Chapter 15

Walking with Sokka out towards the temporary Water Tribe lodgings, Zuko began to realize how nervous he actually was to speak to Hakoda. Sokka was in a particularly chipper mood, strolling beside him with his usual swagger. He seemed to have his own ideas as to how Hakoda would react to Zuko's suit. For his own part, Zuko hoped the fact that he had once helped rescue him from Boiling Rock would soften Hakoda to the idea of him marrying his daughter. That and they had been getting along rather well the last two weeks they'd been traveling together and he hadn't seemed to put out that he had been sleeping with Katara.

Everyone was up and moving around when they arrived. Several of the children ran up to them and began tugging on Zuko's arms, wanting to play. He laughed as a particularly eager boy nearly knocked him over. Sokka raised a brow at the sight they made, a little surprised at how much the kids seemed to like the surly prince.

"Hey guys! I can't play right now, I have to talk to Chief Hakoda and it's really important. Maybe later ok?" This was met with a chorus of complaints and laughter from Sokka as the children continued to hang off of him. One little girl seemed to know what he was about though and gasped loudly, clapping her hands on her cheeks dramatically.

"You're going to ask to marry Katara aren't you! You've been sharing a tent for ages! Oh! Is she going to have a baby? My mamma says that's what happens when you share a tent. Is that it? Is it?"

Sokka had a hand over his mouth to stem his laughter at the shocked look on Zuko's face at the girl's correct assumptions. He collected himself quickly and smiled at the girl's eager face. Leaning down so as to be eye level with her, he smirked and whispered to her.

"Can you keep a secret Anyu? At least until after I've spoken to her father?"

The little girl smiled back at him so broadly he thought her cheeks would burst. She nodded and dragged the other little children away excitedly. Sokka laughed and clapped him on the back after they had run off. Neither of them had seen the looming figure behind them so they both jumped when it spoke.

"Well, I suppose it's a good thing you seem to like children eh Zuko." Hakoda had his arms folded across his broad chest, the stern look he wore did nothing to hide the laughter in his eyes. "I suppose you have something to say to me. Come, let's go back to my room and we can talk. You better come too, Sokka."

Zuko shot the grinning fool a glare before turning to follow Hakoda. This hadn't exactly been how he'd imagined starting this conversation. At least the difficult part was over, he'd dreaded telling Hakoda about the pregnancy the most. If he'd been a Fire Nation man he knew this conversation would have gone very differently.

Katara's Gran gran was sitting at the small table in Hakoda's room with a knowing look on her face when they got there. As they sat down, she did not hide her smile as Hakoda cleared his throat. Zuko felt his own throat tighten as the chief stared down at him. Since he already seemed to know why he was there, Zuko knew there was no use delaying this any longer. He took a deep breath and looked Hakoda in the eye.

"Chief Hakoda, I want to marry Katara." He swallowed as he waited for Hakoda to respond. The man in question gave him an appraising look and glanced at gran gran before he answered.

"What can you offer her as a husband? How do you plan to provide for her Zuko? You are no longer a wealthy prince with everything he could ever need. Nor do you have family to provide for her and your children were you to die. Why should I give her to you? How can you prove to me you will be able keep my daughter fed and housed if I let you take her as your wife? Does a Prince even know how to hunt?"

Zuko glanced at Sokka and rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully as he considered what he had planned to say to this. Now that he was actually sitting here facing her father, nothing seemed good enough. He was right mostly. Zuko didn't have anything material to offer a wife. As to his family, well there was Uncle.

"I know I don't have much to offer her just now. You are right I am no longer a Prince. I haven't been in so long that the brief time I was home last year felt unnatural. I have been living this way, traveling around the world in exile, for five years. It's true I haven't ever had much need for hunting, but I know how to live in this world. I have had to work with my own hands to survive when my father turned his back on me. As to my family, I have my uncle in Ba Sing Se. My mother too… well she still lives."

Hakoda looked thoughtful as Gran gran perked up and had her turn questioning Zuko.

"You have been sharing a tent with my granddaughter since we found you on the road, and I am certain that has been going on for some time before that. Why do you ask this of my son now when we still have many miles and weeks of travel before we are safe in Ba Sing Se? There is a war to fight still as well? Surely with everything that has happened recently and that is yet to come, marriage is far from your minds." Zuko reddened when she mentioned their sleeping arrangements and looked back to Hakoda.

"Can I assume you overheard what Anyu asked me?" At Hakoda's nod he continued. "Katara's pregnant. She told me only last night. I want you to know that I have been planning for weeks to ask for your permission to marry her once we reached Ba Sing Se, but this has changed those plans. I wanted to ask now so you would know my intentions and have no reason to question my honor when I leave tonight." At this Hakoda frowned and braced a hand on the table. He asked Zuko what he meant but it was Sokka that answered, waving a hand absently in front of his face.

