Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Relationships

Someone asked me in a PM why I didn't tell the story from an omniscient 3rd person narrator because the changes in perspective is hard to keep track of sometimes. I apologize. I don't want to make this story confusing (any more than it actually is), but it's because I believe that it's impossible to be entirely objective, and that's something I think is a theme of this story.

Katara

For the first time in a very long while, when Katara awoke that morning, she had the overwhelming sensation of peace, of ease.

While she didn't know how long she'd slept, the residual exhaustion from the drugs she'd been given all those days ago had almost completely dissipated from her body.

Her eyes opened slowly, taking in the light of the dawn from the open window, the gossamer white curtains reflected the sun's rays beautifully as they blew in the gentle breeze. It seemed as though all she'd suffered, all that had happened was so long ago, so far removed from this relaxing moment that she half-wondered if it even happened at all and wasn't just some horrible nightmare.

As the small smile spread across her lips, Katara stretched almost cat-like, arms pushing over her head as her body twisted underneath the sheets, legs shifting across the wide bed. Her eyes closed, and she let out a pleased hum as she felt a very nice tingle between her thighs, warm and almost pleasingly sticky.

"Dangerous behavior, that noise." A low voice whispered near her head.

She gasped, sitting up with a lurch, nearly colliding with Zuko's head in the process. He jerked away in time, before his posture relaxed a few seconds later. He grinned at her, amusement in his golden eyes.

"How long did I sleep this time?" She asked him.

He paused for a second. "About 13 hours? I mean we did fall asleep before the sun had even set."

She yawned sleepily, a hand coming up to cover her mouth. "True enough."

"Was it restful?" He asked softly, smoothing the hair at her scalp with a light touch. She trembled under his touch.

"Mm…very." She said in affirmation, stretching again, trying to ignore how his eyes traced her movements roaming over her form, turning to face him fully. She was almost unwilling to meet his eyes as the memories of the night prior flooded her brain. The feeling of coming undone by his hands...by his tongue...

An enjoyable shiver raced through her veins.

"Well that's good," He said quietly, moving closer. His voice was still low, his golden eyes were mostly serious, but there was a mischievous shine to those light eyes when the sun caught him at the right angles. He leaned into her for a kiss (ignoring her morning breath) and their lips met, softly and sweetly, just the lightest pressure of his soft, pink lips against her own slightly swollen ones.

He smelled like soap, of rushing water mixing in with ash and cherry. Apparently, he'd bathed and gotten dressed already. She looked down to see that he was wearing different clothes than the robe from yesterday, a white tunic and breeches tightened around his waist with a black belt. The mantle around his neck was white with a black trim, and the boots he wore were black as well.

Shifting next to him, she rested her head on his shoulder as her hands fell to her lap. Zuko's long fingers wrapped around her left hand, warm and secure.

They stayed like this for a moment, in silence, taking in the purple light of the dawn slowly shifting to yellow as it came through the large windows, watching where it fell on the sparse red furniture inside the room. She listened to the sound of his even breathing, deep and relaxed within his chest and his heartbeat, steady and strong as his fingers traced patterns on the back of her hand.

This was pleasant. This was...perfect.

"I wonder..." He began huskily, she could hear his voice rumbling inside. "To what do you owe the cause of this sudden rested feeling?"

Oh, he's being playful now, is he?

"Hm... I'm not sure..." She pulled away from him abruptly, a teasing smile on her lips. He raised a brow. "No particular reason I can think of. I must have already forgotten."

A black eyebrow arched, and the corner of his mouth turned upwards. "Is that so?"

"Seems that way..." She murmured, beginning to slide off the bed to get dressed, and as the soft cotton shifted against her skin, she was suddenly reminded of her near undressed state. She hadn't bothered to fix the nightgown before, and it was loose, the fabric caught on her legs and slipped down her shoulders to reveal her upper back and shoulders, partially hidden by the mass of untamed dark hair that fell to her waist.

It was a completely unintentional slip of course, but she didn't see the look in Zuko's eyes then. Faster than she could react, suddenly he was in front of her, straddling her legs as his hands gripped her wrists with a minimal amount of pressure, holding her in place. Katara's lips parted wordlessly as he stared into her eyes.

"Marry me." He said firmly, and her blue eyes widened at the intensity of his gaze. She blinked once, confusion coloring her expression. Zuko broke away first, looking to the side as he explained. "I just realized I never formally asked you... It's all been assumed, right from the start..."

"Hm.." she murmured, raising an eyebrow at him. "Is that a command? An order?"

"No..." He whispered lowly, a hand tracing down the side of her face, over her ear, smoothing her hair down before reaching her lips. "It's a request, one that you're welcome to refuse."

Was there still reservation in his eyes? A hint of uncertainty hidden beneath the surface?

Another hesitation. "Will you marry me?" This time was less sure than the first.

She reached up towards Zuko, her eyes softening as she mimicked his gesture, the brown of her skin contrasting with the pale white of his as she ran her hand over the curve of his ear. He leaned into her touch, exhaling through his nose as his head tilted sideways, relaxing under her fingers.

Without giving him time to react, Katara's hand found the back of his neck, and he gasped in surprise, eyes opened wide as Katara pulled him down for a sudden and searing kiss. He hovered over her chest, his arms barely catching his fall as their eyes closed and their mouths moved in unison, a groan coming from him, sending her emotions reeling. She could feel the tension ease out of him as he exhaled heavily through his nose and collapsed onto her further, the silk of his tunic brushing against her collarbone like the gentlest of touches, their chests coming into contact as he rested on his elbows as his hands tangling in her already wild hair.

