I know. I shouldn't have left you hanging like that. But hopefully, this chapter will be posted so fast you won't have time to post a comment asking why I haven't updated in forever. So I hope you enjoy!

-Symphonic Madness

Katara

I'm baffled. I cannot believe who's hugging me right now. The love of my life, the now Fire Lord Zuko, is finally with me again.

"Hakoda, can you, um… give us some privacy. I'm going to ask her the question," Zuko mumbles awkwardly to my dad.

"Are you sure you can't wait until you've been with one another for a little longer?" my dad asks.

Wait, what are they talking about?

Zuko pulls away from me, but just enough so I can breathe again. "I doubt it. It is of pretty big urgency that I get Katara's answer."

"Alright," my father says. "I'll leave you be."

He leaves the room, and before Zuko can say anything, I place a long passionate kiss on his lips and drag him into my room so we won't be interrupted. The room is dimly lit by the two lanterns I've placed diagonally from one another, just barely lighting up the room enough so I can see Zuko and his horrid scar. I touch his scar, and he inhales sharply, but doesn't pull away.

"You're the only one I allow to touch that scar besides myself," he murmurs, pressing his forehead to mine. "And I've been away from you far too long."

"But why?" I ask. "I gave up hope after the first two years had passed. Why haven't you come back to me sooner?"

"I had so much business to take care of in the Fire Nation. I needed to help rebuild it, and establish peace with the other nations. I'm nowhere near completing that task, even though I've been away from you for so long," Zuko replies, keeping his voice in a murmur and his forehead pressed to mine.. "But every single day of those five years we've been apart I was thinking about you and wishing you were there with me."

"Me, too," I tell him, mimicking the murmur-like volume of his voice. "There wasn't a day where I went without having you in my thoughts."

"Well, Katara, all those years ago before the war ended, you promised me something," he says. "Katara, you promised you would marry me. And I came here to see if you would keep your promise."

I'm in shock. After I gave up hope, I gave up the idea of a married life with Zuko, too, and the idea was forgotten, though the idea of being together, even unmarried, was not. My heart leaps at the thought of marrying Zuko. But I don't know if I should go or not for the sake of my tribe. Zuko interrupts my thoughts by speaking again.

"A Fire Lady is the solid ground for the country to walk on. She is the loving, nurturing, and compassionate mother of the country," he says. "Right now, just me ruling the nation isn't enough. The Fire Nation needs a mother. You are the kind of woman who would be perfect for the job because of your kind heart, the peace you bring everyone who you come in contact with, your wisdom, and also your ability to have fun with people and not be serious all the time. Plus, I am more than in love with you. You're the only woman who has gotten through my shell, and gotten me to love truly and without regrets or worries. If this happens, our two nations will unite and be at peace, and with your generosity and strength you can help us build bridges of peace and friendship with the other nations. Please think hard on this, Katara. I'll give you as much time as you need."

It's then it all becomes clear to me. I need to do this. I love Zuko, and now that I can marry him, every fiber of my being says I should. It would not only benefit us, but the Water Tribes and the Fire Nation as well. Maybe even the rest of the world might be helped by this.

"I'll do it," I say. "I would love to marry you, Zuko."

He looks shocked at first, but then he smiles and hugs me. "I brought the ring just in case."

He pulls out a golden ring with the red and black Fire Nation insignia on it, and he slips it onto my finger.

"My mother gave me this shortly before she… disappeared," Zuko trails off. "I should've known why she gave it up, but she did. She told me to give it to the one girl I was sure wouldn't take it off until the day she died. That woman, Katara, is you."

I kiss him quickly and stand up, a blush present on my face. He smiles and kisses each hot cheek.

"I love it when you blush. It's cute," he says.

I never knew Zuko to use the word "cute", but I don't question it. We walk out of the home together, and I hug my father tightly.

"I'm so proud of you, Katara," he says with tears in his eyes as he holds onto my shoulders after pulling away. "Fire Lady Katara, I should say. It might take me awhile to comprehend that you have that title now, though."

