Iknow I left you all hanging back there with the last chapter, so I made this one longer. I know it took a while, but the last few days I've been busy and I kinda lost the file for this story. Don't worry, I found it and it's safe. Now, the moment you've all been waiting for...

Somewhere in the middle of a forest, there stood a few tents. Aang sat up from sleeping inside the one, panting and gasping for air. He looked around carefully and Sokka sat up from where he lay near him.

"Aang buddy, what are you doing up?" he asked tiredly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "It's the middle of the night."

"I know," he replied. "But I just had this really bad feeling that something's changed. Something big has changed."

"Like what?" he asked, blinking in confusion.

"I don't know, but I feel like we missed something."

Katara breathed in deeply as she looked at her hand. There, on the ring finger of her left hand was a golden band. By that time it was warm, since she had been wearing it since earlier that night. She could remember the ceremony clearly, as if she just experienced it a moment ago.

zzz

The priest gave Zuko a ring and he took it from him carefully. Her hands were in his and she wasn't even gripping his tightly. The priest himself had joined them, so they didn't let go until they were told. Her attention wasn't on the words that he was saying, but on the warmth she felt.

The prince held her hands so tenderly. She felt the calluses on his hands, but beyond them was skin. It was rougher with all the training and bending he did, but she felt the warmth. He didn't hold them reluctantly and not tightly, in between. They felt so warm and with them she felt safe.

It was a strange feeling. This boy, this man that she had hated for so long was the source of comfort she was absorbing off of now. Why? What had changed between them? Was it because they were getting married or was it because of something else? She didn't know, just watched.

She watched as he slid the ring on her finger and just looked at it without emotion. Then the priest handed her the other one. She took it and repeated the words like she was supposed to. Then she slid it onto his hand as well, even though her hands were shaking slightly.

When she finally looked up to him with her final words, they locked glances. For a split second she thought that she saw something. She didn't know what it was, but it was there. Some kind of emotion had crossed his eyes. Was it care? Concern? Acceptation? What was in his eyes?

Before she could figure it out, it was gone. They both looked over to the priest, saying a final prayer before declaring their marriage.

He nodded to Zuko, who nodded slightly before letting go of her hands. But he did not through them down with disgust, but simply let go slowly. He reached for the edge of her veil and lifted it up, over her head.

It was really the first time anyone in the room saw her face clearly. She heard a murmur of discussion, but didn't look away. She stared at Zuko but that wasn't what she saw. She knew what was coming.

His hands slid down from the sides of her head to her upper arms. He grasped them lightly and gently pulled her a centimeter forward. Then he leaned forward. She closed her eyes and met him halfway there. Might as well not look like she didn't want it. It would please all the guests who'd gotten her more gifts than she could unwrap.

It was only for a second, but she'd always remember it. Her first kiss and it was on her wedding day. Surprisingly it wasn't as bad as she thought. It wasn't even horrible. All that happened was their lips pressed together for a few seconds.

When it was over, the music started playing and they both turned to the crowd. With linked arms, they walked down the isle again and headed out the door.

zzz

And that was how she remembered it. Yes, she was married. And that was her wedding night. The night had been all right, the reception being nothing more than a nice dinner. She spent most of greeting people and thanking them for coming and their gifts. The rest of it was the meal and then she was dragged off to the suite where they were to spend the night.

But that was what frightened her. Knowing that these last few moments were the ones she'd spend in innocents. Then it she'd be an adult, not a child anymore. It just made her shiver, that was all. It was obvious she had no experience in that department.

After taking off her gown, she made sure to take everything out of her hair and comb it. Instead of braiding it like she usually did, she pulled it back loosely near the end. Her outfit was simple, only a rather short robe that was tight and held at the waist with a band that didn't have a tie. She thought it was appropriate enough.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and went into the room. It was different from her other room, a little darker and had less furniture. What she noticed was the torches that were lit, making it somewhat eerie. There was a form in the bed, facing the other way and she knew who it was.

She went over and sat down after closing the bathroom door, not moving the covers. "Um..." She paused. What was she supposed to call him? "Zuko?"

"Yes?"

He didn't sound agitated, but not delighted either. She bit her lip. "Aren't we going to do anything?" she asked, trying to sound braver than she felt.

"No."

She blinked. Well that was a short answer. He didn't even explain why. "Okay," she said. "I'll just sleep then."

Katara moved the covers aside and got underneath them, facing the opposite way that he did. For a moment she just laid there and was about to close her eyes when he said something.

"Did you want to?"

She opened her eyes and moved slightly, turning her head to look at him somewhat. "Hm?"

"To do anything?" he continued.

For a moment she weighed her answers. But, by that time she knew she couldn't lie to him. She bit her lip and answered. "Not really."

