bench she sat upon and caught sight of what her son might be more excited about than his imaginary war.

Zuko.

The sun's rays bounced off the gold of the crown in his topknot, Katara noticed, though the Fire Lord did not. It was a small, blinding shock of light and she blinked to readjust her vision. When she saw clearly, she realized he walked along side another, deep in conversation. Katara also noticed, unfortunately, the one that walked to her husband's side was, in fact, a woman — a pretty woman. She dressed in green, her brown hair held up with an elegance anyone could see. Katara saw the features across her face, decorated in light shades of makeup, and guessed she was from the Earth Kingdom.

"Papa, Papa!" Lu Ten had taken off towards his father; arms outstretched in excitement and plead.

Zuko had been listening to something the Earth Kingdom woman was saying when he perked up at the sound of the small voice. His eyes flickered away from her and landed on the small prince, running faster than he had ever seen before. Zuko's face lit with a gentle smirk, "Lu Ten, son,"

Lu Ten reached his father and instantly took hold of the man's dark red robes, tugging slightly. Zuko chuckled and picked the boy up in a swift movement. "Lu Ten," He asked, looking at his son's soft, dirt smudged cheek. "Where's your m—"

"Zuko,"

The Fire Lord tore his gaze away from Lu Ten to find his wife, the sun gleaming off the golden patterns of her dress brilliantly, walking gracefully towards them as she always did when she saw he was in the presence of another. A polite smile played across her lips as she said his name once more, "Zuko, my Lord."

There was a slight twang in the bottom of Zuko's stomach. He knew for a fact Katara didn't use proper titles often, only when something was bothering her but she refused to be blunt about it in the open. It wasn't often, but when it happened it gave Zuko an even more pestering guilt feeling — because he knew he was doing something wrong, he just wasn't sure what.

"Katara," Zuko replied coolly, "I see Lu Ten is enjoying his outside time quite well." He licked his thumb and rubbed it across Lu Ten's dirty cheek, the prince squirming away at the damp contact to his face.

Katara gave a small, airy chuckle. "He grows bored inside pretty quickly nowadays."

"He is lovely, my Lady," came the voice of the woman in green.

Katara hadn't even noticed the woman bow, her attention having been strict on her husband she saw not nearly enough as she used to. Deep down, Katara knew she shouldn't feel as jealous or angered by the lack of attention Zuko presented her with. He was Fire Lord, and things concerning the rebuilding of more cities near the outskirts of Omashu or redesigning some of the Fire Nation ships had become more of a priority than simply showing up for breakfast or kissing their son goodnight. The whole country depended on Zuko and kept a keen eye on him, waiting for something — anything — to snap while he was in power. She could only imagine what spending every day, on a thrown or in an office, waiting for the other foot to drop must feel like. And so Katara put her own feelings aside, for the sake of one less argument.

"Thank you," She finally spoke in reply to the woman's compliment. "You are very kind."

Zuko cleared his throat and shifted his weight, as if uncomfortable. "Katara, this is Jin, from Ba Sing Se." He bounced Lu Ten in his arms a bit as the toddler rested his head on Zuko's shoulder. "We were just on our way to my study for a meeting."

Katara heard the silent message hidden beneath Zuko's stern, golden eyes. He was implying he didn't have time to ponder around in the courtyard any longer, duty called. There were plans to discuss, things to sort. She tucked some of her curly locks behind her ear and nodded, "It was a pleasure, Jin."

"The pleasure is mine, Fire Lady." Jin said kindly, her head bowed.

Zuko hadn't looked at Jin since Katara appeared. He gave Lu Ten a kiss on the forehead, "Continue playing, son. Papa has some things to attend to now."

Katara held open her arms as Zuko placed Lu Ten in her embrace gingerly. "Will you be at dinner?" She asked, her eyes a bit saddened. The answer she anticipated wasn't hopeful.

The corner of Zuko's lips twitched up in a half-smile. "I'll try my best." He gave her a chastely kiss to the cheek before walking away.

