A/N Edited December 15th, 2019

Chapter 9

Katara had found it difficult to sleep. Memories of black snow and images of her home burned to the ground keeping her awake. Eventually she had gotten up to spare Zuko her tossing and gone over to the small window. Sitting in the wide sill, she thought about her family. She knew it was unlikely that they were among the strangers but Zuko had been right about at least checking. Resting her chin on her knees, she had eventually drifted off as the morning drew near. When she woke some time later, she was much warmer than she should have been considering where she'd fallen asleep. Opening her eyes she felt Zuko standing beside her, gently running his hands through her hair as he stared unseeing out the window. He looked down at her when she stirred.

"Morning, trouble sleeping?"

She shook her head as she stood and stretched, offering him a weak smile. Feeling more anxious then she wanted to admit to, Katara wordlessly grabbed her discarded clothes and went about dressing herself. Zuko pulled his own clothes and once they were both dressed, he nodded towards the door and they made their way down to the market.

There were quite a few people out already and they blended in easily with the morning crowd. Near a stall selling what smelled like breakfast, a group of women milled about talking and eating. Katara wandered over to stand near them while Zuko ordered them something to eat. Luck, it would seem, was on their side; the ladies topic of choice happened to be the dark skinned strangers they were looking for.

"I'm telling you, they were water tribe. No, I don't see why it matters that they weren't wearing blue. If they are refugees they'd be wanting to blend in."

"Well I overheard one of them talking and it sounds like they're headed to Ba Sing Se. I don't know why they'd want to go all the way there. It's been overrun with Fire Nation for months." another woman exclaimed, shaking her head and taking a sip of her tea.

"I swear Fei! Do you never bother to read the news postings? There was a messenger hawk in Gaoling from the city five days ago. Ba Sing Se was liberated on the day of the comet! Apparently the great Dragon of the West has turned traitor just like his nephew and went and kicked his brothers men right out on their ears. I heard it was just a bunch of old men!"

"I don't believe that! Old men." The second woman threw her head back in a forced laugh. "It doesn't matter. If those strangers are Water Tribe, the war will be over by the time they get there. It takes ages to get to Ba Sing Se from here on foot."

Zuko handed Katara her Jook and a moon peach as they moved to sit at one of the tables set up around the food stall. This was turning out to be easier than he'd thought. Katara took a bite of her food and leaned over to question the woman nearest her.

"Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear. Did you say there was a group of people headed for Ba SIng Se? We are headed there ourselves but it would be much safer to travel in a larger group. Do you perhaps know where they are?"

The woman gave Zuko a shrewd look before answering Katara in the affirmative. Apparently it was a rather large group and they had made camp in the nearby woods. She thought the few that had ventured into town had mentioned finally moving on that morning. They would be taking the western route around the Si Wong Desert but would likely still be close by. Katara thanked the woman and turned back to Zuko with a hopeful smile.

"After hearing what those ladies were saying I'm pretty confident these strangers are your people. I have no idea how they could have found out what happened and made it here so fast but there aren't many other people that would fit the description."

"I hope you're right. Come on, let's go now."

They didn't linger in the town any longer than it took to gather their belongings and pay the inn-keep. As they followed the road North towards Omashu, Katara gripped Zuko's hand tightly but spoke very little. He knew she was nervous and he hoped for her sake these refugees were the family and friends she'd left behind two years ago.

After two hours of walking, they finally caught up to them. The road was fairly choked with people walking in groups and talking boisterously. There were men and women and children, almost all with the same dark skin and brown hair Katara had. Zuko heard a sharp intake of breath next to him and as he turned to look down at her, her hands covered her mouth and tears leaked from her eyes. Suddenly she was gone from his side and running toward an elderly woman walking with someone Zuko recognized.

"Gran Gran! Dad!" Katara sobbed against her grandmother's shoulder as her father wrapped his arms around them both. Zuko watched their reunion awkwardly, not sure what he should do. He was relieved they had found her family, but seeing them again reminded him of the last time he'd seen most of them. When he'd invaded with his miniature ship and threatened them to hand over the Avatar. Zuko was certain they would not take kindly to him or his new relationship with the chief's daughter. Never mind what the chief himself would think. As he looked around, he noticed there were men here too, not just the women and children who they had expected. When he and Sokka had rescued Hakoda from Boiling rock, the rest of their men were still in unknown prisons, yet here they were.

"Dad! I missed you so much." She wept as she hugged him fiercely. "So much has happened since we were separated. How did you get everyone here so fast and how are all of our warriors here too? I have so many questions, but oh I am so glad to see you."

Hakoda wiped her tears as he pulled away. He caught Zuko's eye as he looked around for the rest of their usual group and frowned.

"I am sure you do daughter, I have some for you as well. First, where is your brother? I see you travel only with the Fire prince, please tell me Sokka is well."

Katara looked back at Zuko, finally remembering he was there. Zuko gave a small wave as he approached cautiously, unease growing as the surrounding water tribe members noticed him at last. She reached out and slid her arm around him as he did his best to appear confident.

"Sokka is alive last we heard. He made it back to Master Pakku and the rest of the White Lotus and is in Ba Sing Se. Before the day of the comet, we split up. I went with Zuko to the Capital to face his sister, and Sokka stayed behind to aid Aang however they could. Apparently he, Toph and Suki, destroyed the whole of the Fire Lord's air fleet." Hakoda grinned proudly at this. "Zuko and I were successful as well, though he was badly injured. We had to flee when we learned what had happened to Aang." Her voice broke here and Zuko finally brought his own arm around her shoulders as she took a steadying breath. "We have been on the run ever since, heading toward Ba Sing Se ourselves. In the last town, Chin, there were rumors of dark skinned strangers heading north so we decided to find out who they were. Here we are." She smiled sadly up at Hakoda, waiting for him to respond. He took in how they held one another, frowning again before turning to address the people glowering at Zuko.

