Zuko was exhausted. It had been two long days since his impromptu vengeance mission with Katara and he'd been on edge ever since. When Uncle Iroh had caught him sneaking back into the palace he'd shared his gut feeling that the wedding would be called off but he was yet to hear anything from Katara herself and it was driving him crazy. He'd stayed up well into the night yesterday hoping to speak with his uncle about it and what he should do; only to continuously be told that the Fire Lord was in an unexpected meeting and was unavailable.

Despite the many late nights Zuko had had recently he was once again awake with the dawn. It was one downside to being a fire bender. He wanted to do nothing but stay curled up in his bed but ever punctual Yuto let himself in almost immediately, bringing many many scrolls that apparently needed Zuko's immediate attention. Yuto seemed to be snootier than normal that morning and Zuko suspected he was still in trouble with his servant for his brief disappearing act the other day. Zuko had felt bad for worrying the young servant at first, but quickly got over it when he sat down to another monstrous sized pile of scrolls, each longer and more boring than the last. The only thing saving Yuto from a quick dismissal from his position was the large bowl of miso soup and soft fluffy rice that he made sure to place within easy reach of Zuko's desk but well out of the way of the paperwork.

Zuko devoured the food as he hastily reviewed the papers before him but he didn't have long before Yuto was pulling him to his feet and dressing him in his formal wear in order to drag him along to the first of several long and tedious meetings scheduled for the day. Zuko did his best to seem interested in what was being discussed around him but he was so tired and his mind was very preoccupied. He couldn't help but spend the day once more replaying the field trip he'd taken with Katara over and over in his mind. She had really opened up to him and had been really honest and emotional with him. At the same time she had listened to him, really listened to him as he tried to explain and apologise for the way he acted when they first knew each other. It had been strange and terrifying but it also made Zuko want to tell her more, tell her everything about himself and his life. He thought, just maybe, she would want to listen to that as well? No, who was he kidding, he dismissed whenever such emotional thoughts popped into his brain. Maybe they did have a moment together but it would be too little too late. What could he offer Katara that would make her stay? The one thought he kept returning to was that he was happy that at least Katara would leave the Fire Nation, trusting that he was not the evil person she had thought him to be on her arrival. That was enough. It had to be.

Finally, with the sun well and truly set, several hours after the meeting was supposed to end and, the finance ministers finally finished their discussions about - something - and Zuko hastily made his goodbyes and escaped back to his rooms. He made it only as far as his bed before he collapsed on top of the decorative sheets and pillows. He closed his eyes for what felt like mere seconds but when he opened them again the room was fully dark and he was covered in a cold sweat. He groaned as he stood up, his muscles stiff and sore from sleeping weirdly. Deciding a bath would be the best thing to help him feel better he began the arduous task of undoing the many miniscule ties and buttons and pins that held the formal robes closed. He didn't often miss his time spent in banishment but when he did it was when he was forced to wear these heavy formal robes all day. Frustrated by the minute fastenings, amongst other things, Zuko ripped the last few apart forcefully, yanked the expensive cloth over his head and threw it across the room. He knew Yuto would have something passive aggressive to say about it in the morning but he didn't care right now. Finally free of the heavy material he was left in only in his soft cotton pants. He sighed with relief at the cool air finally hitting his skin. That's when he heard it.

A strange sound he couldn't place. At first he dismissed it as his mind playing tricks, but then it came again. It was coming from the roof. Someone was creeping across the roof of the palace. Zuko instantly forgot his aching muscles and tired mind. He waited and when the sound came again clearly moving across the room he quietened his own footsteps and followed the intruder from below. Whoever it was seemed unsure and took several long pauses as if trying to orient themselves. Not a professional thief or assassin then. Zuko could handle this himself in that case, no need to call the guards. His heart began to race and he grinned. This was a good distraction from everything on his mind. He moved through his bedroom to his personal sitting room. Perfect Zuko thought to himself. This room had a balcony from which he could access the roof and ambush the intruder. Being as quiet as he could he crept over to the shutters and eased them open. The air was cold on the bare skin but Zuko didn't shiver, controlling his breath to stoke his inner fire. He stuck to the edges. using the deepest shadows to conceal himself, as he moved around the balcony to get a good position to jump onto the roof. He didn't have to.

As he braced for the leap a small figure dropped from the roof. Thankfully they didn't see him in the dark as they turned immediately towards the open door. Moving quickly Zuko created a small fireball in his right palm and grabbed the intruder's shoulder with his left. From the long braid, small frame, and high pitched, albeit muffled, cry they gave when he grabbed them he could tell it was a girl. Whoever she was she was quick to fight back. Despite her initial shock she was quickly countering his grip, twisting out his hold and raising her own fists. Zuko let his flame grow bigger, successfully blinding her enough that he crowded her into the corner between the wall and the door. He placed his forearm firmly across her shoulders to prevent her going anywhere, "Who are you?" he demanded, her eyes widened but she stopped struggling.

