Chapter 24

Katara

The Fire Princess' voice was deadly calm as Katara and Zuko sat on one of the couches just inside Fire Lord Iroh's antechamber. They'd gone to get Katara some clothes before immediately heading over to where the rest of the family was congregated. The Fire Lady and Lu Ten were sitting adjacent to her, staring at the irate mother in mild amusement. Lu Ten smirked in Zuko's direction, but the younger prince was staring at his mom in fear,

Untouched cups of water and plates of snacks sat in front of the pair as Princess Ursa continued her tirade. "And I mean, honestly, of all of the reckless and irresponsible things you could have done Zuko, you choose to run around the Capital as if it were your own personal playground!"

Katara and Zuko shared a nervous glance at each other. She felt much like a child that had stolen a cookie from the jar right before dinner. She could only imagine what Princess Ursa felt as she was woken up in the middle of the night to find that her only son was missing. The wrath of a mother wasn't something to trifle with, as she remembered Yue leaving her alone once, and she'd gotten lost in a snowdrift. Her mother had been frantic, and Yue had received the most severe punishment that Katara could remember.

If Zuko was trying to pretend that they did nothing wrong, he was failing miserably. The guilt was obvious on his face, in every time he cringed at something his mother said. He tried to interrupt, defending himself and Katara, "Mother, we just-,"

"And you missed Lu Ten and Song's congratulatory banquet. Do you know how difficult it was to explain to everyone why the two of you weren't there?"

"Mother we – "

His mother shot him an irritated look before sinking in her chair, her hands coming together in her lap. "You could have been hurt! You could have been held for ransom! Did either those situations cross your minds before you decided to do something as crazy as this?"

"Well no... we didn't really –," Zuko tried again but his mother cut him off.

"Do you know how worried I was? I waited for you until almost dawn, and then when you didn't return, I assumed that I would then see you in the morning!" Katara watched as her golden eyes became distant, lost in memories of last night, before snapping back to the both of them on rapt attention. "Imagine my surprise when I awoke to find that the two of you had not been seen since yesterday morning."

"Aunt Ursa," Lu Ten tried to interrupt. "Maybe you're overreacting, just a bit." From her seat next to him, Song didn't say anything, but she gave Katara a friendly smile.

"I don't think she's overreacting at all." The Fire Lady commented, folding her arms. The gown she wore had sleeves so long that they trailed on the stone floor. She looked at her son, the Crown Prince. "I would feel the same way if you and Song were out doing who-knows-what somewhere in the Capital."

Now it was Zuko's turn to smirk at his cousin while Song blushed, turning a lovely shade of pink. Lu Ten's arm wrapped tighter around Song as she continued to redden.

Pointing a manicured finger at Katara, Princess Ursa continued, "What's more, you had a foreign princess with you! If something happened to her, I can't even begin to imagine the repercussions the least of which being the harm caused to our relationship with the Water Tribe. Did you even think about that?"

Zuko shook his head no and looked down at his hands. Katara felt bad for him. It was really her idea, she more or less convinced Zuko to go along with it. She turned to him, an apologetic smile on her face but stopped when she saw Zuko looking at her with more than just guilt. His eyes were filled with regret and anger as well. She was imagining her after she left Zhao's clutches. An involuntary shudder went through her as she remembered exactly what it felt like to have his hands all over her. She would have much rather have Zuko's hands on her instead.

Zuko said, his voice strong and determined. "The last thing I would ever want is for Katara to be put in harm's way."

"Zuko…" She said as they locked eyes. Her blue met his gold, and she was transported back to their moment on the beach as she and Zuko were in solitude and serenity. But when Lu Ten cleared his throat, she was suddenly aware of the looks that the two of them were getting from the other people in the room. Turning back to Princess Ursa, she tried to make her case, attempting to ignore the smug grin Lu Ten was sending their way. "Besides…um…It really wasn't Zuko's fault. I asked him to go with me yesterday."

