Katara stepped off the ship and looked around in awe of the majesty of the Fire Nation. She had never really had a chance to admire the place when she was in hiding during the war. The idea had been to stay low, not to going touring. Now she would wake every morning to this place. She would learn about its history and every detail of what made the Fire Nation run and thrive. She assumed that soon the place wouldn't hold the same sort of majesty it did now. Soon she'd become used to it and her small tribe in the south would be filled with majesty.

She silently thanked her preemptive actions to change as she followed a small guard to the port house where Zuko would be waiting for her. The sun beat down on everything it could touch. The air was dry and made her wish she could have a drink. Even in her light Fire Nation clothes that she had adopted during the war she was warm and threatening to break a sweat. Watching the guards dutifully march along in their armor made her pity them. No matter how well ventilated the uniforms must be, they had to be dying. Of course they were used to the heat after living in the Fire Nation for so long and being fire benders. Her skin was used to the frigid cold of snowstorms and ice.

Finally they reached the port house. Katara could just make out Zuko standing in the doorway dressed in a casual tunic and pant ensemble. The tunic fell open, revealing his well sculpted chest. Katara smiled at the sight of him waiting for her. Unable to contain her excitement she ran through the guards and jumped into his open and waiting arms.

"I've missed you," he muttered into her hair.

"I've missed you too," she sighed back.

They stood for a moment in each other's arms. When the guards seemed to get uneasy and unsure of what to do Katara pulled back, looking into Zuko's scarred face. "Shall we go to the palace?"

Zuko smiled and took her by the hand, leading her out of the port house and toward the royal plaza. "I decided we could walk, if that's alright with you."

"Of course! I'd love to see everything," Katara replied, craning her neck to take in the elegant buildings and bustling streets and markets.

Everyone they passed bowed slightly at the young Fire Lord and his soon to be wife. Katara couldn't help but blush. Even as a hero of the world she felt uncomfortable with so much attention and reverence. Glancing at Zuko she saw that he seemed un-phased by it. She supposed it made sense, seeing as he had grown up in this environment.

"It's so different from the Southern Water Tribe, even now that we've begun rebuilding it to its former glory."

Zuko chuckled, "There are a lot more people here. And the Fire Nation was relatively untouched during the war, seeing as we were the ones raging it."

Katara nodded in agreement, still in awe of the city.

When they finally made it to the palace, she was coated in a thin layer of sweat. She barely felt tired but she did feel like she needed a long, cold drink and swim.

"Can I have some water?"

"What is the heat too much for you?"

Katara blushed at the challenging way he said it. "I'm just not used to it," she snapped a little too forcefully in defense.

"I'm kidding Katara. Follow me and we'll get you a drink." Zuko squeezed her hand and pulled her along.

She was embarrassed at her outburst but she felt like she had been rung dry and couldn't help her temper.

Sipping her water, she and Zuko sat outside by the turtle-duck pond, watching the sunset. Sighing, she leaned against his shoulder, enjoying this quiet moment with the man he loved. The heat subsided a little as the sun got lower in the sky and she felt better after getting some water.

Looking out over the garden she began to come to terms with the fact that she would just have to learn to live in this eternal summer, and that her dreams would be filled with her winter.