A/N: I'm trying to get all of Katara's five year Arc uploaded tonight and possible early to tomorrow morning. Zuko/Zhiar's story Arc have been finished just have to proof read but they will be uploaded next week! Followed by Ozai/Kya's the week after! I've been working on these arcs for weeks and I can't wait for you to read. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 35 2/4:
Year Three…
The Annual Summit was being held in the North Pole and everyone, 'everyone', was invited. Arnook put in place for Katara to work in the inner sanctum of the palace so that she would not suffer being seen as a lowly servant. He knew how much her children and friends meant to her and wasn't going to have her humiliated.
Everything went pretty smoothly. Katara told herself she wouldn't sneak a glance at any of the guests. Sure, she knew her children were here but she knew it would break her resolve if she saw them. So, she kept herself more busy than usual. Taking on the chores of some of the other servants. They were finally not so afraid of her anymore. It somehow was replaced with pity to which Katara ignored. She wasn't going to feel sorry for herself. She just needed to work and distract herself.
However; she had worked herself so hard that she was found collapsed in the hallways. The servants had brought this to Arnook's attention on the second day of the summit. He went to see that Katara was indeed ill and told her to rest. She begged him to let her work. All she wanted to do was work.
"The sooner you heal, the sooner you get back to work." He told her, really hating to see her that way. Katara was really, after all, a good woman. He had begun to see that over the last three years. She was a very good woman.
Leaving her side for her to rest, Arnook told the physician to sedate her as she was stubborn and would work herself to death if she could.
Going to one of his summit meetings, Arnook saw that everyone was present. He avoided looking at those that were from the Fire Nation and the Phoenix Empire. Last thing he needed to deal with were those two problematic monarchs.
The meeting finished, the Northern Chieftain was about to leave quickly when a hand fell over his shoulder.
"Chieftain Arnook." He heard the slightly familiar voice.
Turning to look over his shoulder, Arnook saw a tall young man looking down at him. "Zhiar?"
Smiling awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his head, rustling his shaggy hair. "I kind of had something to ask you but I rather ask in private."
Seeing that the young man didn't show any hostility towards him, Arnook nodded and told him he could accompany him to his office. When they arrived, the Northern Chieftain noticed that his former step-son gazed around his office as if he were reminiscing about the past.
"What can I do you for, Zhiar?" Arnook asked as he took a seat behind his desk.
Zhiar looked to Arnook and cleared his throat as he sat in a chair, "Well, I just wanted to let you know that regardless of what happened between you and pretty much every member of my family, I'd like to say that I never thought ill of you. To be very honest, even to this day, you have been more a father to me than my actual father." He said a bit nervously.
Arnook smiled a little at this.
"I knew my mother was cheating on you but I didn't tell you. I was afraid you'd punish her for something my father had manipulated her into. But I guess I should have told you sooner."
Sighing as he looked at Zhiar, "You are not responsible for your parents-"
"But my mother is a good person! It's just my father. He gets in her head and fucks her up. I know he does. Even when we were really young and it was just mom and Zuko, I saw her try to kill herself. My brother had to stop her every time. And everyone hated her even though she always tried to be good. Arnook, please, you have to see. My mother is good. I know she's in prison but you have to see the good in her. She's not perfect but she tries."
Nodding his head, Arnook informed Zhiar that his mother was indeed a good woman and that she has done very well in the last three years. He sees this seems to cheer the young man up as he thanks him for taking care of his mother.
"Also, can you give her this on my behalf?" Zhiar asked as he pulled out a little box and placed it on the man's desk as he stood up. "I bought it for her back in the Fire Nation. I hope she likes it."
But as Zhiar leaves, Arnook feels nothing but guilt as he eyed the present his former stepson placed on his desk.
…
By week three of the summit, Katara could stay in bed no longer and went right back to work. The other servants tried to stop her but she pleaded with them to let her work. Giving in, they watched her take her bucket and rag to clean the innerkeep's hallways.
Humming to herself as she cleaned the floors, hoping to block out all her thoughts, Katara sang softly to herself as she worked. She hadn't noticed that someone had heard her and came to see the source of it. All she did was continue singing to herself in the empty halls and kept scrubbing.
"What song is that?"
Katara paused at the sound of that voice.
"That song, a friend of mine used to sing it to me years ago."
Keeping her head down, Katara kept scrubbing, ignoring the man. However; he was persistent and kept asking.
"Hello? I'm speaking to you, woman."
Remaining silent.
"Now, you're just being rude. Stop your working, servant."
She paused but she didn't look up. She just watched as his boots went from behind her and walked around in front of her, stopping right in front of her. He crouched down to her and blew in her face.
"I don't mean any harm, woman. I just wanted to know what song that was." He asked.
Shaking her head as she reached to grab her bucket, Katara tried getting up before he could catch her but her wrist was caught as soon as her hand led on the bucket.
"Why are you so afraid to speak to me? I know I'm Fire Nation but I'm not evil. I have a friend that's a waterbender. She sang me that song. I wanted to know what it was. Can you tell me that and I'll leave you alone?"
Swallowing hard, "I have work to do, sir. Please let my arm go." She tried masking her voice.
"I'm sorry. I don't want to get in your way. I just wanted to know that song. That's all." He asked.
Shaking her head, "I don't know."
"Where did you hear it from?"
"I don't know."
"Do you know a woman named Katara?"
"I really need to get to work, Zuko. Please let me go." She tried pushing his hand off her wrist.
But she seemed to make a poor choice of using his name. Next thing Katara knew, he grabbed her by her jaw and forced her to look at him. She shut her eyes and squeezed them tight.
