Zutara Week. Day Three. Social Networking.


"Absolutely not."

"Aw, why?"

"Are you serious, Ty Lee? You know I refuse to be set up. Meaning, I'm not going on some stupid blind date."

"But, he's gorgeous! He's the heir to his dad's empire in law (well, he used to be the heir until his dad disowned him but, that's not the point!) and he's a fantastic lawyer from what I've heard. Women are always fawning over him and he is blind to it all! It's surprising that he isn't using his sexiness to his advantage. But, he's really sweet! Why don't you give him a shot, Tara?"

Katara rolled her eyes at her friend's words. Ty Lee was completely ridiculous in every sense of the word. She adjusted the cell phone that she had trapped in between her cheek and shoulder as she grabbed the carton of her favorite ice cream and a spoon before she walked back to the couch. "Ty Lee. I don't do blind dates. And besides, I don't date stuffy lawyers or doctors or anything involving a cocky bastard. They're all the same and I don't feel like listening to someone gloat about something or other that happened in the court room."

"Please, sweetheart? Just give this guy a chance! He isn't like the rest of the lawyers you've met. He's adorable and smart and I think you'd really like him." Ty Lee pleaded.

"I don't do blind dates, Ty Lee. And why should I?"

She huffed at her stubborn friend as she moved through the Ashtanga positions on her yoga mat. She teetered, balancing on her hands until she shot her legs back out and finished her set. Bouncing up from the mat, she reached for her water and phone as she turned off the speakerphone and continued to plead with the Southern girl. "At least just go for one date. Please?"

"No, Ty Lee. I'm not interested. I gotta go. Sokka wants to start the movie."

The contortionist let out a little whine and pouted at her pink phone. "Fine. I'll talk to you later."

"See ya," Katara said. She pressed end and threw her cell on the cushion next to her, opening up her fudge chocolate ice cream and digging in.

"What was that about?" her brother asked. The two siblings shared an apartment together and it was their traditional "hang out time" that they had every Saturday. No boyfriends/girlfriends or other friends allowed as they sat and watched a movie and devoured junk food.

"Ty Lee was trying to set me up on a blind date with one of her friends. A lawyer. Hell no to that."

Sokka rolled his eyes and grabbed for his bag of beef jerky. "I don't understand why you go on dates while you're dating Aang. I'm fine with my Suki."

Katara shrugged. "I don't want to be in a serious relationship until I'm ready to be in one. And besides, the guys I've dated say I'm more desirable when I'm dating other guys. Last week, I was supposed to go skiing with Haru in the late afternoon and he came when I was trying to get the date I had that morning out the door. Needless to say, it was awkward but rewarding. "

Sokka looked at his sister, disbelievingly. "Dear God, my sister's a player. How many proposals have you had already?"

Katara treated herself to some gummy bears, popping them into her mouth. "Three," she said nonchalantly.

"…Hm. Glad you've said no." Sokka grabbed the controller and pressed play while stuffing jerky into his mouth.

0o0o0o0

Two weeks later, the twenty-five year old sleepily made it into her apartment after a day of work at the hospital. Newborns were cute but they had a set of lungs that set her teeth on edge. One or two babies crying was okay to handle but, five or ten at the same time made her want to slam her head into her keyboard.

Throwing her purse on the floor, the girl jumped into her bed as she lazily started taking her scrubs off when her phone started to ring demandingly,

"M'coming," she mumbled. Discarding her shirt from her head, she grabbed her purse, digging around till she found the blue device.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Miss...Katara Aysu?"

"Yes, this is she. How can I help you?" Getting of her bed, Katara shimmied out of her pants, searching for her pajamas.

"This is Zuko Huojin. I'm returning your phone call-"

"What phone call? I've never even heard of you or called you in my life." She cocked her eyebrow.

He cleared his throat while she pulled her shorts on. "Uh, well, do you know Ty Lee? She's a friend of mine."

