Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Title: Zutara Week, Day 2: History
Pairings/Ships: Zutara
It was 100 ASC. She had just turned 15; he was a mere 16. They shared a hug as a goodbye, both wondering whether they would ever see each other again.
It was 105 ASC. She was now 20, he 22. Her engagement was announced the day after the annulment of his. He visited to congratulate them, and she consoled him for his loss. He assured her it was all his choice.
It was 107 ASC. She was 22, he 24. She, having been married the year before, had just given birth to a baby girl. He, still unmarried and ruling the Fire Nation on his own, came to visit again.
It was 108 ASC. She was 23, he 25. Prior to the birth of her second child, she ended her marriage, stating a loss of interest on her part. She moved to the Fire Nation, as her only family at home was her father. He visited her often.
It was 109 ASC. She was 24, he 26. She was a single mother of two living in a tiny house. He, the Fire Lord with plenty of money and space to share, invited her to live in the palace. There she moved, her children given the best education and lifestyle they could have.
It was 112 ASC. She was 27, he 29. He was being pressured to choose a bride and approached her. She rejected the offer, telling him it would not look right for him to marry a divorced woman.
It was 114 ASC. She was 29, he 31. He had still not chosen a bride, and continued to pursue her. Finally she agreed, but regarded their following marriage as merely political and nothing more.
It was 117 ASC. She was 32, he 33. Tired of a platonic relationship, he approached her and told her his true feelings. He truly cared for her and only wished for her to feel the same. Taken aback, she apologized and said that she could not, for her feelings laid with no one and she could not force them upon him. He said he understood, but in all reality did not.
It was 118 ASC. She was 33, he 35. She was woken in the middle of the night from a nightmare. In it, she was being taken away from him and left with nothing but herself and her children. She was devastated. And with that she realized something: maybe she did care for him after all.
It was 121 ASC. She was 36, he 38. Having finally discovered her feelings, she bore him three children in just as many years. Although a bit late in his life than many others, he had finally received his wish to become a true husband and father.
It was 175 ASC. She was 90, he 92. They died on the same day, within an hour of each other, and held hands through the ordeal. They were buried in the same plot that their children would be, along with all of the past Fire Lords and their family. Their headstones read:
Fire Lord Zuko and Fire Lady Katara
Reign from 100 ASC – 175 ASC
Loving husband and wife, father and mother
May their legacy live on forever
A/N: A bit shorter than the last one, no? This was supposed to be a drawing, but since I put it off till forever (also woke up around noon) I couldn't do it. And writing it so much easier. No, I'm not going to name their kids because I'm lazy. Also: the "he" is always Zuko and the "she" is always Katara. So in 108, it was Zuko who would visit her often, not Hakoda. Just wanted to make that clear.
…oh yeah, and ASC stands for After Sozin's Comet.