Lilacs and Lily Pads

by sadladybug

A tale of clumsy courtship and calamitous court weddings, featuring awkward family encounters, floral mishaps, cultural complications, and good old fashioned fluff and conflict. Takes place in the five years following war's end. For Zutara Week 2016. A prequel to Bones.

4. Complications

A/N – This chapter brought to you by the Zutara Week 2016 prompt "fever." That's right – Zutara Week 2016. As in, I'm still working on this story, and it's been over a year. And I'm really, really sorry. The truth is that 2017 has been pretty awful, and not just because of #45. I've basically been sick all year, had surgery this summer, and will have another surgery before the end of the year. My energy has been super low, and the muse has been in hibernation as a result. I've wanted to write, but just couldn't make myself pick up my laptop. But I'm determined to finish! There's one chapter and an epilogue left. Next time I write, I swear the story will be finished before I post so that readers won't have to wait so long. Thank you for your patience with me; your favs and reviews and follows have warmed my heart. As a reward, please enjoy this extra-extra long chapter (18k words, oh my!)

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"Okay, ladies," Toph says, rattling the tray of drinks as she sets them down roughly on the table. "Pick your poison."

Suki reaches out and snatches a glass that is wobbling precariously. Giving it a delicate sniff, she recoils slightly. "Just what did you order, Toph?"

"The main ingredient for Phase Three."

"Phase Three?"

Toph smirks. "Yep. Phase One: pamper Katara. Phase Two: feed Katara. And now, my personal favorite – Phase Three: embarrass Katara."

"Wow, I can't wait." Katara gives Toph a flat look that she can't see. "Let me guess – a drinking game?"

"What other games are worth playing?"

"I thought you preferred to play games where you could cheat people out of money."

"I'll save those for after you're married when you have access to the royal treasury." Toph plucks a foaming mug from the tray and reaches across the table to place it in front of Katara. "For now, Phase Three will have to do."

Katara shares Suki's hesitation. "I don't know, Toph. This has been really fun – the spa, the dinner – but maybe we should call it a night. We all have final fittings tomorrow, so we need to get up early…"

Toph pins her with her sightless gaze. "Don't be such a spoilsport, Katara. There's still three days before your wedding. Besides, if you're good at the game, you won't have to worry about puking on your robes tomorrow."

Katara pales. "Puking on my – "

Ty Lee captures her in a side hug, having already drained half of her glass. "Don't worry, Katara! This will be fun! And Toph's right, I think this is a game you'll be good at!"

Katara raises a brow. "How can you be so sure?"

Ty Lee points a proud thumb at her chest. "Because I came up with it!"

"I'm not sure that makes me feel much better," Katara grumbles, ducking out of Ty Lee's embrace and nudging the foul-smelling drink a little farther away.

A loud cheer erupts from behind her, and Katara glances over her shoulder where two burly men are engaged in an arm-wrestling contest. It reminds her oddly of Jun. Actually, if one were to change the color scheme from Fire Nation reds and golds to Earth Kingdom greens and browns, the tavern reminds her an awful lot of the one that they visited all those years ago when they were on the verge of the end of the world and Aang was nowhere to be found. Despite herself, she smiles at the memory of the discomfort she felt being in such a place, and her reactions to the bounty hunter's teasing – he is not my boyfriend! What would Jun say if she could see her now, so close to the eve of her wedding to the Fire Lord?

"Hey, Earth to Sugar Queen! You ready to play or what?"

"Oh!" She startles out of the memory and looks to the faces of the women in her wedding party, all of whom are watching her expectantly. A pang of guilt stings her; they had all worked so hard to plan a surprise bachelorette party for her (and worked even harder to convince her that she had the time to go out) that she feels bad for trying to back out now. Eying her drink, she sighs. "Mai would never approve of this."

Toph snorts. "It's a good thing she's not here then."

Ty Lee brightens. "We tried to invite her; we took a palanquin to her house and everything! But she wasn't home."

Suki leans in. "Have you made friends with her?"

"Well, I wouldn't go that far, but – "

"I smell a distraction." Toph interrupts. "Come on, Sugar Queen, are you in or not? These are your last days of freedom, let's live a little."

Katara smirks. "You do remember the last time you and I tried to have fun together, don't you?"

Toph waves a dismissive hand. "What's a little jail time between friends?" She snaps her fingers. "Ty Lee. The list."

Katara looks away as Ty Lee reaches down the front of her low-cut top, digging until she produces a folded piece of parchment, which she offers to Toph. "Here you go!"

"You hold onto that. Reading isn't really my specialty."

Ty Lee smacks her forehead. "Whoops! Silly me!"

Toph takes a swig of her drink, thumping her chest once with a fist as she slams down her empty glass. "Alright, here are the rules. Ty Lee asked your husband-to-be a series of questions, and now she'll ask you the same ones. If your answers match, the rest of us have to drink. If they don't, you have to drink. If you refuse to answer a question you take a penalty and finish your drink. Easy enough, right?"

Katara rubs her chin. "So this tests how well I know Zuko?"

"You got it. Think you're up for it?"

She should know better than to challenge Toph, but really, how hard could it be? At this point she's known Zuko for years. She's his best friend. If Katara couldn't answer these questions, no one could. She holds up her glass and tries to ignore the stickiness beneath her fingers.

"You're on."

Four glasses clink together above the center of the table. "Excellent. Ty Lee, first question."

"Okay, we'll start with an easy one. Let's see." Her eyes scan the page in front of her. "What's your favorite food, and what's Zuko's?"

Katara rolls her eyes. "Are they all going to be this easy? You may as well ask what our favorite colors are."

"It's a warm up question. Answer or drink."

Katara folds her arms and looks smug. "Sea prunes for me, extra spicy fire flakes for Zuko."

Ty Lee smiles. "Correct!"

Wiping foam from her mouth Toph says, "Sea prunes? Are those anything like ocean kumquats?"

"Sea prunes are better. Saltier, and with a little more tang. You'll get to try some at the reception; they're on the menu."

Toph shudders. "I'll pass. But fire flakes sound good. Those on the menu too?"

Katara nods. "Zuko insisted. I think adding some to the sea prunes is the only way he'll eat them."

Toph chuckles. "He's smarter than I thought."

"Hey!" Katara protests, though she can't keep the smile from her face. "That's my future husband you're talking about."

Toph shrugs. "You picked him, not me. Ty Lee, next question."

"Let's see… What was the first thing you said to each other?"

Suki frowns. "Wow, that seems like a hard one. I don't know if I could remember the first thing Sokka and I said to each other. Not verbatim at least."

"Oh, I remember," Katara groans.

"Really?" Suki looks surprised. "But that was so long ago!"

Katara runs a finger along the rim of her glass, avoiding eye contact. "Well, it was pretty memorable."

Ty Lee leans forward, eyes shining. "Oh, this sounds juicy!"

Katara grins sheepishly. Feeding off her friend's enthusiasm, she relents. "Okay, here it is. The first thing Zuko ever said to me personally was – " She drops her voice and tries her best to add a dramatic rasp. "'I'll save you from the pirates.'"

Suki and Toph laugh while Ty Lee squeals with delight. "Oh, that sounds so romantic! Like something straight out of the romance scrolls! Did he rescue you, sweep you off your feet, take you back to his ship and ravish you?"

Laughing a little herself, Katara wrinkles her nose. "It was not romantic. In fact, afterward he promptly tied me to a tree."

Suki's eyes go wide. "Wow, that sounds – "

"It's not what you think! He was interrogating me so that he could capture Aang."

"Whatever you say, Katara." Suki gives her a lewd grin.

Katara sputters. "It's true! And you know what I said to him? 'Go jump in the river!'"

The girls blink for a moment and then collectively burst out laughing. After a moment, Katara laughs right along with them. After they calm down Ty Lee checks her list.

"Well, drink up, because Katara is two for two! Zuko seems to have remembered that one vividly too. I wonder why…?"

Katara huffs good-naturedly. "Ugh! Next question."

"Okay, okay. Where was your first kiss?"

She remembers the moment clearly, his fist tight in her hair, eyes squeezed tight, mouth gently pressed against hers – and the way they jumped apart when a certain someone burst through the door.

"The Earth Rumble tournament. The one a few months after I turned sixteen, the charity event to benefit the war orphans."

"Katara is three for three!"

Toph perks up. "Now that was a good fight! The showdown between The Blind Bandit and The Boulder, the rematch that was always meant to be!"

Suki turns to Toph. "I thought you were friends with The Boulder now?"

She shrugs. "I am."

"Didn't keep you from kicking his butt though."

Toph gives a satisfied smile. "Nope. All's fair when you enter the ring. Any good fighter knows that."

Suki smiles. "Not to take away from your victory, Toph, but weren't we talking about Katara smooching with the Fire Lord?"

Toph chuckles. "Hey, it's only because they didn't acknowledge my victory that I had to barge in on them."

Katara's eyes pop. "You knew?"

"Of course I knew. You didn't come down with everyone else after the match, so I came looking for you. And what do I see on the other side of the door but Madame Fussy Britches and His Moody Majesty locking lips right there in the royal box!"

Katara is incredulous. "And your response was to kick in the door? You interrupted our first kiss!"

Toph leans back in her chair, propping her heels on the edge of the table. "Hey, I just wanted to mess with you. If I had known it was the first one I might have waited another minute or two. Though really, you should be thanking me. Zuko's heart was beating so fast I thought he might drop dead right then and there."

Suki smirks. "Maybe you should stand guard outside the royal suite on the wedding night."

"Suki!"

She lifts one shoulder and takes a nonchalant sip of her drink. "Hey, safety first."

Katara swipes a hand in the air. "Absolutely not! For once I think we'd like not to be interrupted, thank you very much."

Ty Lee gives her a questioning look. "Does that happen often?"

Katara sighs. "You have no idea. Now drink up!"

Empty glasses are exchanged for full ones from the tray. Toph belches loudly. "You got anything less mushy on that list of yours, Ty Lee?"

"Hmm, let's see… Oh! What's the one thing that Zuko does that annoys you the most?"

"She has to pick just one?" Suki asks, and Toph sniggers. "What? I've got a solid top ten list for Sokka."

"And yet you've been dating for how long now?"

She cuts her eyes to the side and smiles. "Hey, the list of pros far outweighs the cons. Doesn't mean he doesn't drive me crazy sometimes. Right, Katara?"

"Does Sokka drive me crazy? Absolutely."

"You know what I meant! What does Zuko do that annoys you?"

She racks her brain. Suki was right – there were plenty of little things that got on her nerves, but what would Zuko have said?

"I would say that he snores. And that whole 'rising with the sun' thing."

Ty Lee looks scandalized. "You've slept with him?"