Princess Ursa thought about it for a second. "I'm not saying that you didn't have permission to go out. I'm saying you didn't have permission to stay out until late this morning."

Katara tried to work on a lie, finding it to be easier than normal, having had a lot of practice over the last couple of days. "That's my fault too."

"Oh?" Princess Ursa asked, sitting down next to the Fire Lady. Katara steeled herself to tell this lie. It came to her on the spot but saying it convincingly would be another matter entirely.

"Your fault?" Zuko also asked incredulously, eyes wide, before being elbowed by Katara and silenced by a look.

"Yes," She said determinedly, casting a shallow glare at Zuko. Turning back to the rest of the Royal family, she started to explain. "It's my fault. If I hadn't gotten hurt—,"

"Hurt?" Zuko asked her.

Zuko, she thought to herself, Shut up right now, for the love of—

"Yeah," she said, clearing her throat, "You remember...when I tripped over that chair and hurt my ankle?" She said, nodding her head and giving pointed looks at Zuko for emphasis.

"O-Oh…"Zuko agreed after a moment. Katara wanted to roll her eyes at him "Right…"

Princess Ursa looked at her with concern on her face. "Are you all right, my dear?"

She nodded. "Yes, I'm fine, thanks to Zuko. He helped me to the nearest inn and then bought some medical supplies, so I could feel better. And then…seeing that I couldn't make it up the hill to the Palace, he bought us both separate rooms at the inn."

This was an obvious lie, as she could heal whatever injury she sustained…but at least everyone looked like they believed her. She couldn't tell them what she was actually doing with Zuko."

"Oh." The Fire Lady said, a smile on her face. "So that's understandable isn't it, Ursa? They couldn't return for fear of injury."

"It makes perfect sense." Ursa said, nodding in agreement. She leaned back into the seat, sharing a look with Lu Ten. Lu Ten couldn't hide his amusement at the entire situation, seemingly on the brink of laughter, trying to hide his smile with his sleeve.

They didn't believe a word. But…at least they're willing to go with it. For now.

The Fire Lady smiled softly at her nephew. "I'm proud of you, Prince Zuko, for attending to her needs."

Katara watched with a small smile on her face as Zuko looked between his mother and his aunt with the beginnings of a smile on his face. "So…does this mean that that I'm not in trouble?"

"No, you still are." Princess Ursa with a laugh, while Zuko's smile fell almost immediately. "But we're proud of you, just the same."

You'd be even more proud of him if you knew what he could do.

The Fire Lady cleared her throat, sitting forward, urging them back on topic. "Anyway, the reason we were so interested to see you, my dear, is because Fire Lord Iroh regained consciousness just before dawn, and I would like it very much if you could examine him."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Katara nodded. She stood up and looked to the door leading to the Fire Lord's bedchamber. "Oh Zuko!" Katara said, stopping in her tracks, she turned and walked back over to him, reaching for his arm. "Your burn!"

"What burn?" Princess Ursa asked worriedly.

"Oh. Um…" Katara was talking about the burn Zuko got from one of Zhao's thugs. But she couldn't tell them that. Not until they had more proof, and a way to implicate Zhao. "The one Zuko got when he stepped too close to the cooking pot."

"Honey, why didn't you tell me that you had a burn?" His mother fretted over her son, and Zuko blushed trying to swat her hands away.

"I'm fine." Zuko said to his mother, and Katara gave him an I-don't-believe-you-stare. "Really, I'm fine. A burn this size doesn't bother me all that much."

"Even so, Zuko, I'd rather not have you in any pain." Katara said, walking over to him. Sitting in the chair next to him, she eyed her untouched cup of water. Pulling the water from the glass with her fingertips, it encased half of her hand. "Now hold still."

"Katara, I'm fi—," Zuko hissed as the cool water met his burned skin, unable to finish his sentence,

Katara 'tsk'ed, frustrated with herself for forgetting. "I didn't get to it in time. It's going to scar." She said, sounding unsatisfied as she moved her hand along his bicep, the water taking on a soft blue glow. She moved her hand over the pale skin, remembering the feel of his hard muscles beneath the remains of the shirt.

