Hello again everyone! So I figured I'd use this chapter to solve a loose end in the story that I never felt had been properly addressed. And for your reference: Fen means fragrant and Xing means prosperous. (You'll see the new characters.) I know some of you are eager to find out who was behind the door (I love your reviews, they mean so much to me) and so, enjoy!
Suki knocked at the door, unsure of why Katara wouldn't just answer it already. The two of them had been so close, just like sisters and always ate breakfast together around this time. Suki frowned. It wasn't like Katara not to show up. "Katara? Are you awake? Katara, open your door!" She waited a moment. "Open up or I'm coming in!"
On the other side of the door, Katara and Zuko panicked. There was no place for Zuko to hide in the simplistic rooms Iroh furnished for guests. The beds were low to the floor and the closet was practically nonexistent. So they did the best they could to look presentable and Katara opened the door to the anxious warrior.
"Hi, Suki. Sorry about breakfast… I, uh, I overslept…" Katara trailed off, rubbing her arm and blushing as Suki's eyes found Zuko sitting in the chair by the bed. His head was bent as he practiced meditating so he could appear calm when facing Suki.
"Zuko, out. Go get something to eat and maybe you and Sokka can go do something. Take Aang with you. And Toph. I think Katara and I need some girl time." Her voice was so demanding, Zuko just nodded and did what she said, giving Katara a sympathetic look over Suki's shoulder as he left the room to find the others.
Suki stared Katara, who again blushed and stared at her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. "Suki…" Katara had barely gotten the name out of her mouth when Suki lashed back.
"Are you serious, Katara? What about Aang, Mai? What about your honor? Your self-respect? Your dignity? What about all you've done these past few years? What could have made you possibly go back to him? Aang was good to you! He treated you well, he respected you as a woman, even though you've been lying to him this whole time! And then you just go and do this to him? Katara, who are you? I don't even know anymore!" The warrior took a breath as the waterbender sat on her bed, legs curled up to her chin. "You said you would put it behind you. Last time we were here, you said you would move on. What happened to all that? Katara, I need answers, because I don't see any!" Suki looked at the crying girl and sat next to her, pulling her into a hug. "I just don't understand, Katara."
"I told Aang. Last night. I told him I don't love him like I should. That I realized I love Zuko. That he loves me. And he broke up with Mai within weeks of us parting at Omashu. I just… I can't help it, Suki! I want him all the time, not just physically, although yes, I did, um, pleasure myself thinking of him the past few years but also emotionally. He's the only one who really understands me, thinks the way I do. Suki, I do love him. I really do."
Suki's heart broke for the younger girl, who struggled with so much. "So what now? You told Aang, Mai's out of the picture. What happens now? When you two live so far apart? How will you make it work?"
"Well, I figure we have the time to figure it out while we work on Republic City. And then, if… if he wants to marry like…" Katara broke off, not ready to share that she had dreamed of it the first time they had been together on the ship. "If he wants to marry, I'll move to the Fire Nation. Someone else will take over training the benders in the Southern Water Tribe and maybe I'll bring some girls with me to train as healers to work around the world, or something. I don't know. I didn't really think things through. I just followed what my heart told me to do." Katara felt better, knowing she could be honest with Suki. She needed an older woman to lean on when things got difficult like this.
Zuko, Sokka, Aang and Toph set out into the market with a list of things Iroh needed to replenish his stock and as he had put it, "Add some more charm." They were all quiet, Aang and Zuko refusing to speak and the other two catching on to the mood. They came to the flower stall that Iroh had asked them to visit to get flowers and as they stared at the many different kinds, panic stretched across the young men's faces.
"Hello! Welcome to Jin's Flowershop!" A voice called out from behind a large plant, and Zuko wanted more than anything to leave.
"Hi." Sokka pushed them into the fragrant area.
The young lady smiled at him. "How may I help you?"
"Um, Iroh, from the Jasmine Dragon, asked us to get some flowers… He didn't say what kind though." Sokka tried to explain their situation and was surprised to see Jin's face light up.
"Iroh? Oh, wonderful! I have just the thing." She led the group to the back of the stall, where there were some beautiful flowers in elegant vases. "He is a regular customer of mine, and I of his." She smiled at the group. "Hello again, Lee… er, Zuko." She blushed and Zuko glanced down, nervous.
"Hello, Jin. It's nice to see you again. You're looking well." It was true, and he smiled, realizing it was only going to be as awkward as he made it.
"Thank you." A little girl crawled into the stall followed by a tall young earthbender. Jin's face lit up as the girl tugged on her skirt. "Hey there, sweetie!" She lifted her daughter and kissed her forehead.
Toph was the first to comment. "Who's the baby?" Everyone except Zuko laughed.
"This is my daughter, Fen. And my husband, Xing." The man smiled at the group. "I just realized, I don't know all of your names!"
Zuko smiled at her. "I'm Zuko as you, uh, know, and this is Sokka, Aang the Avatar, and Toph." He motioned towards each of them and they nodded in turn.
"It's nice to meet you." Xing shook each of their hands and turned to his wife. "I figured you could watch her while I run a few errands?" She nodded.
"Here are Iroh's flowers. Tell him I said hello and I hope I will see you guys around!" Jin waved goodbye as they left the flower stall and headed out to purchase other various items Iroh claimed to need.
Fen [fragrant]. And my husband, Xing [prosperous]