Katara fumbles her glass. "Not like that! We travelled together, remember? I complained all the time about how his snoring would keep me awake, and then he'd be up at dawn, harassing all of us and griping that we slept too much. Between him and Sokka, I don't know who was more of a task master during the war."

Toph laughs. "Remember the schedule?"

"How could I forget?" Katara smiles at the memory. "So, did I get it right?"

Ty Lee checks the list and shakes her head. "Nope! Drink up, Katara!"

"Oooh, Katara goes down in the fourth! Bottoms up, Sugar Queen!"

Katara chokes down a measure of alcohol, feeling it burn. "What was Zuko's answer?"

"He wrote 'brooding.'"

"Aww, I kind of like that about him." Toph snickers and Katara shoots her a look. "Within reason, of course! He knows he has to communicate with me when something is bothering him – I've made that very clear – but I know it's part of his process. He needs to stew a little first and try to work it out on his own. That's just who he is." Her gaze turns inward. "Plus, when he pouts, he sticks out his bottom lip in this certain way, and – "

Toph pretends to gag. "Next question, Ty Lee!"

Ty Lee's eyes gleam. "Actually, that goes really well with the next one! What do you find most attractive about Zuko?"

Toph groans.

Katara squirms a little and raises an eyebrow. "Isn't that self-explanatory? I mean, you've all seen him."

"I haven't seen him. You'll have to be a little more specific."

Suki waves her glass in the air and hiccups. "Yeah, Katara. Plus, we don't all have the same taste."

"True. You're attracted to my brother." Katara glances between Suki and Ty Lee. "Both of you, actually. What was that about not having the same taste?"

"Enough stalling!" Katara doubletakes at Toph's flush – it had to be the alcohol, right? "Despite my aversion to hearing you gush about Prince Poutypants, the sooner you answer the sooner we can move on to the next question."

Katara sinks down into her chair and covers her face with her hands. "This is so embarrassing!"

Suki's voice is matter-of-fact. "Hey, if you don't want to answer, you can just drink instead."

"Fine," she laments. She sits up and fidgets with her glass, determined not to make eye contact. "Well, he's tall, and he's got these broad shoulders and long legs…" Her mind flashes to earlier that morning, stopping by the sparring pitch to bid Zuko goodbye before going out with her friends, the way his muscles tensed as he moved and how the sweat from his efforts made his skin shine. More to herself, she says, "And when he bends, he's just so… so powerful… and then there are those gold eyes, spirits those eyes…" A chair loudly scraping the floor from the table to their left snatches her out of her fantasy. Glancing at her audience, she sees Suki and Ty Lee looking at her dreamily while Toph picks at her toes.

Instantly embarrassed, Katara hunches her shoulders. "What?"

Suki just smiles gently and shakes her head. "You've got it so bad."

Katara blushes. "Well, I should hope so. We are getting married in three days. So, did I get it right?"

"Hmm. Well, first he wrote 'nothing' and then scratched it out."

Suki clicks her tongue. "We gotta work on that boy's self-esteem."

Ty Lee squints at the list. "But then he wrote 'tall' with a question mark."

Katara feels triumphant. "Hey, I said tall!"

Toph blows her bangs out of her face. "Yeah, that and a million other things."

Katara's hand finds her hip. "Still counts!"

Ty Lee leans over and puts her head on Toph's shoulder, hugging her arm. "Aww, let's give it to her. Just this once."

Shrugging her off, Toph swings her feet back onto the floor. "Alright, alright. Drink up ladies!"

Ty Lee empties her glass and waves over the bartender to order another round. Katara hasn't even finished her first when Ty Lee reaches for her third. "This is so much fun! Okay, next question!"

Katara eyes the full tray of drinks that are delivered to the table. "How many questions are there?"

Toph snatches a full glass. "It wouldn't be much of a drinking game if there wasn't plenty of opportunities to drink, now would it?"

Katara fiddles with the handle of her mug. "Still, don't you think we should call it a night soon?"

"No way. No chickening out now just because the questions are getting harder!"

Ty Lee lightly smacks Toph's shoulder. "Stop heckling her, Toph! Katara is doing great!"

Katara sighs. "Alright, fine. Let's hear the next one."

Slurring her words only slightly, Ty Lee squints at the list. "What does Zuko find most attractive about you?"

Toph runs a hand over her face. "Who wrote these questions anyway?"

Ty Lee looks hurt. "I did."

"That explains it."

Meanwhile, Katara considers her answer. What would Zuko say? He'd paid her no shortage of compliments over the years. Was there something that he seemed to remark on more than others? And of those things, which could she say out loud and not have Toph tease him mercilessly? Opting to spare him some grief, Katara searches for something benign.

"…Well, he's said that he loves my hair. And my eyes, he really likes those too. Oh! And he kisses the tip of my nose a lot, he says that it's cute."

Toph snorts. "That's it? What, can he only see you from the neck up or something?"

Katara can feel her face heating. "No! I just – " But her friends aren't listening, as they are doubled over with laughter. She sinks back into her chair and crosses her arms. "Forget it. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it."

"Sorry, Katara," Ty Lee says, trying to stifle her giggles. "Looks like another drink for you!"

Katara braces herself. What if he wrote –

"He said that the thing he finds most attractive about you is your compassion."

The rest of the group groans and Katara makes a face. "What? That's not fair! I thought it had to be a physical attribute!"

Suki puts a finger in the air. "The question doesn't specify a physical attribute. Fair's fair."

"Yeah, yeah," she grumbles. She chokes down the remainder of her mug, and Suki pushes a full one in front of her to replace the empty glass.

"Ready for the next one?"

Katara gives Ty Lee a pointed look as the alcohol blooms warm in her gut. "I thought you guys said I would be good at this."

Ty Lee smiles. "You are! Maybe this one will be easier for you. What's your favorite thing to do together?"

A few different memories bubble to the surface of her mind, the kind that involve stolen breath and tingling skin. Before she can push the thoughts away, she can feel her face flush.

Ty Lee squeals. "He had the same response! He went as red as his robes!"

"Maybe I should chaperone your wedding night!" Toph quips.

Suki sighs dreamily. "You guys are going to have so many kids…"

"You guys are such… such perverts!"

Ty Lee nudges her with an elbow. "You're the one blushing."

Katara looks pointedly at the ceiling and huffs. "Look, we do plenty of things together that are fun."

Toph snickers and takes a swig of her drink. "Like making out at Earth Rumbles, you mean."

"Among other things!"

"Oh yeah, like what? Remember, there's a drink on the line. Get it wrong and you're one step closer to having to scrub puke stains out of your robes."

Ugh. Toph wasn't kidding when she said that Phase Three would be embarrassing. But what would Zuko say? Try as she might, she finds that she can't get those images out of her head and she's drawing a blank. She blames the liquor.

Suki weighs in. "Well, they bicker so much that you'd think that was their favorite thing."

"We do not!" Her protest is met with skeptical looks from her friends. "Okay, maybe we do, but we're both very opinionated so that's bound to happen."

"That's one way to put it."

"It's really not that big of a deal, most of the time it ends with us laughing or –" she thinks of the incident with the seating chart and she blushes. Her friends were right in more ways than one. But before they had ended up rolling around on the ground… "Sparring! We spar on a regular basis, and that's always a lot of fun. We try to make time for it even when our schedules get busy."

"Score one for Katara!"

She blinks. "I was right?"

"Yep." Ty Lee swallows half her glass. "Good job!"

Suki props her chin on her fist. "Though I suppose 'sparring' could be open to interpretation."

Katara throws up her hands. "You all are impossible!" Though, her mind whispers, Zuko did mention that they made both good opponents and good teammates… To shut up her brain she grabs her mug and takes a swig.

"Speaking of kids, how many do you want?"

She snorts into her glass, sending foam flying up onto her nose. "What?"

"That's the next question."

Wiping her face, she says, "Well, we haven't really discussed it much. We'll need to have at least one, but I'd really like two or three. I think it's nice for kids to have siblings."

Suki quirks a brow. "Zuko might disagree with you there."

Ty Lee gestures with her glass, sloshing liquor onto the table. "Just make sure you don't make them all dress the same."

"And don't coddle them too much, whether you have one or ten." Toph proclaims. "You gotta let them have some freedom or they'll end up rebelling against the crown."

Katara gives a sly smile. "You would know, wouldn't you?"

"Damn straight."

Suki considers this. "Zuko certainly wasn't coddled, and he still rebelled."

Katara frowns. "I think we'll be able to strike a balance between coddling and outright horrific abuse. Spirits, just what kind of parents do you think we'll be?"

The women in her wedding party look at one another and then nod. Suki speaks for the group. "Coddlers, for sure."

Katara is skeptical. "Zuko too?"

"Oh yeah," Toph groans. "He'll be even worse. If the way he looks at you is any indication, he'll have nothing but goo-goo eyes for his broody brood."

Katara give a soft smile as she pictures it. "I think we might actually agree on that."

Suki looks at Ty Lee. "So, what did Zuko say?"

"He wrote 'as many as Katara wants.'" Ty Lee makes a face. "How do we judge that?"

Katara gives a triumphant smile. "Hey, if he says it's up to me, then any answer I give is the right one."

Suki interjects. "Or it means that there is no right answer. Zuko kind of screwed you on that one."

"Well, maybe that's what he would like – "

Katara contains her laughter as she points at Ty Lee. "Not another word!"

"I think it's a wash," Toph declares. "We all drink."

"But-!"

"We already gave you a pass, so drink up."

They collectively chug their drinks, and Katara coughs. She blinks as her vision blurs a little. "Please tell me there are some questions on the list that don't focus on my sex life."

Ty Lee pretends to pout. "Oh, very well. We'll save those for when you've had more to drink." She winks before scanning the list. "Here's one. What's the last big thing that you fought about?"

Katara stills, all traces of humor vanishing. Though she and Zuko did bicker quite a bit, it had been some time since their last real argument – not since a few weeks after she had moved to the Fire Nation. And she hadn't shared the story behind that fight with anyone.

She shifts uncomfortably in her chair. "I don't suppose we can go back to the dirty questions, can we?"

Suki teases her in a sing-song voice. "Not unless you want to drink first."

"Fine." She downs the rest of her glass. When she wipes her mouth, Suki is giving her a concerned look and Toph has gone oddly quiet. She tries to ignore it and plasters a false smile on her face. "Okay, next question."

Ty Lee turns her attention to the list to find the next question, but Toph speaks up. "Wait, what did Zuko say?"

"That's really not important, let's just – "

"He said 'tax reform.'" Ty Lee scrunches up her face. "You got into a heated argument about taxes?"