"I have to admit…I do feel a little better." Zuko shifted his arm up, looking at it curiously. "Thank you, Katara."

Zuko's shifting messed up the pattern she was tracing across his skin, going over and over the affected area more than once. She huffed at him, looking up at him. "Will you stop moving and relax, already? You're making my job difficult."

"How can I relax?" Zuko said softly, placing a finger under her chin.

Katara thought she heard a squeal coming from one of the women in the room, and she didn't dare look up to see who it was. The girl's cheeks reddened as she swatted his hand away, looking down. Trying to ignore him, she didn't look anywhere other than his arm. "Stop distracting me and let me finish. I have to take care of your Uncle."

"Fine." He said, feigning hurt.

She smirked at him, pulling away. Bending the water back into the empty cup, she surveyed her work. Nothing was left of the previously red mark except for a faint scar running across the width of Zuko's bicep. She felt dissatisfied with herself. It wasn't like her to forget injuries. But Zuko hadn't complained about it.

"You'll have a scar." She said, looking up at him. "It's my fault really, I waited too long."

"Can't you get rid of the scar, Katara?" Zuko said, holding his arm up so he and his mother could see better.

Katara shrugged. "I could try to get rid of it, but I'd need extremely pure water, and that's only available at the poles." Looking to Zuko, she murmured softly. "Besides…not all scars can be healed."

He seemed confused for a moment before nodding. "Thank you for trying anyway."

"Of course, Zuko." She said quietly. Standing, she walked over to Song and asked her. "Ready to go?"

Song nodded, giving Katara a tiny smile.

"Katara?" Zuko called her name as Gu Zhi held the door open. She turned to him and he had a hopeful look on his face.

"Will I see you later? At dinner?" He asked her, his eyes wide and his voice tender. Katara blushed, her skin turning bright red under Zuko's gaze. She pulled Song's cloak tighter around herself.

I thought that the Royal family has dinner by themselves…perhaps he means…alone?

She chuckled, Zuko looked just too adorable. His eyes were wide and there were the makings of a bright smile on his face. Nodding, she said, "Of course, Zuko. I'll see you later." Turning to the Fire Lady, Princess Ursa and Lu Ten, all of whom were trying to hold back their own smiles, she said, "I'll have information on Fire Lord Iroh's progress when I return."

She got one more glance at Zuko as she left, and the smile that lit up his face could have blinded out the sun. She felt a tingle in her chest as she walked down the hallway, and then grew frustrated at the thought that he could affect her that badly. It bothered her to be leaving him. After spending more than 24 consecutive hours with him, you would think that she would have had her fill of Zuko. But she didn't, couldn't get enough.

She did love him after all.

What a welcome thought.

Zuko

His actions and dialogue with Katara didn't escape the notice of his mother and aunt. The latter smiled at him amusedly, sharing a knowing glance with the woman next to her. "The last time I checked, I was certain you had a strong distaste for the girl, Prince Zuko. Perhaps I was…misinformed?"

Zuko didn't really know what to think, much less what to say. He knew that he was falling in love with her, and more so every time they were together. How could he not? She was Katara.

"Well it's obvious that something's changed. It's not love, but it's close." Zuko said quietly, as his family member's mouths dropped open.

"Zuko!" His mother said, covering her open mouth in shock before a wide smile took over her face. His aunt and cousin stared at him in bewilderment, and Zuko wasn't sure if they were upset, but this was the first time that he had ever voiced his feelings aloud and by Agni he wasn't going to stop now.

He continued rapidly, his words coming out of his mouth faster than his brain could tell him to shut up. "I know that it's unexpected. I know that it's soon…maybe you'll tell me that I'm going too fast…but she's an amazing girl. She's got a heart of gold, and a stubborn streak that puts you to shame Aunt. She's…she's…everything I never knew I wanted."

