My Heart Burns for You

by alwaysZutarian

Four years have passed since the end of the war, but as they meet again and encounter many obstacles, Zuko and Katara realize that whom their hearts truly burn for is one another. Can they love each other knowing they will hurt those that love them? What will become of them when a new enemy appears with a vengeful plot to destroy everything they had worked for to bring peace?

35. Anticipated Confrontation

Here it is! The chapter you've been waiting for! I hope you like it!

I want to thank PurseMonger for her fast editing abilities and for her awesome suggestions!

AtLA is not mine. Sadly.

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Chapter Thirty-Five

Anticipated Confrontation

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"I said get away from her!" Aang shouted again as he pointed the wooden staff menacingly at the Fire Lord.

Zuko narrowed his eyes at the command, but decided to comply in order to avoid any problems. He reluctantly moved his hand away from where it had been resting on Katara's backside. Zuko steadied her on her feet before he took a step away from her stiff form as he turned to stare levelly at the angry Avatar.

Katara swallowed nervously as she watched the two men glare silently at each other and she prayed nothing drastic would happen. How did things come out like this?! She and Zuko had been very careful to hide their relationship, but it all had been for nothing just because they had lost themselves momentarily in each other.

Zuko cleared his throat.

"Aang, let us explain—"

Aang interrupted him as he heatedly demanded, "How dare you assault Katara like that?!"

"Aang, it's not what you think," Katara tried to explain as she took a step forward, but she froze when the airbender turned to look at her.

Aang opened his mouth to ask her if she was all right when he noticed that her tunic was slightly open, but he stopped when a mark on the skin of her neck caught his attention. His gray eyes widened in shock when he realized it was a bruise before they narrowed in anger at the thought that Zuko dared to hurt her.

"Step away from him, Katara!" he demanded as he turned to glare with fury at Zuko. "You're a monster for hurting her!" he shouted as his grip on his staff tightened so much that his pale knuckles turned even whiter.

Zuko stiffened at the accusation. How dare Aang accuse him of such a thing! He took a threatening step toward the younger man, but he paused when Katara immediately placed her hand on his arm to stop him.

"I would never harm Katara," Zuko growled out angrily.

Katara quickly pulled the collar up and closed her disarrayed tunic before she looked up to frown at Aang.

"There are some things you don't know, Aang, so you shouldn't say such things about Zuko," she told him firmly.

"Why are you defending him?" Aang asked her incredulously, "He was kissing you against your will!"

"If Katara didn't accept my advances, she would've done something about it," Zuko responded between gritted teeth.

"Katara, get away from him so I can teach him a lesson!" Aang shouted, ignoring Zuko's words entirely in his anger and jealousy.

"No," Katara told him defiantly as she took a step closer to the tensed firebender, "Zuko wasn't doing anything wrong."

"W-what?" Aang stammered as he frowned at her.

Katara took a deep breath as she gathered her courage. She needed to make Aang understand that he did not have the right to demand things from her and that he needed to see that she would never take him back.

"I wanted to tell you this privately so you could understand," she began slowly.

"Tell me what?" the airbender asked as the grip on his staff tightened in anxiety. He had a feeling he was not going to like what she was going to say.

Katara glanced at Zuko and he looked down at her questioningly before his eyes widened when she took his hand, entwined their fingers together, and gave it a firm squeeze. Aang's eyes also widened as he saw the gesture before he looked up at Katara with a pained frown.

"Zuko and I are engaged," she confessed softly.

A horrified gasp escaped the airbender and he backed away a step as if he had been struck. He stared at her in both shock and hurt.

"N-no, that can't be!" he stammered, shaking his head almost violently in denial.

"Aang, please listen—"

"Tell me you're lying!" he interrupted as he looked at her with a pleading expression, "Tell me it's just a joke!"

"It's not a joke," Zuko spoke up coolly as he gave Katara's hand a squeeze. He had feared that Katara would never have explained to Aang what was going on, but he was glad that she had finally told him about them. "We are really engaged."

Aang's hurt expression turned into one full of fury as he turned on Zuko, causing Katara to gasp for she had never seen the lovable monk so angry before.

"How dare you seduce Katara while we were separated?!" Aang shouted at him.

"I didn't seduce her," Zuko growled out.

"You know how much Katara means to me!" Aang continued, again ignoring Zuko's words in his anger and pain, "You knew I wanted to marry her, so why are you taking her away from me?!"

Then in a broken voice, he said, "I thought we were friends."

Zuko frowned and then sighed guiltily at the hurt expression on the gray-eyed airbender's face.

"I tried to keep away from Katara because I did know what you felt for her and I didn't want to ruin our friendship," Zuko began before he added more firmly, "But I could not stop…my feelings for her."

"What?" Aang exclaimed just as Katara turned surprised eyes on Zuko for his confession.

Zuko pressed his lips tightly together at his admittance since he was always uncomfortable talking about his feelings with another person that was not Katara, but he wanted to make Aang understand that he loved her and that he will not give her up.

"I love Katara," the golden-eyed Fire Lord stated before he determinedly added, "And I'm going to marry her."

"No!" Aang shouted as he again shook his head furiously before he again turned his glare on Zuko. "You have Mai! You could have any woman you want! So why did you pick Katara when you knew we were together?!"

"We already ended things!" Katara exclaimed exasperatedly.

Aang ignored her words as he turned pained eyes on her.

"How could you do this to me when you know how much I love you?"

"Aang," Katara said more softly as she spread her hands pleadingly, "Please understand…"

She paused when he shook his head at her and took another step back before he looked at Zuko with cold, gray eyes.

"Why did you take her away from me?" he hissed.

"I didn't do it to hurt you, Aang," Zuko responded with a frown. "And besides, Katara is…was free to be pursued."

"You're lying!" the airbender raged, "I noticed all those looks you would throw Katara even when we were together! I had my suspicions that you were trying to get her for yourself and I see that I was right!"

The airbender slashed his wooden staff to the side and a gust of wind flew at Zuko, sliding him a few feet away from Katara.

"Zuko!" Katara cried out as she whirled around to see where Zuko had skidded to a stop.

Once she knew he was all right, she turned to look at Aang with narrowed eyes.

"Stop it, Aang!" she exclaimed, "Let's just talk about this!"

But Aang's attention was on Zuko who was casually straightening his clothes with a cold expression on his face.

"Leave Katara alone!" Aang demanded.

"Unless Katara tells me otherwise, I will not leave her," Zuko responded with a growl, "And even if she does, I would do anything to get her back."

With an angry shout, Aang again shot a gust of wind at him, his entire body trembling in anger. Zuko crossed his arms over his face as the ball of air hit him full force and again pushed him a few feet away before he looked up once he skidded to a stop. He narrowed his eyes once he realized Aang was moving him away from Katara, so he deliberately took a few steps toward her.

"Why are you taking her away from me?!" the young Avatar shouted as he took a step closer to the anxious waterbender when he saw Zuko moving toward her again.

"I already told you I'm not doing it out of malice!" Zuko hissed out as his hands clenched at his sides, "And she doesn't belong to you!"

"Stop lying!" Aang cried out as this time he summoned a chunk of rock from the ground and hurled it at the golden-eyed firebender.

"Zuko!" Katara screamed.

Zuko shot a ball of fire to destroy the incoming rock and it exploded into many pieces just as he turned to glare at Aang.

"I don't want to fight you," he said between gritted teeth.

"Well, that's too bad!" the younger man growled as he raised his staff and prepared to send another attack.

"What's all the damn shouting about?" Toph's annoyed voice interrupted Zuko from responding, Katara from protesting, and made Aang pause from attacking.

The three turned in the direction of the earthbender's voice and they saw that she was not alone but was accompanied by Katara's family as well as Zuko's. Jee, Shen, and Kuo were standing behind them with tensed postures as they eyed the airbender with guarded looks. The others were looking at the three with confused and curious expressions.

"What is going on?" Hakoda asked as he frowned at the three of them.

Zuko tensed and groaned inwardly as he flicked a glance at Katara, who gave him a worried frown, before he returned his attention to the chieftain. Things were not supposed to be like this!

Katara took a step toward her father as she tried to give him a smile, which came out more like a grimace.

"Dad, let me explain—"

"Zuko seduced Katara and he's trying to take her away!" Aang interrupted her as he pointed an accusing finger at Zuko.

