She arrives today. Zuko had woken up at dawn, and that was the first thing that had gone through his mind. Unable to fall back asleep, he had gotten up and ready for the day, tying up his hair and adorning it with his crown. He prefered to leave his hair down, but as he was greeting honoured guests later in the afternoon, he was expected to be dressed appropriately.

After dressing, he headed downstairs to get breakfast, even though he didn't feel very hungry. He found himself feeling strangely nervous, and it was making his stomach turn. He really didn't feel like eating at all, but forced some breakfast down anyway, knowing that if he didn't eat then he would regret it later.

Once he was finished eating, he sought out his uncle, who was to accompany him down to the docks to meet the arriving ship from the Southern Water Tribe. Iroh was waiting for him by the main entrance to the palace, chatting with some of the guards about Pai Sho. Zuko shook his head in amusement, appreciating the fact that his uncle would never change.

"Aah, nephew. There you are. I was beginning to think I would have to go down alone," Iroh said as he spotted Zuko approaching.

"Of course not, I wouldn't miss greeting our guests."

"These guests in particular," Iroh replied, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

Zuko furrowed his brow at him, but said nothing. For weeks Iroh had been making implications about his eagerness to see Katara, and it had been driving him crazy. He had tried to explain to his uncle that they were just good friends and they sent letters back and forth, but Iroh had refused to stop his teasing.

"Let's just go, shall we? I don't want to be late," Zuko said, ignoring his uncle's insinuation.

Iroh grinned, but remained silent. Together they walked out into the courtyard where several carriages waited. They climbed into the nearest one, and as soon as they were settled the line of carriages took off towards the docks to collect their guests.

By the time they arrived, Zuko could see a ship on the horizon, heading straight for them. He felt a pang of anxiety, but took a deep breath to calm himself. He and Iroh exited the carriage and walked down the dock flanked by several guards and stood in silence, watching the ship grow nearer.

XXXXX

The ocean shone a bright, azure blue as it reflected the hot sun off of its surface. Katara stood at the front of the ship, enjoying the warm breeze that gently played through her loose hair. The journey to the Fire Nation had been long, especially as they had taken a longer route to collect Suki and Ty Lee, but now they could see the Capital on the horizon, and Katara felt a strange mixture of excitement and trepidation as the city grew larger and larger.

Ty Lee came skipping up next to her, leaning out over the railing at the city with a grin. "We're almost there! I haven't been home in sooooooooo long!" she exclaimed, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Katara smiled at the ever-optimistic woman next to her, and Ty Lee turned back to her excitedly. "Aren't you SO excited?"

"I am! It's been way too long since we have seen everyone, and it will be so great to catch up," Katara said, laughing.

Slowly they passed by the Great Gates of Azulon, and Katara felt her trepidation grow. Soon they would be docking, and she would see Zuko again. She felt a strange knot in the pit of her stomach, and she couldn't figure out why she was suddenly feeling so nervous. She turned away from the shore, taking a long breath to ease her nerves.

"I'm going to go make sure all my things are packed," she said to Ty Lee, who was once again leaning out over the railing.

Ty Lee waved to her, and Katara wandered back into the ship and towards the room she had been sleeping in during their trip. All of her things had been packed that morning and there was nothing left to do, but she felt the need to be alone for a few minutes before the craziness of the next two weeks. She sat down on the bed, taking another deep breath and trying to figure out why she was so anxious. She felt ridiculous; she had no reason to feel anxious, and it was driving her crazy. But every time she thought of Zuko, her chest felt tight. She tried to convince herself she was only nervous because she hadn't seen him in so long, and she was only worried that their friendship wouldn't be as strong as she had thought it was, but a small part of her knew that wasn't true.

After a few more minutes she stood and headed back out to the deck to where everyone was waiting to disembark. She could see the docks now, and she knew it would only be a few more minutes. She could see a small knot of people at the far end of the dock they were pulling up to, and she wondered if Zuko was among them. Would he come down all the way from the palace to greet them? The thought made her smile.