They kissed for what seemed like hours before finally breaking apart, though the amount of light in the room had remained the same—it could only have been minutes. Her lips were still swollen from yesterday, and the pain was a mild tingle that thankfully, she could ignore.

She pulled away—but only just—her sore lips dragging over his pink ones and her voice was thick. "Yes. Of course, Zuko." His eyes opened wider. "We've been through this before. Didn't I tell you that you were stuck with me? That I wasn't going to leave?"

"Yes, I know, but—" he began to ease off her and she pulled him back down. Their faces were barely an inch apart, her blue eyes locked onto his with an intensity that the uncertainty in his golden orbs bloomed from within and she could almost feel his heart beating.

"I love you." She said simply, "—and you love me. The ceremonies...are just things to give our mothers something to do—so they'll leave us alone."

He chuckled softly, warm breath tickling her skin. "How wise of you."

She grinned. "I have my moments."

He hummed. "Mm. Many, in fact." His cheeks were flushed, the redness spreading across his face more obvious on him, than her. "I love you too."

"Oh, well I knew that already." She deadpanned, and then burst into a laugh at the mock annoyed expression on his face.

"Wow."

She laughed even harder. The sound trailed off and her lip tugged in a slight smirk. "Besides... after what you did last night, I think it might be hard to let you go."

His warm hand gently moved over her forehead. The soft skin of his pale cheek brushed against hers as he leaned in closer, lips hovering just above her ear. "Oh, I see. You only want me around for my silver tongue, is that it?" He said against the sensitive skin, making her shiver.

She let out an uneasy breath, though her hand trailed up his clothed thigh toward his waist. "A-Among other things."

He hummed his acknowledgement in her ear, the sound traveling straight to her core, heat pooling in her lower belly.

"Like what?" He asked her, but his soft lips never left the sensitive space behind her ear. His voice was low, raspy, and perfect, doing both awful and wonderful things to her insides all at the same time.

"I-I," she gasped as he pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the soft skin of her neck. "I can't think straight…"

"Oh, what a shame."

Thankfully? Regrettably? She didn't have to answer due to a loud knock on her door. Zuko didn't seem to hear it as he continued, ignoring the visitor. The person rapped three times in quick succession, followed by a pause, and then another three knocks. Katara gasped as she realized who was at the door.

"Zuko!" She hissed in his ear.

"What?" He mumbled, even as he placed an open-mouth kiss against her shoulder, voice almost drowsy and unintelligible. "Just leave it, the door's locked-whoever it is will go away eventually."

"Not if that person is Gu Zhi." she said pointedly, starting to push him off her. Spirits, but he's heavy. "She has a key; do you really want your old nanny to see us this way?"

"Princess Katara?" The heard the woman's telltale voice come through the door, albeit muffled some. "Are you alright?"

"She's persistent."

"I don't usually lock my door." Katara muttered under her breath.

He snorted. "That's your own fault, then."

Katara rolled her eyes, pushing him lightly. "Not helping." Then in a louder voice, she called, "One moment, please!"

Gu Zhi's voice grew imperative. "The Fire Lord has asked for you. I must help you prepare."

Zuko snorted. "Now we're definitely not going. I told him he had to take care of this himself."

"What are you talking about?"

But he didn't answer, easing off her and walking quickly to the open door. She rose onto her elbows, staring at him quizzically. Wordlessly, he flicked the lock and opened the door to reveal Gu Zhi's irritated face. The woman's dark eyes widened as she realized exactly who had opened the door.

"Hello, Gu Zhi." Zuko said pleasantly, and Katara could imagine the mirth in his eyes as he greeted his nanny.

The woman sputtered, mouth opening and closing, seemingly unable to find words to say. After a few moments, she finally seemed to regain her voice. "Prince Zuko, what are you—,"

But Zuko cut her off with a grin. "Please tell my cousin, that we'll be along as soon as we can." He turned back towards on the bed, and she felt her entire face turn red as the old woman turned to focus her pointed gaze onto Katara. Embarrassed, the teen looked away, only imagining what the old woman was seeing—her disheveled hair, swollen lips, and half open robe. Zuko continued, "I'm sure you can understand why."

Gu Zhi cleared her throat, seemingly not bothered. "I see." She handed Zuko a white bundle. "I have Princess Katara's clothes for the second day of the mourning period."

"Understood." He said, gripping the clothing tightly in one hand. "Is that all?"

"Yes, your highness."

Bowing, Gu Zhi said no more as she backed away, and Zuko shut the door, turning back to Katara with a confident grin. She sat up fully, running a hand over her head to smooth down the flyaways.

"Problem solved." He said, walking towards her.

But Katara wasn't so impressed, she gave him an irritated look as she sighed, moving to the edge of the bed, her now gently swinging over the side. "Why did you do that? Now she knows."

He set the robe on the bed next to her. It was made of a softer material, not as scratchy but still rough against her skin as she ran her fingers across it. It was white in its entirety, except for a wide black band at the hem of the gown and sleeves.

Zuko let out a breathy laugh, his voice rough. "Everybody thought we were fooling around anyway; I've just confirmed it a little." She huffed, obviously displeased, bringing her hair over her shoulder, still running her hands through it, trying to get the tangles out with her fingers.

"If you say so."

Zuko moved to face her. "Trust me, Lu Ten will understand this—," He gestured between them, "Better than any other excuse I could give him."

"Really?" She asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow at him. When he nodded, she sighed again, standing up and attempting to move past him towards the bathroom.

