Katara stared at the ceiling as she lay in bed. The schedule the palace had her on was not conducive to a healthy sleeping pattern; it had been late when she'd finally been allowed to retreat to her room for the night, and the sun would be rising again before she knew it. Like the rest of the palace, it, too, was beautiful. A painting covered the space; there were mountains, tress, and flowers, and a red dragon wove himself in and out of clouds.

Three days. In three days, she would be marrying Zuko.

This was the last day she was allowed to see him before the wedding, but at this point, she didn't think a day or week or even a year really mattered much. At this point, she just wanted to be done with it.

Morning was still a while away, but she couldn't sleep. She crept out of bed and slipped into a dressing robe. One of her night attendants was outside her door, but she told her she was just going to the garden and wished to be alone. The woman sat back down, but her eyes followed Katara down the hall nervously.

The palace was still asleep; only the occasional guard on patrol roamed the halls, and they paid her little attention. By now, she was used to navigating the palace for the most part, but she still got turned around sometimes. The garden she found herself in was the last one Zuko had shown her; his favorite garden, she remembered. His mother's garden.

She was barefoot, but the cool grass beneath her feet was comforting and soft. She sat under a rather large tree, its branches stretching out over the pond in front of it, and she leaned against it. Torches lit the dark hallways of the sleeping palace, but the garden was dark; the half-moon provided only some natural light. But there was something about the moonlight, and the soft breeze rustling the leaves in the trees, and the damp grass that was soothing and calming. Breathing was much easier out here than it was in her room.

Her thoughts, she found, drifted toward Zuko's mother. This had been her place, she was sure, and she could see why. In a chaotic palace, this garden was a much-needed escape. Katara had only heard a little about the former Fire Lady, and Zuko had only mentioned her in passing these last few years. She knew he was still looking for her—Zuko wasn't exactly one to give up—but he'd never mentioned anything about his search.

Part of her hoped she was still alive—one of them should have a mother, after all—but another part of her questioned what kind of mother would just leave her children like she had.

She then found herself thinking of Zuko's remaining family members: Ozai and Azula. She knew Zuko had them locked up—Ozai in a high security prison and Azula in a private guarded hospital—but other than that, she knew little of their respective conditions.

She did not pity Zuko; pity would be the last thing he'd ever want from her. Her heart did ache for him, though. He had been through so much in so few years. The Spirits had not dealt him an easy hand. But he handled every problem he encountered in stride.

She didn't know how he did it.

And she didn't know if she'd be able to do it at his side.

She would marry him, yes, willingly. But she did not love him. And she honestly didn't know if she ever would.

A knock on her bedroom door startled Katara from sleep. After spending a few hours in the garden last night, she had wandered back to her room and was able to finally fall asleep. She frowned as she pushed her covers back and went to see who was disturbing her. It was barely light out and she had hoped for a bit more sleep. She had told Jien this.

But as she wrenched the door open, she was shocked to see Zuko standing there, already dressed for the day in casual pants and a tunic.

Immediately, she regretted not putting on her dressing robe; instead, she was standing there in a thin, short, revealing slip. She could feel heat rising in her cheeks as she struggled to control herself.

"Z-Zuko…what are you doing here?"

He seemed just as thrown and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I—I'm sorry. I woke you, didn't I?"

She lifted one shoulder. "It's all right. Did you need something?"

"I…I had just been thinking…I wanted to know if you might want to spend the day together. I know it's been busy around here, and today will be our last opportunity to spend any time together before the wedding. I thought it…might be a good idea."

"You mean…all day?"

"Yeah…I thought we could leave the palace, just take some time for ourselves. It can be overwhelming at times."

"Well, that's true." She looked up at him and studied his face. It was unreadable. "All right," she consented. "I think that would be…nice. May I get dressed?"

"Of course. Would you like to just meet me at the northern stables when you ready?"

"Sure, I—wait, stables? What, exactly, are we doing?"

She could have sworn she saw him smirk. "You'll see."

She watched him as he disappeared down the still-dark palace halls, and she bit her cheeks at the decidedly smug swing in his step. But he could be smug; she didn't care. She was just relieved at the prospect of getting out of the stifling walls of her new home.

In her wardrobe, she immediately bypassed all of the long dresses and anything that looked the least bit tight or hot. She settled on loose fitting cropped pants, a sleeveless top, and sandals. After she'd washed her face and cleaned her teeth, she decided her hair was beyond hope and quickly braided it as she left for the stables. It was a miracle she remembered where they were, but she found them easily enough and was greeted by a couple solemn-looking stable hands.

Zuko came out of one of the stalls, leading a large animal behind him. She recognized it as a komodo-rhino.

"Oh, no."

