A/N: This is a nod to my reviewer ObeliskX. You wanted a gender bent and here it is. I know it's in a different form than you asked for and this is my best attempt. I can't see myself writing a female Zuko and male Katara in their original environs yet. I hope this works.

Thanks to my amazing sister and beta, Smylealong, for reading this. All faults are my own. Also, they don't... oh wait up! these characters do belong to me. Yay!

Zoe sat by on the window seat of her apartment, alternatively reading her book and looking out the window. She was waiting for her husband, Kane, to show up. His shift at the hospital would be over soon and she knew that he would come home exhausted. She already had some dinner prepared for him in which she had kept mild. A small smile tugged at her mouth as she thought about how different they were from each other.

Kane was a born healer, a compassionate man that could never abandon anyone in need. His blue eyes should have seemed out of place on his tan skin but in reality made for a gorgeous combination. She had disliked her pale skin, with its penchant for getting burned, till she met him. He looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing on the planet and while she was with him, Zoe believed it.

Zoe was startled out of her thoughts by the sound of the key turning in the lock. She flew to the door, the forgotten book abandoned by the window seat. As soon as he stepped in, Zoe enveloped him in a hard hug. The sense of belonging was strong. She was struck by a sense that she'd done this over many, many lifetimes. Dismissing her thoughts as ridiculous, she let herself be held by him.

He seemed to need the contact as much as she did. She felt Kane bury his face in her hair and just inhale. She offered him the comfort he wordlessly asked for. After a long moment, he withdrew from her. She looked at his face to see fatigue etched over his features.

Zoe squeezed his hand and asked, "Why don't you take a shower while I heat up the food?"

He nodded and went off to do the same.

Zoe wondered what instinct had prompted her to cook his favorite comfort food. Now that she thought about it, they seemed to know each other. Not the kind of knowing that comes from building a life together but the kind that was bone deep. Like she had known that it would be a tough day for him today, an instinct that she couldn't define.

"Something smells good."

"Kane!" Zoe whirled, "You startled me! It's your favorite, seafood soup."

"Tell me you didn't put a ton of chili flakes in it."

Zoe laughed, "No. I have some to add to mine at the table."

"Let me get the bowls and see you at the table."

Halfway through dinner Zoe asked him, "Do you remember when we first met?"

"Yes, I do. I didn't like you much."

"I remember that well. You were angry that my company was taking over the hospital and let me as much."

Kane grinned at the memory, "I still remember the expression you had. Very Princess to peasant."

Zoe raised a brow, "you were determined to take everything I said the wrong way."

"Excuse me but you didn't exactly do anything to inspire confidence."

Zoe flushed, "I was trying to cover the fact that I found you very attractive."

"Did you now? How is it that we've been married for two years and this is the first I'm hearing about it?"

"I didn't want to give you a bigger ego than you already have," Zoe sniffed.

Kane laughed, "Can I tell you a secret? I thought you were gorgeous too. I came into the meet expecting an old man and was instead faced with a goddess with the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen."

Zoe blushed and pointed to the scar down the left side of her face, "You are the only one that can see this and say I'm gorgeous."

A result of a childhood car accident, Zoe's scar ran from under her eye to her jaw. The doctors had repeatedly told her parents how lucky she was to still be able to see.

"And I've told you that you wouldn't be yourself without it."

Zoe contemplated his words.

"Kane," She began hesitantly, "Did you get the feeling that we were meant to be when we met?"

Her husband's expression turned contemplative. Slowly, he nodded.

"It was like something inside me heaved a sigh of relief and went 'there you are'"

"I know!" Zoe was ecstatic; at least she wasn't alone in these thoughts. "My first thought at seeing you was 'finally'"

"My friends at work had a bet going on how long we would go before making out."

"Didn't Thomas win that bet?"

"That and every other bet for the last seven years I've known him." Kane said with a grimace.

"I would have thought you were smart enough to stop making bets with him."

"I have. Suzy, however, refuses to learn" he said referring to his sister, who was an administrator at the hospital.

Zoe grinned at her husband, "How much longer are those two going to deny that they like each other?"

"Knowing Thomas and Suzy; till someone hits them on the head."

"I hope it is soon. I like them"

"And they like you love."

Later that night, Zoe was curled up with Kane when he brought up a surprising topic.

"Do you believe in reincarnation?" he asked quietly.

Zoe scoffed, but acknowledged to herself that it was more a knee-jerk reaction than her actual thoughts.

"Do you?" She asked just as softly.

"I don't know. I can't explain this feeling that I've known you forever and beyond."

"We just love each other a lot, that's all"

"Yeah, that must be it." He accepted the explanation without argument, "Goodnight Zoe."

"Goodnight Kane"

As Zoe closed her eyes she had a strong feeling that this time they had gotten it right.