She thought she saw a smirk. "I didn't think so," he replied, then turned back to face the other way. "I will not take a woman that is unwilling."

For a moment she froze. Wow, she never thought he was that way. In a way, he was doing her a favor. He knew that they weren't ready and he was waiting. It almost made her smile. In fact, it did.

But then, she thought of something. She sat up quickly and went into the bathroom. She found a bowel and went over to the sink, filling it up with water. When she got back, her husband was sitting up in bed, weight leaning against his arms that were propped up behind him. He raised an eyebrow when she came over and put the bowel on the side table.

"What are you doing?"

"Sit up for me, will you?" she asked, sitting back down on the bed. At that moment she noticed he didn't have a shirt on, but ignored it.

He did as he was told, but still had questions. "What are you–?"

His words were cut off by his own will, but it was because of something she did. She dipped her hand into the water and then took it out. Only the water did drip off, it stayed on her hand in a glove like way. Not only that, but it was glowing as well.

"What did you do?" he asked, finding his voice.

"Nothing – yet. Now hold still and let me see your scar," she said, coming over a little closer to him.

"My scar? What do you want by–?"

"Just do it."

He sighed and turned his head to she could see the left side of his face easier. When he did, she lifted her hand that was still glowing with the water, and placed her entire hand over his eye and scar. For a moment she stayed like that, the glove disappearing. She lifted her hand away and the water had formed around his eye, staying there. Soon, it dissolved into his skin, but when it did, something happened.

The tissue around the eye softened and changed back to one color. His eye opened entirely and he blinked, looking around. With his hand he touched it, hesitating to at first. When he felt that the scar was gone, his eyes widened.

"What did you do?"

She shrugged. "Water bending healing technique," she replied, nodded towards the bathroom. "Go look for yourself. It heals every flesh wound."

There was a minute that he just looked at her, before he got up quickly and went into the other room, looking at the mirror closely. Katara got up, going over to the door to look inside. Leaning against the doorframe, she saw him looking over his face as though he didn't know if it was real.

Then he looked over to her and for the first time, she was frozen under his gaze. It wasn't because she was afraid of him, but because she just noticed something. He was...unbelievably handsome, more than she thought he'd look without his scar. It was almost frightening, but for some reason, seeing the look of appreciation in his eyes, she wasn't scared.

He came over to her. "You...got rid of my scar."

Katara bit her lip and looked away. "Well, I thought I could, since you've been a little nicer to me, that I could..."

She trailed off when he took her in his arms. He just hugged her. It was a strange feeling, being that close to him. Her head rested on his shoulder and his arms were wrapped around her waist.

"Thank you," he whispered into her ear.

Her eyes closed and she relaxed. "Your welcome."

"I refuse to take a woman that is unwilling."

The words were haunting. Her husband was so...noble. It was almost frightening. She'd never thought of him that way. Maybe he knew he wasn't ready for something like that as much as she did. Either that or he simply didn't want to do anything. The second thing she highly doubted though.

It was just plain odd. Oh well, she shouldn't question luck.

She didn't move when there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she stated.

The door opened and she heard footsteps. A figure came over and sat down next to where she lay. "Princess?" Nira asked. "Are you...feeling alright?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

She shrugged. "I just thought that you might be...tired after last night."

Katara giggled. "Don't worry, I'm fine," she assured. "I just wanted to think a little."

"You know, I've heard from my brother that the prince does that. He lies down to think," Nira went on. "Maybe the habit is contagious."

The princess smiled. "Oh, no, it just works, that's all," she said, turning to look at her. "He's a very strange person."

"And did you hear? The servants are all saying that his scar is gone," she said. "Like it just vanished overnight. The prince is acting very strange as well. The princess isn't that happy though. She was so frustrated with the news that she went straight to him and stormed out in rage. I didn't see, nor did my cousin Hajina, but by her reaction it must be true."

"It is."

"Hm?"

"I healed him last night," she clarified. "Using my bending to heal has been a gift of mine. I can heal any wound."

Her eyes widened. "Oh, my princess, how fascinating," she said, putting a hand over her heart. "I did not know that was possible."

Katara shrugged. "It is. I've done it plenty of times."

"Is that why you feel alright? You healed yourself?"

She raised an eyebrow and gave her a look. What was she talking about? For a moment she hadn't the slightest idea what she meant, and then it hit her. "Oh...!" she said, swallowing and holding back a blush. "Um, no. We didn't even do anything, really."

Nira blinked. "Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"Wow. Why not?"

She shrugged. "Can we not talk about it?"

Her servant nodded. "Alright. I won't pry. Do you wish to stay in bed?"

"Yes, thanks."

Again, Nira smiled. "I'll be outside when you need something."