I do not own A:TLA or it's characters.

I Didn't Want this Either! Chapter 2: Gorgeous

POV Katara

After hours of discussion about what this means for each nation, the culture of each side, and how we may go about a contract, I had to leave. The waves of anxiety crashed upon me and I needed air. The meeting is still ongoing, I just couldn't stay. It's too much, far too much. I know it isn't official or anything, but it's just overwhelming. I'm just a girl from the south pole, I shouldn't become the Fire Lady. Fire and water have a terrible compatibility rate.

I know the war is over, but it's hard to shake the fear of leading a people who may still hate me, just for being a waterbender. Would they even take me, would they respect me at all? Would Zuko respect me? I know he showed me great respect in the times we had spent together in the war, but this is different. Is he genuinely fine marrying me, of all people?

To clear my head I decided to go back to my teaching area, it's got a lot of water and it's a good place for practice. I start with my meditation, it's funny. I learned to like meditation from Zuko. He always did it at sunrise when he woke up, and we bonded a bit during the war by us both being awake at that time. Him from his firebending nature with the sun, and me from not being able to sleep much during the weeks leading to the end of the war. It was such a stressful time, and meditating helped ease my nerves, as did Zuko.

It normally is a very calming thing to do, but I feel so overwhelmed by thoughts and feelings that I can't fully clear my head. My mind wanders to a year ago, when I broke up with Aang. We were both too busy, we hardly got to see each other, and I felt that the distance was something I couldn't take. He fought me on it, of course. Saying he would wait for me, and he even still visits. He still looks at me the way he did when he was 12. Like a boy in love.

But I don't think I ever was in love with him. I loved him, I still do, I cherish the young monk, but he never grew up, and I did. But, now I'm supposed to get engaged and married to Zuko. I don't know how Aang is gonna take it. I'm pretty sure he still thinks one day we will reconcile and get married. But that isn't the case. Especially with my impending union to one of our friends.

I open my eyes to footsteps, turning to face the source I see Sokka. He just looks at me, not saying anything, but looking like he wants to. I get up and hug him. "You don't have to say anything Sokka. I'll go through with it, you don't have to worry" pulling away I look at his face, tears in his blue eyes. I can't understand why he'd cry about this. I'll marry one of his best friends, his prison break-out buddy. It shouldn't be sad for him. But then I understand, he won't be seeing me around anymore, we've relied on each other all our lives, being the only constants other than Gran, and I will be gone soon.

"I'm gonna worry, you have to marry that jerk bender, I'm sorry I didn't warn you about the meeting, I'm sorry that I couldn't stop it. I even spoke to Iroh and the Earth King, but the only other option they gave me was.." he doesn't finish his sentence, they gave him a terrible ultimatum. His sister or his girlfriend. I just pat him on the shoulder. Yeah, I could be mad, but I'd do the same if I was in his shoes. Love is important, too bad my marriage won't have that luxury.

Trying to think of something to cheer him up, or distract him, I make a sword out of ice. It's long, elegant, and impractical, at least anywhere but here. "Wanna spar? I know I'm no sword master but you have been teaching me."

First, confusion reaches his face, but then he lightens up a bit, as he pulls his sword from its sheath, the man carries it everywhere. The space sword he thought he lost, until one day Toph just kind of, showed up with it. Telling him that if he loses it, she'll make him regret it. She never explained how she found it.

We both get into our stances, him being a master, his stance is perfect. He's been training with his sword every morning with our tribe's army. He leaps forward, swiping at me from above, his space sword is much stronger than my makeshift ice one, but my bending helps in moments where it may break. Our weapons clash, and he looks like he's having a good time. I'm glad a nice sparring session is helping him.

As time progresses he eventually gets the upper hand and breaks my ice sword in two, as it slides across the ground, and right as he's about to land the final blow, I bend a shield quickly out of ice and form a new sword. And as his sword makes contact with my shield I quickly encapsulate it within the ice to dodge away, creating another ice sword so now I dual-wield them.

"Cheater" he laughs, "but that was smart." I melt the ice from his sword so we can begin again, it wouldn't be fair if I used my bending to fully incapacitate him, its just to help my subpar sword fighting skills. I may be a master at waterbending, but he far outmatches me with this. I've always been grateful that he found a calling.