"What are you doing?" He asked, blocking her path to the dresser with a steady hand on her stomach.

"Getting dressed?" She said, cocking her hip.

"Hm... maybe later." He said simply, an arm curling around her waist as he pulled her close.

Yue

She tentatively followed the older servant down the dimly lit hall. Massive windows along their path let in the light of the dawn, the morning sky a pleasant lavender tinged with spots of yellow and blue. Despite its peaceful appearance, Yue couldn't help but yawn deeply, causing the old maid to stop and stare at her with a disapproving eye. She shrank under the older woman's intense scrutiny and hurried along. The white mourning gown she wore slipped near constantly down her shoulders as she moved, forcing her to practically hold it together with her hands. It was a servant's gown apparently, but she didn't have the patience to be properly offended by the slight.

The exhaustion persisted.

She hadn't slept at all last night, her thoughts plagued by what she'd seen earlier that day. The sight of the Fire Lady's blood dripping onto the floor, and how those stains would never come out of the marble.

She'd never been in this part of the Palace before, the pillars, tapestries and decorations grew increasingly ornate the deeper into the main section of the palace they went.

This place truly was a maze, with high ceilings supported by massive pillars embossed in gold and silver, and winding staircases that led to places she couldn't fathom. Higher and higher they climbed, and often Yue found that she needed to rest, to breathe before continuing, much to the irritation of the older woman that led her—her name was Gu Zhi if Yue remembered correctly. She seemed to be the palace's top servant.

They came to another staircase at the end of the hall, and Yue paused another moment to catch her breath. Leaning against the closest wall, she asked, nervous and breathy, "Where are we going?" Her heart beat faster in her chest as confusion gave way to fear.

The old woman looked at her with narrowed, displeased eyes, and she had to wonder what she'd done to earn even a servant's ire. "I have my orders, Priestess Yue."

"A-Are you taking me to the Fire Lady?" Yue asked, nervously glancing around for signs of guards or those awful mercenaries. Her eyes found the open window, the blue morning sky had begun to peak from between the lavender clouds. They were high up, probably near the top of the massive tower. She needed to leave. To run.

"Where's Katara?" She asked, trembling hands gripping the stairwell tighter. "I-I need her." She couldn't stop the quiver in her voice and almost hating herself for relying on her cousin.

With the way Prince Ozai and the Fire Lady spoke to Katara yesterday...the way Prince Zuko looked at her like she was the only thing keeping him sane...

Perhaps my little cousin has made a name for herself...earned the respect of people here...

Yue had decided last night that she had to find some way of using Katara's influence, with not only with the royal family, but the servants as well, the real secret keepers, apparently.

The thought of that servant girl, Mena, content with letting her starve out of loyalty to Song of Ba Sing Se infuriated her. What would it be like to inspire such loyalty in people? Had Song ordered the servant to do that? Katara didn't think so-she believed that Mena had acted without Song's approval—that Song's gentle nature wouldn't let her. Yue wasn't convinced. The Earth Kingdom girl had obvious hatred for her, and they were fighting for the man they both wanted...but Yue had the upper hand.

Her hand went to her belly.

His child, I will be safe as long as I carry his child.

For all their cruelty...no mother would try to kill her own grandchild. But after she gave birth...if they took her child away...

Yue couldn't stop the shiver that ran down her spine.

Katara will protect me...she must. Why isn't she with me? Why am I alone?

The fear must have shone on her face because when she stopped moving, consumed by terror at the thought of meeting the Fire Lady on her own, Gu Zhi stopped, realizing that she didn't follow. When the old woman turned to face Yue, immediately Gu Zhi's expression shifted, the wrinkled lips that reminded her so much of her grandmother were still pressed in that stern line, but her eyes had softened, no less stem, but not quite as intense.

"No." The head servant remarked, raspy voice hiding a tinge of concern. "The Fire Lord has asked for you."

With that, the palace's head servant turned on her heel and proceeded up the final staircase, leaving Yue no choice but to follow.

Though she leaned heavily on the bannister, the climb slowing tiring herself out, Yue followed Gu Zhi almost happily now, the fear from before dissipating as quickly as it came, once she realized that Lu Ten had asked for her.

"Lu Ten?" She asked, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice.

He's asked for me!

This would be the first time interacting with him one-on-one since she'd arrived in the Fire Nation. While he hadn't come to her defense when she arrived-not directly anyway, surely now he would tell her that his behavior before was merely an illusion, propagated by his unwillingness to see his mother so upset, and confusion caused by her sudden appearance. But she had to come.

Kya and Hakoda had left her no other options.

Now that the Dowager had effectively ruined her relationship with her only son...there would be nothing stopping them from being together. She'd be his wife-his Fire Lady! And she'd have his heart.

His whole heart.

At the sound of her excited tone, Gu Zhi turned sharply on the stairwell again, her disapproving golden gaze narrowing, she looked upon Yue with disdain.

The smile on Yue's face melted away.

"You will refer to the Fire Lord by his proper title or you won't do so at all." Gu Zhi leaned forward as she spoke, her voice stern, like she was scolding a petulant child. Yue recoiled from the woman, her blue eyes widening, anxiety coursing through her blood. She gave a hesitant, shaky nod before they continued, and she remained silent, the rest of the way.

Eventually, they came to a large set of double doors, ornate carving of dragons decorated the wood, and gold paint filigree practically glowed in the morning light. Two guards wearing the royal Fire Nation emblem on their armor stood outside on either side. They bowed in unison as the two women approached. Yue wanted to believe that they were bowing to her, as the mother of the Fire Lord's heir, but she had a sinking feeling that wasn't the case.

