POV ZUKO
"I know... but I can't be great without you" I said to katara
I wanted to hold onto katara for just a little longer.. my arms around her I could feel the curve of her back, my face on her waist her full breast resting in my over my eyes.. I start fearing I wouldn't be able to stop. Katara arms wrapped around me felt as though an angel with soft wings held me.
I gently pulled katara down to sit on my lap as I continued to sit on the edge of her bed.
"I've missed you so much" I whisper into her ear.
I could feel katara gathering goosebumps on the back of her neck as my lips touch it.
"...zu..uko" katara said pulling herself away gently "We shouldn't right now.."
A grin appear on my face as I looking to my soon to be bride
"Your lucky I'm such a gentleman" I said teasing as I let katara stand up
"Katara! I'm glad your awake! How are you feeling?!" Uncle said greeting us in the hallway in front of katara room.
"Thank you" Katara smiling to Iroh as he walked closer to us "I'm feeling a lot better today I actually woke up yesterday"
"Uncle, I need to see you in the war room soon, I have somethings to discuss with you"
"Of course Fire Lord" Unlce said comedically raising his arm to his head as a salute
"funny..Unlce"
"Katara why don't you join us" uncle said
"no I should go visit my grandmother while she's still in the Fire nation"
"Your family is here?! I'll love to say hello" uncle said happily
"Uncle we need to-"
"Let go!" Uncle said completely ignoring me walking happily ahead
Katara began laughing at me as she gestured for us to follow.
Even though uncle is very annoying at times I do treasure times like this with him.
We walked to the training Arena where sokka was sparring with Azula and the small water tribe watched.
"Iroh it's great to see you" Hakoda said standing up to greet him.
While everyone else was saying there hellos Azula stood in the arena waiting for sokka to return. Speaking to Unlce was still a new and strange thing for her.
"Where are you two off to" Gran Gran said noticing zuko helping katara to sit but not sitting himself.
"Uncle and I need to discuss some things"
"The prisoners?" Hakoda said
"Yes among other things"
"I want to be at the trail" Hakoda said looking zuko in the eyes from a distance
"I will as well" sokka said listening
"It's not normal protocol .. however giving the circumstances I'll allow it"
"Great then let's go nephew" uncle said leaving.
"Uhm katara" I said lowering my head to hers "are you going to be alright.."
Giggling
"Of course Zuko, I'll probably try take Kei on a walk"
I smiled to katara stoping myself from laying an other kiss on her lips with her family so close.
"I'll see you later" then.
POV Katara
Suki and Gran Gran accompanied me to the gardens after Azula and Sokka sparring.
"It's seem you are walking better today"
Suki Expressed
"Yes Zuko was being a little over cautious earlier helping me everywhere, but honestly today I am feeling better"
We all sat in the chairs by the table in the garden as I watched Kei fly around.
"You know Kei would sleep with you some nights as if he was guarding you" suki said
"Aww really"
*giggling*
"Katara" Gran Gran said bring a more serious tone in the air "Are you happy? Here I mean?"
"Yes very much Gran Gran"
"Are you sure" Gran Gran said looking me in my eyes for any hesitation
"I'll admit..we've had fights... and misunderstanding... but I truly love zuko and can't picture my life without him.."
"But do he feel the same? *sigh*
Katara You are old enough to know what a concubine is, are you certain zuko does not have them? You know this is there culture in the Fire Nation"
"Yes I know... and zuko and I have talked about it, he haven't taken any and wouldn't..I'm sure of it"
"But now I wonder have you followed your Heritage? Your culture ?"
I was taken back, I knew exactly what Gran Gran meant... I can't lie to her ...but I sure can't tell her the truth? What would she think of me?
"...I'm sorry.. Gran Gran... I did not" I said losing my eyes
Suki sat there unsure if she should leave
*sigh* "Katara...you know better"
I shook my head up and down motioning yes
"Suki, please do not take what I say to heart. True you and sokka conceived outside of marriage but sokka did the correct thing because he comes for the water tribe, my tribe.
but katara how do you know Zuko will do the right thing? What if you didn't have a miscarriage?" Gran Gran said firm
"H-how do you know" I asked stunned
"Katara I am almost 100years old " gran gran said laughing "when you get as old as me you can tell certain things"
Gran Gran breath deeply once more
"I was once a young girl to and understand, but we have these laws for reason and I don't doubt zuko love for you but I do doubt his ability to be able to commit to you even if he may want to.. he is still the Fire Lord"
" I understand your concern Gran Gran and I had them myself, but zuko have asked me never to leave him again and until he leaves me... I have to go off of faith... isn't that was love is?"