Katara froze as she was pulling her hair into a ponytail. I'm going to kill her, she thought.

"Yes, she's a friend of mine also. She gave you my number apparentally. I specifically told her not to but, here we are," she sighed.

"Oh...well, she kind of set us up for a blind date. I wanted to know when you'd like to meet. I'm in town for a week until I have to go back to work."

The Southerner was quiet for a moment. She could either turn him down and never hear from him again or she could go out for one date and then never hear from him after that. She let out a quiet breath, chewing her lip. "Okay. What day is good for you?"

"How about Wednesday? I have some business to take care of tomorrow but then I'm free then."

"Alright," Katara said while grabbing her brush and shirt.

"Great, so we can go to dinner-"

"I don't do dinner. Lunch is fine."

"Okay...that's fine. So...I'll pick you up at two?"

"Sure. See you then."

"Yeah. Goodbye."

Pressing end, she tossed her phone over her shoulder and sighed. She was going on a blind date. Tomorrow, she was made sure to remember to castrate Ty Lee but right now, she needed to get out of the death trap called a bra and get some sleep.

o0o0o0o0

"How was it, sweetheart?" Ty Lee squealed from her couch. She jumped up, grabbing Katara's hand and making her sit. "Spill!"

Katara rolled her eyes as she settled in for interragation. "He was two hours late picking me up and his car smelled like an ash tray. He's really shy too. Other than that, it went well. We went to eat and then sat in the grass at the park. We talked until he took me home."

Clapping her hands together excitedly, the contortionist grabbed for Katara's hand and squeezed it slightly. "Did you kiss him?" she chirped.

"No."

"Aw! He looks like a great kisser!"

"Whatever. Anway, we're going on another date on Saturday," Katara said with measured nonchalance. She winced as Ty Lee squealed delightfully and hugged her, telling her she knew she would go for it and that she was an amazing match maker.

"How come you didn't tell me he had a scar? It would have been nice to have a warning so I wouldn't make him feel bad." Her voice was muffled from her friend smooshing her cheek into hers.

"Oh! Well...he doesn't like to talk about it and...it's a sensitive subject. You understand, right?"

Katara nodded.

Surprisingly, she couldn't wait for Saturday.

o0o0o0o0

After her third date with Zuko, Katara broke up with Aang, her boyfriend of 8 months.

0o0o0o0o

"I'm moving."

Katara looked up in surprise. "...Where?" she asked.

"Seattle. I was offered a job there. It has better pay than where I'm working now," Zuko explained.

"Oh..."

They were in his car, enjoying the city lights that blazed in front of them while they were parked on a hill. He turned to her and sighed. "You do realize that we probably won't stay in contact, right?"

She bit her lip, nodding sadly while fiddling with her thumbs.

They sat in silence for a while after his confession. Zuko's spoke suddenly, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Marry me?"

Lifting her head, Katara stared at him with wide, blue eyes. "W-what?" she stuttered.

"I know it seems sudden and we've only known each other for a short time but, I don't want to lose you. You've got this fire that's one of a kind. You make me laugh and keep me guessing about every little thing you do. You're amazing and...I love that about you. I...think I love you."

She stared at him, shocked beyond words. After a moment of looking deep into his eyes, she made a decision.

"...Yes. I'll marry you," she whispered.

His face broke out into a grin. "Really?" he asked disbelievingly.

She nodded, smiling happily as he leaned forward and captured her lips with his own.

"Sorry I didn't have a ring," he mumbled happily into her mouth.

0o0o0o0o

Three weeks later, Katara stood at the alter, holding Zuko's hands in her own as she whispered the words she knew from the bottom of her heart were true.

"I do."


Aren't you guys proud of me? *wants to sleep forever* I thought I wouldn't finish but, I did.

This is actually my parent's story. Of course, some things have been changed. They met and got married in two months and they're still together after 25 years.

Enjoy.

Please, review.