She'd received so much adulation as a priestess...she missed it.

Almost.

"Go in." Gu Zhi directed her, gesturing towards the doors expectantly. "The Fire Lord is waiting for you."

He's waiting for me! She thought to herself as the two guards opened the doors and she walked into a spacious library with dark mahogany shelves lining each wall.

To the right, there were open doors that led to more shelves with stacks of scrolls. The air was filled with the smell of parchment, but not of old dust. Someone must have used this library often, she realized. Large windows let in the natural light of the morning, but there were several torches on the wall, filling the room with an energizing yellow light. In the back of the room was a large archway, with white gossamer curtains that led out to a wide balcony, and she could see low couches and tables out there as well.

But she stopped walking. She couldn't get her feet to move as she saw what awaited her. Irritation began to course through her blood.

Yes, Lu Ten is waiting for me. She realized with a feeling akin to horror. But he isn't waiting alone.

Lu Ten sat at a low table in the center of the room, on a red cushion with a supportive back. On the table in front of him were several scrolls, one of which he was currently pouring over, not looking up as she walked in. On his opposite side, were two plain cushions, one of which was occupied by the very girl that vexed her.

Song.

The other young woman did turn at the sound of footsteps, and frowned at her, brown eyes narrowing in a mild glare. Yue raised her chin haughtily-she wouldn't be intimidated. What was so good about her anyway? Yue supposed that she could pass as reasonably pretty, if one went for the mousy, plain type. But Lu Ten couldn't actually like that type, could he?

"The Priestess Yue, Your Majesty." Gu Zhi announced her arrival as Yue frowned, not wanting to correct the old woman. If being a priestess (even a former one) afforded her some status in this country, then so be it.

Lu Ten finally looked up at the sound of Gu Zhi's voice, his eyes falling onto her face. She smiled at him brightly, trying to ignore the weighted gaze of her rival. His lips curled up in a toothy grin, sending flutters through her stomach. Or maybe that was the baby? It was hard to tell.

"Yue, please come in, sit down." He said, still smiling, gesturing to the cushion next to Song on the left side of the table. As Yue walked forward, Lu Ten's eyes shifted away, looking expectantly around Yue's form to the closing doors behind her. "Gu Zhi where are Zuko and Katara?" Lu Ten questioned sharply, annoyance in his tone, "I asked you to wake them as well."

Next to her, Gu Zhi seemed almost hesitant to respond, not meeting Lu Ten's eyes. There was a pale shade of redness on her cheeks.

Lu Ten raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

She bowed slightly, clearing her throat. "I went to Prince Zuko's room first, as you instructed but...he wasn't there...I assumed he would be having breakfast with Princess Ursa...when I arrived at Princess Katara's room, the door was locked and Prince Zuko opened it. Princess Katara was ...in a state of undress. "

A state of undress? Yue's mouth dropped open in surprise. "What?"

But Song didn't look the least bit affected. She lifted her head, raising her snooty nose in the air. "It's only natural, you see. They have been engaged for quite some time. It makes sense that they would strengthen what was already a strong base of emotion and feeling with a more…permanent tie."

She added the last part smugly, her sharp gaze darting in Yue's direction. Yue huffed, trying to ignore the comment.

Lu Ten coughed nervously, his eyes focusing on nothing, flicking his gaze back and forth between Song and her. He chuckled weakly, but there was an impressed smile on his face. "Well, I didn't think my little cousin had it in him."

"Mine either." Yue blurted without thinking, causing Lu Ten to bling at her in confusion, and Song to glare daggers into the side of her head. When I knew of their relationship—I was surprised, to say the least. Katara knows the rules…such things are…not allowed—not before the wedding anyway." She said almost snidely, as a feeling of resentment arose from deep within.

"The rules didn't stop you, I see." Song sniped at her, giving an offensive glance at her stomach, her small mouth turned down, frowning

"I didn't just create this baby out of thin air!" Yue fired back, glaring at her rival. Lu Ten stared at them open-mouthed, an embarrassed sort-of-look coming into his eyes then and she could feel Gu Zhi's disapproving gaze on the back of her neck, but she didn't shy away from Song's gaze—all the pent-up emotion bursting before she could stop it.

"Do you honestly think I blame His Majesty the Fire Lord?" Song replied, her voice low. But her head remained high, aristocratically elevated which only served to make her even more angry. "No, I blame you, for elbowing into a place where you clearly do not belong."

"Ladies please," Lu Ten put a hand up, interrupting the argument. Yue opened her mouth to reply, but at Lu Ten's glare it snapped shut, though she exhaled in a huff. Seemingly satisfied, he turned back to Gu Zhi who was waiting, silent and reserved behind Yue. "Gu Zhi, get Zuko and Katara to Princess Ursa's chambers in an hour at the latest, I don't care if you have to throw them both into an ice bath—we have an important visitor."

What's going on?

Gu Zhi nodded severely. Apparently, she knew who the visitor was. "Yes, my Lord."

Once she'd left the room, Lu Ten turned back to them both. "If you'll both give me a moment, I'd like to explain why I brought the both of you here." Almost at once, both girls straightened, attention solely focused on Lu Ten's next words. But to Yue's dismay, he turned to Song first. "My coronation will be held in five days, and I'll need to have a Fire Lady to rule by my side."