Just as we are about to start the fight again, dad comes to us, with a sorrowful look in his eye. Sokka and I both put away our weapons, and walk towards him. "How did the rest of the meeting go?" I ask sheepishly, not really wanting an answer, but hoping for one that tells me I don't have to do it anymore. Instead of a reply he pulls the two of us into a hug, and we stand there for a while, until he breaks the silence.

"The meeting went, we still have a lot to discuss but the ambassadors were feeling tired after their journey and decided to retire for the evening." He says this, but dad looks so beaten up about this. Like he truly lost. We walk back to our house through the ever expanding place that we call home. It used to be so small, and I'll forever be grateful that we've come so far. My expression darkens as I think about how, in some time, I won't be here to experience the growth of the Southern Water Tribe.

"Katara. If you don't want to do this, we can find a way. I know I haven't been able to find one, but maybe two heads is better than one?" Sokka says, nudging me in the shoulder after seeing my expression change, obviously he's worried about me. Hakoda also looks worried, its to be expected of a father and brother though.

"I appreciate that, but this is what I must do" I say looking down. Sokka then pulls my face towards his with both of his hands, squeezing my cheeks.

"No. You don't have to. Yue said the same thing, she sacrificed her life and I won't let you do the same." His face shows true concern, and his brows furrow \, remembering what was.

"I'm touched, I am." I pause for a moment, smiling "But, this is also different. This is a matter of peace, not war. And my life is not on the line, I'll just be living a different one." I hesitate again, him still holding my cheeks "Can you release my face?" He looks at me, searching in my eyes for anything that may say 'I need help', not finding it, he sighs and let's me go.

We eventually make our way to our large home, almost palace-like in looks and size. It's weird to have such a fancy home, but our sister tribe insisted that we live according to our new status.

Making our way inside, we're greeted by a very worried looking Gran Gran. She walks up to me and cups my face in her shaking hands. "Oh Tara, I'm so sorry dear" and she gives me a hug, I seem to be getting plenty of those today.

ZUKO POV:

Same day

I stand behind my desk in my study, pacing then pausing, pacing then pausing. I can't seem to figure out why they actually went with choosing her. I know it's probably better that we know each other, but she doesn't like me. She respects my abilities and forgave me at some point, I think, but she certainly doesn't like me.

The study is quite large, with a bookshelf that takes up the whole back wall, and a mahogany desk and chair in front of it. The door is on the wall across it, and since we are more inside the castle, this room has no windows. Fire nation banners adorn the walls beside it, and a large red and gold rug takes up most of the floor space. A small table is in the middle of the room, with pillows for seats around it. There's a tea kettle in the back corner on a stand for when Iroh visits, like today.

I continue to pace.

"You're going to get wrinkles with all that frowning" Jae says, not even facing in my direction.

Jae is one of my newer friends, around my age and also a trained Fire Bender, he stayed away from the war to travel around the world, and came back because he wanted to serve under me. Looking at him, with his dark hair and light honey eyes, he claims to be a ladies' man, I almost believe it. He isn't the least bit charismatic to do it.

"He's right, nephew, I know this is stressful for you, but you and Lady Katara get along well now, do not stress about her." Uncle Iroh says looking my way, and immediately goes back to the Pai Sho game he's playing with Jae. "Besides," Iroh says "shouldn't you be excited to have such a beautiful bride-to-be?"

A blush spreads across my face, I can't deny the fact that she is indeed pretty. Gorgeous even, her deep blue eyes, and deep complexion, all matched by her wavy dark brown hair, she's like a goddess. Even her plump rosy lips ar-

…

…

FUCK.

What am I thinking? Uncle is just putting weird thoughts in my head, that is all. I begin to talk, trying to find a semblance of sanity in my mind. "She may be pretty-"

"Beautiful" Iroh interrupts putting his hand out in protest of my choice of words.

"Yes, beautiful, gorgeous, that is Katara. But, she is my friend before she is an object to be stared at, or traded for peace." I state, holding in a blush.

"I didn't say gorgeous, nephew, but you are right. Lady Katara is that." he laughs as he wins yet another round of Pai Sho against Jae.