A/N: We've got a couple more chapters in this story and things they are shaping up to be something else. I feel like things are coming full circle in this story and maybe I satisfied some of the reasons Katara and Zuko didn't end up together. It was good for me to write this so that when I write Zutara stories I won't feel like I'm chasing a pipe dream. Like I said in my reply to a review, yes, this situation is a mess but it answers some whys for me. Things will get better as things tend to do. The kids are next in the last chapters and Zuko will tell a few more good stories because he owes them that much at least. I hope you are still enjoying these episodes of Story Time with Zuko though they did go on pause so that the butt kicking came as Zuko promised some chapters ago.
Disclaimer: Story time is for Zuko and Zuko is for Story Time. Zuko and Story Time are for Fan fiction...
Chapter 10-More Epiphanies
Izumi's life was in shambles. Aang went to pick Bumi and Kya up from school early. He ignored Izumi and the instructor altogether as he told his children to move quickly. Katara bowed apologetically to the instructor and the look in her eyes told Izumi that all was not right in the world. Izumi ran from the classroom looking for her father. She ran as fast as she could to her father's study. She was not as bold a Katara to poke her head in the study without knocking. Izumi pounded on the door in the hopes her father was there. "Come in." she heard her father say. Izumi breathed in relief and opened door. "Father, Uncle Aang and Auntie Katara just took Bumi and Kya away!" she screeched. Zuko kept his head down. "I know my little turtleduck. It was time for them to go home." Izumi stared at her father in shock. "But there's a banquet for them tonight! They're not staying for their own party?" Zuko sighed. "It's probably for the best. Uncle Aang is very angry right now…" Izumi thought about it. "What did you do Father?" Zuko laughed at his daughter's keen sense of perception. He sighed heavily. "I loved your mother…" he said softly.
Izumi stepped up quietly to her father and looked at his sad eyes and tired face. He opened his arms and invited her to sit on his lap. She leaned on his shoulder and he rocked her gently. They sat in silence for a while. Izumi contemplated what her father said. "It was ok to love my mother. That's why I'm here and Kya is my sister. It's why my mother was so happy here. That doesn't seem like such a bad thing." She said. Zuko nodded in agreement. "It isn't. You and your sister are my greatest accomplishment to date, but your mother has a husband that isn't me and she needs to be with him. They must be a family. I need to let her go, let them go. It doesn't feel right, but it is the right thing to do." Izumi frowned. "If you loved mommy so much why didn't you marry her?" Izumi asked. It was Zuko's' turn to frown. "Because sometimes life doesn't work out that way, my princess. You can love people and still not have a life with them the way you want." He sighed knowing it was a hard truth to hear. Izumi turned her face to her father's robe and began to cry. "Why do the people we love have to go away? I don't want to love people if it hurts so much…" Zuko closed his eyes against the tears. He didn't want this to be his daughter's first lesson on love.
Aang moved about like a whirlwind packing and stowing items on Appa. Appa groaned at his person's mood. Whatever got his Aang so worked up was going to make the trip tiresome. Aang would push him to fly long and hard. Appa tried to nuzzle Aang, but he was pushed away. "Not now Appa…" Aang said curtly. A voice called gently in the barn. "Appa's just concerned Aang, like I am. You haven't said anything all afternoon. Please, talk to me." Katara encouraged. Aang held on to the bale of hay he was moving for Appa. The straw shook in his arms. His tattoos glowed a faint light blue before fading. Aang took a deep calming breath. "Katara, I am angry with you. If it weren't for the fact that I love you so much this palace would have already been destroyed…" Katara looked down at her hands. "I know that. I lied to you…for years. I chose to cover up something that couldn't be helped in favor of protecting your feelings. I know I should have told you the truth immediately about Kya and Izumi. Aang you have every right to be upset with me and Zuko but there's more to this than you're telling. What else are you angry about?" Katara probed gently.
Aang dropped the hay in front of Appa and moved as though he were making his way to the door. He stopped suddenly and sighed. He turned to look at Katara his eyes suspiciously bright. "It's obvious Zuko still loves you. I mean no one gives a woman's husband five punches to the face for someone they're just friends with," he scoffed. "I thought about it: if Kya is not my daughter, are Bumi and Tenzin my sons? You said it yourself; I was never home! How can I know that you've been faithful to me after all this time?" Katara jerked as though struck. She looked at Aang incredulously until she thought about what he said: Why would Aang believe in her fidelity to the marriage if she had a child by his best friend and didn't tell him even if it was before they married? That would eradicate any faith in her ability to tell the truth. It would call her character and motives into question. For the first time Katara realized they had a long way to go in saving their marriage—if it could be saved.
