Blueeyeddevil06, thank you for being my beta!
Ambassador Yong was smiling as he sat across from Zuko in his study. "Well, from what I hear, I was right about your feelings for Master Katara."
"That, you were."
"I have to admit I'm a bit shocked by people's acceptance of her. The Fire Nation isn't known to be… appreciative of other bending styles."
Zuko chuckled at that. "I'm discovering that even though we were winning the war, my people are glad for peace. They were tired of sending their children off to die in battle. There are too many parents with empty seats at their dinner table. It appears Katara represents safety to them."
"How is that?"
"I will have a Fire Lady who doesn't represent oppression to the other nations. You've figured that out, though."
"Interesting. I wonder what happens when the other countries realize that the Fire Nation is ahead of them again. Marrying people from other nations will blur the borders in a way."
"True. It will also promote greater understanding between the countries and prevent war in the future."
"I've also heard that people are impressed she picked you over the Avatar."
"That's not what happened, but I knew it would appear that way."
"And how will he take the fact that you're dating?"
Zuko smiled, "And now we get to your reason for coming. You've been asked to discover if there will be a rift between the Fire Nation and the Avatar."
"I have," he readily agreed.
"He already knows of our feelings for each other. There won't be a rift."
"I'm glad to hear that." Ambassador Yong stood up. "Not everyone I report to will be, though."
"I'm okay with disappointing them." He chuckled. "You can also tell them that her brother approves. It won't cause problems with the Southern Water Tribe either."
"Yes, I'd be interested in what Chief Hakoda thinks about it, though." He then left to go and check on the progress of the Embassy.
Zuko stared at the closed door and said, "I'm curious as to what he thinks about it too."
It was two months later when Chief Hakoda showed up in the Fire Nation. He arrived in a Water Tribe vessel with a few of his men. When he stepped on land, he was surprised by the looks he received. The people were all friendly and smiling at him. He never expected that sort of reception for someone from another country.
Once people realized that he was Chief Hakoda, he was even more shocked by their response to him. Eventually, he dared ask a man passing by, "Are all visiting leaders treated like this now?"
The man burst out laughing and shook his head, "No, Chief Hakoda, Sir. You're Master Katara's father. That's the reason for the way we treat you."
"You approve of her with your Fire Lord?"
The man nodded, "Have you not heard about everything that she's done for us?"
"I have not."
"Well, it's quite a lot. She stopped an assassination attempt on Fire Lord Zuko."
"That, I've heard about from my son, Sokka."
"She has saved countless lives through her healing. About a month ago, at the edge of town, a wild bear-tiger charged a little child. She happened to wander between the mother and her baby. Katara used her bloodbending to take control of the animal and stop it from killing the child. She's also begun visiting us in town and rerouted a river to protect our trade routes." He chuckled. "Word is that Fire Lord Zuko is a mess worrying about her every time she comes in public. None of us would bother her, though. She's one of us."
"How is that possible? She's a Waterbender," Hakoda pointed out in shock.
The man shrugged, "Technically, yes, but she protects us like she's Fire Nation born."
Hakoda thanked him and then continued to the palace.
When he arrived, Nozomu bowed to him and introduced himself. He then said, "Chief Hakoda, it's an honor to receive you. Would you like me to bring you to Katara?"
"I should probably take my things to my room first."
Nozomu shook his head, "I will have your things brought to your room. You're now in the main guest quarters instead of where you usually stay."
"Let me guess, because I'm Katara's father."
"Yes, Sir."
"I've been treated differently this time. It's been…interesting."
Nozomu smiled, "Everyone here adores her."
"I'm surprised."
Nozomu kept his opinion to himself on that. From what he'd heard, he hadn't spent much time with his daughter. He didn't know how wonderful she was. What he said was, "Here in the Fire Nation, we value everything she is. You can say we value Fire Nation born, but she's proven she loves the people here."
He then led her father out into the garden. He knew Katara and Zuko were spending time there together, and he was glad her father would see how cute they were together.
Hakoda saw Katara lying on her back on a blanket spread out on the lawn when he got there. Zuko was lying on his side near her with his head propped up on his hand, smiling down at her. He said something, and then he heard Katara burst out laughing. Zuko chuckled and then caressed her cheek.
"I arrived at the Fire Nation hating that they were still together, " he sighed out in frustration. "I wasn't expecting any of this, how they love her or, more importantly, how Zuko loves her. Look at them."
"I've seen it from before they were even together. He adores your daughter."
"She's going to be Fire Lady. Suddenly, I see that, and I don't hate it."
"By the time you leave, you'll be reconciled to it," Nozomu said, smiling. "He's good to her."
Hakoda knew it was going to take time to make such a big adjustment. He really did prefer Aang.
They heard Katara burst out laughing again and say, "You're ridiculous! I can't believe you said that."
