Warm, morning light stretched across her face, making her stir. Katara slowly opened her eyes, blinking as the sunlight blinded her. Her head was pounding, her whole body ached, and she struggled to move, but she managed to work her way to a sitting position. She looked around, still squinting in the morning light. The bedroom she was in was rather small. It had only the bed she was on, a small table beside her, a dresser near the door, and the open window that had let in the sunlight that had woken her. Zuko was laying next to her, sleeping soundly with his arm outstretched as if he had fallen asleep clutching her hand. She noticed that her clothes had been changed as well. She was dressed only in a loose, white linen tunic and matching pants, and her hair was loose around her shoulders.

Katara was disoriented and confused. The last thing she could remember clearly was Azula's lightning, and then she had a vague recollection of being struck by something and falling. Then pain, followed by darkness. She had no idea where she was or how long she had been unconscious, but she at least knew she was alive, and Zuko was alive. It was a start.

She cleared her dry throat and tried to speak Zuko's name, which came out in a raspy whisper. She looked over at the bedside table where she had seen a glass of water and reached for it, taking a few slow sips before setting it down and calling his name again, a little stronger. She reached out and took his hand weakly, repeating his name. Finally his eyes fluttered open, and within a heartbeat he had shot up and embraced her. She winced as pain shot through her aching body, but she said nothing and instead wrapped her arms around him as best she could.

He finally released her and pulled back, taking her hands in his with a smile of relief plastered across his face. "I'm so relieved… once you made it through the night the healers said you would recover, but.. I was still terrified."

"What… happened?" Katara asked, her voice still weak.

His smile faltered, and he reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear. "The blades Mai hit you with were tipped in poison. The healers did what they could to draw the poison out, but they weren't sure if it would work. They said if you lived through the day, you should survive."

"How long have I been out? What happened to the village?"

"The village is fine. A few other injuries, but nobody was killed. That was two days ago. You were still unconscious all of yesterday… the healers kept assuring me you would wake up, but the longer you slept, the more worried I got."

"Two days?" Katara glanced out the window briefly, but she couldn't see anything but the sky from where she sat. "Where are we?"

"Still in Redmarsh Village. Once you survived the worst of the poison and were expected to recover, the chief offered us her spare room so you could recover somewhere comfortable. Ty Lee was here most of yesterday too, but she went back to the Capital last night to so she could send letters to your family and let them know what happened. She said she would make sure that your room would be the 'most cozy room ever' by the time you got back so you could rest up in comfort."

Katara let out a brief chuckle, then winced as pain ran through her body once more. Zuko frowned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm sore. It hurts to move and to laugh… my head hurts, and I feel queasy. But otherwise, I'm great."

Zuko smiled despite himself, happy to see she still had her sense of humour even though she felt awful.

"When can we go home?" Katara asked.

His smile grew hearing her call the Capital her home. "Well we should have a healer look you over before you go anywhere, but we can probably go this afternoon if you are up for the ride."

With great effort, Katara pulled the blankets off herself and swung her legs over the bed, standing shakily. Zuko crawled over the mattress in a hurry and stood next to her, gently grabbing her arm to give her support. She smiled at him, glad he wasn't insisting she lay back down. She was dizzy and in pain, but she wasn't going to let that stop her from going home. Once she felt steadier on her feet, Zuko led her from the room and down a flight of stairs. On the first floor they ran into the chief, who jumped to her feet when she saw them. "My Lady, you're awake! Should you be up? Shall I fetch a healer?"

This was exactly the reaction Katara didn't want to deal with, and it made her all the more grateful that Zuko trusted her to know her own limitations. "No, thank you. I am feeling well enough to walk, so I would like to go back to the Capital and rest. Zuko is insisting I see a healer first, but there is no need to make them come here. Thank you though, and thank you for your hospitality. I greatly appreciate it."

The chief bowed to her. "Of course, my Lady. I was happy to help any way I could, especially after everything you have done not just for Redmarsh, but all the other villages you have been helping as well. I am looking forward to your coronation."

Katara blushed slightly, and smiled. "Thank you."

She bowed again and wished them both good health, then Zuko led Katara out the door. The local healers had a small clinic not too far from the chief's house so the walk was short, but Katara had to lean heavily on Zuko. Villagers pointed to them and stopped to bow or wish them well as they walked through the village, but thankfully nobody stopped them and they were soon walking through the door of the clinic. Once again people jumped up and fussed over her, but this time she let them. Zuko helped her into a chair and a woman started inspecting her and asking questions. Katara assumed this was the healer who had helped her while she was unconscious, as she seemed to know exactly what was going on without any questions.

After half an hour of fussing, the healer finally concluded that Katara would fully recover, she just needed some rest. She agreed that the best place to do that would be in her own bed in a comfortable, familiar environment, so she gave the go ahead for them to travel back to the Capital, and soon enough they were on their way. Zuko had insisted she ride with him, though once they had set out she was glad she had agreed, as she had a hard time balancing. She leaned back against Zuko and closed her eyes, letting the warm sun and his strong body relax her.

Several of the soldiers who had been in the fight escorted them back to the Capital, insisting that they could not leave the Fire Lord and Fire Lady vulnerable to attack. Katara doubted they would be attacked in broad daylight, and even if they were, she knew Zuko could protect her even if she couldn't fight. But the soldiers seemed honoured to accompany them, and she spent most of the trip dozing anyway, so she didn't complain.