Finally the ship crawled to a stop, and a ramp was lowered for them to disembark. They were told their things would be brought up to the palace for them, and were directed towards the group of people waiting at the end of the dock where carriages were waiting to take them to the palace. Katara, Sokka, Suki, Ty Lee, Hakoda, and several Water Tribe warriors moved together down the dock towards the group, all talking excitedly. As they got closer, Katara finally got a good look at the people waiting for them. Among the carriage drivers and guards, standing next to General Iroh, was Zuko, looking regal and strong in his fine clothing and crown. He had grown taller since she had seen him last, and his features had matured. She had matured over the years as well, just as they all had, but she found herself surprised at how different he looked. He looked good, and she found it difficult to take her eyes off of him.

Zuko's golden eyes found hers, and his face lit up in a happy smile, causing her to grin sheepishly in return. He broke from the group waiting with him and strode quickly towards Katara, and she couldn't help but increase her pace to meet him. As they closed the distance between them Katara hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate to hug the Fire Lord in public. But her concerns melted away as he suddenly swept her up into his arms, hugging her tightly. She wrapped her arms around him, noting to herself how nice he smelled, and how warm his embrace was. She felt her cheeks turning pink, and counted herself lucky that nobody could see.

"Katara… It's so good to see you," Zuko said, his breath tickling her ear and sending an unexpected shiver up her spine.

"It's good to see you too," she breathed in reply.

Before they could say anything else, three more pairs of arms wrapped around the two of them. Ty Lee, Sokka, and Suki had caught up and had joined in on the hug, all laughing happily.

"I had forgotten about the group hugs…" Zuko laughed, attempting to pry himself loose from his friends.

They all broke apart as Hakoda and the rest of their group caught up, and Zuko greeted them warmly, shaking each of their hands in turn. After they had all greeted one another, they made their way back to the carriages, where they exchanged more warm greetings with Iroh as well.

"Katara, you have grown into such a beautiful woman," Iroh exclaimed, taking both of her hands with a warm smile. "Isn't she lovely Zuko?"

Katara blushed, thrown off guard. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Zuko staring at her for the briefest moment, before he pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"Uncle, don't make her uncomfortable…" he said, deflecting the question.

"I'm just remarking on the obvious," Iroh said, patting Katara on the arm affectionately. "Why don't we get everyone up to the palace then, and we can catch up there?"

Iroh directed Katara into the nearest carriage, and she climbed in, still trying to fight the blush that had creeped across her cheeks. Hakoda and the Water Tribe warriors filled two more carriages, and Sokka and Suki climbed into the last empty one. Zuko climbed into the carriage where Katara already sat, giving her a shy smile as he sat down across from her. Ty Lee made for their carriage as well, but Iroh intercepted her.

"I hear you have been helping train Kyoshi Warriors with Suki… I would love to hear all about it. Let's join them in the other carriage," he said, casting an assuming smile towards his nephew.

"Oh, Sure! Actually, we have some really cool things planned," Ty Lee replied, not catching the exchange as Iroh led her away.

The carriage door was closed, leaving Zuko and Katara alone in awkward silence. Within moments the carriages began to move, heading back up the path towards the palace. Katara fixed her gaze out the window and bit her lip, unsure of how to break the tension, but Zuko beat her to it.

"Sorry about him… he seems to think we are secretly dating or something just because we write to each other a lot," he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

Katara looked over at him and shrugged, trying to brush off the topic as a joke. "It's fine, Suki has assumed the same thing."

"Remind me not to let them be alone together, just in case they start planning a wedding," Zuko said with a chuckle.

Katara grinned at him, but his words sent a strange feeling swooping through her stomach. She cleared her throat and pushed it aside.

"So, how are you doing? Still nervous about the party?" Katara asked, eager to change the topic.

"Yeah, a little. I kind of feel like a lot of the guests will use this as an opportunity to… I dunno. Judge how I'm doing, I guess. I just feel like everyone will be watching me carefully, and I'm worried I will say or do something dumb. I sort of have a bad habit of putting my foot in my mouth."

