Kiyi was enamoured with her new big brother. She followed him around the embassy ship as they made their way to the Capital, pointing out everything she found interesting, demanding to know what things were and Katara found herself smiling at his surprised, happy face whenever the little girl would slip her hand in his or tug on his hair to demand his attention.

"Kiyi's excited too!" Kiyi exclaimed, holding up her bedraggled doll for Zuko to inspect. He knelt down and smiled at the doll. "She wants to see the palace too."

"Kiyi?" Katara asked and Zuko met her eyes over Kiyi's head.

"It's such a good name that she used it for her doll, too," Zuko explained, letting Kiyi scramble up onto his back and tuck little Kiyi, the doll, into the neck of his tunic. "How's Mother?"

Katara bobbed her head. "Alright," She said. "She's still with Azula," Ursa's attention was mainly focused on Azula at present and she seemed unable to keep her hands off her middle child, always smoothing Azula's hair or tucking her arm through Azula's as they walked around the deck. Azula seemed unwilling to speak much, choosing instead to glare at her mother and newly extended family but Ursa would murmur gentle, soothing words which seemed to keep her calm enough to travel unbound. Katara came to kneel beside Zuko. "Hey, Kiyi, are you excited?"

Kiyi beamed shyly up at Katara from behind Zuko's head. "Yeah," She mumbled. "We're gonna live with Zuko."

"We'll see what your mum and dad want to do," Zuko reminded her, looking a bit guilty. "But I'll still see you all the time, okay?" Kiyi, clearly now distracted by something else, dropped from Zuko's back and ran through to the next room. Katara and Zuko stood, smiling after her.

"It would be nice if they could live with you at the palace," Katara said, plucking the abandoned Kiyi doll from her place in Zuko's tunic. "It sounds like Ursa would like to."

"There's plenty of space," Zuko agreed, though he looked hesitant. "I just… don't know if she'd want to live there. She doesn't have many happy memories of it."

Katara reached for his hand. "It's a different place now. You've made it a different place and she loves you so much…" His eyes clouded with uncertainty but she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "I know that even if she doesn't want to live inside the palace she'll still want to be near you."

"She had a nice life in Hira'a," Zuko said softly. "Do I really have the right to ask her to leave it behind?"

Katara looked at him incredulously. Did he really think he had so little to offer his mother that she wouldn't want to be as close to him as possible? "You're not asking," She tried. "Ursa and Ikem made the decision together."

Before Zuko could respond, Kiyi was back in the room, alight with bright-eyed excitement. "Come on! Aang's gonna ride a sea monster!" She grinned and Ikem followed her through, a warm smile in place for his stepson. Zuko bowed his head stiffly, formally, squeezing Katara's hand quickly before following the two out of the room.

It was a shame, Katara thought, that Zuko and Azula hadn't had the chance to grow up with a man like Ikem as their father. He was clearly no great fighter or strategist, just a simple man from a small village, but he was kind and loving. He reminded her a little of Iroh, though Iroh's quiet peacefulness was underlined with hard-won battle experience and tactical savviness whereas Ikem had only his love of his theatre and his family.

Katara headed out to the deck and watched as Aang showed off how to surf atop a whale. "Do we think it's safe?" Suki asked from behind Katara, making her jump. When Katara looked at her quizzically, Suki nodded to Azula. "Letting her travel with them, unguarded."

Oh. Katara looked back to the family hanging over the edge of the ship. Ursa, Azula and Zuko looked on as Kiyi and Ikem waved cheerily at Aang who was all too happy to show off a few fancy moves.

"I think it will be okay," Katara said, trying to let herself believe it. There was no reason why not, right?

"The journey? Or the future in general?" Suki nudged Katara with her shoulder in a friendly gesture. "Either way, I hope you're right," Suki gave her a grim smile and headed across to Sokka, who was undressing to join Aang in the water. She said something that turned him bright red and laughed, leaning over the side of the ship to watch Aang.

Katara thumbed her mother's necklace nervously. "Yeah, me too."

Her eyes dragged from Aang's display to Zuko but were caught instead by Azula, stood at the railing, watching her. The sight of the girl's narrowed eyes made Katara's breath catch. Her hand dropped from her necklace to her flask but Azula simply watched her, eyes flat and emotionless like those of a predator.

