ofically end of my roll. i got reviews! i am happy! it was the only thing keeping me from strangleing someone this moring as i was tired and i was wet and i was cold and i counld breath (damn you fly)w/e i better finish chap9, but i supposed to go to the movies tomorrow. hehe. then i got a swim meet, even better.

Fire that helps Chapter 8

"Dad." Katara gasped and ran to hug her father.

"Katara," he said, stroking her hair.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for you. I was a prisoner of war. The Fire Lord went through to these people and had me released. You've made a fine choice Katara."

"What are you talking about dad?" Katara looked up at her father, confused

"Katara, Zuko has asked my permission to marry you." Her father told her. Zuko pulled out an engagement necklace; one in the middle was red and blue mixed. It had both the water and fire symbols on it. He offered it to her.

"Katara, will you marry me?" he asked her.

"Yes." She said and removed her mothers necklace and retired it to her pocket, Zuko took the necklace and attached it around her neck and kissed her forehead. She smiled at him "We'll continue this later." She whispered in his ear. He smiled and pulled back.

"I'm sorry, but I must leave, I have a meeting I must attend to. I'll see you at the ceremony" Zuko said and turned to leave. Zuko left.

"Come on dad, let's get some lunch." She told her father.

"I must admit Katara, you have picked a fine young man. One of the most powerful men in the world, polite and a great fighter. He actually came to me in person to ask your hand in marriage. I was surprised, but Sokka backed him up with the fact that the two of you had been courting for 2 years. I didn't think that Sokka could actually like someone that liked you. He was always so overprotective."

"He's just sucking up to Zuko so that if Mia returns he can ask the same and Zuko won't have any ammo against him to say no."

"Who's Mia?"

"This girl, she and Zuko grew up together. They were each others comfort from the drama at home. He thinks of her like a little sister, and she thinks of him like a big brother."

"Do I get to meet her?" Katara shook her head

"She disappeared, had some unfinished business to attend to."

"Oh." Her dad said they entered the dining room and ate in silence. They walked out to the garden. "Guess who I saw?"

"Who?"

"Master Pakku, he said that you mastered water bending."

"When did you see him?"

"When I was captured, we were placed in the same holding cell."

"How did you escape?"

"The angel of fire rescued us."

"Oh."

"When do you plan to have your wedding? I plan on bringing Gran-Gran up."

"That's great! Maybe around Summer Solstice, Dad, I have to go and get ready."

"That's fine, I'll see you later." Her dad told her. She quickly made her way across the garden to her room. She changed into her blue gown that had a gold trim and decided that it matched her eyes. She twirled around and looked in the mirror, pleased with what she saw. This dress clung in all the right places. She heard the door open and turned around.

"Hey." She told Zuko, he went over to the drawers and pulled out his shirt for tonight. He pulled off his shirt and Tugged on the new one.

"Hey." He turned to take at her, she watched in amusement as his eyes widened. "You are not wearing that." He told her, she pouted.

"Why not?"

"Because, you are engaged to me, I don't want any other guys getting any ideas."

"Oh? You don't want to show me off to them?"

"Good point." He said and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Care to continue what we started earlier?" She reached up and kissed him on the lips.

"We're gonna be late." She whispered to him. He sighed and withdrew one arm from around her waist. He guided her out into the hall and into the grand ballroom. Lots of people were already there, dancing. The earth kingdom lord came up to them first. They bowed in respect toward each other.

"Fire Lord Zuko and Lady Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, I am glad to hear that the treaty has been signed. I also hear that it is Lady Katara's birthday. Happy birthday." He said.

"Thank you for your attendance, and yes it is her birthday." Zuko told the earth lord. They bowed again to each other and parted. Zuko lead Katara to the table to eat. He seated her and stood. All the people quickly seated themselves. "I would like to thank you all for coming, as you know this ceremony is to celebrate the treaty between the nations being signed and completed. There are also two other reasons to be celebrating. Today is Lady Katara's 16th birthday, and I have asked her for her hand in marriage, and she has accepted." He paused and waited for the clapping to cease. "Now, let us eat." Everyone ate their dinner, Katara glanced at Sokka, though there was enough food to keep him full for a year, he still did not look happy. I wish Mia would return.