His mother's hands were still clamped over her mouth, though she twittered in her seat excitedly, happiness shining in her eyes. "Zuko, is it safe to say, then, that you have chosen Princess Katara of the Southern Water Tribe?"

Zuko nodded. "I have."

"Well!" His aunt cried, clapping her hands together. "I've never heard of a Hana Matsuri being this short, but it's truly of no consequence. Once Lu Ten has his wedding with Song, we will present Katara to the court. Katara, of course will remain here for the time being."

"Wait—," Zuko held up his hands. "I haven't even asked her yet."

Lu Ten scoffed. "And you think she'll say no?"

"I—I mean…," He leaned forward, hands running though his hair. "I'd like it if she said yes, but I want her to have a choice. I want her to be happy. She…she's been betrayed before…"

"Before?" His Aunt leaned forwards curiously, eyebrows raised, always interested in gossip.

Zuko shook his head. "It's not my story to tell—,"

"But her reputation is pure?" The Fire Lady asked, lips pursed, narrowing her dark eyes at him.

"Oh, come now, mother…that archaic tradition? Do you think Zuko cares if she's not a—," Lu Ten leaned back in his chair, rolling his eyes.

"He must care—," His aunt ordered imperiously, pointing at her son. "The girls that join that is family must be of the highest—,"

"She's fine." Zuko said simply, eyes meeting his mother's gaze. She smiled at him encouragingly, unable to contain her pleasure at the new development. "She's perfect. It wouldn't matter to me."

His aunt huffed crossly, eyeing her son. He looked at her nervously, shying away from her on their shared couch. "We will discuss that opinion of yours later. As for you, Zuko…" She focused all her attention on him, and he shrunk under her authoritative glare. "I only want what's best for you, and for this family. You will need your uncle's permission of course, but…" She hesitated, looking at Ursa quickly before turning back to him. "if she pleases you…then I accept your relationship."

Thank you, Aunt, because it's truly your permission I was looking for. He couldn't help but think wryly.

"I'm happy for you Zuko." His mother said, coming over to sit next to him. She enveloped him in a hug, patting his back comfortingly. When she pulled away, she put both of his hands in her own soft ones. "Didn't I tell you that Katara was a special girl?"

He nodded. "You did mother, and, like always, you were right." He turned to address everyone as they all wished him congratulations, the servants included. Is this what it was like when Lu Ten told everyone? "Katara's birthday is next month. I would like to invite her parents to come and see her. She hasn't seen them in months."

His mother thought about it for a moment. "I doubt they would make it in time, but if the missive leaves today, and the winds are favorable…they just might make it in time."

Aunt Yun Xi nodded in agreement. "We can also invite King Kuei and have the wedding a few days later!" She eyed her son to see how he would feel about meeting his soon-to-be brother in law.

"Song misses her brother. I'd like to see them both together, and I'm sure we'd get along great." Lu Ten said.

For the First time in a long time, Zuko felt that things were finally going to go his way.

Katara

"Song, when you have a moment, can you hand me that cup of tea on the table next to you?" She asked the 19-year-old who hovered over her future Father-in-law like a protector. Song looked up and nodded.

"How are you feeling, Father?" the Earth Kingdom Princess asked. Katara was surprised at Song's use of the familial term. But she figured that when the Fire Lady said that Song was a part of the family, she really meant it.

"Like I've been run over with a cabbage cart." He said weakly, although his eyes were bright, youthful and exuberant. "But I feel better."

"I know you feel pretty bad right now, but I'm hopefully going to fix that in a moment." Katara told him, smiling. He returned her smile, albeit a bit weakly. "Look on the bright side, you're not coughing anymore."

Katara ran her water-covered hands over Fire Lord Iroh's smooth skin, feeling the last remnants of the poison ebbing away from his round frame. He looked so much better. The dark circles under his eyes didn't look so pronounced, and his skin wasn't clammy anymore. It seemed that the rest really did him some good. She worked for a couple of minutes, looking for the weak spots in his muscles and his body. The recent poison concentrated in his stomach was completely gone, but there were still spots of fragility in his body, most notably his chest. His breathing was shallow, and it was reflected in the weak movement of his lungs.