"Katara? What the hel-"
Yanking away from him and trying to grab her bucket at the same time, Katara fell backwards and splashed herself in the bucket water. But she didn't let it stop her. She quickly threw the bucket off of her and took off running while he was still stunned.
…
Arnook was finishing the last of his work before heading to bed when his office was barged in by the Fire Lord with his flame manifested soldiers. Standing on alert, the Northern Chieftain was confused as to why Zuko and his men were entering his office so abruptly so late at night.
"Sit." Zuko demanded as he pointed his finger to the Chieftain's chair.
Furrowing his brows, "You do not command me, Fire Lord Zu-"
"Oh but I do, seeing as I'm moments away from setting this office on fire with you in it." Zuko spoke callously as his expression was nothing short of maniacal. "Now, sit."
With no pleasure at all, Arnook reluctantly took a seat as he stared with distrust and spite in his eyes. He never did like Zuko. The younger man had been far more emotional than his father. And far more impulsive. He lacked the finesse that his father had that made him charming enough to bear through. And Zuko wasn't half as easy on the eyes that his father was. The scar on his was less of a reminder of how cruel his father was and more of a symbol of how angry Zuko was.
"What do you want?" Arnook refused to hold the lower grounds. This was his palace. His nation. How dare some foreigner come in here and order him around.
"There are things that I've noticed that really rub me the wrong way around here. When I came here your new wife was holding a child around the age Katara's should be. Then earlier today, I found a servant singing a song I've only known Katara to sing. It was her. She took off running when I discovered her. You tell me Arnook, what do you want because it seems like to me you want to have some serious issue with the Fire Nation." Zuko growled.
Eyeing him impassively, Arnook scoffed and told Zuko that Katara gave birth to the child and the events that followed. He was keeping Katara out of public eye to avoid humiliating her. But Zuko told him he wasn't doing that for her sake but because he knew what her friends and family would take necessary actions to take her and the child away from here.
Raising from his desk, "Fire Lord Zuko, you will leave this office and this nation now. Do so and I'll forget about tonight."
"No, Arnook. I'm staying till the summit is over. Don't want to make a scene in front of the others. Do you?" Zuko stood up.
….
Katara didn't know why Arnook was having her serve at the Summit banquet. He told her that she wouldn't have to go anywhere near the summit halls. So why would he have her attend this banquet?
Deciding to not give it too much thought, the waterbender simply got into the attire that all the servant girls would be wearing at the banquet. It was a deep blue outfit. A crop top that came up just below their breast and baggy genie-like pants that hang loosely on their hips. Heavy make-up was applied to their eyes and a soft lip paint to their mouths. Bangles to their ankles and wrists. A translucent mask to veil everything below their eyes. It was rather…'much if you asked her. Pretty but she wasn't used to the Northern Tribe allowing the women to dress like this, especially in front of foreign guests.
Receiving a tray to carry out, Katara was told to keep one hand on her hip as the other held the tray up. This wasn't too hard for her to grasp as she had been lifting heavier things in recent. Not to mention she was physically stronger than most of the women due to her years of being a master waterbender among other things that built her physical assets.
It took her a moment to get herself to mentally prepared to enter the banquet hall but once she did, it felt like a breeze. No one noticed her. Thank La. And everyone was more concerned with what dish she had to offer on her tray than randomly striking up conversation with her because of her revealing clothes.
As the night went on, Katara took herself a small break and watched the room from behind a pillar. She wanted to see if she could get a good look at her friends and family. Her eyes went to Zuko and the gang first. Seeing that Zuko seemed to be wearing his hair down completely now. Then there was Aang. He had a beard and she was shocked. Giggling at how mature the kid Avatar she remembered had become. And then there was Suki and Jee, still together which was great.
Her eyes shifted to Zhiar and La, he had gotten so tall. He had to be Zuko's height or taller. Her eyes swelled as she smiled behind her mask. Beside him was a young woman, who he had his arm around. Her eyes lit up. He has a girlfriend now?! She was happy. Her son had really grown up like Zuko said.
Katara, then, skimmed the crowd for a sight of her brother and father. When she found them, she beamed at all the children surrounding Sokka and Toph. Oh, Toph looked so beautiful with her hair out. And her father was turning grey quickly. No thanks to the many grandkids. She chuckled to herself.
"What are you hiding here for?" Arnook asked as he approached her.
She hadn't noticed he saw her and she shrunk back into herself. "I was just looking at my friends and family. They all look like they're doing well."
Hearing a gleeful tone in her voice, Arnook smiled and came to her side to look onward with her. And tell her what he's observed of them. She giggled to herself as he told her hold opinionated Zhiar was on striving for a more friendlier relationship between all the nations. When he spoke of Kya, her eyes brightened up completely.
"Kya? Kya is here?" She was surprised.
Arnook nodded and pointed in the direction of where Kya was standing. He saw Katara's eyes widen in disbelief.
Kya was much taller. Not as tall as her brother but definitely taller than the last time she had saw her. She wore an elegant hanfu dress with the light blues of the Southern Water Tribe. Her hair was styled up with hairpins and accessories. She wore light makeup making her appear much more older than she really was. Holding her posture up and her hands in her sleeves, Kya watched the crowd in a very dignified and poised fashion.
Tearing up at the sight of her daughter, "She's okay." Katara sniffled. "She's more than okay, she's beautiful."
"I wanted you to see them and see how well they were doing, to lift your spirits." He told her.
Katara couldn't take her eyes off of Kya.