Months later it was Summer Solstice, the day Katara and Zuko decided to have their wedding. Sokka was still depressed as ever, he courted girls but never stayed with them for too long. He was about to enter his 18th birthday and still having no wife was making Katara and her father nervous. Katara sighed; it was her wedding day after all. She looked at herself in the mirror; the beautiful white gown was covered in fine white beads and beautiful gems. It hugged her curves as well as making her seem taller. She smiled to herself. She was to be married in a few minutes, savoring her last few minutes as a free woman that she had. Her dad had brought Gran-Gran up from the South Pole, as well as many of the children in her village. It had been 2 years since had seen any of them; Gran-Gran had made it her duty to make sure Katara knew what was going to take place tonight. She shivered at the memory.

"Katara, as you know it is tradition for the mother of the bride to give this talk to her daughter before the wedding, but seeing as how your mother is not here, I shall give you the talk."

"Gran-Gran it's okay, you don't have too."

"Oh Katara, I must. Now, on their wedding night, it is tradition that the bride and groom engage in intimate contact."

"Gran-Gran!"

"Now Katara pay attention, now let me let you know that it will hurt a little, and expect soreness in the morning,"

"Gran-Gran that is enough."

"Also his highness is a firebender and from what I've heard they get warmer down there as well so expect it to burn as well, and don't freight about the blood, all virgins bleed their first time,"

"Gran-Gran please be quite, I've heard enough."

"Katara, this is valuable information."

"Yes Gran-Gran it is but you gave me this talk when I was 12 and had my first period."

"Katara, that was different, now you are about to be married. But alas, I will leave you if you want to hear no more."

"Lady Katara, are you ready?" a servant asked her from the door. She nodded and went to the door where she met her father in the hallway. She linked arms with him as they walked to the doors of the grand ballroom. The two of them entered. Thousands of people in the upper class of the three remaining nations, as well as Aang and Sokka sitting in the fount row. All eyes turned and were on her as she walked. Zuko was standing at the end off all the rows of chairs, at the altar. He looked deathly handsome, and happy. She made her way down the aisle on her father's arm. At the end of the rows, her father departed and sat down next to Sokka, she joined arms with Zuko instead. The two walked up the small steps to the altar. They turned to face each other as the man started speaking. Katara looked toward the crowd from the corner of her eye and spotted what looked like a person in the rafters. Her glance shifted toward it. It was a person; a person dresses in a tight black ninja suit with bright brown hair that amounted to just below the shoulder, a person, with black eyes. It was Mia. Katara blinked twice, not believing what she saw. Mia noticed her glance at her and saluted her, only to put on a mask. A red mask, the mask of the Angel of Fire, and left. Katara turned her attention back to Zuko and the man.

"I now pronounce you Fire Lord and Lady." The man said. "Kiss your bride." Zuko leaned down and kissed her. He put an arm around her wait and lead her down the steps and into another room for the party.

"What's wrong?" he asked her. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Its, I saw Mia. She was in the rafters. She saluted me and disappeared." Katara told him.

"Sounds like her, come to watch but can't stay, yes sound much like her." Zuko informed her. She gave a small smile; at least she cared enough to come.

She spent the rest of the night dancing, eating, or talking with people. She thanked everyone for coming and headed to the room she and Zuko shared. She went into the bathroom and closed the door. Nothing is different now than it was last night.

Then why do you feel different?

Because we're married now

Yes, and you know what is expected of you now

But, I don't think I'm ready

Katara, you can do this

I should have listened to Gran-Gran

Gran-Gran doesn't know what you're about to do, she only knows the watermen.