"Zuko?" She was peering at him, trying to get a better look around the flame. Her eyes seemed familiar but Zuko pushed that ridiculous thought from his mind.

"Good you know who I am, that means you know my reputation," he silently cringed at the words but kept his outward face passive. Sometimes, he thought, it did help to have a reputation that was not the stepped in closer, hoping his height would intimidate her and he made sure to keep the flame in her line of sight. It was better to keep her disoriented so as to better subdue any escape attempts. "Tell me who you are and why you're here," he demanded. The intruder attempted to reach something with her right hand. Zuko pinned it to the wall,

"That's enough of that," he warned. He didn't want to hurt her but he needed to know what she was doing here. "Answer the questions!"

"It's me Zuko, please" the eyes were pleading now. Something in the voice was familiar as well. Keeping his hand tight on her wrist he twisted the arm across her shoulders and pulled the mask down just enough to reveal it was Katara. His mouth hit the floor

"What?" Zuko asked flabbergasted,

"Can you let me go now? Please?" Zuko dropped the arm pinning her shoulders.

"What are you doing here? Did something happen? Is anything wrong?" He had to keep a cool head, she came here with a purpose he just had to focus.

"Well, uh yes. But that's not exactly why I'm, It's complicated" Katara was finding it difficult to look at him. "Zuko? Could you um, get off me now? Please?" Zuko looked at her confused and then looked down at the position they were in. He was still pinning her hand to the wall and he was standing rather close. He took a step back hurriedly, his whole body hot with self-consciousness and embarrassment at the situation.

"Ah sorry," he apologised. "Why are you here though?"

"Well, I'm here looking for you," she said as if that explained this whole bizarre situation.

"Me?" he clarified. She came here specifically looking for him. He could feel his cheeks redden even more and let his long hair fall forward in an attempt to hide it. "You, um, well," spirits, why was he such an awkward turtle duck? "You could've just sent a message during the day. I would have come to see you." She blushed too,

"Well, I ah, only decided we needed to talk a little while ago and I wanted to keep it private," This was it, she'd come to tell him she was leaving. Better to just get it over with. There were nice enough Fire Nation girls his uncle could arrange a match with. He'd be fine. Katara was still speaking while Zuko panicked. "Look Zuko, I want to show you something important. Will you come with me?" That was not what he'd been expecting

"Right now?" she nodded. He was confused, what could she need to show him at this time in the evening. But the serious look on Katara's face left only one option. Zuko thought longingly of his large bath tub and soft bed but he knew he had to go.

"Alright, where are we going?" Katara blushed once again and looked anywhere but directly at him.

"Don't you um, maybe," she gestured vaguely but Zuko didn't know what she was trying to say. "Do you want to put some more clothes on, first?" she finally asked, finding an interesting tile on the furthest roof to focus her eyes on. Zuko looked down in mortification having forgotten he was bare chested and was essentially in his underwear.

"Uhm ah yes," he tried to bluster through as he felt his entire face redden enough to match his scar. "Let me get changed real quick and we can go."

Zuko had no clue where they were going. Katara led him down so many side streets and alleyways he lost track. Katara smiled sheepishly at him, "Sorry, I only remember how I came here the first time so it's a bit of a backwards route,"

"If I knew where we were going I may be able to help," Zuko offered. Katara shook her head

"I want it to be a surprise," Zuko smiled. He wondered what kind of surprise Katara had in store for him. He grew less excited as they went further and further into the city. The broad streets narrowed and the lamps grew fewer and fewer, the shadows deepened and Zuko grew wary of any sounds he heard nearby. He drew closer to Katara as she walked on into the night.

"Katara, what is this about?" He was beginning to worry what exactly was going on and a tiny part of his mind was whispering that he shouldn't have trusted her so blindly. Katara looked at him thoughtfully and after a beat asked

"How long has it been since you actually went out into the city?" it was so out of the blue that Zuko had to pause a second and really think about it.

"Well, I get out when I can," Katara stopped next to him

"I don't mean to the fancy areas surrounding the palace where all the nobles stay, but here in the real city. With regular people living a regular life. Or even more importantly where the poor live, where the destitute stay?"

"Well I, suppose it has been a while since," Zuko admitted. It was something he'd never thought much of but he supposed he didn't really venture out of the palace much anymore except for those rare public events. Katara gave him a tight lipped smile

"That's what this is about," she said and continued walking. She led him to the Senya district by the docks As they walked deeper into Senya the streets became full of people again. Zuko could feel the heat of many pairs of eyes on them. He wished he'd been better prepared for this adventure and had his dao swords, or at least a dagger with him - he'd have to rely on his bending if anything went wrong. Katara would not be able to defend herself with no water close by. As they walked Zuko analysed every space to determine an escape route and promised himself he'd do whatever it took to keep Katara safe.

"Katara?"

"Not much further," she called back to reassure him. He didn't feel better but he followed close behind.