"How are you simultaneously the most confident and the most insecure person I know? You are a true contradiction, Zuko," Katara replied, stifling a laugh.

He furrowed his brow at her, pouting slightly as she struggled not to laugh. "What do you mean?"

"When it comes to Firebending or fighting, you are so strong and confident. You set your mind on the task ahead and don't allow yourself to doubt your capabilities. But when you are faced with social interaction, you seem to think you are completely inept and will screw everything up."

"If you doubt yourself in battle, you will die. That's the difference. And I have plenty of examples of me screwing up social interactions, in case you have forgotten. Or do I need to remind you that you practically threatened to kill me when I offered to teach Aang Firebending?"

Katara felt her cheeks go hot, and she bit her lip as the memory came back to her. She felt a surge of guilt, but it was quickly swept away by the amused look on Zuko's face.

"That was different though. As far as I knew, you were trying to lure us into a trap. But you proved me wrong, didn't you? You trained Aang, you helped bring an end to the war, you saved my life…" Katara smiled warmly at him.

"Well you saved mine in return," Zuko said, returning the smile.

They sat in silence for a few moments, their eyes fixed on one another as they recalled the day they had defeated Azula. Katara still couldn't believe she had managed to best the chaotic Firebender, but she knew she only had two options after Zuko took the attack that had been meant for Katara; she could either defeat Azula and save Zuko's life, or they would both die. Her terror at the thought of losing Zuko fueled her to action, and victory was the only choice she would allow.

"My point is," Katara said finally, breaking the silence, "you are a hero. You fought for the right side and helped bring peace to the world, and everything you have done since becoming the Fire Lord has only further shown that you have nothing but the best intentions. People aren't going to be judging you, Zuko, they are going to be excited to shake your hand."

Zuko looked down, trying to hide the blush that crept across his cheeks. He was touched by her words, even if he didn't quite believe they were true. But he knew she believed it at least, and that meant the world to him.

"Thanks Katara," he mumbled, looking back to her with a smile.

"See? This is the benefit of talking in person instead of through letters," she joked, returning his smile.

"What, you can tell me when I'm being an idiot right away?" Zuko joked.

"No, you don't have to sit for weeks beating yourself up over something that hasn't even happened until you receive my next letter."

Zuko stared affectionately at her for a moment, his smile growing before he replied. "I'm really glad you're here."

Katara couldn't quite tell what it was, but there was something deeper in the way he looked at her, more than just appreciation for their friendship. She reached up and began playing with her hair, contemplating what his look could mean.

"You okay?" Zuko suddenly asked, breaking her from her thoughts.

"Yeah, of course! Why?"

Zuko pointed to her hands, indicating the way her fingers wove through her hair. "You only do that when you're shy or nervous," he said casually.

Katara flushed, letting her hair go immediately. "How do you even remember that?"

"Katara, you hated me when I first joined up with you guys, and frankly, you scared me a little. I made an effort to learn your habits so I knew when to go running for the hills if I happened to say the wrong thing around you."

Katara blinked at him, then burst out laughing, causing Zuko to raise an eyebrow at her. "What?" he asked, cracking a smile at her uncontrollable laughter.

"You were afraid of me?" Katara replied, clutching at her sides.

"Well… yeah, a little. Like I said, you practically threatened to kill me, and you weren't exactly… nice to me for a long time. You were the only one of the group who ever intimidated me, especially because of what happened under Lake Laogai. You opened up to me gave me a chance, and I turned around and betrayed you. I wasn't sure you would ever forgive me."

Her laugher ceased at his words, and she gave him a sympathetic look. She had been cruel to him far longer than he had deserved after he joined with them because she had been hurt by what had happened between them. Katara knew one of her biggest flaws was how deeply she felt emotional wounds, and how long she could hang on to a grudge because of it. She recalled how hard he had tried to make it up to her and prove that he was a changed person, and she had brushed him off for so long because of her own pride.

"I'm sorry Zuko… I -" She started.