"Do I have a clean bill of health, Healer Katara?" Iroh asked with a twinkle in his eye.

She chuckled, depositing the clear water back into the bowl on the bedside table. "Not quite, Fire Lord Iroh. You're still very weak, but with proper rest, you should be fine and back to your old self." She bent the water back into the bowl on the bedside table.

"Oh." He frowned, giving her a sly look. "I don't want to be back to my old self, I mean, I feel 10 years younger."

"Of course you do." She said, knowingly, grabbing a towel and wiping his skin dry. "When you've been poisoned for years, suddenly having a reduced amount in you is bound to make you feel better."

"Years?" He asked, alarmed.

Katara nodded. "I figured out that someone must have been poisoning you a little bit a time. Not enough to do harm immediately, but enough give you that weakened feeling and kill you over time." She didn't know whether she should be worrying Fire Lord Iroh about this, but she figured that it was for his own good to know. "When you started to recover after the ginseng soup they must have panicked and given you a stronger dose."

"Years…" he repeated, thoughtful, a hand coming up to scratch at his beard. "I wonder who would want to kill me." He muttered more to himself than aloud. Song pulled back the covers in the bed and helped Iroh get underneath them. She made sure he was comfortable by fluffing the pillows behind him. Fire Lord Iroh turned to her and smiled. "Thank you, my dear." But then he turned back to Katara, the question still in his eyes.

Katara sighed, debating over whether she really should tell him about what she and Zuko talked about. "Zuko and I…have our suspicions…but…we need more evidence."

"And you're not going to divulge those suspicions." He said it as more of a statement, grimly, looking up at her from beneath red covers and hooded eyes. He yawned, mouth opening wide.

Shaking her head, Katara sighed. "No." She wiped her hands clean and thanked Song as she handed Katara the cup of tea. "I don't mean to withhold information from you Fire Lord Iroh, but I won't make any accusations until I have concrete proof."

"Understandable, Princess Katara." He said. "But I feel that you should call me Uncle."

"I should?" Katara asked, and Song placed one hand behind Iroh's back and the other holding his hand as she helped Iroh sit up. Katara held out the tea with white lotus petals and herbs. "Here, drink this. It will help you regain your strength. "

Iroh took a tentative sip, before smiling at the taste. "What's this?" He asked, distracted.

"Ginseng, jasmine and white lotus." She told him, giving him another spoonful. "Along with a bit of my own additives in it that I recovered from your storehouse." Iroh nodded, and Katara let the subject drop. But then her curiosity got the better of her. "What do you mean I should call you Uncle?"

"From what my wife tells me, you and Zuko are hitting things off quite nicely." Iroh said, accepting another spoonful from her.

"H-How would you know?" Katara exclaimed, eyes going wide, "You were unconscious."

"I might not have been able to respond, but I heard plenty. She said that you and Zuko were on a date of sorts, and no one had seen hide or hair of you since yesterday morning."

She couldn't figure out what to say, so she turned from him. "W-Well I mean, I wouldn't really call it a date-," She stammered.

If you can call saving a teenage boy and being attacked by some street thugs a date, I'd hate to think of what they'd call a honeymoon.

"Did you kiss him?" Iroh asked pointedly.

Yes. Many times.

"Yes, but—," She tried to say.

"And did you enjoy yourself?" He asked again.

"I did, but—,"

"Then it's a date."

"Fire Lord Iroh—," She continued to protest, but Iroh asked her one question.

"Do you like him, at the very least?" His eyes met hers, and he did that thing where she thought he could see into her head. "Zuko is like my second son. He's been through quite a lot at such a young age."

"I'm falling in love with him." She said without a moment's hesitation. Saying the words aloud surprised her, and she gasped after she said them. She wondered if he felt the same. There was a strong difference between like and love and he wondered if he felt the same. "He's got his moments where I wonder what he's thinking, but he's smart, handsome and he's got a really good heart. He'll let himself get injured to protect the people he cares about…he wouldn't let anything happen to me."