"This isn't safe Katara, we should go," he tried to suggest but Katara was adamant.

"Look past your fear Zuko, look at what's actually going on here. Zuko tried. At first he saw only rough looking men and women eyeing them up, looking for weakness. Keeping Katara's words in mind he tried to look past that and he saw that while the streets were full, they were busy, not in the bustling way the rich Ayoama district that housed the palace was. Rather than people dressed in their best clothes, flitting between fancy parties, elaborate concerts or the latest plays; here the people were dressed in worn, dirty and patched cloth, queuing for a spot in what seemed to be a shelter of some kind, some were simply claiming a section of street for for the night. On street corners girls dressed in skimpy robes advertising their services exchanged pitiful amounts of money with drunks coming in and out of run down bars. There was literal rubbish and waste lining the street. The worst was the many children he saw running amongst this mess no guardian with them to shield them from such sights. Zuko felt as if he'd been suckerpunched. He knew of course that this district was not the best but he had never really seen it for himself. Even when he had hidden here following his first agni kai he had been too weak and vulnerable to actually go out and see the poverty for himself. Katara walked on into the fray as Zuko stopped to look in horror. She seemed unphased by her surroundings. Was this what she had wanted him to see?

He expected the worst when Katara led him down a tiny dead end filled with even more trash. "You must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. Maybe we should come back in the daytime?" he suggested. Katara smirked at him and slipped between some boxes and vanished. Zuko was gobsmacked and didn't move. Katara laughed from wherever she was, "Come on Zuko!" Zuko steeled his nerves, pinched his nose and wadded into the rubbish. He found a low door expertly camouflage that Katara was holding open for him.

"I haven't smelt anything this bad since I was in the staff toilet on my ship," he joked waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark.

"I'd have thought you'd get your own private bathroom," she teased standing close to him in the cramped space.

"I did," maybe he shouldn't have said that. It made him sound like a toff. "I was only there because the staff got me drunk the first week I was healed enough to move around my ship," Zuko touched his scar unconsciously. He didn't hate it as much as he used to, but he was conscious of it still and having Katara looking at him made him aware of it all the more. Katara laughed,

"Typical soldiers, you're just healed and they get you plastered. I bet they didn't try again when they realised how angsty you were," Zuko laughed but he winced internally at the quip. He hadn't been a good leader back then and he had treated his crew poorly. He hadn't seen any of them in years. He should check on them and ensure they were looked after. "Well despite the smell this is the place I wanted to show you," Katara informed him, moving through the gloom in the dirty corridor. Zuko silently was beginning to think Katara needed a healer herself crawling into a smelly trash covered hole in the wall until,

"What on earth?" The corridor widened out into a large space. His jaw dropped as he took in the sight before him. Some sort of makeshift hospital sprawled out in the space. The lights were low, and it was hard to make out exact details but Zuko guessed there would have to be close to fifty people crammed into the space. It was impressive if more than a little shabby. "I had no idea that there was a hospital in this district," he whispered.

"You wouldn't," Katara responded, shrugging at him with that same tight smile. She took his hand and pulled him in. He stared openly as they moved through the space. There were a few actual beds here and there, some with more than one person asleep in them, but they were all clearly old and well used. Zuko even had to step gingerly over more than one person asleep on the floor. As he watched, healers in old and tattered medic robes walked quietly among the people stopping occasionally to check on a patient. Why had Katara brought him here? She walked comfortably through the hospital and while they got a few questioning looks from the healers they weren't stopped. While they walked Katara whispered

"What made you change your mind about the war Zuko?" He paused next to a bed of a young girl with a makeshift cot next her holding a tiny baby. He tried to collect his thoughts but they were running a mile a minute.

"I suppose," he began slowly making sure to keep his voice low as well, "the whole time I was banished I saw things that were shocking and went against what I'd been taught my whole life but I was still holding onto the lies I'd been told as truth. It wasn't until Uncle and I were refugees and then when we lived in Ba Sing Se, and I saw the results of the war and what it had actually done to people." He hoped Katara would say something but all she asked was

"Like what?" He sighed. These were painful memories, and he tried not to think of them too often but Katara had said this was important to her so he started talking.

"Towns decimated, left without their men, struggling to survive. Civilians wounded and forced to leave their homes, the brainwashing in Ba Sing Se itself. I couldn't ignore it anymore so I began to question the things I'd always believed. And then when I finally returned home my father wanted even more. Combined with the realisation that he was just a terrible dad I decided I had to do something," he took a deep breath and clutched Katara's hand tight. It wouldn't do to break down here of all places. "But what does that have to do with this place?"

"Well," Katara said her voice wavering as if she'd gotten emotional from his words too. "I had a similar change of heart during the war," She walked on through the beds of sleeping patients and Zuko had to keep close to her in order to hear her low voice. "Before the invasion we - Me and Aang and everyone - we snuck through the Fire Nation early," if she noticed his lack of surprise she didn't pause because of it. "We spent time with everyday people, civilians, farmers, school kids and it made me realise,"

"Realise what?"