"You're more than a good woman, Katara. I don't want you to spend the rest of your life as a servant when you are capable of so much more. I want you to be free." Arnook told her.
Katara looked away and shifted her gaze to him, "Thank you, Arnook, for being kind to me despite our differences." Katara smiled at him.
"It is no problem at all, Katara."
The two continued scoping the room, just watching the many guests enjoy themselves. Eventually, the Northern Chieftain saw Katara eyeing a man across the room with a harsh stare. That man was Phoenix King Ozai. He placed his hand on her shoulder and told her to let it go. Informing her that Ozai is not the same man as before. He was quiet. Didn't say much during any of the meetings. Kya did the speaking on his behalf and if you asked him,
"I think Kya is pulling the strings with him for her to be here. Ozai has become less the man he was before. A pitiful sight with all his uses of drugs and alcohol." Arnook says.
Katara felt a chilly bitterness rest on her tongue as she then saw a woman, an Earth Kingdom woman of nobility, no doubt, come rest on his arm. She looked young and bubbly. A likely naive and innocent girl just coming of age. His type. She thought to herself.
Feeling the air cool around him, "If Kya is pulling the strings with him then she's brilliantly gifted as a siren. As long as she has control over him, I guess I can subside my hatred."
The night ended and Katara walked back to her quarters holding her arms around herself, smiling. She really did enjoy seeing everyone. It made her feel even better about things. We're being followed. Her siren warned her. Let them follow. If they mean us harm we can deal with them. It's another siren.
Katara paused.
"I knew it. I knew it was you." A silently familiar voice said.
Turning around to see her daughter, Katara removed her face veil and smiled. "You caught me."
"Why didn't you come speak to me?" Kya asked, her face showing much more expression than before.
Sighing as she walked up to her daughter, "I didn't know what to say. It's been so long and I-"
Kya pulled her mother into her embrace and squeezed her tight. "I missed you a lot, mom!" She cried. "I missed you like crazy!"
Rubbing her daughter's back, Katara shed a few tears of her own and sighed. "I missed you too, my love. I'm just glad to see you're doing well." She said, pulling back to look over her daughter. "You've gotten far more beautiful than I ever expected."
Smiling, Kya wiped her tears away. "You're all dressed up like a maid or something. And how come you're not in a cell?"
Reaching up to cup her daughter's face, Katara reassured her daughter that she was fine and was able to get out of a prison cell by working as a servant. Kya didn't like this and told her mother that being a servant was beneath her. Quickly correcting her daughter Katara told her that she enjoyed a simple life.
But Kya didn't like it. Her mother had been married to a Fire Lord and a Chieftain. Worked on the council under one Fire Lord's reign. Literally participated in a war and trained the Avatar. How can her mother do all of that and then become a servant? It really bothered her.
"Well, I need to get going. I have to get up early." Katara started pulling away. "Maybe I can try to see you before you leave."
"Okay." Was all Kya could say as she watched her mother remove herself and hurry to leave.
Katara didn't see that her daughter had started up crying again. She didn't see it but she knew.
…
As the Summit came to a closing Katara watched from a safe distance that everyone was starting to head back home. Her eyes watered as she saw Zhiar with his girlfriend, kissing her forehead as Zuko slapped him in the back of the head, reprimanding him for public display of affection. Then there was Kya, who stopped at the steps to look around, as if waiting on someone. Katara knew Kya was waiting on her.
And just as Katara approached her daughter to hug her, to both their dismay, Ozai grabbed Kya's arm and pulled her along.
"What did I tell you about getting friendly with the servants?!" Ozai yanked her away from Katara.
Shoving him off as she hissed at him, "Don't you touch me!" Kya's eyes glowed for a second as she bared her teeth at him. "And she's not a servant! She's my mother!"
Kya pulled away from her father and ran to hug her mother, having to bend down to hug the shorter woman. Katara didn't realize the attention they had drawn as she embraced her daughter back.
"Mom?!"
Katara looked up to see her son running towards her. She and Kya laughed as Zhiar picked them both up together.
"Mom! Agni, your fucking okay!"
"Zhiar, stop swearing, damn it!" Zuko hissed as he marched back up the stairs.
Next thing Katara knew her friends and her brother and father came back up the stairs towards her. All of a sudden everyone started making a big fuss over her and asking when she got out of prison. And wondering why she never thought to speak to them.
Arnook went to take a look at all the commotion and saw that Katara was being ambushed by her friends and family. He saw Zuko take her and push her behind him while keeping everyone else away at a distance.
"Lay off her." Zuko told them, causing them to all pause. "You're scaring her!"
They looked down to see Katara was a bit overwhelmed as she stood behind Zuko.
He turned around to get a look at her and sighed when her big blue eyes stared up at him.
"Are you okay, Tara?" He ran his hand over her head.
Nodding, "Yes." She said running her fist over her wet eyes. "Sorry, I'm just tired, is all. Long day."
Zuko didn't buy it but sure, he'll play along. Wiping her tears with his finger, "You should take better care of yourself. You're super skinny right now."
"Easy for you to say since you have servants waiting on you hand and foot." She playfully hit him and watched him laugh.
Everyone turned their attention to Arnook as he cleared his throat. "Katara, don't you have more sweeping to do?"
"Sweeping?" Sokka was confused.
"Sorry, I've gotta go, guys." Katara's entire demeanor changed as she was about to hurry along to go do the rest of her chores.
Zuko grabbed her arm and yanked her back, "You've got a lot of nerve making her a servant, Arnook." He clenched his teeth.
Arnook scoffed, "She's serving her time as a servant. Either that or I can throw her back in a cell."