Katara laughs weakly and silently thanks Zuko for the lie. "Well, it's like you said, we fight about everything."

"Right…"

The game goes on, but it takes a few more drinks before she forgets about the real answer to that question.

---

The first time she realized this might be more complicated than either of them imagined, she was in her room in the Fire Nation palace, vomiting into a priceless urn.

The hulking steel ship passes through the Great Gates of Azulon and Katara, standing on the deck, grips the railing a little tighter. There's no threat from the massive statue today, nor has there been in the dozens of times she has sailed into this bay since the war's end, but as its shadow briefly blots out the sun she can almost feel it as its meaning shifts in her mind's eye yet again. Years ago, it had been an obstacle to overcome as she had approached these lands as an invader. Later she came to think of it as a sentinel, protecting a nation and the leader that slept in the hollow of the dormant volcano. Back then she was just a visitor, granted passage under Azulon's stern gaze only after meeting his approval. This time, however, she isn't arriving as an invader or a visitor; she is coming to stay. As a ruler. These gates would be protecting her along with the rest of the Fire Nation citizens in residence in the caldera.

A nervous laugh escapes her lips at the irony. She looks into the hard stare of Azulon's granite visage and thinks he must be raging from the afterlife at this outsider who sails so quietly into the bay to take her place on the throne and in the pages of history.

She disembarks with the rest of the crowd, and a palanquin is waiting for her as expected. A small team of people bow in unison as she approaches.

"Lady Katara, it is our pleasure to welcome you home."

Home. A little wave of dizziness passes over her at the word. This is home now. She returns the bow to cover her nerves. "Thank you. It's my honor to be here."

The team straightens and a tall, austere woman with gray streaks at her temples steps forward. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Hideko, and this is Fumiko and Machiko. We are at your disposal."

Katara smiles. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Hideko gestures to the lavish palanquin behind her. "If it pleases you, your palanquin is ready to take you to the palace. The staff will tend to your luggage. It will be delivered later this afternoon."

Katara glances back to see some of the heavy trunks already being offloaded from below deck. "There's quite a bit of luggage, I'm afraid. I would be happy to help." At the horrified looks on the faces of the women in front of her she knows she has made some kind of faux pas and stops short. "I mean, that would be wonderful."

Hideko nods stiffly. "Very good. Tea and a light meal await you at the palace to refresh you from your journey." Fumiko and Machiko take up positions next to the palanquin and part the curtains with bowed heads. "Shall we be on our way, my lady?"

Avoiding the looks of curious dockworkers, she ducks inside and settles on the plush cushions. This wouldn't be the first time she had been in a royal palanquin, but again, the experience takes on new meaning. This wasn't just on loan from the palace to ferry her as a guest. This was hers now. Or would be soon. It would still be six months before she and Zuko were married, but for all intents and purposes, this was her life now. Her heart beats a little faster as she feels the palanquin lift and begin to move.

She resists the urge to peek out of the curtains along the way, certain that this might break some sort of protocol. Instead, she does her best to enjoy the journey, trying to keep her excitement and her nerves in check. As they travel she can hear the ambient sounds of the town as they pass beyond the gates at the base of the volcano, and again when they enter the capitol. The journey seems to take longer than usual, but eventually they slow to a stop and the curtains are opened to reveal the entrance to the palace.

Hideko appears and addresses her with lowered eyes. "Lady Katara, Fumiko will accompany you to the Fire Lord's office, where his majesty has requested to meet with you."

She almost slips up again – no need, I know the way – and instead nods her head with as much dignity as she can muster and follows the wispy girl who sets a crisp pace. Katara almost asks for her to slow down so that she can bask in the moment a little, but she doesn't want Fumiko to be accused of keeping the Fire Lord waiting.

Bright sunlight is replaced by burning braziers as they enter the grand halls. They pass the open doors of the empty throne room, where shadows dance across the polished floors in the light of the torches. She hadn't considered it until now, but as she gazes at the rows of tall columns she thinks that her entire village could fit into that room, tents and all. That pesky wave of dizziness washes over her again, and if Fumiko didn't seem so intent on fulfilling her duties she might have asked to sit down for a moment.

Left, right, left twice more, past the hall of portraits and right again to the staircase for the eastern tower. She's thankful that she already knows the way and doesn't feel as though she needs to memorize the path on top of everything else. She isn't sure there's room in her head with all of the other racing thoughts crowded in there. It's a relief when they find the right floor and turn down a wide hallway.

The guards posted outside the Fire Lord's office pay them no mind as Fumiko approaches the door. She knocks gently, and to Katara's amusement, she bows as she speaks despite the fact that Zuko is on the other side of the door.

"My lord, Lady Katara has arrived safely from her journey and is here to see you, as requested."

"Send her in."

Fumiko opens the door and steps aside, ushering Katara through the doorway. Katara is greeted by an impressive desk covered in stacks of parchment and scrolls – but the chair behind it is empty. Confused, she takes a step forward as the door slides shut behind her.

"Zuko? Did you get buried in all that paperwork? I told you that you need to organize it better or it will swallow you whole – "

Without warning strong arms ambush her from the left, and she squeaks as she is lifted off the ground and spun around. Her feet catch the top of a stack of papers, which flutter to the floor unnoticed as a warm and familiar mouth covers hers. He allows her feet to return to the carpet, but he has a harder time relinquishing her lips. She has to push gently at his chest so that she can catch her breath.

With a grin, she says, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were happy to see me."

He holds her by the shoulders, searching her face, an impossibly wide and almost disbelieving smile stretched across his face. "You're here. You're really here."

She tries to downplay it, if only to calm the racing of her own heart. "I've been here plenty of times before, you know. Just a month ago, in fact! You act like you haven't seen me in ages."

"Well, I thought I should make the most of it. It's the last time we'll have to be apart for so long."

A feeling of unreality settles over her. "That's true, isn't it?"

He nods. "No more long goodbyes, so no more big greetings."

For a moment her nerves recede and her throat threatens to close up. She blinks rapidly and steals a kiss. "Taking me for granted already?"

He squeezes her shoulders and kisses the tip of her nose. "Never. I'll find plenty of other reasons to show my appreciation."

"I'm holding you to that, your majesty."

"You have my word of honor."

Teasing his collar between her fingers, she says, "You know, there will still be opportunities to greet me in style. Or do you not intend for me to visit my family or go on diplomatic missions?"

He rolls his eyes. "Of course. You'll travel, and so will I. Hopefully most of the time we'll travel together. But it will be different. You won't be going home, you'll be returning home instead."

She hugs him. There was that word again: home. Here. With him. To keep from swaying she tightens her arms around him, and when she lays her head on his chest she can feel the quick and steady thump of his heart. "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

"Yes. We really are." His fingers comb through her hair. "How do you feel?"

"Excited. Overwhelmed. But mostly happy."

"I concur."

Her stomach growls and she pulls back with a smile. "Hideko said something about tea and snacks, but I'm not seeing any."

"I thought you might like to eat in the gardens after being cooped up on the ship. After that I'll show you to your suite."

"My suite? What about my room in the guest wing?"

Zuko smiles and shakes his head. "Katara, the guest wing is for guests. You aren't a guest anymore. As the future Fire Lady, you are entitled to the use of the royal suites as well as your own staff to attend you."

"My own staff?"

Zuko nods. "The three women who met you at the docks are your personal attendants. Hideko is in charge. They'll provide you with anything you ask. They'll keep track of your schedule, help you with grooming and wardrobe, run for midnight snacks, or whatever else you need."

Her head swims a little at the enormity of it. "Okay, I think I might need to sit down now."

"Are you okay?"

He leads her to a stiff chaise along one wall and they take a seat. She feels silly; it's not as if she hasn't been granted the same treatment when travelling to meet with various officials in different corners of the globe, and she's more than familiar with the finery that defines Zuko's life at the palace. But now it is real, and now it is hers, and it's all a little much. She's just Katara, after all, a girl from a humble village in the south pole. She takes a deep breath. "I really don't need all that, Zuko. I'm sure you could find better jobs for those ladies to do."

He reaches over and squeezes her hand. "It's a luxury, yes, but it's also a necessity. You'll be grateful for them, believe me. My life would fall apart if it weren't for Ito." He pauses and glances at the ceiling. "Well, him and fifteen others."

She startles. "Fifteen? You have fifteen people who attend you?" He shrugs sheepishly. She pokes him in the shoulder playfully. "Wait, why do you get fifteen while I only get three?"

He laughs. "Spoken like a true Fire Lady. Three is just to help you get settled. We'll hire more staff for you once we see what you need." He offers his hand. "But we can talk about that more later. You ready for that snack now?"

She takes his hand, thinking that she could use the fresh air. Staff. A suite. She tries to wrap her mind around it all. "Let's go."

They exit the palace proper and find the cobblestone path that leads through the gardens. Along the way they see a woman crouched along the edge, carefully pruning the flower beds.

"Good afternoon, Bai Ling."

The woman looks over her shoulder and startles. She fumbles into a clumsy kowtow, shears still gripped in one fist. "Good afternoon, my lord."

Zuko gestures for her to rise. Katara itches to reach out and pluck a stray twig from her hair. "Bai Ling, this is Lady Katara. She's come to stay at the palace, so I imagine you'll see her walking these paths more frequently from now on." He gives Katara a fond look and gestures to the woman. "Katara, this is Bai Ling, our head gardener. She is responsible for all of the beauty you see around you, especially in my mother's gardens."

Bai Ling smiles, her eyes firmly fixed on the cobblestone. "You flatter me, my lord. Welcome home, my lady. The turtleducks will be pleased that you are here to stay."

Zuko's brow rises in curiosity. "Have you met before?"

"Not formally, my lord, but Lady Katara has frequented the gardens over the years. It would be impossible not to notice her."

He nods. "Indeed. Keep up the good work, Bai Ling." He eyes the lilies she had been tending. "And please have some of those sent to Lady Katara's suite later this afternoon."

Bai Ling gives a satisfied smile. "It's already been done, my lord."

"Very good." To Katara, he says, "Shall we?"

They enter the area Katara knows as his mother's garden – branches of cherry trees hang low, blossoms kissing the surface of the pond where the turtleducks swim in lazy circles. They cross to the shade of a tree where a blanket has been laid out with a tea pot and a basket. Zuko busies himself with unpacking the basket, taking out tea cups and a plate of sweet tarts and fruit slices. With the palm of his hand he applies heat to the bottom of the tea pot until steam rises from the spout. He shakes some tea leaves into the water to allow it to brew.

Katara pops a mango slice into her mouth and chews slowly, relishing the taste. She might not be a big fan of the spicy cuisine of Zuko's homeland, but the Fire Nation had the best fruit, hands down. A gentle breeze rustles the branches of the cherry trees, sending a cascade of petals to settle gently on the surface of the pond. On the wind, she can detect the scent of the ocean, and she breaths deeply, feeling herself relax.