Zuko shook his head, smiling. "Of course I did. I love you, Katara."
"It was so cheesy, though!"
Nozomu coughed to get their attention. Zuko didn't even look over but said, "Yes, Nozomu?"
"Chief Hakoda is here."
That got Zuko to look over and jump up. Katara rose more slowly.
"Hello, Sir, " Zuko said. "We didn't know you were coming."
"I didn't send word that I was coming."
Katara rushed forward, and despite her nerves, she hugged her father. "How was your trip here?"
"Good. The ocean is manageable this time of year."
Zuko fidgeted and said, "I hope you're staying for a while. We would love to show you around. Katara has been doing some incredible things here."
Katara bumped Zuko with her hip and laughed at him. She then said, "Dad, why don't we let you get settled in your new room. It will be lunch in thirty minutes."
"I have been trying to get used to Fire Nation food." Hakoda sighed. He wasn't looking forward to the spice.
Katara laughed at him. "Dad, as soon as they knew you were here, they would have started preparing something you can eat. They want you to be happy here."
"They do?!"
"Yes. It will make me happy."
Five minutes later, Katara was with Zuko stepping into his study. Once the door was closed, she playfully shoved him. "You're such a dope! You don't have to be nervous around my father. No matter what he says, it won't change anything between us!"
"I don't have an excellent history with fathers."
"I'm happy, and we're great together. If he objects, that says more about him than it does you. I love you, and you fight to be with me. Well, I fight too. Even if that means my father."
"Plus, " She added, "Nozomu gave me the secret sign that says my dad isn't dead set against us. It's going to be okay."
Zuko breathed out a sigh of relief. "I don't want to get between you and your father. Even if the problem isn't coming from me."
"Wow, do I love you," Katara wrapped her arms around him and kissed him sweetly. "You take too much on yourself, Zuko. If he were to have a problem with you, that's his issue. Not yours and not mine. I'm not letting anything get in between our epic love."
He rested his forehead against hers, "We're epic?"
"Chie called us 'destined lovers' and pointed out that we were on opposite sides of a war, crossed national prejudices, and fell in love with each other. Face it, Zuko. We're epic."
He smiled, "I'll take epic lovers." He caressed her face. "Surely, he has to see how much I love you. I get that I'll never be like the Avatar to him, but no one can love you as I do."
She laid her head on his shoulder and rested in his arms. "It's the two of us together."
When it was almost time for lunch, Katara and Daiki went to get her father to walk with him to the dining room. She knocked, and when her father stepped out, she introduced Daiki.
"You need a bodyguard?"
"Not in the palace, but you understand politics. Zuko has to show that he cares about me and my protection. I wanted to introduce you to Daiki because he will be your guard if you leave the palace."
"I need a guard?"
"No, again, it's politics. Practically, he'll be able to take you anywhere you want to go. The capital is huge, and I'd have gotten lost a lot if he wasn't there with me." She smiled at her father, "It's not laid out like the Southern Water Tribe at all."
"It's very different here," he commented. "Katara, why did you break up with Aang?"
"I didn't love him, and I thought he deserved to be with someone who doesn't see him as an obligation." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye to gauge his reaction to that.
"You couldn't have tried harder? He's the Avatar." He looked frustrated.
Katara stopped walking and looked at him. "I thought you would be okay with me dating Zuko."
"I'm trying to be. I just want to understand what happened with Aang." Her father threw his hands up in frustration. "I was so happy you were with him."
Katara glared at her father. "I deserve better than this from you. You're my father, dammit! Aang wasn't a bad guy, but he wasn't a good boyfriend either. Zuko values me, all of me. I don't care if Aang is the Avatar or not. I'm with Zuko, and I will marry him. Learn to like it or leave. I won't have anyone sabotage us for the hell of it!" Her voice then got low and threatening. "If you object to Zuko for some real reason, let me know. We make each other better, Dad."
Unbeknownst to Katara, Zuko was standing off to the side, and he said, "Chief Hakoda, please believe me when I say I love your daughter. I would do anything for her except lose her over your preference for the Avatar."
"You won't lose me," Katara huffed out. "Leave, Dad. If you can't accept us, go home. Otherwise, stay and spend time with me and see the incredible life I'm building here."
Hakoda grew pale through the whole thing, "I'm trying. I see that he loves you, Katara. The Fire Nation killed the woman I love. I'm trying here."
Zuko nodded, "And I hate that so much. But the Southern Water Tribe will be putting their child on the Fire Nation throne. Her child will be the heir. Your wife will be the grandmother of the next Fire Lord."
Hakoda sighed, "I never thought of it like that. I'm sorry. I'm trying. I really am. It seems it's time I accept that you love her and move forward." He chuckled, "Sokka said something very similar to that before I left. It turns out he's right."
Zuko smiled at him, "We both love the same woman. Let's move forward for her."
"I can do that."