"What?" Hakoda, Sokka, and Pakku growled out in unison.

"That is not true," Zuko said as he narrowed his eyes angrily at Aang.

"Zuko didn't—" Katara tried to explain, but once again Aang cut her off. She gritted her teeth in annoyance.

"I will not give Katara up!" Aang told Zuko stubbornly.

"Neither will I," Zuko responded just as adamantly.

With another angry cry, Aang again threw a ball of wind at Zuko to keep him away from Katara. The waterbender cried out as Aang ripped a large chunk of earth and flung it at the raven-haired man, who again, demolished it with a quick fire blast.

"Stop it! Both of you stop fighting!" Katara demanded angrily.

This was not how things were supposed to be! Zuko was supposed to talk to her father and she was supposed to explain things to Aang in a calm manner! All of her trouble of keeping her engagement to Zuko a secret, all of her distress of keeping Zuko at a distance, and all of her anxiety to keep Aang from being hurt and from fighting with Zuko was all in vain just because Aang had accidently caught them kissing!

She ran to Aang in order to stop him when he raised his staff once again to attack Zuko, but Aang did not notice her and accidently knocked her sideways when he slashed the wooden staff to the side. With a pained cry, Katara flew a few feet before she landed on the ground on her side, coughing loudly when the wind was knocked out of her lungs and wincing at the jarring impact.

"Katara!" everybody shouted in alarm.

"I'm so sorry!" Aang cried out as he rushed to help her.

He skidded to a stop when a wall of white fire suddenly sprang in front of him, cutting him off from Katara. Aang quickly jumped back in surprise as well as from the heat of the scorching flames. When the wall of fire extinguished, they all gaped in shock to find Zuko standing protectively before Katara with white fire engulfing his clenched hands that trembled with his rage.

"What the…?" Sokka breathed in awe as his blue eyes widened in shock, not only at the intimidating sight Zuko made as he stood protectively in front of his sister, but at the fact that the Fire Lord was bending white fire. How was that even possible?

Zuko glanced worriedly at Katara, who was sitting up and shaking her head as if to clear it. When he saw that she was all right, he turned to look at Aang with a livid expression. The wrath present in the Fire Lord's glare made it seem as if fire could shoot forth from those golden orbs and incinerate the airbender on the spot.

"You hurt her," they heard Zuko condemn in an icy tone. "Don't go near her," he growled out at Aang.

Zuko had felt his anger flare at the sight of Katara hitting the ground. He tried being understanding toward Aang, but with this, he felt his patience and sympathy vanish. He wanted to make Aang see that Katara belonged only to him.

Sensing that Zuko was angry, Katara quickly rose to her feet and clung onto his arm, careful of keeping her body away from the white flames in his hands.

"Zuko, it was an accident!" she tried to reason with him as she gave his arm a reassuring squeeze to calm him down.

"It doesn't matter," Zuko responded coldly as he continued to glare at the wide-eyed Avatar, "The point is that he hurt you and you know I'm not going to allow anyone who harms you get away with it."

Glancing at her from the corner of his golden eye, the young Fire Lord then firmly added.

"You are mine to protect."

Katara felt her cheeks burned as her heart fluttered at the words he had uttered in front of everybody and she found herself speechless as she stared at his serious profile.

"Zuko…" she breathed out.

"Katara doesn't belong to you!" Aang shouted heatedly, interrupting their moment.

With an livid yell, Aang summoned another burst of air to separate the two so he did not hurt Katara again when he fought Zuko. Never had he felt such rage and pain in his life!

Katara crossed her hands over her face as the dust stung her eyes just as she felt the wind push her away from Zuko. Once the wind died down, Katara's eyes flew wide open and immediately darted in search of the men. She cried out as she saw them fighting with each other, Zuko forcefully punching white fire in Aang's direction while the airbender attacked just as angrily with sharp rocks and piercing wind. She was a bit relieved to know that Zuko did not have his dual broadswords with him at the moment. Who knew what would happen then.

The others were amazed and confused as they watched the Avatar fight the young Fire Lord. They did not know what was going on to have brought both friends to attack each other. Jee and Zuko's personal guards were tense since they wanted to rush forward and protect their lord, but they knew that this was a fight they could not intervene in.

Aang slashed his staff to the side and a great burst of air flew at Zuko and crashed into him. Zuko clenched his teeth as he planted his feet firmly on the ground to keep from being thrown in the air, and instead, he slid backgrounds, dust and debris flying around him as he dug his feet on the grassy ground. As he straightened himself, he saw Aang bend a sharp water whip he gathered from the pond and aim it at his chest.

Narrowing his eyes, Zuko shot forth his own fire whip, but due to his anger it burst into white flames that immediately evaporated the cool water whip. He cracked the white fire whip on the ground before he lashed it at Aang. The airbender gasped as he saw the deadly attack aimed at him. With a gust of wind from his staff, he bounded into the air just as the fiery whip struck the place where he had been standing a second ago. The grass turned into dark ashes and a hole was torn into the ground as the tip of the white fire whip touched it.

Growling, Aang landed a few feet away and brought down his staff parallel to the ground. Another gust of wind was hurled at Zuko, who easily flipped to the side before he was hit. Anticipating his move, Aang summoned another chunk of rock and struck Zuko from behind, knocking him forward.

Katara cried out as Zuko crashed onto the ground and Aang let go of the rock to crush him. Zuko rolled to the side, sprang up and jumped back, shooting another fireball at the rock that immediately destroyed it. Landing gracefully, Zuko aimed a glare at the angry Avatar.

Aang again hurled a piece of rock at Zuko, but the firebender again destroyed it with a fiery kick and simultaneously shot a ball of fire at the airbender. Aang cried out as the fireball struck his shoulder, but he quickly extinguished the flames and then jumped back in time before he was struck by Zuko's fire whip. But he had not anticipated Zuko flicking his second fire whip, which tore a howl of pain from Aang when the fiery whip slashed his chest. Aang ground his teeth in both pain and anger as he watched Zuko retract the fire whip with an unreadable expression. With a cry, Aang again attacked him, ignoring the pain in his chest.

"Stop it!" Katara shouted once more as she watched them fly at each other again. She did not want them to fight over her as if she were a prize that was to be given to the victor!

She took a step forward to stop them, but her arm was caught by a strong hand and she was pulled back. With a growl, she turned her head to shout at whoever was holding her back to let her go, but she paused when she saw it was her father, who had a dark frown on his face.

"Don't rush in there," he ordered her. "You could get hurt."

"But, Dad!" she protested as she tried to pry his hand away from her arm, "I have to stop them! I can't let them hurt each other!"

"Listen to your father, Miss Katara," Iroh interrupted as he laid a firm hand on her shoulder as he looked seriously into her eyes, "Let them work out their differences this way."

Katara clenched her teeth in both frustration and anxiety. Could they not see that one of them could be seriously hurt?

She allowed her father to pull her back as she returned her worried gaze to watch her friend fighting with the man she loved. Zuko had a small bruise forming across his forehead, a small cut on his right cheek, and his clothes were dirty and disarrayed. But Aang was much worse. The airbender had a painful burn mark on his arm, his shoulder, and across his chest, and his clothes were ripped and burned in a few places. Both young men did not seem to notice as they continued to attack each other for the woman they both loved and refused to give up.

The once beautiful garden was being destroyed as the Fire Lord and the Avatar continued fighting. Aang would tear chunks of grassy ground and use the water from the pond to attack Zuko, while the firebender would leave scorch marks on the grass as he used his firebending to attack Aang. They would have been evenly matched. After all, Zuko had once been Aang's teacher and Aang had the benefit of being able to use all four elements, while Zuko had the advantage of being a trained warrior that had the ability of bending such a strong level of white fire. Aang, however, had allowed his emotions to control him, which was causing him to fight sloppily.

Aang growled in frustration as he once again was thrown back by Zuko's blast of white fire. He quickly rolled away when Zuko brought down a flaming fist to where the airbender's stomach had been a second before. Jumping a few feet away, Aang panted hard and quickly wiped the sweat running down his eyes before resuming his fighting stance.

