### So Suki joined the gaang in their adventures much earlier here so she's a big part of the group and was a part of their adventures in the Fire Nation##

Katara threw her arms around Aang. It had been close to a year since she had seen him face to face. He was taller than last time and broader across the shoulders; hugging him still felt the same. With everything that had happened recently it made her quite emotional to see him now. She couldn't stop herself sobbing gently into Aang's shoulder.

"Woah Katara, it's okay no need to cry," Aang said, patting her back awkwardly. Over Katara's shoulder he gestured at the others trying to ask why she was so upset. Toph, oblivious to the gesture for obvious reasons, ignored him and continued picking dirt from underneath her nails. Suki, only just arrived, shrugged back. Sokka and Hakoda shared a look but didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry Aang it's just…" Katara said with a sniff letting Aang go, "yesterday" sniff, "and then last night" extra loud sniff. "And now you, turning up out of the blue. I'm just so happy to see you." Turning to look at Toph and Suki "to see you all." Aang pulled her back into a hug even tighter than before and said

"I'm happy to see you too Katara."

"Yeah yeah, we all missed each other. It's almost like we're friends or something. No need to be so dramatic." Toph said, walking over to pair, expertly maneuvering around the furniture to wedge her way between Katara and Aang punching both of their arms affectionately. Both Aang and Katara winced in pain. While her friend's unexpected arrival had been a wonderful surprise, and their usual antics made her smile, it wasn't enough to cheer Katara up completely. Trying to discreetly wipe the dried tears from her cheeks she wished she wasn't such a mess. Suki was on to her though. Walking over with a big smile firmly in place the older girl linked their arms together. As she turned towards the door, pulling Katara with her, she said

"Katara, why don't Toph and I take you upstairs and we can talk. Have some girl time?"

"Do I have to?" Katara could feel the little earth bender rolling her eyes

"Toph!"

"I mean, yeah sugar queen. Lets go have some girl talk."

While Katara finally had a bath to wash the makeup, hair products and literal dirt off her skin and out of her hair Toph and Suki made themselves comfortable in her room. Toph lounged on the large bed while Suki sat on the floor going through the many many trunks that Katara had brought with her. When Katara exited the bathroom, finally feeling a little better and more like a person again, Suki exclaimed

"Katara I've never seen so many clothes!" Katara picked her way through the piles of material on the floor to sit next to her.

"I know. They were a bitch to sew" she said honestly.

"Wait, hold on," Suki said, looking shocked. "You sewed all of these?" gesturing to the many, many, dresses that surrounded them.

"Well I didn't personally sew all of them." Katara said ruefully, "a lot of the other water tribe women helped."

"Sugar queen you are bad at being royalty" Toph scoffed from her place on the bed. "You could have just sent a letter here demanding they make you clothes and then arrived to roomfulls of dresses you didn't have to even lift a finger to make."

"No, I couldn't Toph." Katara said, shaking her head. She felt awkward even just imagining making such demands. "I can't just make people do things for me when I am capable of doing it myself."

"But that's the only fun bit about being nobility!" Toph replied.

"They were the only thing my tribe could contribute to the wedding." Katara said, deliberately focussing on the tiny beads on the dress in front of her. There was an awkward silence from her two friends and Katara felt the sting of tears building again so she kept talking trying to keep her voice steady. "The wedding was always going to be here and only a few people other than my family could come so it was all they could do for me. I couldn't deny them that." Suki pulled her in for a hug. Clinging to her friend she said "none of them are even blue."

"Oh Katara we're sorry."

"Yeah Katara I'm sorry."

"I bet you look beautiful in them despite the colour." Suki said with a warm smile.

"I'm sure Prince Firepants thinks so too," Toph said with a suggestive eye wiggle that Katara purposefully chose to ignore. She doubted that Zuko had even noticed the change in her appearance or what she wore.

"Honestly I feel ridiculous in them" Katara confessed, managing to laugh just a little.

"I told you guys those monkey suits were uncomfortable" Toph said. It was the start to a rant she had delivered many times before.

"Katara" Suki interjected before the little earth bender could begin her usual rant about the troubles of being rich. "You are going to have to learn how to delegate if you're going to be the actual Fire Lady soon."

"I mean yeah, maybe I will when I'm the actual Fire Lady but that won't be for ages" Katara said dismissively playing with the embroidered sleeve of another outfit. Toph chuckled

"Not very long at all if the rumours are true."