Her heart started to race. Could he be saying what she thought? Could Lu Ten really be asking if she, Yue would be his Fire Lady? She'd already assumed he would—after all—she was giving birth to his first child. His heir! Placing a hand on the gentle swell of her own stomach, Yue snuck a glance at Song—at her arrogant face, marked by her aristocratic nose, beady brown eyes, and pointed chin and felt a smug satisfaction that Yue would give him what she couldn't. Perhaps never.

"Of course, my Lord." Song acknowledged demurely. Yue wanted to throw up.

Lu Ten cleared his throat, leaning forward, hands clasped, swallowing once before speaking. "I would like you, Song, to have full control of the palace affairs, as well helping me manage the social well-being of my—our—citizens." Yue bit her lip, turning away from them both, not wanting to see the self-satisfied gratification on that awful girl's face. "I feel that with your experience at the Ba Sing Se court, you would be extremely well suited—and I want to honor my promise to you."

"Of course. Whatever you wish." The girl added softly.

"And Yue, you won't be ignored. I promise—I wish for you to remain here. I want to be in my child's life." He looked at her with a soft determination, one that left her open-mouthed as his eyes softened, before quickly moving back to Song. "In all my children's lives—I will be the father that mine was."

"If it even is your child." Song muttered under her breath, but either Lu Ten didn't hear her, or he pretended not to

"Yue will assist you in your duties Song." He added, causing Yue's head to snap up to look at him, barely registering the shock on Song's face. His beautiful eyes were on her. "At the coronation, I will…marry you both and give you both the same rank of Fire Lady. I want you both to be equals in this palace."

"Equals?" Song protested with an insulted gasp, a pale hand coming to her chest, clutching the clasp of the red and gold cloak she wore, breathing heavily, "There can be no such thing. We—," She gestured to them both, "are not equal. I understand that you wish to do right by your child, but there must be a hierarchy."

"Must there be?" Lu Ten asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"If we both are given the rank of Fire Lady—we will lose the respect of the people. Who will the servants report to for final decisions? Which of us will be known as the Mother of the Nation? These are roles that can only be held by one person."

"Mother of the Nation?" Yue snorted. "I think that should be obvious, don't you agree?"

Lu Ten let out a huff. Song didn't even look at her.

Song gestured wildly to her left, waving a hand in Yue's general direction. "Don't you see how unprepared she is for the role you want to give her?" The Earth Kingdom girl's eyes reddened with tears as she shook her head, biting her bottom lip. "I…I feel so…betrayed that you would give such an accolade to someone who's only method of winning your heart was to open her legs."

"Don't forget who I am, Song."

The older girl looked up at Yue's use of her first name. Lu ten tried to interrupt, but Yue shook her head, breathing heavily. She focused on Song, who'd attempted to calm herself as she faced down her rival, showing no shaking, no break in that careful mask of minimal interest, her pink lips pursed together in frustration. The only sign that she was still upset were the streaks of silent tears that ran down her face.

"I might not be royalty myself, but as Katara's cousin, I'm not completely ignorant of what it takes to run a country." Now panting, the words more difficult to control now, she continued, "I admit…that…should not have abandoned my vows…but I was undergoing rituals to be released from service, so don't try and use that against me. I didn't act in this alone. I was told…that someone here loved me." She swallowed, the words feeling heavy on her tongue as the unshed tears pricked her eyes and the pain gathered in her throat.

"And when my pregnancy was revealed…I was outcasted, shunned. I fled to Kyoshi for nearly two months, depending solely on the kindness of strangers."

"It serves you right—," Song bit out, teeth flashing in her first display of true malice.

"Yue's right." Lu Ten said quietly. "It's my fault as well that she ended up like this, and I want to remedy that as much as I can."

"So, you make her Fire Lady and pass me over? The girl chosen fairly in the Hana Matsuri? The sister of the Earth King?"

"No, I'm not doing that either." He shook his head as Song let out another frustrated breath. For a moment, Yue wondered if any people outside could hear them from the balcony doors that had been left open. "My mother and my…father loved you like a daughter, Song."

"And how do you feel about me?"

For a second, Lu Ten looked completely taken aback. His eyes widened, and his mouth opened and closed several times in quick succession, almost like he couldn't believe that Song had asked him the question. Song, to her credit, didn't seem disturbed by Lu Ten's hesitation, she only sat there, posture perfect, a hand on her teacup as she waited for his answer, the salty streaks down her face the only indication that she'd ever been upset.

"I—I love you too." He said, and Yue found it hard to breathe, the words cut her heart out like a knife. He loved her? He couldn't. He shouldn't. Yue had already done so much, suffered so much to be with him and now—now he would treat her like this?

"But you said—," That was all Yue was able to force from between her lips—That you loved me. You whispered it to me in the dead of night as we lay together, as you promised me the world—why have you forsaken me?

Lu Ten's voice grew very authoritative as he spoke to them both. "I want you both to rule at my side. Song, as the daughter of a King, I agree that you should take precedent. But I can't—I won't ignore Yue. Nor will I allow for my child with her to be mistreated—you're aware of the consequences."

He really wouldn't cast me aside? If I have to go back to the South Pole—I'd rather die.

"Prince Zuko?" Was all the Earth Kingdom girl asked, and a new clarity came into the princess' eyes then, as though she understood something that Yue couldn't grasp.

"Exactly."

Yue wanted desperately to ask them what they were talking about, and what exactly they meant by Prince Zuko, but she found that no words could come. Perhaps she could find Katara and get her tell Yue the secret. "I promised my mother that my reign wouldn't be marked by another Tiang. And there won't be, am I correct?" At this question, Lu Ten looked at them both.

