A/N: The universe is against me this week and now I have not one, but TWO broken cars. Not to mention the first is pretty much done and it's 18 and I'm attached ok? Yes. So fluff.

Disclaimer: I don't own.

I had a feeling that Zuko was going to propose to me soon. Somehow our private talks had turned from not meaningless things per se but we began talking about the future and what it meant for us and how to get the Fire Nation to accept us. Dating seemed to be all right with everyone, it was the prospect of children from our union didn't particularly sit well with his council. I, however, didn't care. My family accepted us and that was all I needed (Gran Gran and Grandpa Pakku a little begrudgingly but they knew I was happy and that was all they cared about).

I never expected it to happen in public. I never expected it to happen so soon either. We had spent the at the Fire Nation Capitol's summer solstice festival walking around and trying to just be a normal couple on a normal date. A few times it seemed that way like when we were walking without really looking at any of the stalls, just commenting on how the booth workers were trying to get people to stop and take a look or when he insisted on getting us cold cream desert and letting me take a lick of his, which had fire flakes on it. I'm still not sure how the sweet is made but I like it (minus the fire flakes).

As the day wore on and evening fell I began to understand what it meant to be with the Fire Lord while he walked in public. Everyone acknowledged him with at least a slight tilt of the head; most with a full bow (I later learned the distinction was between who was noble and who was not). Food stalls offered us tastes of their delicacies while hinting at a possibility of gaining a position at the palace. One man, who claimed to be from Jang Hui out right asked when we were getting married and, having already seen how much I cared about the Fire Nation, he considered me a perfect candidate for Fire Lady.

Zuko lead me to one of the squares closest to the palace so we could have the best view of the fireworks. I moaned at still having a walk ahead of us and he teased me, saying I'd become soft living like royalty. "You're the one who could be soft," I poked him in the stomach to emphasize my point. It didn't help, my finger poked the abs I knew were there and the desire to run my fingers over them flared to life.

As if he knew what I was thinking he whispered in my ear "later, Sweetness," managing to send a shiver down my spine as he moved behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

After the first burst of color and boom that followed I became lost in the colors and spectacle of it all. In the first long lull between the show he bent his head to my left ear again. I could feel his warm breathe tickling me as he said, "marry me" before the next firework went off. I quickly turned to look at him, the colors lighting his face, especially on the ridges of his scar.

I couldn't speak. His arms moved from around my waist and between them was a new betrothal necklace: a blue stone on a red band. I wanted to laugh at the similarity of the moment to one that involved a tree and pirates. I knew, however, laughing probably wasn't the best reaction. I nodded yes; I didn't trust myself to speak at that moment.

"Really? Do you like the necklace? I could make another one. You don't have to put it on now," he stammered out. He had a silly grin on his face and I couldn't help but turn to full face him and kiss him.

I pulled away and wrapped my arms around his neck. "It's perfect, everything is perfect."

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