Hakoda was raging; that was all that Katara could gather from the way he stormed down the corridor. But Katara didn't care, for her blood was alit as much as his was, if not more.

When the man caught sight of his daughter however, some of his anger was stripped from his face and posture, his lips curling slightly as he grew closer towards the girl.

But her fury, that did not vanish.

It only grew at the sight of his smile, how he thought that everything was okay, that what he did was good, as if Zuko actually deserved it. Which he didn't. Not at all.

She knew it was out of love, she really did. Her father was as protective as Zuko was, and it became more and more obvious to her every day that she spent at the South Pole, after the war. The looks the men would give her as she would twist and turn whilst bending her element. He practically snarled at that just for giving her a once over.

And now, now that she'd had sex with the Fire Lord? She couldn't imagine what hatred he must be feeling toward the man. In fact, she didn't have to even try to imagine. She heard it far too clearly, the smash of a body striking a wall, followed a scream that she knew all too well.

But Zuko was strong; it was obvious to anyone who'd ever been in his presence. And for him to make such an agonizing scream? She knew where he was hit. And she was beyond furious.

"Where did you hit him?" Katara growled, now that her father was an arms length away. He feigned surprise, much to her frustration, with him blinking his widened eyes.

"I don't know what-"

"Don't play dumb with me! You hit him in the chest, didn't you?"

He grimaced at her, but his eyes were still sharp, glowering into her.

"He disgraced you, Katara, I had to stand my ground-"

"He did know such thing! He didn't push himself onto me, you think I'd allow for that?"

Her dad stared at her for a moment longer, then sighed, running a hand through his dark locks. Her chest twitched at the sudden pain that seemed to glaze over her eyes, but it didn't phase her as it would've if she'd been given the look four months ago.

"Why are you marrying him?"

This time it was Katara who stared, her jaw hanging loose at his words. Why was he marrying him? Was it not obvious? Why did everyone think she should just give her child up to avoid becoming the Fire Lady? Did they not understand!?

But of course they didn't. For they were in love with each other, but no one knew, least of all her dad. She figured Toph had picked up on it, but if she had, she'd stayed surprisingly quiet about the issue.

When it came to her friends, she could almost understand their questioning of her seemingly rash decision. But Hakoda, her father, who'd lost his wife and left his children when they needed him the most? They'd had Gran Gran, sure, but….

Her thoughts surprised her somewhat, for she'd gotten over this little tiff between her and her father months ago. But somehow, the way that he questioned her decision, implying that she should either make the child motherless or fatherless, brought those feelings back full force. He, of all people, should understand the want for their child to grow up in a supportive, solid, whole family. Not a fractured one, such as Katara had.

But apparently her dad couldn't get over the details of who the father was and the circumstances on which the child had come about. And this, this was not okay. Not at all.

"Because maybe I want my child to grow up with not only a mother by their side, but a father too."

She knew it was a low blow, and felt herself regretting her foul words with each step she took away from him and toward the Fire Lord's study, but she did not turn back. He needed to understand her decision, and hopefully a rude awakening would be what he needed.

Running now, the thought of Zuko and his chest and oh Tui and La please let him be okay filling her mind. She rounded the corner and heaved the heavy doors open. And she stifled a gasp.

Zuko was sprawled across his back, chest pulsating in an uneven fashion, his face twisted up in agony. Oh La.

She'd never let her father live this down.

Already uncorking her waterskin, she rushed to his side, bending down as she peeled back his clothes. This time, she could not hide her pained shock.

The area around the scar was black and blue, and the scar tissue itself was beginning to tear. With shaky limbs she gloved her hands in glowing water, placing them over Zuko's chest.

"I can't believe he did this to-"

But Katara's words were cut short by an ear splitting scream that cut itself from Zuko's throat. The water dropped from her hands as she immediately went to clutch the pained lord. His breathing was rapid now, icy sweat dripping down his forehead.

He was shaking, nearly convulsing in her arms. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, her breaths as panicked as his. She held him tighter to her, running a hand down his dampened back.

