A/N: It's been a while since I wrote Zutara! But after rewatching the whole series and falling in love with Avatar all over again, I had to do something. This isn't much, but it was fun :) Please review!

Words: 578
Characters: Zuko, Katara
Time: Post-war
Genre: Romance

Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to the creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Not me.

"Why do you love me, Katara?"

Frowning, she turned towards Zuko, their fingers intertwined as they lay on the sands of Ember Island. Ocean breezes tickled her hair across her cheeks. "You ask me this now? After I've agreed to marry you? Some talented romantic you are. I might just change my mind, if you're so unsure."

"That's not what I meant," he said, and just to prove it, he grabbed her arm so he could pull her close and kiss her. He felt her smile.

"All right, all right, I believe you."

"Will you just answer the question?"

"Someone's feeling insecure."

"Shut up."

"Do you want me to answer the question or not?"

He fell silent. He was well aware of their two tempers; part of what made time with her so interesting was the off chance that one of them would explode at the other for one thing or another. For a waterbender, Katara had the most impressive fits of rage and annoyance, and Zuko was no better. It was one of the things about her that most mystified him, enthralled him.

"Zuko… you're the only person I know who's never wanted me to be anything I'm not. Even Aang, sometimes; he would want others to fit in to his noble ideals, and that just doesn't always work, you know? But you… you did everything you could to gain our trust – my trust – and never once asked that I change for you. You had to change yourself. I feel guilty about that, sometimes."

"Don't," said Zuko. "I'm glad I've changed. I changed for the better. I have you because I changed."

"I know." She paused, and with her free hand, starting tracing random lines in the sand. "I know. And that's what makes it all the more special, doesn't it? It's more like… not that you changed, but you just found the real you. You – the real Zuko – he was always there. But because of your past, it just took you a while to find him."

He took her face in his hands and kissed her again. Her hands touched his cheeks in return, light and gentle, and comforting until a few light fingers reached his scar. Instinctively Zuko pulled away.

"Zuko, do you know what else I love about you?" Katara breathed. She left her fingers on his face. "I love your eyes. You have - "

" – my father's eyes," he interrupted bitterly, glancing away. "I hate them. Not because of the scar, not anymore. I've always had my father's eyes. Same shape, same color."

"But yours are different," said Katara. "Yours are full not of madness and hatred. Your eyes are kind. There is no comparison. I love your eyes… because when you look at me… I feel nothing but… warm."

Her voice was so sincere that he couldn't help but meet her gaze again. She smiled at once.

"They're like the embers in a fire," she murmured. "Warm, and always there to comfort you on a dark night."

Zuko pulled her closer, kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips. When their eyes met again, hers were bleary with a combination of sleepiness and contentment.

"I will always be there," he said, kissing her once more as she closed her eyes and fell asleep against his chest.