After what felt like a lifetime, the Palace loomed in the distance, and they began making their way up the road to the Caldera City. Katara mustered what little strength she had and did her best to sit up straight as they entered the city gates and headed towards the Palace, not wanting the citizens to see her looking so weak. She was going to be their Fire Lady, and she wanted to show them that she would not be defeated so easily. She even managed to wave and smile at a few passers by, which seemed to have the desired effect. Instead of seeing her as weak and defeated, they saw their future Fire Lady as strong, resilient, and kind enough to greet them warmly despite being injured. Zuko noticed this and smiled. She continually proved that she would be an amazing ruler, and he was so proud of her for slipping so easily into the role.

They finally made their way through the Palace gates and dismounted. Katara nearly collapsed into Zuko's arms, but managed to steady herself against him. Once she had her footing, he led her into the Palace and began heading towards her room. The guards and servants who passed looked happy to see her looking relatively well, and greeted her warmly as they made their way up the stairs, and several of them rushed off to spread the word that she had returned. As they reached the top of the stairs, Katara heard an excited shout, and Ty Lee came barreling down the corridor towards them. Zuko moved to stop her from jumping on Katara, but she stopped just short of them and then gingerly wrapped her arms around the waterbender, causing her to chuckle.

"I'm SO glad you are okay! It was so scary when you passed out, and I'm just super glad I knew what that poison was, or who knows if we would have figured out what was wrong! Zuko and I sat by you for hours just watching you sleep, because we were terrified you wouldn't make it! But around nightfall the healer said you had survived the worst of it and should wake up… but then you didn't wake up for like, the whole night and the next day. I wanted to stay with you longer, but I figured it would be best to tell everyone here what was going on and write to your dad and Suki and everyone so they knew that you had been hurt, so I came back. I didn't sleep at all last night because I was so worried about you! This morning your Maid, Akame, let me into your room and we made it all comfy for you because I really hoped you would be coming back soon, and sure enough you did! A servant came and told us about ten minutes ago that you were on your way through the city and we were so, so happy! I just had to come see that you were okay myself, because -"

"Ty Lee! Take a breath," Zuko interrupted, laughing.

She fell silent with a sheepish grin. "Sorry! I suppose you want to go rest! Come on! Akame is waiting for you."

Ty Lee dashed off down the hall, Zuko and Katara following in her wake with amused smiles. Katara had only actually registered about half of what her friend had said, but she knew that Ty Lee was simply saying that she was happy.

Once they reached Katara's room, Ty Lee was standing in the doorway grinning. She stepped through and gestured around. "Ta da!"

About a dozen more pillows had been added to her bed, creating a cozy little nest for her. The curtains were closed, dimming the light in the room, but she could feel a warm breeze drifting in from the open balcony door. There were candles lit all around the room, and incense was burning on her vanity table, filling the room with a sweet aroma. Akame stood near the door and she bowed as Katara entered, smiling brightly at her.

"My Lady, I am so happy you are okay. I figured you might be sore after your trip, so I have drawn you a bath."

Katara nearly groaned with longing. A bath was exactly what she wanted, and she was so grateful to Akame for anticipating it. "That would be lovely, thank you so much."

Akame bowed again. "Do you need assistance, or shall we leave you?"

"I think I can manage."

"In that case, I will go down to the kitchen and organize lunch. I'll bring it up with some tea in about an hour, if that works with you."

"That would be perfect! Thanks!"

Akame bowed again, and then once to Zuko before leaving the room.

"I'll leave you alone so you can have your bath. I'll come by when Akame brings you your lunch and keep you company!" Ty Lee said.

Katara nodded, and gave her a small wave as Ty Lee left as well, leaving her and Zuko alone at last. He turned to her and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear, then kissed her gently.

"Are you sure you don't want help?" he asked.

"I'll be okay. I'm a waterbender… water rejuvenates me!" Katara said with a small laugh.

Zuko frowned at her in concern, but nodded slowly. "If you're sure. In that case, I will go wash up and change, and I'll come back in a bit, okay?"

Katara nodded and kissed him. "I'll see you soon."

Zuko reluctantly turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. Katara headed towards the bathtub, feeling a little steadier on her feet than she had that morning, and with great effort managed to peel off her clothing. She cautiously climbed into the tub, feeling instant relief as she sank into the hot water. She merely sat for a few minutes, letting the heat penetrate her body and relax her aching muscles. After a while she felt strong enough to sit up further, and she began to manipulate the water around her to create a small current. She smiled and closed her eyes, focusing on her connection to the water and let her instincts take over. The water began to glow faintly as she manipulated the flow of both the water around her and the energy in her body. Slowly her body began to feel stronger. The pain subsided, her head began to clear, and she could feel the knife wounds in her back and leg knitting together.

After several minutes of this, Katara finally stopped bending, letting out a long sigh. She still didn't feel quite back to her normal self, but it was a vast improvement, and she figured that after a day of rest and a good night's sleep, she would be good as new. She grabbed the soap and quickly washed her hair, then scrubbed her skin clean before exiting the tub. She used waterbending to dry herself off, then crossed to her wardrobe and slipped into clean under garments and a silky red nightgown. Finally she draped a robe over herself and crossed the room, opening the curtains and letting in the afternoon sun. She took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling rejuvenated and strong.

When Zuko returned, he found Katara out on the balcony, leaning on the rail and gazing out at the scenery. He came up next to her and she turned to look at him with a bright smile.

"You look like you're feeling much better," Zuko said with a tone of surprise.

"Did you forget that I am a Master Waterbender, and have mastered the art of healing? I told you a bath would rejuviate me."

