Zuko's POV - At the Fire Nation

I pace around my room swiftly. Suddenly, I hear a horn outside my window. The Southern Water Tribe flag! They can't be here already, can they? I think to myself. "What am I to do? I can't just walk down there and expect her to greet me with open arms." I'm still pacing as Uncle Iroh walks in. "What?!" I snap.

He sighs. "Your bride-to-be has arrived, nephew. You must go and greet her like a gentleman. Now come. Let's get you in your robes so you don't walk down there in your undergarments." He quickly walks to my closet, grabbing my robes and boots.

I allow him to quickly slip them on. "Why am I doing this, uncle? What have you gotten me into?" I slip on my boots and tie my robe shut.

"I'm giving you the chance to have a future. Mai wasn't going to give you what you need. It's a good thing that you let her go when you did. You two wouldn't have lasted another minute together." He quickly helps be touch up a few things and puts the fire nation symbol in my hair.

"Come on, Uncle Iroh. We can't be late to greet the Princess Katara, now can we?" I sigh and leave my room, racing down the stairs, trying to get there as fast as I can. As I reach the palace doors, I slow to a steady walk and wait for the guards to open the doors. They swiftly do and I walk out with my uncle at my side. As I reach the docks, I see Katara and gasp. She was beautiful. She had grown into a beautiful young woman with long dark hair, tan skin and breathtakingly blue eyes. Her dress was just as beautiful with dark and light blues dancing along her curves. As I walk towards her, I catch her eye, smiling. Her expression quickly changes to anger and she looks away, moving in between her father and brother. I couldn't take my eyes off her. When I stopped in front of her I felt a sharp jab into my side. I look at my uncle angrily. "What?!"

Hakoda clears his threat. "Forgive my, Firelord Zuko. I asked if you were well?"

I gasped slightly. "Oh! I'm sorry. I'm very well, thank you Chief Hakoda. And how are you Prince Sokka? I hope your life with Suki is well."

He nods. "It's wonderful, Zuko. And I hope you don't disapprove of my father's and your uncle's choice. They did it for the best for both of our nations."

I sigh and nod. "Of course, Sokka." I turn to Katara and my breath catches in my throat, but then I manage a few words. "And you, Princess Katara. Are you well?" I hoped for at least some eye contact, but I guess I asked for too much.

She turned her head away but thankfully, she answered, somewhat politely. "Of course, Firelord Zuko. I'm sorry about the mishap with Mai, she seemed like a lively young girl." Her last words held much sarcasm and I just sighed.

"It was a bit ugly, but we parted ways as friends. She's now traveling with Ty Lee. I hope to see them both again when their travels bring them back to the Fire Nation." Her face held no expression as I told her this and I scrambled for words. "Would you join me inside?" I hold out my arm and Katara slowly takes it, her face still expressionless. I sigh and begin to lead the way to the palace doors. As we got a bit farther away from Uncle Iroh, Chief Hakoda and Prince Sokka, I turned to Katara. "Are you still mad at me, Katara? If you are, I'm very sorry for all I've done to you."

She turned away as we keep walking. "Of course I'm still mad at you Zuko. Why else would I not be answering all those letters you kept sending me." She removes her arm from mine and walks with her hands behind her back. "Why do you avoid me whenever we happen to meet?"

The question caught me off guard. "I guess I just didn't know what to say. I've always been quite nervous in your presence, Katara."

"And why is that?"

"I guess I'm afraid that you'll water whip me atop the head." I smile at the irony, as she has already done it once before.

She must have found it funny as well because a small smile appears on her face. "I'm still considering it, but I'm here on my father's orders, and I can't disobey him after what happened with Sokka and Ty Lee. Suki was furious when she found out the Ty Lee was trying to woo my brother."

"I bet. I can't believe Ty Lee would do something like that, but then again, she was always the one for attention. But off that subject. Will you truthfully answer my question? How have you been?"

Her expression returned to one of no emotion. "Like I said before, Zuko, I'm just fine." And with that she walked into the palace and disappeared with her maids.

Sorry about the shortness of this chapter, but I've had a bit of writer's block lately. Hope to keep posting chapters as often as I can. Please review and tell me what you think