Well, Katara had plenty of experience with predators, growing up in the South Pole and fighting against the Fire Nation's armies… She could hold her own. She narrowed her eyes right back, baring her teeth in a warning grimace. Whatever you're planning, I can take you.

Azula's lips curled in a smile and she turned back to the sea.

.

After everyone had retired to bed that night, apart from the newly reunited family members huddled around a table in the formal dining room, Katara took to the deck and practiced her waterbending under the swollen, waxing moon. Practicing alone was peaceful for Katara, soothing her soul in a way that meditation never quite achieved. Iroh said it was because water was the element of change and adaptability; a waterbender had to be moving in order to be at peace lest they grow stagnant.

Katara had wondered what exactly he meant; everything had at least two hidden meanings with Iroh, usually based around either life advice or tea… sometimes both at once.

She brought up a long tendril of seawater from the frothing sea beneath her, controlling its form and creating the shape of a basic-looking dragon over the side of the ship, dancing through the air with moonlight catching the ripples of the water as it moved. She'd started trying this technique to improve her control of water the way Zuko had shown her how to create shapes with fire, finding it an absorbing and difficult process.

Katara felt rather than saw the loss of definition in it as a footstep on the bridge caught her focus, and she let the water dragon fall shapelessly into the ocean, watching it disperse and wiping sweat from her brow at the exertion.

"Can't sleep?" Katara looked up from the dark, churning sea below and smiled at the approaching male figure. "Me neither."

"How's Kiyi?" Katara asked. Ikem gave her a warm smile and handed her a cloak. "Settling in okay?"

"She's still not leaving Zuko alone… At the moment I think Ursa is trying to persuade her not to sleep in Zuko's room," He leaned on the ship railing beside her. "She thinks it's so cool that her big brother has a ship."

"How about a palace?" Katara managed to keep the bitterness from her voice, mostly. "Don't all little girls dream of being a princess?"

Ikem chuckled. "I think the Fire Nation has about as many princesses as it can handle."

Surprised, Katara coughed against the laugh that threatened inside her throat. "Was that a joke?" Ikem simply smiled wryly.

"Is something on your mind, Katara?" Ikem asked quietly. "Forgive me for asking directly but… you seem troubled."

The truth, Katara thought a little bitterly, was that she was troubled. Zuko had made the choice to remain Fire Lord even before he'd known the rumours were just that- rumours, and now his claim was further legitimised by the reunification of his family. The story of his rule as one of peace and unity was slowly being written; she could see it in the small decisions as well as the bigger ones… It was all coming together but was still somehow fragile.

The peace felt like freshly spun glass.

"Can I ask you something?" Katara started, looking back to the ocean. "You knew Ursa's past would catch up with her one day, right?" She asked seriously and his smile dropped. "So you knew there was a chance your whole life would be changed one day…"

"Yes," Ikem sighed. "I knew it was a possibility."

"But you're willing to give up your whole life- your theatre group, your home, everything you've known?"

He shrugged. "I'm a simple man, Katara. I never left Hira'a until after Ursa was taken away," He frown deepened. "The day she was taken was the worst of my life." He paused, painful memories threatening to swallow him whole. "Well, anyway. I don't know much of the world and… yes, leaving home is hard but I know what life was like when she was gone and I couldn't do it again. I'll follow where she leads."

Katara stayed silent. The chill wind of the open sea was biting now that she wasn't practicing her bending forms and she was glad of the warmth the cloak provided.

"Life is an ebb and flow, you know. Constant give and take," Ikem said softly, looking down at the ocean. "Ursa gave up so much to be with me all those years ago and the least I can do is give her the same."

Katara began to smile, caught up in the romance of it all before the weight of his words and their implication sunk in. "So… you owe her?"

Ikem laughed, which made Katara's face flush, feeling very much like a naive child. "It's more like what we owe to each other... and to ourselves."

Katara wasn't sure what to say to that but Ikem seemed happy to remain in companionable silence, so Katara tried not to let the it worm its way under her skin and force her into saying something embarrassing.

What did she and Zuko owe to each other? She stared out at the blurry edge of the horizon, where the dark ocean met the dark sky and stars danced at the edge of the world.

