Here's another chapter for you lovely people. A whirlwind is going through my head so it was hard to get through this chapter. But once I get through the first few I'll be able to really break through. Enjoy!

I do not own Avatar: the last airbender

The rooms were even more extravagant than Katara remembered. After arriving at the palace, which the siblings were in awe of all the changes made since their visit three years ago, Zuko claimed to have some business he needed to attended to and he left his general to guide Katara and Sokka to their rooms.

"Chief Sokka. Master Katara, this is my loyal general and cousin from my mother's side General Shin." Zuko introduced when they arrived inside the palace. The general and his guards were already waiting when they reached the top of the stairs leading to the entrance. Shin bowed in greeting. "I know things look different since you both were last here. I figured since the world's been changing after the war, we could use some change as well."

The palace had more traditional décor rather than war adorned. In the beginning it actually disturbed Katara how many weapons and paintings of bloodshed and war covered the palace walls. Tapestries of conquered lands and previous Firelords gave Katara nightmares during the first few days the gaang had stayed before Zuko's coronation. It changed slowly over time the years that followed but now Katara couldn't help but be drawn into beautiful colors of red and gold.

Although she never admitted it but when the gaang first arrived at the Fire Nation disguised, she actually liked the colors the more they traveled.

"Well, I think it's beautiful Zu-I mean, Firelord Zuko." Katara complimented.

"Still kind of creepy..."Sokka mumbled, picking something out of his teeth with the nail of his pinky.

Zuko chuckled, "Well I'll leave Shin to it. I'll see you in the palace dining room in about an hour."

The general led them to the west wing of the palace where the Firelord's most important guest resided. Sokka was the first to be shown to his room. He saluted Shin in a gesture the general didn't seem to understand and went inside to prepare himself for lunch. He led Katara a little further than from Sokka than she expected she would be. When they stopped in front of the doors leading to what would be Katara's room, she furrowed her brows.

"Uhh, doesn't this seem a little far from the other guest that will be staying?" Katara asked.

Shin nodded, "Yes but the Firelord has his reasons." he replied.

Reasons? What could he possi-

Katara's mouth dropped when Shin opened the door. The room was painted periwinkle blue and decorated with furs and water tribe artifacts. Katara felt a tug at her heart. He didn't have to do this. A part of her wanted to cry but she was known for being emotional and instead she shrieked in excitement.

"I can't believe he did such a thing. For me?" she turned to the general.

"Yes," he nodded, "he did the same for the other guest but yours seems the most detailed."

She smiled at Shin and then managed to get a good look at his face. He looked like Zuko if Zuko had taken more from his mother. Same gold eyes only slightly more slanted and the same facial features aside from the scar and Zuko had a dimple on the right side of his cheek. She had gotten a good look at Zuko's mother from pictures she had seen at Ember Island. She was beautiful and from looking at her eyes, she could tell she must of been a loving and kind woman.

When Zuko finally tracked down Ursa two years after the hundred year war, she had arrived at the palace already ill. Everyone had been shocked to find out that she had been sick for some time. Zuko spared no expense in medical treatment for his mother. But months went by with no way to cure her. His moods only darkened and he was known to go through burst of anger. Ursa assured him that she was prepared for this long before he had found her. So he decided it was best to spend as much time with his mother than miss a chance to mend their relationship before she dies, like Katara suggested in one of her letters.

A year later, Ursa had passed.

The gaang had all been there for the funeral. Katara seen the many emotions that Zuko displayed on his face throughout the years but none broke her heart more than the way he looked at his own mother's funeral. That was the last time she had seen him but they still sent letters back and forth to each other.

Katara shook her head of the memories and looked back at the general, "Well it's more than he had to do and for that I'm grateful."

Shin nodded, "If you need anything please don't hesitate to call." With that he left the room in order to allow her to settle.

Katara unpacked her belongings. When she removed her boots so she could sink her feet in the furred carpet on the floor, she nearly gagged. La, she hoped she didn't smell like that the whole day. She undressed down to her bindings and gathered her clothes to sit on her bed. She would organize after she had lunch. She only had so little time before she had to meet Sokka and Zuko and she needed to bathe badly.

She took a peek into the bathroom and her jaw dropped. The tile were blue and white and the tub was big enough to fit ten people. Katara turned the faucet to run water and eagerly stripped down to the nude and jumped into the water. It was cold but she didn't care. She turned off the faucet and began to happily play in the water. She almost didn't care if she was late for lunch even though her stomach began to growl.

She dunked her head in the water to wash the soap out of her hair. She almost jumped ten feet out of the water when she seen two young ladies standing at the edge of the tub. "Wha-what's going on?!" she yelped, covering her breast with her hands.

"I apologize, Master Katara." One of them bowed, "We came to assist you."

"Well, I don't need assisting. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself." Katara argued.

"Again, my apologies, but we were sent here by the Firelord himself."

Katara made an angry huff and stood up straight in the tub, exposing her nude body. The ladies cheeks turned red. To hell with it! She didn't want to be attended to and she was going to give Zuko a piece of her mind! She quickly got dressed and stormed out the door caring less who seen her in her state of anger.

*break*

Firelord Zuko and Chief Sokka were conversing over lunch in the royal dining hall when they heard the doors slam open. Both men's faces contorted in confusion when they seen Katara stomped her way to their end of the long dining table. If she were a firebender, smoke would steam from her nose and ears.