"Rumours?" Suki asked.

"Well" said Toph with a wide grin at knowing something the others didn't. She scooted to the end of the bed so her feet could reach the floor and she could see the reaction from her captive audience. "The latest gossip from the Earth Kingdom bigwigs is that Iroh is planning on abdicating once Zuko is 21."

"What?" Katara and Suki said together.

"But he's almost 20 now?" the older girl exclaimed "That's what? A little over a year?" She turned to Katara but Katara was deep in shock. "How do you know that Toph? It's just rumours after all" Suki tried to reason. Toph just grinned

"People never think the little blind girl is listening to their super secret discussions. I hear a lot of juicy stuff." Katara couldn't breath. This was too much. She hadn't even been able to make it a day in the Fire Nation without embarrassing herself. How was she supposed to become Fire Lady? She thought she'd have years to learn how to do this but a few months? She stood shakily and clumsily made her way to the door.

"Katara are you okay?"

"Yeah Katara you're heart rate just sped up a ton, are you alright?"

"I'm, I'm…" she couldn't think. She needed air. She needed the ocean. With that thought she started running. She didn't wait to hear the cries of her friends, or stop when she saw the confused face of her father on the stairs. She just ran as hard as she could in the general direction she thought the ocean must be.

She ran and ran and ran until she was exhausted and collapsed in a heap crying gently to herself. She had never felt more pathetic in her life; even when she was little could barely water bend a drop of water. After some time had passed and her tears had stopped Katara sat up and looked around and found herself on the corner of some random Fire Nation street. She considered her options for what to do now. There was heading back to the house but she didn't want to face everyone there and their scorn, or worse their pity. More importantly she wasn't sure exactly where she was or how to get back but she didn't know how to get anywhere else either. Eventually Katara got sick of sitting on the ground feeling sorry for herself. Picking herself up she looked around again but there were still no clues to point her in the right direction. So she decided on a random street and started walking.

Soon it was obvious that she was no longer in the fancy part of the city. The streets were narrower and the roads were well worn. There were also many more people around. The extra bodies physically filled the streets causing Katara to duck and weave her way through the crowd. But the people also added extra noise and colour which were a welcome distraction from her own thoughts. For once Katara was dressed simply in a shift dress and her old worn tights rather than one of the ridiculous elaborate dresses she had brought with her. Katara sent a quick thanks to Tui and La for the first time that all of her outfits were now in Fire Nation red allowing her to blend seamlessly with the crowd. Even her darker skin was less out of place in this neighborhood than in the palace. It was actually quite pleasant to just be a nameless face again; it soothed Katara's frazzled nerves to not be the centre of attention for the first time in months. She smiled as she walked eagerly watching the people around her going about their business.

Katara eventually came to a small square that held a cluttered yet bustling market. She whiled away her time browsing the wares. There were many stands, some were selling jewellery, less fine than the ones the Fire Nobility ladies wore but with vastly more personality, little figures of spirits, including one of the Painted Lady, there was even one stall seeing intricate leather products that could almost hold their own against water tribe made wares. Katara filed this information away to bring up again with her dad when talking about the trade deals between the two nations.

The smells coming from the food stalls made Katara's mouth water and she wished she'd brought money with her. She wished she'd brought her friends. Sokka would enjoy eating his weight in the meat on offer. Aang and Toph would have got up to all kinds of hilarious mischief by now and she and Suki would find all the best deals on everything they wanted at the stalls. It would have been nice, just like old times. Katara sighed deeply, those days were long gone. She wandered on quickly before she could get too sad at the memories and thoughts of her future.

As she wandered she was too lost in her thoughts to notice the streets growing even narrower and dirtier. She did begin to notice the many people sitting on the sides of the street when she nearly tripped over the legs of a man sleeping in the entrance to an alley. He stirred in his sleep rolling over underneath piles of ratty blankets. It was both a relief and a worry that he wasn't dead. Katara realised she may now be in over her head. Looking behind her to see if she could simply turn back and go the way she had come a group of rough looking men were now blocking the way. She had no choice but to keep going forward.

She crept down the street trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible while also walking in the middle of the narrow road so as not to get cornered or pinned against a wall. She reached out with her chi for any nearby water, it would be the only weapon she had if things turned bad. The only thing she could find was a small puddle of rainwater, filthy with who knows what. It would have to do. She bent it to herself as slow as she could, not wanting to out herself as a waterbender alone. Forming it into a small orb Katara did her best to keep it hidden in the folds of her shift so as not to draw any attention.