Who's Tiang?

After a small hesitation, Song nodded her head, hands once again in her lap. "You're correct."

Yue didn't know what either of them were talking about. "Uh…correct." She said, following Song's example.

"Thank you. Both of you." Lu Ten remarked finally leaning back in his seat, looking a little more at ease.

Song looked in Yue's direction, at their unlikely partnership formed by the will of the man they both loved. And who apparently only loved one of them. But Yue couldn't stop from thinking—what if Lu Ten only wanted Song because of her connections? What if it was her that he truly loved? Could that be? Though she couldn't deny that Song had a definitive place in his heart…Yue could only hope that the place occupied by herself—and their child would be far greater.

For such a bitch, she knows him well.

Katara

"I don't get it Zuko," She whispered against his skin when they eventually broke apart, and he paused, giving her a quizzical look before leaning in again. "One second you're asking me if I even want to be with you—you seem so hesitant, so uncertain…but then you do things like…like last night. I…I don't understand."

"Do you really want to know the truth?" He asked, dragging his eyes up to meet hers.

"I want to know you."

He started to look away from her, retreating. But she stopped him, hooking a gentle finger under his chin, bringing his head back to look into her eyes. He was silent for what seemed like a long while, the words seemingly difficult to find. "I don't even…before you…I wasn't—,"

"Zuko what are you saying?"

"Before the Hana Matsuri…I would…block out my bad memories, my failures, my shame…with things like that."

What?

He continued, hesitantly, not looking at her now, though the color in his cheeks paled as he spoke. She stopped touching him. "I wouldn't talk out my problems—the only one able to get me to do that was my mother—but when she wasn't available, I trained, or I sought comfort in…other ways."

Oh.

"Were you even telling the truth last night?" Katara's arms folded across her chest. She couldn't help but be irritated, angry even, by his words. "Did you lie to me when you said you wanted me to be your first?"

"I was telling you the truth." He snapped, looking back at her, golden eyes hardening. She didn't believe he was getting so upset. If anything, she had more right to be upset than him. "Mai and I—,"

"You and Mai?"

He swallowed once before he continued, "We were close—But it was only once, last summer."

Her knees felt shaky. Katara stumbled backwards to sit on the bed with a heavy thump, as though she no longer had the strength to stand. Zuko's hand reached out for her catch her as she fell, but she held a hand up to give him pause and watched with prickling eyes as his arm fell limp to his side. There was an ache in her chest that upset her stomach—She tried to calm down but found she couldn't get enough air into her lungs.

She wrapped the robe tighter around herself, fixing it properly so she revealed as little skin as possible. As she did so, she questioned him. He wasn't looking at her now, head down as he faced the open window. "Did you do the same—Oh, forget it. I don't even want to know!"

But his eyes lifted to hers, and she knew that yes—he had.

Immediately she shut him away, eyes closing as a salty tear ran down her cheek. She bit her lip, sniffing, head falling, hands wringing in her lap. She didn't want to think of it. But even as she tried to stop it, the images flooded her brain. Zuko and Mai together, kissing the same way he'd kissed her—Zuko, unwrapping the layers of Mai's clothing to touch her pale skin just as he'd done to her last night. It shouldn't hurt this much; it shouldn't feel like this. She'd known that Zuko and Mai were dating long before they'd met, but…she'd never really considered exactly what that had entailed. He'd been the one to initiate nearly all their romantic interactions, and he was skilled. Obviously—he'd had some practice.

"Katara look at me." He'd ordered gently, his voice was much closer now, directly in front of her, but she refused, her eyes still shut even as she shook her head 'no'. There was a hand on her knee.

"Please." He asked again, begging, pleading for her compliance.

And when she heard that break, she did.

He was crouched in front of her, and at first, he staggered back due to the intensity of her stare, her blue eyes meeting his icily. She almost didn't want to look at him, to see the pleading in his eyes.

"Did you tell her the same things you told me?" She hissed through clenched teeth. "How beautiful she was? How smart she was? How happy, how confident she made you? Did you whisper those things while you lay in bed together? While she—took you?"

She didn't want to think of it.

"No. I didn't." He said firmly, jaw set in a hard line, a completely serious edge to his voice, and it was so resolute she was almost inclined to believe him.

"No wonder Mai attacked me when I got here—," She sniped, voice angry and vicious. "If you'd promised her all those things—went so far as to do everything but consummate—," She couldn't help the awful jealousy coursing through her veins.

"I wanted to forget, okay!?" He all but shouted, voice heated, stunning her into silence as she blinked at him, feeling the rush of warm air on her face. He was panting as he looked at her, pupils wide with irritation and desperation. There were tears in his eyes too. He pressed his lips together, fighting to say the words.

His voice was rough when he spoke, "All my life I've been told that I'm the cause of my mother's suffering, the reason my father left her. Tiang seemingly manipulated him, Azula always bested me, and Lu Ten was the perfect Fire Nation prince. When I was punished—Zhao told me he wished my grandfather had killed me—that my life wasn't worth a damn."

He continued relentlessly, years of pent up anger coming to the surface as his brows furrowed, his face hardening into an image of his father. His hands found hers and he squeezed them, trying to get her to understand through sheer will alone.

"You have a family that loves you. That appreciates your value, your input, your…worth. I barely had anyone." He shook his head bitterly. "I'm not saying that I acted…honorably, that summer. I knew that Mai had liked me for a while—she was ready, and willing to just…be a warm body. To let me forget. In time, she convinced herself I was showing her love. And I guess I convinced myself as well."

