The Hero Comes Home

Katara stopped Nate.

"Yes?" Nate asked he turned around.

"I'm Katara. A friend of Zoe's." Katara smiled warmly.

"And?" Nate asked. He seemed uncomfortable.

"I have an idea. For you and Zoe." Katara's smile grew a mile wide. She then whispered something into Nate's ear. Nate smiled.

"But I'm going to ask her something."

"What?" Katara asked.

"Who would I have to ask permission to marry Zoe?" Nate asked. Katara jumped up and down.

"Oh my gosh!" Katara screamed. Nate just stood there, his head cocked in confusion. He wasn't used to girls. Katara took his hand and led him to Zuko and Iroh.

"Zuko, Iroh this Nate." Nate smiled weakly and whispered to Katara.
"Why am I asking them?"

"Just do it." Katara hissed. Nate gulped.

"I want to marry Zoe." Nate said. Iroh smiled and clapped his hands.

"Really?" Zuko raised his eyebrows.

"Yes. More than anything." Zuko had to admit, the guy was pretty determined. Toph stepped out of the corners.

"Do you really love Zoe?"

"Yes."

"Are you ever going to cheat on her?"

"No."

"Would you die for her?"

"Yes." Nate said without a second thought. Toph whistled.

"Wow. And I thought Zuko was a sap." Toph smiled. Nate blushed.

"You have my permission." Iroh smiled. Nate beamed. Katara went up to Toph and screamed.

"OH MY GOD!!" Katara screamed. Sokka ran into the room.

"What happened?" Sokka asked, on warrior mode.

"ZOE'S GETTING MARRIED!" Katara screamed.

"That's if she says yes." Toph replied. Nate seemed to shrink. He walked away, a frown on his face.

"TOPH!" Katara scolded.

"What? " Toph asked. Katara grunted and ran after Nate.

"Smooth Toph." Sokka said.

Nate walked out onto the beach.

"Nate!" Katara yelled. She was breathless.

"She wouldn't marry me." Nate grumbled. Katara thought about what to do. She could comfort him, say its okay, scream at him, or possibly tell him he's right. Katara had a better idea. She slapped him.

"The girl loves you. You'd have to blind not to see it." Nate made no sound so Katara went on.

"She heard a rumor you were dead, and she shut down. She refused to eat and gave up on living. When you came, she was at to the point if she fell asleep, there was a good chance she wouldn't wake up."

"She told me about you. She told me she loved you. And that she couldn't forgive herself for leaving you. She loved Nate. She always did and she always will." Katara got up. Nate stood up.

"Thank you." Nate said and walked off into town.

Zoe woke up. She stretched her arms. She inspected herself, wondering if she had any scars. But she looked normal. Zoe bit her lip. She had sworn that she had fallen into Nate's arms. She remembered his sweet smell, how he had gently brushed her air away from her face, along with all of her fears and worries. But apparently it had all been a dream. Zoe got up, feeling much less sad than usual.

"He's not coming back." Zoe whispered. But she knew there was no way in the world she world let go of this fake ignorance, this mock innocence. Zoe brushed her hair and then got changed. She walked out of her room and walked all the way into the throne room.

Katara ran up to her and hugged her.

"What?" Zoe asked.

"Oh. Nothing." Katara couldn't suppress her smile.
"She's excited about my coronation." Zuko smiled. Zoe suddenly gasped.

"WHAT THE HECK?!" Zoe screamed.

"What?"

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH ZUKO?! ZUKO DOESN'T SMILE!!" Zoe yelled. Zuko laughed.

"What the Heck??" Zoe asked. Katara laughed.

"And guess what?" Katara said. Suki, Toph and Zoe groaned.

"WE'RE GOING SHOPPING!" Katara screamed with excitement.

"Kill me now!" Zoe groaned. Toph nodded.

"Damn right." Suki leaned over to Toph and Zoe.

"If she picks something pink, we kill her. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Toph and Zoe said in unison.

"Come on! The party starts at 6!" Katara grabbed the three and started pulling them.

"If I don't make it, you better spend a whole lot of money on my funeral."Toph whispered.

"What do you think of this one?" Katara held up a dark red dress.

"I think it's beautiful." Toph said.

"Really? 'Cause I was scared that red would look too- thanks Toph." Katara mumbled. She pulled out a blue dress and held it up.

"For me or you?" Zoe asked.

"Me." Katara replied.

"It looks fine."