With her makeshift weapon Katara felt a little more confident. That was until she heard a woman scream. Startled, she dropped the water, staining her shift. Stopping to gather it back to herself she heard the woman scream again this time she could tell it was coming from down the nearby alley. She eyed the tiny gap between two nearby buildings warily, not entering but not leaving either. She knew it would be foolish to go in there alone, but she'd never forgive herself for abandoning somebody who needed her help. With another scream her decision was made.

Sprinting down the alleyway at first it looked to be a dead end, but hidden behind some piles of discarded boxes and other rubbish was a small door. Behind the door was a low narrow corridor that led to what must have once been some kind of warehouse but now held what looked to be some sort of makeshift hospital. Katara gasped audibly, drawing the attention of a few people nearby. A woman dressed in threadbare clothes covered in dried blood approached her. "Hi there, I haven't seen you around before. Do you need a healer?" she asked, looking Kata up and down appraisingly. Katara froze and didn't respond. The lady smiled at her, "I won't hurt you girlie my name's Tam, what's yours?" There was no point lying she thought. It was doubtful these people would know the name of the prince's fiancé, or if they did they probably wouldn't believe she was her anyway.

"I'm, ah, Katara." Then the scream again came again. Katara jumped and looked around for the source. It was coming from a young girl on one of the beds in the corner clearly in the middle of giving birth. She had several people around her looking after her but everyone else in the large space was paying her no attention. Katara's mouth dropped in surprise. Tam gently grabbed her shoulder, turning her away, smiled gently and said

"don't be nervous. I know it can look a bit scary but we're here to help and we don't ask questions. Have a seat with the others and we'll see you when we can, okay?" Looking in the direction Tam pointed Katara saw a mixed bunch of people of all ages, with a variety of ailments from small cuts to a serious looking burn. Apparently all of them were waiting to see a healer. She wondered what the situation must be like in the rest of the city for this place to be necessary. She made another mental note to talk with Uncle Iroh about this as soon as possible.

With her curiosity piqued, and no need for healing, rather than sit Katara chose to look around the make-shift operation. It was clear that it had been thrown together with what could be found either free or for cheap. The few beds she saw were old and sagging, the chairs were mismatched and several had missing legs, and the bandages while clean and neatly kept were obviously not new. Worst of all to Katara's mind, their supply of water was just sitting around in old rust covered buckets and it was just as filthy as what she had picked up on the street outside. Katara was shocked, if they used this water for anything they'd end up doing more harm than good. Gathering her courage she went and found the lady she had spoken with earlier. "Excuse me?"

"Yes girlie, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Your welcome to come back first thing tomorrow if you can't wait."

"No that's not it,"

"Well then" Tam;s smile was still there but Katara could tell it was now no longer genuine. "Just have a seat and we'll get to you as soon as we can alrighty?" Katara clenched her fists in annoyance, would nobody in the spirit damned city listen to her.

"Please you need to listen to me. That dirty water you're using is dangerous, it could kill somebody!" Tam's smile faltered for the first time. Tam sighed

"We know, but it is the only water we can get around here." Katara's anger deflated immediately.

"What do you mean?"

"You're not from around here are you? " Tam asked, once again eying Katara critically but this time rather than looking for injuries she focused on her clothing, skin and hair. Katara couldn't tell her who she really was but these people clearly needed her help.

"I've, uh, just moved here. My …. Husband" she needed a deep breath after saying that word for the first time. "He ah, works here in the capital. I got lost trying to get home." Tam's expression didn't change and Katara wasn't sure she had lied successfully.

"Well Katara, I don't know what it's like where you came from but you've got a lot to learn about down here." Tam said turning and walking away, but Katara was never one to give up so easily and followed close behind.

"Then tell me Tam, please." The older woman sighed again, picking up bandages that were already rolled and redoing them anyway.

"This side of town bore the brunt of the war efforts for the capital. At first it was a blessing, tons of new jobs, new buildings, money rolling in. But the new factories were built fast and cheap and soon became death traps. Lots of people got hurt or even died, but nobody cared and nothing changed. Then the pipes carrying oil for the war ships cracked - right into our water supply. It didn't spread to rich neighborhoods and it wasn't enough to significantly affect the war so it was never fixed. That was 32 years ago now."

"That long and nothing has been done?" Katara asked, Tam just nodded sadly.

