Days 9 & 21: Tea Shop and Matchmaking

A/N: Wasn't going to post and apologies for its roughness but here it is! Enjoy

Iroh's slippers lay bare at the entrance to the Jasmine Dragon on the day he passed into the spirit world. His familiar tread on the wooden floorboards eerily silent. Gone were the badly sung words of girls in Ba Sing Se or the knowing chuckle, the slap of pai sho tiles on the worn board. His apron hung on the peg inside the door, too large for anybody else to don.

Zuko placed white lilies on the Caldera's favourite tea shop himself, refusing any help in doing so. He could not bare somebody else to handle his uncle's things, to tell the world of his passing.

He sent out notices to all the corners of the world, to all of his Uncle's vast network of friends. He organised accommodations, preparations for the funeral, hired staff and personally interviewed the Fire Sages who would perform the ceremony. And he didn't sleep. Keeping himself occupied was the trick, he found, and no time alone would be tolerated…

But soon there was nothing left to do, and Zuko had time before his guests arrived to fully let the utter loneliness set in. He wasn't sure how he was going to cope without Iroh's guidance. For the first time in a long time, Zuko felt very alone.

The day of the funeral dawned and the pyre was built in the Fire Palace's main courtyard. All were welcome, despite the warnings of Zuko's Head of Guard. He had no concern for his own life with so many powerful people present. Any who loved his Uncle would not let any harm come to the Fire Lord.

And indeed the amount of people who arrived in the courtyard reminded Zuko of just how powerful Iroh had been. Zuko's prepared speech suddenly felt grossly inappropriate; bus boys and kings, tea lovers, pai sho players, generals, admirals, white lotus and Fire Nation aristocracy… they would all have different stories to share. Zuko could not possibly sum up the Dragon of the West in a short speech.

Gathering a deep breath, the Fire Lord strode out into the crowd, approaching the pyre in a gathering hush. Around the structure stood his own closest friends, giving him courage.

Zuko turned to the crowd, all matching his own outfit and wearing a mourning white. He cleared his throat.

"Fire Prince Iroh, General Iroh, Dragon of the West, Grand Master, Iroh, Uncle… by whatever name you knew him I know he touched your heart in some way, and I thank you for being here to wish him well in the spirit lands. I… I cannot attempt to encompass a person so kind and strong as my Uncle was. I hope you will be able to share your own stories with me and with one another after the ceremony." Zuko's voice caught as he nodded to the Avatar and the Fire Sages, glad nobody had been scandalised by his short speech. His fist ignited and he punched the first ball of fire towards the kindling. The others did the same until it caught fire, curling around the wooden box where Uncle's body lay.

The Sages started their solemn chanting, the particular prayers chosen by Zuko to reflect not only Agni and the Fire Nation, but also ancient ones calling on the spirits of all the nations. He thought it was only fitting. The tinkling of the cymbals and the music of the voices grew and waned with the flames, keeping everybody transfixed in the ceremony. When the chanting died down, and only the cymbals remained, the Sages approached and threw powder into the fire, turning the black smoke a billowing white. They would continue doing this until the fire burned itself out, to signal the passing of the much revered Dragon of the West to all who could see the smoke. It was a Fire Lord's funeral, but to Zuko, Iorh was more worthy of it than any Fire Lord that had come before, even if he had never taken the title. For the first few years of his reign, it was Iroh who guided Zuko to the right decisions - guidance that stopped the world sliding back into chaos.

Silence fell over the crowd.

"I am sure my Uncle would have had a proverb about death bringing life … but I am not as wise as he was," came Zuko's voice, clear but gentle, and pulling a chuckle from his guests. "However, I did learn that when in doubt, drink tea… The Jasmine Dragon will be serving tea now, there are tables set out for everybody. Please join us in celebrating his life over his favourite drink."

At his signal, the guards opened the gates to the street and started ushering the guests to the nearby Jasmine Dragon. Zuko had set up tables all down the street to accommodate the guests, and had dug out his uncle's notes on who liked what blend. He'd hired servers who speed-learned who everybody was so they could serve them the right tea, and the tea makers Iroh had trained up were honoured to make tea for everybody. They had wanted to show their respect in their own way - by passing down Iroh's skill - rather then attending the funeral as guests.

But as the guests filtered out, Zuko found he was not ready to move, and still watched the flames of the pyre, the smoke peeling off of it. The Sages would chant every quarter hour, adding more powder to the smoke, and he let two chants pass him by, unmoving.