He had given up using water since Zuko's white fire was too strong and easily evaporated or melted any water attack he threw at him. Rock seemed to help him a bit, but Zuko just as easily destroyed any of his earthbending attacks. Wind and fire were the only elements that he was able to use to throw in an attack. He had never heard of a firebender being able to bend white fire and he was beginning to realize that perhaps he would not be able to defeat Zuko as easily as he had thought. However, he refused to give up. His heart was in too much pain and his mind was filled with too much anger and jealousy to stop and think about what he was doing. All he knew was that Zuko was taking Katara away from him and he needed to stop the firebender from keeping him away from the woman he loved.

"Leave Katara alone!" Aang shouted when they paused to catch their breaths and figure out each other's next move. "She's mine!"

"Katara is going to be my wife, so you should accept it," Zuko growled out as sparks flew from his mouth and the white flames in his hands flared.

That seemed to make something snap within the airbender. With an angry cry, Aang attacked Zuko with all four elements and began to drive him back more fiercely. Zuko cursed as he narrowly avoided having his head lobbed off by a large rock before he somersaulted over Aang's head and kicked the airbender's back. He landed in a crouch and resuming his fighting stance. Aang stumbled forward, but managed to propel himself up with a burst of wind he shot from his mouth before whirling around to continue with his attacks. Zuko met his attacks fiercely since he refused to back down. He would not lose Katara!

They broke apart and landed a few feet away from each other, both panting from exhaustion and eyeing each other angrily.

"Give up, Aang," Zuko growled at him with narrowed eyes, "Katara's mine!"

The airbender stiffened before his body began to tremble with rage and the arrows tattooed on his pale skin began to give out a low glow. He tightened his hold on his staff as wind began to swirl around his form, ruffling his clothes and picking up debris, and he hissed at Zuko.

Zuko waited for Aang to attack him, but his eyes widened in shock when his feet were suddenly encased by rock before he was pulled into the ground until he was submerged to his calves. He tried to pull his legs up, but of course it didn't work. With a growl, Zuko shot a burst of fire at the rock trapping his feet, but it seemed to only scratch the surface and caused the ground to tighten around his legs, causing him to wince, effectively making him immobile. With a growl he looked up to glower heatedly at Aang who now held a small smirk on his lips. Zuko glared at him. As if he would allow himself to be trapped!

Standing off to the side with her worried and bewildered family and friends, Katara pressed a hand to her chest as she felt that same dread return more painfully than before as the last scene of her nightmare surfaced in her mind. She could not stop remembering the vision of Zuko being pierced through his chest, blood running down his clothes and staining his hands before the earth swallowed him.

"Zuko!" Katara cried out in fear. She needed to do something! She needed to protect him!

"Katara isn't yours!" Aang shouted at Zuko, his usual cheerful face contorted in a snarl. "I'm not going to allow you to take her away from me!"

Before he could retort, Zuko watched with wide eyes as Aang squatted down with his palms to the ground before he flung his arms up. At the movement, a large boulder burst from the ground and hovered in the air. Zuko ground his teeth since he knew that if he was hit by that rock he would be in deep trouble.

"Aang, stop!" Toph shouted just as everybody else gasped when Aang raised his hands.

It was as if time had slowed down as they watched the Avatar flung his hands forward and the huge rock headed straight for the young Fire Lord.

Zuko narrowed his eyes as he brought his flaming fists to his chest, preparing himself to hurl a large fire blast in order to destroy the boulder, but he dispersed his white flames when he saw Katara suddenly lunge herself at him. Katara wrapped her arms around Zuko and clenched her eyes tight, ignoring her family calling her name in horror. All that she was thinking at the moment was that she had to protect Zuko, that she could not let her nightmare become true. Zuko felt his stomach clench in fear at the thought of Katara getting hurt and he grabbed her to him, curling her into him to protect her as much as he could with his body as he waited for the impact.

But as soon as he noticed Katara, the airbender immediately crushed the rock into a million pieces and the dust flew past the pair, coating their clothes, skin, and hair in dirt, as they continued to hold each other.

Peeking through his lashes, Zuko opened his eyes fully when he saw that they were fine. With a shaky breath, he hugged Katara closer to him, terribly shaken, as he was again reminded of how he had almost lost her once. It seemed he would never be able to forget it.

"Why did you do that, Katara?!" Zuko growled angrily into her ear even as he gave her a gentle squeeze, "You could've gotten hurt."

Katara shook her head as she clutched the back of his tunic.

"I couldn't bear the thought of you getting hurt," she responded softly.

Zuko sighed and did not argue with her on how he had been about to destroy the boulder as he tightened his hold on her. Damn, stubborn woman always putting herself in harm's way in order to protect someone else. But that was why he loved her.

Aang watched them with wide eyes and his entire body shook with shock and remorse before he glanced down at his trembling hands in horror. He had almost hurt his friends because of his jealousy! What kind of person was he? He felt so ashamed. But still, how could they do this to him?

He watched as Zuko pulled slightly away to gently grasp Katara's face as if to reassure himself she was unharmed while Katara grabbed his wrists and smiled at him before she also looked him over. Aang felt his heart give a painful lurch in his chest. He had seen how Katara was willing to risk her safety for Zuko and Zuko had done the same. He wondered if he had been wrong about Zuko's intentions and Katara's feelings for him, especially by the loving manner they were staring at each other. Katara had never looked at him in such a way and that realization pained him. He did not want to accept that he may lose her, that she never loved him. With a movement from his hand, Aang released Zuko from the ground as he watched them with pained eyes.

At the feeling of his feet being released, Zuko and Katara finally seemed to snap back to reality and they turned to look at the airbender.

"I'm…I'm sorry," Aang said quietly before he looked at Katara with a pleading expression. "Maybe you're just confused again. You need more time to think about this."

His voice was strained in the end, hoping that it was like last time when he had pleaded with her and she had relented to give him another chance. He was willing to wait for her to clear her head because surely she could not love Zuko! She couldn't! She loved him!

"I'm not confused, Aang," Katara replied firmly as she grasped onto Zuko's arm. "I already told you that I only see you as a friend. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but the man I love is Zuko."

Aang ignored everybody else's gasp as he vigorously shook his head as if to deny her words. No, no this couldn't be! She must be lying! But why? He turned angry eyes on Zuko as if he could make the firebender confess that he was forcing Katara to say such words, but Zuko only narrowed his eyes as he wrapped an arm around Katara and brought her closer to him. As if understanding his thoughts, Katara shook her head as she looked up at Zuko before returning her gaze to him.

"Zuko's not at fault. I can't return your feelings, Aang," she told him with a frown before she softly added, "I'm sorry for hurting you, but it was time that I made a choice for myself to be happy. And that choice is Zuko."

Except for Iroh, Ursa, Toph, Suki and Kanna (who already had her suspicions) everybody else murmured to themselves in shock while Sokka shouted a loud 'Say what?!' He yelped when Suki elbowed his side sharply.

Aang ignored them as he lifted agonized, gray eyes to Katara. He was devastated at her words, at the way she leaned comfortably against Zuko, at the way Zuko brought her protectively and possessively close to him. He felt like the world was falling apart around him, like a knife had twisted his heart, and he felt his eyes sting with tears. He looked away as he tried to hold them back and his shoulders slumped in defeat. He wanted to deny her words, but he could see that she was serious. After everything they had gone through during the war, after everything he had done, it had not been enough. He could now see that all this time he had been lying to himself.

And it hurt. It hurt so much.

He looked up when he heard Zuko clear his throat.

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, Aang," Zuko said sincerely, "I didn't want things to come about like this, I didn't mean to hurt you, but I will not give Katara up. She means too much to me."

Aang stared at him silently for a long moment as he again tried to convince himself Zuko was lying, but he knew Zuko would never do such a thing, he knew Zuko was being truthful. Licking his dry lips, the young airbender tried to gather his sluggish yet flying thoughts and control the whirling emotions that churned within him. He wanted to fight, to somehow bring Katara back to him, but he knew deep down in his aching heart that there was absolutely nothing he could do to change the fact that Katara loved Zuko and Zuko loved her.

After a long moment of tense silence, Aang finally spoke in a quivering voice.

"I…I'm devastated, hurt, and angry," he began shakily before he cleared his throat, "But I can see there's nothing I can do."

I can see that I have lost, he thought dejectedly in his head.

"If…if it means your…happiness, then I will learn to accept it," he said before he added, "At least, I will try."

"Aang…" Katara tried to say, but Aang cut her off with a shake of his head.

"I-I need to leave, gather my thoughts…come to terms that I have l-lost you," he told her miserably, his voice cracking in the end.