She didn't know what to say in the face of this admission, she could only blink at him in silence. He dropped her gaze, released her hands, and started to stand.

His shoulders shook, and he trembled, movements shaky and uncertain. When he tried to turn from her, he whispered—voice croaky and shattered. "I understand if you want to reconsider—,"

—But she gripped his wrists, pulling him back down to her level. She heard his intake of breath, surprise on his face, the hard lines that had formed beginning to soften as she looked at him.

"And now?" She breathed out, voice no louder than a whisper. "What do you want?"

His brow furrowed in confusion. "Now? I still want to forget…I want to forget how much I miss my Uncle, how I know that my father murdered him—even if he didn't do so directly. How much everything sucks and is falling to complete shit." He inhaled deeply before exhaling just the same.

"I don't think that's possible." She murmured, but she still sounded harsh to her own ears. "The reminders are always going to be there. What matters is how you deal with them. You can't push it away. You can't keep thinking that I'm going to leave because I'm not."

"You're not? Even now?"

Her throat tightened. "Even now." She said, tone firm, though the sound was scratchy and hoarse.

He looked up into her eyes, and as blue met gold, Katara was almost overcome with the amount of raw emotion she saw there. He looked truly apologetic, but an ugly part of her was too irritated to care.

"Everything is different with you. Everything I think, and everything I feel is so much more intense. When you were released from custody…I reacted like…I used to when faced with something I couldn't handle. I'm not proud of it, but that's what I did. And I made you uncomfortable. At Lu Ten's engagement party for example…you stood up for me in a way that no one had done in a very long time and I…couldn't take it. I wanted you.

"When my aunt threatened you and Yue…I won't deny that I feared for a moment that you would leave—take her offer rather than suffer under my insane family. But I didn't want you to leave—to run away. I should have known better. Because of who you are and what you believe in. You…you possess a greater strength than I."

"That's not true. We're equals, Zuko." She said fiercely, but. "We're at our best when we're together, Zuko. Why else would Tiang, Zhao and your father try to tear us apart? He's suddenly so supportive now, it can't be for nothing."

"He told you that?"

She nodded. "Yesterday." For a moment, it looked like he was going to ask a question. "Don't change the subject. How can I know that you don't see me as Mai, Zuko? How can I know you?"

He was silent for what seemed like ages after that, seriously considering what she'd said. Finally, after that long pause, he spoke. "Do you know when I first realized that I loved you? Real love?"

She exhaled, long and slow. "When?"

His hands shook as he spoke, he bounced on his toes in agitation as the memories came back to him.

"When they tore you out of my arms—I'd never felt so hollow, so…empty. Those next days, I felt like I was half awake and half asleep, half alive and half dead." He stood now, but this time he pulled her up with him. He looked down at her, towering over her shorter frame. There was a brightness to his eyes now, though they were still wet with sorrow. "Everything that made me whole…had been ripped from me and dragged down the hallway."

"Zuko…" Her hand came up to brush along his ear, repeating the same gesture from last night, he'd leaned into her hand, breath at a more even pace. His arms tightened around her, enveloping her in a hug, his warm skin setting her back alight as her arms hooked around his neck.

"I don't want to be my father, Katara." He said into her ear. "I won't use people. Especially you."

"I'm the one you shouldn't have to hide in front of. If you feel like something is too much—let me know." She squeezed him tighter, stretching up onto her toes until she could rest her chin on his shoulder. "I love you."

"I love you too." He whispered, voice breaking. "Really—I do."

For a moment, it was silent.

"Princess Katara!" They were interrupted again by the return of Gu Zhi, only this time she was accompanied by the sound of an iron key turning in the lock to her bedroom door before they could separate. As the door opened with a rush, the old woman called out brusquely. "I really must insist you get dressed—" She froze at the sight of them intertwined.

She gave Zuko a light shove at the door's bang sliding open. He staggered away from her, chest heaving as they parted. Their eyes met as the simultaneous thought of this isn't over as it flashed through her mind. They'd come to a tentative understanding, but there would have to be a lot more discussed between them.

"P-Prince Zuko." Gu Zhi bowed nervously, approaching the couple. "I apologize for interrupting, but it is the Fire Lord's order that you and Princess Katara join him. There is a guest coming to his chambers in a few moments that you will want to see."

"Who is it?" Katara asked, stepping towards the discarded clothes on the bed. Holding them gingerly, she saw the fabric was still a rough cotton, but didn't look as scratchy, and had a bit more structure than the formless cloth she wore yesterday.

"Your mother, Chieftess Kya."

"My mother!?" A wide grin broke out on Katara's face as her heart started to race. "She's here!?"

She hadn't seen her mother in three months, and the last time they'd exchanged letters was going on a month ago. With everything going on, she'd been arrested, on trial or unconscious for part of it—and the other part, she'd been trying to solve a murder. No time to write, no time to remember—what kind of a daughter was she?

"Oh." Katara heard the whisper from Zuko's lips.

"She is." Gu Zhi nodded. "Her ship arrived at night, and she's being served breakfast in Princess Ursa's salon."

Her eyes caught the look of terror on Zuko's face.

"She's with my mother?"

Gu Zhi nodded, waving a hand, directing Lin, Akasha and two other girls into the room. They stood in a line and bowed to her before Gu Zhi turned to Zuko. "Prince Zuko, I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave for the time being." The former nanny said, her hands on her hips, giving her former charge a fixed stare. "You may see Princess Katara again once she is properly dressed." Sternly, she sniffed disapprovingly at her robe.