"You know, a girl could really get used to this."

He pours her a cup of tea. "I certainly hope so. I intend to keep you."

She gives him a soft smile. "You couldn't get rid of me if you tried." She takes in the lush grounds, marveling at the architecture. Though separated from the palace proper, she's always been curious about the buildings that connect to the main structure through a maze of covered pathways. Gesturing to the large pavilion connected to the garden, she asks, "What are all of these for, Zuko? Does the staff stay here?"

For an instant he stops chewing his tart. He swallows hard and takes a measured sip of tea before answering. "No, the staff stay in a wing of the palace so that they are available for service. These are for extended members of the royal family. Those who are further down in the line of succession." He pauses and glances at the building she had singled out. "I grew up there."

It clicks in her mind, and she feels stupid for not realizing it before – there was a reason he referred to this place as his mother's garden. It's easy to forget sometimes that while he was born into this life, he wasn't originally intended for this role. Until the age of ten he was four steps removed from the throne – his grandfather, his uncle, his cousin, and his father all came before him. Then his life changed overnight. Suddenly he was Prince Zuko. And only seven years later he was Fire Lord Zuko. She thinks of all of the immense changes to which he had to adjust, and the various roles that he has played, and it helps put her own situation in perspective. If he could do it, so could she.

Curious about his childhood home but not wanting to intrude, she reaches over and covers his hand with her own. "Will you show me sometime?"

He tilts his head. "You want to see it?"

"Of course. I'd love to see where you grew up. It's only fair, you've seen my village, after all."

He smirks. "And the polar leopard caves. Let's not forget those."

"You'll never let me forget, I'm sure."

"Never." His eyes focus somewhere over her shoulder. "Today's a good day. Can we save the tour of the grounds for another time?"

"Of course." To ease his obvious discomfort, she adds, "Whenever you want. We've got the rest of our lives, after all."

His eyes find hers, bright and hopeful. "Starting today." He blinks a few times and looks away, clearing his throat. "When you finish your snack, I'll show you your suite. Your things are probably waiting for you by now."

She nods. Despite her excitement to settle in, she takes her time to relish this quiet time in the garden with him. What was the rush? What she said was true – they had the rest of their lives. And the rest of their lives would doubtless be filled to the brim with full schedules and responsibilities. Though her stomach tingles with anticipation, she samples the food provided until her hunger is satisfied and drains her tea cup. Before leaving the garden she insists on playing with the turtleducks; she learns that they aren't fond of fruit but seem to love the crust from the extra tarts.

When she is ready she takes his arm and together they make their way back to the palace. Along the way they pass a variety of staff members scurrying from place to place, their arms laden with linens or tools or trays.

Eyeing a young man with an armful of scrolls, she says, "There sure are a lot of people who work here."

Zuko nods absentmindedly. "The palace is a small community all to itself."

"…It seems like a lot of work for just one resident."

"Well – two now." He leans over and places a quick kiss to her temple. "The palace requires a lot of hands to keep it running – housekeepers, cooks, gardeners, repairmen, tailors, two librarians – the list is long. And then there are those who specifically take care of me – and now you."

"Your fifteen?"

"Yes, my fifteen."

"Still, it's a lot for just one family."

"We might be the only royals in residence, but we aren't actually the only ones who live here. Many of the staff live on the grounds with their families. In addition to the people who live here, we hold a variety of meetings here. There's rarely a time when at least one of the guest rooms isn't occupied, since we host visiting dignitaries or ambassadors. My ministers also each have an office in the south wing, and sometimes they work through the night. We are far from alone here."

"Wow. I didn't realize." It was going to take a lot of effort to learn the names and faces of the people in Zuko's 'community.' Passing by a guard posted near the empty throne room, she notes his lack of visible weapons – a member of the Imperial Firebenders, no doubt. "And the guards, too."

"Yes, there are a few hundred of them on duty inside the palace walls at all times. They work in shifts; those who are not on duty live beneath the eastern tower, where they can be ready to defend the palace at a moment's notice."

"That's a lot of people." And a lot of firepower, she thinks. Suddenly the guards they pass take on an ominous quality. "Is it safe?"

Zuko frowns as they approach the wide, sweeping staircase of the eastern tower. She knows these halls – she was just here; Zuko's office is housed on the third floor. "You think we could use more security?"

Climbing the stairs, she keeps one hand on the sleek bannister. "No, I mean don't you worry about those within the palace? It must be hard to keep track of loyalties."

He gives her a sidelong look. "Less than a day living here and the paranoia is getting to you already? I think that must be some kind of record."

She scowls. "I am not paranoid. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that sleeping on top of a thousand soldiers is great until they all decide to rebel."

"I see your point." His robes trail behind him, silk cascading and gliding over the lip of each stair. "You're right to be concerned. Nothing is completely foolproof, but I've come up with a solid vetting system. It was implemented shortly after I took the throne."

"Oh? What's so special about this system?" At his sly smirk over his shoulder, she wags her finger at him. "Intimidation will only go so far, you know. Ty Lee told me what happened with Azula and the Dai Li, you can't rely on that."

A chuckle scratches the edges of his throat. "No intimidation tactics. Just an interview with our friend the living lie detector. Toph weeded out those loyal to Ozai or my sister after the war and helped me build a strong staff. I don't hire anyone new without consulting with her first."

She nods approvingly. "Did your ministers get the same treatment?"

Something like pride shines in his eyes. "You know, I think you'll do just fine here." He turns back around. "They were among the first people she talked to, after the cooks and the guards."

Katara opens her mouth and then closes it again, blinking a few times. "That's… actually really smart."

He gives her a flat look as they round the corner to the next staircase. "Don't act so surprised."

"I'm not! I'm just impressed." They bypass the third floor and keep climbing. "How many more flights are there?"

"Two more." He looks back at her. "You're not getting tired, are you?"

"No, I just feel bad for the people who had to lug all my trunks up these stairs."

"Katara, that's their job." When she shoots him a look, he adds, "a job for which they are well compensated, I might add."

"Alright, if you say so." They turn up yet another staircase. "I'm sorry, it's just going to take some time to get used to all this. Are you sure I shouldn't just stay in the guest wing?"

His features drip with false sympathy. "You'd make those poor staff members carry your things all the way to the western tower?"

Her cheeks flame. "Of course not!"

"Then I guess you'll just have to adjust." He drapes an arm around her shoulders and gives her a squeeze. "We're here."

The staircase gives way to an expansive foyer. Fire Nation banners decorate the walls beside burning braziers, and a plush tasseled rug cushions her feet. In front of her is an intricately carved wooden door with a stylized flame at its center. A brief hallway extends to her left and right, and at each end she can see similar closed doors.

Ignoring the guards posted at the top of the staircase, Zuko approaches the center door. "Well, this is it. Ready?"

She nods eagerly, and he pushes open the door. Her breath catches. Unlike the darkened hallways, filtered sunlight greets her through a broad window, giving the room a warm glow. As she steps into the room her boots tap softly on the wooden floors, which feature geometric designs which draw the eye to the room's feature occupant: the bed. The massive carved frame rests on a platform in the room's center, its high canopy stretching toward the ceiling but not coming even close to touching it. In the afternoon light, the gold accents on the bedframe practically glow. Spaced out along the walls is a sparse collection of artfully arranged furniture, including a desk. Potted plants frame the window, soaking up the ambient light. Toward the back of the room she sees a set of double doors – a closet, perhaps – and another door that likely leads to a washroom. The luggage that accompanied her on her journey from the south pole is carefully stacked toward the back of the room.

Stepping beside her, Zuko leans down to murmur in her ear. "Still want to stay in the guest wing?"

She swallows, throat gone dry. "I think this will do."

"Good. It's not quite where I wanted you, but Uncle suggested this would be the best choice until we're married."

"And where did you want me?"

He points to the ceiling. "Upstairs with me. In the royal apartments."

She smacks his arm. "Zuko!"

He rubs the back of his neck. "It's not like that! It's traditional for the Fire Lady to have her own space. The floor upstairs is divided into two connecting apartments. You still would have had your own room."

She quirks a brow, but she can't keep the smile out of her voice. "One that you could sneak into."

"I could sneak into this one if I wanted." He considers this, rubbing his chin. "Not that I would have to sneak. I'm the Fire Lord, who's going to stop me?" At the look she gives him he backtracks. "Not that I would!"

She considers the implications of his comments and frowns, feeling disappointed. "We won't get to share a room when we're married?"

"It's more of a formality than anything. You won't have to sleep in your room if you don't want to." He smiles. "Though didn't you say you hated my snoring?"

She sticks her nose in the air. "I'll endure."

He nudges her with an elbow. "I still get up at dawn, you know. Sometimes earlier if my schedule demands it."

"Then I'll be able to sleep peacefully after you leave."

"Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

She climbs the two stairs of the raised platform in the center of the room and sinks down onto the bed. "Not yet, but like you said, I'll adapt."

He sits beside her. "I'm sure you will."

She leans back on her hands and surveys the room. "This is beautiful, Zuko. I love it."

He mirrors her posture, and tilts his head to look at her. "It was mine."

Her brows lift. "It was?"

"This floor is for the royal family's children, and this room is for the heir. Azula's room was down the hall on the right. She liked living here much more than the pavilion."

"I'll bet." She gives him a weary smile. "Thank you for not putting me in that one."

"I would never. Besides, it's smaller."

She snorts. "Perish the thought."

He stands, straightening out his robes. "I'll leave you to get settled. I have one more meeting this afternoon, but I'll see you for dinner. If you need help unpacking, just ask one of the guards to send for your attendants."

Burgundy silk runs beneath her fingers, in stark contrast to her blue robes. She feels silly and more than a little petty, but she has to ask. "Zuko?"

"Yes?"

"I know this was your old room, and it's really incredible, but… do you mind if I do a little redecorating? It's kind of… red in here."

He smiles. "Do whatever you like. It's your room for the next six months."

"I don't want to be disrespectful."

"Far from it. I want you to be comfortable. If you need things from the market to decorate, ask for Fumiko. I hear she has a good eye and knows the best shops. Though if you want other colors, you might have more luck in the village near the docks; they have more of an international selection there."

She pushes herself off the bed. "Thanks, Zuko."

He pulls her in for a hug. "Welcome home, Katara."

She spends the rest of the afternoon unpacking. Though she could have asked for help, she opts to complete the task alone. She wants to take her time committing this to memory. Throughout her time travelling during the war, she had slept in so many places – from tree houses to prison cells, from temples to palaces, from the belly of a ship to a sleeping bag beneath a sea of stars. Even the back of a furry flying bison. But this would only be her second true, permanent home, and she wanted to savor the moment of moving in.