Zuko stared at her for a moment, then laughed. "Of course you can heal yourself… why didn't I think if that?"

"Because you were worried. People don't think straight when they are worried about their loved ones," she replied, wrapping her arms around his torso.

Zuko smiled, then leaned down to kiss her. She returned the kiss eagerly, but pulled away after a few moments. "Akame will be back with lunch soon… and I am still not back to full strength, so don't get me worked up," she said with a wink.

Zuko laughed. "I'll try my best, but you are hard to resist."

Katara grinned at him, then took him by the hand and led him back into the room. She crawled into bed, then gestured for him to join her. Zuko sat down on the bed, wrapping his arms around Katara and pulling her close. She curled up against him and closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his body and his strong arms around her. Zuko merely held her, gently stroking her hair, fully relaxing for the first time in days. This is how Akame found them when she returned with Katara's lunch, and she blushed slightly for having disturbed them. Zuko looked up at her as she entered the room carrying a tray, and gestured for her to come in when she froze at the sight of them.

"I'm so sorry to disturb you, my Lord… I have brought Lady Katara's lunch, and some tea."

Katara looked up at her voice, pulling away from Zuko to sit up properly. "No need to be sorry! Thank you for bringing this up for me, I am completely famished."

Akame smiled and crossed the room, laying the tray on the bedside table next to Katara. "How are you feeling, my Lady?"

"Much better. A tub of hot water was all I really needed. I was able to heal myself, and now I'm almost as good as new. After a good rest, I should be completely fine," Katara replied.

Akame stared blankly at her for a moment, then her expression shifted to a mix of awe and intimidation. She had seen Katara heal before of course; she had healed Akame's broken arm after she was injured in the breakout. But she couldn't help but be intimidated by the power Katara wielded. The future Fire Lady was so kind-hearted and friendly and it was hard to picture her as a fierce warrior. But whenever Akame was reminded that Katara was a Master Waterbender, she found herself grateful that they were on the same side.

"I am glad you are feeling better already, my Lady. Is there anything else I can bring you?" Akame asked, pushing her thoughts from her mind.

"No, I should be fine. Thank you for everything, Akame."

She bowed to the both of them, then left the room.

"I think she was embarrassed to find you in my bed," Katara said as she pulled the tray onto her lap and began eating.

"Maybe, but she'll get used to it once we are married, especially once we start having children," Zuko replied with a chuckle.

Katara glanced over at him with a lighthearted smile. His cheeks coloured slightly at her look, and he cleared his throat awkwardly. They hadn't really talked about starting a family yet, and though he had been thinking a lot about it over the past few weeks, he wasn't sure how she felt about the topic.

"When do you want to start having children?" Katara pried, amused by his sudden awkwardness.

Zuko cleared his throat again, rubbing the back of his neck. Katara laughed at the gesture, instantly recognizing his nervous habit. "It's not a trick question. I'm curious to know."

"Well… I guess… whenever you are ready."

Katara raised an eyebrow at him and smirked. "That doesn't answer my question," she teased.

He glanced up at her with a sheepish look. She gave him an encouraging smile, then continued to eat in silence, waiting for his answer.

"I uh… I've been thinking about that a lot lately, to be honest. I'd like… I'd like to start a family… you know… soon," he muttered awkwardly. "B-but of course, only if you want to."

She stopped eating and gave him a thoughtful look. She already knew she wanted to start a family with Zuko, and she too had been thinking about it a lot since their engagement. But she was finding his awkwardness amusing, and wanted to toy with him a little longer. He was so strong-willed and well spoken when he needed to be, but whenever he was truly vulnerable he became an adorable, stuttering mess. He wore his heart on his sleeve just like she did, and she loved that about him.

"And how many are you hoping to have?" she asked, a sly smirk playing at her lips.

Zuko narrowed his eyes at her, catching on to her teasing. He knew her well enough to know when she was trying to get a rise out of him. He picked up her half-eaten lunch and set the tray down on the bedside table before pushing her back onto the pillows and straddling her hips. She bit her lip as he leaned in close and nipped at her earlobe with his teeth. If she wanted to tease him, he was going to tease her right back, though his way was far more fun.

"Two or three, I think," he said, his voice low in her ear.

Katara reached up and clutched his waist, quickly realizing that her plan had backfired. Zuko kissed her neck softly, then whispered, "we could start now, if you want…"

She felt her resolve weaken at his words, and she couldn't help but let out a small whimper of longing. Her hands moved up his back and she gently pulled him closer. He obliged, kissing her neck again.

"I'm supposed to be resting…" she breathed, leaning into his kisses.

Suddenly Zuko shifted, and his weight was lifted off of her. He settled back down beside her, reached for her unfinished lunch, and held it out to her while she stared dumbfounded at him.

"Yes you are. Eat your lunch," he said with a satisfied smirk.

Katara sat up again and took her plate, at a loss for words. He laughed at the expression on her face and winked. "That's what you get for trying to tease me."

She burst into laughter. It made her body ache, but she couldn't help it. "Well how am I supposed to concentrate on anything now? When I am feeling better, you are going to finish what you started."

"Gladly," he replied, giving her a hungry look.

Katara picked at the rest of her lunch, hungry now for something other than food, and pondered the topic that had led them there in the first place. After a few minutes she looked up at him.

"I really am curious though… about the family thing I mean. Do you really want two or three?"

Zuko smiled and leaned back against the pillows. "Yeah, I think so. Maybe more if we are good at it," he joked.