"That it wasn't the fire nation who was responsible for the war," Zuko was confused but didn't interrupt. "The people of the Fire Nation didn't want the war, weren't actually getting any benefit from it, in fact it was hurting more of them than it was benefiting. I realised that the Fire Nation was suffering as well and that my anger was not with the whole country,"

"That's beautiful Katara; I'm happy that you could see the worth in my country. But I'm still confused why our past means we had to come here tonight,"

"Because I forgot that lesson. I went home and forgot about those people. And then when I came back I was so focused on my anger again, and on blaming you for it. I forgot about all the people who were suffering, are still suffering. But I'm coming to learn it again. I ran away one day, the day you saw me coming home. When I said those terrible things. I never apologised for that by the way. I'm sorry," she was still gripping his hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Oh, that's. You don't. It's fine," Zuko tried to deflect but Katara was having none of it.

"It's not Zuko, I shouldn't have said those things. They were awful and they hurt you. I'm sorry." Zuko could only nod, his throat tight, so he squeezed her hand back and hoped she understood.

"But this is where I ended up that day," she gestured to the space and Zuko once again looked around the space noticing the mismatch of furniture and pieced together equipment. Before he could ask anything more they came to the far corner where a woman stood grinding herbs. She was the eldest person here, her hair fully grey and small wrinkles marked her face and hands. Her face looked serious as she worked and Zuko grew nervous as Katara stood in front of her. "If it's not urgent you can come back tomorrow hun, we're closed" the lady said, not looking up. Katara smirked seemingly expecting this response.

"It's urgent Tam," that got the healer's attention. She looked up and smiled when she recognised who was in front of her. Katara dropped Zuko's hand.

"I was wondering when you were going to come back and see us girlie. We have a whole load of water that could do with some serious cleaning," she joked, clapping a hand on Katara's shoulder. Katara laughed,

"Well I'm not surprised Tam but I did have something I wanted to talk with you about first," Wait, did Katara say Tam? Zuko racked his memory for a reason why the name seemed familiar. He looked closer at the woman to see if her face sparked anything. Then it hit him. The nurse who had looked after him when he'd first been burnt. She was older now and more worn, her life had obviously been hard in the years since he'd seen her, but when she smiled she still had the same crinkles by her eyes.

"Tam!" he exclaimed grinning. She finally looked him and her eyes grew large

"Prince Zuko?" she asked her voice incredulous,

"Wait, you two know each other?"

"Know him? I nursed him as a scrawny little kid, back when he first got that scar." Zuko agreed, nodding his head.

"Tam was the only one I'd let touch my face after the agni kai. She made me the handsome young man you knew and hated," Tam had done her best to med the skin but the burn had been so bad there hadn't been much she could do really. Zuko had been angry at first and then bitter, but he was slowly coming to accept if not like the distinctive mark and he didn't blame Tam at all.

"More handsome now," Katara muttered but Zuko heard. His blush was instant and intense

"You think I'm handsome?" he teased both to cover his own embarrassment and to make sure what he heard was correct. Katara flushed a deep red too

"What? Well I mean, just, you know," she waved her hands around looking for a way out but Tam didn't save her. "This hairstyle is much nicer. Um, I mean it's better. You know, than the ponytail look you had back then,"

"So I shouldn't shave my head and leave the pony tail for the wedding?" Zuko joked.

"Woah!" Tam interjected. "Wait one moment missey. You mean to say that the rich husband you were talking about is the Crown Prince of the whole dang country?"

"You told people we were already married?" he asked quietly. His face flicking between shock and a smirk. Katara stopped laughing and flushed deeper, even the tip of her nose turned pink. Zuko stored that image in his mind for later.

"I didn't say you exactly," Katara tried to explain. "It was just a cover story. I thought it made sense and I didn't think at the time we'd actually be getting married so…But that brings me back to the point. I brought you here so I can finally decide one way or another if we will be getting married in two days time," Oh, Zuko thought. His nerves came back in full force and all teasing went out the window. Tam looked quizzically between the two of them,

"Why don't you two come to my office and you can explain to me how my hospital is gonna help you decide whether to get hitched or not," she suggested; walking off without even waiting to see if they agreed to that plan or not. Tam's office turned out to just be a tiny corner of the old warehouse screened off with what looked to be an old bed sheet. But she had a few chairs and a bottle of Fire Whisky which she willingly shared so Zuko took a seat. He also took the tin cup she handed over willingly and sipped the spicey liquid eagerly. He looked over to see Katara throw back her whole cup full in one go.

