"My dearest lady,

I grow weary of the mindless bickering of the Earth Kingdom nobles, and of my distance from you. Despite myself, I must lie awake at night to focus my thoughts upon the Moon and imagine that you are beside me. I am trying to remain at peace here but imbecility is rampant. I miss our conversations and the softness of your breath as you sleep. Tell me something that you are doing. Where are you sitting while reading this letter? I sleeplessly await your reply.

All of my love,

Azula"

"My love,

I'm sitting in the central garden and clutching your letter to my heart the way I would clutch you if you were here with me. Zuko has fallen asleep on Mai… again. The capital is peaceful but the palace is becoming overrun with merchants! Mai has little interest in arranging her own wedding, and manages to sneak out of most of the meetings with the craftsman and merchants so, it seems as if I'm planning two weddings now. Sokka finally proposed to Suki so, a third one should be on the way shortly since that girl only cares about weapons and face paint. Everything will be ready upon your return so, please come home soon. Though I'm not there with you, you rest in my heart and I long for those moments when the Sun and Moon share the sky. Have patience with the world, Azula. I am with you.

Love,

Katara"

"My dearest lady,

You are right, of course; I must be patient. I feel frustrated because of the ignorance of others but some hope has arisen. The Earth King has returned to Ba Sing Se, and I have sent for your friend, Toph, to serve as his Minister of Security. Soon, things will be settled and I may return to you. I should apologize for Mai's laziness in her wedding plans. I never allowed her much freedom and so, I'm sure she simply didn't want to be responsible for the outcome. Was the ceremony well-received? Tell me everything. Let us imagine that we were speaking softly beneath the persimmon trees.

I miss you."

"My darling Azula,

The persimmons are slowly growing. In a few months, they'll be ready to eat. We're so fortunate that Uncle Iroh has agreed to carry our letters for us. I found Sokka trying to intercept a messenger hawk after Zuko and Mai's wedding, believing it contained a letter from you. He is lucky that he's marrying an Earth Kingdom woman or his overactive imagination would certainly go unrewarded. He is a good man, though, and he makes me very proud. I was crying earlier, after the ceremony, wishing that you had been here with me. Sokka told me that I shouldn't cry because you are fighting to rebuild this world so that we can live peacefully someday. I'm so grateful to you, Azula. Your flame will illuminate a world in which our children will never know the pains of war or the heartache of those separated by it.

I love you."

"My dearest lady,

At long last, the negotiations have concluded and I am free of this exile from you. My Uncle and I set sail at first light, leaving the Earth Kingdom well-protected and stable. I'll have to return in a few months to oversee the removal of our peacekeepers but that will thankfully be a shorter engagement. In one week, I will return to the capital and finally take you as my wife. I have sought but failed to find the words to express my gratitude toward and love of you. I thank God for you, Katara, and I pray that I may always hold you safely beside me.

Soon."

The enemy ship hurled blocks of ice at them, crushing one of her soldiers. A whip of water aimed for her never impacted as she met it with a nearly white flame.

"Enough!" she screamed, drawing lightning down both of her arms and firing at the bow of the ship; it blitzed through the steel hull and ignited the steam generator. In an instant, the ship was engulfed in a burst of fire. Azula knew better than to check for survivors.

"Azula, tell me that you didn't sink one of the Northern Water Tribe's ships yesterday. Please, just…" Azula's eyes told him everything and Zuko smacked his forehead in frustration.

"Nephew, they attached your sister. She was defending her ship and herself" Iroh said but Zuko was not the one to worry about.

"Katara!" Azula exclaimed happily but the woman simply ran to her with tears in her eyes. Before Azula could react, the waterbender slapped her, a sob breaking past her lips.

"Katara!" Another smack.

"Do not even speak to me right now!" Katara sobbed, running back toward the palace. Azula pressed her hand to her heated cheek and Sokka approached her with a sad smile.

"Just give her some time" he said and Azula nodded.

Later in the afternoon, Azula peaked through Katara's window to see her curled up on her bed. Though she was turned away from her, Azula could tell that she was crying. Quietly, she pulled herself through the window and slid into bed beside her, enveloping her from behind.

"Shh" she soothed when Katara tried to fight her, gently holding her in place.

"Shh… Katara, I'm sorry. I know that they were from your sister tribe but they wouldn't relent. I couldn't risk them attacking more of my people just to satisfy their hatred. Please, Katara, forgive me, I beg of you." Her voice was raw and Katara realized that she had been crying as well.