"She's coming with me." Zuko picked up Katara and gave her to Zhiar, who was looking at Arnook in confusion.
"Hey, what's going on here?!" Hakoda asked as he looked from his daughter to Arnook.
"Arnook impregnanted Katara while she was in prison, remarried and gave the baby to his new wife, then made Katara a fucking servant!" He hissed.
This news pissed off everyone that didn't already know.
"Come, Katara."
Everyone glared at him for calling her like some pet. However; Katara wiggled herself out of Zhiar's arms and ran past everyone to Arnook, where he handed her a broom and she disappeared into the palace.
"Thank you all for coming. You may all leave." Arnook told them.
…..
Year Four…
Arnook had Katara dressed up nice one night. Heavy make-up to hide her sinking face from her excessive work days and the lack of nutrition. Tui and La, he swore Lao and his people were not going to be happy with the sight of her. She just kept getting worse and worse. Working harder and longer hours. It was ridiculous. He literally had to have healers sedate her for a few days just so she could rest her body but then, she'd just get back to the same routine like she always did. One thing that did not change about the waterbender was her stubbornness.
Sighing as he paced back and forth, Arnook pinched the bridge of his eyebrows while Katara stood there slouching in her terrible position. The refined elegance in her stance that she had acquired over the years of adapting to high society was long gone and it was even less feminine that her posture before she was forced into the high class of aristocrats and royals. It was honestly unattractive but that's what she was sort of going for.
Katara had gotten so sick of being attractive to men, especially those of the higher class, the ones she had a terrible habit of attracting, she purposely went out of her way to look this way. She barely brushed her hair so it was much more freezy than usual. She ate just enough to survive. Forced herself to be sleep-deprived. Bathed every other day. And slouched as much as she could. Not a single man has even batted an eye at her and she was thankful for that.
The waterbender watched Arnook jump as a knock came at the door before it soon opened without prompt and in walked a few cloaked figures. She tried to see if she could get a good look at them from under their hoods but she had very little luck. Fortunately, one pulled back their hood and it was revealed to be Lao.
Clicking his tongue as he smiled at the waterbender, "It's been some time, Katara. You look...alive."
Scoffing with a bit of humor, Katara folded her arms and looked to Arnook. "You know this man is why I ended up marrying Ozai!"
Arnook nodded.
Turning to look back at Lao, "You ruined my life! Why?! What was the purpose of making a middle aged lunatic marry a teenage girl?! Because I am siren?! Why?!" Katara yelled.
It had been a great many things that she had been able to tolerate and accept over the course of the four years she had been serving her sentence here in the North Pole. But Ozai and the man that put them together.
"Katara, I know you and Ozai don't have the best relationship but in due time, you will understand." Lao said as he approached her and pulled from his sleeve, a necklace. There was a white crystal pendant on it with a thorn vine wrapped around it. "The master I serve would like you to have this."
Eyeing the necklace, "What for?"
Reaching to put it around her neck, "Though you will not be joining us for some time, he would like you to feel like a member of our organization. You use this when you find you're in trouble and it prevents you from arriving at death's door before you're due. Think of it as a necklace of immortality."
Katara gaze down at the pendant as it laid between her breasts. "A member? Is that what you all want with me?"
"Yes, you are one of us and have been whether you knew it or not." Lao smiled at her as he looked to Arnook. "Remove her brace and stop having her work as a damn servant. The master is not pleased with what he sees under the sun and light of fire."
Arnook quickly nodded, "Yes, I will find other accommodations for her."
"Good." Lao's momentary scowl left him as he looked back to Katara. "Take care, my dear. Our master will be in contact with you soon."
Lao and his hooded friends turned to leave and once they were, Katara looked to Arnook. She asked him if he knew anything about what Lao and his master wanted with her. But Arnook was only told to look after her, for what reason, he didn't know. Admitting that he only agreed to any of it to keep her safe from Ozai if he were to resurface.
….
As told by Lao, Arnook removed Katara of her duties as a servant and her criminal status was denounced. She was told to remain close as Lao wanted her to remain in the North Pole. There was no issue with this for her. However; the pretense she had to use that the elders agreed to was for her to be Arnook's concubine. It was a term that hadn't been used in many years since the 100 year war began. They refrained from using the term as there were more things that the Northern Tribe had to worry about.
However; in this more peaceful time and for the sake of the current situation, the term was revamped and Katara was made the first concubine of the Water Tribes in over 100 years. She wasn't too smitten with this idea as a concubine was always something to be frowned upon.
Sighing as she laid in her new clothes, in her new room, with her entourage of guards sticking close. Her chi-blocking brace was removed.
Lounging on the lounge chair, Katara opened a mirror portal to see Zuko. She hadn't spoken to him but twice in four years and out of everyone and anyone, he was the person that supported her the most.
"Zuko?" She called his name as she found him relaxing in the tub, his long ebony hair wet and hanging in front of him.
It would seem she startled him and he slipped in the tub, falling backwards in his tub. She burst out laughing. It was the first time she had laughed in years and La, it felt so good. Even if it was at the expense of Zuko freaking out.
When he regained himself and looked down at the water, Zuko swept his wet hair back and held his privates as he looked in the water to greet Katara awkwardly.
"Hey, tara." He said in that corny fashion he did when he was pretending like he didn't just embarrass himself.
Laying on her stomach, Katara smiled softly at him. "You don't have to cover up, Zuko. I can't see it."
"Oh." He removed his hand but then something suddenly dawned on him. "Wait… How are you- when did- what?!"