Song broke out in a wide grin, and Iroh chortled with laughter. "Excellent! So, then it is settled. You will call me Uncle."

She turned towards the jovial Fire Lord, covered in blankets up to his neck. She eyed Song warily, but realized that since she was marrying Lu Ten, she'd find out Zuko's secret soon enough. "And there's one more thing…" She leaned close, remembering the feeling of Zuko's skin beneath her fingers as she worked the water through his veins. "Zuko can…he can firebend again."

Iroh's mouth dropped open before he grinned, taking her hands in his warm larger ones. She saw Song stare at her in puzzled confusion, but she didn't say anything. "I knew you could do it!"

"It wasn't easy for him or me in more ways than one." She said, stretching her fingers, arms feeling exhausted. She'd done a lot of healing over the past few hours…it seemed to be taking its toll on her. She looked down, suddenly ashamed in front of Iroh's piercing eyes. "He asked me not to try…he asked me not to give him false hope. But I did it anyway. I worry that deep down, he despises me for ignoring his wishes…" She shook her head. "It was painful for him. When I heard him scream—saw him stop breathing—I, I just wanted to stop…I never wanted to hurt him, but I was so close."

"Sometimes we have to do things that hurt the ones we love." Iroh murmured quietly. "Even if it's for their own benefit."

"But there was no way I could have known it would work! I was just working on a feeling. Nothing I've ever read said that bending could be restored once it had been taking away. I could have—," Her voice broke. "I could have killed him…whatever was used was in his lungs, near his heart." The guilt threatened to overwhelm her as her heart hurt.

"And that is how I know you're perfect for him." Iroh said to her, his golden eyes meeting hers. "Since he was a boy, Zuko has believed that he was undeserving of love, of accolades, of anything kind. He blames himself for his father's relationship with Tiang. But as much as his mother and I tried to tell him otherwise, he didn't listen, believing us to be only placating him. But if you, someone who, up until a few days ago had no reason to think kindly of him, put so much of your energy into doing something for him…"

"He can be himself…he can believe in himself." Katara whispered, more to herself than to Iroh. "And that's all I really wanted. For him to be whole."

Zuko

He left his Uncle's rooms and headed towards the library, intending to research his uncle's books on the Water Tribe. He wanted to research exactly what happened to Katara when she was cornered by Zhao. Logic told him that Katara wasn't strong enough to physically move Zhao away from her, so there had to be some reason for her unexplainable reaction. Katara was smart; she wouldn't just imagine doing something. Of course, it could be entirely Zhao's own doing—he could have twisted, hitting his head, and Katara only thought that she had something to do with it.

He stopped outside the doors, and put his hand on the doorknob, and was about to push open the door—

"Prince Zuko."

His breath hitched in his throat and he turned and was face-to-face with his father. Zuko and his father haven't really spoken since his sentencing three years ago, unless it was to speak of his failures. Prince Ozai spent much of his time avoiding speaking to him directly, going to great pains to only use intermediaries. His expression was unreadable, but Zuko felt that his father was analyzing every move he made, every breath he took.

"Father." He bowed his head.

Prince Ozai moved closer, seeming to glide across the floor, hands clasped behind his back. "It has been a long time since I have seen you, Prince Zuko."

This wasn't necessarily true, as his father had seen him every time there was a Hana Matsuri event, and even at dinner, some days. But he knew his father, cold and calculating…there was no way he could see this conversation turning out well.

"How are you feeling, Father?" Zuko asked, trying to steel his nerves.

"I'm feeling fine, Prince Zuko…" Ozai said nonchalantly, stepping closer to his son. Ozai was now only about a few feet away from him, and Zuko's heart quickened with every step his father took. He didn't really know why he was so scared of his father—maybe scared wasn't the right word. Intimidated. He was definitely intimidated by his father. "But I suspect that you aren't feeling so well."

