"It's often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. This is in fact true. It is called living. - Terry Pratchett


Zuko hurried to Katara's study, mentally berating the minor courtier whose endless questions had made him late. He was supposed to head down to the docks with Katara to meet Sokka, whose boat was due this afternoon. It was to his surprise then, as he approached the door and heard the sound of his soon-to-be brother-in-law angrily ask, "And you thought I would just allow you to make that kind of decision?"

Katara's voice shot back, "ALLOW ME? ALLOW ME? Since when are you the one who allows me to do anything?"

Zuko paused, just outside the door, suddenly frozen as he overheard Sokka say, "Since forever, Katara! I am your older brother! It is my job to guide you in the ways of the world. You clearly don't know the gravity of your decision, and it is my responsibil-"

"Oh, like you knew exactly what you were doing with Suki!"

"Yes! I did! And how dare you insinuate that I—"

Zuko heard Katara huff as she spat out, "Don't even start with me. You know that Gran Gran was upset about how it happened, and don't try to pretend –"

"Aggh! You're not even listening to me! I give up; I GIVE UP! I'm going to find Zuko; he's going to have to learn that—"

"You will do no such thing! In case I did not make it clear before, this was my idea, and I will not back down from—"

Zuko grimaced. It was now or never. He swung open the door, smiled broadly, and announced, "Well, I'd like to think it was a decision we made together." In an instant, both siblings turned, identical expressions of surprise on their face.

Katara recovered first, as she retorted, "It was so not your decision. Also, you are late. Also, you have no say in this. So." She swiveled back to Sokka, "Do not for one second think that him being here has any bearing on your argument—"

But Sokka was already charging straight towards the Fire Lord, as he bellowed, "It is absolutely insane of you to make any kind of decision regarding what kind of sea prunes will be served at the wedding—"

Sokka threw his arms around Zuko in an embrace, still ranting at full volume, "Because whatever Katara says, the Village Keo's are NOT as good as the ones harvested at Sunken Valley, and-" Sokka pulled back just enough to grip Zuko's face between his hands, "Congrats and everything, man. It was about damn time," and he slammed his forehead against the other man's, in their traditional greeting.

At the sound of the smack, Katara loudly groaned and complained to the laughing and stumbling pair, "Why do you two have to do that every time you see each other?"

It was Sokka who finally caught his breath enough to say, smiling broadly, "It's just what brothers do."

Looking at the pair of them, Katara couldn't help but smile herself as she replied, "Well, whatever you brothers say, it's going to be Sea Prunes from Keo, and that is final."

And it was.