Giggling as his utter confusion, "I was promoted to concubine." She told him. "I guess that's what happens when you're a good girl." She giggled even more.
Zuko looked at her strangely, "Oh...okay. Ummm, I guess that's why you didn't let me save you?" He was sort of confused now. Katara was very confusing to him. Even more than when they were younger.
Chuckling as she then sighed, "No, Zuko. I have my reasons and yes, most of it is to atone but I found peace with myself and I'm a lot less miserable."
"Sure, you just go from being a prisoner, to a baby factory, to a servant, to a cum rag." Zuko said in annoyance.
Raising a brow at Zuko, "Whoa, Zuko. Are we back to hating each other because I'm severely lost here."
Groaning as he leaned against his tub and held his hand over his face with his elbow propped up on the edge of the tub. "Ignore me. I'm just a little frustrated that you didn't come with me when I was trying to help you."
Gazing at Zuko, she could tell he was really bothered by it and she understood. He was always trying to save her. Time and time again. Zuko was always there to save her from whatever, whoever, even if it was herself. A lot of the time she would turn his help away but it never stopped him from trying to save her again the next time.
"Zuko...I'm sorry. I know- I know you try to save me. Try to protect me and I don't make it easy for you. But I'm grateful for each time you do." Katara told him. "I just sometimes feel like you waste your time with me. Maybe it's to do with your feelings for me and our past or maybe-"
"I do it because you're someone I care about, Katara. You're my one person and if I lose you, then I lose one of the people that I live for. So in a way, I'm selfish." Zuko didn't want her to think he was so noble. She was his reason for surviving and without her, he didn't want to be here.
Sighing as she shook her head, "Will you let me apologize?"
"Will you let me save you next time?" Zuko shot back at her.
Giggling as she shook her head, "Alright, Zuko. You win."
"Can we meet? I know you would like to see Ryu again and he's been asking a lot about his mother lately." Zuko said seldomly. "It's hard to talk about you when you feel like a stranger these days."
Smiling, "Yes, Zuko. I'll talk to Arnook and see if-"
"I'm flying out tomorrow morning." Zuko was not going to wait or allow Arnook to have a say in a matter that didn't concern him.
And Arnook was not objective to Zuko and Ryu visiting. He knew Katara had spent the last 4 years away from her children and as a mother it had taken a great toll on her. Plus, maybe it would put the Fire Lord at ease to see that his friend was fine.
So, he and Katara waited in the large courtyard for Zuko to land. When he did, servants and guards backed far away from the courtyard, watching from a distance. Katara immediately sprinted over to Zuko as he was still in his dragon state and hugged his nose. He made a grumbling sound in the back of his throat as he let steam from his nostrils causing Katara to back away and giggle.
Tomoe climbed down off of the Fire Lord's back with the young 5 year old boy. She smiled when she saw Katara's eyes light up. It startled her that Ryu pulled from her and ran to the woman.
"Mama!" He yelled.
Arnook watched as Katara's son ran into her arms and she pulled him from the ground and swung him around in her arms. He hadn't seen Katara smile in her time here in the North Pole. Not often if at all. He forgot she was capable. But it was nice to see her do so again.
…
"This is where you live, Mama?" Ryu held his mother's hand as she showed him around.
Smiling down at him, Katara told him this is where she had been living and was glad he could finally join her here. Zuko followed behind them with Tomoe and Arnook. He watched Katara with their son and was happy to see they were together again. Ever since his son could speak, he wanted to know about his mother and why everyone had one except for him. Though he had gotten more time with his own mother, Zuko knew what it was like to go without seeing her and he didn't want that for his son. Hopefully, Katara would be able to come back to the Fire Nation to be with Ryu and him.
Arnook could see the Fire Lord's glee and decided to make conversation.
"I am glad to see you have brought him. Katara has missed her children very m-"
Side glancing Arnook, "I'm taking Katara back with me for a few days. My younger sister and brother are waiting to see her." Zuko said in a more authoritative manner.
"I guess a few days won't hurt." Arnook responded, unphased by the Fire Lord's tone.
"Good. I'll bring her back next week."
"Very well. I'll let the servants know to pack her things."
As the Northern Chieftain left to make preparations for Katara to leave, Zuko went to the other side of his son and took his hand, smiling at both Katara and their son.
"So, how about we go on vacation?" He looked between the two of them. "The beach?"
Katara raised a brow, "Ugh, Zuko, you know I can't-"
"You can. I just talked to Arnook." He smirked, feeling a little accomplished. "You're coming to Ember Island with us. Kya and Zhiar are already there. All I need is a 'yes' from you and we'll go."
Katara giggled when Ryu pulled her arm begging her to come. She nodded and Zuko cheered with Ryu.
"Yes!" Ryu cheered loudly.
"So, we leave now. Arnook has the servants packing your things." Zuko informed her. "I also have a few things more fitting for the warmer weather there for you."
This was great. Katara was incredibly excited. She could barely hold herself together. Acting very childlike along side her son, who was jumping up and down. Honestly, no one could blame her. Finally, there was a glimpse of happiness in her eyes that had held nothing but a cold dark stare.
Reaching the Ember Island, Zuko landed outside the family Beach house he had remodeled a few years back. Katara, Tomoe, and Ryu slid off his back. All thankful to finally be on the ground as he shifted back into his human state.
Katara noticed he looked a little dizzy after shifting. He let her know that the shift was not always easy after two long flights in a single day. She offered to help him to the beach house to which he didn't refuse, giving her all his weight. Fortunately, even with how frail she had become, she was able to carry him the rest of the way.
"Mom?! Is that you?!"