Zuko deserved love. In the open. Katara wanted to be the one to give it to him but the fact remained that he'd not asked her to stay with him in the Fire Nation... Not when his family agreed to come to the palace, not when she'd told him she'd like to help with the running of the country… He still hadn't been able to tell her that he loved her.

Was it from fear? Zuko's past had given him plenty to fear from close relationships but now he was surrounded by love and support. Was there still something holding him back?

"Katara?" As though her own thoughts had summoned him. She looked up, heart in her throat. "Oh- Ikem."

Zuko bowed his head, awkwardly to his stepfather. Ikem shot Katara a knowing, amused glance and bowed deeply to Zuko, dressed only in a light sleeping tunic and trousers and looking decidedly uncomfortable. "I presume your mother has been able to get Kiyi to settle in her own bed?"

Zuko flushed. His eyes flickered to Katara. "Yes."

"Then I suppose I should try to get some sleep myself," Ikem bowed to Katara. "Goodnight Katara, and thank you for the company."

He made his exit, bowing again to Zuko who grimaced and stuttered over his own goodnight wishes. Once Ikem was out of earshot, Zuko visibly slumped and came to lean against the railing beside Katara. "That was…"

"Awkward," Katara finished with a grin. "Not sure how to treat your new stepfather?" She teased. Zuko made a scoffing noise in the back of his throat and reached to pull her against his side. She moved easily, tucking in beneath his arm and pressing herself against his side with a contented smile.

Even with the cloak on, he felt warm to the touch and she slid her arms around his middle. "He's not what I expected at all."

"What did you expect him to be like?" Katara asked cautiously, "More like Ozai?"

"No…" Zuko stiffened. "I don't know," Katara rested her head against his collarbone, humming noncommittally. Zuko had grown up around powerful, ambitious men who saw contentedness as a sign of weakness. From the stories about Iroh's youth, even he had been the same before Lu Ten's death… Ikem's calm satisfaction with life would be a notable change of pace.

Beneath them, the sea frothed and lapped against the side of the ship, a rhythmic, constant beat to fill the night.

"He seems nice though," She offered and he laughed.

"He does," Zuko agreed. "I'm glad that they've been able to live together in peace."

Katara angled her head so that she could look up at him- the dark sweep if his brow and silver flecks in his eyes. "You're worried about them." She observed, tightening her hold on him. He swallowed.

"It's just… I don't really know what I'm bringing them into," He admitted. "Court is… well, you know… it can be unpleasant," She scoffed at the understatement and he furrowed his brow. "My mother will know what to do but she's been away for years… and now she's got Ikem and Kiyi who haven't ever met anyone with more of a title than 'mayor'. I don't want them to feel like they don't belong."

"Kiyi's young enough to learn," Katara pointed out. "If she wants to. There's no obligation for them to appear at court, really, is there? Ikem and Kiyi aren't of noble birth so they might not be expected…"

"But as members of my family they'll be in the public eye," Zuko sighed. "I just want them to be happy."

"They will be," Katara kissed the edge of his jaw, drawing his attention from the sea and sky. "You're worth leaving home for. Okay?" He scoffed disbelievingly. "No, really."

He looked down at her, silent for a long moment and Katara had to fight to resist the urge to look away. She felt too exposed, too vulnerable at the glaring declaring of her statement but her heart beat wildly, hopefully despite it and she held his gaze. This was it. He would ask her to stay in the Fire Nation.

"Thanks," He said eventually, softly and reached up to sweep her hair behind her ear. She held her breath, waiting, but the question didn't come. He kissed her gently and looked back out to the dark, pulsating ocean.

Disappointed, she rested her head against him and closed her eyes. "Come on," She whispered. "Let's go to bed. It's cold out here."

He wound his fingers through hers and led her across the moonlit deck and through the corridors to his room. The pressure of his hand in hers sent little electric frissons of excitement through her even as her heart weighed a little at the fact that she had laid it as bare as she could and he still hadn't asked her to stay.

But then the door closed behind them and the energy shifted. He stood before her in the dark with her back to the door and seemed to be watching her, though it was too dark for either of them to see clearly.