"Prince Zuko is a friend to us, he helped my son rescue me from the Fire Nation prison and taught the Avatar firebending." A sidelong glance in their direction and he continued so only they could hear. "Though I am not sure about the nature of his relationship with my daughter." He laughed and clapped him on the back. Katara wasn't laughing.

She raised her chin and looked her father in the eyes. "I am an adult by our tribe's laws, but we can talk about Zuko and I later dad. I want to know what happened to you. Where did you go after we were separated?"

Hakoda nodded."You are right Katara, I am sorry." He eyed Zuko thoughtfully again before he gestured for them to continue walking and he started in on where he had been the last few months.

"After we left you in the Air Temple, we made our way back to the Earth Kingdom. We eventually found the abbey where Bato convalesced again and left Teo there, he didn't like the idea of traveling all the way to the South Pole. Haru wanted to find where the Fire Nation had taken his father, and I figured it would be the same place they were keeping my warriors and The Duke's big friend. It took a few weeks and some sneaking around but we eventually found out they were being held in a low security prison in one of the Fire Nation colonies. A well laid plan and help from some of the local earthbenders was all it took. Of course we had to book it out of there, dodging Fire Nation troops until we were safely back in the earth kingdom. I realized at some point that if things didn't go our way on the day of the comet, as they ultimately didn't, it would be wise to have our people ready to evacuate. We were able to uh, procure enough boats to make it home and have room for our families. Haru and a few of the earth benders who'd joined us stayed behind on Whaletail Island to keep an ear out and still be close. As soon as he heard what had happened from some of the soldiers there, he sent word. We met up with him and your other friends on Kyoshi Island a few days later."

Zuko was impressed. Breaking so many men from even a low security prison would have been a huge risk. It must have been close enough to free Earth Kingdom territory. So many men would be easy to follow. Come to think of it, this group was at least two hundred strong. It would be easy for word of a large group of suspected water tribe people to get back to his father's men.

"Chief Hakoda," He was hesitant to criticize but he knew his father too well. "Have you considered spreading out now that you're on the mainland? My father will surely send soldiers after you when word of your travels reaches him. A group this large is hardly inconspicuous." Still holding onto Katara, he unclenched his free hand as Hakoda smiled at him.

"Yes. Tonight will be our last night together before we split into several groups. We are all wearing earth colors and the only benders with us are earthbenders. Hopefully we will all be able to make it to Omashu and eventually Ba Sing Se safely. Just more groups of weary refugees, blending in with the many others."

Zuko spent the rest of the day walking next to Katara as she visited with her Gran gran and the other women from her tribe. After Hakoda's announcement that morning regarding his status as friend, Zuko was tolerated rather well. Katara was asked by almost every woman they met about their relationship. One rather forward older woman inquired as to his virility and whether or not he ought to ask Hakoda to marry her before she fell pregnant. Zuko could feel the blush burning up his neck, but Katara had only laughed the inappropriate questions off. Apparently this kind of openness was normal for them. After several hours of visiting and chatting and uncomfortable questions, they found themselves more or less alone. Even though it had been awkward, he couldn't stop himself from thinking about what the old woman had said. He had already decided he wanted to marry Katara, but he always thought it would happen after he'd taken back his home. Now though, after thinking about it all day he was having trouble thinking of a reason to wait. Who knew how long it would be before they had a chance to take care of his father. It could be years. They were both adults by anyone's laws, why shouldn't they get married now? What would Hakoda say he wondered. He didn't know anything about Southern Tribe betrothal traditions, but what the women had said made him think it would be good to find out first. Feeling a headache coming on he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Katara... are water tribe women usually so, uh, open?"

She looked up at him and laughed. "Usually yes. I'm sorry if it was uncomfortable for you. I guess our cultures are really different."

"Ya.." He couldn't tell her outright he wanted to marry her, not yet, not here. "In the Fire Nation, marriages are usually arranged by your parents. I'm guessing it's not like that for you?" He ran a hand through his hair and tried his best to look casual when she narrowed her eyes on him for a moment before smirking.

"Well, sometimes they are. In the north that is the way of things. We are a little more relaxed, but regardless, when the woman is of age the man has to ask her father for permission. He has to prove to him that he can provide for her. Life on the South Pole is harsh and at times dangerous. Everyone has to work together to survive and hunting is usually men's work. Sometimes women hunt, like when all the warriors were away fighting the war, but we typically have other jobs that are just as important to the survival of our families. So, when a man wants to marry a woman, he has to present her father with proof of his abilities. Sometimes they hunt together, sometimes he just brings something back. He also has to have his own igloo."

Great. Zuko had never successfully hunted anything, well nothing animal anyway. He definitely didn't have an igloo though he didn't intend to live in the south pole. At least not permanently and not until after the war anyway. What would pass for shelter now? He had a tent but he doubted that would be good enough. Would Hakoda even let Katara marry someone that wasn't from their tribe?

He was so engrossed in his own thoughts he hadn't heard Katara speak again.

"Zuko! Thinking about that awfully hard huh?"

"What? Oh, sorry." He could feel his ears burning as he tried to recover with a poor attempt at smug, "So what if I am?"

Katara's jaw dropped for a moment before she smiled and took his hand again.

"Well then don't let me stop you. I wouldn't worry too much about an igloo in the Earth kingdom and I'm sure Sokka could teach you how to hunt when we see him again."

He laughed at her joke and coy smile but was inwardly pleased by her response. Maybe he'd have a chance to speak to her more later.