"He is worried about the assassins his father has likely sent after him. Apparently he has been planning to ditch us for a while: this was just the kick in the pants he needed to actually leave, the self sacrificing jerk." Gran gran frowned at Sokka and Zuko rolled his eyes at his friend's dramatics.

"I have been considering making my own way to Ba Sing Se since we were nearly captured weeks ago. Katara is a powerful warrior and can take care of herself, but out of all of us I have the biggest target on my back. Now that she is pregnant with my child I know I can't continue to travel with you. I refuse to put them in greater danger by staying. I know I don't have to tell you what would happen to them if my father were to get his hands on her. I am leaving as soon as I can, heading north through the Fire Nation colonies where I can make sure I am seen. I'll make it to Ba Sing Se eventually but this way I can draw the attention of anyone sent after us. Anyone my father sends will have orders to round up any water tribe members too in search of the next Avatar. Hopefully this way you will make it there without incident." All of Katara's family looked grave at his proclamation but it was Gran gran that spoke first.

"When I first met you Zuko, you were a desperate boy who was so filled with anger and resentment he did not care who he hurt. How these last two years have changed you. Today you sit before us, an honorable young man willing to sacrifice himself to protect his family. A humble and strong man deserving of my granddaughter no matter his material wealth." She turned to Hakoda. "Do not forget my son, we are all of us displaced. There is not a warrior among our tribe with more to offer Katara than this one. Besides, we have seen how much they love each other. I left my home and journeyed to the south pole so I could marry a man of my choosing. Katara has chosen well. " She smiled at him but Zuko could not meet her fierce gaze as he took in her words. "Please tell me Zuko though, that you do not plan to take this dangerous journey alone?" Before Zuko could answer Sokka spoke up again, dramatically placing a hand over his heart.

"I'll be going with him, Gran gran, dad. Katara made him promise he wouldn't go alone and get himself killed." Sokka punched Zuko lightly on the shoulder, earning himself another glare. He laughed and carried on ignoring Zuko. "Of course I volunteered to go, he will be my brother soon after all. How could I face Katara if I let him go alone and he never came back? No, it really is the only way. Hey, while we are off wandering around the Earth Kingdom wilderness, maybe I can show you how to hunt and teach you all about water tribe marriage customs! Don't worry dad, I'll teach him everything I know." Hakoda and his Gran gran shared an amused look before turning back to Zuko and gesturing for them to stand. Reaching out and clasping his arm, Hakoda smiled down at Zuko.

"Very well Prince Zuko. I will give my blessing, you may marry my daughter. Before you and my son leave us tonight, I would like to make your engagement official with the tribe. There are one or two of my younger warriors that have been rather angry with me for allowing you to share her bed these last weeks. As you say, she can take care of herself just fine. If she is officially spoken for however, they will not be able to ask me for her or bother her once you are gone." Zuko clenched his other fist and frowned deeply at this but Hakoda put a hand on his shoulder and reassured him. "Do not worry son, my daughter would leave anyone who bothered her frozen to a tree." Sokka laughed with his father as they left the temporary dwelling and followed Zuko back to the palace.

oOoOoOoOo

As the sun began to set that night, there was much celebration among the water tribe people. They hadn't the space for a great fire nor their whole tribe, but they were joyful just the same. Katara, daughter of their tribe, was going to marry the brave firebender they had come to like so well. Even more thrilling, she was pregnant. Typically they would wait to even name a child. Life on the south pole was harsh. This time though they rejoiced for Katara and Zuko. They were all of them far from home and life weary; this news was hope and promise for the future of the tribe. The first new child since the warriors had first left 6 years ago. King Bumi even came down to join the festivity.

The engagement blessing was simple. Silaqqi, their shaumaness intoned heavily in their native language. Katara and Zuko stood together in front of the gathered family and friends as she joined their hands and marked their foreheads with ash and a red clay paint. After, she spoke to everyone of their intention to be joined fully when they reached Ba Sing Se and how the Spirits had blessed their union. Hakoda had told them all where Zuko and Sokka were going. Katara stood proud beside Zuko, hand in hand, as her father explained the danger they faced and what a brave thing her future husband was doing for her, for them all really.

After the speaking and the blessings and the great meal King Bumi provided for them all, Zuko and Sokka prepared to leave. Sokka said his farewells, kissing Suki soundly before hugging his father. Zuko clung to Katara, memorizing the feel of her against him, the scent of her skin as he kissed her goodbye. Kneeling before her, he held her waist and rested his forehead against her still flat stomach praying Agni would protect them. She gripped his shoulders as he breathed deeply and kissed her there too. Standing to go at last, he took her face in his hands.

"I love you Katara. I will see you again, I promise." Katara clung to him and kissed him once more and nodded. It wasn't until he and Sokka had both disappeared from view and Suki had wrapped her arm around her shoulders that she allowed a single tear to fall.

Yue protect them.

A\N Sadly this is the last chapter our favorite lovers will be together for a while. Never fear, it won't be forever!