"I hope you can forgive me one day," Katara said softly as she gave him a hopeful look.

Aang did not reply as he gave her a strained smile. Turning to Zuko he gave him a hard look. Zuko stiffened and narrowed his eyes on the young monk.

"You better take care of her," he said threateningly.

"I will," Zuko responded firmly with a nod of him head.

Turning to Katara to give her one more pained and longing look, Aang turned around and headed swiftly back toward the palace. He passed the stunned audience silently, and without another word or another glance, the young Avatar disappeared into the palace.

Toph turned to Zuko and Katara and crossed her arms over her chest.

"It's about time everything came out in the open," she said with a snort before she grinned. "Congrats and I wish you good luck."

"Wait, what? What's going on?" Sokka shouted as he looked at Toph and then at Katara before he glared at Zuko.

"I'm sure Sparky can explain," the blind earthbender replied sadistically.

Toph grinned impishly when Zuko growled at her as all of Katara's male relatives turned their attention on him before she turned away and followed after the monk.

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As soon as he had turned the corner of another empty corridor, Aang punched his fist on the wall. With a pained sigh, he leaned on it and pressed his forehead to the cool surface as the tears that he had been holding back finally fell from his eyes and ran down his pale cheeks just as his other hand pressed his constricting chest.

Why? Why was this happening to him? He defeated the evil former Fire Lord. He saved the world! He was supposed to get the girl! After everything he had done, he was supposed to be happy!

He shook his head even as his tears continued to pour out from his blurry eyes. He needed to leave before he broke down in anguish or did something he would later regret. Once he found Appa and Momo, he will leave the Fire Nation and fly far away, away from everything, away from the pain.

Rubbing his hands across his eyes to dry his tears, Aang pushed himself away from the wall and hurriedly made his way to the stables where he knew his loyal flying sky-bison and flying-lemur were resting.

"Wait up, Twinkletoes!" he heard Toph shout out.

Without even turning to look at her, Aang continued in his fast pace down the golden passageway.

"Leave me alone, Toph," he said between gritted teeth. "I don't want to hear you say 'I told you so,' okay?! I want to be alone."

The small earthbender was unfazed by his words as she continued to follow him.

"I'm coming with you to make sure you don't do anything stupid," she told him with a snort and an indifferent shrug.

Aang sighed since he knew he was not going to be able to stop her even if he tried.

"Do whatever you want," he said morosely as he continued walking.

He tried to suppress the vision of Katara in Zuko's arms, of them kissing each other, their bodies pressed close together from surfacing in his mind, but the image seemed burned into his brain. Again his heart lurched painfully in his chest.

He needed to get away.

---

Katara watched as Toph disappeared back into the palace and she sighed sadly as she remembered the pained look in Aang's gray watery eyes. Would he ever forgive her and Zuko?

As if sensing her thoughts, Zuko gave her waist a gentle squeeze and she looked up to see him look at her with reassuring amber eyes even if his face had changed back into its emotionless mask. Smiling gratefully, Katara snuggled closer to him.

"What is going on?" Hakoda's deep voice made them turn to him.

He had a hard look on his face as he eyed the way the young man was holding Katara before he gruffly demanded, "Step away from my daughter, Fire Lord Zuko."

Even though he was still shaken by the thought that Katara could have been hurt, Zuko reluctantly let go of her as he faced the frowning chieftain since he did not wish to have problems with her father—and hopefully, his future father-in-law.

Blushing, Katara cleared her throat to get her father's attention away from Zuko.

"Dad, one of the reasons I broke up with Aang was because I'm in love with Zuko," she told him softly before she glanced briefly at Zuko to give him a reassuring smile.

Hakoda stared at his daughter with wide eyes, he never would have thought his daughter loving the firebender possible, before he looked at the silent Fire Lord with a raised eyebrow.

"The reason I wanted to have a talk with you after dinner, Chief Hakoda," Zuko began in his usual cool tone, "was because I wanted to ask you for Katara's hand in marriage."

Hakoda and Pakku gaped at him, Kanna grinned, and Sokka shouted another loud 'Say what?!'

The blue-eyed chieftain composed himself immediately and cleared his throat before he frowned at the Fire Lord who was staring at him steadily with Katara at his side. How did this suddenly come to be?

"We must have a talk. This is just too sudden," Hakoda finally said.

Zuko gave him an understanding nod as he glanced at Katara briefly before he returned his gaze to the frowning older man.

"We can talk in my study," the young firebender suggested.

"I would like to speak to my daughter first, if you don't mind. I'll be in your study soon," Hakoda spoke up seriously.

Zuko again glanced at the silent waterbender beside him, who gave him an encouraging smile and a reassuring squeeze of his arm, before he turned to the chief with a nod.

"I will be in my study then," the young Fire Lord stated coolly.

Zuko glanced down at himself and frowned as he took in his dirty clothes before he looked up with an unreadable expression as he added, "I will change quickly first."

Grabbing Katara's hand, which was still holding his arm, Zuko gave it a gentle squeeze as he looked at her before he let her go and silently made his way back to the palace with Iroh, Ursa, Jee, and his personal guards following behind him.

Katara watched as Zuko waited for his mother to catch up to him then he talked to her quietly for a moment before resuming to his destination. Lady Ursa smiled widely as she turned to glance briefly at the waterbender before she pulled Iroh next to her and began to talk quietly to him as they headed toward the palace. Katara wondered what they were up to.

Those from the Southern Water Tribe stared after the royal family, and once they disappeared, they turned to Hakoda.

"Can you please leave us alone?" he asked them with a raised eyebrow.

They glanced at each other before they turned to leave. Kanna glanced back and smiled reassuringly at her granddaughter who gave her a grateful smile in return.

Once father and daughter were alone, Hakoda walked toward the destroyed pond and glanced down at the remaining water at its bottom as he stopped at its edge. He stood there in silence for a long moment before he sighed and turned toward his daughter, who was also staring silently into the ruined pond with a sad expression.

"Do you truly love Zuko, Katara?" he asked her softly.

Katara looked away from the pond so her father could see her sincerity.

"I love him more than I've loved anyone else," she responded firmly.

Hakoda assessed her heartfelt expression for a few moments before he smiled as he glanced at a patch of flowers that had been spared from the terrible fight between the young Fire Lord and the Avatar.

"It is the same way I felt toward your mother," he said with a melancholy sigh.

Katara smiled sadly and she reached out to embrace her father since she now had an understanding of what her father must feel for having lost the love of his life. She would feel the same if she ever lost Zuko. Hakoda allowed his daughter to hug him for a brief moment before he cleared his throat and gently pulled away to smile at her before his expression turned serious once again.

"How did this relationship between Zuko and you come to be?" he asked with a raised brow.

"I…well, the more time I spent with Zuko, the more I came to know him, and all the times he would protect me, made me fall in love with him," Katara tried to explain concisely. "But I tried to deny my feelings for him because I didn't want to hurt Aang and because, well, I thought Zuko would never return my feelings."

She paused and took a shaky breath as she continued, "But when we were captured and we thought we'd lose the other, we finally confessed our feelings to each other. And when Zuko asked me to marry him, I immediately accepted."

Hakoda nodded as he said, "Your grandmother tried to make me see what was going on between you two, but I ignored it since I never thought it could be possible."

Pausing, he turned to his daughter with a grim expression as he grabbed her hands and held them protectively in his larger and calloused ones.

"But are you sure about this?" he asked her gravely, "He once invaded our home. Zuko is the Fire Lord, ruler of the country that has hurt us so much, the country who took your mother away from us. I'm just not sure I want my daughter to marry into the nation that has caused us and the world so much pain. To marry a man that has once been our enemy."

Katara squeezed her father's hands and she looked resolutely into his concerned, dark blue eyes.

"The Fire Nation did cause a lot pain, but that is in the past," she told him firmly before she more softly added, "Zuko did make mistakes, but he has changed, he is trying to help the world, and you know he is not responsible for Mom's death."

Hakoda stared into his daughter's unwavering gaze and sighed.

"I know that and I know Zuko is a good man, but…" he paused with another sigh before he continued more quietly, "I just don't want to lose you after finally getting you back."

"It's not like I'm going to be held captive in the Fire Nation and you'll never be able to see me again," she said softly. "Zuko has told me that we'll visit the Southern Water Tribe whenever we can, and you and the others will always be welcome to visit the Fire Nation."