"I'm not good at this," Zuko said huskily. Not following, Katara almost made a glib remark about how, actually, she thought he was pretty good… but he lifted her hand and ran his thumb over her knuckles with a gentle, deliberate reverence and the words died in her throat. "I… uh…"

She could feel his pulse racing, the blood pounding through his body at a rapid, anxious pace. She swallowed hard and squeezed his hand, reassuringly but if anything, his pulse quickened even more.

"I really do understand if you don't want to," He began. "Things are… well, I know it's a lot to ask. I don't want to ask too much."

Katara's eyes were beginning to adjust to the darkness and she could see the way his eyebrows drew down as he tried to find the right words, the way his jaw clenched and shoulders stiffened defensively.

"If you wanted to… I mean, I'd like it if… We should be back in the Capital tomorrow and I know how important your travelling is, how much Aang appreciates your help…" He paused, mouth clamped shut and shook his head. "Forget it."

"Zuko," Katara caught his hand as he tried to retreat, keeping him in place. He turned his head away. "Please."

He took a deep breath. "If you'd like to… I'd like it if you would stay. At the palace," He shook his head. "I mean, I know you already have a room… I mean-"

Katara grinned into the darkness as he stumbled over his words, trying to find a way to get his question out in just the right way and failing miserably. "I'd like to," She said. "Very much."

He froze, blinking. He didn't seem to know what to do with her acceptance, having geared himself up for rejection. "Really?"

"I want to be with you," She said gently. "All of you. Including the stupid crown and all it entails, because I think you're worth it," If she'd felt exposed and vulnerable out on the deck, it was nothing compared to how she felt now. Even in the darkness, where they couldn't really see each other, she felt like she was giving too much away. She had basically poured her heart out and he'd never even been able to say-

"I love you, Katara," He said it with deep feeling; the weight of words that he'd been too scared to say before but now had found the strength to, in the darkness. She wished he'd light a candle or something so she could see his face but she supposed it didn't matter too much because suddenly his forehead was pressed against hers and her back was pressed against the door. "I love you," She lifted her hands to cup his face as he kissed her fiercely.

"I love you," She whispered between kisses. "I love you."

Previously, she had said it to release the feeling inside her... To say it and express it. Hearing it back each time seemed to have the opposite effect; rather than releasing it like a pressure valve, it seemed to amplify with each answered repetition and it was so much better.

.

Their arrival back at the Fire Nation capital city harbour was a flurry of pomp and energy. Zuko didn't seem sure what Iroh had told the public and looked nervous and pale as he fussed over his family. "There are three palanquins, so if you want to avoid drawing too much attention you can wear cloaks until you're inside and out of sight-"

"I think that will attract more attention Zu-Zu," Azula sniped, standing separate from the others whilst Ursa was busy making sure Kiyi was wrapped up warm.

Zuko stopped his pacing to glare at her. He was dressed once more in his more formal robes with the crown pinned securely in his hair but the pale, anxious face meant the illusion of grandeur lost some of its edge and Azula met his eyes in challenge. Katara, Sokka and Suki exchanged awkward looks whilst Aang tried to make peace.

"Do they know he's brought Ursa home?" Suki wondered aloud and Katara shrugged.

"It's impossible to say."

Sokka stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I mean… no one knew what had happened to her, right?" Katara shot her brother a raised eyebrow. "No, I mean, Ozai never declared her a traitor, right? No one ever had, like… a problem with her."

"As far as Zuko knew," Katara nodded. "She just disappeared and was never spoken of again."

Leaving two confused and abandoned children in their father's care. Katara shot Ursa a wary glance, as though the older woman would somehow pick up on her unkind thoughts but no, Ursa was now in conversation with Zuko and Aang.

"So what's the fuss? No one's going to be upset she's back. They'll just be... curious."

"Sokka," Suki frowned. "They're going to wonder about the strange man and new child she's bringing back. It could make for pretty salacious gossip."

Sokka pulled a face. "Whatever. Let them wonder."

Katara shrugged helplessly. "It's not that easy."

"Why not? It's no one's business but Ursa's."

"Exactly," Ursa interjected and the three of them flushed at being overheard. "Zuko, don't worry about us. We'll travel together," She held onto Ikem and Kiyi's hands with a smile. "You travel with your sister. Show your people your solidarity together."

Zuko and Azula exchanged an unreadable look. "Solidarity," Zuko repeated skeptically. "Right."

