Avatar: The Last Airbender is not my creation, the people at the Nickelodeon Studios created it, but that will not stop me from making my own little episodes of excitement and romance.

The only thing I own is the plot on your screen. If you plan to take my ideas and put them into your own fanfic, claiming to be your own mind that thought them up, get a hobby. Plagiarism is wrong, don't do it!

A few hours after the sun had risen, Katara awoke, ready for the day that awaited her and her beloved Prince Zuko. After Zuko left, she could barely sleep thinking that everything was finally turning around. She was marrying the man that she loved and nobody was going to stop her. She undid her braid and redid it neatly as she waited for the Prince to arrive. She took a nice deep breath of morning air and smiled, What a beautiful day.

Sokka yawned as the sun hit him directly in the face. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, noticing that Aang was doing just the same. He looked around his surroundings and thought back to last night, when Prince Zuko had approached them saying happily that Katara had said yes. He remembered thinking that he would never see Zuko that happy ever again. The warrior looked at his sister and grinned when he noticed her braiding her hair with a smile on her face. "Good morning," he said and got out of his bedroll slowly.

Katara turned her head and beamed at him. "Good morning," she replied back cheerfully. She tied her hair with a leather band and stood up to hug her brother.

Sokka returned her hug and pulled away with a surprised look on his face. "What was that for?"

"I'm in a good mood, that's all," she said simply and walked over to Aang, who seemed a little upset. "Good morning." She sat down next to the Avatar, who was just sitting on his heap of hay with a sad smile on his face.

"G'morning," he muttered softly and looked at Katara.

"What's wrong?" the water bender asked, noticing his glum tone of voice.

"Nothing," answered Aang as he wrung his hands in his lap. "Nothing at all."

Katara raised her eyebrows and frowned. "Does it have to do with Prince Zuko?"

Aang hung his head and sighed. "Once you get married, you are going to leave us. What happened to the North Pole? I thought we were going to learn water bending together. Now we can't because you'll be with Prince Zuko. And what about Sokka and I? We're going to die without you. We need you to tell us what to do." He lifted his hand and quickly wiped a tear before Katara could see it.

Katara sighed sadly. She had forgotten about the North Pole. "I'm sorry Aang. But you know what? Maybe if I convince Zuko to stop chasing you, we'll go to the North Pole and meet you there. So we can learn together after all! And I know that you and Sokka will survive without me. I trust you to keep him in check for me." She put an arm around Aang's shoulder and pulled him closer. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered and blinked back a couple of tears.

"I don't want Zuko at the North Pole," Aang responded hotly.

"Oh, don't get like that. He's a nice guy. Give him a chance. Sokka has." Katara looked over that the warrior, who was trying to get back his boomerang from Momo.

"Prince Zuko…nice? Yeah, right." The Avatar crossed his arms and pulled away from Katara's half-hug. "How can you say that when he's been trying to get me since…forever."

"I'm saying it for a reason. It's the truth. He really is a nice guy. You seriously think that I would marry a meanie?" She smiled when Aang coughed out something that sounded like Jet. "That doesn't count, I didn't know he was evil, until after he blew up the dam."

"What makes you so sure that he won't stab you in the back when you two get married? He could very well be tricking you, so you tell him everything about me. My weaknesses and strengths," the Avatar concluded thoroughly.

Katara laughed. "Aang, I don't know what your weaknesses are. Besides, even if I did, you actually believe that I would say something that crucial about you to him?"

"Love is blind."

The water bender sighed in frustration. "There's no hope with you." She stood up and looked down at Aang. "I give up."

Sokka pulled his boomerang out of Momo's grasp and fell on the ground. "Ignore him, Katara. He's just a little sad about you leaving, that's all. He'll eventually get over it."

Aang looked up at Sokka and scowled.

Katara smiled weakly at her brother. "I hope so."

Retired General Iroh took a deep salty breath and smiled. "I'm so excited to see Katara again," he cried as he faced his nephew. "She is such a good girl. Very polite. Very sweet. To think she is going to be living with us. I tell you, the entire time she was here, the entire ship seemed to be happy." He placed a hand on Prince Zuko's shoulder. "I told you that she'll be back."

Zuko nodded and smiled at the old man before him. Iroh seemed more excited than he. "Yea, you did."

"Well, enough of this talking. Go and get her and make sure to bring her back here so we can talk." He began pushing Zuko towards the ramp. "How exciting to see her," he muttered to himself and continued to push Zuko. "Hurry now."

Zuko stumbled off the ship and smiled at his silly uncle before he entered the dark woods. He was so happy. After two years of suffering and hurtful memories, he found the most precious thing in the world. More precious than home or some stupid crown. He found love. And his uncle could not have been more right the other day. Love was like a hidden treasure and he was one of the lucky few who found it. He honestly couldn't ask for more. As long as he had Katara…home was worthless. His throne was useless. His father could go to hell and stay there.