Hakoda felt glad at her words and he relaxed slightly.

"Are you sure you want to marry Zuko?" he asked her again with fatherly concern in his tone, "You will have lots of responsibilities if you become his wife and Fire Lady."

"I know it won't be easy, but I will endure everything as long as I have Zuko as my husband," Katara told him determinedly.

Hakoda was silent for a long moment as he contemplated everything his daughter had told him as well as the things she had not but that he was becoming aware of. He remembered the fleeting glances the Fire Lord and Katara would throw each other when they thought no one was looking, or all the times Zuko would protect Katara. He wanted to tell her that she should think things through before she married the Fire Lord, after all, he was a father who wanted to keep his only daughter close to him so she would not be hurt. He also did not want to think of his little girl as someone's wife. But ever since his beloved Kya gave birth to his children and he held their little bodies in his hands, he knew that one day they would grow up and have a family of their own to love and protect.

He had nothing against Aang, but he had hoped Katara would have ended her relationship with the young airbender and married a warrior from the tribe so that way they could live close by, but now she wanted to marry the Fire Lord and live in another country. But he knew that Zuko was a good man and would be a better husband to his daughter than any young man he knew, a man that could handle her strong and loving spirit.

"If you truly love Zuko and if marrying him is truly what you want, then I will not stand in the way of your happiness," Hakoda finally spoke with a tender smile on his tanned face.

Katara smiled happily at her father, but before she could thank him, his expression once again turned serious.

"But first I need to have a talk with Zuko before I actually consent to the Fire Lord marrying my daughter," he told her firmly.

Her smile faded into a serious expression and Katara gave him a nod.

"I understand, Dad," she began before she continued more strongly, "But even if you refuse, I will still marry Zuko."

Hakoda stared at her with a dark frown for a moment, at her determined features and steadfast blue eyes, and he knew she was serious. Even if he did not give his consent, he was positive she would marry the Fire Lord because of the love she held for him.

"Then I hope the Fire Lord convinces me," he said with a small smirk.

Katara gave him a small smile as he placed his arm around her shoulders and led her away from the destroyed garden and back to the palace where the rest of their family was anxiously waiting for them.

"Well?" Sokka asked impatiently as he held a sleeping Ting in his arms.

"I will talk with the Fire Lord now," Hakoda said as he let go of Katara and turned around in the direction of the Fire Lord's study.

"Dad, wait!" Sokka spoke up.

The older man turned around and watched as his son handed one of his sleeping granddaughters to Katara before swiftly walking toward him.

"I'm coming with you," the young Water Tribe warrior said firmly.

Sokka ignored Katara's protests and Suki's groan as he stared at his father. Hakoda nodded. He was proud that his son wanted to protect his sister and make sure she was not making a mistake. They turned around and walked in the direction of the Fire Lord's study.

Holding her sleeping niece in her arms, Katara stared after her father and brother with hopeful eyes. As much as she loved her family, she was not going to give up Zuko even if they were against their marriage.

---

Staring silently out the large window of his study where he could see the sky changing into red and orange colors as the sun began to set, the young Fire Lord waited anxiously for Chief Hakoda to show up after he talked to Katara. He wondered what they could be talking about before he dismissed the thought from his mind since it was making him more nervous. He hated feeling nervous.

Deciding to think of something else, Zuko looked down at himself and nodded approvingly at his more presentable appearance. He casually smoothed down his dark royal robe and then reached up to fix his fire crown before he frowned when he caught his reflection on the glass. He touched the small cut that marred his cheek and winced slightly before his expression returned to his normal stoic mask.

He remembered what happened with Aang moments ago and how Katara almost got hurt, and he narrowed his eyes. He remembered the anger he had felt toward Aang for hurting Katara—even if it had been unintentional—as well as at Aang's words when he kept insisting Katara was his. Zuko had been unable to control his rage and jealousy, even if he had felt terrible that Aang had to find out about them in such a way. He understood the way Aang had felt for he would have probably felt the same way had their roles been reversed, although he would probably have reacted much worse and seriously harmed Aang.

Looking at the setting sky, Zuko wondered where Aang had gone to and if one day they could be friends again like they used to be. His thoughts again wandered to Katara and her father, and he wondered if perhaps now he would not have a chance with her because of the things Aang had said about him and because of the way he had lost his temper.

He began to panic at the thought that perhaps Hakoda was trying to convince Katara not to marry him. What would he do if Katara decided to obey her father and left him to return to the Southern Water Tribe? He could not just force her to remain in the Fire Nation against her will and marry him. And if he did, another war could be started. He could not let that happen.

Gazing in the direction where he could just make out the trees from his private garden, the young Fire Lord frowned before he straightened himself with a determined glint in his amber eyes. He was a descendant of Agni and of Avatar Roku, son of the great Fire Nation, and Fire Lord of one of the most powerful countries in the world. He will face everything head on and not cower down for fear of what may come. He will convince Hakoda that he was the perfect man for his daughter and he will marry her.

Zuko placed his hand to the hidden pocket of his robe and smiled once he felt the two engagement items he had picked up from his room after he had showered and dressed. If Hakoda agreed for him to marry Katara, then Zuko's plan of presenting them to her would come true and asking his mother to help him would not be in vain.

He was interrupted from his thoughts when a firm knock reached his ears.

"Enter," Zuko called out impassively as he turned away from the window to face the large door.

He schooled his features back into an expressionless mask in order to hide his anxiety just as the door opened and Hakoda stepped in with Sokka following behind him. Zuko was not surprised to see that Katara's overprotective brother had also come. He waited until Sokka closed the door behind them before he bid them to take a seat on the two chairs that were placed before his large desk. Hakoda nodded as he and Sokka took a seat just as Zuko did the same on his own large chair across from them.

"Is it true that you seduced Katara?" Hakoda began bluntly with a sharp look in his eyes.

"That is a lie," Zuko responded just as frankly.

Hakoda and Sokka relaxed noticeably and Zuko did not doubt for a second that both tribesmen would have castrated him in order to avenge Katara's honor. Both dark-skinned men were silent as they eyed the young Fire Lord for a long moment while Zuko return the stare without showing one single emotion—even though inwardly he could feel his anxiety rising as the silence stretched on. Finally, Hakoda moved and he leaned forward with a dark expression.

"Is there a particular reason why you want to marry Katara right after you returned from the Earth Kingdom?" he asked suspiciously, "After all, you never made it known you had any interest in her before. Why the rush?"

Zuko resisted the urge to narrow his eyes.

"No," he responded firmly, "I respect Katara and her traditions."

Sokka relaxed against his chair. He knew Zuko had too much honor to seduce Katara. But why did he want to marry her?

"I wanted to marry Katara a long time ago," Zuko continued as if he could read their thoughts, "But I never acted upon my wishes because both of us were in relationships and I didn't think I had a chance with her."

Hakoda gave another nod as he said, "I understand."

There was silence again before Sokka decided to speak up.

"Katara isn't royalty or wealthy, she isn't from the Fire Nation, nor knowledgeable about being a Fire Lady," the younger man began before he continued with a curious frown, "So why do you wanna marry my sister?"

"I'm aware of all of that," Zuko replied with a frown, "but I still want to marry her."

"Is it to bring an alliance between the Southern Water Tribe and the Fire Nation?" Hakoda spoke with another frown. "It seemed that was what you were doing when you were in the Southern Water Tribe for Sokka and Suki's wedding. If that's why you want Katara, then you can just forget it. I am not about to sacrifice my daughter's happiness to ensure peace between our countries."

Zuko resisted the urge to scowl at the older man for thinking he would be so callous to Katara's feelings in order to help his nation. Instead, he frowned deeply.

"That's not the reason why I was in the Southern Water Tribe," he said in a serious tone, "I wanted to ensure an alliance, a friendship, with both tribes in order to make it easier to marry Katara."

"I see, but I still want to know why you want to marry her," the southern chieftain insisted as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"She's a beautiful woman, both on the inside and physically," Zuko responded sincerely. "She would help me greatly in my rule. She understands me and makes me happy—"

"So you want her just so she could make you happy?" Hakoda interrupted gruffly.

Zuko's jaw clenched and he balled his hands into fists in order to suppress his raising temper since it seemed Hakoda kept thinking the worst of him. He ordered himself to calm down so he could respond without growling.