Katara blushed a little, and smiled. "That sounds perfect to me. I'm… I… well, I would really love to start a family… soon. I mean, everyone says I act like a mother anyway, and I've kind of had to be. But… I really do want it for real."

"You are going to be an excellent mother, I have no doubt of that."

"And you will be an excellent father."

Zuko shrugged. "I hope so."

Katara set her lunch aside and shifted to face him. "You will. One, you are a kind, compassionate person. No matter how cool and level-headed you try to act, you have such a huge heart and you care so deeply. Two, your father was a perfect example of what not to do, so I know you will strive to be as different from him as possible. And three, Iroh was more of a father to you than Ozai, and after knowing both of you, I can definitely see his influence on the person you turned out to be."

Zuko turned his gaze away, his cheeks colouring slightly. Katara always had such strong faith in him, and she always knew the right thing to say to make him believe he was worthy of it. "Thanks Katara," he muttered, smiling softly.

He looked up at her smiling face, and he realized just lost he would be without her. His smile faded and he suddenly felt close to tears. He reached out for Katara and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She frowned and wrapped her arms around him in return, pulling his head into her chest and stroking his hair.

"What's wrong?"

"I… I don't know what I would do without you. I thought… I thought you were going to die...:"

"Oh… Zuko, I'm going to be fine," Katara replied, kissing the top of his head gently.

"When the healer found out what had poisoned you… she warned me that it was very deadly. She wasn't sure she would be able to save you… and I was terrified that I was going to lose you." He hugged her tightly, as if afraid to let her go. "I have never been so afraid in my entire life. I thought the pain and terror I felt when Azula targeted you with her lightning five years ago was bad… but this… this was so much worse. I felt like I was being ripped apart from the inside, and all I could do was sit there and watch you, praying you would continue to breathe. If Ty Lee hadn't been there, I would have fallen apart entirely."

"Zuko… I'm so sorry…" Katara whispered, tears stinging her eyes.

He looked up at her, his expression suddenly fierce. "No, don't be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for. Mai however... " a dark look crossed his eyes as he growled his name angrily.

"It was my fault for turning my back on her. I knew full well that she wanted me dead, and I was a fool to let myself get distracted."

"The problem isn't that you got distracted, it's that she came for you at all. You should have seen the smug look she gave me just before she ran… she was so certain she had succeeded. I honestly don't think I have ever hated someone more than I hate my father, but what Mai did… I can never forgive her for. She will pay for it."

Katara brushed her fingers through his hair and frowned sadly at him. She hated that he was feeling this way, and that he had been betrayed so terribly. She didn't want to see him go down a path of vengeance and she almost said as much, but then she remembered how Zuko helped her find Yon Rha, and how he had supported her decision to take revenge against him for killing her mother. He had trusted her to make the right decision in the end, because he trusted her heart. He knew that when faced with the opportunity to kill a man in cold blood, her kind heart would choose to rise above her need for vengeance instead. She just needed the choice so she could finally find some closure. That is what he needed now, and as much as Katara wanted to tell him to let it go, she knew he never would until he faced Mai and made the choice on his own. She had to trust his heart as he had trusted hers.

"For now, let's just focus on the fact that we are both alive. I survived, despite her best efforts, you kicked Azula's butt, and we dealt a major blow to the Phoenix Initiative. We are way better off than they are," Katara said, giving him a comforting smile.

Zuko studied her face for a moment, letting his anger subside. Finally he nodded. "You're right… I'm sorry for losing it."

Katara rolled her eyes and kissed his forehead affectionately. "Never apologise for expressing how you feel. Bottling everything up has been disastrous for you, remember? Besides, I'm going to be your wife soon, and I love you. I will always be here for you to lean on or rant to when you need to 'lose it', okay?"

Zuko gave her a small smile. "Okay."

"Good. Now, come cuddle me as I nap. I am achy and sleepy."

Zuko laughed and obliged, laying down so she could rest her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, hugging her close. Just as she was drifting off, she suddenly gasped and sat up, startling Zuko.

"What?! Are you okay?!" he exclaimed.

"I just remembered something Mai said!" Katara said, struggling to untangle herself from the blankets.

"What?"

"She said they already had friends on the inside, that we have already been betrayed. She said that once they killed me and captured you, they could walk right in to the Capital."

A dark look passed over Zuko's face, and he quickly got up. "I need to find my uncle."

Katara pushed herself up out of the bed and made for the door, but Zuko blocked her and shook his head. "You need to rest, Katara."

She waved her hand dismissively and glowered up at him. "I am coming with you, whether you like it or not. If I'm going to be the Fire Lady, I need to stand up for my people and do whatever I can to protect them, even if it hurts."

"Katara…"

"I'm the one Mai told, and I might remember something else. I'm going."

Zuko sighed in defeat and stepped aside. She gave him a smug look then marched out the door as proudly as her weary body could muster. He smiled despite himself, and followed after her.

XXXX

A cool breeze drifted across her face, chilling the dampened air around her. Amber eyes fluttered opened, peering at the dim, firelit cave. Azula sat up feeling dazed; she was laying on a cot covered in a thick wool blanket. A fire blazed a few feet away, but it did nothing to cut the chill from the cold, damp cave. She could see soldiers sitting across the fire, playing a card game quietly, paying her no mind. She glared at them and snarled. She was sick of waking up in damp caves and sleeping on hard cots. She wanted her palace back.

The memory of her fight with Zuko came drifting back, causing her anger to flare. She couldn't believe her weakling brother managed to defeat her; it was humiliating. Her whole body ached and her head was fuzzy, but her anger seemed to dull the pain somewhat.