Gran Gran smiles to katara " then promise me you will not .. abandon your culture again"
"Thank you" I said hugging my grandmother
POV Azula
After my sparring with Sokka I decided to leave the arena to take a bath and relax.
I looked myself in the mirror in my bathroom.
My hair has grown back decently
I thought as I toke my hair out of its ponytail as I turned away dipping myself into the bathtub.
The sweat of today's sparring coming off of me.
Sokka isn't a bad warrior for someone with no bending.
I checked on my wound on my thigh,
It's healing up nicely
I began washing my hair and body then coming out and changing into fresh clothes.
I sat in my sitting room coming to the close realization that relaxing isn't my thing.
I left out my room freshly clean, not really having a purpose to go I began walking down the hall and somehow stumbling into the garden.
I rarely come here since this was my mother favorite place but for whatever reason I couldn't walk away. I felt myself being drawn into the small pond where my mother use to sit by and feed the ducks.
One duckling wobbled up to me touching my boot. My instinct was to turn around but I didn't for some reason, instead I bent down and sat on the grass with the duckling in my hand.
It's soft... and fragile...
I thought as my finger pet it on the head.
I could feel someone eyes on me as I turned around to a guard near, but this one ...looked familiar...
"Mihir? " I asked
The guard lifted his helmet revealing it was him.
"It's great to see you Princess Azula, I wasn't sure if you'll recognize me" he said bowing.
Mihir was tall and fit like every other young guard, but his eyes was a beautiful dark brown that match his great olive skin against his lovely white teeth.
"Of course I would" I said trying to hide my blushing cheeks to my quick responses.
"Uhm please come closer"
Mihir walked closer to Azula until he was standing next to her.
"You can sit"
"Forgive me princess but I don't think I can, how would I protect you if someone was to attack"
"ha you forget who I am, I doubt anyone would get the better of either of us... please sit"
Mihir sat next to Azula looking at her lap at the small duckling.
"H-how have you been.. princess"
"Mihir do you remember when we was young and created troubled without a care in the world... now it's like the world is a different place"
Mihir noticed the sadness in Azula eyes as she held the duckling
"I remember you always started trouble" he said trying to lift Azula mood
A smile appeared on Azula face as she remembered the innocent trouble she use to cause
"And you would always cover of me... I think after a point they just stop asking because they knew it was me... thank you Mihir" I said looking at him smiling
"Princess Azula... how have you really been.. are you ok.. with everything I mean "
I let the duckling go into the water and sat back down
"I don't know... I just... I don't even know how to say it.."
"Just say it"
"My father is dead... and rightfully so... but am I a bad person for missing him? For feeling horrible for betraying him? He was the only one who ..actually loved me"
"Azula, while I wouldn't doubt your fathers love for you.. he still was a horrible person. Your not a bad person for doing the right thing... I'm actually really proud of you doing what's right isn't always the easiest"
Mihir said gently pushing the flying hairs in front of Azula face behind her ear.
This feeling I was starting to develop was foreign to me, I felt as though I had fireflies flattering inside me... what was this?
Suddenly I became aware Mihir and I was the only one in the garden ..alone
"MIHIR! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
General Lee said walking up behind us before I turned around
"Princess Azula!" General Lee said bowing slightly "Forgive me for being so loud I didn't realize you was here"
"It's ok General, Mihir and I actually known each other since childhood..we was just catching up"
"That May be so but you Mihir are suppose to be guarding the ground, now found me." General Lee said stern "once again please forgive me princess" General Lee finished as he walked off
"I hope I didn't get you into to much trouble"
"It's ok, I'm use to your mischief by now" Mihir said teasing and bowing before he ran off to find General Lee
I watched him leave before I turned back to the pond wondering as I walked along the edge. It was nice to see someone from my past who doesn't hate me
"Actually... can I ask you something "
I turned around to see Mihir standing behind me out of air.
"...what is it.."
"I was wondering if your not busy... would you like to go to dinner with me later today?"
I was a bit shocked but not offended
"..sure"
Mihir stood there with a huge cool smile on his face as he bowed and toke my right hand in hand and kiss it gently
"Until later tonight princess"
"Please just Azula"
