Author's note: I apologize for the lack of updates. This is the final push for Phoenix Comic Con - which is in three days. So having time to write and get things typed up has been a bit tricky. Still, I have not forgotten about you all!

She stretched and yawned, feeling the slight burn from muscles unaccustomed to all of the activity of the night before. After Aang's somewhat quiet departure Zuko talked her into rejoining their friends in the hall, where the girls took it upon themselves to drag her back out to the dance floor. To her shock her brother and Zuko wandered out after a while, and between the music and the friendship and the blazing light in Zuko's eyes whenever they touched she was able to move most of her sorrow and anger to the back of her mind and actually enjoy the party a bit more than she'd thought she would. Towards the end of the night during a slower song she noticed Toph slip away, but didn't think anything of it. She figured it wouldn't be the younger girl's cup of tea anyway. As she stood curled in her fiance's arms while they moved to the rhythm the musicians set forth, she allowed herself a small sigh of contentment.

"Katara?" he questioned gently. She looked up, meeting his eyes and seeing the love in them that she now realized had been there for much longer than she'd noticed before. Her fingers brushed his cheek and she smiled slowly, softly.

"Nothing, really. Just thinking that I never really imagined myself here. With you."

"I imagined it. I just never thought I could ever really be so lucky."

She tucked her head back against his chest and felt his arms around her, two warm bands of strength and support. It had been a good last dance, a wonderful way to end the night. He'd walked her to her door and kissed her gently, shooing her inside with a whisper of love and a promise to see her the next day. And now that she was awake, sipping a cup of tea that had obviously been left for her by one servant or another, she was eager to dress and meet her friends for breakfast. She had so much to do, so many things to take care of. It made her a bit sad to know that she and Zuko would be off on their own tasks for the day, but she knew that they would see each other at least at breakfast and dinner.

First official day as the Fire Consort and I'm lamenting the fact that I have responsibilities. She chuckled at her own thought and began to prepare for the day ahead.

"I have to say, Katara, your interpretation of the betrothal dance was impressive. Your grandmother is going to be so sorry she missed it." Hakoda was smiling as his daughter walked into the room and laughed as she blinked, a bit of a sheepish look on her face. Across the table from him, Zuko paused in the act of spreading marmalade on a piece of toast and looked up. The young man's smile on seeing her walking towards them put the Water Tribe chief's mind at ease far more than anything else could have.

"Katara," he murmured, standing up and pulling out the chair next to him. She ignored the chair completely in favor of leaning into her future husband's arms and kissing him.

"Jeez, Katara, do you have to do that in public?" Sokka mumbled playfully around a mouthful of food. Suki just shook her head. Katara fixed her brother with a wry look.

"If we've all had to put up with you and Suki, then by Tui you can just deal." Her grin was impish, and Suki laughed, leaning her head on Sokka's shoulder.

"She does have a point, partner mine. Besides, she and Zuko are officially betrothed now, making their actions perfectly understandable. What excuse do we have?" The entire table began to laugh as the fearless boomerang warrior choked and sputtered, turning to his girlfriend with wide eyes. Seemingly unable to find a suitable answer, Sokka just slumped down in his seat and returned to the meal at hand, all the while shooting the Kyoshi hesitant looks.

In his seat, a smile on his face, Hakoda felt an overwhelming happiness for his children. He'd been scared for them when he left, wondering what kind of life they would have. He figured it was a father thing. To see them now, grown up, setting their own paths, making their ways through a world they helped to save...he hadn't known it was possible to be so proud. It was a bittersweet pride, a quiet joy. He'd missed so much of their childhoods. But he couldn't be more pleased with the people they'd become.

As the four talked, his thoughts branched out to include the other two at the table – both of whom were family, by affection if not by law yet. Suki was a perfect foil for Sokka's impulsiveness, a delightful and completely spunky young woman. He couldn't have picked out a better mate for his son if he had tried. Zuko...well, he had to admit that never in a billion years had he ever anticipated that a Fire Nation man could be a friend to any Water Tribe member. The thought that the Fire Lord himself was going to become his son-in-law was a bit overwhelming at times. And yet, firebender or not, seeing the way Zuko was with Katara, the way she was with him...it reminded Hakoda of his own love, his beautiful Kya. Stolen from him, from the life they had together, she lived on in their children. In Katara's stubbornness, her compassion, her caring. In Sokka's protectiveness, his quick mind – regardless of how easy it was to underestimate his son, the boy was ridiculously intelligent when he chose to use his brain.