It wasn't long before he came upon the trio's campsite. They had not noticed him, so he decided to watch for a moment or two, to see what they did in the morning. He smiled as he watched Katara and Aang playing some game with their hands, while Katara sung a song about how people needed all sorts of benders. He shifted his gaze over to Sokka, who was polishing his boomerang. Deciding he had seen enough, he stepped unto the camp and coughed, to make his presence known.

Sokka immediately looked up. "You should get that cough checked out," he said and continued to polish his boomerang.

"You should get a hobby," Prince Zuko retorted and looked away when Sokka frowned at him. Katara had stopped playing her game, and was already standing up with a shy smile on her face. Aang was standing behind her, giving Zuko an angry glare. "Can I borrow Katara for a few hours?"

The Avatar raised his eyebrows when he realized that the question was directed at him. But before he could open his mouth to answer, Sokka had responded.

"Go ahead, we don't want her."

The young boy frowned at the warrior and looked at Zuko again, noticing that he was still waiting for his answer. He nodded and softened his angry gaze considerably when Zuko smiled at him. It wasn't a mischievous smile, like he was used to seeing, but a kind smile. A grateful smile.

Katara turned around and grinned at Aang. "Thanks," she mouthed and kissed him on the forehead. She turned to look at Sokka and rolled her eyes when she saw that he had gone back to polishing his weapon. "Lets go," she said softly to Prince Zuko and followed him out of camp.

They arrived the small Fire Navy ship shortly after they departed. Iroh was waiting for them at the bottom of the ramp, with a giant smile across his old face. "Katara," he said loudly and hugged her once she was in reach. "It's been a while since I last saw you."

"It's only been five days," she laughed and hugged the old man back. She knew what he meant…which was, I missed you. "Nice to see you Iroh." She pulled back from the hug and found her two hands cupped in his.

The old man chuckled and patted her hands. "You have no idea how happy I was when I found out. I always knew that you two would end up together. Told myself everyday when I woke up and before I fell asleep." He let her hands go and looked over at his nephew, who was standing behind Katara with an embarrassed look on his face. "Well, lets go inside and talk over a nice cup of tea. How does that sound?"

Katara looked over her shoulder and noticed Zuko with a weak smile on his face. "That sounds great uncle, but I have to go to the village and get some more parchment for letters and supply counts. You can talk with Katara while I head into town."

"No, no. Katara, go with Prince Zuko and we'll talk when you come back. No hurry," the General said and turned to go back onto the ship. "Have fun," he threw over his shoulder and left.

Katara shrugged and grabbed Zuko's hand. "You OK with that? Or do you want to go by yourself?" she asked shyly and gently squeezed his hand.

He smiled and shook his head. "No. I want you to come with me," he stated and pulled her closer to him. "Lets go." They walked silently to the village, hand in hand. They didn't say a word. There was no need to. Each other's presence was enough to keep them content. There was no sweet talk, no kisses, no stories to tell to keep them entertained. They just thought about how happy they were and how nothing could possibly change that.

The two lovers stopped in front of an old wooden shop. Some of the windows were cracked and splinters stuck out everywhere. The door was slightly ajar and Zuko stepped forward to open it wide. "Ladies first," he told Katara.

Katara laughed and curtsied. "Why thank you good sir," she said and walked into the shop, Zuko following closely behind. Shelves covered the walls. Knick knacks of all kinds sat upon the shelves decoratively. From the corner of her eye she saw Zuko grab a couple rolls of parchment. She smiled and continued to look at the different items before her. She reached out to look at a small figurine of a white flying bison. An arrow was painted on its' head continuing down its' back and legs, just like Appa.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" a deep voice asked from behind her. "I've heard that those really did exist. It must've been great seeing one of those for real." Katara turned around to see a middle aged man standing in front of her. She smiled and nodded. He frowned when he noticed her old worn out attire and plain face. "Buying anything today?" he asked, feeling a little stupid for asking such a question to a poor woman like herself.

Katara shook her head. "Just looking. I haven't any money."

"Didn't think so. A peasant like yourself could never afford anything in my shop," he said glowering. "If you don't mind, please leave."

Katara's self esteem lowered by the hundreds in just a matter of seconds. She was about to set the small model of the bison down, when Zuko walked up behind the man. "She's with me," he said coldly.

The man turned around to face Prince Zuko and frowned. "I'm sorry your highness. I didn't realize that she was your servant. Please--"

"What makes you think that she's my servant," he asked through clenched teeth. "She's my future wife."

