Disclaimer: Don't own.
A/N: Penultimate chapter everyone. I'm kind of sad to see this end. Everyone has been great. I'm going to try to have this finished before Zutara week begins and I have ideas for that so watch out next week!
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Newlywed bliss wasn't the best way to describe the first year of marriage for Zuko and Katara. Adolescent best described them. The year was full of secret encounters and one usually hiding while the other tried to clear the room of nosey intruders. Fights, as with any relationship, happened and tended to leave something frozen and something burned. None could deny, however, that the Fire Lord and Lady were happy together.
1
A year was enough to adjust each other's internal clocks. Zuko learned that Katara would be much more active late into the night on full moons while Katara learned that waking up early could have many many benefits and she could still go back to sleep for a few hours.
They survived their first major challenges: a storm that washed out half the rice crop and an assassination attempt on Katara. Zuko, who had weathered his own attempts, quickly took control of that but the rice problem caused more problems. They managed to helped those most effected by the storm and for the first time Katara was thankful for the Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom.
2
While Katara and Zuko prepared to go from being the two of them to three of them Zuko worked on trying to bring down the cost of rice. At the suggestion of his wife he began to export steal to the Earth Kingdom in exchange for reduced tariffs on rice.
Nights full of passion slowly turned to nights full of tender love and promises whispered to the seen and unseen. Scrolls on proper baby care began to pour into the Palace as gifts to the expectant parents. They littered the room of the Fire Lord and half of them made the couple laugh out the outrageous suggestions.
Before their third wedding anniversary the Crown Price entered the world at dawn. His parents and nation were thrilled.
3
Suggestions that were once laughed at were tried to some success on the fussy Prince. Even with the lack of sleep Katara couldn't have been happier. She didn't think she could love someone so instantly but her son held a piece of her heart. It warmed her heart to see the most important man in her life holding the other most important one. Especially when she found them napping, the Prince resting on his father's chest.
The harvest produced an unexpected surplus of rice, which Zuko ordered a portion saved for each village to ration out in times of need. As new crops were planted Zuko began to boast that his son had to be gifted: he walked, said his first word, and got his first tooth in the same month. Clearly ahead of most children. Katara humored him and tried to get her son to stop called everyone "Dada" and say "Mama."
4
A month into their four year of marriage Katara confirmed they would be four soon. Preparations for the new baby began as well as constantly telling their eldest he would be a big brother soon. He started calling everyone Baby and began running away from his parents every chance he got. He usually didn't get very far but they still didn't know how he got to the Palace gates without being noticed.
A minor volcanic eruption rocked the outer islands. Aid was quickly sent to the islands but most saw it as a good omen that the second child of the Fire Lord would definitely be a firebender. The second Prince made his way into the world during an unseasonably cold night. He had his mother's eyes.
The Crown Prince stared at the mass of blankets and little head that he was told was his little brother. "No!" he cried and promptly wriggled out of his father's arms and ran off.
"I'm sure he'll come around," Zuko assured Katara after bringing the boy back.
"With how siblings get along in your family he better."
As their anniversary approached the couple began to feel the strain of two small children, especially when the elder discovered the meaning of mine.
5
The children grew and began to get used to each other. The younger Prince said his first word in the bath screaming "wa-wa!" and splashing everywhere.
The Fire Nation had its first (marginally) uneventful year: no crisis that needed Zuko's immediate attention, no real word of any rebellions, nothing really out of the ordinary.
Katara and Zuko began to drift apart. Stolen kisses had stopped long ago but now even private ones were dwindling. They were close in public, always smiling and one of them with a child in their arms, smiling for their people. In private they slept on opposite sides of the bed until Katara gave up and began sleeping in the rooms dedicated to the Fire Lady.
They talked mostly about the children and political matters while both not knowing how to say they missed the other.
6
The Royal Family planned a trip to Ba Sing Se to visit and discuss matters with the Earth King as well as see Iroh. After the obligatory drudgery of the formal functions the family visited The Jasmine Dragon. Iroh looked at his nephew and niece-in-law and watched the forced closeness and lonely looks.
