Well I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
And God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up…
Zuko
When I first announced to my council that I had proposed to Katara, and she had said yes, I got a mixture of reactions. About four out of my ten council members were outraged about the upcoming marriage. One councilman, Councilman Yen, was particularly spiteful.
"Fire Lord Zuko, you can't be serious!" he exclaims at the meeting. "It would disgrace your Fire Nation heritage! And the Fire Nation itself! How dare you bring a Water Tribe peasant into the royal family!"
I literally shake with barely contained rage. "Councilman Yen, you will hold your tongue. Master Katara is my most respected, trusted friend outside of Avatar Aang and my uncle. You will not disrespect her or me again. She is your future queen and my future wife. Should you act out upon your anger again I will not cease to terminate your position here."
It has been four years since the end of the war, and three since Katara and I have been more than friends. I made a necklace with the finest red silk money could buy, and the most precious gold I could get my hands on for Katara. When she accepted it, I was the happiest man alive. She was sad to see her mother's necklace be put away, but I told her that we would give it to our daughter someday, should we have one. That seemed to cure her sorrows and that's where we are now.
Six out of my ten councilmen were thrilled to get the news that their lord was getting married, and that they would have a queen. We continue discussing wedding plans and various political issues for quite some time before I stand and walk towards the door, telling my council what was about to happen.
Katara was standing outside the door. I told her to do that so I could show her to my council not as my confidant, but as my future Fire Lady.
"I present to you Firelord Zuko and Fire Lady Katara," a guard announces.
The councilmen bow to us as we make our exit, and when we're out the door, Katara looks at me with a shy smile on her face.
"Let's go to the garden. You and I are free for the rest of the day. I would love to just spend the day with you," she says.
"I agree," I tell her. "I want to change into something more suited for lounging around in the heat. And these heavy royal robes aren't it."
"Neither are these," Katara says, gesturing to the blue and lavender robes she has on. "I'm gonna get changed, too."
We go to our room together and begin changing. Katara and I have been sharing a bed for the past year, and then made love for the first time just a short time after that so seeing each other barely clothed wasn't that much a problem. I change into a pair of shorts and a sleeveless V-neck tunic, and Katara changes into an outfit very similar to that of the one she donned during our time in the Fire Nation during the war. She chooses to go barefoot, and I do the same.
We walk hand in hand to my mother's favorite garden, and when we get there, we sit against the tree nearby the turtleduck pond. Katara is in my arms, and I can't think of a more perfect moment.
"Zuko?" Katara says.
"Yes?"
"I'm scared."
"What are you scared of?" I ask her.
"I'm scared your people won't love me. I know your council doesn't like me. I'm just afraid your people will have similar feelings about me," she says.
"Katara, those are cranky old geezers who served Firelord Ozai and some have even served Firelord Azulon. Who cares what they think?" I say with a chuckle.
"Well obviously you do. They advise you."
"The only reason I haven't fired some of them is because my uncle said it would not be wise. I wouldn't have them if I had a choice on whether to keep them or not," I tell her. "Plus, six out of the ten of them were happy for us when I told them we were getting married. They were happy that their nation would finally have a strong female influence in Fire Nation politics. And Spirits know you're a strong influence. And with the arrangements I've made with them, you will have more power than you would have if I didn't set new protocol for the Fire Lady's power level."
"Really?"
"You bet," I say. "And even when things get hard, and no one accepts our relationship, I won't give up on it. On us. I promise you that at the very least."
And one year later, when the rebellions that have been taking place across the Fire Nation come to an end, and our firstborn, Kya, comes into the world, Katara looks at me and smiles.
"You weren't kidding when you said you wouldn't give up," she says as she gently places Kya in her crib.
"Nope," I tell her. "That's why the rebellions were crushed. And why my presence on the battlefield was necessary. I fought to keep my family, and in the end I succeeded."