Zuko waved his hand dismissively, cutting her off. "Don't be; it was nothing I didn't deserve. Besides, you did forgive me eventually, and that's all that matters."

Katara smiled at him, unsure of how to respond. Zuko glanced out the window, checking their progress up the mountain. They had already passed through the Harbour City, and he could see it sprawled out below them as they ascended towards the top of the Caldera. Katara followed his gaze, appreciating the view of the lower city from their current height. She couldn't help but marvel at the spectacular scenery the Fire Nation had to offer.

"So, we have a few days until the ball… what should we do until then?" Katara asked, staring out at the glistening ocean.

"Well, Aang and Toph arrive later tonight, and tomorrow there is a festival that I figured we could all attend. There is going to be fireworks in the evening and everything, so it should be fun."

"That does sound fun! But are you sure you won't be too busy to come along?"

"I'm always busy, but that doesn't mean I can't make time. I've gotten pretty good at juggling my schedule around. I've also made it pretty clear to my counsel that for the next two weeks, my first priority is you guys. Except for the ball, I guess. I'm sort of the host. But other than that, they know not to bug me unless it's urgent."

Katara looked over at him, stunned. She couldn't help but feel resentful of Aang and his inability to even clear his schedule to take her on a date, yet Zuko managed to set aside two full weeks just to spend quality time with his friends, and he was in charge of the entire Fire Nation. She was impressed, and touched.

They spent the rest of the ride in idle chit chat, and soon enough they were pulling up to the Fire Nation Palace. It was just as grand as Katara remembered it, and as she stepped out of the carriage she couldn't help but stop and stare up at the impressive structure. Zuko stepped out next to her, following her gaze and appreciating her reaction. He saw the palace every day, so it was nice to remember just how remarkable it was by seeing it through someone else's eyes.

Once everyone had exited the carriages they were ushered inside and into the dining hall where a lunch had been laid out for them. They all sat down, chattering excitedly as they ate. Once they had all finished, they had some time to kill before Aang and Toph arrived, so they were shown to their rooms to freshen up and settle in. Katara was led to her room by one of the palace servants, who kept bowing respectfully at her, much to her annoyance.

She followed the servant up to the second level and down a few winding halls, trying to remember the path so she didn't get lost on the way back. She was brought all the way to the end of a hall before the woman stopped.

"Master Katara, this will be your room while you are are with us. The Fire Lord specifically requested this room for you, so I hope you will be pleased with it," the servant said, giving another little bow before turning to open the door for her.

"Why did he request this room?" Katara asked, but her question was answered the moment she walked through the door.

It was larger than any room she had ever had, with a large bed draped in silks on the opposite wall, a massive wardrobe and vanity off to the left, and an ornate wooden desk to the right of the door. However it wasn't the room itself that impressed Katara, it was the view. The entire right side of the room was glass from floor to ceiling, with massive drapes that were pulled open on either side. She could see a private balcony just outside the doors that stood in the centre of the windows, and beyond that was a spectacular view of the lake that was nestled beside the palace.

She slowly walked over to the balcony doors and pushed them open, letting in a warm breeze. She stepped outside and looked over the edge; she could see the entire lake from where she stood, and the city sprawling around it. It was magnificent. She reluctantly turned back to the servant, who was still hovering in the doorway.

"He… picked this out just for me?" she asked, walking back into the room.

"Yes, Master Katara. I assume it is to your liking then?"

"Oh yes, most definitely. It's… perfect," Katara said, grinning. "Oh, and you don't have to call me 'Master' Katara… just 'Katara' is fine."

The woman bowed low, and nodded. "As you wish, Ma- um, Katara. I am Akame, and I have been assigned to assist you while you are here, so please do not hesitate to call me if you need anything at all."

"Oh! I… thank you, but… I am not really used to… having a…"

"A servant?" Akame said, stifling a laugh. "I assure you, I am more than happy to assist you. Fire Lord Zuko treats all of his staff very well, and I quite enjoy my job. I am honoured to be assigned to such a distinguished guest. It will be an exciting change of pace."