Her whole life had been carefully stored away in those trunks, and when she left the south pole it had seemed like such an abundance. Faced with the size of the room and its closets, her possessions take up precious little space. It's hard for her to imagine having enough clothing to fill the racks and shelves, but she supposes that she doesn't have to. There's no rule that says that the Fire Lady has to double as a fashionista. Or is there? She'd have to check with Zuko about expectations.

Already ideas for redecorating are percolating in her mind, and before she leaves she jots down a few notes on the sheets of parchment she finds in the desk. She isn't sure what the protocol is when she leaves her room, so she nods politely to the guards at the top of the stairs as she makes her way down through the tower on her way to the dining hall.

At dinner, Zuko surprises her with traditional Water Tribe fare. Her eyes water at the gesture – and then water from the taste. Apparently, the chefs were accustomed to adding spices to everything. She'd need to requisition the kitchen staff and kindly give them a few pointers before the week was out.

Over dinner, Zuko tells her more about daily life in the palace. Already she had a tentative itinerary for the next few days – meetings with her staff, an appointment with the tailor to fit her for new robes, a tour with Ito to show her the rest of the royal quarters, and an entire afternoon blocked off to pamper her at the spa. By the time Zuko bids her goodnight outside her room, her head is spinning with the details of the new life she has stepped into. As she crawls into the sheets – which had been replaced with a deep navy while she was gone – she feels the slightest pang of loneliness. Homesickness, even. Which is ridiculous; she is home.

Well, almost. Not quite.

She pushes back the sheets and reaches for her robe. Tying the sash, she squares her shoulders and exits her room.

The guards at the base of the stairs exchange a look. "Lady Katara? Is there something that you need?"

"No, thank you." With as much dignity as she can muster, she strides past them, climbing the stairs to the floor above.

The foyer of the royal apartments is smaller, lacking the long hallways that extend in either direction on the left and right. Instead, there is a single immense door featuring twin dragons twining around a stylized flame. Torches attached to pillars framing the door cast deep shadows on the polished floor. No less than six Imperial Firebenders stand guard, and they stiffen when they see her. It takes everything she has not to spin on her heels and go back to her room. But as a daughter of the southern water tribe, she has her pride. She holds her head high and approaches the door.

She can feel the eyes of the guards on her when she raises her hand to knock. The sound of it echoes hollowly, and for a long moment there is no sound from the other side. Has Zuko gone to sleep already? Or maybe the room was so big that he couldn't hear? More than once she resists the urge to fidget, each second feeling like an eternity as she tries to decide if she should knock again or simply go back to her own room.

She is about to raise her fist to knock once more when she hears shuffling from within. There is the sound of metal latches being tripped, and after a moment the door cracks open to reveal a disheveled Fire Lord. Zuko had taken his hair down and his robe looks as hastily donned as hers.

"Katara? Is everything okay?"

She glances to the guards standing by, no doubt intent on hearing why she was bothering their lord in the middle of the night. Instantly she feels foolish. "Um…"

"Come here." He grabs her wrist and pulls her forward, shutting the door and shielding them from curious eyes and ears. "What's wrong?"

She takes in yet another grand foyer, this one the size of her room downstairs. At a glance she confirms what he said earlier; there are in fact two doors to divide the floor into separate apartments. "I'm sorry to wake you. I feel really stupid."

"What do you need?"

"I just…" She drops her gaze, wringing her hands in front of her. "Would it be okay… I mean, you can say no and I'll go back downstairs, but…"

From the corner of her eye she can see him blink in surprise as he catches on. In a soft voice touched with incredulity, he says, "You want to stay here?"

She peeks at him from beneath her lashes. "Just for tonight?"

He gives her a conspiratorial smile. "I won't tell Uncle if you won't."

She gestures guiltily at the door. "Will they tell Uncle?"

"Not if they know what's good for them."

Her shoulders sag in relief. "Thank you, Zuko."

Warm arms surround her, and already she can feel sleep coming to claim her. He nuzzles her cheek and delivers a soft kiss to her jaw. "Let's go to bed."

At the husky tone of his voice, she quips, "I think you liked saying that more than you should, your majesty."

"You have no idea. But I'll be good."

The look she gives him is skeptical. "Aren't you bad at being good?"

"I am. But let's not forget that it was you who knocked on my door."

She pushes playfully at his chest. "Forget it. I'm going back to my room."

"No!" He laughs. "Come on. The bed is big enough for four. You won't even know I'm there."

"Except for the snoring, you mean."

He shrugs and feigns nonchalance. "Hey, you can always go back downstairs…"

She catches his hand. "No. I think I'll stay. That is okay, right? You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

He takes her hand and leads her though the door to the left. From what she can tell from the moonlight that streams in one window, the setup is similar to her room downstairs. And he was right: the bed is enormous. She rationalizes that all of Team Avatar could sleep in that bed, and even with Toph's sprawling they would still not even touch. The thought makes it feel slightly less scandalous.

He lets go of her hand and pads to one side of the bed before shrugging off his robe. He wears simple sleeping pants and nothing else. She eyes his bare chest as he slides between the sheets, and he pauses when he catches her staring. "What?"

She swallows. "Nothing." Quickly she makes her way to the other side of the bed, shucking her own robe and practically diving between the sheets. She keeps to the edge and flattens out on her back, her head sinking into the luxuriously soft pillow.

From across the bed, she hears Zuko's voice as he adjusts. "Good night, Katara."

"Good night, Zuko."

Closing her eyes, she concentrates on the smooth sheets and the soft sound of Zuko's breathing. She feels better than she did in her own room, but it still isn't enough. Rolling her head to the right, she thinks that the lump that is Zuko is much too far away for her taste. Squeezing her eyes shut – she knows she will never hear the end of this – she calls out softly to him.

"Zuko?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you…?"

There is a soft sigh, and the bed dips as he shifts his weight. Before long, an arm snakes around her waist and he pulls her back against him.

"Better?"

She presses against the warmth at her back and already she can feel herself start to relax. "Much." The soft, rhythmic pulse of his breath on her neck lulls her to the edge of sleep. "This is home."

The next few weeks pass by in a blur. Katara might have balked at first, but she is indeed grateful for her attendants as they help usher her through her days and monitor her adjustment to living at the palace. She starts to recognize some faces as she walks through the halls, and tradition be damned, she smiles and greets the people she knows by name. It just isn't in her to act above it all. When Hideko chastises her, all she can think of are those snooty girls in Ba Sing Se who she and Toph washed down a canal. She doesn't think she could act like that if she tried.

She does her best to acclimate in other ways, however. When she is not learning table etiquette or touring the capitol, she has her nose stuck in books. Though it was probably an unusual request, Ito seemed secretly pleased when she asked for books about Fire Nation history and government. He introduces her to the palace library and lets her have her fill. She carts books up into her room, and tucks them under her arm when she goes to sit by the turtleduck pond. In the mornings she sometimes wakes up to an open book sprawled next to her and the oil in her lamp depleted.

Despite an overwhelming first day, as the weeks pass she feels she is fitting in with the pace of her new life. Her attendants marvel at her adaptation, but really, she was from the Water Tribe – she could be as fluid as the water she bends, and it was never difficult for her to master new concepts. But just as she is getting the hang of things, Zuko goes and ruins it for her.

They are in the middle of lunch three weeks after her arrival. His eyes glued to a scroll in his lap, he casually sips his tea. "Are you ready for the announcement tomorrow?"

She swallows her bite of rice. "Announcement?"

"The engagement. The formal announcement is tomorrow. Hideko said your robes came back from the tailor this morning."

"Oh, that. She mentioned something about it, but didn't give a lot of details. Will I be meeting your council?"

The hand holding his tea cup stops halfway to his mouth. "Not quite."

Picking up her own cup, she takes a sip. "Oh. More than that?"

"The island."

She almost chokes. "The island?"

"And any other citizens who wish to ferry over from the other islands."

"What?"

"It's traditional to introduce a new member of the royal family to the citizens, which typically includes betrothals and births." He pauses. "And on occasion, banished princes who have been restored to status."

"How is that even possible? Where would all those people even fit?"

"Down by the bay. We'll announce from the tower, and all of the citizens will be gathered below. The crowd's too big to fit in the coronation plaza."

She puts her face in her hands. "That's not exactly comforting."

He scoots closer to her and lays a hand on her shoulder. "It won't be a big deal, I promise. It's more of an inconvenience than anything. All you have to do is walk out onto the balcony when your name is called and wave to the citizens below. If you like, you can say a few words, but you don't have to."

Her head snaps up. "A few words? What am I supposed to say?" Her chair scrapes the floor as she quickly shoots to her feet. "I have to go! I need to prepare for this!"

His hand finds her wrist. "Whoa! If you want a speech, we have staff members who can write one for you. Your clothes are already picked out, and transportation is taken care of. There's really nothing you need to do."

She looks at him like he's grown a second head. "I can't have someone else write my speech! If this is to introduce me to the people, it needs to be my words that they hear."

"You want to write one yourself?"

She frowns. "I'm capable, if that's what you mean. Remember the play? I'm famous for my flowery inspirational speeches."

He winces. "That's not what I meant. If you really want to, that's up to you."

"I do. And I'd better get started if I'm going to be ready by tomorrow!"

She spends the rest of the afternoon in her room, crumbling page after page of parchment, trying to find the words to say to Zuko's people, but nothing seems quite right. She knows that not everyone agrees with Zuko's choice; the opinion of his people was one of the reasons he had waited so long to propose in the first place. She has an opportunity to make an important first impression, and she needs to make it count.

The moon is high by the time she finishes, and she hopes that it will be enough. More than enough. She hopes that she can make Zuko and his people proud. Her sleep is fitful, and by the time she wakes in the morning she feels like she hasn't gotten any rest at all. When she looks at her reflection she is grateful that they will be up in a tower; the bags under her eyes are far from flattering.

The morning is spent in the spa. She is scrubbed and scoured, and her hair is washed and styled to Fumiko's approval. Machiko files her nails and takes her time meticulously applying her makeup. Katara can't understand all of the attention to detail; who will even see her this close? But she knows better than to argue when Hideko insists on making sure her feet are manicured along with her hands. They serve her lunch in her dressing gown to prevent spills on her formal robes, though she can barely eat anything for the nerves. She is so frazzled that after they fit her into her gown she almost leaves her speech in her room and has to take the stairs by twos to rush back to get it.