"But," Katara said "The Fire Nation was winning the war?"

"You think the Fire Lord used the success of the war to help us? Don't be silly girl. All of them. The Fire Lords, their generals, the lords and ladies who supported them, used the war's success to line their own pockets and expand their power." Katara was dumbstruck and didn't know what to say, but Tam wasn't finished yet. "Then the war ended. All the ships docked here in the capital. Many of the men and women were too sick or badly injured, some just didn't have the money to get home themselves so they stayed and most moved here. Eventually there were too many people, not enough houses, not enough food. Now we rely on the rich bringing in clean water and enough food. The cost of living is so high most people can't afford things like seeing a healer and they get even sicker. So here we are doing this for free to try and help where we can." Katara was furious. This was even worse than what had happened to the town on Jang Hui; but this time she didn't have to pretend to be a spirit in order to help. All of the spirits better help Zuko next time she sees him, but for now there was something she could do to help in the short term.

"Let me help." Tam shook her head.

"Katara that's generous but there's really not much you can do." They would never believe her if she didn't prove it Katara thought so she rolled up her sleeves. The right one got caught on her stupid enagement necklace so she undid the ribbon and placed it on a nearby table. Walking back to the vats of putrid water she raised her arms and slowly began to bend the water clean. She heard multiple gasps of surprise and a lot of low talking but nobody stopped her so she kept working. It took a long time to remove all of the impurities from their supply and when she was done she was sweaty and tired but happy to have been useful for the first time in weeks. Turning back to the main space all available eyes were on her and she wondered if she'd just made a big mistake.

"So that's why you were being so cagey. I'd figured you were just a little rich girl looking for some excitement in the bad part of town" Tam said. Katara looked around the large group looking at her and realised she had no escape route if they turned hostile. Tam slowly walked over, slapped her on the back and grinned "What else can your magic water hands do?" Katara grinned in return, relieved they weren't angry or worse. She bent some water to herself and steeled her nerves for a long healing session.

It was many hours later when Katara finally had a seat on one of the old beds. She had healed as many people as she could and that young girl had given birth to a healthy if small baby boy and both were now sleeping soundly. She was exhausted too, more tired than she had been since the war and the happiest she had been in months. This she realised was exactly the reason she had agreed to this stupid arranged marriage in the first place but she had lost sight of it. She could suffer the Fire Nation's stupid rules and snotty ways and their rejection of her and even be married to Zuko if it meant she could help people like the ones here.

"Hey," Tam said, jolting Katara out of her thoughts. The older woman grinned and sat down next to her. "You did amazing work today."

"Oh it was nothing" Katara replied bashfully. "You should see the healers I trained with in the North Pole."

"So that's where you're from huh?"

"Oh no. I was just visiting with Aa…" She caught herself just in time to stop herself from revealing she had travelled with the avatar.

"Visiting with your husband huh?" Tam asked with a hard side eye. "Look Katara I don't need to know your story if you don't want to share. I'm just thankful you wandered in here today."

"Me too," Katara smiled and said. "I think I needed this as much as you guys needed me." Tam laughed.

"I doubt that girlie. But now it's time I walk you back to the nice side of town, alright?"

The walk was pleasant. With the sun finally set the air was cool and they must have been close enough to the sea to get a soft breeze across their faces. As they walked Tam spoke about the city, its history, the people who lived here and how everyday life functioned as far as she knew. Katara was fascinated and listened eagerly. If she was to truly make a difference here then she needed to know as much as possible. Of great interest was the many recommendations Tam had for good places to eat and where to get the best tea. Katara tried her best to remember how to find them again. She couldn't wait to show Sokka and her friends all the new things she had discovered. In one brief afternoon the idea of living in this city permanently was as scary as it had been this morning. Eventually the streets widened out again and the houses grew larger and more ornate. "I think I know where we are Tam," Katara said excitedly. Tam stopped walking,

"If you know how to get home from here then I'll be on my way." Katara stopped too, her face falling.

"But why?" She asked. "Why don't you come with me and meet everyone, they'd love to meet you."

"That's not a good idea," Tam said rubbing the back of her neck nervously. "I don't belong here."

"Tam..."

"I'll see you around girlie okay?" and before Katara could argue further she was gone. As Katara walked slowly back to the house she resolved to not only convince Zuko and Uncle Iroh to do more to help the people she had met today but also to go back herself and spend as much time helping out in the hospital as she could.