If his and Kya's children could find even a fraction of the happiness he'd known with her, they would be blessed beyond belief. He looked from one to another of his four breakfast companions. The camaraderie, the love, the closeness was unmistakeable, and unbreakable. He finished his meal and stood up with a smile, deciding that it was time to leave them to themselves without the dreaded 'parental presence.' Inwardly he chuckled at that.

"Well, I have a long day ahead of me, so I'd best get started." He leaned over to hug first Katara, then Zuko – feeling the boy's obvious uncertainty and wanting nothing more than to go see Ozai and beat him to a pulp, not for what he did to the world but for what he did to his only son – before walking around the table and hugging Sokka and Suki as well. "You all stay out of trouble," he admonished with a stern voice and an amused smile as he turned and exited the room, mentally cataloging his own duties for the day.

"What did he mean, 'your interpretation'?" Zuko asked curiously after Hakoda had taken his leave. Katara seemed to suddenly think that the answers to all the worlds dilemmas were to be found in her fruit bowl, while Sokka burst out laughing and Suki snickered. When it was apparent she wasn't going to answer, he reached over and placed a finger underneath her chin, turning her face to his. "Katara..?"

"I...well..." She sighed heavily and blinked, and he was amazed to see traces of pink on her cheeks.

"Go on, Sis. Tell the Fire Lord how you made your own version of a dance of seduction, ignoring hundreds of years of tradition." Sokka was gleeful, enjoying her flustered mien. Zuko's eyebrows arched, and his beloved gave in reluctantly.

"Okay, so I changed the dance. Okay, Sokka? It's not like anyone but you and our people would know anyway," she grumbled. Her brother was snickering, and Zuko realized if he was to get any answers he was likely going to have to drag them out of her.

"How did you change it?" he queried. Her answer was just to blush deeper. It was Suki that answered, a grin lighting her features.

"If I'm not mistaken, the first thing was that in the traditional dance, she wasn't actually supposed to touch you."

"Really?" he asked, shocked. Katara had closed her eyes, lashes fluttering down over blue eyes filled with embarrassment.

"Really," Sokka chimed in, bursting with glee at the discomfiture of his sibling. "Also, those were not the dance steps to the betrothal dance."

"They weren't?" Zuko's eyes grew wide, his response given to Sokka while his gaze remained on Katara's face.

"La, no," Sokka said with a laugh. "I know our tribe had never seen anything like that. Most of the warriors were struck totally silent, and I know that our dad had a messenger hawk off to Gran-Gran practically the minute the dance was over."

"Sokka," the flustered waterbender growled. He just laughed.

"Come on, Katara. Do you really think you'd be able to pull a stunt like that and not have news of it reach the village? And then the fog, and the music...it was a hell of a show, I've gotta admit. Though I could have lived my entire life without ever seeing my sister act like that..." he trailed off with a grumble as he returned to the task of cleaning off his plate, his own discomfort finally beginning to carry a weight equal to that of his enjoyment of Katara's embarrassment.

"Katara...why did you change things?" Zuko asked, his voice as gentle on her ears as his fingers were where they still rested on her chin. After a long moment she looked up at him and he saw the world in her eyes.

"Because I wanted to," she whispered. He felt his pulse leap into the stratosphere at the honesty and the desire in her voice. For a long moment they simply sat, quietly regarding one another. In the silence Suki noticed that Sokka had finished his second helping of breakfast and tugged his arm gently.

"Come on, Sokka. Didn't you say you wanted to help your dad with the plans for retrofitting the Fire Nation's ships, for that agricultural trip to the Earth Kingdom?"

"But I wasn't -" he began, only to have Suki cut him off with a quick kiss and a nod to the two at the other side of the table, still locked in their own little world.

"Come on, darling. After all they've been through, let's let them have a bit of time to themselves before they have to start being all responsible and Lord-and-Ladylike and stuff." With a huff of reluctant agreement, Sokka allowed his girlfriend to lead him from the breakfast hall – though he did snatch a handful of eel nuggets on the way.