"Just fine? Maybe I should wear the red-"

"No. You look stupid in red. No offense." Zoe cut her off. Katara sighed.

"You look great Katara." Suki smiled.

"Thanks." Katara quickly pulled out shoes.

"Heels of flats?" Katara asked. Zoe groaned.

"Can we just kill her now?" Zoe whispered.

"No. We couldn't do it right if we rushed it." Toph whispered back.

"Heels."

"Heels."

"Heels."

"Do you think Zoe, Toph and Suki have killed Katara yet?" Zuko asked.

"I hope not." Aang replied.

"I don't want my girlfriend to be a murderer."

"I don't want my girlfriend dead."

"Would they really kill her?" Sokka asked.

"Yes." Zuko answered, his eyebrow creased in worry.

"Alright now it's Zoe's turn."

"Blue, Red, Green or White?" Katara asked.

"Purple."

"They don't have purple." Katara said. Zoe laughed. Then she walked up to the manager.

"I want a purple dress."

"We don't have one miss." Zoe lit a flame in the palm of her hand.

"I want a purple dress."

"Yes miss." The manager hurried off. Zoe smiled.

"Suki."

"Yes?" Suki groaned.

"What color?"

"Brown with a little green." Katara shrieked. She ran off and brought back a brown dress with a vomit colored hem.

"That's ugly." Suki stuck her tongue out.

"Yeah it is." Zoe smiled. Toph laughed.

"I'm starting to enjoy this." Zoe stood up.

"I'm going to pick out a dress." Zoe walked away. Within ten minutes, she returned with a dress. It was plain brown, and had a brown ribbon that tied into a bow in the back. On the ribbon, a small fan was sewn on.

"Wow. It's really pretty." Katara sighed. Zoe smiled.

"I rock." Katara turned to Toph.

"A Green Dress right?"

"My Champion belt or nothing." Toph stated as she blew her bangs out of her eyes.

"A green dress with the Champion belt?" Katara pleaded.

"Okay, but on one condition."

"What?"

"No shoes."

"But Toph-"

"Okay then I'm not wearing anything."

"Toph!" Zoe laughed. Katara sighed.

"Fine." Toph punched the air.

"I win!" Suddenly the manger came back with a long purple dress.

It was beautiful. It flowed out and stopped at the floor. It was a dark purple. It shimmered. It had a black hem and belt. It was v-neck.

"Wow.'" Zoe said. Katara gasped.

"It's beautiful."

"It really is."

"I think it's such a pretty color." Toph said. Zoe cracked up. Katara slapped her forehead.

"Jesus." Katara huffed. Zoe smiled.

"So we're done now right?" Zoe, Toph and Suki perked up.

"No." they groaned. "We have to do hair, makeup, jewelry, shoes for Zoe and Suki-"

"I think we should kill her now." Zoe whispered.

"Zuko would kill us." Suki pointed out.

"I think we could take Sparky."

After five hours more of shopping and planning elaborate ways for Katara to be murdered, the girls arrived in the palace.

"How'd it go?" Iroh asked.

"I'd rather here one of your stories, Iroh." Suki groaned. Toph fell down. Sokka smiled.

"HA! I win I told you Katara wouldn't be killed! Zuko you owe me 100 gold coins." Katara groaned.

"You bet on my survival?"

"Yupp." Sokka said before wandering off. Iroh checked the time.

"You girls need to get ready!"

5 minutes later…

Zoe ran out her room, screaming with Toph right behind her.

"HELP!" They screamed. They bumped into Zuko.

"What's going on?" Half of Zoe's hair was straight the other half was curly.

"Katara…straightening thing….. painful death….HELP!" Zoe then ran off. Zuko smiled. Toph punched his arm.

"What Toph?"

"I don't know. It's fun." Zoe then came back a couple of minutes later. Her hair was half up, half down. She was dressed up and she put on a little makeup. She was wearing high heels. She looked like a Queen. Her eyes shone with a type of fire, and she walked with a type of poise that people were born with. Zoe raised her eyebrows.

"Well?" Zoe asked. Zuko cocked his head.

"Well what?"

"Do I look okay?"

"Yeah sure I guess." Zuko shrugged. Zoe groaned.

"You know I'll go ask Aang." Zoe walked off, holding her head high. Katara walked into the hallway, wearing her blue dress. Zuko's eyes widened. She looked amazing. Toph slinked back into the shadows.

"Do I look okay?" Katara asked.

"You look amazing." Zuko blurted quickly. He then cursed himself.