"Zuko?" came a kind voice from his side, a gentle touch to his arm. He turned red rimmed eyes, dry from having shed too many tears, and met Katara's watery blue ones. "Zuko, come celebrate Uncle's life with us," she said quietly.

"I… I just can't leave him," chocked out Zuko, eyes sliding back to the flames.

"Zuko? Hey, Zuko, look at me," she replied, moving closer and gently turning his face so he had no choice but to pay attention. "He's not in there Zuko. He's inside your heart now. All of our hearts. Believe me, you'll be closer to him if you come with all of us." Katara let her hand drop from his face, taking in the tired lines. She was about to ask him when the last time he slept was, but decided to leave it. She remembered avoiding sleep when her mother died too.

"You know, this is…this is more painful than losing my mother…" he said quietly, defeated. "Does that make me a bad person?"

"Uncle was there when she couldn't be Zuko. How could it be otherwise?" replied Katara, meeting his gaze to convey her sincerity. They shared a long moment together, standing by the fire, white clothes rustling in the wind. "You know what I think you need?" she said finally, shaking herself out of her reverie.

"What?"

"Some soothing jasmine tea," she said, quoting Uncle Iroh with a sheepish smile.

Zuko choked on a bittersweet laugh. Katara reached out her hand, palm up, waiting for him to take it. Zuko nodded in submission, and placed his hand in hers, casting one last look at the fire, and heading into the tea drinkers.

"Fire Lord Zuko," came a panicked voice of one of the tea servers, followed by three nervous bows, "Fire Lord we humbly beg your forgiveness but we could not find the blend that was for yourself! The Tea Makers have assured me they have looked throughout the stock but the tea is missing!" The server bobbed another bow and kept his eyes staring at the ground.

"I don't… its alright, please rise! I don't mind, as long as nobody else is going without tea," replied Zuko, startled at the scene. He didn't mind, and frankly was quite glad. His uncle's special blend for himself was something he'd only ever tasted made by Iroh. To have somebody else make it would have been… challenging.

"No Sir Mr Fire Lord Sir. We have all the other blends!"

"Then it is no issue. Please send my thanks to all the Tea Makers. They are doing an excellent job."

The server's eyes widened in shock at the lack of anger and he nodded, bowing again and scurrying away.

Zuko sighed, and ran a hand through his hair, thankful he had insisted to leave the Fire Crown in his chambers. He didn't want to be Fire Lord - today all he wanted to be was Iroh's nephew.

Beside him Katara's giggle trickled into his thoughts. She was sipping her own tea.

"Are they all so terrified of you?" she asked, nodding at the server as he hurried off.

"No matter how I treat them they still think I will behave like my father!" he told her.

"Hmmm. I suppose, with time, they will see that you only ever really get angry at yourself," she replied, pensively. Zuko was taken aback by her statement. It was true, he had a temper - one he had learned to control since joining the Avatar - but it was only ever introspective. He made himself the most angry. Trust Katara to understand that!

"Perhaps, one day," he muttered.

"I think you're a fantastic Fire Lord, Zuko. And I know Uncle thought so too," she offered him a sad smile as she said so. Zuko's heart squeezed painfully but he took a deep breath and relaxed a little.

"How about you Katara? Since you and Aang… you know… I've not really heard what you've been doing," he said, mostly to change the conversation but also because his friend's long silence had been weighing on his mind. He saw her often enough - she would come to see Iroh and catch him between meetings or at dinner - but she never stayed long enough to catch up, and never let him know when she'd be arriving so he could prepare and clear his schedule. Her visits were an unexpected ray of sunshine in his otherwise regulated time. He just always wished she would let him know so he could take full advantage of her being in the city.

"I've been… floating," she replied, the smile gone from her face. "I'm not really sure what I'm doing. Iroh was the only one who made me feel like I belonged anywhere…"

"Katara, you never told me," he said, concerned and not a little hurt.

"I thought… I thought that I would find something. I didn't want to burden you - you're always so busy!" she told him, blushing slightly.

"Is that why you never told me you were coming?" he pressed. This was already the most genuine conversation they'd had since she had turned up at the Fire Palace completely distraught after her breakup with the Avatar.

She shrugged. "I'm not really important enough for you to cancel meetings for. I knew you would, Zuko, don't lie! I don't want to get in the way, that's all."

Zuko shook his head in disbelief.

"Of course I would cancel meetings! Katara you're important. And you're particularly important to me. I want to see you…"

A silence passed between them. A few people eyed them, wanting to come to talk to the Fire Lord but not willing to interrupt a conversation with the Master Waterbender.