The Fire Lady watched, the urge to scream pounding against her insides. Letting out a small sigh, Katara focused her attention back to Lu Ten, his small arms encircling around her neck as he hugged her to him. She placed a kiss to his soft, dark hair as her eyes followed the back of the Fire Lord. She tried to forget the sight and walk away as he'd done. It was hard, but Katara refused to admit she saw that part of her husband more than his face.

You and I go hard at each other like we're going to war.
You and I go rough, we keep throwing things and slamming the door.
You and I get so damn dysfunctional, we stopped keeping score.
You and I get sick, yeah, I know we can't do this no more.
— One More Night, Maroon 5

Katara poured herself another glass of wine, only filling it to a proper amount for the Fire Lady. Eyes were constantly on her, and she'd learn to all but regard them in a serious manner. Except, however, on nights like this — nights that consisted of a ball for one rich man to the next high ranking official's dying grandmother. There was at least two a month, and frankly, Katara had come to hate them. They never left Zuko in much of a decent mood, him being a hater of dancing, drunken fat men and obnoxiously loud music. However, that didn't stop him from giving the people a small dose of the entertainment they wanted.

Katara could easily understand why these parties held such an importance: they were magnificent, held in the palace of the Fire Lord himself. Outside, there were people wearing red and jewelry made of gold, the colors of their nation standing strong. But in here, in the palace, it wasn't just the logs to set the flame, but the flame itself. Red carpets and golden tapestries, towering ceilings and enriching portraits of the historic leaders — Katara was guilty of the awe just as much as the Fire Nation people were.

Though, she'd also grown tired of it. There was nothing blue about it—nothing but her spirit from time to time.

"My Lady," a soldier, young and proper, planted himself at Katara's side. "You look exquisite tonight, if I may say so myself."

Katara gave a small, flattered laugh, "Oh, thank you, you're very sweet!" She used a hand to flatten down her dress a bit, its fabric soft against the palm of her cold hand. "I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."

The soldier smiled, bowing in respect, "Lt. Sung, my Lady."

"Are you having a nice time tonight, Lt. Sung?" Katara asked with a welcoming smile, the wine twirling in her glass from her own fidgety waterbending habit. She always waited for something negative to spring from the conversation with a native Fire Nation occupant. Not many accepted her as Fire Lady, having come from Water Tribe 'peasant' blood. There were a few, however, that shocked her. Such as Lt. Sung.

"Very much so," He gave a small nod, "And you, my Lady? I haven't seen his Majesty around for quite some time."

Katara swallowed her negative comments referring to her husband and said, "Oh, I'm having a fairly pleasant night, I suppose. My husband is not as fond of these gatherings, to be honest."

Lt. Sung parted his lips, but closed them again before narrowing his eyes at something in the distance. He smiled a moment later, "There he is, right over there! His Majesty really has a crowd over there, doesn't he?"

Katara turned to spot Zuko, standing in the midst of a decent sized crowd. Most were women, Katara saw. He was chuckling at something a tall man had said, also dressed in military attire. The crowd erupted in laughter at Zuko's response and Katara's stomach clenched as she spotted his hand make contact with one of the woman's naked arms.

Here she stood, trying her best to put on a nice act for the guests of not only his palace, but hers as well. And not more than once had he attempted to make conversation with her. Things were just as quick and curt as they had been a few days ago in the courtyard before his meeting with Jin. Something — though she tried her best at putting the thoughts aside — felt terribly distant.

Katara turned slightly and put her glass down on the nearest table. "I'm sorry, Lt. Sung," She said and noticed another man had come up to talk to Sung as well.

Lt. Sung looked at her, a small hint of worry in his brown eyes. "My Lady, is there—"

"I just remembered there was something I had to attend to. It was a pleasure speaking with you." Katara flashed him a pleasant smile before starting off through the chattering crowds.

Behind her, she could hear the stranger commenting to Lt. Sung, "I wouldn't be surprised if one of those women were one of the Fire Lord's concubines. I'd be surprised if they weren't!" Both men chuckled.