"I am also looking out for Katara's happiness," he replied firmly, "When we marry, I will make sure to provide for her, give her whatever she needs and wants, and protect her and any children we have with everything I am."

Both Water Tribe warriors did not miss that Zuko had said 'when' and not 'if' and Hakoda had to admire his confidence and determination. Sokka was still reeling at the turn of events, but he knew Zuko would not just marry Katara out of a whim and he was sure Zuko cared about her. He would not mind having Zuko as his brother-in-law, but it was up to his father to have the final say.

Hakoda's resolve that Zuko would make Katara a fine husband seemed to become more firm, especially now that he was aware that any children Katara bore would be cared for as well. However, until the young man told him what he really wanted to know would he give his consent. Leaning back in the chair, the blue-eyed chief regarded Zuko silently for a moment before he spoke.

"Katara does not need any luxury to be happy and she could be provided for and protected at home just like any man could do, including Aang."

Hakoda watched as the young firebender clenched his jaw and his golden eyes flashed before he calmed himself and took a deep breath.

"What can you give her that no other man can?" Hakoda again asked, "Why should I allow you to marry her?"

Without showing any reaction, Hakoda felt his son kick his foot when Zuko again clenched his hands. He knew he was tampering with the Fire Lord's short temper, but Hakoda was determined to find out the answer he wanted to know.

It was then that Zuko realized that Hakoda was trying to make him confess his feelings for Katara. He stopped himself from shifting uncomfortably in his seat for it would not do for the Fire Lord to show his uneasiness. It was one thing to say what he felt to Katara and admit it to his uncle and mother, but it was another thing to admit his feelings to another person. Could they not see his deep feelings for her through his actions? Must he say it out loud? Apparently Hakoda would not be satisfied until he heard the words coming from his mouth. But if he wanted Hakoda to accept his marriage to Katara, then he would have to lower his defenses.

Staring Hakoda straight in the eye, Zuko finally responded.

"Because I love her."

Both father's and son's blue eyes widened in surprise before they composed themselves.

"Really?" Sokka asked.

"I would not lie about something like this," Zuko firmly replied as he stared at both men sitting before him with determined eyes, "I've been in love with Katara for a long time now, but I already explained why I didn't pursue her."

Hakoda inclined his head again to acknowledge his last words.

"Is that why the rebels lured Katara into the colony, too?" Sokka spoke up with a frown.

Zuko stiffened slightly before he gave a curt nod.

"Someone found out about my affections for her, and because of it, she was also captured in order to keep me compliant until their demands were met," the Fire Lord admitted grimly.

He wondered if this would cause Hakoda to deny his wish to marry Katara, but he knew that he needed to be truthful. He was surprised, however, when Hakoda smiled at him.

"You kept her from harm and even allowed them to hurt you so you could keep her safe," the chief said.

Zuko relaxed a bit, but he stiffened again when Hakoda's expression turned serious and dark once again.

"However, how will we know that the same thing won't happen again during her marriage to you…if you get married?" Hakoda added.

Zuko's hands again clenched into fists, but he ordered himself to calm down since he understood that Hakoda was just concerned and wanted guarantees that his daughter will be safe.

"I have taken measures for Katara, as well as my mother, to be protected at all times by people that I trust," he began in a strong tone. "I also have people searching for the traitor and the rebels. I will not allow anyone to harm Katara. She means everything to me."

Sokka listened silently as his father and his friend talked and he found himself believing everything Zuko had said. Sure, he once had hated the Fire Prince when he had invaded their home and continued to chase after them, but once Zuko had joined their group and helped defeat the former Fire Lord, Sokka had accepted that Zuko was not such a bad guy. And as the years passed by, Sokka came to see him as one of his best friends. He knew Zuko was an honorable man and if he said he would do anything to keep Katara safe, Sokka knew he would. He was still surprised to know his sister and Zuko loved each other, but once he began to remember all those little moments between them, such as when Zuko had taken Katara to avenge their mother or the tea incident in Ba Sing Se from a few months ago, Sokka wondered how he could not have seen it coming. Glancing at his silent father, Sokka waited to see what his answer would be.

Hakoda remembered all those subtle looks Zuko had thrown Katara back in the Southern Water Tribe last winter, the softer way Zuko would speak to her and act around her, and he wondered how he did not realize it sooner even after Kanna had hinted at it. He then remembered that Zuko had protected Katara while they had been captured and he had again protected her during the fight with Aang, shielding her with his own body.

"You are mine to protect" were the words Zuko had told Katara, and Hakoda knew that the young Fire Lord would give up his own life for her if it came to that. Not that he wanted Zuko dead, but it was a comforting thought to know his daughter would always be protected.

Staring into the sincere and unwavering golden eyes of the young Fire Lord, the Southern Water Tribe Chief felt himself relax with relief at the knowledge that his daughter will be taken care of, but most of all she would be cherished and loved.

"I can see that you are sincere and I can see that you indeed love Katara," Hakoda finally spoke up. "You will make a good husband for her."

He suppressed a smirk when the Fire Lord's impassive face lightened up in hope.

"If it means Katara's happiness, then I give you my consent for you to marry my daughter," Hakoda told him with a firm nod.

Zuko had to stop himself from grinning like a fool at the thought that now nothing was standing in his way in taking Katara as his wife.

"Thank you, Chief Hakoda," Zuko said with a grateful bow of his head. He looked up at Sokka when the younger man cleared his throat.

"I also agree that you'll make Katara happy, but…" he trailed off and narrowed his blue eyes on Zuko as he stroked the boomerang that was strapped to his hip, "if I find out you're making my little sister unhappy, I'll immediately sail to the Fire Nation to give you a good beating."

This time Zuko was unable to stop himself from rolling his eyes just as Hakoda nodded his head in agreement to his son's statement. Seriously, did they not have faith in him to make Katara happy?

"That won't be necessary. I plan on doing everything I can to make her happy," Zuko told them seriously.

Both blue-eyed men nodded, satisfied.

"When will the wedding take place?" Hakoda decided to ask now that he had given his consent.

"I would like it to be as soon as possible, but first I must let my advisors know I intend to marry Katara and then I have to present her to my Royal Court," Zuko began as he relaxed slightly back into his chair. "Then we have to see what day the Fire Sages believe the right date would be for the wedding to take place."

"Hopefully that will give us enough time to gather Katara's dowry," Hakoda said as he stroked his bearded chin thoughtfully.

"I don't need to be given a dowry," Zuko told him with a frown.

"But you will get it, nevertheless," the tribal chief insisted firmly.

Zuko's frown deepened. He did not want Katara's dowry, he just wanted her. She was all he needed and wanted. He opened his mouth to refuse again, but he was cut off when Sokka shook his head at him.

"It'll look like an insult if you refuse the dowry," Sokka explained. "It'll seem like you found Katara's dowry lacking, which will then look like she's lacking in something, too."

"Alright," Zuko immediately conceded. He will not do anything that would harm his waterbender.

"We will discuss the details of the wedding and the conditions of the marriage later," Hakoda spoke up with a satisfied nod.

"Don't forget it's a new tradition in the tribes that the bridegroom gives his bride a betrothal necklace. It would be something that Katara would like," Sokka said before he added with a proud smirk, "I made Suki's."

"I already have one engagement article to give her," Zuko began as he reached into his pocket and pulled it out to show them, "It is tradition among the Fire Nation nobility to give it to the brides."

"It is very beautiful," Hakoda said as he studied the trinket, "I'm sure Katara will like it."

Zuko replaced it into his robes with a pleased smile before he cleared his throat.

"About the betrothal necklace…since I have no idea how to go about carving a necklace, I was wondering if it's alright that I design the pendant but have a professional make it. I want Katara to have the best."

The tribesmen frowned as they looked at one another in deep thought before they turned to look at the silent firebender. Hakoda rubbed his chin as he thought.

"You see, I already had it made," Zuko added as he reached into his robe and pulled out the necklace before placing it across his hand to show it to them.

They leaned forward to see it better and their eyes widened in amazement as they gazed upon it.

"Well, I have to say that is a very excellent piece of craftsmanship," Hakoda remarked with an approving nod. "Not to mention it is a very clever way to combine symbols of both countries."

"Yeah," Sokka agreed enthusiastically as he admired the carving a moment longer before he looked up at Zuko, "and you designed it?"