Zuko joins her in the courtyard, his own hair coiffed to perfection in a clean topknot. His robes are crisp and clean; she thinks she hasn't seen him look this elegant since his coronation. And It might just be a trick of the noonday sun, but even the crown in his hair looks like it has been buffed to a brilliant shine. As she approaches the palanquin, she says, "Looks like you got the royal treatment this morning as well."

He rolls his eyes. "If by royal you mean excessive, then yes."

"Glad to know I wasn't the only one."

He nods. "We're in this together."

"For better or worse, I suppose," she quips. The curtains of the palanquin part, and he allows her to climb in first.

Taking his seat, he says, "Hmm. Let's try to aim for more better than worse, shall we?"

"That will only work if we can keep these kinds of events to a minimum."

The palanquin starts to move, and he gives a lopsided, sympathetic grin. "Sorry. These kinds of things sort of come with the territory. You think this is bad, wait until our wedding."

Her heart sinks and she frowns. "You really know how to make a girl feel better, Zuko."

"Sorry. Again." He leans forward to peek out of the curtain. "Looks like a lot of people are headed to the bay."

She grips the edge of the cushion beneath her. "Not helping."

He wipes a hand over his face. "Ugh. Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut."

"That might be the most helpful thing you've said all morning."

True to his word, Zuko holds her silence as they travel, though she isn't sure if this is as helpful as she had hoped. Outside of the palanquin she can hear an unusual number of distant voices and scuffling feet as hordes of people make their way down the long winding trail down the mountainside and through the villages below. The closer they get, the more her heart insists on slamming against her ribcage. When the palanquin finally slows to a stop, she thinks she might just be sick.

Zuko gives her a hopeful look. "You ready?"

Katara can feel her breathing becoming shallow. "You sure you need me for this? I could just wait for you here."

He smiles. "It wouldn't be much of a betrothal announcement without my betrothed." He leans over and takes her face in his hands, kissing her softly on the forehead. "You'll be fine. You fought Azula. There's no way this is scarier than that."

She bites her lip. "It's because I fought her that some of those people down there won't be too happy to see me."

He grips her chin lightly between his fingers and forces her eyes to his. "I fought her too. And I'm still here."

Her eyes fall to the side. "It's more than that. You remember, years back with the pentapox plague? They were scared of me. They hated me."

"Things change. I can't promise that all of those people support us, but more do now than they did then. There will be plenty of cheering, but you won't get to hear it if you don't come out of the palanquin."

"You're right." She takes a breath. "Okay. I'm ready."

He smiles. "Good. Machiko will provide you with any last minute details, and she'll show you where to stand to wait for your entrance."

Her heart drops. "You won't be with me? What happened to being in this together?"

His brow furrows. "We are. But I have a speech of my own to give, and I need to be up there first to introduce you." He tucks a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. "It's going to be fine. I promise."

"Okay. See you soon?"

He kisses her. "Soon. Did I mention how beautiful you look? All of those people are going to be completely dazzled."

She smiles in spite of herself. "You look pretty dazzling yourself."

He steals one last kiss before departing the palanquin, and then she is left alone. She takes a moment to send a prayer to any spirit that will listen that this goes smoothly. For her sake and for Zuko's.

With legs that shake only a little, she greets Machiko, who leads her to the base of the tower that overlooks the bay. She remembers this place, but her memories are more from the vantagepoint on the other side. Once again, another Fire Nation landmark is rewritten in her personal history. She wasn't here to take down battlements or fight her way to the top. She was here to rule, but not to conquer.

She hopes that the people below understand the distinction.

Machiko guides her into the tower, and up a switchback staircase, issuing instructions all the way. "His majesty will be introduced, and then he will give a brief speech. You must remain behind the curtains until he announces your name, and when he does, the curtains will be drawn back and you will walk onto the balcony. Meet him at the railing, and be sure to wave at the people below. Lord Zuko said you prepared a speech, is that correct?" So focused on keeping from tripping on her robes as they climb, Katara barely registers that Machiko is asking her a question. She had no idea her new life would include so many stairs.

"Lady Katara, is that correct?"

"What?"

"Your speech, my lady."

"Oh, yes, Machiko. The scroll is in my sleeve."

The girl ahead of her nods. "Very good. After the crowd dies down, give your speech. When you are finished, Lord Zuko will say a few more words, and then you will be done. The whole thing should take no more than half a candle mark."

All this fuss for a mere handful of moments. She adds this to the mental armor she had been trying to build; half a candle mark was nothing. They'd spent longer than that buffing her toenails this morning. "Okay. I think I've got it."

At the top of the stairs she sees the tall, wide curtains that block her view of the bay and the crowds gathered below. Though they are not visible, she can hear them, the combined murmur of their voices blending in with the hush of the rolling tide beyond. Her throat goes dry. "Machiko? Do you think you could find something for me to drink, please?"

"Right away, my lady. Please remain here while I find something for you."

Before Katara can nod in agreement the girl is gone, sprinting down the stairs with her robes pinched between her fingers. Looking around, she notices more than just the curtains. The walls are hung with all manner of artillery; spears, bows, and quivers full of arrows remind her that the tower's primary purpose is not to show off members of the royal family. It is to protect them. It shouldn't be comforting to be surrounded by weapons of war, but in this moment it is. She moves to examine the arrowheads more closely, and almost pricks her finger when a familiar voice startles her from behind.

"Katara! How radiant you look today!"

Katara spins, her robes blossoming around her ankles as she whirls away from the weaponry. "Iroh?!"

But she is already being enveloped in a hug, and after she blinks away her shock she wraps her arms around him and squeezes back. "It's so good to see a familiar face. What are you doing here?"

He pulls back and winks. "Am I not a member of the royal family? It is only fitting that I should be here for Zuko's wedding announcement."

She feels ridiculous. Of course he should be here. "But Zuko didn't mention you'd be here. I'm just surprised."

"Then Zuko did as I asked and kept it a secret. I wanted it to be a surprise – that, and the party I'm throwing in your honor afterward!"

Katara tries to smile, but it likely comes off as a grimace, and her voice comes out in a squeak. "Party?"

"But of course! What is a wedding announcement without a celebration!"

"Iroh, that's… so kind of you."

Either not picking up on the distress on her voice or choosing not to, he pats her on the shoulder and beams. "The least I could do, my dear." An unfamiliar man in palace finery approaches and speaks low into Iroh's ear. "It seems that they are ready for me. I must get into position."

"You're part of the ceremony?"

Iroh's smile remains, but his voice drops to a somber pitch. "Zuko is my son. I asked to be the one to introduce him today. It does my heart good to see him so happy, and I insisted on being a part of it."

Katara smiles softly. "I'm sure he was pleased to hear that."

"He was, in his own way." For a brief moment Iroh's gaze turns inward, and he smiles to himself. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have an audience waiting!" He flashes her a grin before disappearing through the curtains.

She can hear his voice booming out over the crowds, and the tide of voices she heard earlier dies down to produce an eerie kind of quiet.

As she listens, a young woman approaches her from the right.

"Your tea, my lady."

Katara reaches for the cup offered to her on the tray, but hesitates. "Where's Machiko?"

The girl blinks, keeping her head bowed and the tray in her hands steady. "Machiko asked me to deliver this to you, my lady. The Fire Lord intercepted her and sent her on another errand. I'm sure she will return to attend to you shortly."

Deep in her gut, something tells her that this is wrong. Why would Zuko commandeer her attendant? He has plenty of his own. But then again, he's the Fire Lord, and in a pinch he might make demands of anyone nearby. All the servants were screened, anyway, so what was the harm? She chalks up her paranoia to nerves and accepts the cup.

"Thank you."

"A pleasure to serve, my lady." And with that, she disappears back down the stairwell.

Grateful to have something to wet her parched throat, Katara practically gulps the tea. Though now she is left with an empty cup and no idea what to do with it. Spotting a passing staff member, she waves him down.

"Excuse me, could you please – "

"Of course, my lady."

Boots pound the stairs, and relief floods her when she turns to see another familiar face entering the tower.

"Zuko!"

He reaches up to adjust the crown in his hair. "Am I late?"

She shakes her head. "No, Iroh is still going on about how wonderful you are." She smiles at his thinly veiled embarrassment. "Where have you been?"

Straightening his robes, he says, "Last minute preparations. Nothing to worry about."

She gives him a skeptical look. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a party later, would it?"

His eyes pop. "Uncle told you?"

She pokes his chest. "Mmhmm. You're in a lot of trouble, your highness."

He holds up his hands in supplication. "Uncle swore me to secrecy! I was honor bound not to breathe a word!"

"Alright, you get a pass, just this once." A wave of dizziness hits her, and she reaches out to steady herself on his arm.

"Are you okay?"

She offers a shaky laugh. "Just nervous. I really should have eaten more at breakfast."

"You'll have plenty of options at the party later." Beyond the curtain, Iroh's voice raises dramatically, calling his name. "That's me. You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be"

"You'll be great. See you out there."

She watches him stride through the curtains and hears the crowds erupt in applause. She smiles to herself, thinking that at least the people are excited to see him. He deserved it, with all of the hard work he had put in over the years.

Iroh exits the balcony from a side entrance, winking as he comes to stand beside her. Pride is evident in his face as he listens to Zuko's speech. She tries to listen along with him, but she finds that the words and fading in and out. Her vision starts to swim.

"Uncle…" The word feels strange in her mouth, like her tongue is too large to fit behind her teeth. "I'm not… feeling very well."

He produces a fan from his sleeve. "Take slow breaths, my dear. It is natural to be nervous. My wife was beside herself when we did this so many years ago, but she performed beautifully, just as you will."

Suddenly her stomach seizes, and she feels as though she has been run through by Zuko's swords. She sucks air through her teeth and tries to find the words, but thinking is becoming difficult. "I don't think… I need…"

Without warning she doubles over and vomits. She can hear Iroh shout, hear the alarm in his voice as he snatches her from behind, keeping her buckling knees from hitting the ground as the world fades to black.

When she wakes up, she is back in her bedroom. Moonlight and a night breeze filter in from the open window, and a single lamp burns low on a bedside table. Her temples throb in time with her heart, and her mouth feels sticky and dry, tasting like rotten penguin-seal blubber.

Carefully she tries to sit up, ignoring the protests from her head and stomach. A pitcher of water sits next to the lamp, along with a bowl and cloth. She wants nothing more than snatch up the pitcher and drink her fill, but she doesn't reach for it. What had happened? How did she get here? Like a dream, she remembers the tower by the bay, the crowds and the sighing of the sea, but her memories are fuzzy around the edges.

The only other source of light comes from a crack under the door to the washroom, and beyond it she can hear hushed, tense voices, both of which she recognizes.

"Zuko, you must reconsider."

"It's done, Uncle."

"This is rash, even for you."