"I wanted to ask…" he said finally, "if you would consider taking over the Jasmine Dragon." He wasn't looking at her.

"What?"

"I just… the tea shop should continue… and you know how it all works from all the times you've been here… and if you're trying to work out what to do, well, you could run it for as long as you wanted. We could find a replacement when you wanted to move on… I just can't think of anybody better to it." He still refused to look at her, almost holding his breath for her answer.

"Do you really mean that? I… I don't know what to say… I could never replace Uncle, Zuko… I hope you know that," Katara told him quietly, overwhelmed by the offer.

"No, and I don't want you to. I just want you to be… well… Katara. I need somebody I can trust with it, somebody who will look after the people who come in here, somebody smart and passionate and hard working. You're all those things and more…" He was talking mostly to himself, the lines rehearsed as if he had been thinking about this for a while, and only half pronounced for fear they would not be enough to convince her.

Tears swam in Katara's eyes though and she launched herself onto Zuko with a strangled cry, surprising him into a tight hug. Zuko's arms automatically encircled the water bender, holding her closer than he probably should have. He hadn't realised how much he had wanted to just be held. He had to take a deep breath to hold back his grief once more.

"I'll do it!" she told him as she let go, wiping at her eyes.

Katara turned towards the Jasmine Dragon, letting the familiar sight sink in. It was going to be difficult, but Iroh always found a way to make her feel like she belonged.

At the funeral reception Zuko had hired scribes to mingle with the guests and record as many stories as would be told to them. He wanted to preserve all aspects of his Uncle, and would have them written up and stored with his memorial inscription along with the other Fire Lords.

However, this had apparently excited the interests of the general public, and many came to the tea shop over the following days to leave their own stories. Katara read a few and suspected half the people were making things up and were hoping to come into good graces with the Fire Lord himself, even going so far as to put their full name, their children's names and their addresses into the stories.

Along with the incense offerings and the flowers people would leave at the shop, Katara felt like she was running a full time Iroh-memorial rather than selling tea. She eventually caved and put up a portrait of Iroh, allowing all offerings, stories and flowers to be left underneath it and daily transported to the palace.

Zuko came into the shop once, took one look at Iroh's portrait and left. Admittedly, initially Katara found it eerie to have Iroh watching her the whole time - adding to his ledgers, her own unrefined handwriting under his fluid characters, changing which teapots were being used, ordering his staff around. But after a few days, the shop hadn't come crashing down around her ears and she imagined Iroh's looks to be those of gentle approval.

It was not until a week later that Zuko ventured down again. He arrived just before closing time, intending to stay late to talk to Katara and try to ignore the tightness in his chest as he remembered when Iroh had first convinced him to take a break from the palace and come for some tea.

When Katara saw him come in she beamed at him from across the counter, and Zuko couldn't help a tentative smile back. He took a seat, back straight and studiously ignoring the hush that spread over the remaining customers. Katara hurried over to him.

"Zuko! I'm so glad you're here! Tea?" she said, smiling. They had missed one another all week even though Katara was staying at the Fire Palace. They were both trying to catch up on work and would collapse in bed after a small dinner, not having had time for anything else.

He nodded, and she signalled to one of the tea makers to start brewing. Zuko indicated she took a seat, looking around nervously. "I'm glad you changed the table layout," he said sincerely, "I don't think I could have sat at the same table again…"

"I'm glad you think so. It was just too painful for me to look at all the time… We have another problem though Zuko," she started, looking a little put out. "See Uncle's orders are all very clear and he should have had a lot of your Jasmine blend around… but its just not here! It's almost as if he took it with him! I've looked everywhere Zuko, I'm so sorry. I can order another shipment of the ingredients but that will take two months to arrive, and then the master blender will be able to make you up the blend again. I just don't know where it could have gone!" She was frowning, mentally sifting through all of the stock again, all of the nooks and crannies of the kitchen, everywhere Iroh could have put the tea. But it was just nowhere!

Zuko brought a hand up to his hair, scratching his scalp as he thought about where Iroh could have left his tea. It wasn't so much that he was upset about not having it, but it struck him as incredibly odd that Iroh would have misplaced it. Eventually he shrugged.

"I'll have a look again through his room at the Fire Palace, but other than that I don't know where the tea could be. Unless he hadn't blended it yet?"

Katara shook her head. "We can't find the majority of the ingredients either, so it wasn't un-blended. I just don't understand!"