"Katara slow down, this is strong stuff," he warned. She shrugged,

"It's pretty good. Nicer than the sweet wines King Kuei likes but it's still pretty light compared to what we make in the Poles," Zuko was suddenly very thankful to have been too nervous to drink at their engagement party back at the South Pole. He would have done something very embarrassing if he'd tried to keep up with the Water Tribe men and women he was sure. Tam laughed,

"As much as I would sincerely love to sit and compare alcohol with you two spring chickens. It's getting late and you two have a marriage to save before it's even begun. So tell me what's happening" Katara's smile dropped and she turned away from him to stare at her hands and the empty cup she held.

"Yes, well uh Zuko. I wanted to bring you here, what I was trying to get at before. This is the reason I agreed to this whole thing in the first place," he quirked his eyebrow at her, "well the other reason," she really was pretty when she blushed. "I wanted to be in a position to help as many people as I can," Zuko nodded. He understood where Katara was coming from so far. "I know you and your uncle have worked really hard since the end of the war and it's only been a few years but the people in your own country need your help Zuko." Zuko's brow furrowed, he knew he'd been focussing a lot on the international issues but ending a war that his own family had started was not an easy task. His discomfort must have shown on his face.

"I know it's not your fault Prince Zuko but the war didn't only affect the other nations," Tam spoke up. "Our young people were conscripted and taken from their homes, their farms, their jobs. Food grew scarcer, water was polluted and life has been hard for a lot of people. A lot of the people in this neighborhood who get degraded and mocked by the upper classes were once forced to become soldiers and then when they weren't needed anymore when the war ended they got abandoned here,"

"But the minister in charge said he had organised transport to help ex-soldiers get back the out islands" Zuko tried to explain. Tam just shook her head.

"At first there were a few attempts, but when the magnitude of the mission became apparent, it was cheaper to just let it go, so they did," Zuko had to close his eyes and clench his hands tight. His counsels had known about this? In three years not once was this issue brought to him or Uncle. His temper flared but there was more.

"It's the same with the water and the food here," Katara said "the nobles benefit from the people paying them to import it all so they do nothing to change the terrible conditions here,"

"I'm sure if you spoke to the local city mayor he could organise,"

"Complaints were given to the local government offices as soon as the issues started kiddo," Tam interrupted his spiel. "But bureaucracy has meant nothing ever happened so everyone's just accepted it now,"

"Not to mention what's been happening in the outer islands with land grabs and the rivers and job opportunities" Katara pointed out as well. Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a deep sigh ignoring the plumes of smoke that poured from his nose.

"And this place, this hospital? I've never heard of it before today,"

"We'll that's because we're illegal kid," Tam said as if it were that simple.

"You can't just open a hospital whenever you feel like it, there are proper channels that need to be used, you have to be registered to get funding and…" Zuko knew even as he was speaking that he sounded ridiculous.

"We're unregistered because we couldn't get registered. I tried everything I could through the right channels but nothing got done. So we did it ourselves. These people needed help and they weren't getting admitted let alone treated at them fancy clinics in the nice parts of town," Zuko fumed and the temperature in the air rose around him. How could this type of thing be going on and he had no clue.

"I will speak to the ministers, I will sort this all out with the nobles. We will find a solution, for everything" he said it as a statement but he meant it as a promise. He would do everything he could to make his country better and if that meant fighting his nobilities' own greed one by one then so be it.

"You always were a tough nut kid, I believe you got the guts to get it done," from what Zuko remembered of his time with Tam that was high praise from her and he was grateful. Despite his ambitious promise he knew it would be a tough task to get done and he was already anxious.

"I'll do whatever I can to help," Katara said, catching his gaze and holding it. Zuko broke, looking down at his own hands, covered in little half moons where his nails had dug into his palms.

"That's nice Katara, but if you're leaving soon I don't know how much you can really..."

"No Zuko. I'll help because I'm staying," Zuko's heart stopped. She was still looking at him.

"You? I, what?" He stumbled incoherently

"I've decided to go ahead with the marriage," Katara repeated, her eyes never wavering until, "that is, if you still want to?"

"Yes," Zuko blurted as soon as she'd asked the question. He thankfully didn't see Tam's smirk at his quick response.

"Well," Tam said, breaking the moment between them. "If you're going ahead with this thing after all, I believe you'll be needing this back then," she opened a nearby box and pulled out Katara's bracelet. Zuko's jaw hit the floor. Katara seemed just as surprised

"Oh Tam you found it!" she cried reaching across the small desk to embrace the older woman. Tam laughed heartily,

"If you're gonna be Fire Lady you'd best get better and keep track of your fancy baubles missey. I had to stop one of the local lads pawning this for some serious money," Katara laughed but the thought of someone else buying and wearing Katara's necklace, his gift, made Zuko's blood boil.

"Would you help me put it on again Zuko?" Zuko choked on the sip of fire whisky he'd taken to calm himself down.

"Of course," he said, his voice rough. He stood, took the silk ribbon and reached for Katara's hand to tie it back on her wrist. Katara looked up him through her lashes.

"Oh, I meant," and she gestured at her neck. It was bare, her mother's necklace gone.