A shadow moved next to her and Azula raised her hand to summon flame, but she dropped it when she saw Mai emerge. She looked down at Azula, her face stoic and unreadable.

"What happened?" Azula demanded.

"We lost, and had to retreat."

"How long have I been out?"

"Two days now. You fell unconscious shortly after we fled… luckily Zuko and his loyal idiots were too preoccupied with the Water Tribe trash to follow us and we were able to carry you back into the mountains."

"Did you kill her at least?" Azula said with a sneer.

Fury crossed Mai's face and she returned Azula's sneer with a snarl. "I just received word from my contact that she survived and is back at the palace now."

Azula scoffed and rolled her eyes. "So you failed completely then."

Mai's hands clenched into fists, but she took a steadying breath and fixed her expression back to her usual bored stoicism before continuing. "You were supposed to capture Zuko, not kill him. I would have had her if I hadn't gotten distracted by you trying to murder him."

"I never promised I wouldn't kill him," Azula replied, rolling her eyes again. "Besides, do you really think he is going to want you after you tried to kill his peasant?"

Mai felt fury build up inside her as she heard Azula echo what Katara had said to her. Azula sensed the danger and tossed her blanket aside and rose to her feet to meet Mai eye to eye. If it wasn't for the adrenaline pumping through her, she doubt she would have been able to, and a small part of her hoped it would not come to blows. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew she wouldn't win in her condition.

"That wench has batted her pretty little eyelashes and polluted his mind. Once I can rid him of her, I know Zuko will come around. We always end up back together." Mai growled.

Azula scoffed. "Look, if we manage to take him alive, you can feel free to play out your delusions all you like. But I will not sacrifice my throne so you can play house with my idiot brother."

"I want your word-"

"I don't care what you want!" Azula screamed, taking a threatening step towards Mai. "I am the rightful Fire Lord and you will obey me, or I will execute you myself! Understood?"

Mai glared at her, shaking with rage. She knew with one flick of her wrist she could produce a blade, and she knew that Azula was still weak from her injury, and it was likely she could drive the blade into her before she had time to react. But she could see several soldiers gathering in her peripheral, watching the two women closely. She knew Azula was their only hope for restoring the glory of the Fire Nation, and if she attacked the princess, they would all be on her instantly. She might be able to take out the guards nearby, but she wasn't confident she could take out all the soldiers that lay in the tunnels between her and the exit.

She took a calming breath, then lifted her hands in surrender. "Understood."

Azula stared her down for another moment, then gave a satisfied smirk. "Good. Now, sit with me and fill me in on everything I have missed since I've been out." She sat heavily onto the cot, hiding her lack of strength as best she could. With a silent sigh Mai joined her, hatred coursing through her.

XXXX

It had been nearly three days since Katara had returned to the Capital, and she was making a swift recovery. She, Zuko, Ty Lee, and Iroh had been meeting privately, trying to figure out who the traitors in the palace were, but so far they had come up with nothing but speculation. They had concluded that whoever it was must be located in the palace, and was probably important enough to have some sort of influence. Informants and allies were only useful if they had access to information.. Plus after the breakout in the prison, they had concluded it was likely someone who had the authority to arrange for the Phoenix Initiative infiltrators to be on shift that night, so that left out most of the servants and guards. They had decided to start by investigating all of the senior staff and guard captains. Katara and roped Akame into helping them investigate the staff, but so far they had turned up nothing. Iroh had begin investigating the Generals and higher ranking military members, hoping he would find a clue there.

Ty Lee had doubled down on training the Kyoshi Warriors, wanting to make sure they were at least combat capable just in case there was an attack on the Capital. They were making fast progress, but it took years of training and discipline to be fully proficient, and she hoped they wouldn't need to test their skills in real combat any time soon.

In general, the people of the Fire Nation seemed optimistic. After Azula's defeat in Redmarsh Village and Katara's quick recovery after her brush with death, the citizens' faith in their leadership only strengthened. There had been no sign of the Phoenix Initiative since their defeat in the village, and spirits were high. For Zuko and Katara however, the tension was palpable. They had decided to keep their investigation as quiet as possible, not wanting to alarm the citizens or alert the traitors that they were on to them. Iroh was particularly skilled and subtly getting the information he wanted out of people, but Zuko was far less eloquent. His talent for stealth came more in hiding himself rather than the intention behind his words, and it was stressing him out.

Iroh could see the pressure getting to his nephew, and had insisted that he and Katara take a day to themselves to relax. Zuko had tried to protest, but at the insistence of both Iroh and Katara, he was forced to give in. His uncle had booked them a table at his favourite tea shop, and afterwards they had a private room rented out at a popular hot spring in the Caldera city. Finally they had tickets to see 'Love amongst the Dragons' at the local theatre, which Zuko had seen a million times and had no real interest in, but Katara had never seen it and was excited to see the famous play.

They set out for the tea shop around midday. They had insisted on walking, so despite dressing casually, they got stopped often by people wanting to say hello and wish them well. Neither of them minded, but they barely made it to the tea shop on time as a result. They were greeted at the door by an elderly man, who bowed deeply to them both before escorting them to a quiet table in the back. The other patrons stopped to stare as they passed, and excited whispering rippled throughout the shop as they took their seats. The man handed each of them a menu, then gave another bow before leaving them alone.

Katara glanced around the room; it was a quaint little shop, and while their table was tucked away at the back, she could still see that every customer in the store had their eyes on the two of them. She giggled and turned back to Zuko.

