I know.. I know I say it all the time… but I really am sorry I took so long! I've been sooooo busy with school and work. And well; quite honestly I also ran out of ideas for this story. I'll get bits and pieces but can't actually form a full chapter :/

Chapter 34 – The Bonds That Grow Ever Stronger

"Is it always so cold here?" Zuko shivered once again, wrapping his arms tighter around himself. He felt himself very lucky that Hakoda had given him the thick fur coat to wear, but still could not seem to get warm. Something in the back of his head that sounded oddly like his uncle told him to use his breath of life, but he did not want to look weak to anyone, especially anyone from the South Pole. He knew he couldn't erase what had been done to Katara's homeland. Just the thought of first meeting her grandmother still made his stomach twist.

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They had just docked their boat, a group of young teen boys helping to tie it off. The ramp was barely set in place before Katara practically leapt off and into her grandmother's arms; Hakoda followed next, while Zuko hung back, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"Ahhh…so this is Zuko, is it? The crown prince of the fire nation?" Zuko took a deep breath before bowing respectfully before the elderly woman. He felt her gaze on him like a lion-vulture."The last time you were here, you melted half our homes. Now here you are, spokesman for the Avatar…hero and protector of my granddaughter…. And a welcome guest to the Southern Water Tribe."

Zuko nearly choked at her words, staring open mouth at the elderly woman. She had just called him a welcome guest, accepted him into the island, and as a part of her granddaughter's life.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." He bowed his head once more, feeling the silence closing in on him. He couldn't take it any longer and straightened out, looking to Katara and her grandmother once more. Kanna stayed silent a moment before promptly elbowing her granddaughter in the ribs.

"You're right; he's not all that bad looking at all. A fine choice Katara." She gave a sly wink to Zuko before walking away, leaving a blushing teen practically melting the snow beneath his boots behind them as she lead Katara inside.

The following day had been spent talking Pakku into coming back with them, which turned out to be a very easy feat indeed. The elderly man was more than happy to help his favorite pupil and now granddaughter. He had spent all his time since last seeing Katara rebuilding his relationship with Kanna before Kanna had finally agreed to marry him, and then helped to rebuild the South Pole. Now the island had sturdier homes than before, tall and strong watchtowers, and a large meeting center. He was proud of his work so far, but knew that he would need more help if the South Pole were to ever return to its prior glory.

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Now Zuko found himself standing outside, staring at the ship they were due to leave in in a day's time, shivering in the cold.

"Aww what's the matter? Can't handle a little snow?" Katara smirked as she slowly walked behind Zuko and, before he realized what was happening, landed a perfectly aimed snowball into the back of his hooded head. Zuko lost his restraint as he sighed deeply, the heat of his body rising to evaporate the quickly melting snow. Without any warning, he bent down and formed his own snowball, throwing it back in retaliation. Their game quickly lead into a chase, leading them down an icy bank and to another shore of the island. Katara had tackled Zuko, sending them sliding down the hill and stopping just before the water. It was quiet and deserted, the moon and a few penguins their only company. Their laughing slowed, as Zuko helped Katara to her feet, Katara resting into Zuko's side as they stared ahead at the moon. Zuko dug his hands deep into his pockets of his coat, Katara threading one of her arms through his. Their silence seemed to stretch on before Katara broke it.

"I guess we really leave tomorrow, huh?"

"Y-yea…" Zuko looked down a moment before clearing his throat.

"It's been nice, seeing my grandmother and Pakku. But I guess it's really time we head back. We can't put this battle off any longer. "

"Yea.."

"And the sooner we finish it, the better. It just makes me sick thinking of Azula and y-your father taking any more innocent lives, destroying any more homes. And the sooner it's all over, the sooner I can stop worrying."

"Katara-there's…there's something I need to talk to you about."

"What is it Zuko?" she turned to him, looking up towards his face.

"I know I shouldn't worry, but I just can't help but do just that. And I just keep thinking, what if something happens? What if one of us doesn't come back? And I've been doing a lot of thinking and I know that I couldn't go on, living or dying, without knowing what you'd say." He paused a moment, taking a deep breath before launching into a rather quick speech. "Katara…I love you. You have changed me in so many ways, for the better. You always say that I saved you the night you washed up on that island, but in all reality, it was really you that saved me. You saved me from myself, and I could never thank you enough. You mean so much to me Katara, and live or die; I just wanted you to know that. And…I needed to ask you myself, to know your answer…will you marry me?" Slowly Zuko's hand came from his pocket, hands unfolding to reveal a gorgeous necklace. He hadn't really realized till now that he hadn't taken a single breath during his proposal, and know felt as if he had forgotten how to breathe all together. Katara's hand slowly drifted to the stone hanging in front of her, gently touching it to see it better in the moon's rays. It was apparently something Zuko had spent a great amount of time working on, a deep blue stone inset with the water and fire signs intertwining, hanging from a deep red ribbon of silk. She felt the tears prickling her eyes as she looked from the pendant to the person she had grown to love so much. It's not that Katara didn't want to get married, but rather that she had never actually seen it happening. She quickly realized she had yet to give him an answer, and could just barely squeeze out a nod and a quiet "yes" as she brushed a tear from her eyes.

"Yes?" Zuko took a step forward, afraid he might have heard her wrong.

"Yes, I will!" Katara leapt forward, wrapping her arms around Zuko's neck. His own arms wrapped around her back and he let out a whoop of joy, spinning her in circles as her feet left the ground, his own smile nearly splitting his face. When he finally returned her to her feet, he gingerly held out the necklace in a wordless effort to ask permission to place the betrothal necklace around Katara's slender neck. She sniffled, nodding gently as she turned and pulled her hair aside, granting him access to her neck. She both felt and heard the clasp snap into place, feeling the stone settle on her neck alongside her mother's.

"You're really serious?" Katara smiled to Zuko as she turned to look at him once more, seeing his own grin mirroring back at her.

"As serious as I've ever been. I know we're still young, but I can't go into this battle without knowing whether or not we would have had a future."

"You talk like we're going to die." Katara turned her gaze downward.

"It's not impossible Katara. Azula and my father are both blood thirsty and insane. I just- I had to know." Zuko wrapped his arms around Katara, bringing her close to him.

"We have to tell my father."

"He already knows. I spoke to him and Sokka a while ago."

"Hah…so that's why he was bugging me on the ship that night."

"What?"

"Oh-it's nothing. We should probably… get to bed. It's late and we have to leave pretty early tomorrow."

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I know… I know..it's awful! I just wanted to pound out this chapter. The proposal has been bouncing around in my mind for quite some time now! I promise though…the long awaited battle is fast approaching! And I promise…it will be epic!

Thank you to my ever faithful readers! :D