"Yes," Zuko responded proudly as he once again replaced the necklace into his robe.

"Since you are not used to such a tradition, I do not see why not as long as Katara is proposed to with her own betrothal necklace," Hakoda relented.

"Thank you," Zuko said as he gave out a mental sigh of relief.

The chief nodded before he gave Zuko a large grin as he said, "I'm sure Katara must be anxious to know what I have decided. I wonder how she'll react to the necklace."

He chuckled when Zuko immediately stood up. The two tribesmen stood up with another series of chuckles that made the Fire Lord give them a small glare.

"I will go to her immediately," Zuko said.

"But I expect her to be in her room early," Hakoda spoke up with a serious expression.

"Of course," the golden-eyed lord responded smoothly.

Even though what he really wanted to do was to celebrate with Katara in a very pleasing manner, Zuko decided not to tempt the fates and have Hakoda retract his consent if he were to somehow find out that Zuko had been unable to completely keep his hands away from Katara.

Zuko almost shuddered at the thought.

With another threat about having Katara in her room early, Hakoda and Sokka opened the door and closed it quietly behind them. As soon as they left the room, Zuko slumped back down onto his seat and exhaled deeply. Well, that was not as bad has he had thought it would be.

A smile spread on his lips at the thought that he was now able to marry his waterbender. Standing up quickly from his chair, Zuko left his study and walked swiftly down the corridor toward his private garden where he had told his mother to tell Katara to wait for him.

He could not wait to give her the news.

---

Standing beneath the cherry blossom tree, Katara chewed on her bottom lip as she anxiously waited for news. Would she be receiving joyful congratulations or would she be saying goodbye to her family forever? Shaking the last thought from her mind, the waterbender looked around the destroyed garden and sighed sadly. The turtle-ducks were nowhere to be found and she hoped they had found a temporary shelter somewhere. Fortunately, the cherry blossom tree had been spared from the Avatar and Fire Lord's wrath.

She chewed on her lip more insistently as she again wondered what her father, brother, and Zuko were talking about. As soon as her father and Sokka left to meet with Zuko, Lady Ursa and Jiao had hurried her to her room so she could take a quick bath to get rid of the dirt that clung to her. Then she was given a beautiful silver dress to wear after Jiao had brushed her hair until it shone, before she was rushed back to the garden where Ursa had told her to wait for Zuko. She hoped all this dressing up was worth it. A long time had passed since they had left and she hoped her father had accepted Zuko's request because she did not want to choose between Zuko and her family.

"Katara," she heard a rich, baritone voice call her name softly and she gasped as her heart skipped a beat at the familiar timbre.

Looking up at him as he approached her, Katara waited until he was standing before her.

"Zuko," she said his name softly before she hesitantly asked, "What did my father say?"

She became alarmed at his blank expression and she felt her heart sink.

Oh, no! This can't be happening! she cried out in her head.

But before her anxiety rose higher, Zuko broke into a large smile and he gave her a nod. A small gasp escaped her and then, with an exultant cry, Katara threw herself at him. Zuko immediately caught her in his arms with a happy chuckle as he brought her close to him. Their lips met instantly and they kissed each other with both relief and happiness. They pulled away and Katara rested her head against his chest as he placed his chin on the top of her head. They remained that way in silence for a moment, each reveling in the good turn of events.

Finally, Katara pulled away and Zuko watched as she gathered water from her waterskin and onto her hand. It glowed around her slim hand and Zuko silently allowed her to heal the bruises and cuts on his face since he knew that she would not stop worrying until she had healed him. He sighed at the cool and tickling contact. As soon as she finished, Katara replaced the water into her waterskin before she smiled at him as she snuggled into his chest again.

"Thank you," he said as he gave her a squeeze.

"You're welcome," she responded as she leaned back to smile warmly at him.

Katara again placed her head on Zuko's chest while he wound his arms around her, but she frowned when she again noticed the damaged garden.

"The garden is destroyed," she said sadly.

"I'll order for it to be restored. Don't worry, love," Zuko responded and squeezed her gently.

Raising her head, Katara smiled at him before she licked her lips nervously as she carefully said, "I'm…I'm worried about Aang and what he might do."

Zuko was silent for a short moment as the jealousy once again tried to surface within him before he firmly pushed it down. Katara was his, he was now able to marry her, and he did not need to fear that she would leave him for Aang. And he had to admit he was also a bit worried about the airbender since he had looked terrible when he left.

"As long as Toph's with him, he'll be fine," he finally responded.

Katara relaxed against him when she realized he had not gotten angry with her for her concern. She did not want to make him jealous, she was just worried for her friend—their friend.

"Do you think Aang will forgive us someday?" she asked quietly.

"Aang is hurt and angry at the moment, but he's not one to hold a grudge for long," was his reply.

Katara nodded against his chest. She hoped he was right.

She looked up when Zuko pulled slightly away and she raised a curious eyebrow when he grabbed her hand, turned around, and silently led her away from the cherry blossom tree, the destroyed garden, and into the golden corridors of the palace.

"Where are we going?" she asked curiously.

"You'll see," was his mysterious reply as he glanced down to smirk at her before he tugged on her hand so she could continue to walk beside him.

They were heading toward the west wing and she felt a bit of disappointment at the thought that he was escorting her to her room, since she had wanted to talk to him about what her father had said and celebrate in some small way for their success. She was confused when they passed her room and headed toward the royal wing, and she raised an eyebrow when they turned right and headed toward the Fire Lord's royal bedchambers. Soon they were at the entrance of the anteroom, and Katara blushed when Shen and Kuo tried to suppress their smiles as one of them opened the door for their lord and the waterbender.

With another glance at his betrothed, Zuko brought her to his side as he stepped into the anteroom before Shen closed the door behind them.

Katara gasped in amazement as she took in the sight. There were candles everywhere! On the low table were two sets of plates, a pitcher of wine, two golden candlesticks with long glowing candles, and in the center was a vase filled with fresh flowers.

"Oh, Zuko! It's wonderful!" she exclaimed as she turned to smile at him.

"Well, to tell you the truth, I only planned to have a small meal for the two of us since we missed dinner," Zuko muttered as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck before he cleared his throat, "It looks like my mother and Uncle outdid themselves again with the candles and the flowers."

"Well, it's still wonderful," Katara told him with another smile as she reached up to kiss his cheek.

Zuko smiled as he again grabbed her hand and led her to one of the cushions at the table before he took a seat beside her. They spent a few minutes eating their delicious meal and drinking wine as each recounted what had happened with their talks with Hakoda. Katara had to stop herself from laughing at Zuko's scowl when he mentioned that her father threatened him if he did not return her to her room early. Then they finally turned their conversation to their future and what could be expected of their marriage.

The candles, the flowers, the food, the wine, Zuko's presence, his warm gaze, and his velvety voice, as well as the thought that her father had accepted their marriage, made the waterbender feel like this was one of the best nights of her life.

Katara had just finished taking another sip of the cool wine when she felt Zuko grab her hand as he stood up. Placing the cup down, Katara stood up as well and she raised her eyebrow again when he led her to the center of the candle-lit room before he turned around so that they were facing each other. She watched curiously as he swallowed nervously before he straightened himself out, his features shifting into his trademark cool expression, as he gazed steadily into her eyes.

"I know the first time I asked you this it wasn't at the best time, or at the best place, or in the right way…" Zuko began before he gave a small shrug as he added, "And I still don't have a flowery speech, but I wanted to make it at least a bit more memorable for you."

Katara's eyes widened as he grabbed both her hands and brought them to his lips where he touched them softly before he lowered them as his golden eyes again stared intensely into her blue orbs.

"I love you, Katara, and it will be my great honor if you agreed to become my wife," he said sincerely before he asked her softly, "Will you marry me?"

He was doing all of this for her? Katara felt overjoyed tears gather in her eyes at his sweet gesture but she forced them back since she did not want to ruin the moment with her tears. Instead, she gave him a large, elated smile as she jumped up and wound her arms around his neck.

"Yes!" she exclaimed as she kissed him before she repeated the word a few more times, each time more softly, as she placed another swift kiss on his lips at the end of each word.