"Is it? Because I think it's one of the best decisions I've ever made."

The voices drop so that she can no longer make out the words. Confused and concerned, she gingerly swings her legs out of bed, and reaches her toes toward the floor, straining until they touch. Spots dance in front of her eyes and she wobbles when she stands, but after a few deeps breaths she feels steady enough to try walking. Keeping her arms out for balance, she edges toward the washroom on silent feet.

She is shivering by the time she makes it to the washroom, and she slides down the length of the wall until she is kneeling. She leans against the door, pressing her ear to the wood. The disappointment in Iroh's tone is palpable when he speaks again.

"You would give up so easily?"

"I'm not giving up. I'm keeping her safe. That's what matters."

"She may not agree with you."

"After today, I think she'll be more than happy to see the back of this place."

Iroh sighs. "I beg you to reconsider. Think this through. Think of what you will be abandoning."

"I have. It's for the best."

Her head feels dangerously light, but if it's from the illness or the implications of the conversation she doesn't know. The exertion costs her, and with the dizziness comes overpowering and insistent nausea. Frantic, she lunges for an antique urn placed by the door and empties the meager contents of her stomach into it. At the sound of her retching the door bursts open.

"Katara? Where – Katara!" Zuko is at her side immediately; he crouches down and gathers her hair out of her face. "You shouldn't be out of bed."

She tries to stand, but her limbs shake and she stumbles into his arms. She offers him a watery gaze. "I'm sorry."

His brow furrows. "There's nothing to be sorry about. Come on, let me help." He stoops and hooks an arm under her legs and carries her back to bed while she holds onto his neck limply. While Zuko tucks her in, Iroh pours a little water into the basin by the bed. Dipping the cloth into the water, he wrings it out before applying it to her forehead. It's blissfully cool against her fevered skin.

"You had quite the scare today, my dear. We all did. But you will be fine. Stay in bed and rest. We are sorry that we woke you." Iroh gives Zuko a pointed look. "I will return in the morning."

Taking the cloth from his uncle and continuing the ministrations, Zuko never takes his eyes off her. "I'll be right here."

Iroh nods and exits, and Zuko sits down on the edge of the bed. She falls asleep to the rhythm of his fingers combing through her hair.

She sleeps. She wakes at odd times, not really sure if she is still trapped in dreams. The sun and moon greet her through the window at intervals, but she has no real way of knowing how much time has passed. Sometimes she eats a few bites of rice, sometimes she drinks water. On one occasion she remembers making it to the washroom with Fumiko's assistance. Throughout it all, Zuko is right there when she wakes, eyes frightened and concerned. She offers him weak smiles and empty reassurances before her eyes drift closed yet again.

When her fever finally breaks, she wakes up in a sweat. Strands of hair are plastered to her forehead, but at least her head is no longer pounding. As her eyes adjust to the sunlight, the first thing she notices is that Zuko isn't at her bedside. Sitting up carefully, she sees him rummaging around in the trucks she brought from the south pole. The sight is odd; she put those away in the closet weeks ago. Her half sleeping brain whispers what are those doing out?

Running a hand through her damp hair, she says, "Zuko? What's going on?" The words scratch against her throat.

"You're awake?" He drops one of her coats into a trunk and rushes over, the bed sinking under his weight as he sits beside her, pressing his palm against her forehead. "How do you feel?"

"Like I've been run over by a herd of arctic moose, but other than that, okay."

Desperation and relief vie for prominence on his face. "Good. Master Takemura said you'd probably feel like that, but it shouldn't last more than a few days." He reaches for the pitcher on the bedside table and pours her a glass of water. "Here. Drink this."

The water feels so good on her throat that she takes gulps rather than sips. "Hey! Not so fast. You'll make yourself sick."

Her thoughts still feel slow, like they're swimming against the current. She latches onto a snippet of Zuko's previous statement.

"Master Takemura?"

He nods and takes the glass from her. "You remember him. Uncle's friend. He helped with the pentapox case."

Ah. The White Lotus physician. "Did uncle call for him?"

"No. He's the palace physician. He's been here for as long as I can remember."

Her brain starts to catch up. That's right. Absentmindedly she says, "We should invite him to the wedding."

Zuko's smile falters. "Let's talk about that when you're feeling better."

They lapse into a brief silence, giving her time to gather her thoughts. Her memories feel strange and disconnected, fragments of life rather than a coherent whole. How long had it been? Hours? Days? She needs help to fit the pieces together. Gathering her courage, she asks, "So… what happened? At the tower, I mean."

Zuko looks away, shame weighing down his features. "Someone impersonated a servant and snuck into the tower. She offered you poisoned tea."

As he says it the image forms in her mind, but the memory is like a dream, the colors too bright and the details hazy. "I remember thinking that I'd never seen her before…"

Zuko runs a frustrated hand through his hair. "You always were too trusting."

She frowns. "How was I supposed to know?" The implication stirs her blood and her aggravation. "You said it was safe!"

He winces. "I know." The hurt in his eyes cuts her to the core, and she can feel his regret. "I thought it was. We took all the necessary precautions, but it happened anyway." His eyes fall to his hands. "The culprit assaulted Machiko to get to you."

Katara gasps, suddenly wide awake at the news. "Was she hurt?"

"A bump to the head, a few bruises. She's already feeling better and asking to return to your service."

Her shoulders sag in relief. "I'm glad she's okay."

"I'm glad you're okay." His fingers tighten on the sheets, crushing the silk. "I was… it was awful."

She reaches for him, running her fingers over his knuckles. "Hey, it's okay – "

"It's not okay." He pulls away from her. "It was Sozin's Comet all over again. I put you in a dangerous situation thinking I could protect you, and then I couldn't. And there wasn't anything I could do."

"It's over now." She bites her lip. "Did you find the person responsible?"

His face grows stormy. "It's been dealt with."

The hardness in his voice makes her hesitant to ask. "You didn't…"

"What?" He gets her meaning and stares hard at the window, curling his lip. "No. I should have. It's treason."

She tries to catch his gaze. "You were a traitor once."

His eyes narrow. "To some of my people I still am."

"Only to a few. They'll come around."

He shakes his head. "That's what I had hoped. But it's not enough. Just one was all it took to do this. It's worse than I imagined."

He gets off the bed, paces to the window, braces his hands on the sill and looks out onto the city below. The overheard conversation drifts back to her, and her heart sinks at what she can recall.

"You're giving up."

He looks at her over his shoulder. "What?"

"You were talking to Iroh…" She looks around the room at her things in boxes and it starts to click into place. Her breathing comes a little faster. "No…. no. You can't."

He hangs his head, refusing to face her. "I have to, Katara. This can never work. We were foolish to think otherwise."

The dawning horror makes her voice shake, and she can hear the desperation in it. "But… but we've made it this far! I'll learn! We'll learn! We can't let some silly thing like this stop us!"

"Silly thing?" He whirls. "Silly thing? You almost died, Katara. I won't put you at risk again. Not for this. Not for me."

"I thought you said it was worth the risk! That nothing else mattered!"

"I did! And now that I know what matters, the decision is obvious."

"Your decision, you mean. I haven't given my say at all. We've been here before, Zuko. Remember?" She's shouting now, but she can't seem to control the volume of her voice. "I thought I made it clear that you don't get to make decisions for me."

His voice is stern. "This decision isn't yours to make. It's mine."

"What?! How dare you!" She slams her fists into the bed and beats back the covers, kicking her legs.

He blinks and changes his tone immediately. "Katara, hey, calm down."

"You think you can tell me what to do?" She finally shakes off the last of the sheets and scrambles for the edge of the bed.

"Katara, you need to rest – "

On shaking feet she stands, and with every bit of her energy she stalks toward him. "I will not! You can't treat me like this!"

"Katara –" He reaches for her but she smacks his hand away, poking a finger hard into his chest.

"You can't throw away everything we've worked for, like it doesn't even matter – "

"-If you would just listen – "

"Why should I? I don't even know who you are right now! The man I agreed to marry is a fighter – never give up without a fight, remember?"

This gets his attention, and he scowls. "I have been fighting!"

"So why stop now?"

"I don't want to fight you too!"

"Well you'll have to if you think you can get away with this!"

"No! You need to be in bed!"

"Stop telling me what to do!"

"It's for your own good!"

"That's IT!" Her response is automatic. She doesn't even reach for her bending, she reaches out with her hands. And shoves him. Hard. "Get out!"

She knows she didn't hurt him but he looks wounded all the same. "Katara. At least let me – "

"No! Get out! NOW!"

He screws up his face and exhales smoke. "Fine!"

"Fine!"

She holds her ground long enough to watch him storm out of the room and slam the door hard enough to rattle the frame. As soon as he leaves she collapses to her knees, energy spent and limbs quivering.

Breathing hard, her mind reels. What just happened? What has she done?

Zuko's muffled shouts can be heard down the hall, and even from here she can hear his boots stomp up the stairs. Moments later Hideko rushes in.

"My lady! What are you doing out of bed?"

Katara allows herself to be walked listlessly back to bed. Once there, Hideko fusses to mop sweat from her brow.

"You must rest, my lady. I'll fetch Master Takemura."

"No."

Hideko pauses. "My lady?"

"I just…" She can barely make eye contact as she tries to keep her angry tears at bay. "I just need to be alone. I'll rest, I promise."

Hideko looks torn, but bows and pads to the door. "I'll be right outside should you need anything."

"Thank you, Hideko"

"A pleasure to serve, my lady."

This time, the door closes with a soft click, and this time, Katara allows her tears to fall until sleep claims her.

When she wakes again, the room is stained red with the setting sun. Her eyes feel swollen and her head throbs, though it has nothing to do with the poison. She sits up and surveys the room. As soon as she sees her things stuffed in trunks, it all comes back with painful clarity.

"Zuko…" she sighs.

"He is not here. I hope you will accept my presence instead, poor substitute that I am."

Katara's head swings in the direction of the voice. "Uncle Iroh?"

He marks the book he was reading before closing it, setting it on his lap. "How do you feel, my dear?"

She scrubs at her eyes with a knuckle. "Better. But awful all the same." He is quiet for a moment, giving her space to collect her thoughts. He was always so patient. She knows he wants her to elaborate, but she sidesteps. "I didn't know you were still here. I thought you might have gone back to Ba Sing Se by now."

His voice is even but odd, lacking the jovial quality she is used to. "My stay in the Fire Nation may be prolonged due to extenuating circumstances."

"I'm sorry. Please don't feel like you need to stay here on my account. I'm feeling better now, really."

"It is not your fault." He abandons his book, setting it aside. "I am here to support both you and Zuko as circumstances dictate."

