Warning: Minor Western Air Temple spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk. :)

Time

''Fire Lord Zuko, a letter for you.''

Zuko took the letter from his courier warily before asking who it was from.

''Lady Katara, my Lord.'' the boy replied with a mischievous grin.

'Katara? Why would Katara be writing to me after all this time?' he wondered, reflecting on the past.

The ten years that passed since the fall of the last Fire Lord, Ozai, and the ascension of his firstborn had been aggravating and stressful, full of problems with confusing solutions for Zuko. But most of all, these ten years had been lonely.

Zuko had worked together with the Avatar's group ever since those fateful events at the Western Air Temple. His relationships with the rest of the group, though uneasy at first, had developed into sincere friendships, or, in one case, something more.

Or so he'd thought at the time.

Katara had always been a mystery to him. From the day he tied her to a tree looking for the Avatar, where she defied him (him! The intimidating Fire Nation prince!), or to their fight at the Spirit Oasis, where she, a girl from the tiny Southern Water Tribe, held her own against him. When they met again at the Catacombs, she was a whirlwind of emotions, going from angry to sympathetic and caring and back to angry again. The Western Air Temple, where she threatened his life, became less of a symbol of hate when they trained together just weeks later. And then, the most confusing of all, the time they shared right before the final battle.

The years hadn't made her any more clear to him, questions still plagued him about Katara. Where was she now, did she have a husband and family? Did she still think about their time together, those few stolen kisses before the battle with Ozai?

Zuko had turned down many a marriage proposal in hopes of her return to him, but they had not seen one another since Toph's marriage five years ago, let alone kept a relationship going.

The Fire Lord regarded all this with his brow furrowed ad he stared down at the letter in his hands while several female servants cleared away the remains of this breakfast. He glanced up as the took the plate directly in front of him, only to find them all giggling and smirking, sneaking glances at the letter. Zuko was reminded of the facial expression of the courier as he'd delivered the letter.

'Will the entire palace know the contents of this letter before I do?' Zuko wondered idly, regarding the servants again. He gaged their expressions, contemplating whether he should open it here, in the breakfast room, or in a more private area.

While a young servant girl picked up the golden goblet in front of him, her eyes flicked to the paper in his hands. Seeing her prompt fit of giggles, Zuko stood up and announced his leaving to the study.

''No disruptions, if at all possible.'' He addressed the men an women, who bowed respectfully as he left into the hallway.

Safe in the privacy of his office, the Fire Lord let his guard down and immediately brought the letter to his nose, inhaling deeply. It smelled only of paper and ink, but Zuko could convince himself that on the paper still lingered the sweet scent of Katara.

He sat down in a soft crimson-coloured chair, and held the letter directly in front of him, regarding it with great interest. Zuko closed his eyes and ran a finger under the seal, letting out a deep breath he hadn't noticed he had been holding. He opened his eyes and read the letter eagerly.

Dear Zuko,

I hope it's okay that I didn't call you Fire Lord Zuko, but I figured out past friendship recalled the usage of those titles.

Toph and her children are going on a tour of the world, and Sokka and Suki's family and I have both been invited. Suki is expecting, so she is planning to stay home and have someone else take her children. As I have none of my own, I volunteered to do this.

We are planning on making a stop in the Fire Nation, and Toph and I thought it might be good to visit and stay. The children really can't wait to meet you, with your consent, of course. Please write back soon so we can adjust our plans to fit.

Yours, Katara.

Zuko read through the letter at least three or four times, convincing himself of hidden meanings in every sentence. The mystery that was Katara was, if anything, even more complex in his view.

None of his many questions were answered by the time he penned his reply, but he knew the only way he'd get answers was to reply affirmatively and wait, for Katara would come in time.


Author's Notes: Hey, look, the return of deliberate mistake! Ooh, boy! XD

As some of yall may have noticed, I've been in a sort of creative slump lately. This is one of the first pieces of Avatar writing I've done in awhile, so I'm a little bit rusty. Helping me out with some advice or feedback would be very much appreciated.

Anyone wondering who Toph's husband is? Well, I'm not telling, you can leave that to your own imagination. XD

If any my lovely reviewers want another part to this arc, I'll definitley write it. Just ask, I will oblidge. ;)

Thanks for the support you guys, and I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you may celebrate. Hope that your New Year is great, also:)

OH, yeah! I almost forgot. I might possibly be changing the name of this drabble series, so... anyone have any suggestions? I'll let people know what it'll be beforehand, so yall can watch out for it, but I just wanted to know what you guys think.

Disclaimer: Avatar isn't mine. I don't get money from writing this. Make sense? ;)