"What do you mean, father?" He asked, still attempting to eliminate all traces of nervousness from his voice.

"Prince Zuko, I mean your continued association with Princess Katara of the Southern Water Tribe." His father continued in that same patronizing tone of voice that grated on Zuko's nerves.

"I'm sorry, Father, but I don't understand."

Ozai sighed disdainfully. "No…No I wouldn't expect you to." He said. "But it's time you learned that sometimes, we must put aside our own personal feelings for the greater good of our nation."

"My personal feelings?"

Ozai tsked at him, shaking his head. "I'm not a fool, Prince Zuko. It would be obvious even to a blind man that you and the waterbending girl share more than just friendship."

"Is there a problem with my relationship with Princess Katara?" He asked tentatively, not wanting to strike a nerve.

"No, she's perfectly suitable…for a concubine." Zuko's fists tightened. His father raised an eyebrow but continued. "I feel as though Lady Mai would be a more suitable companion for you."

"Father, Mai and I were over a long time ago." He said, trying to explain. "I don't want to be with her again."

"I beg to differ, Prince Zuko." His father told him, stepping closer once more. "I feel as though you and Lady Mai would do well together, not to mention her House is very wealthy."

"Wealth doesn't really matter to me—,"

"It should." Ozai said a little bit more forcefully. "Your marriage should only serve to better the family."

"Princess Katara is wealthy enough." Zuko protested, defending Katara.

"That may be true…" His father's voice was still deadly calm, which threatened to unsettle him. It always did. "But she lacks the personal connections Lady Mai's family has."

"What connections?" Zuko asked. "Father, I don't understand."

"You keep saying that Zuko. Say it anymore and I will start to doubt you— more than I've doubted you already." He walked over to the window, his face partially hidden by the shadow the light cast. It was already mid-afternoon, and Zuko realized that he and Katara had truly been away for more than a day. His father fingered the curtains delicately, before turning and giving his son a scathing look. "Mai's father has my best interest at heart – at least his money does."

"But Mai—," Zuko tried to say, but his father cut him off.

His father grinned at him, but it was malicious, filled with secrets and hidden meanings. "I have exquisite plans Zuko, but for that I need support. Mai's family's support. Think about it, before you make any…regrettable decisions."

Prince Ozai waved goodbye absently as he strode down the hall, leaving a dumbstruck Zuko in his wake.

Katara

After healing Fire Lord Iroh, and giving her diagnosis to the Fire Lady, Katara retired to her room, where Gu Zhi and Lin served her lunch. She didn't even know if Suki and Toph were still here, otherwise she'd eat with them.

Katara set the writing brush down and folded up the letter to her mother. In it, she'd told her parents how much she'd missed them, Sokka and Pakku, about the first two rounds of the Hana Matsuri, leaving out Iroh's poisoning attempt. She'd told her parents about Song's impending marriage to Lu Ten, as well as hinted at her feelings for Prince Zuko…she didn't want to give her father a heart attack. The village might think her silly for jumping from one relationship to another, but…Zuko was different that Hahn in so many ways. The greatest of which was…she'd actually talked to him. Real talk, about their wants, dreams, fears…and he'd seemed interested in what she had to say. Hahn didn't.

She turned to Gu Zhi, standing behind her. She held the letter out. "Gu Zhi would you mind sending this letter to my parents at the South Pole? I don't know where the mail room is."

Gu Zhi bowed and put the letter in her pocket. "It will be done." Smiling appreciatively, Katara turned back to the mirror. "While you were gone, Princess Katara," Katara turned to see the old woman holding a small scroll in her hand. "This arrived for you last night."

"Is it a letter from my mother?" She asked, taking out the letter

She hadn't heard from her mother in the six weeks she was on the ship, they were stopping so infrequently, it was hard to get messenger hawks to the South Pole. When they'd reach a port town, while Lu Ten and Zuko were off schmoozing the girls entered into the competition, she'd only left the ship to mail letters to her parents, having learned her lesson from Kyoshi. She'd told them about the Earth Kingdom, its different environments and all the different people she'd seen. Once they'd reached the Fire Nation, she'd sent her parents a letter informing them that they'd arrived, but that was it.