Zuko held his hands up in his defense. "You'll get no problems from me, Gu Zhi. I've been on the receiving end of your glares enough." His tone was light, humorous, a far cry from the broken tone from earlier.

Gu Zhi nodded, satisfied, and with a last squeeze of her hand, Zuko left, shoulders tense. She watched him go, feeling a little sadder, a little happier, and a little more worldly-wise as the door closed behind him.

Azula

The note felt heavy in her hand as she walked quickly through the hallway to the training area. She passed the prison, where her mother's body lay entombed until another burial could be decided upon. She tried not to think about how Lu Ten hadn't given her mother a second thought, without regard for Azula's feeling.

Even though she was a monster—didn't she deserve a proper burial? Or was a concubine not even deserving of that.

Azula didn't believe her mother committed suicide for a second, despite what she'd said to Zuko and Katara. Despite all the displays of bravado, the concubine Tiang was far too cowardly to kill herself. Someone else did it. Azula was sure of it. And though she had no proof, she was almost sure of it. Did she die in the struggle with Uncle Iroh? Was she killed by a guard?

Though the mystery perplexed her, Azula didn't care to find out who actually did it.

Her father had made a point to explain that useless things, even things that we cared about, must be discarded for the greater good. And her mother, had apparently outlived her usefulness in his eyes. Despite her hatred for the situation, she didn't want to believe that her father killed her mother—she wanted to believe that they'd loved each other at some point in their 16 year-long relationship. They had to. Otherwise the very foundation on which Azula was raised—the words she'd teased and tormented Zuko with, the words that got his bending taken away in the first place—were all built on a lie.

She made her way to the palace's rookery, where the messenger hawks were sent out. The rookery was housed in a tall tower of the palace's northernmost outer wall. She chose to cover her nose at the smell of excrement, though she wanted to cover her ears at the sound of the cries of the birds calling to each other from their cages. The guards reinstated by Lu Ten bowed to her as she entered, and she ignored them, quickly finding the Bird Master, the head of all the birds and workers in the rookery.

"I need a letter delivered." She said, quietly, motioning the man to separate from the rest of his workers. The men gave them a wide berth, not daring to listen to their conversation.

The Bird Master was a short, squattish man, who aside from his height, resembled a bird himself. With long fingers and a crooked nose, he looked like he could inhabit the very place he watched over. "Of course, Princess." He replied, bowing. "To Miss Tylee?"

"No." She said, keeping her voice low, though she knew it was impossible to be overheard. "I need you to deliver a letter to the Lucheng Ferry making its way to the town of Shi in the Earth Kingdom."

"The Lucheng Ferry?" He asked, beady black eyes wide.

She rolled her eyes, not liking to repeat herself. "Yes—and I need it done discreetly. I need it to be delivered to a young man—give this to the bird." Azula ordered, brushing her hair from her face as she pulled a piece of fabric from her pocket.

The torn orange fabric was the last thing she'd saved of Jet's from the shirt she'd ripped off him before…after the trial...alone in her room. It still smelled like him, earthy and marked by his sweat—by the scent of him. Once she gave this away, she'd lose her last physical piece of him…of any memory of her failed attempt to rebel—of any reminder that what they had was even real.

Though the Bird Master looked confused, he took the object and the letter without question, tying them together with a string from his desk and calling forth a large black messenger hawk from the top of the roost. It floated down, landing with a great gust of air blowing into her face onto the Bird Master's shoulder. "It will be done."

Azula nodded, satisfied. "And not a word to my father. Or you'll become food for the hawks yourself—they'll pick at your entrails in the garbage heap." She threatened, and with a pleased smile, watched as sweat began to form on the man's brow and his heart sped up.

Nice to know I didn't go completely soft. You didn't change me that much, Jet.

You didn't.

Azula didn't look back as she left the rookery, but the call of a hawk as she walked outside, made her look up to see it flying into the sun, it's black wings blocking the yellow orb for only a moment. She could barely see the bright orange against its glare. But it was there—and if the message got to him—he'd know that it was from her. She didn't doubt the message would get to him, but she did wonder if Jet would actually read what she wrote, instead of pushing her away again.

Slowly, steadily, she returned to her room. Past the prison where her mother's body lay, alone and forgotten, and past the room where her mother had once lay her head alongside her father's. Perhaps…she was more affected than she wanted to let on.

No.

But as the servants came in to get her ready in proper mourning clothes, Azula mindlessly went through the motions, not caring which way they pulled her head or her hair, what they'd put on her—she caught a couple of confused glances being exchanged at her silence and placid behavior but chose not to care. She wouldn't care. Not at all.

Not about anyone.

Freedom Fighter—

I know I'm the last person you want to hear from—I'm not surprised. But you must understand, I tried to save your life that night. You knew I was selfish. I couldn't let those around me kill you. But things have changed. My mother is dead. I wish I'd run with you when I had the chance. It's probably the only thing I've ever regret in my entire life.

Even if you don't reply yourself—have Bee do it, I don't care.

Just let me know you're alive.

Somehow. Please.

Princess.

Poor everyone…not much has happened this chapter, but these relationships are complicated and I wanted to show how everyone is dealing with the new changes, and I'll probably spend this chapter and next chapter doing this as we lead up to Lu Ten's coronation. Hope you guys like it!

Please leave a review telling me what you think! They make me so happy, we're almost to 1,000!

Love you all! Have a wonderful day! Mwah 3

LM