Her shoulders dropped in defeat. "You're right. You have every right to feel this way, Aang. There is nothing I can say to convince you of my faithfulness because I haven't been honest with you. All I can tell you is what I know: Bumi and Tenzin are yours and you are the only father Kya has ever known. I may never be able to convince you of this, but you need to understand that you didn't just choose me; I chose you too. I think Zuko understands this finally. He asked me if I loved you and I couldn't and wouldn't deny it. I do love you Aang. If you are willing, I want to try to make our marriage work." Aang closed his eyes against the tears that spilled over and down his cheeks. He wanted to stay angry but Katara admitting she still loved him took the fight out of him. He inhaled a deep cleansing breath. He opened his eyes and looked at Katara intently. "I want…to try. I meant what I said about being here for you. I do want to leave the Fire Nation, but I think we should avoid an international incident by attending the Fire Lord's banquet in our honor. I can do the bastard this one favor…" Katara ignored Aang's jib at Zuko and smiled at her husband. She knew she would do whatever she could to make things up to him even if it took the rest of her life.
The banquet was lavish and opulent. The finest china and utensils were placed on decadent tables draped in reds oranges and yellows. No expense was spared for the guest of honor and his family. A delicious spread of vegetarian options was created for everyone and meat was served at a far corner in the banquet room encouraging attendees to try the traditional dishes of the Air Nation. Aang was stoic and stately in his formal monk's robes and beads. His head was freshly shaved, and his tattoos gleamed in the soft glow of the banquet room. He wore a demeanor of cool detachment. Katara stood by her husband's side in the colors of her homeland, manufactured in the cool and comfortable silks of the Fire Nation. Her face was neutral. They stood as a unit next to the Fire Lord who was resplendent in his dark red and black formal robes greeting guests as they entered. When the last of the guests arrived and were greeted cordially, the Fire Lord turned to Aang and his wife and bowed. "Thank you for coming." He said most sincerely. Aang's cool façade broke when he saw how his friend debased himself before his subjects in bowing lower to Aang than his station afforded. The whispers were instantaneous. Aang and Katara knew then he meant what he said. They also knew how important it was for them to show up. For the guests of honor not to show at this event would have been a proverbial slap to the face for Zuko and a signal of a deep dishonor. It would have created a rift between Zuko and his nation that could possibly have never been repaired. Other nations would have allowed that action to be the catalyst to reject the Fire Nation's efforts for peace and potentially restart a war no one wanted.
Aang bowed in return at the appropriate level. It was a slight to the Fire Lord he knew, but at this point Zuko was lucky he was here at all. Aang wasn't completely over the fact that his wife had children with the man, but he would at least be quasi-polite and agreeable for the evening. Zuko smiled. "Please enjoy the banquet. It was prepared for you and your family." He said gesturing to the buffet. Aang and Katara nodded and moved to their table to partake of the sumptuous fare. Zuko walked away picking up a flute of wine as he passed a server. Toph walked over to where Aang and Katara sat while servers filled their plates. "I'm glad to see you all worked things out." She said easily. Aang snorted. "We couldn't very well let the world go to pot after all we did to save it, could we?" Toph smiled. "No, I suppose not." She said thoughtfully. She added. "I do hope you two can work to repair your friendship. The balance of the world may hinge on it still." Toph said cryptically. Aang and Katara looked at one another pondering her words as Toph wandered off to mess with her favorite Fire Lord. Toph sidled up next to Zuko who was sitting alone and asked demurely, "Is there anyone who can tell me where a lady might be able to find something stiff to drink and a little companionship?" It was Zuko's turn to snort. "Would a lady have to look for those things?" he replied. Toph laughed heartily as Zuko passed her a flute of wine. "No, I suppose not. How ya holding up?"
Zuko took a long sip of his wine. "Still the Fire Lord today so that has to count for something. I am glad that Aang and Katara showed. I was pretty sure they weren't going to at the time we were setting up. I feel like I may have Katara to thank for their appearance." Toph hummed in her glass. "Yeah, I'm sure. So, what's the plan after this?" she asked curiously. Zuko raised his eyebrow. "Raise Izumi to be the next Fire Lord. Retire when I'm 80. Hope and pray I outlive my failings and see good in this world while I live." He said matter of factly. Toph whistled. "Damn. You're in a mood." She replied. Zuko made a non-committed noise and shrugged. "And you're tipsy…" Toph realized. Zuko hummed in affirmation. "Probably more than tipsy but not quite drunk. I can't leave yet 'cause we just got started. And I'm already almost drunk. Damn it…" Zuko chuckled to himself not quite with humor but not nearly with despair just yet. Toph didn't need a repeat of the bar scene. He was the worst crying drunk she had ever seen. She couldn't let him get to that point for the sake of all the nations represented at the banquet tonight. "Yeah... I'm gonna go get you a plate of something. Don't move if you know what's good for you Zuko." Toph threatened. Zuko laughed softly his cheeks glowing slight rose. "Ma'am, yes ma'am." He said like a soldier following orders. Toph rolled her eyes but knew he would stay put…more than likely.