"You're such an idiot. You think this is about you killing some pirates? Azula, you promised me that you wouldn't do anything dangerous! I could have lost you, I could have lost… everything. Do you even care about that? Were you thinking about me at all when you decided that your life was so irrelevant?" Azula's eyes widened and she understood.

"Forgive me. I was only wanting to come home to you for all of this time" she said, kissing her temple warmly and Katara turned and seized her in a deep kiss. When at last they parted, they smiled, exchanging light kisses and chuckling at their argument.

"Hey" Katara said in between kisses and Azula hummed a response.

"We're getting married tomorrow" she said and Azula nodded, kissing her again.

"We are… finally."

"Welcome home, my love" Katara said softly, kissing her and snuggling to her.

"I'm home" Azula said, clutching the waterbender tightly.

Azula smiled, looking at the sapphire robe awaiting her to fill it. Her fingertips traced over the silken threads lovingly and she breathed out. Not in all of her plotting and manipulations since childhood had she ever imagined that she would be standing on the precipice of such happiness. It had been a hard-won happiness, indeed. She pulled a chair in front of the robe and leaned forward on the back of her clasped hands, contemplating it. She had been only nine when her father became Fire Lord and her mother vanished. Her brother had been such a kind child, weak, but kind; he'd suffered so much because of them all: their father, their mother, and Azula. What would her own child be like? Calculating the way she had always been or gentle like Katara?

"Katara" she whispered into the air, smiling at the feeling of each syllable as they passed her lips. Then she wondered, what would her childhood have been like if she hadn't needed to protect her family and her people – if she could have played with the turtleducks like Zuko? Would her hands still be stained with blood and her body scarred with small reminders of her training sessions with Ozai? She had only been a child then, too… Breathing out heavily, Azula opened her eyes and stood to prepare for her wedding.

"You look beautiful" Zuko said as he passed into his sister's chambers and she raised an eyebrow, a smirk fastened upon her lips.

"Umm… I mean…" he mumbled, scratching the back of his head and causing a mess of his meticulously groomed hair, realizing it quickly and grimacing. Azula chuckled and walked over and faced him.

"Thank you, Zuko" she said with a warm smile. He shuffled uncomfortably and produced a small scroll from his sleeve.

"Azula, our father asked that this be delivered to you. One of my messenger hawks intercepted it; it seemed harmless enough so…" Azula extended her hand and he passed it to her.

"To my prodigious daughter on her wedding day,

It makes your father proud to know that one of his children has the power to seize what they want. Your brother has informed me that the young woman is the most talented bender from among her people; this was a most wise selection for you to have made. In these times of decline, one must rely upon their family to aid in their successes. May you be successful.

Your father"

Azula finished reading the letter aloud and then rolled it up, setting it on her night table and sighing.

"I should see him."

"You don't owe him anything, Azula" Zuko protested but she held up her hand, shaking her head.

"No but I owe it to myself. He is a sick man, Zuko and his sins are too great to forgive but… He's still our father. I think that even if I were in his position, even if I'd gone completely mad, I'd still want to see a child I'd invested so much into – and he did invest quite a lot in me. I will see him but I will take Katara with me to be safe." Zuko nodded, wondering if he should have kept the scroll.

Katara had agreed without resistance to accompany Azula to see Ozai; she had never before faced the man who had caused the world and her family to suffer so much.

"The Princess Royal and her fiancée" announced the guard roughly as the two women entered the cell. It had been nearly two years since his downfall and the former Fire Lord sat in a corner, defeated.

"Father" Azula said softly, drawing his attention and he looked up at her, hardly recognizing the grown woman before him or the steadiness in her eyes.

"Father" she repeated.

"This is Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, my fiancée. May we sit with you for a moment?" Ozai pulled himself across the floor to sit before the bars that separated them and Azula took hold of Katara's hand. He wouldn't live long. Katara looked up to see the sadness flash across Azula's face before she quickly concealed it, and they sat across from the man.

"You look well, Princess Azula" Ozai said, his once powerful voice little more than a ragged whisper. Katara noticed a small cut on his temple.

"You're injured" she stated and Azula remained unphased. Katara hid her grimace, reaching through the bars and healing the cut, quickly recoiling beside Azula who placed a comforting arm around her waist. Ozai turned his attention to Katara who felt repulsed by her need to heal the man.