Katara, breathing better now that she was outside of the packed space, licked her lips and batted her eyes. Concubine? She shook her head and batted her eyes harder, refusing to spill tears over this. It was just a stupid comment, she thought to herself, nothing but a stupid joke.

Another set of doors that opened into the ball room opened abruptly, causing Katara to take a step back, startled. Stepping out into the dim lit hall, Zuko and a woman — Jin — walked the opposite direction. A direction that was known to be taken when headed for the Fire Lord's study. Katara narrowed her eyes, "Who does that woman think she is?" She questioned in the shadows of the hall, a trivial rage building in the pit of her stomach.

Without a second thought, Katara felt her feet moving after the two party strays. She wasn't sure what had come over her, but something boiled quicker than sanity.

Before she knew it, Katara was standing with her arms folded across her chest in front of a door guard. "I need to speak with my husband."

"His Majesty is attending to some business at the moment, my Lady." said the guard, firm and quiet.

"Jang," Katara lowered her voice at the guard she had known for more than two years. "I need to speak with my husband, now."

Jang kept his eyes forward as he swallowed hard, "My Lady—"

Katara rolled her eyes and pushed past Jang, opening the large door with more force than intended. Inside, however, was no woman. Only her husband, sat at his desk with a quill in his hand. He looked up, alarmed, but settled back to his matters when he saw it was only her. "Katara, were you not enjoying the party?" He asked distractedly, now reading over a scroll.

"She's not in here . . ." Katara thought aloud, raking her eyes over the study steadily, almost feeling embarrassed.

"Who?" Zuko questioned, peering back up at Katara with his brow raised.

"Jin," Katara replied tersely, "That's who.'"

Zuko brushed off the topic, "She left the palace a few minutes ago." He cleared his throat and picked up a letter to skim over. "We should probably be getting back to the party. Some will think it's strange, having no Fire Lord or Lady present at such an event."

Katara watched as he scooted his chair back and moved to stand, running a hand over his nicely groomed hair pulled back in the uniform topknot. She studied his movements, stiff and aloof. "What are you discussing plans about with her?"

"Jin?" Zuko looked at her once again, but only for a brief moment before he walked closer to the door. "Just some things referring to the armies in the Earth Kingdom. More women are wishing to join the military, not only there, but here in the Fire Nation too. She was coming to me to seek some assistance in the matter."

"That's all?" Katara asked, her voice quieter. "That's all she wanted with you?"

Zuko smiled unsurely, confused. "Yes, that's all." Something like suspicion in her ocean orbs made Zuko speak again, "What is it you thought she wanted, Katara?"

She could hear the warning under the tone of his low voice. It was chilling — challenging. "I had heard some things, that's all." Katara brushed it off like he'd done before and began to make her leave.

Zuko stepped in front of her, closing the door behind him, "What things?" When she looked up from starring voids into his chest, her eyes locked with his, and he repeated, "What things?"

Katara couldn't help the bitterness that slipped through her voice. "Concubine sort of things, my Lord."

Zuko looked at her, a smile of disbelief spread across his lips. "Concubines, huh? You think I was having an affair? With Jin?"

"One would be foolish not to think so." Katara retorted, folding her arms over her chest. She watched his expression harden, the dancing flames of the candles lighting the room sprouted a little stronger while casting their shadows along the unblemished side of his face.

"That's ridiculous." Zuko said after a few moments of silence.

"Is it?" Katara dared, "Or is it just something to be expected while fitting into the whole Fire Lady role? You didn't seem so willing to put aside a few minutes with Jin to attend dinner with Lu Ten and me. And never once have I seen you leave a party to escort someone out. Maybe—"

"Maybe what? Katara, are you listening to yourself?" His voice had raised, the rage in his eyes becoming more apparent. "We're talking about an affair! What — because I spend a little more time with one person in a conference than another I'm suddenly fucking them too? Is that what you think?"

"I might be, yes." She bit back.

Zuko gave her a harsh glare, "You're one of the last people I'd expect to go around and believe rumors like that. Complete bullshit, Katara. That's all they are."