On the other side of the table, the rulers of the Fire Nation didn't even realize their breakfast guests had departed.

Zuko's hand, still carefully cupping Katara's chin, shifted until he could run his thumb in a soft caress over her bottom lip. Eyes never leaving his, she pressed a soft kiss to the digit as it stroked over her skin. Unable to help himself even if he had wanted to, he leaned forward slowly, never breaking eye contact. His lips brushed hers as he spoke.

"Agni, am I really here, or is this just another dream?"

"Another?" she asked, a smile in her eyes, before meeting him for a quick, soft kiss. "So do you dream about me often, oh great Fire Lord?" This time it was his turn to look a bit abashed.

"I...well, that is..." He sighed and nodded, conceding defeat gratefully. "Very often."

"Tell me?" she whispered. His eyes shot open and he regarded her with a look that was two parts shock to one part panic.

"What?" he managed to ask, sure he didn't just hear her say what it certainly sounded like she had just said.

"Tell me about your dreams, Zuzu..." she murmured, her voice low and quiet and sending shivers straight up his spine. Her eyes were locked onto his and he swallowed hard.

"Why...why do you want to know?" he managed to sputter, totally at a loss as to how to proceed. Her smile was slow, sweet, and as sinful as dark chocolate and red wine.

"Because I want to see if they were anything like the dreams I had about you."

"Dear gods," he muttered, and she chuckled and leaned forward to kiss him again before resting her head on his shoulder.

"You're so much fun to play with," she said quietly, happily. "Is it wrong that I wish we had a full day to ourselves?"

"Not at all," he responded, wrapping around her shoulders. And that was how the messenger found them a short time later. The man stood at the entrance to the dining room, unsure whether or not to interrupt the comfortable moment. Katara saw him first.

"Yes?" she asked, not moving from her place against Zuko's chest.

"My Lord, My Lady..." the messenger said hesitantly. Zuko nodded and he stepped into the room, walking up to the table. "This has just arrived for the Lady Consort." He proffered a rolled piece of parchment, sealed with the official seal of the Palace Warden. Katara sat up and took the scroll, nodding her thanks and unrolling it once the messenger had left.

"Warden Jeou has found the Traitor's Cage." She sounded both happy and reserved. Zuko inhaled sharply.

"Does it say anything else?" he asked. Normally as Fire Lord his first instinct was simply to take the parchment from her, but if she was to be his equal in ruling his country and his people then he knew he had to allow her freedom to make choices without his input. However, it seemed it wasn't a necessary reminder as she simply handed the parchment to him anyway, sitting up to dip out food while he took a few seconds to read it.

Fire Consort Master Katara:

I have located the Traitor's Cage. It is placed deep underneath the palace, in an abandoned series of tunnels that are structurally stable but very much in a state of disrepair. The room itself looks to have been mistreated, and will likely take a fair amount of work to be fully repaired, but as the integrity of the walls and support structures is sound I believe it to be a realistic task. If you would like I can escort my Lord, you yourself, or anyone you designate to inspect the damages and pass judgment on its suitability. I await your answer at your convenience.

Your humble servant,

Jeou Kisano

Palace Warden

"Should we both go?" Zuko asked. "I'll have a break after my meeting with the Public Works advisor this morning." Katara finished chewing her rice before answering.

"I think I should go and see this as soon as possible. I'd like to take Sokka and Toph as well. If I think it's important, you and I can go after your meeting. I'd also like to talk to Uncle today, see if he might be able to pin down the ingredients for that tea. I asked Dad to send messages to both the Northern and our own tribe to get an ingredient list for our calming teas as well."

"Sounds like a good plan," he said with a smile, brushing his fingers down a lock of hair that was cascading over her shoulder. "You truly are the perfect woman."

"And don't you forget it, mister," she teased, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

The rest of the breakfast was spent discussing the schedule for the day, but despite the importance of what their mouths were saying, the true conversation was happening with every glance, every touch.

