Woo-hoo! I'm finished, yay! To all of you who've stuck with me, I thank you. This is the very last chapter and it's a little happier than the last. Now, I know you're all tired of waiting for me to shut up, so I am. Here you go...

When Nira left her charge's room, there was a smile on her face. Not a happy one, but a mischievous one that showed she was hiding something. There was a glint in her eyes, one that could only be seen as she was hiding something if you knew her fairly well.

In her arms she carried a handful of fabrics, that she was hurrying to take down to the laundry room. Oh, this was something that she couldn't tell anyone.

She reached the room and dropped the things off. "The princess wishes that they be ready by the coronation tomorrow," she said to the woman in charge.

The maid nodded and she went over to her living quarters – the ones she shared with her sister and cousin. It was a large room, bigger than the others for three people shared it. Her sister sat on her own bed and looked up from the material she was mending.

Dona was a younger version of her sister. She was pretty, slender and small, but she was younger, as you could see it in her appearance. Her clothes were also similar, but shorter for her age. The only difference in the two was that she had wavy, not straight hair.

"What are you so happy about?" she asked curiously, with a bit of edge in her voice.

"No reason," was her sister's reply.

"Sure."

She looked up. "You will find out in enough time."

Dona crossed her arms and pouted. "I can keep a secret."

"Yes, but you go telling Hajina and she goes to tattle to Aunt Sarino," she replied, going through her things. "Then she'll tell the entire palace and then they'll tell the nation."

She huffed and went back to work. Nira just smiled. "But, the news is sure to stir some excitement," she whispered softly.

Blue, the color that most suited her. It was the color of her nation, her family, her origin, her eyes. Everyone said so – the maids, her sister-in-law, her uncle and her husband. Wearing it, she felt confidence; she felt radiance.

It was why, that day, she wore it.

Katara was going to become a queen. The woman that ruled along side with the king of a nation is what she'd become. Only, she would be the ruler of two.

The gown she wore was more extravagant than the one on her wedding. Not only was it made with the most expensive silk, but other fine fabrics that were only made for royalty. The threads were silver and white gold, stitching all done by the finest seamstresses; embroidery was the same.

Layer upon layer was elegantly placed over her body with only the best care. Upon all her limbs was the finest jewelry. Her hair was placed up elegantly, the headdress bigger than other ones she'd worn. Her make up was done so that she looked like a doll, not a thing wrong with her.

Still that day, Katara didn't wear a smile.

It was a day to be merry, but she didn't feel that way. Nira understood and let it pass, though she tried all she could to cheer her up. Even with the new discovery, she wasn't completely happy. You could still see that she was trying, doing all she could to seem happy.

Nira smoothed the fabric of her skirt and looked up to her, standing on a platform for her dressing. "This will be an exciting day," she said.

Katara nodded, looking at herself in the mirror. "I suppose."

She looked around, noticing the other maids that were still there. "Could you leave, please?" she asked, giving them looks.

The princess supposed the three were her cousins, because they rolled their eyes. But they did what they were told and left the room. Nira looked up to her with a look. "Have you told him yet?"

Her eyes widened and she turned her head to her. "No," she replied. "I haven't gotten a chance."

Nira gave her a look. "You've had what, a week?" she asked. "Don't tell me you haven't had time. Now I know you've been grieving your highness, but that doesn't mean you can't say anything to the prince."

She sighed and put a finger to her temple. "Not now, Nira," she said. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Well why not?" she asked. "He's the father, he has a right."

"Nira!" she looked around, getting down to the floor. She covered her mouth. "Lower your voice," she hissed, eyes blazing.

The servant removed her hand. "I apologize, my princess. But, you're expecting. You can't hide that for very long – considering that he sleeps next to you every night."

Katara swallowed and closed her eyes. "Only you, my grandmother and myself know," she said, then looked at her in the eye. "And I'm trusting you to keep quiet. I don't want everyone knowing that I'm pregnant for a little bit yet."

"But you are."

"Sh!"

"Why? Is it embarrassing?" she asked. "It's not like you aren't married."

"It goes deeper than that, just let me do this my own way. I'll tell Zuko when I want."

"Tell him what?"