"I think we may have disturbed their lunch," she said.

Zuko took a quick look around, and shrugged. "Uncle comes in here practically every day… you'd think they would be used to seeing members of the royal family."

"Yes, but Iroh makes friends wherever he goes. It's easy to forget he is royalty, unless he specifically wants you to remember it. Besides, you are the Fire Lord, that is different."

"Five years later, and the thought still makes me uncomfortable," Zuko said with a sigh.

"Maybe that's a good thing," Katara said, perusing the menu.

"How so?"

"You are humble, and having people bow down and idolize you makes you uncomfortable. You want to earn people's respect, and you don't demand blind deference. That attitude makes you a good ruler, and the complete opposite of what your father was."

Zuko gave her a small smile, watching her for a moment as she sat back in her chair looking over the menu. The light from the candle on their table cast a warm glow on her bronzed face and making her blue eyes sparkle, and he couldn't help but silently admire her. She looked up at him, curious at his lack of reply, and blushed as she saw the tender, affectionate look on his face.

"You're staring at me," she said, smiling shyly.

"I was just admiring how beautiful you are," Zuko replied bluntly, giving her a smile before turning his eyes to his menu.

Katara's blush deepened and she hid her face with her menu. They had been together a couple of months now, but it never failed to surprise her when Zuko was so effortlessly romantic and sweet. Not that she didn't think he was capable of it, but he was normally more reserved with his affection, so it had a way of stunning her every time.

After several minutes the man came back and took their order before disappearing behind the counter once more. Katara reached across the table and took Zuko's hand in hers. "Do you think that once all this is over, we might finally get to enjoy the peace we have worked so hard for?"

Zuko squeezed her hand and nodded. "Definitely. We will have Suki and Sokka's wedding to look forward to, and then our own. I'm supposed to do a tour of the Earth Kingdom with the Earth King soon as well… you don't have to come if you don't want to, but I think it will be fun, even though it's a political thing. It will give us a chance to visit some of our friends."

"Do we have to go to Ba Sing Se?" Katara said, making a face.

Zuko laughed at her expression. "Probably, but only for a day or two. My political advisor wants us to tour the smaller villages in the Earth Kingdom, especially the ones that are still home to Fire Nation citizens. It would be a huge help for them to see us together, I think."

"I hate Ba Sing Se… but if it will help keep the peace with the Earth Kingdom, I will gladly come along."

"I also hate Ba Sing Se… too many bad memories."

"Though…" Katara started, giving him a sly smile, "Ba Sing Se is where we first connected with each other. If it wasn't for those moments underneath the lake, we may not be here today."

Zuko frowned. "I can't think of that day without remembering how I turned around and betrayed your trust right after earning it. We made a connection, and I ruined everything."

"Obviously not," Katara replied smirking.

"Well… yeah. It all worked out in the end… but still."

Katara gave his hand a squeeze and leaned closer. "I know it's not easy to forgive yourself for the mistakes you have made, but I have forgiven you, and so have all the people you care about. Try to remember that the next time your memories make you feel guilty."

"...I really need to work on feeling less guilty all the time, don't I?"

"YES!" Katara cried emphatically. "I have been telling you this for years!"

Zuko laughed and shushed her as the other customers all turned their eyes to the pair of them at Katara's outburst.

After receiving their lunch and enjoying their tea, they left the tea house in good spirits. They walked towards the hot spring located near the outskirts of the city, chatting and laughing idly with each other. When they arrived they saw some customers milling about in the lobby, though it seemed that most of them were upper class citizens, and they were far less interested in Zuko and Katara than the regular citizens had been. This suited them just fine however, and soon enough they were shown to a private bath. It was located outdoors with high fences all around for privacy, but open to the sky. There was a small pool of milky looking mineral water that was steaming. In the small area around the bath there were numerous plants, hiding the bottom few feet of the fences from view. It was rather peaceful, and Katara was looking forward to getting in the water.

They were given fresh towels and a pitcher of cold water, and then the attendant left them. Katara tied her hair up in a loose, messy bun on top of her head, then they both stripped off their clothes and climbed into the pool. Katara let out a long sigh as she sank into the warm water, feeling all her tension melt away. Zuko smiled at her reaction and settled in next to her, giving her bare shoulder a gentle kiss. She looked over at him and returned his smile.

"We really need to do stuff like this more often. I feel a million times better already," she said.

Zuko shrugged, his expression turning to a playful grin. "I certainly won't stop you from taking your clothes off more often."

Katara splashed him, laughing. "You are supposed to be relaxing, not flirting!"

"Flirting with you is relaxing. Besides as I recall, I still haven't finished what I started the other day..." Zuko gave her a seductive smirk, gently running his fingers along the inside of her thigh.

She bit her lip at his touch, then gave him an incredulous look. "Here? Really?"

He moved closer, kissing her shoulder again before leaving a trail of kisses across her collarbone and up her neck. She closed her eyes with a soft sigh, leaning into his lips. His hand roamed across her stomach then down between her legs, teasing her. She let out a small moan, but suddenly he moved away, sitting back against the tub and staring at her with a satisfied smirk. "Well if you'd rather not…"

Katara's eyes shot open and she gaped at him. "I take back everything I ever said about you being a good person," she said, pouting.

Zuko laughed hard, clutching his sides. Katara couldn't help but laugh along, and she splashed him again. An idea struck her, and while he was distracted she suddenly moved through the water. She straddled his lap and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling their bodies close. Her fingers grasped his hair, and she leaned down, biting gently at his earlobe.

