A/N: I feel compelled to explain this story and the previous story a little better. When I first wrote the stories (as I'm sure most people do) I wrote them on Word. So in actuality 5 Years Later and Never Change had smaller chapters and consequently there were many more. In 5 years later there were 34 chapters, so to condense the number of uploads down I combined 3 chapters together to produce 1 chapter to upload on Fanfic. All the material is there, I didn't erase anything but every chapter you read was 3 original chapters. This was because the chapters would have been way to short and there would have been too many uploads. Each chapter of Never Change is 2 chapters that have been combined. So do keep that in mind if the chapters seem a little lopsided.

Also this chapter may be mature for some people. There are sexual themes in this chapter. If you do not wish to read it skip ahead to the second section!


The few days before his trip passed and as the day came closer his promise ached through him. Every time he left his family he always felt apprehensive. They were everything to him and he was afraid of abandoning them.

While his oldest were at their studies Katara often dropped by to visit his study. For this purpose his desk had been placed on one side of the study with shelves of scrolls behind him ordered perfectly. There was a window on the adjacent wall opposite of the entrance that let much needed light grace the walls. Across from the desk was a lounge chair with a duplicate cradle and a box full of a few toys his children often played with.

His favorite time of the day was when Katara would interrupt his work so he could see his children and play with them.

Today Katara came in with only Tenu. She had just finished feeding him and put him down for his nap in the cradle. There was silence for a moment as he watched her rock the baby slowly lulling him into peaceful sleep.

Entranced by her motions he came over to her fondly and sat beside her, his hands tracing her upper arm. He could feel her muscles stiffen expectantly under his touch as he let it trace her arm and shoulders. He moved her hair to the opposite shoulder and kissed her soft skin along her neck tenderly. His hand had become preoccupied with moving her robes off her shoulders to make room for his lips to explore.

He noticed as she had stopped rocking the baby in the cradle and her head had fallen back to allow him better access to her neck. His hands moved slowly and with slight pressure down her shoulder and arm and on to her abdomen. It continued its path on to her thigh and back up again.

Katara's hand reached for his and she gripped it. As she held on to his hand he traced the outlines of her robe and she felt the heat in her body escalating.

He pulled her robe away annoyed with its interference in his ministrations. She gasped as the cold air met her skin but at that second the torches in the room grew brighter and the heat from her husband's body escalated. The cold air did not bite her skin for long.

She turned to face him and he kissed her lips softly. She felt lost in his touch as both his hands were being put to ample work. She felt the heat within her spike suddenly as she took his tunic off with practiced ease. He was down to his trousers and she to her bindings but already his fingers had begun to unravel them.

He fingers dug into his back as his lips once more caressed her throat as her bindings were loosened fully from her chest.

"Zuko." She purred which excited him more. He pushed his chest against hers his body so close she could feel his need clearly.

He needed her desperately, to let her know she was loved by him and only him. She was his and he never wanted her to forget it. He pressed her back against the lounge chair and she felt her body begin to shake in anticipation.

They had not been together as man and wife for so long she was still surprised he lusted after her still. But he did and fervently. They shed the remainder of their clothes and he met her lips to his more fervently and passionately. He kissed her harder and harder as he pushed against her body.

The heat around them was so thick she had become lost in its trance. As she often did, she found herself gazing at the flames on the torches still utterly amazed at his control of her opposite element. It flickered and danced in total response to the Master Firebender's emotions and movements. Its light grew brighter with her every moan or gasp and she relished in the complete serenity of it.

Her nails dug into his back as the pressure within her was beginning to reach its point of no return. As it escalated she could feel how in totally unity she was with Zuko. He pressed against her harder for what dragged on forever, but to them it couldn't have lasted longer.

Her heart raced so quickly and she could feel his hot breath on her face as she opened her eyes to regard her lover.

He smiled sadly and pressed his lips to her. She returned his kiss softly but both of their breaths came harsh making it hard to continue.

He rested on his elbows and bent his head to the side of her, his body exhausted. As he did this, she felt the whole weight and heat of his skin touch hers. He was burning like a fever running rampart and she could feel her sweat increase at such intensity.

"I'm sorry, I had to have you. You're so beautiful." His words came out in gasping need and she considered them still lost in the throes of their waning passion.

"I love you Zuko." She whispered into his ear.

"I know, Katara. I know." He lay for a while letting his eyes close a bit. She too drifted into a dazed slumber.

She felt him only slightly as he eventually lifted himself off of her taking all the heat with him as he went. He dressed quietly bending over her and moving a curl out of her face and kissed her cheek softly.

She opened her eyes just barely as she saw the study door close behind him. She stared after him a moment longer, before she got up to dress and move her son to the nursery. She left him with a maid a little ashamed at her disheveled appearance and entered into her bedroom. As she walked in she saw on her dresser was a small bushel of herbs. She went over to it and touched them attentively realizing their purpose. She had never used them before but there purpose was specific, to ward off pregnancy.

Zuko really did think of everything.


Zuko looked at his family attentively. His heart saddened to have to leave them but he wanted to make sure they were safe. He went to his daughters first and gave them a hug.

"Can you two promise me you will behave? I want a good report from your grandfather on your studies and I don't want to hear of any fighting. Alright my little princesses? You listen to your mother." They nodded happily, Rina clinging to her little water tribe doll. Maya gripped her sister's hand. Zuko then turned to his son whose arms crossed across his chest showed he was unsatisfied.

"Are you going to behave while I'm gone Lee?" His son frowned and Zuko's eyes narrowed.