Turning the corner she ran straight into something hard. The impact was enough to push Katara over, feeling herself start to fall backwards she reached out for the only thing close by; whoever had run into her. As she grabbed handfuls of smooth, soft silk she felt strong arms close around her waist. Looking up to see who it was who had caught her she was enormously surprised to see Prince Zuko.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I was looking for you, but you weren't home."

"No, I've been busy all day."

"I can see that," Zuko said, glancing down at her. At once Katara became aware of her appearance. Her shift was covered in dirt and dried blood, she was sweaty and she dreaded to know what her hair looked like. Katara blushed looking down as well and realised they were still holding on to each other. She coughed awkwardly and stepped back.

"Yes well Prince Zuko there's quite a few things I want to talk to you about."

"I have time now. Why don't you tell me as I walk you home." Katara wanted to protest that she didn't need him to walk her home. She was perfectly capable, thank you. But this was a good opportunity to speak with Zuko without the formalities of court so she nodded and resumed walking. Zuko easily fell into step beside her. Suddenly Katara was nervous, her palms sweaty and her voice shaky. She didn't know where to begin.

"So," Zuko said after some time had passed and she still hadn't said anything. "What did you want to talk about?" Taking a deep breath Katara pushed the thoughts of Zuko holding her out of her mind and remembered what she had seen earlier, the people living on the street, the makeshift hospital, the filthy water they were forced to use, and her anger came back in full force.

"Yes Prince Zuko I wanted to talk to you about the appalling state your capital city is in."

"I'm sorry?"

"Good you should be. I went to a very interesting part of the city today and I was disgusted at what I saw." Zuko stopped dead in his tracks

"Wait Katara, please tell me you didn't go down to the Senya district? Alone? That is so reckless." As he spoke his voice got louder and his arm movements got wilder but Katara stood her ground and remained calm.

"I can take care of myself, thank you." She crossed her arms in defiance "I beat you enough times for you to know that Zuko." She could have sworn she saw steam coming from Zuko's ears

"Firstly you didn't always beat me, you had the avatar to help you out."

"I don't need Aang to rescue me!" Now her voice was rising too. Spirits he is so annoying.

"I know you're a strong bender okay but that's all you have. I know that place, Katara and it is dangerous. It's not a good place to just go for fun okay."

"Oh spoilt rich boy what would you know. They haven't had clean water in decades when I had hot running water just yesterday." Katara knew they were causing a scene, but Zuko was just getting under her skin and she couldn't help herself yelling.

"Argh" Zuko grunted in frustration, small flames shooting from his tightly clenched fists. Katara stepped back. "I know Katara. I spent time hiding there when I was younger. My scar was so bad we couldn't travel right away, but I was technically not allowed to stay in the Fire Nation." He turned away, hiding the visible disfigurement. Katara flashed back to another fight in the crystal caves under Ba Sing Se when she had offered to heal him and he had leaned into her touch. She almost wanted to apologise. "Uncle hid me there with an ex-army nurse to take care of me until the ship and crew were ready. That was just after I first got banished." his voice lowered as he recounted the memories. "

"Wait hold on you were banished?"

"Yes, for three years. How could you not know that?" He was indignant somehow. How was she supposed to know his life story.

"Well it's not like we ever got to know each other Zuko. We're not friends. The only reason we knew your name at first is because Iroh went around shouting it all the time."

"I've already admitted that I did some bad stuff and I've apologised. I've changed you have to believe me."

"Well Zuko I don't. I don't believe you and I don't trust you."

"You're dad trusted me last night." Katara scoffed, she knew her own father better than that

"There's no way he would ever trust a Fire Nation prince."

"He did ask him about it" he was almost pleading with her. Katara just rolled her eyes. This boy had already fooled her once she wouldn't let him fool again.

"He may have faked it but I know that he didn't really believe it." She stated defiantly, sure in her father's distrust of the Fire Nation as her own. "He doesn't trust you and neither do I."

"I can't keep saying I'm sorry forever Katara, you'll have to move on eventually."

"You killed my mother Zuko. I'll never move on." Furious and now on the verge of tears Katara spun on her heel and walked away.

"Katara, please wait." Zuko called behind her.

"You know Zuko for you dad to have banished you you must have done something truly awful. I'm not surprised at all." She may have just cost the alliance but she didn't care. It was worth it to see the look on Prince Zuko's face as he faced the truth for the first time.