Zuko gently grabbed her chin to stop her before he kissed her mouth properly as his other arm tightened around her. He felt just as ecstatic, if not more so, from the first time he had heard her accept his proposal, but this time he finally had something—two to be more precise—that would show her his commitment. Pulling apart from their kiss, they breathed deeply as they embraced each other for a moment before Zuko leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"Do you remember when I said that I would one day tell you what the engagement tradition for the Fire Nation nobility is?" he asked.

"Yeah," Katara responded with a nod as she tried to calm her racing heart.

She felt him pull away from her and she looked at him with a confused frown when he reached into his robe. She watched curiously as he took her left hand and slipped a thin gold ring onto her third finger. Katara stared at the beautiful ring in surprise as she noticed the elegant engravings on its smooth surface before she looked up at Zuko—who was staring at her with glowing amber eyes—with a confused expression on her face.

"I ordered it made as soon as we arrived in the Fire Nation," he said with a small smile.

Lifting her hand to his lips, he kissed the gold metal before he continued.

"This ring symbolizes that you are spoken for, that you are an engaged woman now, and once we marry it will symbolized that you are a married woman," he began before he pointed to one particular design that was craved on the surface. It looked like a dragon coiled around itself. "Once they see this symbol, my Royal Court will know that I have chosen you as my wife."

Katara smiled joyfully as she brought her hand to her chest and caressed the cool ring before she lifted herself on her toes to peck his lips. When she pulled away, she smiled brightly at the warmth and satisfaction in his golden eyes.

"It's lovely," she told him.

"There's still one more thing that I want to give you," he told her with a smile before he added, "I had the idea for the design of the pendant ever since you agreed to marry me the first time."

Reaching into his robe again, he grasped the necklace and pulled it out. Grabbing her hand, he gently placed the trinket on her palm as he watched anxiously for her reaction. Would she like it?

Katara gasped softly as she stared wide-eyed at the piece of jewelry that she was holding in her hand.

It was a choker—much like the one she had on—made of a black silky cloth and with a round pendant hanging from the center. The charm was made of a black onyx stone, but what had her speechless in astonishment was the design of the engravings on its smooth surface. On the right side, filled with gold ink, was a carving of a form of a magnificent dragon curled on its side, and on the left side was a graceful koi fish curved on the surface of the dark stone etched in silver. The tip of their tails touched the other's head where she could see that both creatures had a small gem as an eye—a blue sapphire for the dragon and a red ruby for the koi fish. The way they curled around each other reminded her of the yin and yang symbol and she smiled.

It was just like them. Red and blue. Gold and silver. Fire and water. Fire Nation and Southern Water Tribe. Male and female.

Zuko and Katara.

"Oh, Zuko, it's beautiful," she breathed in awe as she looked up to give him a watery smile.

"So…you like it?" he asked her hopefully.

"I love it," she responded genuinely, happily. "Thank you, so much."

"I wanted to give you something that described us," Zuko said softly, "I'm glad you approve of it."

He smiled at her, pleased at her obvious delight, and he touched her cheek, marveling at how content he felt at her happiness, something he had never experienced with anyone before and probably never would.

He reached down to take the necklace from her hand and he gently led her to a mirror that hung on one wall of the room. He placed her in front of it as he moved behind her. He caressed her neck for a few seconds before he slowly unclasped her mother's necklace. Katara touched her bare skin before she moved her hand away when Zuko brought the betrothal necklace he had given her to her throat. Katara moved her hair out of the way and she watched with a smile as he placed it against her throat. Once he had fastened it, he pressed her mother's necklace into her hand before he moved her hair so that it fell down her back again. He placed his hands on her shoulders, and tugging the edge of her dress slightly down, he leaned down to place a kiss on the love-bite on her skin and then on the black lace of her necklace before he kissed her cheek.

"You look beautiful," he whispered into her ear as he looked at her through their reflections.

Katara touched the new necklace that now adorned her neck as she smiled at him before she glanced down to look at her mother's necklace. She had worn it for many years in order to keep the memory of her mother alive, but now she knew that her mother will always live in the hearts of her loved ones.

Raising her head to look at Zuko, who was regarding her silently with simmering golden eyes, Katara smiled as she clasped the new pendant gently. Now she had a betrothal necklace of her own, she had a man who loved her immensely, and they had a future ahead of them. And although she knew it would not always be easy, she knew they would try their hardest to be happy.

"I will wear it proudly," she told him softly.

"I know you will," Zuko responded.

He turned her around so they could face each other and he ran his thumb on the engraved pendant before he leaned down to kiss her plump lips again. She sighed softly against his mouth, and with a groan at the feeling and taste of her, Zuko reluctantly pulled away before he carried her to the bedchamber so he could show her his pleasure in her acceptance in a more personal manner. That would surely anger the Southern Water Tribe Chief, if he were to find out.

"After I introduce you as my intended bride to my Royal Court, we must visit the fire sages to see when the best day for our wedding would be," he explained as his eyes softened.

Katara nodded even though she felt anxiety swell within her again at the thought of what Zuko's courtiers would think of her, but she pushed it aside as she smiled at her betrothed.

"I can't wait," she told him sincerely.

She gasped when Zuko wrapped his arms around her and brought her flush against him as he smirked at her.

"Neither can I," he said huskily as his eyes darted toward the doors that led to his bedroom before he looked at her again. He smiled when she blushed.

Leaning down, Zuko captured her lips and they both groaned when their tongues met as they opened their mouths while their hands gently roamed the other's body. It was a few minutes later when they finally pulled away from each other to gather some air and regain their control.

Katara resisted the urge to laugh when Zuko groaned as he muttered that it was her father and Sokka's fault he had to behave himself.

With a soft sigh, Katara rested her head against his chest as she stroked the stone on her new necklace a few times before she brought her left hand to her face so she could gaze at the beautiful ring on her finger. It seemed to shine at her with the light of the many candles. She felt her heart swell with happiness at the thought that she would soon marry Zuko, that she will soon become his wife and he her husband.

Zuko smiled as he watched his future bride admiring and lovingly stroking the ring he had given her before he tilted her chin up with his fingers and kissed her lips softly before pulling away.

"I should return you to your room before both your father and brother come upon me to avenge your honor," he said with a serious expression, though there was amusement in his amber orbs.

Katara giggled this time as she took his offered arm and allowed him to lead her toward the doors. She bid the two guards good night and they responded with small smiles as they watched their lord reluctantly walking her to her room. Once the couple disappeared around the corner, the guards turned to look at each other. Shen's lips lifted in a small smirk and Kuo chuckled quietly since they had noticed the new necklace on the waterbender's neck and the golden ring on her finger. But just as quickly, they sobered up and resumed their positions.

As they neared her room, the blue-eyed waterbender leaned her head against her firebender's shoulder.

"Thank you, Zuko," Katara told him with a happy sigh, "This night was so wonderful."

"You're welcome," he responded with a smile as he gave her waist a squeeze as they stopped at her door.

Looking around them in order to make sure no overprotective fathers or brothers were lurking around, Zuko again brought Katara to him and kissed her deeply before pulling away. He smirked at her dazed look.

"But I promise that I'll give you even more wonderful nights after we marry," he promised her in a husky tone as he brushed his hands against her rear before he grabbed her hips and pulled her tightly to him.

The blush surfaced once again on Katara's cheeks as she felt a tingle in her core and anticipation flutter in her stomach before a tiny smile touched her lips as she gazed at him beneath her lashes.

"Really?" she asked coquettishly, "I'm curious to know what we will be doing on these wonderful nights."

"Don't tempt me, love," Zuko told her with a groan.

Katara bit her lip to stop herself from giggling when she felt the evidence of his arousal against her stomach. She was glad to know she was not the only one to be affected. With a smile, she reached up to kiss him softly on his lips before she whispered against them as he held her to him.

"Soon," she said.

"I can't wait," he responded just as softly as he kissed her. Then he moved to huskily whisper in her ear, "I'll see you later tonight in your room."

"Zuko," she breathed both uncertainly and excitedly.

"I promise I'll be careful," he told her as he nibbled at her ear, causing her to moan softly.

"Then I'll be waiting," she responded softly.

Zuko groaned and he again kissed her mouth deeply before pulling away to smile at her as he gave her waist a gentle squeeze.

They had passed two obstacles this day. Now they had a few more before they could finally be happy together.

---

A/N: Awww, the fluff :D

No evil cliffy this time. Please leave me a review for being so nice hehe.

Please check out the amazing fanart for MHBFY in my profile!

~alwaysZutarian