chapter 20.....a happily ever after.......

5 YEARS LATER

"Papa?" A small voice called out, running through the palace. The small girls black hair was tied in a simple pony. She was 3 and ran around with the energy only a small child had. She wore a maroon robe and black pants. Her eyes were golden and her skin pale.

She peaked into a study room, where she saw her mother sitting reading a scroll to her brother. He looked just like their mother, tan skin, brown hair and blue eyes, like the ocean.

Irony enough, the girl, who so resembled her father was a waterbender, and the boy, who was a replica of their mother, was a firebender. He was going to turn 5 in 8 months.

"Mama?" The woman turned around and saw her daughter walk in. She climbed into their mothers lap and looked at the scroll.

"What are you reading?" She asked, poking the scroll. A larger tan hand tickled her sides.

"A story, would you like to listen?" The small girl nodded enthusiastically.

And so the Fire lady read the story, unknown to them her husband had slipped into the room.

"The princess loved the prince so much…" she whispered to the children. She didn't need a scroll for this story, she knew it be heart, for it was her own story.

"…but they knew they could never be together. His nation would never allow. He told her he loved her, and would come and find her. Years later, he came and took her away into the night. They married-"

"-and lived happily ever after." The Fire lord finished, coming out of the shadows. He kissed his wife on the head and looked at his daughter. She beamed up at him, and tugged at his robe.

Bending down he leaned in close and she whispered in his ear. He looked at her.

"Really?" She nodded and looked from her mother to her father.

The Fire Lady looked at her husband, "what does she want?"

"She wants to train to learn waterbending, Katara."

Katara looked down at her daughter, "I don't know Zuko, she's too young I think."

The young boy piped up, "I started to learn when I turned 3, right Papa?" Behind Katara, Zuko was putting his fingers to his lips, trying to get his son to be quiet.

"Really?" Katara looked up at Zuko, and eye brow raised.

"Yes Mama, look at what I can do." He produced a small ball of fire in his hands, and the girl reached for it.

"No Luna," she said grabbing her daughters hands, "you could get burned."

"No Mama, I wouldn't burn Luna!" he quickly extinguished the ball and sat on his hands to prove his point.

"See how far he has come?" Zuko said, bending down to Katara, kissing her earlobe.

"Yes, but you never told me."

"Papa, it was a secret?" the young boy asked, his blue eyes wide.

"No Asoka, I just hadn't told Mama yet."

"Can I learn to waterbend?" Luna pleaded, tugging on her mothers robes, giving her a sad look.

"I suppose," she looked down at her daughter, who seemed to be bursting with joy, "I'll show you some things tomorrow, okay?"

The little girl nodded enthusiastically. She hugged her mother's neck, letting out a large yawn.

"but for now," her father said, picking her up and swinging her around, "it's time for bed."

"That means you too Asoka." Katara gave her son a stern look.

He smiled sheepishly following his father to the nursery, "and don't even think about reading scrolls!"

Sighing she got out the chair and walked down the empty corridor to the Royale Suite. She entered and shrugged off the soft material of the fine silks, letting them pool around her feet. She picked it up gently and placed it inside of the closet, grabbing one of Zuko's robes.

The robe was too big for her, the sleeves bellowed out and the robe dropped to the floor, but she didn't care. Closing the robe she walked to the vanity and looked at her reflection.

Her hair was longer than it was 5 years ago, and her eyes shone as bright as ever. Taking a brush, she began to brush out the tangles she received through out the day. Between playing hide and seek with Luna, and getting Asoka out of the tree he was stuck in, she was amazed she didn't look worse.

She had dark circles under her eyes from her lack of sleep. She was up that morning with morning sickness, again. She was 3 months pregnant and had been in the bathroom several times in the morning.

She took out the crown that seemed lighter than when she fist wore it, and placed it on the vanity. Taking out the top knot, she brushed her hair more, humming a lullaby.

"Hush little iceberg, don't shed a tear," she began to sing, "don't fear the darkness, mother is here."

"Don't stop," a voice said beside her, "it was lovely."

The reflection of Zuko appeared. He let his hair grow out, it now reached his shoulders. He was broader and taller. Katara took a deep breathe.

"Hush little baby, dream of the boat. Don't miss your father, he is afloat." She hadn't realized a tear rolled down her cheek. Zuko wiped it away with his thumb and kissed the top of her head.

"That's all I remember," she whispered, blinking back more tears, "my mother used to sing it when my father left for hunting or fishing trips. We would get so worried at night, my mother used to sing it to us. I sometimes think she sang it to reassure herself too."

She laughed at the memories of her family, huddled around the fire, waiting for her father to return.

"So, is Luna asleep?" Katara asked crawling under the blankets, into the warmth of the bed. She felt the shift of the mattress as Zuko crawled in with her.

"Yes, and so is Asoka." Zuko pulled Katara to him, so her back was to his chest. One of his arms fell across her waist, securing her to himself.

"Did he have any scrolls stashed away?" Zuko chuckled leave it to his wife to make sure the children were asleep like they were supposed to be.

"No, I checked every where." Zuko dimmed the fire, and a cool wind blew through the open windows.

"Even the floorboards?" She asked tiredly, snuggling closer to his warmth.

"Yes, even the floorboards."

"The closet?" she yawned and closed her eyes, settling her head against his chest.

"…the closet too."

"M'kay. I love you."

"I love you too." He bent down and left a trail of kisses on her exposed neck. He kissed behind her earlobe, making her sigh in content.

"Happy Anniversary love" he whispered in her ear. She smiled and kissed his lips.

"Happy Anniversary Zuko," she whispered, before falling asleep against him. He smiled to himself. He had a loving wife and family and he was a ruler of a good Nation. Yes, his life was perfect….

The End

now for those of you who are sad this is over.....don't be...i'll be making oneshots of katara and zuko's lives after this and the kids.........