Gu Zhi gave her a nonplussed look. "I…do not know, Princess Katara."

Nearly the width of her finger, the tiny scroll was rolled up and sealed with the Kyoshian coat of arms, a golden fan outlined in green. She looked up, puzzled. "This should go to Suki, it's from Kyoshi Island."

"But Princess Katara, it's addressed to you." Lin said. Flipping the letter over, she saw her name on the front written in a graceful handwriting of smooth lines and even strokes.

"Who could it be from?" She wondered aloud.

She opened the letter and read the contents to herself. Her heart pounded as she saw exactly whom the letter was from, and what the writing contained.

Katara,

Since you have not returned to the South Pole yet, I must assume that you're still in the Fire Nation. I know you probably never expected to hear from me. I'm not even sure if this letter will reach you, but I'm praying to all the Spirits that it does. I've left the Southern Water Tribe, and Oyaji has granted me sanctuary on Kyoshi Island. I didn't want to leave, but I had to. Because—I'm pregnant.

I need your help.

You know what happens to women that have a child when not bonded. I would mar their perfect reputations., I have pride too. I refuse to be put out like a basket of laundry to dry.

I need a favor to ask of you. I need you to get me into the Palace. I have to tell Lu Ten I'm carrying his baby. With any luck, I could become Fire Lady! Oh, Lu Ten would take care of me, I just know he would. Please, I do not want to overstay my welcome with Oyaji, and I do not want to wait until I'm too pregnant to travel. I'm coming to the Fire Nation next week. He loves me, Katara. I know he does.

He told me so.

I will never forget this.

Yue.

Katara's heart dropped past her stomach and all the way down to her shoes. Yue was pregnant? How—When? If she was pregnant, why would Yue ask for Katara's help? If she'd gone to Katara's mother, then she'd surely get the help she needed. Her mother wouldn't cast her out…but what did she mean she was coming to the Fire Nation? Even if she did, this couldn't be kept a secret forever. Surely someone was going to notice a pregnant Water Tribe priestess so far from home. What was she going to do? Should she even tell anyone? Should she tell Lu Ten about the baby? She'd have to figure something out, but Song and Lu Ten's engagement party—

Oh no.

Song.

A knock on the door broke her thoughts. Katara quickly threw the letter onto the desk, but it fluttered quietly to the ground, out of Zhi went over to the door and opened it to reveal Song, the long red cloak of the Crown Princess covering the pink gown she wore. She was smiling, but them when she saw Katara's furrowed brow, her smile quickly vanished, and she rushed over to her friend. Katara found it hard to meet her eyes.

"What's wrong, Katara? You look troubled." Song asked softly.

Steadying her thoughts and her heartbeat, Katara looked up and shook her head. "I-It's nothing, Song. I just haven't been feeling well as of late."

"It was all that running around with Prince Zuko!" Toph said from the doorway. Katara looked up and there were Suki and Toph, smiling at her as well. Di Yi stood a little bit off to the side.

"Oh, don't give us that look, Katara. Everyone knows." Suki said, mistaking Katara's horrified expression for something else.

Song looked at her untouched food. "You didn't eat yet?" Katara shook her head slowly, her mind still not processing what she just read. "Good, because I was thinking we could have a little picnic in the Garden before people start leaving the Fire Nation."

Katara couldn't say anything, so she just nodded.

"Oh, and there's another piece of good news!" Suki said from the doorway. "Jin's being released this afternoon!"

It was all Katara could do to smile. As Song pulled her away from her room, the girls chattered excitedly to Katara about lunch, but she couldn't pay attention to what they were saying, her mind still on the news she'd just received, Gu Zhi followed silently behind her.

Katara didn't notice someone leaving her room behind all the others, she didn't notice someone picking up the letter from Yue. If she had, she might have been able to avoid what came next.

But it wasn't meant to be.