Zuko was lost in thought, his feet pounding hard on the uneven terrain of the garden. It seemed everyday the ground got more uneven, more cracked, more giant crevaces. He mentally cursed Toph for this, she was no doubt destroying the garden. He would also bet anything she was intentionally doing it, as well because she only destoryed the pathway he walked everyday.
Zuko would also bet Aang had a hand in this as well as his baby sister. It seemed Toph had inspired them all against him, not as though the Avatar had needed any extra encouragement. By the time Zuko had reached Katara, he was mentally promising to kill Toph next time he ran into her. His feet ached from the rough, uneven terrain as he stumbled and fell running full speed upon it.
Out of breath he took a seat beside Katara in front of the deepest lake of all the Fire Nation. Of course, it was a controlled habitat and man made, the animals ranged from turtle ducks to the exotic oddities of the South Pole. All of the temperature and regions were monitored by Katara, it was her own piece of home, here in the Fire Nation. And, Zuko knew it meant the world to her.
She had up and left her entire life to be with him. Leaving everything behind, then only to find out her own family resented her for her decision to get a better life. Katara took his hand in hers as she stared at the cerulean blue water longingly. How she wished to swim worry-free in the water, like she use to when she was younger. Things seemed so much simpler than...
She sighed her long hair cascading down her shoulders was being swept into her eyes by the slight breeze as she got up walking into the lake. She allowed her body to relax some and do what came naturally as she submurged herself in water. She shouted for Zuko to join her as she stripped down to her bathing suit. He smiled coyly as he stripped to his boxers and stuck his feet in the water's edge. He knew, he had to tell Katara, about Azula and the encounter with Mai before, he could think of anything else.
"Mai is here,"Zuko announced his voice straining to hide the guilt he felt as his eyes danced away from hers. "And?" Katara demanded. "She thinks Azula is alive. She got a letter that Azula was being held captive,"he replied praying Katara didn't ask of him where. "I suppose you wish to rescue her, though you have no proof. Where is she being held?"Katara asked her tone less demanding, softening with understanding of his needed to save his sister. "Mai thinks the South Pole," he mummbled his eye fixed on the ground. "Let me guess you suppose I have something to do this?!"Katara yelled her voice was thunderously booming.
"I don't, but Mai does. She knows your a blood bender," Zuko replied as he came to Katara's side trying to explain as he held her tight. He watched the tears flow from her soft eyes."I love you. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Don't cry,"he begged and pleaded, but she did. The truth always hurt. She was a blood bender, and even she would not doubt the probability Azula was in the South Pole. She had a gut feeling her family was behind this somehow, some way. The crying maybe it was anger, sadness, or just plain hurt from the truth.
Katara wondered just how long Mai had really been here in their home. The thought angered her and both sadden her as she pictured Zuko running into the comfort of her arms on those cold lonely nights while she had laid alone, miserable and pregnant in bed. But could she really argue with him over Mai? In all honesty Aang lived here and Zuko did not fight the idea, though the hate was evident. Acusations could just as easily fall to her when she thought about the days she had talked into the wee hours of the morning with Aang.
"Tell me you are not with her," Katara demanded though her voice was not strong nor commanding as she collapsed in the water. Her body weak and a shadow of itself as her depression literally swallowed her heart, mind, body, and soul. Zuko felt his heart yearn for her as he waded into the water his arms reaching out to her broken figure as he scooped her up. "I love you, Katara. I have made some stupid choices in my life, but I would never stray from you. Because, I love you too much and could not cause you such pain," he whispered his voice soft and comforting as he carried her limp body bridal style from the water. He felt her shiver from the chill air and her state so he wrapped her in his clothes and her as he sat down on the earth.
Zuko sat in his wet boxers next to Katara his arms around her wet body as he used Firebending in attempt to dry her and him. He could see the tears in her eyes and it tore him up inside as he brushed them away with his thumb his lips gently touching her cheek softly and apologetically. He knew she was already under such stress and he was not aiding the situation at all. "Do what you need to for Azula," Katara whispered her voice tired and weak, he could tell she was unhappy and needed him more than ever. "You need me," he whispered his lips tickling her ear. "So does Azula," she replied though Zuko could tell she wanted him to stay.
"I could send my best troops. If they find her then I'll go. But for now you need me. Your my wife, and carrying my children. You need me and I you," Zuko replied his hands caressing Katara's as he grinned slyly at his wife. He did love her, and he was worried for her safety and well being. "I am sorry," she whispered to him apolgizing for everything and nothing all at once. In her eyes she had done the world wrong by getting upset over Mai and the Azula issue, but to him it was nothing. She had every right to be angry, if it was him he would be angrier. And, she had not ruined any of his plands- it was his intentions always to remain with her, where he was needed. Where his heart belonged and his love was.
"You don't ever need to apologize for that," Zuko whispered as his hands caressed her sadden face and she burried herself inside of him. Their bodies entagled in each other as she held on to him, his lips gently caressing her cheek. Katara sughed her lips finding as she kissed him deeply her body wanting him, craving him. She knew it was the lack of him in the last few months that broought this on, as he wrapped his arms around her and carried her across the grounds into the palace. Katara blushed enough for the both of them when they ran into Iroh and Yuna as well as guards but Zuko shrugged it off as he kissed her and carried her. He loved her and did not care if the world heard him, or knew it. So what if everyone saw him running around in his boxers carrying his barely clothed wife...