"Am I missing something?" Zuko turned to look at Sokka.

"Uh-oh. That looks like her pretty mad face."

Zuko furrowed his brow.

"Although, it kind of looks a lot like her pretty hungry face." Sokka rubbed his fingers on his goatee.

"Zuko!" they both turned their attention back to her. "Wanna tell me why there a two servants in my room claiming you sent them to assist me?"

"Uh..." Zuko eyed Sokka for help. Sokka only shrugged and raised his hands in the air, "I assumed you would like to...uh..." He wasn't sure what to say, "You know. Don't women like to be taken care of?"

Sokka smacked his palm against his forehead, "Wrong answer, bro."

Zuko narrowed his eyes at Sokka. Thanks for not helping.

"And why, exactly, do you think I need taken care of?" She folded her arms over her chest.

"I-I don't think you need taken care of as in you can't. I only wanted to do something...nice."

Katara contemplated his answer, she knew Zuko wasn't too good with being nice and when he did he tended to go a little overboard, "As nice as that is, I prefer to take care of myself during our stay. If I need anything, I'll be glad to let someone know."

"Fair enough." Zuko sighed. Katara took a seat next to Sokka and began to fill her bowl with rice. "So how are things in the Southern Water Tribe."

That perked Katara right up, "Amazing! With help from the North Pole, we were able to reconstruct our village. Well not so much a village as it is a city now. You were there not long after we first started but it has gotten so much bigger since. I know I wrote you some of the details but you have to come see for yourself."

"I most definitely will." Zuko smiled. He was glad his friends were there. If they weren't he'd most likely be sulking in his chambers in between meetings and meals.

Sokka excused himself. Katara had no doubt it was because of the pounds of food he just consumed and Fire Nation food wasn't what they were really used to. She looked at Zuko who was looking down at his plate, playing with his chopsticks.

"Zuko," she got up to sit in Sokka's seat, " how are you really feeling?"

He sighed and set his chopsticks down to look at her, "Honestly, I could be better. I just feel like I'm in a consistent daze of confusion."

She almost went to grasp his hand but decided against it. "You can only allow yourself time to overcome this, Zuko. Let your feeling shed and they will eventually fade. But don't allow it to eat up every aspect of you life. Your a good man, Zuko."

He snorted, "Apparently not good enough to be a husband. I know being a Firelord put a deeper strain in our relationship but I still tried my best to make her happy. But three months into our marriage and I already ruined it. What does that make me?"

"Zuko, no one's perfect. Marriage takes time to build a foundation and if both parties don't make an effort to make it work then of course it would fail. And I know for a fact that you aren't the type to give up, even if it meant you getting hurt in the end."

Zuko looked her in her cerulean eyes and he almost forgot to breathe. "I suppose. I mean, I know I'm not very romantic...or handsome..." he made a gesture to touch his scar.

"Psst, Zuko, please." She rolled her eyes and took a sip of water, "If you seen the line of fangirls behind you back when we traveled, you wouldn't think that."

He raised his good eyebrow, "Really?"

"Really." Katara smirked, "And you want to know a little secret?"

The Firelord nodded reluctantly.

"I sort of had a crush on you." She bumped her arm playfully against his and he went red in the face.

"Wow, I'm...honored."

Katara laughed, "I'm sure you are." Then they both laughed.

Sokka came back with what looked like a face of relief until he seen the two of them laughing, "What'd I miss?"

*break*

Zuko sat in his office going over some documents when two young women strode into his room and bowed, "Firelord Zuko." they greeted.

He nodded for the to stand up, "Thank you for coming, Rei and Hikari. I understand I asked the two of you to tend to Master Katara."

Both ladies nodded in response.

"I will no longer need you two to service her unless she ask. Just be sure to continue with your normal duties."

"Yes, my Lord." they both said in unison. Honestly it creeped Zuko out when they did that. They weren't even related or close friends.

"If I may, my Lord?" Hikari asked.

"Go ahead."

"I'm wondering if Master Katara would need treatment for her recent scar."

"Recent?" Zuko's good brow knitted.

"Yes, Firelord, the one on her abdomen."

"I'm sorry, my Lord." Rei narrowed her eyes at Hikari and gave a look of apology to the Firelord, "My peer seems to not recognize a birthing scar when she sees one."

Zuko's eyes widened. Birthing scar!

The two now felt as though they brought up something they shouldn't have, "Ne-nevermind, my Lord!" Rei stammered. "We meant no disrespect! It was no business of ours."

"No, it wasn't!" The Firelord growled, "You both are dismissed!"

Rei and Hikari scurried out of the office once they were dismissed. Zuko leaned back in his chair and thought of all the letters Katara had sent him. Not one mentioned of her being pregnant or having children. If she did, there would be no reason for her to hide it from him, so he doubt what the servants were saying was true. But what reason would she have such a scar as they stated in that area. Zuko was now becoming worried. Maybe he should talk to Sokka.

He looked at the sky from the office window and seen how dark it was. It was almost time for dinner and then bedtime afterwards. Probably not the best time to bring it up. He put the documents he was reviewing and set them on top of another pile on his desk. He left to meet his friends and ambassadors at the dinning hall.

Katara keeping secrets? Could be possible. Hope you guys liked. Please review :)