Toph made her way to the buffet table with the meat and then to the table with the vegetarian dishes. She made sure to get bread and other items that would soak up the alcohol and help the Fire Lord sober up. As she turned to make her way back to Zuko she heard whispers behind her that felt a lot like the gossip mill grinding. The Fire Lord and Lady Bei Fong have been getting quite cozy of late… Yes! At least she's a woman of good standing and station unlike the Seductress of the South… It's so good to see our Fire Lord isn't pining shamefully over that loose woman…The women continued tittering and disparaging Katara's name at a banquet in her and her husband's honor! Toph was hot. The women were also in hearing distance of Katara and Aang. Aang's heartbeat was going haywire. He heard the women's awful insults too and was livid! Toph scanned the room. Zuko was at his table talking to one of the councilmen. He was good. Toph sensed Katara putting her hand on Aang's and her response calmed his. Katara heard but she didn't allow herself to be bothered with those women's words. Katara had more honor and decency in her pinky than those women ever held collectively. But that was Katara. Toph was not going to let them get away with their poor behavior.
As Toph carried Zuko's plate across the room to the table where he sat, she felt for each of the 'ladies' that spoke ill of her friend. One was preparing to sit in her seat. Toph shifted the floor just enough that the woman slipped and dumped in the chair ungracefully causing her wine to spill and run off the table onto her lap. She screeched like a night owl hawk. Others sitting near the woman snickered and covered their mouths at her faux pas. The woman ran for the washroom. She wouldn't be coming back this way tonight. Toph searched for the other and found her in a most compromising position behind a stone wall with one of the noblemen. They chose a spot that had them perfectly hidden out of sight. The noise from the music, dancing and talking prevented others from noticing that the pair snuck away hiding in plain sight. Toph used her seismic sense and saw that the wall was a tunnel on the far-left side of the banquet hall. She felt metal gears that operated the hidden door. Toph shifted the wall panel open slowly as if it were a malfunction or someone else was there opening the doorway. The nobleman and the woman began hiding their faces among other things as attendees noticed the door opening. Gasps filled the banquet hall at the shameful display of a nobleman and woman at a court function! More began to whisper as they recognized who was behind the panel door. The man and woman fled through a service entrance nearly knocking over a waiter holding a tray while coming into the banquet hall.
Toph smirked as she took the plate she made over to Zuko who was watching the scene before him as if it were a train wreck. Zuko was in shock. "Oh-my-Gods. That's… Did you…?" He began when Toph approached the table. "Did I what?" Toph asked innocently as she passed him the plate laden with food. Zuko gave Toph a strange and unconvinced look but quickly let it go. He wouldn't hold it past her to find something like an indiscretion and expose it because she could. But if she wasn't saying neither was he. "Thank you for this." He smiled as he took the plate from her hands. He sighed. Tomorrow's council meeting was going to be a pure disaster. Firing Minister Wei was going to be a real task to say the least. He was a part of the old guard from his father and grandfather's reign. His removal might be a blessing in disguise, but who he was with…Ukano's wife Michi, Mai's mother of all people! That's a scandal for the ages. Ukano secretly plotted to restore Ozai on the Dragon Throne while Zuko and Mai were dating. This…would destroy any credibility both Wei and Ukano may have had with the noblemen who were still supportive of the imagined wealth from the previous war. He's not sure how Toph managed to disengage the mechanism to the secret panel of the tunnels, but perhaps it was fate that allowed this to occur.
Toph picked up on Zuko's erratic heartbeat and asked gently, "Is everything alright, Zuko? Your heartbeat is all over the place!" She said her voice heavy with concern. Zuko stared. "Are you sure you…?" Zuko started to ask Toph but once again thought better of it. "Nevermind…" Aang and Katara made their way to Zuko's table holding hands and with slight traces of smiles on their lips. "Crazy night, huh?" Aang asked with a knowing look. Zuko nodded and sighed. "Yeah…very crazy. Tomorrow's council meeting is going to be insane." Toph and Katara whistled low. The girls giggled at the synchronicity and Katara placed her hand on Toph's shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze. It was her way of saying "Thanks." Toph took her hand and squeezed back. Katara knew what Toph had done for her when those women gossiped about and disparaged her though neither woman expected things to escalate so quickly, but that's what happens sometimes when Karma is swift in her retribution.