"How about I take care of the children for a week while you two take a vacation. I heard they opened a nice resort at Lake Laogai."
"They did what?" Katara remembered the trigger phrase the Dai Li used.
"I know, I thought it was strange too. Apparently the area is very nice and it was an easy way to find out who still lingered under the effects of the Dai Li. A thriving business and a way to help people, the best of both worlds. I can see you two need some time alone and I won't take no for an answer. I'm sure the boys have a nurse that can help me out. Besides, someone needs to begin teaching them about tea while they're young."
Plans were made and Zuko and Katara were sent on a slightly forced vacation. They didn't speak on the way there, instead they looked out opposite windows in the coach. They arrived in late afternoon and took dinner in their rooms in silence. Bed was routine, each of them curled up on opposite sides of the bed.
Over breakfast Katara suggested they go swimming to pass the time. She took her swim suite into the bathroom to change. Zuko wondered when they had stopped changing in front of each other.
When she came out Zuko finally admitted to himself how much he missed her.
"I missed you," he said softly.
"I wasn't in the bathroom that long Zuko," she replied with a resigned tone.
"No, I've missed you. I miss my Katara, my wife," he walked right in front of her, taking her hand in his, "my lover." This was the closest they had been in private in awhile.
Katara looked into his eyes. "I missed my lover too."
"Well we have a week, let's start with spending the day together. Like a date," Zuko suggested feeling that they needed sometime together before resuming amorous activities.
"Sounds fun."
They spent the day together becoming reacquainted with how to be a couple without forcing it. By the end of the day Katara was laughing at some of Zuko's horribly overly romantic phrases. ("Flowers bloom for you." "Your smile could out shine the sun.") In return he tackled her onto the bed. Playful wrestling turned to kissing and kissing easily turned to loving. They spent the rest of the week relearning the spots that made the other gasp and moan.
Returning to Ba Sing Se they thanked Iroh profusely for the week alone. Later they did slightly regret leaving the boys with their grandfather when they claimed anytime they thought their tea was made wrong.
7
Their daughter, a souvenir from their trip to Lake Laogai, screamed into the world two months after their seventh wedding anniversary. Her elder brothers complained that she was a sister and not a brother.
Few reports graced the Fire Lord's desk about rebel groups forming in some of the poorer cities. He sent extra rice to them as well as the medical aid Katara suggested.
The lovers made time for themselves amid the cries of a newborn and the troubles of toddlers.
8
The first time the Crown Prince bent fire he was throwing a tantrum at his sister's first birthday party. His parents weren't sure what to do: how could they praise his bending while still telling him it was wrong to complain about which piece of cake he got?
Instead, a few days later, Zuko sat him down and began talking about the basics of firebending and how control was the greatest strength a firebender could have.
Reports of unrest grew: crops weren't terrible but they weren't great, prices of ordinary goods were steadily creeping upwards and murmurs of how good the old days were began to spread. Zuko sent some of his men to see how true the rumors were. He began discussing with Katara plans in case things became serious. She refused to go along with any of them that involved her and the children leaving.
9
The first intelligence reports came back and Zuko began to plead with Katara to take the children somewhere. Most of the ire was directed at him but he had too many reports of plans to first assassinate the children than himself.
After one rather loud fight they were silently eating dinner when their second son bent tea at his older brother. Katara cradled her head in her hands muttering "can I please have one of my children bend for the first time without me having to scold them for their behavior?" while Zuko laughed.
After seeing the reports for herself and a little more yelling and some personal convincing from Zuko, Katara and the children took a trip to Kyoshi where her brother and sister-in-law were visiting Suki's family.
10
On the morning of their tenth wedding anniversary, curled up in bed, Zuko laced his fingers through Katara's and rested them on her pregnant belly. "Happy anniversary," he whispered into her ear. Katara shivered like the she had the first time he had done that.