They both looked up when Zula walked into the room. She looked between the two curiously, but didn't ask. "I came to retrieve you. Everyone is waiting in the main hall," she said again. "What are you not telling Zuko?"

Katara hesitated. "Uh...nothing," she replied, looking down with a blush. "Let's just go."

She started out the door and Zula moved aside, looking to her as she left, then to Nira with a questioning gaze. Nira just bowed before following. Zula raised an eyebrow of suspicion, but followed as well.

Outside the doors of the main hall was where the two waited. The ceremony was about to begin, and both of the royals' servants were making sure the last minute touches were perfect on their outfits.

Zuko stood a ways from his wife as two male servants adjusted his military uniform. It was fancier than the others, definitely something that you wouldn't wear out in battle. The chest had all kinds of medals and other things that showed his position.

When he looked up, he turned his gaze to Katara. Her servant was adjusting her dress. She looked up when she felt his gaze on her, then looked down with a blush. His sister came up to him and he looked over to her.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked softly.

"It's beyond me, brother dear," she replied, hands tucked in her sleeves. "She's hiding something though." She sighed and looked at him. "I have a feeling she'll tell you soon," she said, something in her eyes as she looked at him. "Don't worry about it."

He gave her a look. "You're not ...upset about this?"

She shrugged, eyes closed. "Why have all the responsibilities of a queen when I have all the power anyways?" she asked, looking away with a smile. "Besides." She looked him up and down. "Look how nice you look in that outfit."

Zula smiled, before going over to Katara. He smirked at her and shook his head. When he was done adjusting his outfit, he went over to Katara as well, who was standing near the door. Zula gave her a hug, before leaving to get to her seat.

Then he turned to her. "Are you ready?"

She nodded rapidly, taking his arm. "I was born to do this."

He faced forward and put on a straight face as the doors opened and they faced the crowd with their heads held high.

The reception that evening was wonderful and grand. The dinning hall was large, with a lower ceiling than the main hall. There were tables set up with a banquet of food and delights. There was a band and a dance floor, where couples danced and mingled, talking and laughing in the early evening.

Katara stood with Zuko as they chatted with guests, a smile finally on her face. She held onto her husband's arm, smiling truly this time, in her eyes and on her lips. Her head rested on his shoulder, that was adorned with a band of jewels around her forehead, newly attached to her headdress. It was the symbol of her position, now that she was the queen.

Never one to dance, he didn't ask his wife to. Still, he stood there and looked around like he should have and held her hand carefully. He looked at her as she watched the crowd. Everyone was there, having a nice time. It was a wonderful thing to see, everyone at peace.

But then Katara looked around suspiciously with a smile. She held onto his hand and led him towards the outer hallway. "Zuko," she said. "I really have to tell you something..."

As they walked away, Sokka walked over to Haru with a drink in both hands. Both were wearing fancier clothes than usual – insisted by Katara. He gave his friend one. The two toasted them. "To good riddance to everything?" Sokka asked.

The earth bender shrugged. "Why not?" he asked. They looked around a little bit. "So, what's gonna happen now?"

"I have no place to go," he said. "I guess I'll find a place to live in the Earth Nation. I'm tired off the water nations."

He nodded. "Well, I'm gonna go home," he said. "Spend time with my parents."

"Parents," he mussed, looking to the floor. "Speaking of that, I have to find mine."

Haru raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"My father," he said. "You know, the one that's not my biological one. He's still my dad, you know. He raised Katara and me," he went on, then looked up to him. "I wanna know if he's still alive."

He nodded. "Good luck to you," came a new voice. Suki walked over with a grin. With her was Rinoka. She wore an elegant gown again, this time in green and had her hair back. Rinoka wore green as well, with blue everywhere though. "Have you seen the new, happy lord and queen?"

They both shook their heads. "They were over there a moment ago," Haru replied, nodding to where they had been standing.

"I suppose they've snuck off to talk somewhere," stated Zula, as she came over sipping a glass herself. She raised it to the four. "They've got a lot to talk about. Cheers."

Just as she said it, there was a loud yell that shook the hall with just the sound. "YOU'RE WHAT!"

The group just looked at each other with surprised glances.

The End

(For Now)

Look out for the sequal, that I'm going to be writing with a friend. It's gonna be really good.