Considering the recent exposure of the evening and the knowledge that heads (at least one head in particular) were going to roll in council tomorrow, Noblemen and noblewomen began to make their exits quietly. Couples who had planned to rendezvous with their secret lovers changed their minds and went home with their respective spouses and significant others. Tonight was not a night for indiscretion. As the last of the guests left the banquet, Zuko looked at Aang and Katara. He wanted to do something to at least begin to repair the damage he was partially responsible for between them. "The night is still young. Would you like to join Toph and me in my parlor? I think I may have some root beer in storage." He asked humbly. Aang's eyes widened. "Root beer? Wow! You're pulling out all the stops, aren't you?" He paused and turned to Katara. "What do you think dear? You want to hang out a little longer with the Fire Lord and the Lady Bei Fong?" Katara blushed. "I would like that, but only if you want to, Sweetie." She replied shyly. Aang smiled. He saw that his wife really meant what she said about making things work between them. His heart melted. He turned to Zuko. "I think we could spare an hour or two more with you. Lead the way your highness." Zuko bowed to the Avatar and his wife again and took Toph by the arm. "Follow me esteemed guests." He said.
Three hours later the small party was still in full swing. The laughter echoed off the walls and down the halls of the Fire Lord's chambers. "I can't believe you did that Toph! How did you even get that secret panel to open? It's only supposed to open with firebending." Aang asked about the exposed scandal. The four of them all knew it was Toph. She smirked. "All I did was turn the gears that controlled the door. The firebending normally warms the metal causing it to expand suddenly and create pressure on the gears. As it cools the gears release and turn the crank. I mimicked the swelling of the metal and contracted it. That's why it seemed like a malfunction. I didn't like what that woman was saying to her friend about Katara. They had the audacity to say it in front of you! They were so rude and disrespectful. When I saw what one of the women was up to with the "nobleman" it was game over. She's lucky I didn't open the door when that nobleman had her legs—" Zuko cut her off. "Uh, I think I could use a little more to drink, how about you Toph?" Toph "glared" in Zuko's direction and held out her glass. Zuko smirked and took the glass from her gently touching her fingertips. He lingered there a little longer than normal. She blushed at the contact. Toph suddenly punched Zuko's arm for cutting her off and making her blush in front of their friends. Zuko ignored the pain in his arm and leaned down towards Toph's ear and whispered something that made her blush even more his lips brushing her earlobe. She shivered slightly. Her sightless eyes widened at his whispered promises and Zuko turned in triumph as he left her sitting in her seat speechless while he went to refill her drink.
Katara and Aang laughed at Zuko and Toph's antics. Katara said teasingly, "I think it might be time for Aang and me to say goodnight. Just promise us you'll be considerate of our poor wall…" Toph and Zuko sputtered as Aang howled with laughter. Another hour later when the Avatar and his wife did say goodnight, Aang stopped and turned to face Zuko. His voice was calm. "Zuko, I want you to know that I'm not angry with you for loving Katara. It's easy to love who she is. We weren't together when you two were and things happened. I get that. I was hurt that you two hid something so important as the twins from me, but I do forgive you and I hope that we can work on rebuilding our friendship not just for the sake of the world." Zuko's eyes were suspiciously bright at his friend's words. His voice choked with the effort not to cry. "I-I would like that very much. I do love Katara, but enough to know that the two of you belong together and to each other. I am truly sorry for the way things went between us. I hope that one day we can be even better friends than before." At Zuko's words Aang smiled. "I would like that too." He said as he took Katara's hand in his. Katara smiled at her husband and knew that things were going to get better between them all with time. Not one to be left out Toph joked, "With all this emotion between you guys, maybe you two should make out with each other tonight…" Katara gave a deep belly laugh until she noticed it was quiet between the two men. Aang and Zuko looked at one another curiously and Aang shrugged as if he was considering Toph's words. Katara smacked Aang on the arm. "It was a joke, Aang!" Katara yelled. Aang and Zuko looked at each other one last time to Katara's dismay. The men suddenly began laughing until tears welled while Katara fussed about how that wasn't funny, and fidelity goes both ways. Toph smirked as she realized they were messing with Katara. Well, at least one of them was…
