God, this is a pain in the ass. There are three parts to this story and I still haven't done part 3. Erika's (IFeltHope44) been bugging me about it for months. Lmao I'll try and finish it!

Review please! 3

-Scarlett

"Alright. We've come to an agreement. This meeting has now ended. Good day and may Agni look upon you with good fortune." Fire Lord Zuko watched from his Dao as his most trusted advisers left the throne room. He sighed as he extinguished the small wall of fire surrounding his throne. Every part of him was a facade now. He was no longer the man he used to be ever since the tragic day over a year ago.

The day his Fire Lady was murdered.

His wounds were still fresh, even with the passing of time. Absolutely it was the hardest time for him. He would have gone mad if not for his uncle and son there to lead him. Hearing the heartbreaking news from his most trusted friend and lieutenant sent him into the deep depths of hell itself.

Jee had run into the throne room with blood and tears all over him, and Zuko had the most utmost concern running to his friend and trying to calm him. But, after hearing his words, Zuko was no longer himself.

"It's...Katara-" Jee tried to take in a deep breath as his tears were flowing like a waterfall. "S-She...was murdered just moments ago." His body was shaking uncontrollably as he described the events.

Slowly, in shock, Zuko received his wife's bloody betrothal necklace as he sank to the floor in front of his Council. He stared straight ahead, his eyes swimming with tears.

As Zuko thinks of the tragic day he found himself walking to his and her favorite pond. Shrugging, he sat and watched the turtleducks.

"Dad?"

He looked up to find his only son standing in the entrance to the secluded area."Yes, Takero?"

"...You miss her don't you?" The Fire Lord smiled faintly as Takero sat next to him. He never missed a thing. Just like his mother. "Yes. Very much."

Takero moved his hair out of his eyes to look at Zuko. He never liked wearing his topknot. Zuko enjoyed his company. He acted so much like his mother. Takero looked almost exactly like Katara save for the gold eyes and pale skin. "I miss Mom also. I miss her bedtime stories." The little prince hugged his knees and his eyes swamed with tears as he stared into the water.

He was struck with sadness as he watched tears fall down Takero's face. They were both suffering. Father and son had stayed in the Fire Lord's chambers for an entire week in mourning as they shared stories and tears. No one dared to disturb them no matter the problems happening in the Fire Nation.

"Takero..it's alright. You shouldn't hide your pain. Your uncle told me that." He paused as the prince rubbed at his face. "Even though your mother would not want us being like this, it is sometimes okay to once and awhile let everything go. But just remember, she is always with you." Zuko moved closer to his son and opened his arms. Takero quickly moved into his father's chest as they both cried.

Hours later, Zuko had put the prince to bed and was now walking back to his chambers. Memories filled his senses as he came to a pillar and touched it lightly. He smiled as he remembered pressing Katara into it and kissing her passionately as he tried to convince her to not attend a party. Of course he didn't get his way. She was such a tease... Zuko sighed and continued walking.

Nodding to his guards stationed in front of his door, he waved them off duty. Finally coming into his chambers he walked to his bedroom and discarded his royal robes leaving him in only his pants. It was pitch black in his rooms from which Zuko didn't understand why as he always a sconce or candle had lit. Too lazy to light anything, he walked blindly into his sitting area and-

-tripped over the side table.

"Dammit!" Zuko extricated himself from the belongings he brought with him to the floor and stood, lighting the fireplace with a growl.

As the fire illuminated his chamber, he realized he was not alone.

There, sat someone with their shoulders slumped and hands held together nervously on their lap. Zuko looked upon the said person and his eyes widened.

"It's good to see you, my lord." The person's shoulders shook as they laughed softly.

He staggered back a step. It couldn't be... He had not heard that voice for over a year...

"...Katara?" Disbelief rode through his voice.

Finally, she turned and he caught sight of her beautiful blue eyes, swimming with tears of her own. Slowly, she brought herself up from the couch and walked toward him.

Zuko was frozen in place. Was he dreaming? Crazy? Seeing ghosts? This was impossible...

Katara was wearing a simple red tunic and pants. Her thick brown hair flowed freely down her back in long waves. He noticed how tired she looked and her eyes held a deep suffering inside them.

She drew in a ragged breath. "Hi..."

Zuko continued to stare at her with confusion and pain as his main features. Minutes went by until the firebender lifted his hand and reached out and touched her face. Visibly, the waterbender shivered and leaned into his touch. She's really here.

He drew her in and held her to his chest for what seemed like hours. "Ow. Zuko, I can't breathe!" He released her infinitesimally but still held her to him. "What...happened?" His voice broke for the thousandth time.

Katara sighed and pulled away to wipe at her face and look at him. Her hand was shaking as she removed the saltwater from her copper cheeks. The Fire Lady swallowed. "Can we sit down? I'm really tired..." Zuko guided her to the couch and took her into his arms. "What happened?" he repeated.

Snuggling into her husband, she spoke in hushed tones. "Jee and I...we were getting you and Takero birthday presents since your birthdays are only a day apart and while we were walking through an alley-deserted of course-I felt a pulse on the roof but I was to late...The next thing I know I'm shot. Three arrows in me." Burying her head into Zuko's shoulder she cried harder. "I was so scared...Jee was freaking out and I was losing a lot of blood...It was horrible. I knew I was dying so...I gave Jee my necklace to give to you and asked him to carry me to the ocean. He tried to protest but I made him promise." Zuko held her tighter. "Jee took the arrows out of me-but I couldn't feel it-and took me to the ocean. The minute my skin touched the water I...died." She drew in a shaky breath but it caught in her throat causing her to hiccup. She could feel her husband's tears drop into her hair. After what seemed like days, Zuko spoke.

"How...?"

"I went to Yue. She smiled and we talked but then she said it was not my time. That I had to go back. I wasn't finished. It's probably the worst experience being shot back into your body. I came to the surface seeing the beach was deserted and healed myself. It took awhile because of the extent of my injuries but then I walked off the beach..."

Zuko's brow furrowed. He extricated himself from his wife and stared down at her. "And you didn't come back? Do you know what hearing those words had done to us? How much the two of us still suffer? Did you care?" Katara flinched as Zuko whispered. It hurt her more looking at his calm but tense stature. She stood and walked to the fireplace. "Of course I did. Why wouldn't I? It was horrible to not be able to walk back to my home and prove I was not dead. It nearly destroyed me." She shivered wishing he would hold her again.

"What do you mean 'not being able to'? Zuko took deep breaths as his temper rose along with the fire in the fireplace. Katara did not flinch.

"I had the kill those assassins," she said simply.

Fire Lord Zuko stared at her astounded. "What? Katara why? How was that more important than coming back to your family? Revenge is never the answer," he said.

Katara sighed and turned back to him. "I located my assassins pulse from memory and when I found him..." She hesitated, closing her eyes as the tears came harder. "...I overheard him getting a new assignment...To assassinate you and Takero."

Zuko's eyes widened. He rushed over to her and put both his arms around her waist. "Oh Agni Katara...What did you do?" He whispered into her neck.

She held onto him for dear life. "I followed him and his boss to a camp. I killed them and others with my bloodbending. Some escaped so I had to chase them down...I killed the last one two nights ago." Sobbing she collapsed fully into his arms. "You don't know how painful it's been for me! I had to travel everywhere and kill and kill! I hated it but they all were a part of the assignment...I had to wipe them out."

"Shhh. It's alright. Your here. I'm here. Your home now." He put his hand under her chin to raise her head and kissed her slowly with all he had. "I thought I had lost you forever..."

Katara melted into his arms and slowly pulled away. "That's because you believed the maya."