"Not yet, Dad. The wedding no less the coronation has not taken place yet. And won't for a bit of time," I say with tears of my own in my eyes.

"I'll go get Sokka," he says, walking away.

Zuko takes my hand and smiles broadly at me. I return the gesture, and soon enough Sokka comes up to us with a slight hint of annoyance in his eyes.

"Look, I have nothing against you now, sort of," Sokka begins. "I guess every big brother is kind of upset when their baby sister grows up and gets married. I'm proud of you, Katara. Congratulations, to both of you. Would you mind if me and Dad tagged along?"

"Of course not!" I exclaim. "What about you, Zuko?"

"I don't mind one bit. We'll arrange rooms for you in the palace. You are welcome any time," he says.

Sokka smiles. "I'll pack up and tell Dad to do the same."

"Zuko!" Iroh exclaims as he comes up to his nephew and I.

"Uncle!" Zuko exclaims.

"Did she accept?" Iroh asks.

"I don't know. Why don't you ask her?" Zuko says with a loving smile directed from his uncle to me.

Iroh comes up to me and hugs me. "You said yes, didn't you?"

"Why wouldn't I?" I ask him.

"A lot of reasons. My nephew isn't perfect," he says with a smirk.

I laugh. "Obviously. But I love him."

"Good. You need a marriage with love to be successful as rulers. That's something my brother and Zuko's mother never had," Iroh says. "Ozai did not love his wife. It was an arranged marriage. As were several of the marriages before theirs. The Fire Nation is lucky to have its Lord and Lady in love with one another. Welcome to the royal family, Katara."

I smile at him fondly and hug him again. "Thank you, Iroh."

"It isn't a problem, sweetheart," he says.

"We're all ready to go," Sokka says as he comes up to us with my father at his side. "I packed your stuff, Katara. You should be all ready to go."

"Wait! There's one person I need to see before I leave," I say, running away from Sokka, my father, Iroh, and my fiancée. I run straight to the home I know be longs to my Gran-Gran and burst through the door, panting for air after finding her in the living area with Master Pakku.

"Katara! What a surprise!" Gran-Gran exclaims.

"Hello, Gran-Gran. Good afternoon, Master Pakku," I say with a bow at my former trainer.

"Hello, Katara. Good to see you. So what's with the sudden need to see us?" he asks.

"Gran-Gran, I'm getting married to Zuko," I say. "I would like you to be there at my wedding."

"Katara," she says, getting up from her sitting position on the floor and hugging me. "I can't."

"Why not?" I ask.

"I'm too old for much travel. I'm needed here as well. I know for a fact that your brother and father are going with you, and with you and the two of them gone, someone needs to look after the village," Gran-Gran says. "I would, though. I would love to see my granddaughter get married. I would love to see the dress she wears on her wedding day, and how beautiful she looks, but I know my old heart can't take it."

I start crying, and she hugs me and holds me as tightly as the frail, old woman can. We remain like that for some time before I pull away.

"I have to go," I say. "I love you."

"I love you, too, sweetheart. And if you do return sometime soon, I will be here with open arms to embrace you, Zuko, and if there are any, your children," she says. "Now go. Be happy."

I hug her one last time before waving goodbye and going out the door. I walk sadly over to my father, brother, fiancée, and future uncle-in-law.

"She isn't coming, is she?" Zuko asks.

I shake my head no, and a few tears run down my face. He takes me into his arms and places a kiss on my head before putting his chin on top of it.

"Let's go," Zuko says. "We have a whole new life together. Let's live it and celebrate it."

I nod and wipe my eyes of the tears I'd been crying. "Yes. Let's go. I can't wait."

He takes my hand and leads me onto the ship with my family following close behind.

"I take one last look at the village I grew up in, and Zuko and I wave goodbye. The people who are out and about wave back to me, and Zuko wraps his arm around my waist as we leave the Southern Water Tribe. I am never to return to it as a resident. And it saddens me enough to where I hold on tight to my future husband as he comforts me with words of marriage, happiness, and love.