After what seemed like an eternity, Zuko began to calm, his eyes blinking open. And when he realized who exactly was staring into him, he chocked on his breath. He buried himself into her, mumbling incoherently into her chest.

She sighed, but her worried were far from clenched.

"What...what happened, Zuko?"

"The battle," he rasped, still enveloped within her grasp, "it was the battle and it was happening all over again, the lightning and the..."

She gulped.

"I thought you were going to die, Katara. I had to relive that moment, and it was pure torture. I thought I was too late, Katara, I thought I lost you. Oh Agni, I thought I lost you..."

Her chest clenched at his words, hot tears dripping down her cheeks. She leaned down, pressing a gentle yet desperate kiss to his lips.

"I'm sorry, I'm right here, Zuko….I'm all right…."

"I know...now."

She sat there for a moment, staring into his wild golden eyes, full of some type of strangled pain. Katara wished she had the ability to heal that too.

Eventually he sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose as he clenched his eyes shut.

"Can you try again?"

She hesitated for a moment, but only a moment. Gently, she set him back onto the floor and retrieved her fallen water. Taking long, steady breaths, she lowered her hands back onto his chest. When he let out a low gasp she was about to jerk her hands back, but stilled when he shook his head.

"It's okay, really. It….feels good now."

A small smile filled Katara's face as she continued to mend his bruises and cuts. With each passing minute, his breathing became more even.

"I think that's all I can do," she mumbled after some time, removing her hands to examine his chest. The scar was still an angry red, as it had been a week or so after the Agni Kai, but it was much better than before. Her smile grew.

He attempted to curl his lips, but he winced, a hand flying up to clench his jaw.

"Don't tell me…."

He nodded, a grimace on his face.

Shaking her head in an attempt to cool the heated blood surging through it, she helped Zuko sit up to lean against the wall. He sighed, able to smile again once the glowing water was placed upon his jaw. Once he nodded, she removed her hands, returning the water to her pouch.

"Thank you, Katara."

"You wouldn't have to thank me if my dad wasn't so….I don't even know! I've never seen him like this, and that he did this to you, it's just…."

"I understand."

She blinked at his still smiling face, cocking her head.

"Are you just trying to make me feel better?"

He shook his own head, his inky locks falling in front of his eyes. She pushed them back away from his golden irises. His smile slipped into a smirk.

"I….he just loves you. A lot. And he thought I defiled you, and I don't exactly blame him, since-"

"Don't say that!"

He paused, widening his eyes as he furrowed his brow. How could he say such things about himself, to imply that other people thought he was capable of such deeds? Her dad knew Zuko, at least to some extent. He'd saved him from that Fire Nation prison, for La's sake. For him to think that of the Fire Lord, that he'd thrust such an act of disrespect onto her.

She stared into his golden eyes, his shining golden eyes. And his hair, long and black….

The waterbender blinked. No, he couldn't….

Without thinking, she raised a flattened hand in front of her face. She sucked in a small gasp.

That's why. That's why he understood. He thought people still saw him, still saw him like….

Without warning, she flung herself around him, pulling him closer to her.

"You're not him, Zuko, and you've never been like him. My father, he just….the Fire Nation took a lot from us, and while I know that he knows you're an honorable man….being my friend is one thing, but to leave my home and become part of the nation that tore our family apart, it's…."

"It's a lot for him, I know. And I'm sure he still sees me as-"

"He doesn't!" she nearly growled into the crook of his neck. "He….doesn't, not really. And I'm going to do everything I can to set him straight."

"Really? Do you still want to marry me?"

She pulled away, cocking her head as her own eyes bored into the sudden sorrow that lurked within his own. Blinking away tears, she cupped his face, bringing it towards her. She sighed.

"Of course I do! But…."

If her dad said no, she didn't know what she would do.

He didn't see anyone besides Katara until dinner, which was completely fine with him. He needed a break from...people, after what'd happened earlier. The girl didn't count, however. He would sit there for days if he could, running his fingers through her thick hair and down her curved side, her head nestled into his lap as she slept.

