Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 38 of Sparks Ignite! I hope you guys enjoyed that last chapter. I want to hear your thoughts on where you think this series is going for this book! Let me know! As always, I do not own avatar or its characters. Onto the story!

Fate and Destiny are a funny thing. They are so permanent, but yet can be changed by the smallest thing. It can cause the moon and the sun to collide. Or the most opposite Sparks to Ignite.

Chapter 38: The Patience

As much as Katara wished her brother and Suki could stay a little longer, she understood their need to get home. They had been away from the southern water tribe for a lot longer than expected and she knew that her brother needed to start taking up his responsibilities.

She pulled her brother in for a tight hug, "I'm going to miss you…" she told him. Even though they hated each other most of time, they were siblings. Sokka chuckled, "Geesh sis, its not like I'm dying" he told her, trying to throw some humor into a relatively sorrow moment. Katara rolled her eyes, "Well on second thought…" she said, causing those around her to laugh.

Zuko watched the two siblings with a small smile on his face and a ting of pain in his chest. He wished so badly for a relationship like that with his sister. But he just didn't know if they could anymore. After everything that happened, he didn't know if it was possible.

"Well we will see you in just a few months ya know… I want you there when this little guy is born…" Suki spoke, looking down at her stomach. Katara smiled, remembering back to the night they told them of their little gift.

The group, sans Zuko who was still in the hospital wing, bed bound and sleeping, all sat around the dinner table. It had only been 3 days since Katara had gotten back but things seemed to be looking up. It seemed as if the pain was over, for now, which gave the happy couple the perfect moment to share their news.

Sokka stood at the head of the dinner table, "Suki and I have some news for everyone…" causing everybody to turn their attention towards him, "We've known for a little while now but with everything going on, we decided to wait until things slowed down to announce but…" he then turned to Suki a smile on his face.

"We're pregnant!" Suki yelled out. Katara squealed in excitement, gathering her best friend and brother in a hug.

Katara smiled at the memory and nodded, "I know and I promise I will make it back when you deliver… I wouldn't miss it for the world" she said, pulling her best friend in for a hug.

While the two girls had their moment to say goodbye, Sokka turned to Zuko and shook his head. Zuko nodded at him, remembering the conversation they had a few days earlier.

Zuko looked up when he heard a knock at the door. Sokka stood in the doorway, "May I come in?" he asked him. Zuko nodded immediately, putting down his paperwork.

The firebender looked at him, a little puzzled, "Is everything alright?" he asked him, a little worried as the tribesman closed the door behind him. Sokka nodded, "Yeah, there's just something I need to talk to you about…" he told him, to which Zuko nodded, and began to listen.

Sokka took a deep breath and began, "I know how you care for Katara… And I'm not dumb, I can see where it's going…" Zuko gulped at this, a little weary of the other man's reaction. But what he said next took him by surprise.

"All I ask is that you take care of her when I can't… Katara is headstrong… And stubborn" they both chuckled at the thought, "But there are pieces of her that haven't been fixed since our mother died… But when she's with you, you glue some of those pieces back together…"

Zuko smiled at him, before he continued again, "Just take care of her… And we won't have any problems" Sokka told him. The other boy nodded immediately, "I will protect her with my life… As long as she lets me"

Sokka nodded, happy with the boy's response, "But if you hurt her, I'll have no choice but to kill you"

Zuko watched Katara and smiled. He turned and looked at the next dock over. His mother was saying goodbye to her husband and daughter. There was still some affairs to take care of back home, before they completely made the move to the palace. He could tell Ursa wanted to go with them, but Ikem had told her that it would be better if she stayed, spent time with her son. It had been a long time and he was a very different person from back then.

He watched his mother hug and kiss Ikem goodbye and looked down. One part of him was happy for his mother. He was glad that she wasn't alone all these years. But Zuko couldn't help but feel resentment towards the man. He wondered why he didn't try to find the Mother of Faces when the war ended. He was upset that the man had intended to live the rest of their lives away from him.

But he wanted his mother to be happy, when she never was with his father. He sighed, turning back to Katara and watching her.

She watched as her brother and sister in law climbed onto the ship, setting sail for the southern water tribe. A small part of her wished she was going with them. She missed her father and her grandmother. But she knew her responsibilities here were too great. She knew she would miss Zuko more if she left.

Katara waved to the ship as it set sail on the sea and watched as it disappeared into the horizon. Zuko wanted so badly to go and wrap his arms around her, place a kiss on her cheek. But he knew the Avatar was standing there, watching her just as he was.

Aang took a few steps forward and stood next to her. He took her hand in his and squeezed. She looked over at him and gave him a warm smile. But Zuko watched, a small scowl etched in his features before turning around and walking back towards the palace. Ursa, who had come to join them for the final goodbye, tried to stop him but he brushed past her, slightly infuriated with himself.

If only he hadn't waited so long, then Aang could've gotten the picture earlier. He could have seen it from the beginning and his let down wouldn't be so harsh. And he could be the one holding her hand right now. He shook his head, trying to bring himself back to reality as he made his way to the arena.

Iroh followed him, seeing the distress on his face. For a while, he just watched him, practice movements and counter them, as if he were fighting with another image of himself. As Iroh watched him, he saw the teenager that spent years trying to find the Avatar. He fought with anger and rage. The force of his blasts were not being funneled by his power. Even after everything the man had been through, it was so easy for him to turn back into that small little boy.

Iroh didn't stand until the other firebender stopped to take a breath. Zuko looked over at his Uncle, breathing deep.

"Lightning practice?" he asked him. But Iroh shook his head, "The art of lightning requires all of your emotions to be funneling towards one goal. But right now, my nephew, your emotions circle inside you like the pool that never ends. Care to explain?" he asked.

Zuko sighed, "Katara doesn't want to start anything until she tells Aang the truth… And I'm trying to be patient but…"

His Uncle gave him a warm smile and let out a breath. He smiled at how the man had grown, even when he reverted back to his bitter self, "They say that it is distance that makes the heart grow fonder… But I happen to disagree… I believe it is patience that does so. We often wait for the rainstorm to end instead of listening to the bellows of thunder… We watch for the rainbow instead of feeling the rain hit our skin… Watch… And listen… And your time will come"

Zuko looked at him, listening and then sighed. "I just... hope its soon…" he told him. Uncle smiled back at him, and nodded, "In the meantime, let us work on your technique hmm?" he offered. The firebender nodded, using every ounce of brain power he had to focus on his task at hand.

He knew that they had to wait. And he understood why. He knew that the risk of hurting Aang was too great, and neither of them wanted to do so. He knew that she was worth every moment of waiting.

But then why did it hurt so bad?

Ta-Daaa! Poor Zuko! When will Katara tell Aang? And how will it go? Stay tuned and find out! Until next time!