"A waterbender who doesn't need water?"

"Katara is able to access the water within living beings, even from the moisture in the air. Perhaps this is part of why the Fire Nation suits her so well; the days are long but there is water all around us" Azula responded informatively and Ozai nodded.

"A wise match, indeed… But why have you come? Ursa has been returned and you are the hero who saved the Earth Kingdom from civil war. Why bring your wife to see a crippled old man in his lonely cell?" Azula sighed.

"I should have visited you sooner; I'll have you moved to a more comfortable location."

"For what purpose?"

"None. You are my father; it is my responsibility to see that you are cared for, is it not?"

Ozai ignored his daughter's words but looked again at the waterbender who held Azula's arm.

"Waterbender" he said, drawing her attention.

"I'm certain that you are aware by now that there are many in this world who begrudge the Fire Nation our successes and prosperity. Princess Azula has played her part in this war as well, and the world will not soon forget that. At any moment, you may be forced to choose sides; you may have to choose between my daughter and the forces of nations." Katara's eyes narrowed upon the man. She hated this man and yet, she knew that he spoke the truth.

"We should go" Azula said, standing to leave and drawing Katara with her; she let go of her arm and in a single stroke, drew water from the moist air and sliced through the cell lock.

"Katara!"

"A father should be able to see his favorite child's wedding, shouldn't he?" she asked, leaving the room and a very confused Azula who assisted her feeble father as he rose from the floor.

No one was pleased with Ozai's presence but without his bending, they knew he presented no threat to them.

"Why is he here?" Ursa asked harshly, she and Zuko having cornered Azula who shrugged, considering the man who sat silently against a wall.

"Ask Katara. She thought he should see our wedding."

"And if Katara asks you to throw your brother into a volcano, are you going to do that as well?" Ursa retorted and Azula straightened her stance; oh, how she loved that she was taller than her mother.

"You will not question Katara or her loyalty, do you understand? You've had your chance as matriarch but that time is over now. If you wish to govern a household, mother, perhaps you should join your husband in his cell. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have wedding vows to recite."

Before Azula could reach Katara, she was seized by Sokka. The now quite tall man grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side of the crowded room, looking around them warily.

"Sokka, what is it?"

"Azula, listen to me" he said, looking around them again.

"I'm guessing that you don't know this but this" he said, pointing to the uppermost layer of her robes, a dark blue with a small rim of white fur surrounding it.

"Katara's making a huge political statement right now, one that could be very dangerous for her."

"I don't understand." Sokka breathed out.

"This type of thing is only worn by a man, Azula, and one who has proven himself as a leader in battle and in peace. No one from our tribe has worn this in a hundred years. Dad and I can keep our own tribe in check because of their love for Katara but they aren't happy about this union, either. The Northern Water Tribe is a different matter altogether." Azula understood and smiled, touching his shoulder.

"Thank you for telling me" she said, walking away. Now, she really had to speak with Katara.

"Katara" Azula's voice ended the conversation with Toph and the waterbender smiled adoringly at her, grabbing Toph's hand briefly before letting go and walking with the princess.

"You brother just told me a very interesting story about what I'm wearing" Azula said, motioning to the garment and Katara smiled, touching her cheek.

"I can't make my people love you. A lot of them have been so scarred by the Fire Nation that even if you were a man, they wouldn't approve, and the fact that you're a woman only emboldens their resistance." Katara shook her head.

"No, I can't make them love you but… They will respect my choice and they will respect you the same as if you were my husband. I won't tolerate anything less" she said sternly, her blue eyes locked with Azula's golden-hued ones. Azula smirked; when had Katara grown up so much? When had her own heart begun to feel so at peace? The firebender held up Katara's hand, pressing a kiss to the underside of her wrist.

Zuko smiled as he placed the crown into Katara's topknot, then stepping back. She smiled gratefully at him and Azula helped her to stand.

"All hail Fire Princess Azula and her wife, Princess Katara!" Upon the exclamation of the Fire Sage, the on-looking crowd repeated the words, then cheering. Katara noticed that the Northern Water Tribe remained silent except for Ambassador Emarak and Kota who sat beside her father.

The lightning bugs were out, making the early evening glow. One landed on Katara's shoulder and Azula gently moved it from her.

"I think they're attracted to your perfume" Azula teased.