"Two can play this game…" she whispered huskily, sending a shiver through him.

Zuko's hands came up and grasped her hips, his laughter cut short with a barely suppressed groan. She slowly moved her hips against him, smirking in triumph as she felt his fingers dig into her skin as he tried to suppress another groan. "Twice now you have teased me with no follow through. So as punishment, I'm going to make you want me, and then I'm going to make you wait," she said, leaning down to bite his lip seductively.

Zuko grinned. "I always want you," he said, moving his hands slowly up her back. "I bet I can resist far easier than you can."

Katara pulled back slightly, raising her eyebrow at him. Her body was craving his, but she wasn't about to back down from a challenge. "Alright then, you're on."

Despite her determination to win, she pulled away from him and sat on the opposite side of the tub. She already felt her resolve slipping, and she needed a moment to steel her will. Zuko merely chuckled at her. He knew exactly what she was doing and she pouted at him, annoyed that he could see right through her.

She spent the rest of their time trying to be as alluring as possible while simultaneously trying her best not to touch him. He had succeeded in turning her on and now all she could think about was how badly she wanted him, so she was quite certain she would give in if she got too close. Zuko merely watched her struggle, a smug smile plastered on his face.

When their time was up, they both toweled off and redressed. Katara felt more confident in her resolve once they were both clothed, but she couldn't help but let her eyes linger on his strong arms or the way his dark hair fell into his golden eyes. She huffed to herself, frustrated in more ways than one.

Zuko led them from the hot spring and together they made their way back into the city towards the theatre. There was already a crowd gathered when they arrived, eagerly filing into the theatre to take their seats. Zuko took Katara's hand and they headed towards the crowd, but were quickly stopped by an attendant.

"My Lord, my Lady. We have a private balcony reserved for you, if you will follow me," he said, bowing deeply to them both.

"Thank you, lead the way," Zuko replied.

They followed the attendant into the building and up a couple flights of stairs. At the top he opened an ornate door, stepping through it to hold the door open for the two of them. Zuko and Katara entered the small balcony; there were two comfortable looking chairs facing center stage. It was a perfect view. They both thanked the attendant, who bowed again and left them in peace, and then they took their seats. Katara looked around the theatre. From where she was sitting she could see the whole stage, and if she leaned forward she could see most of the audience. She had only been to the theatre a handful of times and it always felt like a treat. They didn't have anything like this in the South Pole; they told stories of course, but they had neither the means nor the time to put on elaborate stage plays.

The lights dimmed and Katara sat back in her chair, excited to watch the play. Zuko however had another plan. Once the house lights had gone down and the play began, he looked over at Katara, who was sitting slightly forward in her seat, eyes fixed on the stage. He smirked, then reached out and gently ran his hand along the inside of her thigh. Taken by surprise, she let out an audible gasp. She slapped her hand over her mouth as the sound echoed out over the audience, and she sank back in her chair with crimson cheeks. Zuko bit his lip to suppress the laughter that bubbled in his throat as she smacked his hand away.

"You are truly evil," she hissed at him.

He grinned at her then leaned in close."When we get home," he said, his low, breathy voice tickling her skin, "I'm going to slowly undress you." Katara felt her breath catch in her throat and she bit down hard on her lip. "Then I am going to kiss every inch of your skin… starting here," he finished, kissing the hollow of her neck. His lips lingered a moment before he shifted his mouth to her ear again. "And I am going to win this game."

Katara let out a shuddering breath, her whole body shaking with restraint and desire. He moved back in his chair and turned back to the play with a haughty smirk, leaving her feeling hot and frustrated. She tried to think of a way to get him back, but the thought of merely touching him made her throat go dry and her palms sweat. She tightly grasped the armrests of her chair, her fingers digging into the fabric as she tried banish the lustful thoughts swirling in her mind.

The next two hours were agony. Every time Katara managed to force her mind back to the play, Zuko would brush her leg with his hand, whisper in her ear, or brush her hair away from her neck; anything to bring her mind back to him. By the time the lights came up she was a mess of frustration, not only with her overwhelming need for him, but with herself for being such an easy target. He had turned her brain to mush and it took all her willpower just to resist his advances, let alone retaliate. To top off her annoyance, when he stood up and extended his hand to her, she looked up to see him looking down at her with a self-satisfied smirk. Blood boiling, she reached out and grabbed his hand before getting to her feet. That stupid, arrogant smile was enough to retrigger her competitive spirit and strengthen her resolve. She thought back to all the times she had seen that cocky smile before; she had seen it way back when they were enemies and he was certain he was going to win a fight. Well, she had smacked that look off of his face before, and she could do it again.

She gave him a dangerous look and his smile faltered slightly. Katara leaned in and kissed him, a long, lingering kiss that set her body on fire. She captured his bottom lip with her teeth for just a moment before pulling away, encouraged to see that his smile had withered completely. Zuko swallowed hard.

"S-shall we head home?" he asked, his voice high and flustered.

Katara nodded, not trusting her own voice, and together they left the balcony. They made their way through the crowd with their hands clutched tightly, both of them doing their best to look calm as they smiled at the people around them. They left the theatre into the cooling night air, both letting out a sigh as a chill breeze brushed across their hot skin. The walk back to the Palace seemed to take an eternity. Neither of them felt confident in their ability to speak, and they looked anywhere except at each other.