There's something he's not saying. He's always been cryptic, too. "Have you spoken with Zuko?"

"On many occasions, yes."

She fidgets with her sheets. "Since… um, our fight?"

"Yes."

"Oh." She feels an irrational urge to explain herself, but quashes it. "Is he still mad?"

Iroh tilts his head. "Are you?"

"Yes… no… I don't know." She sighs. "He does this. He thinks he needs to protect me. He tries to make decisions for me when we're supposed to be a team."

"He told you his decision then?"

She hugs her arms. "He didn't need to. It was easy enough to guess."

Iroh regards her for a moment and then stands. "I suggest you speak with him again. You may not like what he has to say, but try to hear him, nonetheless."

She can detect the reprimand in his voice and she squirms. It was unlike him to be disappointed in her, and she finds that she does not want to feel it any more than she has to. Still, she can't help but feel a little indignant. "Does that mean you're on his side?"

A small smile graces his lips, and she finds that a little bit of hope returns along with it. "Actually, I am hoping that you can talk some sense into him. But to do that you will both need to listen with your hearts and your minds."

She drops her gaze and stares at her hands. "I know. You're right." She lets out a long breath. "Will you let him know that I want to see him?"

"Of course."

"Thank you, Uncle."

He departs and she waits with baited breath, listening for sounds in the hall. But no one comes. When the sun sinks below the horizon one of the guards enters and lights the lamps in her room. Fumiko brings her a tray of bland foods and replaces her empty water pitcher. Katara should be hungry, but her appetite has abandoned her and she can only pick at her food. Frustrated, she pushes the tray away.

What was keeping him? This late in the evening he shouldn't be occupied with meetings. He could be in his office, slaving over paperwork, but how could he concentrate at a time like this? What could be more important? He knows that she wants to see him. Is he that angry with her?

Her heart constricts. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was a mistake.

She doesn't want to admit it – she doesn't even want to consider it – but the truth is this entire world is unfamiliar. This life is more complicated than she imagined, fraught with more pitfalls and landmines than she can count. Who did she think she was, waltzing in here like she could just fit in so seamlessly? She should have known better. Azulon was probably laughing at her from the spirit world.

She shakes her head to clear her thoughts. This wasn't like her. She refused to give in to despair. They would work this out. But to do that, they both needed to be calm. She could wait until he was ready to talk.

She could use a distraction, but there's no telling where Zuko packed all of her things, and the idea of rummaging through her trunks is exhausting. Sighing, her eyes flick about the room and come to rest on the table by the door.

A book. Uncle's.

She pads across the room on bare feet and retrieves it, picking up a lamp and carrying both items back to bed. For a moment she feels a sense of purpose, as though she'll be able to relax and clear her mind, until she spies the title.

Great Romances of the Four Nations.

She groans and flops back on her pillows. Figures.

She wants to chuck it across the room, but what else can she do? She's wide awake, with no entertainment, and no energy to leave her room. She wishes she hadn't returned all of her books on Fire Nation military history the day before the announcement; she'd far prefer those over this right now. But she has little choice. With a huff she cracks open the book to where Iroh has left off.

The Tale of Oma and Shu.

Even worse. She can almost hear the Nomad's song – Two lovers, forbidden from one another, a war divides their people, and a mountain divides them apart…

She snorts. Now that's a relatable story. She and Zuko had been through so much – by rights they should have never even been friends, much less fallen in love. They had overcome war, cultural barriers and prejudice, first loves, and even a near death experience. Well, two of those now. Were they destined to end up like Oma and Shu – in tragedy?

No. She refused to believe that. They would overcome this, just like they had fought and won against every other obstacle the universe had thrown in their way. The path they had forged to be together had been hard won, and she intended to keep walking it right along with him. She wouldn't give up. And she wouldn't let Zuko give up either.

She loses herself in the tale until a soft knock on her door startles her from her thoughts. From the other side of the door she hears his voice. "Katara?"

Her heart leaps, suddenly nervous. This is it. She swallows thickly. "Come in."

His face is unreadable as he steps into her suite. He doesn't sit on the bed like she hoped he might; he keeps his distance and chooses a chair near the window. Behind him, Yue shines brightly – yet another tragic tale – and she tries not to see it as a bad omen.

An uncomfortable silence fills the room, and she feels suffocated under its weight. "Thanks for coming."

"Uncle said you wanted to see me."

Yes, hours ago. She bites back the retort. What had uncle said? Hearts and minds. "I did." She lets out a long, slow breath. "That was some fight."

"It was."

"Are you still mad?"

He shrugs, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor. "A little."

She nods. "Me too." Biting her lip, she says, "But I don't want to be. I want… I want to talk, but I'm afraid of what you'll say."

More to himself, he says, "Uncle warned me. He said you wouldn't like it."

Keeping her temper in check, she says, "You should have known I wouldn't like it either. Spirits, Zuko. After all this, you want to send me away? Just like that? It doesn't seem fair. To either of us."

Zuko's head snaps up and he searches her face. "Send you away? Is that what you thought?" He runs a hand through his hair. "No wonder you were so mad."

She makes a face, confused. "Well, if not that, what?" She gestures at the trunks. "You were packing my things."

Het meets her eyes. "I wasn't going to send you away. Not alone, at least. I was going to come with you."

She opens her mouth and closes it. For the first time she notices the crown missing from his hair, and his casual clothing. But that would mean… She can feel her head shaking as the pieces fall into place. "No. No, no no. You can't."

He tilts his head up and squares his shoulders; she knows that stubborn look. "I can and I will. I had the papers drawn up yesterday. I'll abdicate. Uncle will take the throne. You and I will go somewhere else. Somewhere safe."

She blinks, waiting for the punchline. This has to be a joke. But his gaze remains level and his expression remains grim. Grasping for words, she starts, "Zuko… that's…"

"The best course of action," he interrupts. "The right one."

An irritation builds within her, irrational and urgent. Forgetting Iroh's advice, she explodes. "No! That's… that's crazy! That's the craziest plan in the history of plans!"

He gives her a flat look. "I've already heard this lecture from Uncle."

She keeps control of the volume of her voice, but just barely. "Well apparently you need to hear it again. Your uncle is right. You can't just abandon your people, Zuko. You have responsibilities here." She sounds like she is begging.

His answer is stiff. "I won't be abandoning them. Uncle will take my place."

She can hear Iroh's voice: talk some sense into him. She tries to center herself and takes a different approach. "That's not fair to Iroh. You know he doesn't want that."

Zuko throws up his hands. "Well neither do I! Not if this is the result."

She gives an exasperated sigh. "Zuko, you did not come this far on your journey to just leave it all behind. You were meant to do this. I refuse to be the reason that you turn your back on your destiny."

His expression is unyielding. "And I refuse to put you in danger again. I won't." He looks away. "I couldn't bear it."

Her heart aches for him, picturing what it must have been like. She doesn't have to imagine too hard; in the wake of Sozin's Comet she had been the one to mop his fevered brow and pray to the spirits that he would survive. The memory of it firms her resolve but softens her tone. "Still, I won't watch you throw away everything you've fought for."

His eyes are pleading when they find hers again. "Please don't." He swallows. "Don't make me choose."

In his eyes she can see how scared he is, how conflicted and confused. He wants to do the right thing, even if it's hard. She loves him all the more for it, even if he's wrong.

Making up her mind, she finds her voice. "I'm not. You're staying here, and so am I. We're in this together, remember?"

"We are, but – "

"No buts. And when I'm better, we're going to reschedule the announcement and I'm going to give my speech, just as planned."

"Katara – "

"And then," she overrides him, "in a few months we're going to get married. I'm going to move upstairs and sleep in your bed and complain everyday about your snoring."

A small, hopeful smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Isn't that what you want?"

He sighs and rises from the chair, makes his way to the bed to sit next to her. He flops down and hunches over, studying the hands that twist in his lap. "More than anything."

"Then we agree." She smiles.

He's quiet for a moment, and she can almost see the wheels in his head turning. "We'll need to be more careful. Vigilant. We'll have to – "

"Stop." She covers his hand with her own. "We can strategize later. For now – do you love me?"

He flinches at the question. "Of course."

"And I love you, too. We can do this. And that's what matters. Am I right?"

He searches her face and she can almost see the moment his mind changes, the solidarity she feels. He smirks. "Yes, Lady Katara."

Her heart sings at the return of his smile. "Any objections?"

The soft, teasing light in his eyes has returned. That's the man she agreed to marry. "No, Lady Katara."

She traces circles on his knuckles, teasing a slow, meandering path up his forearm. "I might have one request though."

He tilts his head. "Oh? Let's hear it."

She tilts her head, looking coy. "It's more of a demonstration."

She leans in and kisses him, and she is reminded of their first kiss, how right it felt. Gently he lays her down on the bed, one leg hooked over hers, and together they lose time as the moon climbs higher in the sky. Their passion eventually recedes to soft sighs and softer kisses, and as she thinks back on their conversation she giggles to herself, at the absurdity of it all.

He pulls back, quirking his brow. "What's so funny?"

She shakes her head softly. "I can't believe that was your plan."

He twines a lock of hair around one finger. "Are you really surprised?"

She glances around at the finery that surrounds them. "You'd really give all this up? Just for me?"

"Just for you. Without doubt or regret."

He blurs in her vision, at the sincerity of his voice. At his conviction. "You know, I think you're getting to be about as sentimental as your uncle."

He nips her nose. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Her eyes fall to the trunks stacked messily against the wall. "Now I have to unpack all over again."

"Not until after you've recovered. Or if you like, Fumiko and Hideko will do it for you. They'd be happy to take direction while you stay in bed."

She wrinkles her nose. "That still feels so weird."

"Well, you're insisting on staying, so you'd better get used to it."

"I suppose you're right." She pokes him gently in the chest. "Couldn't I just order you around instead? That sounds much more fun."

He feigns insult. "You'd dare suggest that the Fire Lord perform menial labor?"

She laughs. "You'd be a terrible peasant. You could never give this up."

"I could and I would." He leans in and nuzzles her neck. "But thank you for making it so I don't have to."

"I would have never let you."

"No, I don't suppose you would." At the yawn she can't suppress but tries to stifle anyway, he says, "I'll let you rest. I love you."

"I love you, too."

With care he tucks her in and makes sure she has everything she needs before making his way to the door. As he exits, she shouts after him. "And burn those papers! First thing tomorrow!"

He snorts, and sweeps into an exaggerated bow. "Yes, Lady Katara.".

"That's what I thought." Satisfied that the world has been set right, she closes her eyes and sleeps soundly for the first time in days.

She heals – they heal – in more ways than one after that. Two weeks later they step onto the balcony overlooking the bay and, hand in hand, greet their destiny together.