"Yes Daddy." Zuko studied his son for a moment and then sighed and crouched to his son's level.

"Hey son, when I get back I'm going to spend some more time with you. Maybe you and I can go to the Earth kingdom together. How does that sound?" His son perked up immediately and smiled.

"Really? Do you mean it? I could go with you? Just us?" Zuko smiled and nodded as his son leaped into his arms.

"You've been a brave soldier putting up with all these women for a long time. Maybe what we both need is some quality man time. But you can only go if you behave properly. I won't hear of any misbehaving." His son's wide and faithful eyes regarded his with honesty as he shook his head. His smiled brightened and Zuko felt warmer inside. He hated to see his son upset. He stood up and looked at Katara. She looked at him lovingly. In her arms their one month old bay cooed. He bent down and kissed the soft skin of Tenu's forehead and then kissed his lips gently to his wife's.

Noises of disgust from his son and appreciation from his daughter reached his ears. He turned to them and grinned.

"Zuko, I love you." He heard her whisper. He turned to her and smiled.

"I love you too. You take care." He brushed his lips softly against hers again and turned away to mount up on his rhino. The beast grunted and Zuko looked back one last time as he moved away and then he could no longer see them anymore.


Katara felt tears well up in her eyes. She was sad and angry. She hated watching him go and she hated him leaving her behind. She stared at her children, especially Lee. He was so much like his father. She felt her arms wrap tighter around her baby.

"My lady, we should get the children inside." She turned and saw Iroh's weary and old face. She ushered her children inside and let them go off sulkily to their studies. Only Maya and Tenu remained with her.

"Daddy go?" The little two year old asked her.

"Daddy had some important fire nation business." The little girl cocked her head. She still had no idea what was going on. Katara regarded her firebending daughter thoughtfully. Lee was the exact image of Zuko and it was obvious they were all his children. Sometimes she felt a pang of regret they didn't show more Water Tribe features such as herself, but she guessed it made them safer. They were fire nation princes and princesses and it was best if they looked more Fire Nation than not.

She looked down at Tenu. He was a quieter baby than her other children had been and she was thankful for that. He was content to sleep and stare all day and she guessed it was his curious aspect. She wondered with all her little firebenders galloping around how she had managed to have such a quiet child. She took it for a blessing because it gave her a chance to relax.


Nightfall rolled around and took the children to their rooms. Lee was old enough to have his own room and Rina and Maya shared one. It was easier for the two girls since Maya was still too young to be left alone and it gave a chance for the two girls to bond. She went into her girls' room and tucked Maya in first.

"Night Mommy." She whispered. She was a firebender to the core, as soon as the sun went down she was tired. Katara kissed her youngest daughter's head and said goodnight. The Fire Lad then walked over to her other daughter.

"Mommy why do I have to go to bed. Can't I stay up?" Her little waterbender on the other hand was not content to sleep at night so readily. Every now and then when Zuko and Katara had made their rounds they would find her sitting up and playing peacefully with her doll. Sokka had sent the doll for her on her first birthday and she had not been without it since.

"Everyone else must sleep, so must you." She kissed her daughter's head and left her awake for a while and went to her son's room. Unlike the girls' room, Lee's was very red and proud like the Fire Nation prodigy he was. Katara shook her head lazily at the sight. He wanted so much to be like his father.

"Hey Momma, do you think Daddy will keep his promise? Will he really take me to the Earth Kingdom with him?" Katara came up and snuggled him into his bed tighter. She bent down and kissed his forehead too, like she had done with her daughters.

"Your father will keep his word. Just don't do anything to anger him and you can go." His whole face lit up when he smiled.

"Goodnight Mommy." He whispered sinking into a soft doze. She smiled and whispered goodnight back and walked away. In her own room Tenu lay dozing in his crib and she walked over and watched him carefully.

She stayed awake for a moment and then snuggled into her cold bed and stared at the ceiling. She sighed to herself and tried to sleep but found sleep hard to come by.

A knock crashed loudly on the door and it opened hurriedly. She sat up concerned.

"My lady, come quick there is an intruder in the house!" She jumped out of her bed and grabbed her son in her arms not wanting to leave him alone. She rushed over to her children's rooms. Lee was outside his sisters' room banging on the doorway and she could hear the unmistakable wail of her daughters. The soldiers had everyone stand back and firebended the door down. When she ran into the room, her son behind her Rina sat on the floor crying. Water and ice glittered around the room and the windows were open. She looked out and looked around.

"Rina! Where is your sister? Where's Maya?" The little girl gazed at her mother with a solemn silence and looked out towards the window. Katara felt the blood drain from her face. In her arms Tenu began to scream and everyone else was breathless. She turned to the guards.

"Put the palace on high alert! I want everyone out looking for Maya and whoever did this! Close the gates and don't let anybody through. What are you standing there for? Go!" She was angry and warm tears slid down her face. She held her son closer to her and Lee came up to her and hugged her. Eventually Rina came too.

"Katara? What's going on here?" Katara turned to Iroh who was still in his night cap and robes and she realized she wasn't much better off herself.

"Maya is missing, someone kidnapped her." She looked around the room and to the curtains that were torn and shredded. Iroh looked at them as well.

"Look how these curtains have been shredded. It looks like it was by something sharp, like a sword." Katara blocked out what he said. Her only thoughts were on her little girl who was out there somewhere and in harm's way. She looked at her children and gathered them around her and took them into her room. That night her children slept in her bed but she could do nothing. The guards reported to her every hour and there was no trace of the intruder or her daughter.