The waterbender looked up to see her eldest son and her eyes glistened to joy as she paused.
Zuko stepped away as Zhiar quickly came down the stairs and rushed to his mother. They all chuckled as Zhiar lifted Katara off the ground and hugged her tight, nuzzling his face in her hair.
"Mom! Agni! Thank Agni, you're here!" He said as he held her close, trying not to let anyone see that he was crying, but they could all hear it in his voice.
Hugging her son back, Katara was also crying. "I'm sorry, Zhiar. I'm sorry."
Putting his mother down, back on her feet, Zhiar wiped his eyes and sniffled. "Mom, it's not your fault. We all know that, okay? We're just glad to see you're well."
Nodding as she smiled up at him, Katara wiped her tears. "So where's this girlfriend of yours your brother told me about?"
Zhiar looked at Zuko, who simply shrugged and picked up Ryu to carry him into the beach house as Tomoe followed. Looking back at his mother that was waiting.
"Well, you see, mom….umm, she's not my girlfriend anymore." He said awkwardly as he rubbed his neck, afraid to make eye contact with his mother.
Tilting her head with a somber look, "Oh, I'm sor-"
"She's my fiancé now."
Katara's eyes went wide. "WHAT?!"
"I was going to write to you but Zuko told me to tell you in person." Zhiar said as he finally looked at his stunned mother.
"Zhiar Yong! You introduce me to my future daughter in law now!" Katara grabbed his hand and marched them both into the house.
"Hey, Kat-"
"Not now, Sokka, I need to meet my daughter-in-law!"
"That's just mean, sis." Sokka pouted as he followed behind her.
Katara ignored Sokka as she marched into the courtyard where the girl was and she paused at the sight of her. Zhiar felt even more nervous as he introduced his fiancé to his mother.
"Mom, this is Jin Su." The woman stood up and chuckled as she smiled and waved. "Jin Su, this is my mother, Katara."
"It is good to formally meet you, Lady Katara." Jin Su bowed.
Katara couldn't get her eyes off the girl's stomach. "Nice to meet you too, Jin Su. But one sec." She greeted her sweetly before going up to her son and jumping up to slap him.
Everyone gaped as Sokka swore under his breath.
"What kind of shit is Zuko letting you get away with here?!"
"Hey! I had nothing to do with that!" Zuko spoke up for himself as he entered with Ryu and Tomoe. "Ask him how that happened?"
"Zhiar, how is she pregnant?" Katara asked.
Zhiad was nervous again, "Umm, well,-"
"It was my fault." Jin Su said. "My family makes really wonderful incense and I had given Zhiar a few for his birthday a few months ago not knowing the effects and this… happened."
Katara sighed as she held her hand over her face, Aang approached Katara and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Well at least they will be getting married, right? That's what matters."
Sighing, Katara nodded and got herself together. "Yes, I'm happy for you two. I'm sorry. I'm a little off. I need to go lay down and rest."
Everyone watched as Katara left the courtyard and ran off to be alone. Zhiar was going to go after her but Zuko shook his head.
"Leave her be. She's just a little overwhelmed. You know these last years have not been the easiest on her." Zuko told his brother. "I'll check on her."
Zhiar nodded and took Jin Su along with him and his mother's friends to get her something to eat.
As Zuko was about to visit, a black flame opened up in the middle of the courtyard and Zuko had Tomoe take Ryu away. He stood still and waited for the flame to part open. Seeing his youngest sister, he smiled but that smile soon wiped clean off his face as he saw her be tossed to the ground as his father appeared and the flame disbursed.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing here, Ozai?" Zuko hissed.
Kya got up and growled as she jumped at her father and he grabbed her by the neck, forcing her down on the ground.
"You stand down!" He growled at her as he looked at Zuko. "You invited Kya here without my permission?"
"Kya is eighteen, you dumbass, and my sister."
"Get off of me, you bastard!" Kya screamed at him.
Zuko's eyes glowed as he saw his father tighten his hand on Kya's throat.
"Make a move and I will end you, Zuko. Tell me what you think you're doing having Kya come all this way? You know she has work back home."
Scoffing as he stood down, "Katara is here. I brought her here on vacation so she could see the children. You weren't invited. That's why I told Kya not to tell you anything."
Ozai let go of Kya and warned her to not make a move against him, "If you wanted to see your mother, you should have said so."
Rubbing her neck as she tried not to look at him, tears in her eyes. "You should leave. No one wants you here."
Rolling his eyes as he hit her in the back of the head and told her to go on to her mother. Kya looked at Zuko before she ran off to find her mother.
"You're trying to hide Katara from me?"
"I'm trying to give her a vacation and time to be with her family and you're not included." Zuko turned his back to his father. "Please leave before you piss everyone off."
"No, I guess I'll stay."
Whipping around so quickly, Ozai had to say he was impressed with Zuko's speed as a fist of fire came right up to his neck.
"Like hell you're staying here! Leave!"
"Have you forgotten that I don't answer to you or anyone or was that something you purposely forgot to help you sleep at night?" Ozai told him as he bended the flame enveloping Zuko's fist and turning it black, causing Zuko to hiss. "I'm staying. Have the servants prepare a room."
Zuko's fist finally stopped burning as he saw his father walk off like he owned the place. Fuck!
"And don't even think about cancelling this little get together or I'll take Kya back with me." He said over his shoulder.
Growling, "Agni, I fucking hate you sometimes."
"Me too, Zuko. Me too."