"Uncle was always a little odd…" he brushed it off, unwilling to let it get to him. He was here to relax, after all. "Is the shop alright? How are you Katara?"

"Well… most of the patrons know me already and are really supportive when things go wrong. Sometimes people aren't… well… expecting to see Water Tribe behind the counter. I think they're getting used to it…"

"Who? Are they being unkind?" Zuko's good eye narrowed, scanning the existing customers.

"Zuko, it's alright, you can't undo centuries of hatred over night. They will get used to me…"

"I can damn well try. You tell me the next one who says anything and I'll show them myself that —"

"Zuko! I can handle it!" she snapped, holding her head high.

Zuko looked away, grumbling under his breath.

"I love it here Zuko. I know I'm maybe not doing much but I'm doing something! And the regulars, they're so lovely and they come to me for advice and you know there are so many things happening!"

She was cut off as Zuko's tea arrived, made by Iroh's tea making prodigy. He took an experimental sip.

"This isn't bad,"commented Zuko, indicating his tea appreciatively.

Katara snorted. "I remember some of your attempts at making tea Fire Lord and this is infinitely better!"

Zuko grimaced at the memory of his first tea attempts as an angry teenager. "I think Uncle called it 'bracing'," he muttered, wincing at the mention of Iroh, still so raw for him. "I'm glad you're enjoying it Katara. I knew it wouldn't be easy but the place is doing well."

Katara smiled at him. It felt so good to have her own project, to be doing something. She knew she would outgrow it, but it was just what she needed to get her thoughts back into some semblance of order.

But she still couldn't find Zuko's tea.

A few months later Katara understood why Iroh would keep a tea shop. People talked. A lot.

They talked over tea, chatted over cake, gossiped over games - and completely ignored her. Oh they would confide small things in her, ask an opinion on a dress here or there, and some even became close friends. Katara could never resist helping those friends she did make - and those they told her about. However, the adventures of the Painted Lady by night will have to wait for another story.

But when it came to politics not one person thought she would be able to understand what was happening. She soon knew the workings of the majority of the Caldera - who was marrying who, who wasn't marrying who, who had money hidden elsewhere, who supported the new Fire Lord and who decidedly didn't.

Zuko would come at the end of the day and sit with her while she filled him in, and he in turn would 'happen' to find hidden money, stolen goods, keep an eye on the die hard Ozai supporters. Anybody who was anybody would have to be seen at the tea shop - it was one of the top social places in the city.

And, of course, some were initially attracted by the prospect of seeing the woman who took down their Princess in her youth. Katara had become accustomed at judging how receptive customers would be to some of Zuko's new policies by how they looked at her. It was hard to hide utter disdain, even for the higher classes who should have been trained in schooling their eyes. The lower classes didn't even try.

It was one slow day when three men entered the tea shop. She didn't like the look of them; they clearly came from a harsher side of the city - but that wasn't too unusual. What put her on edge was the way their eyes flicked over every customer in the shop - specifically their jewellery.

Katara brushed herself down and walked over to them with a bright smile.

"Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon! Please, right this way, I'll have a table made up in just a moment," she said in her most welcoming voice, all the while watching them closely. They followed her lead and sat without a fuss, although their eerie silence made her all the more uneasy.

"You know, you're quite pretty for a Water Tribe girl," one man finally grunted as she waited patiently for them to make their order. "I got a pretty sum I keep just for girls like you! And I tell you, many others would too… you could stand to make a little more money, eh? Not the top in the city, but a good average…" Katara stiffened at the insult, their purpose there made clear. It was the third time people had come in asking her to join one brothel or another. Apparently there was a taste for Water Tribe and they were vying to sell her off for a high price for a night.

This time was different though: this time Zuko heard.

He growled low, the only warning before he sprang towards the man and grabbed him by his collar, pinning him to the wall. The two locked eyes- the man's terrified ones and the Fire Lord's murderous ones.

"Someone with so little honour should never be allowed into the Jasmine Dragon. I better not see you here again," he growled, flinging the man towards the exit as people scurried out of the way to let him scramble out of the door.

"You didn't need to do that Zuko," whispered Katara, as they sat down to their habitual tea together.

"How long?" he replied, his voice clipped.

"How long what?"

"How long has this been going on?"

"A while."

Zuko slammed his cup onto the table, rattling the teapot.

"Damn it Katara! Why didn't you tell me!" She could see the anger bubbling below the surface, so reminiscent of his early years.

"Because you'd do something like you did now! And then they'd whisper about something completely different…"

"Huh?"