Why can't I think straight when I'm around her? He instantly reddened.

"Are you excited?" Katara asked.

"Yeah I guess." Zuko shrugged. Katara smiled.

"What's wrong?" Katara asked. Zuko shrugged.

"It's being Firelord isn't it?" Katara asked. How does she read my mind?

"What if I'm like Ozai?" Zuko asked. Katara hugged him.

"You nothing like Ozai." She said quietly. She stepped back and placed her hand on his scar.

"Reflections can lie, Zuko. You are strong, good and kind. You're the guy I fell in love with. You're Zuko. And you will be a wonderful Firelord." Katara said quietly. Zuko reached up and touched her hand and brought it down from his face. He squeezed it and then leaned in to kiss her. Katara melted into the kiss. She felt her heartbeat speed up. She deepened the kiss after a moment.

"Ew! Major yuck-fest!" Toph yelled. Katara and Zuko suddenly broke apart.

"Toph!" Zuko scolded as Katara turned beet red. Toph laughed and walked away to go get ready. Katara turned away. Zuko grabbed her hand.

"You meant what you said?" Katara turned to him.

"Of course." Katara whispered. Zuko smiled. Together, holding hands, they walked to go talk to Iroh.

Suki was in the middle of doing her hair when Sokka walked in, red faced and furious.

"They were kissing again!" He yelled angrily. Suki smiled.

"Aw."

"NO! BAD!" Sokka yelled. Suki turned around.

"Why is it so bad?"

"Because!" Suki smirked.

"Because why?" Sokka sat down.

"I don't really know."He pouted. Suki smiled.

"Wow, Sokka." Sokka grunted.

"Hey Suki."

"Yeah?"

"You're coming to the party with me right?"

"No." Suki smirked.

"WHAT?"

"I'm kidding smart one."

"Oh." Sokka smiled. He went up to her and kissed her cheek.

"See you in a bit." Sokka called as he walked out of the room. Suki let out a un-Suki like giggle. Then her eyes widened in horror. She then slapped herself.

"I'm turning into Ty Lee."Suki cried in horror.

Iroh smiled fondly as he watched Zuko and Katara whisper to each other. Young Love.

"Oh my! We have to get to the party!"

At the Party….

Katara giggled as Zuko was talking to some stuffy, stuck up old man. She decided to go and save him.

"Excuse me? Can I borrow him for a moment?" Katara asked her voice dripping with feign politeness. The old man nodded and walked away.

"Thank you." Zuko whispered. Katara smiled as she gave him a peck on the check.

"You're welcome." Katara pulled him away from the circle of politicians.

"Let's go have some fun?"

"Fun?" Zuko gulped.

"You know how to dance Hot Head?"

"NO." Katara laughed.

"Stinks to be you. I'm gonna get a dance." Katara smiled and her eyes widened. She made a puppy dog face.

"Fine." Katara beamed as she pulled him out onto the dance floor.

Toph blew her bangs out of her eyes. Aang watched Zuko and Katara dance.

"Do you want to dance?"Aang asked hopefully.

"I don't dance." Aang pouted.

"Please?"

"I really don't dance. I don't know how." Toph said, pleading with Aang. There was no way she could dance.

"Follow my lead." Aang grabbed her hand and pulled her to the dance floor. Toph groaned.

"You're doing fine." Aang said reassuringly. Toph grunted.

"I can't do this."

"You're doing great."

"Twinkle toes you are so dead." Toph raised her eyebrows and laughed.

"Hot Head's dancing." Zuko glared at her.

Zuko followed Katara's lead awkwardly.

"Ugh! I can't dance for my life."

"You're doing great." Katara reassured him. Suddenly Zuko was interrupted by a loud shriek. He looked around to see Zoe standing there, a stain on her dress and a young man with an empty glass.

"STOP SPILLING YOUR DRINK ON ME!!" Zoe screamed.

The young man backed up, cautiously. Zoe quickly bended the drink off her dress.

"S-Sorry."

"Oh you will be." Zoe stepped towards the man. Zuko quickly caught her arm. The drink splattered to the floor. Zoe turned to Zuko. The young man ran away.

"What?"

"You're not getting into a fight. Not now." Zuko whispered harshly. Everyone began going back to what they were doing.

"Why?" Zoe asked, impatient.

"You're one of my good friends. You were invited to the party. That means you have to be nice, polite and courteous."

"Don't they all mean the same thing?" Zoe asked as she blew her bangs out of her eyes.

"That's not the point."