"I think I'm just a lightning magnet" Katara retorted with a smirk. The wedding party sat on an elevated platform as the peasantry witnessed the presentation of wedding gifts. Katara longed to return indoors for the music and dancing she'd scheduled. Azula simply wished to take her wife to bed. They both smiled politely and thanked the Earth Ambassador for the silken garments.

"I am not wearing any of those" Azula whispered into Katara's ear and the waterbender covered her mouth, giggling quietly.

"Be nice."

"Make me" Azula purred, causing Katara to blush. Azula had planned this perfectly to have it on a full moon. Katara resisted the urge to rise over the woman like a tidal wave.

"Hey Sugar Queen and Zappy Pants!" Toph shouted at them, drawing their attention. Other party attendees looked briefly at them before returning to their conversations.

"Zappy Pants?" Azula asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Shush, at least you aren't "sugar" anything!"

"Anyway… Katara, I know you like jewelry so, I metalbended this for you. I'm not into this stuff so, don't complain about it" Toph said roughly, handing over the unwrapped bracelet. Katara took it gingerly and seized Toph in a warm embrace.

"It's beautiful, Toph. I love it."

"Wait, you're not lying?" Katara shook her head and then replied 'no,' kissing Toph's cheek.

"Hey Sokka, get over here!" Toph yelled and the Wolf Warrior came to quick attention, nearly tripping over himself.

"Coming!" He rushed over with a cloth bundle.

"And Azula, since your bending is all subject to the alignment of the sun in the cosmos" Toph said, wiggling her fingers for effect.

"Tada!" Sokka exclaimed, pulling the cloth back to reveal a sword in a crimson sheath. Azula was transfixed for she did have a weakness for nice swords… and weapons in general, much to Katara's annoyance.

"We made it for you together. Toph metalbended the blade and I fashioned the rest at Master Piandao's."

"Yeah, you could say it's like Sokka's and my love child" Toph said and Sokka blushed before resuming his grin.

"Our super sharp and shiny love child!"

"Th… thank you" Azula said, taking the sword and standing, the two backing away as she unsheathed the blade, twirling it once and back into its encasement.

"It's beautiful!" Katara twitched a little and stood up.

"Toph, what about when the cosmos aren't aligned for my bending to work?" Toph shrugged and Sokka rubbed his beard.

"I guess we just figured Azula would go all zap-happy if anyone tried to hurt you." Another twitch.

"Are you implying that I couldn't protect her if there was another solar eclipse?"

"No, we're just saying you're too weak to hold a sword" Sokka said thoughtlessly.

"Yeah! No offense, but you aren't exactly the sword wielding type, Katara. You're the 'I have to take two baths a day and cover myself with rose petals type.' Azula's the sword wielding type."

"I do not cover myself in rose petals!"

"I've seen it done" Sokka teased and Katara blushed furiously.

"You're the one who walked into the bathroom! I still haven't forgiven you!"

"Believe me, I still haven't forgiven myself!" Katara seized Sokka's ear and he bellowed in pain.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, Katara…!" Their bickering was interrupted by Azula's soft chuckle, which completely redirected Katara's focus. Azula smiled intently and set the sword down, wrapping her arms around her wife's waist.

"I love that you smell like rose petals" she said softly but loudly enough for Sokka to burn red and drag Toph away from the couple.

"Everyone acts as if I'm this poor, defenseless girl who needs someone to rescue her" she complained and Azula chuckled, tilting her chin up.

"No one thinks that you're defenseless, Katara, least of all me. Remember what I said our first night together? You're the only one who can match me on the battle field. But…"

"But what?" Katara asked, touching her face and searching her eyes.

"They aren't wrong; you and I aren't the same. Even if I hate the consequences, I love to fight. I love feeling my own power; I love the strategy and I love winning but you… You just can't resist taking care of everyone. Just when I think that you cannot have more compassion within you, you prove me wrong. After everything he's done to you, you even took pity on my father, and look at him! Katara, he is smiling! He's powerless and he's smiling just because you gave him this night! You're the gentlest person I know, and I love that about you. I love everything about you. I don't think you're weak, Katara and I know that you would do everything in your power to protect me and our family but I want to build a world where you don't need to. I want to protect you. Is that so wrong?" Katara smiled brightly, draping her arms around her wife's neck and drawing her into a warm embrace.

"There is nothing wrong with that." They leaned together in a warm kiss and in that moment, Daramak and his men attacked.