"But, your?" he asked, unable to form a coherent sentence.

"I decided that I've been holding on to my mum's death for so long I wasn't honouring her life," tears welled in her eyes but Katara didn't cry. "And I know that she would want me to live my own life. I still have her necklace safe and sound, and I'll treasure it forever, but I'm ready to start a new chapter," Zuko gulped and nodded as he moved behind her chair. Katara pulled her long braid to the side as he shakily tied the ribbon into a small uneven bow. When he was done Katara stood to face him. The sight of her wearing her betrothal necklace did things to him that Zuko did not understand.

"It's um, it's getting late. We should, uh we should go," he spluttered as Katara's blue eyes bored into him. She nodded and turned to farewell Tam. Tam stood as well, offering a small bow to Katara

"I'm glad you've come back girlie, and I'm glad you've decided to stick around. We need more good people up in that palace," she turned to Zuko and bowed low. "It was an honour to meet you again Prince Zuko," Zuko bowed deeply too.

"Thank you Tam for all you have done for me and the people of my country,"

"I was just doing what I could until we had a true Fire Lord back. I'm proud of what you have done to return our country to the right path, and I trust you'll work hard for our future. Now go on you two, get going before you bring the whole royal guard down here looking for you."

The walk back from the hospital was silent but Zuko felt it was a companionable quiet. He looked at Katara walking beside him and smiled. He had felt awful seeing the little makeshift hospital and hearing everything Tam and Katara had told him about his own country, but now he felt hopeful for some reason. It probably had to do with Katara agreeing to stay with him and help. His smile grew as he watched her and he felt as warm as if he were standing in the noon sunshine and not the dark night time. He shook his head ruefully to clear it of such soppy thoughts, he should really leave poetry to the poets. Katara must have felt his gaze on her because she turned to him and smiled as well. "This was not what I was expecting when I heard you sneaking around my roof," he said when nothing else coherent came to mind.

"I was not sneaking!" she tried to protest but Zuko just quirked an eyebrow at her. "Okay I was sneaking a little, but it was just because I needed to speak with you and I didn't have time to go through all the formalities or having the servants over hear or something," Katara admitted blushing. Agni it was distracting when she did that.

"The servants are more professional than that, they wouldn't have eavesdropped" Zuko chuckled, having to look away from the growing flush on Katara's face.

"I suppose, but I'm sure that there would have been talk of me coming to your rooms alone and at night though," Oh. He hadn't even considered how it would have appeared, her sneaking into his bedroom at night. He thanked the spirits she'd chosen to go over the roofs.

"Ahem, yes well. I'm just glad you had the right balcony," Katara laughed

"I'd say Azula would have been less than pleased to see me," Katara joked but Zuko noticed the small shudder that went through her. Zuko quietly agreed. Azula definitely wouldn't have been a good host had Katara dropped unexpectedly from the roof. Not to mention he'd heard about their conflict at the tea-party thing yesterday. He shook his head dispiritedly. He'd have to think of how to deal with Azula after the wedding. After the wedding. The wedding that would now certainly be taking place. After all this time the reality of actually being married in only two days time made Zuko's mind reel. He wondered if Katara was freaking out as well but she spoke before he had a chance to ask. "I'm glad you came with me tonight," her smile seemed genuine and her eyes were soft as she gazed up at him.

"You're welcome Katara. I'm glad I did too. Even if it was a bit off putting at first. Having no clue where we were going," Zuko's willingness to just follow her without question had never really been in doubt but he was glad that the adventure hadn't ended up in a fight or worse.

"I'm sorry for the secrecy but I needed to know you'd be willing to listen to me," Katara said her smile fading just a bit.

"Why on earth wouldn't I listen to you?"

"You'd be surprised," was all she said. Zuko didn't want to push it, they might be engaged but they weren't friends really.

"Well I'm grateful you trusted me," he said. "It was a timely wake up call that Uncle Iroh and I have been focussing on the Fire Nations' international issues. I can't believe there's so much going on right under our noses that I didn't even know about,"

"Don't blame yourself too much Zuko," Katara replied. Stopping in the middle of the street so they were face to face. "You and Iroh have only been in power for such a short amount of time. And ending the war and negotiating peace has been a big deal, you've already done a lot to help,"

"Thank you Katara," he wanted to reach for her hand again but he stopped himself. "But I meant what I promised back there. I will do whatever I can to help the Fire Nation. The whole Fire Nation, no exceptions," he couldn't read the emotion on Katara's face. He would have to get better at reading her from now on.