To him the only thing that mattered was her. As long as she was happy he was fine. Zuko grinned as he laid her gently down on the freshly laundred bedroom set and softly sat next to Katara. "You look riddiculous," she whispered drawing him closer grinning. "I suppose I am no good then," he replied in mock offense after he had kissed her in just the right spot on her neck making her squirm and her blood boil for him. "No, you are just the right type of riddiculous for me," she whispered her voice was husky and seductive as she drew him to her his lips on hers. "Good," he grinned his fingers removing the only clothng that seprated them as hers did the same.
"Did I ever tell you how sexy you look with that goofy grin?" she asked her voice was sultry and suave as his grin widen and his eyes ravaed her bare body. He implored her, needed her. The feel of Katara's wetness on his warm skin made him smile as her hands wrapped around his neck and his tongue slid passed her lips into her mouth. He engulfed her mouth, needing to ravage her mouth as she tasted of the finest sweetest candy. She supressed a deep moan within her as he postioned himself over her his tongue slowly massaging her body as he suckled her chest.
Katara stopped Zuko as he postioned himself between her legs and entered her orally. "Zuko, stop," she commanded trying to sound to stern but the sound of pleasure was noticable in her voice discrediting her. "Why, do you not like it?" he grinned knowing she more than liked. He could feel it inside of her as she was close to coming, exploding as he worked nside of her rythmatically. "You know exactly why," she replied reminding him the rules of Southern Water Tribe society. Which were a woman's job was to pleasure a man then worry about herself.
"They are just rules. In the fire nation, or customs dictate I should dominate you, and as Fire Lord have many concubines, but I don't. I respect you and view you as an equal," Zuko argued his eyes gleaming devilishly as he wanted to please her as she had him times before. "Still it is not what I was taught," she replied. "What you were taught was wrong and what I was taught was wrong. You deserve to be treated as an equal don't put yourself down. You are not lesser than me. One should not dominate the other, unless it what they want," he argued the last part he laughed at and added in jest and though she was certain Katara nodded in agreement.
Zuko grinned and then resumed his position between her legs pleasuring her, in ways she never knew or imagined possible. Breathlessly she collapsed pulling his face to her chest, making his eyes look at hers. "Wow," she panted trying to gather her thoughts as she tried to catch her breath and he grinned evily at her. "Better my way isn't it," he teased before is tongue began teasing the tender flesh around her nipples elicting a moan from deep inside of her. "Yes, Agni yes," she screamed into his hair pulling his lips onto hers. Zuko entered himself deep into her core and made love to her until both of them were too tired to continue and collapsed, broken in each others arms.
"Promise that you won't ever leave me," Zuko demanded his voice was firm yet soft as his hands held Katara down lightly to the bed and his lips worked the magic on tender flesh of her collarbone. "I couldn't, ever. You're one in a million," she whispered her breath hot on his ears sending euphoria through his body. He grinned. "Good," he smiled wrapping his arms around her as they covered themselves in blankets.
Zuko ran his hands across Katara's expanding stomach. Though it hand only been a few days she had grown noticably and the healers had given the explination that change in mood and aura must have allowed the child to grow and her body to accept the child. But he was certain these children, were miracles in the making and took it as it came.
"Don't you have Firelord duties to tend to?" Katara asked as he shifted under the comforter his body was drifting away from her only to grab pillows and not to leave as she suspected. "Yes," Zuko replied grinning as he handed her a pillow and rested his head on one. "Then what are you waiting for," she sighed not wanting to loose the comfort of his arms or his presence. The feel his warm body wrapped around her's so posseviely was more than she could ever ask for. "I am tending to them," he grinned before his lips quickly met hers. She chuckled and relaxed against his muscular body. "Don't you have actually qwork to do with the visting of other nations coming?" she asked quizically. "I suppose, but I dictated that to uncle, Aang, and my associates. I had more important things to do," he replied smirking with emphasis on the word do.
"Does that not reflect poorly on you?" she replied worrying the Fire Nation would dislike him for choosing her. "No, I have been burried in my study since you announced your pregnancy and we have been fighting. Word leaked to the public and apparently they are outraged. They are as found of you as I am," he replied softly his hands caressing hers. Katara nodding knowing times must have been hard for him as well. "Plus, all my life my father put the nation before family. They saw that and so did I. They don't want me to be him. Nor do I. So I am starting early, spending every second I can with my family. I am yours twenty-four seven. Your every beck and call I'll be there. I want to fufill your every craving. Your every whym. Hell, if you want Toph to bend me an earth path to South pole so I can rid an ostrich-horse there naked for you I would. Just to see you smile," he replied his eyes were honest as were his words true and sincere. Katara giggled as she brought his lips to hers. "For today my craving is you. My whym is you are my slave," she replied her eyes gleaming devilishly as she kissed him passiontly, feeling his hard pressed against er wetness. "I think I can handle that one," he replied his voice was almost a deep purr.