She'd nearly passed out after their….conversation, mumbling something about healing fatigue and the baby as she began to doze off. Once his concern was relieved, he couldn't stop smiling. Agni, she was so stunning, he didn't think he'd ever get over it.

Until he remembered what she'd said. Then his brooding frown returned full force.

He couldn't blame her really, he just couldn't. If his dad hadn't been such a huge cocksucker, he would've cared about his opinion on who he married. Not enough to change his mind, but….

But he also knew that it was so much to ask of the girl; for her to leave her home and family, to move to his nation and become the Fire Lady? It was selfish of him, really. But what was he supposed to do? Take the Fire Lord-to-be away from his mother? Or to pretend Zuko wasn't the father?

And Katara. Katara…

Her father would understand, he had to. It was a necessity, couldn't he see that?

It was necessity….but it wasn't. It was so much more than that now. But Hakoda…

Hakoda didn't know that.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. He opened his mouth, then hesitated as he looked down as Karata, still slumbering on his lap.

Well, if it was Hakoda, he was fairly certain the door would be kicked down by now.

"Enter."

"Hey uh, I...well we're getting pretty hungry and the guards said it's 'rude' to start eating without you and it's also 'rude' to bother you when you're in your study, unless it's 'urgent', so…."

Sokka paused. Zuko tensed.

"What are you doing with my sister?"

Instinctively, Zuko looked down, to find one hand still tangled into her brown mane, the other cupping the side of her head. He blinked.

"She was tired."

"So you thought you could just hold her like that? You might be forced into marriage with her, but that doesn't mean that she likes you like that!"

He stiffened, throat going dry as his skin started to boil. Carefully, he pulled his hands away from Katara.

"It doesn't mean that she doesn't."

"Well I think that's for her to decide, isn't it?!"

But his voice was a notch too loud. Katara stirred, her eyes blinking as she began to loosen her muscles. She turned, her blue eyes glimmering up at the Fire Lord.

"Zuko…."

Sokka started to shake, his mouth gaping as his hands clenched into tight fists. But , thank Agni, he managed to stay silent.

Both of their eyes widened however, when Katara lazily pushed herself up onto Zuko's lap, curling her arms around his neck. It was when he returned the embrace, however, that Sokka broke. He flew around on his heel, proceeding to storm out of the room.

If Katara had any idea that her brother was ever there, she showed no sign of such knowledge. Zuko sighed into her, but his mind was still churning.

By some strange blessing of Agni, Sokka had purposefully made his exit as quiet as could be.

break

Dinner was a thick, cloud of tension that enveloped the room, suffocating Zuko as he struggled to keep a steady breath. The fact that Katara didn't sit next to him didn't help much.

The fact that she didn't sit next to her dad, either, did in fact help a bit.

He shook his head. It shouldn't have to be like this, it shouldn't be a choice between the two men. Hakoda had to understand, he had to.

Aang and Toph mumbled quietly to one another, as did Suki and Sokka. Hakoda, Zuko, and Katara however, remained silent. Perhaps if his uncle had been there, he could've eased some of the vicious awkwardness, as he seemed to do so quite well, but he had 'other plans'. Damn old man.

"So when's the wedding?"

Zuko nearly spat his half chewed rice across the table. Agni damn that blind girl.

Hakoda, however, cleared his throat.

"Well, since I haven't been asked for a blessing yet, there isn't one."

Hakoda turned in his seat, eyes burning into the Fire Lord. But Zuko knew what it was. It was a challenge, and this time, Zuko wasn't going to coward out.

He stood up, backing his chair away from the table as he swept into a low bow.

"Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe, I ask you kindly; please, let me take your daughter's hand in marriage."

Katara dropped her chopsticks, audibly grunting down a lump of food. Sokka gripped the table, shaking the plates and glasses that covered it.

Silence.

Two, three.

"No."

A/N: *shields self* hope you liked it...heh.