When they finally walked through the Palace gates, they simultaneously greeted the guards on duty with unusually high voices, getting a strange, suspicious look from the two men in reply. Katara suppressed a laugh and stole a glance at Zuko, who was shaking with silent laughter. Luckily the Palace seemed to be quiet as they walked through the lower halls towards the stairs, and they only saw a few passing servants who seemed to be returning from dinner. As subtle as they could, they climbed the stairs to the upper floor and turned in the direction of the Royal Wing.

Without warning Katara suddenly shoved Zuko into the wall, capturing his lips with hers in an impassioned kiss. His hands clutched at her hips, pulling her body into his, and he let out a small, longing moan against her mouth. Her hands worked at the belt holding his tunic closed, clumsily untying the knot and letting his shirt fall open. Zuko grasped her wrists tightly and broke the kiss, grinning boyishly at her. He picked up the belt that she had haphazardly flung to the ground and draped it over her shoulders. "Wait," he growled, his voice suddenly cool and seductive.

He strode down the hallway, leaving Katara standing alone and staring dumbly after him. After a heartbeat she recovered her senses and jogged to catch up just as he turned a corner. As she turned to follow him, his arms came around her and pulled her into another kiss. She clutched at his shirt, feeling herself lose hold the resolve she had mustered at the theatre. Once again he broke the kiss, and she whined in protest. He smirked, grabbed her hand, and then led her the rest of the way down the hall towards his bedroom. Once they were inside he shut and locked the door, then turned to her with a hungry, wild look in his eyes. He pulled his belt off from around her shoulders and tossed it to the floor, then pulled his tunic off and left it in a heap. Katara was frozen by the predatory way he held her gaze, and her body shook in anticipation.

Zuko moved towards her, slowly, deliberately. Katara stood transfixed as he approached, her head swimming as he reached up and began to remove her clothing. He pulled her shirt up over her head with agonizing slowness, tossing it onto the floor before letting his hands roam her exposed flesh. She reached down to remove her skirt, but his hands caught her wrists again.

"Did you forget what I told you at the theatre?" he growled, his cocky smirk returning.

Katara tried to swallow the lump growing in her throat, her body trembling. Zuko's hands continued to roam for a moment, then he slowly began to untie her skirt. He let it fall at her feet before gently guiding her back towards the bed, taking his time removing the rest of her clothing. When she was finally undressed, he pushed her down onto the bed, his eyes devouring her as he removed the rest of his own clothing. He climbed onto the bed with her and slowly began leaving hungry kisses across her bare skin. She squirmed under him, moaning longingly as his lips travelled across her body.

Frustrated with his teasing, Katara suddenly wrapped her legs around his waist and used her bodyweight to throw him sideways and onto his back as she rolled on top of him. He was caught off guard, and she took the opportunity to lean forward and gently bite the flesh of his neck. His fingers dug into her thighs and he let out a shuddering moan. She responded by moving her hips against his as she left a trail of bites across his skin.

"Katara…" Zuko breathed, moving his hands up to her back and pulling her closer. He locked his arms around her and rolled her back over without warning. Katara tried to resist, but he was stronger and managed to push her onto her back with ease. He moved against her, their bodies still pressed close, and this time it was she who let out a moan. Zuko grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand, grasping her thigh with the other. He kissed her hungrily, letting out a low growl that made Katara feel weak.

She couldn't take it anymore; her body ached with longing and she didn't want to fight it anymore. She had just decided to concede when Zuko broke the kiss with a shuddering breath and buried his face in her hair. "You win," he gasped.

"I… what?" Katara replied, not trusting that she had heard him correctly.

"You win! I can't… I can't resist anymore," he panted.

Katara grinned, deciding he didn't need to know that he was moments away from winning their game. In the end, they both won.

"Thank the Spirits," she breathed.

That was all he needed to hear. He released her wrists and she immediately wrapped her arms around him, fingers digging into his back. As he moved into her they both let out involuntary moans, their bodies craving one another. He grasped her hip with one hand, pulling her closer as he moved deeper within her, hot with the need to consume her. Katara hooked her other leg around his, wanting to be consumed. Zuko's free hand wound into her hair, and he bit down on the flesh of her neck as he let out another low growl. That sound never failed to drive her wild, and she raked her nails across his back in a desperate reply. He exhaled sharply, his breath tickling her ear and sending a shiver down her spine.

The intensity of it all was overwhelming. Her whole body burned as he moved within her, and she let out a strangled cry, clutching him tightly. Her feverish cry only drove him all the more wild, and he bit down on her flesh again to muffle the moan that he was not able to suppress. Zuko could feel the pressure within him building, and his grip on her tightened as he fought to hold out. He suddenly sat up, pulling Katara with him so he was sitting on his knees with her straddling him. He grasped her thighs, fingers once again digging into her, and she wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him for support as she trembled with desire. She moved her hips eagerly against him, letting out another cry. One of his hands moved up her back and he pulled her body against his, wanting to touch as much of her as possible. Their lips crashed together into a sloppy kiss, and then their eyes locked. Time seemed to freeze as they gazed deep into each other's fiery eyes, and they shared a moment of perfect calm before the heat of their passion came crashing in around them. Katara's head fell back with a shuddering gasp, ecstasy flowing through her like an electric shock.

Katara's release was enough to drive Zuko over the edge as well, and he buried his face into the crook of her neck with a loud moan. They collapsed onto the mattress, still tangled in each other's limbs, panting heavily. Their bodies were scratched, bruised, and aching, but neither of them cared. They merely held each other, heads still swimming with pleasure until they slowly drifted off to sleep, wrapped up in a warm, loving embrace.