The owner blanched significantly and turned to face Katara, whose face was completely filled with sadness. He frowned and got to his knees. "Please forgive me your future majesty. I didn't know. You may have whatever you want from my humble shop. Please don't hurt me."

His begs made her feel even worse. She looked desperately at Prince Zuko, who seemed pleased with himself, and suddenly it clicked. This is what it was going to be like whenever she went anywhere. People were going to fear her. She gained a load worth of power when she agreed to marry Prince Zuko. She sighed when the man looked into her eyes. "It's OK, you didn't know," she said sadly and tightened her grip on the figurine that was still in her hands. "May I have this?" she asked and held it up to his frightened face. He immediately nodded and lowered his head, as if in shame.

"Katara, go outside and wait for me. I'm going to have a little talk with Mr.…"

"Hiyu," the man stammered and hung his head even lower. He knew something bad was coming. Something bad always happened when a man, especially a fire bender, asked a lady to leave their presence. He could feel his hands begin to shake and he swore to himself that he would never talk to a woman like that again, no matter how poor she looked. Lesson learned: looks deceive.

Katara hesitated in leaving, she didn't want Prince Zuko to hurt the man. "Zuko don't hurt him," she pleaded softly as she walked past him. She placed her hand on his arm and waited for him to say something, to reassure her that he wouldn't.

He nodded and waited for her to leave the shop. He walked around the man and stood in front of him. "Get up," he ordered and in seconds, Hiyu was on his feet. The Prince looked at the man up and down. "Do you enjoy intimidating women?" he asked frigidly and placed his hands behind his back.

"No--no sir. I don't," he answered timidly and looked at the ground.

Zuko nodded and began to pace around the shop. "Do you usually talk to peasants like that when they enter your shop?"

Hiyu began wringing his hands and nodded. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because they don't have money."

"What if they do?"

"I doubt they'd spend their money in here, when they should use that money to buy food."

"I see," Zuko responded and nodded. "You're a lucky man, Hiyu. Want to know why?"

The man hesitated in answering. He was afraid that the Prince before him would punish him if he answered wrong. But in the end he just nodded and waited for the Prince to speak again.

"I wouldn't hesitate in burning you alive right now. But the woman you so wrongfully disrespected asked me not to hurt you. She values life…no matter what scum owns it. So I'll spare you your life, this one time. But if I ever hear you speaking like that you her or any other woman, I will kill you even if they all plead not to. Understand Hiyu?" Prince Zuko looked at the man coldly. His fists were glowing with anger. "And don't think I won't find out…because I will," he added ominously and pushed him into some shelves. "Good day." He opened the door, stepped outside, and slammed it loudly.

Katara was standing outside, stroking the porcelain figurine with a sad look in her eyes. She felt so worthless. She didn't know why it hurt so much, it wasn't the first time that she had been asked to leave because she was a peasant. She supposed it hurt because she was indeed a peasant…marrying a Prince. She knew from the beginning that she would have to change the way she presented herself when she was with Prince Zuko, but she didn't expect such things until after they were married. After they married…what a wonderful but horrific thought. She would have to throw away her old clothes and wear fancy silk dresses. She would no longer be Katara from the Water Tribe. She would be Katara, Princess of the Fire Nation.

That was not her.

"You OK?" Prince Zuko asked, snapping her out of her little trance and reaching for her hand before she had a chance to stroke the bison again.

Katara looked at Zuko and smiled weakly. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me," she answered and walked closer to him.

He frowned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Are you sure?" He watched her nod and look down at the miniature statuette. "Do you want to do something before we head back to my ship?" he asked quietly. Zuko saw her shake her head and pulled her even closer. He felt horrible for what had happened and knew that she still hurt because of it. I should've killed him, he thought angrily.

"What did you say to him?" asked Katara as they left the village.

"Things," he answered coldly. "Just scared him a bit." He looked at the little bison and smiled. "Can I see it?" he asked and held out his hand. Katara nodded and placed it on it his palm. He lifted it up to his face and examined it. It looked exactly like the beast that the Avatar rode. "What are you going to name it?"

Katara shrugged. She hadn't really thought to name it. "Little Appa," she finally answered. "Because he looks like the real one, but smaller."

"Appa, huh? Weird name," he observed and gave the porcelain animal back to the girl.

She laughed. "That's Aang for you. Creative and original."

"Hmm," he answered. He hoped that when they got married, she wouldn't talk about Aang. He didn't want to be reminded of how nice the kid was. He didn't want to think that if he captured the little boy and turned him into his father, his father would torture him. He didn't want to know that an innocent child would suffer because of him. He knew that if she talked about how wonderful the Avatar is, he would change his mind and stop his pursuit.

Thank the heavens she didn't.