"You're… you're being over protective Zuko. People are staring."

"Would you mind that very much? If they talked… about that?" he asked, golden eyes hiding something, staring intently into hers as if he were asking something more than his words. Katara swallowed, trying to suppress the fluttering in her chest as she considered what he meant.

"I…I don't mind them talking about… true things… but unfounded rumours? I just.. I just want to be taken seriously in my own right! Not as the Avatar's ex girlfriend or as the daughter of the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe… " or the Fire Lord's love interest, she added in her mind. She shook her head - her imagination was running away with her. Zuko probably didn't see her in that way anyway. "I want to be known for what I've done and achieved… for what I'm doing here. Is that so much to ask?" she finished quietly, squashing all other thoughts.

Zuko nodded and looked away and took a long sip of his tea, clearly bracing himself for something.

"I think you're the only one I could trust with this, and you've done amazingly. I've found somebody else you know? You can start training them up. Because, well, I don't know if you'd like this, and if you'd rather stay doing this then the tea shop is yours, I hope you know that, but I was thinking we should have a Southern Water Tribe ambassador in the Caldera… You're too good for the tea shop. No. Wait. That's not what I meant! I mean that you're really clever and I think you could really help a lot of people if you were in the international conferences… rather than here. But you can be here, if that's what you'd like! Just if you wanted to be the ambassador, well, the job is yours as far as I'm concerned," jumbled Zuko in an effort to get all the words out as quickly as possible. "A-and you wouldn't need to deal with the likes of him," he added, glaring at the door.

Katara looked stunned but not disappointed. "I… I'd need to ask my dad if he'll have me as an ambassador…" started Katara, before spotting the sheepish grin on Zuko's face.

"I may have aired the idea to him and he was supportive if… if that's what you would like…" he said, now visibly excited and fidgeting while he waited for her response.

Katara bit her lip.

"I… I need to think about it Zuko. Its…its an amazing offer… but I - I know what its like to do politics… the Northern Tribe, parts of the Earth Kingdom… they don't like a woman, let alone me! I don't know whether they'd even listen to what I have to say. They never did when I travelled with Aang. And you saw how they treat me even here…I'm an exotic whore in their minds…"

"Katara," Zuko cut her off, reaching out uncharacteristically and grabbing her hand. His voice sounded strained. "You wouldn't be following anybody. Not like when you were with Aang. You're stronger than that, you can make a difference - I just know it! Like the other year when you helped the Earth Kingdom village relocate before the storms? Or when you stood up against the remnants of the Rough Rhinos?"

"You know about that? Aang wasn't too happy…"

"I've been watching. That's why I know you'd be so good as ambassador. The Avatar isn't the only voice of reason you know?"

Katara felt tears prickling behind her eyes. Yes. She wouldn't give up without a fight. People needed her, and she would show them just like she showed Pakku - you don't say no to Master Katara. She nodded squeezing Zuko's hand.

"I'll do it."

The smile that split Zuko's face was stunning.

"You've made me very happy Katara," he said shyly. "I'll get your replacement here in at once so you can show them the ropes!

The replacement happened to be the daughter of one of Iorh's great Pai Sho friends and, Katara suspected, a member of the White Lotus herself. Katara had seen her around various times and apparently her father had taught her much about tea since she was young. Although her eyes were golden, her lineaments were firmly Earth Kingdom - an interesting mix, and one that would raise probably more eyebrows that Katara being behind the counter.

The girl was quick, though, as seemed to defuse situations calmly… and absolutely loved tea. When she first arrived she'd been in wonder at all the stacks of tea in the back, lovingly handling the jar she needed. Katara was satisfied. The girl would be a far better fit than herself.

And so Katara started spending more time in the Palace, taking on some of her new roles but still checking on the tea shop. While she wasn't there Zuko stopped going for tea as he did habitually, and would instead pluck her from her study and take her to get their usual daily tea after closing hours. With no expert tea maker they took it in turns to comparatively butcher Iroh's stock, but the bitterness was always ironed out with the company.

One day Zuko arrived at Katara's study to find a note on her desk:

Finished early and have gone to help at the Jasmine Dragon. I'll wait for you there.

Zuko smiled, running a finger over the characters in her handwriting and stuffing it in his pocket before hurrying out the door.

Katara had indeed finished early that day and had gone to the Jasmine Dragon to see if any help was needed. As they packed up she told them she would stay, and idly busied herself cleaning the kitchen area. It would just mean that the boy they hired to do it would have an easier job the next day.