Unless she isn't telling me something, she never did tell me about that thing with Pakku

Katara, you are MARRIED. THIS IS YOUR DUTY TO HIM. Get it through this thick little head of yours

Oh just shut-up.

"Katara, are you okay?" Zuko knocked on the door.

Oh shit

He's only concerned; you've been in here for 10 minutes.

Really, wow

Now go out there and jump his bones

I really need to get you to shut you up.

I'll go away if you put on that short little nightdress and go out there and get some.

"I'm fine, I'll be out in a minute." Katara called to him. She grabbed her new nightdress; it came up to about mid thigh. She let her hair down and quickly ran a brush through it. She opened the door and came into the room Zuko was already in bed. "Hey." She said to him, he cracked an eye to look at her.

"What took you so long?" he asked her, "You usually don't take that long, I thought something had happened to you."

"I'm fine just, thinking."

"Okay." She came over to him and got in the bed. She was shaking "Are you okay?"

"Just nervous." She admitted to him.

"No need to be." He told her, swooping down he kissed her neck

"Zuko." She mumbled, he moved to her lips. She was still shaking.

"Relax, we don't have to if you don't want to."

I'm back!

"No, I'm okay."

"Are you sure?"

Hello over there!

"I'm fine."

"Whatever you say." With that he slipped the straps of her nightgown off her shoulders.

Katara lowered herself into a tub of water. She knew she would be sore but not this sore. She had to admit that she had liked it, both what had happened last night and waking up to find Zuko was still in bed this morning. It had been so long since she had woken up to find him still in bed with her. She sighed and leaned back, she was technically a queen now. At least her alter ego had taken a brake and left her alone as promised. She sighed and pulled herself out of the tub. She had 'duties' now. She had to go to breakfast and then sit on the throne with Zuko while he made decisions about prisoners that have been sent over from the earth kingdom. Fire Nation residents who were caught one too many times by Earth Kingdom authorities, or the ones that were in their prisons and they couldn't stand anymore. Those people had to fight for their punishment. Personally, Katara thought this was wrong, but then she found that these people had done terrible things and they make sure that no one dies. She grabbed her new gown and put it on. She brushed her hair out and put it up in a lose bun and went into the room. Zuko was still in there, attaching things to his shirt. She smiled and walked over to him. "Want some help?" she asked him, not waiting for the response she began attaching the small things to his tunic. "What are all these for anyway?"

"Today is the day that we celebrate Avatar Roku's birthday. All high-ranking officers are too were all of their medals of accomplishments. These are for strategy and such." He told her. "Did you sleep well?" he asked her in a teasing voice. She nudged him to the side.

"Very." She gave him a sly smile.

"Did you like sleeping last night?"

"Yes. I think I would like to do it again maybe tonight?" she gave him a small smile.

"That could be arranged." He told her and kissed her on the cheek. "Let's go to breakfast." They left the room and walked down the hall to the dining room. Sokka had finally cheered up a bit, seeing as how his dad had given him a talk last night, what it was about she had no idea. Aang and Toph were there as well, talking about something. Zuko took his place at the head of the table, Katara at his right and Aang at his left. He ate in silence, then left for his meeting with the war council. Katara sighed and finished her meal. She went into the garden and sat down, watching the turtle ducks swim in random patterns. Mia never wastes any time, she's proberly halfway to the earth nation by now, something that always bugged me, if she can see with her feet, then shouldn't she be an earthbender? That always confused me about hr, she's a fire bender, and a really good one too. I hope she comes back to stay soon…

Ha, really short, only 5 pages, whatever, the next chapter will jump ahead to two more years in the future, when Katara is 18. Zuko is 20, Sokka is 19, and Aang and Toph are 17. TTFN
god damit this thing is pissing me off! shut up i don't want to hear your damn lazy twn or wonder pets what ever the hell it is song dammit. DAMMIT TURN THAT THING OFF! sry, my brother won't turn the tv off and i just have to take it out on something or i will proberly be on trial for phiscal assult on a 7 year old. damn you child safty laws.