"I'm happy you feel that way," she finally replied after a few moments, "because I feel the same way; and if we are going to be, um, husband and wife, then I want us to be on the same page. What I'm trying to say is that I know it's an arranged marriage but I don't want to just be a pretty doll who stays up in the palace, alright. We'll be a team, friends even. So, uh you know, that's why I said yes, finally" she trailed off at the end of her sentence but Zuko got the gist. His choice to be a good leader, a good person, had cemented Katara's decision to stay. Zuko let himself breath easily for the first time in days. He could rest easy now, knowing she had made the choice, her own choice to stay and had done so not despite knowing all the work they would have to do together but because of it. It's what he'd always wanted, a true partner, one who would help him bear the weight of Fire Lord, and here she was offering her help freely, willingly even. Zuko's heart melted just a little.

"I'd like that," he managed to get out reaching for her hand despite himself. Katara let him intertwine their pinkies together and smiled. It was so warm that Zuko wondered if she wasn't a secret fire bender. They walked on both smiling and for the first time in his life Zuko felt giddy with joy. That was until a small voice whispered in his mind that Katara might be happy now but she would come to resent him eventually. Zuko stopped once more and looked at her seriously

"Look Katara, I have to ask. Just one more time. Do you really want this? I know it's a lot to ask. This country is a mess and my family is crazy and I…"

"Zuko," Katara interrupted. "I've made my choice. So as long as you're willing to go ahead with this thing then I'm all in, okay," she smiled at him reassuringly and he tried to smile back but the little voice wouldn't go away.

"So, you really don't hate me anymore? You won't despise spending all your time together?"

"Well I can't make any promises for certain but I do promise that I've come to my senses and see things clearer now and as long as you treat me with respect and kindness I promise to do the same and I think we'll be okay," Zuko wanted desperately to believe it but the voice whispered back Azula always lies. But Katara isn't Azula, he argued back. She doesn't manipulate and play with people. He can trust her, right? They kept walking through the dark and quiet city as Zuko fretted to himself. Katara was the one to speak again.

"You know Zuko, I thought you didn't like me either," Zuko stopped in his tracks yanking Katara back when she tried to keep walking.

"Why? What did I ever do to make you think I didn't like you?" How could she possibly have thought that!

"You mean apart from the months you spent tracking me and my friends around the world trying to kill us?" Zuko was just taking a breath to argue his point that he was just doing what he'd been told when Katara burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry I'm only teasing but your face was so funny," Zuko walked past her. He was pretty sure she meant his expression but what if she just thought his face was funny looking in general? Katara had to jog to catch up with his long strides. "I'm sorry Zuko it was just a silly joke I didn't mean to offend you," See Azula never apologises and she always means to offend. "But seriously I thought you hated me too. Just a few days ago you couldn't even stand being next to me when we had to welcome the Earth King,"

"I'm sorry Katara, I acted rude to you that day. But you also acted badly towards me too," Katara's laughter died.

"I am sorry for all that, truly. I'm ashamed of how I've treated you this whole time," Zuko shrugged,

"It's fine I get it, I'm the expert in acting out your emotions. Let's just agree to put the last few weeks behind us alright?" he offered his hand to Katara to shake on it. She didn't take his hand

"Well, just before we do that I have just one more question that's been bothering me. Why didn't you let me bow properly that first day? I had literally just arrived and you weren't happy with me" Zuko's mouth opened and closed like a deranged sparrowkeet he was so shocked. He had thought it was obvious what his intentions were that morning but Katara had taken it as him being ashamed of her?

"I helped you to your feet because you are the Future Fire Lady, the daughter of the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe and a master water bender, you should not have to do that sort of thing, even to me,"

"Well, okay then what about you dragging me through that terrible dance at the engagement party?" Katara argued back.

"I'm so sorry about that," Zuko apologised. "I had specifically requested no set dances but Azula planned the change in music to embarrass you. In the moment I figured the best option would be just trying our best to get through it but I guess that wasn't right . I did my best to fix things afterwards but you'd already gone,"

"You insulted me on purpose in front of King Kuei,"

"That one I don't have an excuse for. I'm so sorry Katara I was just frustrated and angry and I let my emotions get the best of me,"

"You were that upset by me losing the bracelet?" She asked, running a finger across the ribbon now on her neck. "I'm sorry Zuko,"

"It's okay really. It's just jewellery, could've easily been replaced, it was the fact that you didn't seem to care, I know it's silly but it did matter to me,"

"It was important to me. Is important. I searched for it for hours. I felt terrible for loosing it,"

"It looks beautiful on you," why did he say that? They were just starting to be friends and he goes and messes it up.

"Thank you Zuko," Katara replied, looking up at him through her lashes once more and had the crazy urge to pull her close and kiss her he took a step closer.

"I'm sorry that I made you feel I didn't like you, or was ashamed of you or something, I never meant…"

"It's alright Zuko. They were all just stupid misunderstandings. I'm to blame, I've done so much wrong. Can you forgive me?

"Of course, I totally understand why you thought the way you did" without warning Katara was embracing him. She reached around his neck and pulled him into a hug. He'd once thought her hands soft, they were nothing compared to her hair. Her gentle scent of jasmine and lotus engulfed him.

"Can we stop apologising to each other now?" she asked her voice muffled by his shoulder.