She came across one of the hanging patterns that decorated the back area - for, when the worker is happy, the customer is happy, said Uncle Iroh - and pushed it aside to dust behind it. The wooden panel it covered, however, made her stop in her tracks. There were small holes cut into it.

To most people they would be oddly carefully cut but otherwise random - to her they marked home. It was a Southern constellation, that of the warrior 'who cuts though what we wish for to bring us what we need'. The provider of food for the body and love for the soul, unaffected by whims and passing fashions.

Katara looked around nervously before sticking a finger into one of the holes and curling it so she could pull at the panel. It swung outwards to reveal a small cupboard she'd never seen before. There were jars full of tea which Katara gingerly picked up and smelled. Ah. Zuko's favourite Jasmine blend! That's where it was hidden!

As she dislodged them a scroll appeared behind. She took it out and unrolled it, immediately recognising Iroh's neat characters.

Dear Katara,

If I am right then it is you who will be reading this! I hope my nephew has asked you to take over the running of the Jasmine Dragon and that you have accepted that request. I also hope he has finally gathered the courage to ask you to be ambassador of your Tribe to the Fire Nation. It won't take him long to get the preparations done - he's planned them all long ago!

I write to you because I know that my time in the material world is coming to an end and that soon my spirit will live only in the spirit world. I have been to the spirit world various times and I am happy to be residing there soon.

However, regrettably, there are things I did not manage to finish in my time in the material world.

Firstly, I failed in helping Zuko move past the failures of the family he was born into and building his own. I wish I could be there when he finally finds that happiness which he so dearly needs.

Secondly, I failed in helping you, my dear, find a place to belong. You have come to me in joy and sorrow over the years and you have not been ready to understand where it is you want to be. I do not want to see you pushed around by anybody, I want you do be the strong and influential woman you were born to be.

I have come to the conclusion that even though you are Water Tribe through and through, perhaps your past does not define your future. I beg of you to resist the traditions of your sister tribe and marry only for love, or not at all. My dear, you deserve only the best in your life.

However, I have also come to realise that perhaps over the years a spark that I first saw ignited in my nephew in Ba Sing Se during the War has grown to over take his heart, and I wonder whether a similar phenomenon has taken place in yours. I beg you to consider if you could ever call the Fire Nation home, for I know the Fire Lord would open his arms to you if he did not fear your feelings contrary.

It would not be an easy road, know that, for much prejudice remains within the Nation, but the two of you somehow make the impossible happen.

I have hidden Zuko's favourite tea here, no doubt you have been looking for it. You can wait until the next shipment comes in, but if you think my proposition could work, then make him this tea. He associates it with love and warmth - I have made sure of that over the years - and it will erase some of his self doubt, for he still carries heavy burdens upon his shoulders.

Katara, I would have loved to see the two of you together. If these are just ramblings of a dying old man then I pray leave these words be, but if they ring truth then I beg of you to give it a chance. Make his tea, let him know you're willing to try.

Until we meet again my Master Waterbender,

Uncle.

Katara wiped the tears from her cheeks as she read his words. Half of her rejected the notion of her and Zuko - Iroh always was quite eccentric and a notorious matchmaker!

And yet…

And yet…

It could work. They were a team. She knew he respected her to do what she needed to do and would help her in any way he could - as would she for him. Their tempers mellowed with age they no longer exploded at one another, but instead had an easygoing relationship…

Except they had tea. Every day. Somehow they held hands more and more often. She would count down the hours till she could see him again…

And the other week when they had mentioned roomers… or how she liked the small of his study when she went to collect him for tea… or how she remembered every flower he'd picked for her from his mother's garden…

Katara was frozen the spot, heart hammering.

Would she just become the Fire Lord's girlfriend like she had been The Avatar's?

No. She would be ambassador to the Southern Water Tribe still. She would be Master Katara.

And if she became Fire Lady? She blushed to be thinking so far in advance, but followed the thought nonetheless.

If she became Fire Lady she would be sat with Zuko at all meetings, she would be part of negotiations and talks. One must convince both the Fire Lord and Lady before treaties are signed - she knew that already - and she did not believe Zuko would expect her to just be quiet.

"Katara?" came Zuko's raspy voice from the front of the shop, almost as if she had summoned him with her thoughts. Her heart leapt to her throat and she had to remember to breathe. Well… that was a pretty telltale sign

"One second, I'll be right out," she called back, taking a deep breath and picking up one of Iroh's hidden jars.