…
Wiping her tears away, Katara sniffled and gazed at the shorey beach as the waves pushed and pulled. She felt so fucking terrible. She shouldn't have reacted that way. She was mad. Not at her son. She was so happy for him and happy she was going to be a grandmother but...la, I missed so much. I lost so much time. Sure this had only been four years but before that it was seven and she felt like the worse mother ever. The most important parts of her children's lives were lost on her and she mourned that missed time.
"Mom?"
Hearing that voice, the waterbender looked up and over her shoulder to see her daughter. Before she could even get up, Kya ran straight to her and hugged her from behind while on her knees.
"Mom, I'm so happy you're here. I've missed you so much." Kya let her tears fall.
Hugging her daughter's arms to her chest as she shut her eyes, "I missed you too, my love."
Kya smiled and let go, taking a seat at the edge of the patio out with her mother. Smiled and rested her head on her mother's shoulders.
"I'm assuming you found out about Zhiar and Jin Su." Kya giggled.
Nodding as she sniffled, "Yeah, I didn't take it too well so I'll need to apologize to your brother when I get the chance."
Asking why she hadn't taken it well, Kya listened to her mother feeling guilty to her lack of being present in their lives. She quickly told her mother to stop blaming herself for things that none of them could control and that they still had plenty of time to spend together. It cheered Katara up a little bit but the waterbender soon raised a brow at Kya.
"If you have a boyfriend or husband I need to know about, spit it out now so I can mentally get myself through it."
Shaking her head, "No, I've been busy with work in Omashu."
"Oh. Well, that's good. There's plenty more to life than being romantically involved."
"But I did like this one person."
"You did?" Katara got excited.
"Yes but he...he moved on."
"Oh, did he?"
Kya nodded.
Smiling at her daughter, Katara placed her hand on Kya's hand as they both looked at the waves. "Tell me about him."
Kya smiled and told her mother about the man she fell in love with.
….
Zuko sighed as he splashed water in his face and looked at himself in the mirror. He really didn't like that his father was here. That bastard shouldn't be anywhere near Katara. While he didn't believe his father had truly betrayed her, his father was not stable enough to be around Katara without causing issues for everyone.
"Zuko! What the fuck is your dad doing here?!" Sokka and Aang came barging in his bathroom. They had been invited as well.
Turning to look at them, he could see both Aang and Sokka looked equally pissed off. But of course they would be. They were there during the summit when his father made that remark as everyone was leaving. Everyone wanted to kill his father all over again.
Shaking his head as he swept his hair back, "He invited himself after following Kya here. I'm afraid if I force him to leave that he'll take it out on Kya."
"What is he doing to my niece?!" Sokka was suddenly very concerned.
Zuko didn't say much but his father and sister were having some issues with one another and it all had to do with Kya's romantic life.
Balling his fists, "If I see he's put his hands on her, I'm killing him!" Sokka swore.
"I think you'll need to get in line, Sokka." Aang said as he felt Zuko was going to kill his father first and everyone else was going to have the leftovers.
Having got herself together after speaking with her daughter, Katara walked arm and arm with her daughter as they went to where Zhiar was in the lounge with everyone. Kya let go of her mother's arm as she approached Zhiar, who stood up upon seeing his mother.
"Mom-"
Waving her hand to cut him off, Katara looked at him apologetically and apologized. She explained what she had felt and she told her son that she is very proud of the man he had become and was angry with herself for not being a part of his and his sister's life more. Admitting to the poor decisions she had made and lamenting that she may slip up again in the future, missing more of their lives.
Zhiar and Kya hugged their mother, telling her that they are who they are because of her. Saying that she was human and not perfect but she still did her very best at being their mother.
"You're being too hard on yourself, mom." Zhiar told her as he looked down at her, wiping her tears away. "I don't care how many years separate us, you are my mother and I love you. Okay?"
Nodding her head as Kya continued to cling to her, Katara looked to Jin Su. "Thank you for loving my boy, Jin Su. I know he can be a mess at times."
"Mom!"
"She's right, Zhiar. You're a mess." Kya teased as he flicked her off.
"But he's a good boy. And I will happily accept you into our family. Welcome!" Katara said.
Jin Su beamed at her mother-in-law, "I'm happy to be a part of the family. Thank you, Lady Katara."
"Lady? I thought you were a concubine now."
The voice chilled Katara's spine and she froze up as everyone looked over to see Ozai. It couldn't be helped. Four years of loathing something that ruined your life didn't just easily wash away after finding some atonement. As it stood and would stand until she knew for sure, she hated that bastard and she had the nerve to end his sorry life.
Defensively, Kya stood in front of her mother and glared at her father.
"You were supposed to leave." Kya stated.
Smirking as he approached, "You really do need to get over this phase, Kya. You're eighteen and it's getting to be very immature."
Zhiar remained calm as he pushed his sister and mother behind him, "Dad."
"Zhiar." He looked his youngest son over and grinned. "I think you and I have reached a more friendlier place in our relationship. I want to keep it that way. Step aside."
"Please, whatever you're thinking of doing, don't. Mom's here to see us and she's trying to enjoy herself. Don't ruin that." Zhiar told his father, keeping steady eye contact.
Backing off, Ozai grinned. "Okay, Katara, I'll speak with you another time. The kids obviously want you to themselves."
The twins eyed their father as he turned to leave. When he was gone, they turned to look at their mother and saw her zone out.
"Mom?" Kya took her arm into hers and looked over her.
Zhiar rustled his mother's hair, "Mom, you okay?"
Snapping out of it, Katara looked up at both her children. She knew they were concerned about her and her response to their father just showing up. But she didn't want to let their father spoil her mood, so she plastered a smile on her face. "Want to go to the beach?"