"I would love that," Zuko said holding on to her tighter. But as he let himself melt into the hug, his inner voice returned. It kept whispering about how this was just an arranged marriage, Katara might not despise him anymore but they were far from in love. It was a good point, Katara was an amazing person, surely she'd regret giving up her chance at real happiness, at love. It was now or never if he was going to ask so Zuko mustered all of his courage pulled back from the warm embrace and asked

"You won't regret marrying me when…" he couldn't finish the sentence.

"When what?"

"It's just the avatar, he…"

"Aang? What about him?" Katara demanded pulling back from him fully and putting space between them once more. Spirits she was going to actually make him say it.

"I always thought. You two… you know?"

"Oh. No," she turned away from and Zuko regretted asking but he was committed now.

"Just before, when we were younger,"

"We weren't together. Aren't together,"

"I shouldn't have asked, forget it. I'll take you home"

"He told me he loved me today,"

"He did?" Zuko's heart plummeted. His emotions were somersaulting all over the place and he couldn't tell how he felt. But Katara was here and not off flying towards some new adventure so what did that mean? "I'm guessing from the fact that you're here and not on the Avatar's flying bison you don't feel the same?"

"I'm sorry I don't know why I told you that," she didn't look at him and quicked her steps to walk away from him," Zuko couldn't let her leave.

"No it's okay. Do you want to talk about it?" Katara stopped walking but still wouldn't look at him, holding her arms tight to her chest.

"I just didn't see it coming, you know. But now I feel so stupid for not seeing it - spirits even you saw how he felt about me," her voice had changed and Zuko suspected she was crying but it was too dark to tell and he had no clue what to do if she was. What would Uncle do if he was upset? Other than offering tea.

"Don't feel bad Katara," he tried to comfort her by placing a hand on her shoulder. "You were fighting a war. You didn't have time for dealing with crushes and romance, and all that stuff.

"It's just I love Aang, I do. He's one of closest friends, like a brother even but I just don't love him like he wants me to,"

"Does he know you feel that way about him?" Zuko asked taking his hand back feeling it wasn't helping. Katara's face was still hidden by the deepening shadows but he could tell she nodded.

"We fought about it this morning, he's flown off somewhere. I don't know If I'll ever see him again," Zuko wasn't too bothered if the Avatar didn't come back personally but if it was affecting Katara this much he'd try to empathise.

"He'll be back, he still cares about you. I'm sure he just needed some space to think," Katara sniffed deeply and swiped at her cheeks.

"You're right, he'll come back soon," she smiled weakly at him but her cheeks were still wet.

"So Aang's not an option, surely there's tons of warriors back home all vying to give you their latest fish," he tried to make the joke light and teasing but he couldn't help the bitterness in his heart. Katara laughed a little but it was hollow.

"Well firstly there aren't that many eligible young men back home," she said with a pointed look. "I suppose I could go back to the North Pole but all the boys I met up there the last time were self-important jerks who didn't support me learning bending at all,"

"Wait what?"

"It's true! None of the women water benders up north were ever taught anything more than how to heal. I had to challenge Master Paku to a fight in order to get him to change his mind and teach me,"

"Hold on, wait a second.," Zuko needed a moment to process that sentence. "You, at 14, challenged a master bender to a fight without ever being trained before?"

"It was the only way," Zuko was floored by the strength Katara had at such a young age

"Did you win?" Katara shrugged.

"Technically I lost but I held my own for a while so I'm not too ashamed,"

"Wow you are incredible," Katara blushed but she looked pleased.

"So no, there's no one there I'd want to be with either. I suppose I could try my luck in the earth kingdom but the last boy I fell for there didn't end well so," wait Katara was with somebody before? Why was that a surprise, why did he care so much. Zuko decided he would find a way to find out from Sokka who this boy had been. What he said out loud however was

"Why didn't it end well?"

"That's a story for another time," Katara said, wiping her eyes a final time and looking him in the eye. "I want you to answer your own question. You're sure you won't regret not getting married for love?" Zuko took a moment to think about it seriously.

"Well, there was one girl who I sort of dated, when I first returned home. But I don't think we were together for the right reasons and it didn't end well,"

"What happened between you?"

"That's a story for another time," he parroted back at her jokingly but he didn't think it was the right time to tell Katara about himself and Mai. "I don't think I'm the type for love honestly. I accepted that I should be alone,"

"Well unaccept that because you have me now and we are about to get stuck together for life,"

"Are you nervous?"

"A little, but I feel like I'm making the right choice. Are you nervous?"

"No," it was true. Despite the little voice in his head still whispering, Zuko felt sure that at this moment he and Katara were on the same page and were both doing the right thing. "It's starting to get quite late, I should get you back before your dad kills me and starts another war," Katara laughed.

"The tribe would already be well on their way home before anyone found your body," Zuko assumed it was an exaggeration but didn't want to risk it.