"I tried that when he started flirting. Then he spilled his drink on me." Zoe whispered. She quickly craned her neck, searching for him.

"Where'd you go Chan?" She mumbled to herself.

"Chan?" Zuko asked, trying to constrain his disgust.

"Yes. And he's about to die. Why? Is he a friend of yours?" Zoe asked.

"He made a move on Azula." Zuko said, his face showing his disgust. Zoe turned around.

"I think I might puke." Zoe said as she clutched her stomach. Zuko laughed and walked back over to Katara. Katara glanced at Zoe nervously.

"Is she ok?" Katara asked her face full of worry.

"She's fine." Suddenly the band walked off the stage. Everyone headed towards their seats. The Gang sat at a large circular table. Radom visitors would come and go, talking about politics. Finally someone came along that Zoe recognized.

"June!" Zoe stood up.

"Hey Zoe." June smiled and then eyed Katara and Zuko.

"Looks like I was right." Katara blushed.

"How do you guys know each other?"

"She was one of the many bounty hunters. She finally captured me, but I escaped." Zoe shrugged.

"Every second I left her alone she would be trying to escape. Eventually she escaped and I didn't bother tracking her again." June said. June looked at Katara and Zuko again and laughed.

"Well, Love birds, I'd love to stay and chat but it looks like someone is coming this way." June said. She walked off. Zoe turned around. She gasped.

Nate was walking towards her, weaving in between the crowd to get to Zoe. Zoe grabbed hold of her chair to steady herself.

"Nate?" Zoe asked her voice barely above a whisper. Nate nodded.

"Nate!" Zoe cried. She ran to him. Nate picked her up and spun her around.

"But how?" Zoe asked as she hugged him.

"I told you I'd find you." Nate smiled. Nate grabbed her hand.

"Come on." Zoe followed him.

He led her unto a beach. He sat down. She sat down next to him.

"They told me you were dead." Zoe whispered. Nate looked at her.

"No."

"how'd you find me?"

"I don't know. I was taken by pirates-"

"WHAT?" Zoe shrieked.

"And I jumped off and started swimming-"

"You idiot!" Zoe yelled.

"And I saw you falling and I ran and-"

"You caught me." Zoe smiled. Nate nodded and kissed her. Zoe felt a shock go down her spine. Zoe then broke away from him.

"What's wrong?" Nate asked, his voice full of concern.

"Nate I need to tell you something." Zoe whispered.

"Ok." Nate asked, fearing the worst.

"I love you." Zoe said quietly. Nate looked at her in surprise. He was shocked. And therefore silent. Zoe looked away, thinking he didn't feel the same way. She stood and began to walk away. Nate jumped up and grabbed her hand.

"Zoe!"

"Yes?" Zoe turned to him, her eyes full of tears. Nate wiped them away.

"Please don't cry. I love you too." Nate whispered. Zoe looked up.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Now it's my turn to ask you something." Nate said. Zoe nodded.

"Close your eyes." Nate ordered.

"Why?" Zoe asked.

"Please."

"Ok." Zoe turned around, facing the ocean. The waves lapped gently on the white sandy beach. The moon was starting to fade away, and the sun was beginning to rise. A New Day. A New Start. A New Age. Nate pulled out a necklace. It was pure white and reflected every color. A ying yang was engraved on it. It shone like a beacon in the new morning.

Nate breathed in and held the necklace around her neck.

"Open your eyes." Zoe opened her eyes.

"Does this mean….?" Zoe asked breathlessly.

"Zoe will you marry me?" Nate asked.

"Yes." Zoe breathed. Zoe undid her old necklace. It dropped in her hand. Her grip tightened on it as Nate put on the new necklace.

"It's beautiful." Zoe said happily.

"Just like you." Nate murmured. Zoe turned to him and threw her arms around him and kissed him. Nate hugged her tightly. Zoe smiled and finally understood what her mom meant when she said "You'll know when you've found true love." Zoe knew she had found true love. She had always known. And know she was going to get married.

"I've always loved you." Zoe whispered. Nate smiled.

"I always have and always will." Zoe felt the sun rising and breathed deeply, knowing that this road would be far from easy.

"The world is trying to keep up apart." Zoe whispered.

"They won't though." Nate reassured her. Zoe remembered an old lullaby.

"Just wait, though wide he may roam, always a Hero Comes Home, he goes where no man has gone, but always, a hero comes home. And Someday they'll carve in stone, The Hero comes Home." Zoe sang quietly.