Thirty years, two months and three days is the amount of time he hasn't seen Katara. Zuko smiles to himself; that particular week was the best of his life. He smiles sadly as he feeds the animals in his garden. He has done so every day since she left every day without fail and yet every time he does it, he never fails to feel sorry for what he has done. Every time he feeds the animals he cannot help but think about her eyes and the tears that flowed from them and then he looks down at the soft grass he rests on.
It was here under this very tree that they spent their time together. Zuko sighs heavily. There are times in his years of marriage to Mai that he had wished that she were Katara. She was an excellent wife, she'd done everything that was fit for a woman of her standing, she had bore him children who made him unbelievably happy, but she was no Katara and that broke him. Zuko smiles as he thinks of Mai, it's been eight years since she left him for the afterlife and he missed her.
"Everyone leaves", is what he says when he tosses a piece of bread into the water. There is sorrow in his eyes and then his young son approaches and he puts on a smile for the younger man. "Junming", he breathes as the man approaches.
"Father", the young man responds and then proceeds. "There is a woman in the guest room and she awaits your audience. She says she is an old friend and she wants to see you", Zuko scrunches his bows together. This is a strange phenomenon, but he will see her.
The elderly man steps into the guest room and then turns around to where he can sense the presence of someone much smaller than himself.
"Katara", he whispers under his breath.
"It's good to see you Zuko", she answers and needless to say, that is the beginning of another romance between the two benders that were always meant to be.
A/N: that is the end of The Ruby Bracelet, hope all of you who have read it have enjoyed it. I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed and made this story extremely special to me. especially reviews like AnnaAza who has reviewed faithfully from the earlier chapters. Once again thank you so much for all your support. hope to hear from you in a review. Have an awesome day ahead!