Azula smirked back at him and Katara wasn't sure whether the look in her eyes was madness or speculation, but it made her blood run cold.

In the end, Zuko and Azula travelled together in the Fire Lord's palanquin with Aang, followed by Ursa, Ikem and Kiyi, with Sokka, Suki and Katara in the last palanquin, bringing up the rear. The procession was flanked by guards and the crowds cheered as they made their way to the palace.

The closeness of the palanquin with her brother and his girlfriend rankled on Katara, and she kept her eyes on the breezy curtains at the open windows, looking out for glimpses of the happy faces in the crowd. The Fire Nation harbour and capital were diverse, bustling hubs of activity and it seemed as though every inhabitant and visitor had come out to see the Fire Lord's return.

A wet, kissing sound from beside her made her grimace and focus harder on her crowd-watching. It didn't seem fair to her that her brother and Suki could be so disgustingly open in their affection. Her relationship with Zuko was one conducted in the shadows and behind doors, away from prying eyes and cruel whispers.

It was sensible, she knew; it had been her idea, after all. It didn't mean she wasn't jealous of Sokka and Suki's freedom to express themselves, though, nor did it mean she wouldn't miss the comparative anonymity of travelling together, being mistaken for just another travelling couple. It struck her that whilst she was going to live in the Fire Nation, they hadn't clarified whether that would mean they would be open about their relationship.

In the crowds on the streets, she could see them clearly- there! A Fire Nation man with an Earth Kingdom girl… there! Was that a Northern Water Tribe man with a Fire Nation wife and their child? Or there! A Fire Nation woman with an Earth Kingdom woman, arms intertwined and waving at the procession.

Maybe it wouldn't be too bad if the people knew. Times were changing, after all.

They climbed steadily up the side of the volcano and happy, diverse faces gave way to the more severe, pale decorum of the Fire Nation nobility. Times may be changing, Katara thought with a pursing of her lips, but it seemed that progress was slower in the Caldera.

They entered the courtyard, gates closing behind the palanquin procession. Their palanquin came to a stop and Katara stepped out first, eyes seeking Zuko immediately. He and Iroh were embracing at the door to the palace whilst Ursa, Ikem and Kiyi walked forwards. Zuko stepped away from his uncle and Iroh stepped forward to hold Ursa's hands tightly, tears shining in his eyes.

"My dear Lady Ursa," He breathed, bowing over their clasped hands. Beside him, Zuko smiled across the courtyard at Katara, with light dancing in his eyes. Unable to resist, she beamed back at him, enjoying the simple, quiet moment in the privacy of the palace courtyard.

"Prince Iroh," Ursa smiled, though she looked a little… wary? "It's good to see you again."

"It's 'General', now. I'm no prince these days, my Lady," Iroh squeezed Ursa's hands tightly as the others approached. "I am so glad to see that you are well, my dear sister," He bowed low to Ikem and Kiyi, who looked stunned and delighted respectively. "And to meet your lovely family."

"General Iroh," Ikem bowed deeply, looking uncomfortable. "It's a great honour…" He was interrupted as Iroh swept him into a firm hug.

"Let's go inside- I have requested an intimate, family lunch to celebrate your return," Iroh released a rather shocked-looking Ikem and bent down to smile warmly at Kiyi. "What's your favourite thing to eat?"

Katara didn't miss the way Ursa had stiffened when Iroh hugged Ikem, nor the wary slant to her smile as Kiyi took Iroh's hand and let him lead her inside. It was unnerving, seeing the woman's distrust of the older man. She kept it hidden beneath a quiet, polite smile, but distrust simmered beneath the surface all the same.

The newly reassembled family began to file through the doors. "Come on," Zuko urged, turning to look back at his friends.

Aang fiddled with his staff. "Is it okay?" He checked. "It's a family lunch."

Zuko smiled, awkwardly. "Yeah, I know."

The Avatar paused, before breaking into a wide grin and running up the stairs. Katara turned to grin at Sokka and Suki before hurrying after him.

When she reached the door, she found Zuko waiting with his hand held out, tentatively. With a small smile, she took it. They were free to be just themselves for a little longer.

As they entered the grand entrance hall, she got echoes of the same feeling she would get when coming within view of the South Pole. It hadn't been long but coming back to the palace felt like something of a homecoming.