"Bullshit, huh?" Katara enclosed a little more distance of space between them. "I'm sorry for being a little more alert these days and taking in as many different angles of this situation as I can. They could be right, I could be wrong —but you don't help clarify around that particular subject much! No, you only make these harder and harder to figure out with your negative, distant attitudes toward everything and everyone in the past few months. But, then again, what's new?"

"Oh, please." Zuko rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest, his voice rising once again. "Like you aren't overdramatic to begin with, Miss Saint! There I was, minding my own damn business when you barge in and convict me of some crime I'm far from guilty of! I hardly see how I'm the negative half in this predicament!"

Katara held her ground, the shouts and glares were something she'd seen a countless amount of times. They weren't always for her, but that didn't mean she hadn't seen the way Zuko fought with one advisor and then another. She'd studied the way he fought, the way he held himself when he felt threatened or became defensive. "Are you considering this from my point of view, Zuko? Can you honestly say you wouldn't think the same?"

Zuko's jaw tightened and he averted his gaze elsewhere, "That's—" He paused and took the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger. "—absurd."

"Then tell me nothing happened. Tell me nothing has ever happened between the two of you. Ever."

He was quiet, his lips formed in a tight line. Finally, he admitted, "If I told you that, I'd be lying." Katara's jaw dropped a bit and she took an unconscious step back, the words stinging her skin like a fresh burn. "But, look — I — Katara, it isn't what you think." Zuko seemed more irritated with himself than her then. "We met years ago! Even before I was with Mai. We went on one stupid, immature date back in Ba Sing Se when Uncle and I were fugitives." He held her eyes, "That's all."

Katara was slow with her response, "I was right, then . . ." Suddenly, she didn't feel so hurt because of Jin, only jealous. A simple, pretty looking girl was able to steal more attention away from the Fire Lord than his own wife and child. Granted, Jin wasn't all to blame, but she was part of it. Katara contemplated over the fact she might only be targeting Jin because she ached for something to be mad at in a guilt-free way. Zuko was, and always had been, out of the question. Being Fire Lord was a busy, busy job. What could she really expect, married to a man with such high power?

Despite her longing, Katara knew she could never ask more than was required of Zuko. It wouldn't be in her place to do so. She wouldn't have thought twice about it two years into their marriage, but they were younger then. The intensity of the situation hadn't set in quite as much as it had now. This was how things were — and this is how they were supposed to be.

"No," Zuko shook his head, "You were wrong. I never had any sort of affair."

Not technically, she thought, but actions speak louder than words. "It wouldn't matter anymore, now would it?" Katara gave him one final look before brushing past him and leaving the study with a wave of frustration in her path.

This is our luck, baby, running out
Our clothes were never off
We still have our roads to run about
To scale the map, scale the map,
To get us back on track.

— Under the Sheets, Ellie Goulding

During the night, Katara began to bend the water of her bath in small circles around her fingers. She played with the element with cool, relaxing sighs escaping her lips every so often. The bathwater was warm, inviting wonderful senses to her skin. Outside of the large bathroom lit by candles with soft hues of orange, Lu Ten slept soundly on his stomach atop the large master bed. Katara kept the door cracked and listened for his steady breathing when she wasn't concentrating on her bending or keeping the pesky thoughts of the fight between her and Zuko from the previous night away.

Katara reached for a sponge and soaked it in water. She poured the scented oils down her back and began in the task of scrubbing at the wet skin. With a slight hum to herself, she reached for another bottle of body oil sitting at the edge of the tub.

Then there was a sound, sudden and quiet.

There was no ringing of Lu Ten's subtle voice from the bedroom, making Katara aware it could only be an assassin or, more than likely, Zuko. She knew from past experiences he didn't say much when he decided on joining her for a bath. He simply removed his clothes, released the topknot, and slid in.

Tonight wasn't much different.

Katara instantly felt the water grow warmer, tingling her skin in an appeasing manner. She glanced back at him reclining back against the edge of the large, round tub. His eyes closed and his breathing slowed. Acknowledging his presence for not a moment longer, Katara continued on with washing the oils from her back hurriedly. It wasn't hard with her bending, but her husband must have thought otherwise.