"Toph?" Katara had searched for over half an hour, and if it hadn't been for a servant that had seen the master earthbender heading down the west hallway she never would have thought to check the upper towers. Sure enough, the girl was sitting out on a balcony looking out over a city she couldn't see. She hadn't turned at Katara's approach, though the waterbender knew she would have felt it through the stone floor. But when the Water Tribe girl spoke, Toph turned around. To anyone that didn't know her, the Bei Fong heiress would have looked positively relaxed, a small smile gracing her lips. Katara knew better.

"What's wrong, Toph?"

"What makes you think anything's wrong?" Toph said with a snort. Katara raised an eyebrow reflexively though she knew her companion couldn't see it.

"Toph..." she said softly. Finally, after a long moment of quiet, the Blind Bandit let a small sigh escape her.

"Twinkletoes left."

"Aang left?" Katara asked. She wasn't surprised, but she couldn't help but feel guilty. "When?"

"Before sunrise."

"Did he say why?" Cloudy eyes regarded Katara with an expression that was pure sarcasm.

"You have to ask why." It wasn't a question, and Katara sighed.

"No. No, I don't. Did he...say anything?"

"I didn't talk to Twinkles. I went out to see Appa and he wasn't there."

"You went out to see Appa." This time it was Katara's voice that was flat with lack of query.

"What? I missed the big smelly guy." Toph turned away and went back to sightlessly gazing over the Fire Nation capitol. Katara stepped up next to her, leaning her elbows on the railing.

"I never wanted to hurt him," she murmured almost to herself. "I just..."

"He wasn't the one for you. Don't be ashamed of that, Sweetness. Ever since Sparky joined up with us it was obvious that you two belonged together." Toph's voice was casual, but her words startled the waterbender.

"When Zuko joined...but I hated him!"

"No. You didn't. You wanted to, but you didn't, and you hated that you didn't." The shorter girl's tone brooked no argument, and Katara sighed heavily.

"I guess...well, I guess you're right. I just – as much as I wanted to hate him, Zuko was...well..."

"Himself. Thoroughly tactless, utterly annoying. Superior attitude, no social skills. Kind of a pain in the ass. Did I hit all the salient points?" Toph laughed. Katara couldn't help but smile.

"He was all that. But there was...more to him. He didn't even know it. I don't think he really knows it yet. He's going to be an amazing Fire Lord."

"And that is why Twinkletoes never stood a chance."

"What?" The blue-eyed girl was confused and Toph sighed again, this time patiently.

"You mothered us. All of us. You coaxed and you cajoled and you bullied and you made sure we were safe and fed and had clean clothes...you know, mother-type-stuff. But it was never really like that with Sparky. Almost from the beginning you treated him like...almost like an equal. Even when you didn't trust him, you still respected him – though you probably would have eaten glass before admitting it. And when you did begin to trust him you never tried to mother him. Not like you did the rest of us. You believed in him, more than he did himself. More than he still does.

"You never would have fallen in love with Twinkles because you'd already given your heart to Zuko, and you never even knew it."

There was silence on the balcony as Katara digested what she'd just heard and Toph cocooned herself in her own thoughts. Finally the waterbender spoke.

"You know what I think we need?" she asked. Toph turned in her general direction. "A distraction. And it so happens that I have one, ready-made for the curious and inquisitive."

A few moments of explaining her thoughts on rehabilitating Azula (and a few moments of the earthbender's ranting - "Sweetness, have you lost your mind? That snotty Fire witch tried to kill you with lightning!") and Katara was finally able to get to the reason she'd sought out Toph in the first place.

"...so I plan to go inspect this Traitor's Cage. I'd like you to come along – it's underground, and I'm betting over years of neglect there's a lot of things an earthbender would be quite handy for." She said this with a playful nudge, which made the other girl retaliate with a shoulder punch that was not quite as hard as her usual affectionate thumps.

"Besides," she continued, "it'll be a great distraction for you. To keep your mind off of the fact that Aang left again without saying goodbye."

"Why would I care about that?" Toph asked with a snort. Katara smiled, glad for once that her friend couldn't see the expression in her eyes.

"I'm not the only one that has a long history of not admitting things to myself." With that, Katara turned and headed back inside. "Meet me in my room in a half an hour. I've got to go find Sokka. I'm dragging him along too."

Standing on the balcony, feeling the waterbender walk out, Toph took a deep breath and tried to convince herself that she didn't know exactly what the older girl was talking about.