Katara laughed, then nodded. "Well, alright then. But please, there is no need to bow and such."

Akame smiled at her and nodded. "I will try and remember. I will leave you to settle in now, but if you need anything just ring the bell and I will come," she said, pointing to a rope that hung from the ceiling near the door.

Katara thanked her, and Akame turned and left, shutting the door behind her. Katara explored her room, noticing that her things had been brought up and left near the foot of her bed. She opened up her bag and pulled out the clothing she had packed, then crossed over to the wardrobe to hang everything. She opened the wardrobe doors and froze; there were already several things hanging inside already. She quickly hung her own clothes then took a look at the others, noticing that they were all Fire Nation style.

After sifting through the clothes that had been left for her, she unpacked the rest of her things, and then ran a brush through her long, thick hair, untangling the knots that had built up over the course of the day. Once she was settled in and had freshened up a bit, she left her room, doing her best to trace the path back downstairs.

"Katara!" a voice called, and she heard approaching footsteps.

She turned and saw Suki and Sokka approaching, and she stopped to let them catch up.

"The room they put us in is huge!" Suki said as they continued down the hall together. "How was yours?"

"Also huge, and I have a spectacular view. Did they leave you Fire Nation clothes too?"

"Yeah, there is stuff for both of us hanging in the wardrobe. I guess they want to make sure we are comfortable," Suki replied.

"Were you assigned a personal servant too?" Sokka interjected.

"Yeah, though I'm not sure how comfortable I am with it. But she seems friendly, and she said she really likes her job so I guess it would be rude to refuse her help."

They made their way back into the main hall of the palace, where the rest of their group waiting with Zuko and Iroh. Aang and Toph were due to arrive any time, so they headed out into the main courtyard to wait. Katara sidled up to Zuko as they left the palace, smiling happily.

"My room is amazing, Zuko. Thank you."

He grinned at her, and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm glad you like it. I figured you would like to be somewhere where you could see some water, and it's the only guest room in the palace that has such a great view of the lake."

"You know me so well," Katara replied, smirking. "I really appreciate it."

Zuko blushed, but before he could reply a shadow moved over them, and they spotted Appa flying above. He soared down towards the waiting crowd, landing with a thud among them. Toph immediately climbed down, landing face-first on the ground and stretching out as if trying to touch the earth with as much of her body as possible.

"Aah, sweet, sweet ground!" she crooned.

Aang jumped down from Appa's back, landing softly on his feet next to Toph. He looked around at the gathered crowd with a happy smile, but as he laid eyes on Katara his smile faltered slightly. Sokka and Suki stepped forward to hug him, and then turned to Hug Toph as she picked herself up off the ground. Katara moved to embrace Toph as well, awkwardly avoiding Aang's gaze.

After greetings were shared, they all headed back into the palace for dinner. Katara found it fairly easy to avoid too much chatter with Aang, but she couldn't help but notice the glances he kept casting in her direction and it made her uneasy. Zuko noticed too, and deliberately sat between them at the table, which Katara appreciated greatly. Once they had all eaten and caught up, it had grown quite late. Iroh, Hakoda, and the Water Tribe warriors had all trickled up to bed, and Ty Lee, Sokka, and Suki left not long after. Not wanting to get stuck alone with Aang, Katara excused herself and wandered back up to her room, wishing the rest of her friends a good night.

The curtains in her room were still open, and Katara could see the moon rising up over the edge of the Caldera, casting a silvery glow on the lake below. She got ready for bed, then went out on the balcony and leaned against the railing, staring out at the stunning view. Overall, her first day in the Fire Nation had been pretty great, and she couldn't wait to spend the day with all of her friends come morning. She just hoped Aang would stop staring awkwardly at her.

After a while she wandered back inside, leaving the curtains open, and crawled into bed. It was incredibly soft and comfortable, and she felt an overwhelming sense of peace as the moon cast a soft glow over her bedroom. In no time she had drifted into a deep sleep, dreaming of shining lakes and golden eyes.