Wordlessly, Zuko leaned forward to run his fingers over Katara's back gently. He took the sponge from her hand when she stiffed under his touch. It was typical of Katara to become rigid around him after a fight. It wasn't anything he hadn't become used to over the years.

"You don't have to." She said shortly as he pulled her closer, their naked bodies touching under the water and above. Katara aimed her view to something less Fire Lord and more to the decorations that surrounded her bathroom: heavy, red curtains blocking the moon's light, marble white sinks, the soft rugs placed on the ground around the tub in which she sat . . . Regrettably, Katara wished she had allowed the maids to assist her with a bath instead of shooing them away like she normally did.

"I want to." He countered silkily, rubbing the sponge up her spine. She knew denying his kindness so soon would only push things a little too far, so she went along.

Katara felt the goosebumps rise along her arms. She bit her lip at the sensation, the hot skin of her husband against her own. Somehow, it never got old, but remained reviving. She felt Zuko's breath on the back of her neck once he moved her hair off one shoulder and over the other, allowing him access to more of her sensitive skin.

Zuko worked the sponge down her back, under the water, and back up again. He ran his own palms down her upper arms and down over her thighs. Katara watched as his alabaster digits repeated the routine, this time his lips making contact with her shoulder. He feathered a kiss there and trailed a few more to the back of her neck.

Katara's mind began to cloud when he spun her around, her body in between his legs. He let the sponge drift off over the quickly warming water as he moved a hand to cradle the side of her jaw. He brought her face close to his and demolished the space between their mouths with a heated kiss. His mouth commanded hers, pulling her to straddle his lap, and she complied.

Katara felt the small jolts of heated pleasure wherever his hands roamed — up her sides, through her thick, wet hair and along her thighs. Their tongues began a dance of their own and Katara almost melted into it. She could feel herself holding back, keeping a wall around the intimate feelings she would have released long before he ever took the sponge out of her hand.

Zuko's hand ventured up and gave a light squeeze at her breast. As his thumb ran over a taut, brown nipple, Katara was snapped out of her trance. "Wait, no," She said once she drew away from her husband's hungry mouth, desperate for air. Before she could get a good look at his swollen lips or lock gazes with the pair of golden eyes, he was attacking her neck in messy kisses.

"Zuko . . ." She said breathlessly, fighting the urge to forget whatever anger still lied in her bones. But she couldn't — she'd goaded it aside more times than she could count in the last few months. Katara needed to be angry. She needed to let the anger die out, not push it aside until it built up to the point of no control.

In the back of her mind, she heard his tempered voice: '. . . because I spend a little more time with one person in a conference than another I'm suddenly fucking them too?'

"Zuko, he's outside — Lu Ten is sleeping outside on the bed." She tried, pushing herself back a bit.

The Fire Lord's grip loosened from around her waist. He gazed at her with lust filled eyes, hungry for her. It was a look she hadn't seen in weeks. "That's never stopped us before." A grin played across his features, adding to the mask of seduction Katara fell for so well.

He kissed her again, sweet and tempting. Katara pulled back before she lost even more control than she already had. Below her, she could feel the entirety of the firebender's body. His toned abdomen, his firm muscled legs and the erect member that pierced into her thigh beneath the bathwater were beginning to put her mind into a hazy state of decision making. "Not this time," She said softly, avoiding his stare.

Zuko moved backward in the water, causing it to ripple violently. "You're not still mad about the affair thing, are you?" He let out an icy chuckle, implying she was fatuous or irrational if that were the case.

She stood and stepped out of the tub, bending the water from off her body in the process. "Possibly," was all she could muster.

"Katara," Zuko watched as she took a red towel from the countertop and wrapped it around her cold, naked body. "It was just—"

"It's been a long day, Zuko," Katara said calmly, turning to face him. Ignoring the twitch of his jaw, she finished, "I'm going to get some sleep." With that, she exited the bathroom and shut the door behind her softly.

Zuko ran his hands over his face roughly, muddling up his hair in the process before he sank down into the water until it flooded up to his chin. He sighed through his nose as he starred up at the high ceiling in the stillness. Alone.

