A/N I know it's been a while... sorry!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own ATLA
Azula knocked lightly on her brother's door.
It swung open a moment later and Zuko beamed.
"Zula!"
"Zu!" Azula giggled and stepped inside, looking around. She could see his wedding suit hanging up and grinned. "Mama gave me a really pretty dress for tomorrow." she said and Zuko grinned, heading back to the low table.
"That's good. What's it like?"
"It's dark orange." Azula sat opposite him. "With red and dark pink bits too."
"I'm sure you'll look lovely."
"But not as lovely as Katara." Azula assured him and looked at the table. "Ooh, pretty." she reached for the bangle but stopped. "Sorry."
"It's OK." Zuko smiled gently to her. "Mama should be back soon. You want to play Pai Sho?"
"Sure," Azula nodded and they set up all the pieces in the right places before beginning.
"Katara's father is almost here, by the way." Azula told him. Zuko nodded.
"I think I'm speaking with him later."
Azula nodded. She didn't really know how he was managing to not see her all day. It had been eight months since he'd asked but there was a reason. Tomorrow was one of the few days that both the moon and sun would be visible for the whole day. It didn't get truly dark at night as the sun didn't set properly. That's why they'd waited another two months, that and they had no rush to marry. Katara wasn't going to leave Zuko any time soon, and Zuko would never leave her.
"Zula?"
"Yeah?" Azula looked at him.
"Will you stand with me tomorrow? You and Mama?"
Azula gasped and beamed, jumping over the table to hug her brother. Zuko laughed.
"Of course I will! Thank you for asking!" she squeaked into his shoulder, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you," he said and she nodded. "Anyway, what have you learned today in your books?"
"Children can get sick if they're too clean. It's actually really bad for them to be too clean." Azula said and sat back. "It means their immune system can't develop and the first time they come into contact with anything, even the common cold or cough, they get really sick."
"Thank Agni that Toph will cover her child in dirt so often then, huh?" Zuko grinned.
"I'm sort of scared about it, if I'm honest, but really looking forward to it as well. I just hope I don't do anything wrong." Azula admitted.
"Katara will be there, so will one of the Royal Healers. You'll be fine." Zuko said softly and Azula smiled to him.
Ursa walked in not that much later, happy to see her two children reading something, lying on Zuko's bed.
"See? That's the femur, and the tibia and fibia." Azula was pointing to bits on the book and Zuko was nodding and listening.
Ursa leant against the door and sent up a prayer. A silent thank you to the gods for making it like this. Thanking them that, even through her pain, everything was turning out well.
"You know loads, Zula. Well done." Zuko told her and looked up to see their mother. "Mama,"
Azula looked as well and grinned, pushing herself to kneel.
"Hello," She walked into the room. "Hakoda has arrived. Along with most of the Southern and Northern water tribes."
Zuko nodded. "I didn't really expect anything else if I'm honest. I think most of the guests will be Water Tribe."
"They'll be plenty there for you, Zuko." Ursa said gently.
"Yeah, the dragons are coming. All for you, none for Tara." Azula added. "And they'll be loads from here too. Me, Mama, Iroh."
Zuko squeezed her hand and smiled.
"I'm not worried or upset," he told them both. "I'm just saying that there will be more Water Tribe. Which I don't mind."
"If you're sure, Zuko." Ursa stroked his cheek and he nodded.
"Is there anything I should be doing?"
"Wouldn't hurt if you wanted to start on the gifts." Ursa laughed gently as he scowled.
"Tara said something about wanting to do that together." Zuko said and Ursa wasn't too sure that it was true. Part of her was sure he was making it up to get out of it.
"I'll believe you for now. Is there anything else you need to be doing?"
"How about dancing?" Azula giggled and Zuko groaned. Azula laughed.
"Why?! Why would you remind her of that?" Zuko asked.
"Come on, get up." Ursa grinned. Azula took her position and waited for her brother to join her.
"Sorry if I step on your toes." Zuko mumbled and Azula shrugged.
"I'll step on yours too, so we're OK." Azula giggled and took his hands.
"Do either of you remember our lessons from when you were younger?" Ursa asked. Both of them looked at each other.
"No." they both said and Ursa sighed. Agni help her…
Ursa made her way over to the music box in the corner, something that Azula had left in here. In fact, the room seem to be littered with Azula's things.
Ursa wound it up using the key before turning to watch her children dance.
"Remember to keep in time with the beat. Keep your heads up. Zuko! Stop looking at your feet!" She hissed.
Zuko snapped his head up and tried not to laugh as their mother kept telling them to do things (Or not to do things in the case of Zuko looking at his feet).
"I'm going to trip!" Zuko huffed and Ursa glared.
"No you will not! Stop looking at your Agni damned feet you stupid dragon!" Ursa sighed and Azula laughed.
"Relax, Zu. It'll help." Azula said. Zuko grumbled, but managed to relax enough to not trip or step on Azula's feet.
Finally, Ursa turned off the music box and allowed them to stop.
"I think that's enough for now. You should start getting ready for dinner, Zuko. Come on, Azula, I'll do your hair."
"Yay!" Azula jumped up and ran out the door happily. Zuko chuckled, closing and piling the books up on the floor by his bead. She'd be by to pick them up, probably in the middle of the night when she remembered where they were.
He continued tidying his room up for a few minutes before there was a quiet knock on the door. It was Azula, he knew it was.
"Come in,"
Azula poked her head round the door, her eyes wide. She bit her lip as she stepped into the room.
"Zu?"
"Yeah Zula," Zuko frowned. She was scared? Worried? Something was wrong.
"After you and Katara get married and have a family and everything… will.. will we still be friends?"
"Oh, Azula." Zuko smiled gently. "We're not friends now, we're something much more than that. We're siblings, meaning that being just friends isn't enough. You'll always be my sister, no matter what." he hugged her tightly and she hugged him back.
"Siblings forever?" she asked quietly. Zuko nodded, not letting her go.
"Forever, I promise you."