….
Changing into the swim suit that Zuko got for her, Katara looked herself over in the mirror and felt a little self conscious. She had seriously lost a ton of weight. She looked so sickly and anything but healthy. Putting on a light pink floral yukata to cover her boney figure, Katara sighed and turned around to see Zuko standing in the doorway.
Raising a brow, "Are you watching me dress?"
Sighing, as he entered her room and shut the door behind him. "No, I was just checking on you. You're taking the children to the beach?"
"Yeah, I miss swimming." Katara pulled her hair behind her ear.
"And you're swimming in that?" Zuko asked her as he approached her and opened the yukata that she was holding closed.
Hanging her head as Zuko looked over her frail figure, the waterbender told him she didn't want anyone to see her this way because they would think she was weak. She squeezed her eyes tight when he pushed her yukata off her shoulders, into the bend of her arms and felt his hand cup her cheek.
"No one thinks you're weak, Katara. No one." Zuko smiled at her, moving his fingers to push her eyelids up so she would look at him. Laughing when she made a silly face just to keep her eyes shut. He, then, cupped both sides of her face and leaned closer to her.
Katara opened her eyes to see him staring her head in her eyes. "What are you doing?"
"I was going to kiss you."
Casting her eyes low, "Don't do that to me, Zuko. Don't do that to yourself. We never stay together."
"I know." He said as he moved closer, his lips ghosting along hers. "But I think it's safe to say our feelings don't change. You'll always still love me." His lips finally pressed to hers as his arms moved around her waste and then pulled away slightly to ghost her lips again. "And I will still always love you."
Zuko pulled her closer and kissed her passionately. He didn't care if she returned his affection. He was selfish in that way. As long as he got to kiss her. May it be the first in years of many more to come or the last that he ever got from her, he just wanted her to feel his lips to hers as his heart raced in his chest.
And though he wanted this badly to kiss her, it was painful kissing her. Even as her lips started to respond to his, moving and just barely matching the hunger in his, Zuko couldn't hold back his tears. Agni, he loved this woman for a majority of his life and he would love her till his final breath. But it pained him and he knew it pained her as he tasted her tears on his lips. It was painful wanting to be together but knowing it would never sustain if they were. They were always coming together just before splitting a part. It was painful because they wanted it to last beyond that moment. But life kept them apart. And even in the hundreds of thousands of years they may live to see, only a fraction of that time would they spend it together.
Breaking apart, Zuko rested his head against her with his eyes shut. "I'm sorry."
Clinging to his light tunic, Katara sniffled and shook her head across his chest. "That hurt, Zuko. That hurt a lot. Please...please, don't do that again."
"I'm sorry, Katara." He held her to his chest, laying his head upon hers as he felt her shake in his arms. "I won't do that again. I promise."
Getting themselves together, Katara soaked her face as Zuko tried coming up with a story in case someone asked if he had been crying.
"Ready to go?" He offered his hand to her.
Tossing off the yukata, Katara decided she would take his word on it and not wear it. "Yeah!" She smiled at him as he tugged her along with him.
…
Watching Katara on the beach playing in the sand with Ryu and the twins, Zuko sat on the beach house steps. He and Sokka were having a drink while Aang relaxed on the step just below them. It was nice for all of them to get a break from their duties. Sokka was busy being a father and Chieftain. Aang had been working on plenty of different projects around the world and solving small squabbles here and there. And Zuko, he was Fire Lord, a father, and trying to manage the different limbs of his family tree. All of them had been dealing with issues of their own.
Laughing as her sons tackled her onto the ground, Katara was helped by her daughter, who helped her escape to the ocean water. Ryu and Zhiar backed off as their mother and sister were in the water and raised a wave. Zhiar grabbed Ryu and started running towards the beach house.
"Come on, lil buddy. The waterbenders are on their turf." Zhiar laughed as his little brother clung to his shoulder, laughing at how huge the wave was.
"Oh, now you guys have gone and done it." Sokka said drunkenly as he sipped his cup of sake. "Those two are going to drown us all."
With flushed cheeks from the strong alcohol, Zuko laughed and got up to head into the beach house, saying they were just ready for dinner. "You know how women are when they're hungry?"
"Yeah, but do you?" Zhiar scoffed at his older brother as he continued holding Ryu. "I haven't ever seen you with a woman outside of my mom and Hama. And when was the last time you had a girlfriend?"
Sokka burst out laughing about how Zuko was celibate. Aang even laughed too, commenting that he was seeing several of the nomadic women amongst his alkylates. It was the norm for them. And Zuko laughed but not before telling them off.
"Hahaha, how about you both suck my di-"
"Your Majesty, perhaps you should not drink anymore tonight." Tomoe approached him and took his sake cup. "Dinner is nearly ready. How about you and your friends wash up for dinner?"
Katara and Kya chuckled as they walked out from the ocean to see everyone heading back. They walked arm in arm. Smiling as they giggled. The look on Zhiar's face as he grabbed Ryu and ran was priceless. They weren't really going to crash the waves down on them. It was just for intimidation purposes.
As they climbed up the steps to the beach house, Kya saw her father standing at the top of the stairs with his arms folded, eyeing her. She looked away from him and continued on with her mother. However; her father reached to grab her when they passed him but her mother was quick and slapped his hands away.
"Oh, I thought it was a fly." She snickered as she glanced at Ozai before quickly moving Kya along.
Entering the house, Kya whispered a thank you to her mother. Katara hugged her daughter's side.
"You don't have to thank me, my love." She kissed Kya on the cheek.
…
A/N: Two more chapters on their way!