Baby I think I owe you one,
Every time I come around you're ready for the letdown.
Here I sit alone,
It was my fault I know.
If I were you I wouldn't take me back,
Just let me down slowly please.
— The Letdown, The White Tie Affair

"Your Majesty, Prince Lu Ten has asked to see you before he attends his afternoon tutoring." The guard at the study room's entryway announced behind the closed door.

Zuko looked up from writing a letter to the king of Ba Sing Se, his quill propped in his hand. "Let him in." He replied, turning his chair to watch as a small child walked through the doorway, his back straight and proper as he did so. Zuko smirked, "What can I do for you, Your Highness?"

Lu Ten bowed sloppily with a mischievous smile across his lips. He ran happily over to his father's lap and climbed up with little effort. "Papa," He said as Zuko turned the chair back to face the desk straightly. "Papa, what you doing?"

Zuko had set his quill down but moved it before Lu Ten got his hold on it. "I'm writing a letter."

"To who?" Lu Ten asked curiously, holding up the letter as if reading over its words. "To Mama?"

Zuko ran his hand tenderly over his son's hair, not yet long enough for a topknot of his own. He looked down and studied the ends of Lu Ten's dark brown locks — almost impossible to recollect as brown unless caught under the sunlight — as they curled slightly at the nape of his neck. Zuko knew he inherited that feature from his mother and her only. It was a solemn reminder of the moments Zuko had shared with Katara, combing his fingers through the curls in the morning as she slept next to him before he left for the day's work. In truth, he wasn't even sure he'd taken the time to repeat that acquitted gesture in months, the ripe years of their marriage suddenly seeming decades ago.

"No, son," Zuko replied, "Not to Mama this time."

Lu Ten wiggled his legs, "Why?"

"Mama doesn't need me to write her letters, Lu Ten. She can speak to me whenever she wants." Zuko answered patiently.

The young prince rested against Zuko's chest, acting exasperated with that answer. "She not going to talk to you!"

Zuko lifted his brow, "Oh? Why's that?"

"Mama not like talking to you, Papa. She not, she not." Lu Ten shook his head, leaning forward again to study the small jar of ink.

Zuko found himself frowning, "Lu Ten—"

The guard in the hall announced, "Your Majesty, Master Iroh!"

The study door opened once again and Lu Ten's face brightened, "Uncle Iroh! Uncle Iroh!" He said, scrambling to get out of Zuko's lap and trample the entering old firebender.

Iroh smiled warmly down at the small child, "Oh, Lu Ten, my boy! Look how you've grown!" He took a seat in a chair facing Zuko's large desk and lifted Lu Ten into his lap.

"Uncle," Zuko said, "It was nice of you to come for a visit. How's the shop running?"

Iroh's eyes glittered with joy and peace, "It's running just fine, nephew. Just fine." He kept from Lu Ten pulling on his gray beard and asked, "And how are things here in the Fire Nation? There's been word of some project concerning allowing women join armed forces."

"Yes," Zuko nodded stiffly, his mind continuing on with the circumstances between his wife and him. "In all truthfulness, women contributed a lot in the missions to stop the war. Some have opted they wish to join armies in the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. I see no problem with it, my own wife being one of a warrior status herself. As is my brother-in-law's wife, too."

"Ah, the Lady Katara," Iroh asked serenely, "And how is the Fire Lady, Nephew?"

"She's—" Zuko paused as Lu Ten's eyes fell on him. He cleared his throat and shrugged a shoulder, "She's fine."

Iroh quirked a brow and watched as Zuko began finishing the letter he had been writing. There was something in his face that hinted tension — his narrowed eyes, stern brow and firm jaw. It was enough for Iroh to sink his meddling ways into. "Lu Ten, I think your father and I have some things to discuss."

Two pairs of eyes shot in the old man's direction, Zuko's knowing at what was about to come. Lu Ten's nose scrunched, "But why?"

Iroh gave him a gentle pat and set him on the ground. "Now, Lu Ten. What have you been taught about disobeying your elders' orders?" Lu Ten's eyes rounded a bit. He looked quickly over at his father, sitting still at his desk. Zuko's brow flicked up in a quick motion that sent Lu Ten running for the door.

Zuko waited until his uncle's laughter had silenced before speaking, "What is it we need to discuss, Uncle?" Here it comes, he thought and sighed as he did so.

"You tell me, Nephew." Iroh gave a smug smile, instantly cracking the Fire Lord into a grumbled rant.

"She's impossible, Uncle! Impossible!" Zuko raked his fingernails against his scalp. "What have I done? I don't even remember the last time I did her wrong! We get in a few arguments, here and there, yes. But what married couple doesn't? Why is she so damn difficult? If only I could read what she was thinking on a piece of paper! This would all be over that way." He leaned back in his chair and laughed bitterly, "And do you know what the last thing we fought about was? An affair! A damned affair! Can you believe that? She thinks I was fooling around with Jin, from Ba Sing Se! Oh, spirits, she's crazy."

"Jin? From Ba Sing Se?" Iroh questioned, puzzled. "The young woman I set you up on a date with years ago?"

"Yes! Wait, no. Yes." Zuko gripped the bridge of his nose, "That's beside the point here, Uncle."

Iroh nodded, "Right, right. Please continue."

"Why would she think I was having an affair? That's a pretty serious assumption, don't you think? It's her, I know. But regardless! She has more sense than that. Doesn't she know me better? I'd paint half the palace blue for her!"

"Does she know that?"

Zuko shot his gaze up, locking with his Uncle's in a moment of silence. "What?"

"Does she know that, Zuko?" Iroh repeated calmly, folding his hands over his belly. "Does your wife know you'd do such a thing for her — that you would sacrifice a simple, yet declaration, of a color for her?"

"I—" Zuko frowned slightly, "I'm not sure."

Iroh went on, "You tell me that you've been working on coming to a compromise with other country leaders and officials over the rights for women. I would imagine you've been working on this for several weeks, yes? You've probably been in countless meetings, written a number of letters and prepared several different speeches on why this sort of step in society should even be considered." Zuko was quiet. "However, Nephew, it seems to me that you might be overlooking one important detail: a woman's needs. Those are tricky, tricky things. But, nevertheless, they should never be overlooked."

"Are you saying I should look into the needs of all these women hoping to join armies?" Zuko questioned.

Iroh chuckled, "No, Nephew. Not those women — your woman." He smiled, "When was the last time you gave a little attention to the Lady Katara? When was the last time she has felt complete and satisfied in your presence? I know this might seem silly, Zuko, but it is a necessity in the form of a healthy marriage. She is the mother of your child — your son, your heir. There isn't a doubt in my mind Katara hasn't let you down when it comes to raising Lu Ten. In return, it would be nothing close of a hassle to shower her in attention from time to time. Women need to feel accomplished, loved. They need to be assured they're beautiful every once in a while, that they are the only ones you would fight a thousand wars for."

"I guess you're right," Zuko said considerably, starring holes into his desk with thought.

"Can you blame her now for the assumptions she had?" asked Iroh. "When a woman is neglected for so long, a number of things could stem from it. One of which, is the anxiety of an affair going on behind her back. I've seen it many times in my life time. Once with my own wife."

Zuko could hear Katara's cries in the back of his mind: "Are you considering this from my point of view, Zuko?" He cringed to himself, knowing now what he failed to realize sooner. Katara was lonely. "I've screwed up."

"Yes, yes you have." Iroh nodded with a smirk. "That does not mean they cannot be fixed, though, Nephew."

Zuko pressed his elbows upon the desk, resting his face away in the heat of his palms. He let out a long, exasperated sigh. "When this is over, I won't hear the end of it. I just know it." Katara's my wife, after all, he added silently.

A/N: So, please tell me what you thought! Review?

Part II should be up in the next few days, I'm hoping. This is not an on going story, for those of you who are a bit unfamiliar at what a oneshot means. This particular oneshot happened to be a little longer than I anticipated, so I cut it into two parts. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!