He looked up at her. "What?"

"I am not riding that…that thing."

He sighed. "Come on, Katara."

"I—I don't know how to ride."

"It's really not that difficult," he said as he mounted the animal. He then held his hand down to her. "Besides, you'll be riding it with me."

"You mean I don't get my own?"

"I thought you didn't know how to ride."

"I—I don't, but—"

"Just…take my hand, Katara."

She stared up at him for a while longer before she did as he bade. He hoisted her up into the saddle and set her in front of him, his hands gripping the reigns on either side of her waist. He urged the komodo-rhino out of the stables. With a heel-kick to its side, the animal took off.

Katara gripped the saddle horn in front of her with a steely grip and she thought she heard Zuko laugh behind her. For being so fast, the animal's stride was surprisingly steady. Zuko handled it with ease, guiding the animal through the green lands that spread for miles behind the palace. The sun had already risen but the light was still soft and calm. She had seen a lot of the Fire Nation over the years during her travels, but growing up she had always pictured the land as more befitting of its name. She found it to be far more green and fertile than she had ever pictured it to be, and her previously held notions were still hard to shake at times.

After a few minutes, Katara could feel herself start to relax. She leaned against Zuko's chest and closed her eyes. The sunlight on her face was warm and the breeze, cool; both lulled her back to sleep. She woke just as Zuko slowed the animal's pace. They were in the foothills of lush, green mountains, and he stopped and dismounted at the bank of a river. He held his arms out to help her down before tying the komodo-rhino to a tree.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Just in the lands behind the palace. Technically, this is public property, but there isn't a town for miles and people don't come out here that often."

"Oh."

He removed a small sack from the saddlebag and held it up. "I brought breakfast." He laid a blanket down before unpacking the bag. They sat and he gave her bread and cheese and fruit and a flask of juice.

"I'm impressed," she admitted.

He smirked slightly. "What?"

"With your preparedness."

"Ah…I've surprised you."

"Yes…you keep doing that."

He shrugged. "I had lunch and dinner packed, as well…just in case."

"We'll be gone all day?"

He nodded. "That's the plan. Unless you want to go back—"

"No!" she practically shouted. "I mean, no, that's all right. I don't mind."

The corner of his mouth pulled suddenly but it quickly fell back in place.

"Why do you do that?" she surprised herself by asking.

He looked up at her, his brow furrowed. "Do what?"

"You…it's like you're about to smile but then…then it's like you stop yourself."

He frowned. "I…I do that?"

She nodded. "You do."

"I…I've never noticed."

"You do it a lot. I don't think I've seen you smile…in a long time."

He looked away, and neither of them said anything for a while. The silence wasn't completely uncomfortable; each just got lost in his or her thoughts. Katara lay down on the blanket, plucking at blades of grass above her head.

"What do they have you doing?" she asked.

"Pardon?"

"With the wedding. I'm inspecting centerpieces and color choices and seating charts. Are you doing anything?"

"I…I haven't been asked to."

She laughed. She couldn't help herself. "They're not supposed to ask you. You tell them and they do whatever you say."

"Oh," he said.

She propped herself up on her elbows and bit her lip. "Do you just not care?"

"I…care. I mean, I've never put much thought into it before, but I do care."

"It's your wedding, too," she pointed out.

He thought about that for a moment. She was right, of course, but he'd never really thought of it that way. Finally, he said, "I picked out the food."

She looked up at him. "You did?"

He grimaced. "Well, not entirely. They showed me the menu a couple weeks ago—they had to order the meat and other ingredients in bulk—and they only had Fire Nation food on the list. I insisted dishes from every nation be served. It is, after all, a multicultural celebration."

"I…I didn't know that."

Zuko pulled out a small knife and began peeling the skin off a mango. Suddenly, he asked, "Are…are you happy?"

She started. "What?"

"I mean, have you been pleased with your arrangements? Do you like your ladies-in-waiting? Are the wedding arrangements…satisfying? I could always have something changed—"

"No," she insisted. "Everything's been fine. No, it's been more than fine, really. Jein and the other girls…they're wonderful. I'm not used to all the personal attention, but they've learned to adjust according to my needs. It's not as overwhelming as it was in the beginning. And as for the wedding…I don't know, maybe I wouldn't have chosen certain…aspects myself, but I know they'll be beautiful. There's no need to change anything now; there's too little time."

He nodded but his eyes remained on the blade and yellow fruit in his hands.

"Zuko…can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Why…why did you get so upset with me the other day…in the training room?"

He looked up at her, his brow furrowed. "I wasn't upset with you."

"Well, clearly you weren't pleased with me. All I was trying to do was help."

He sighed and his jaw clenched and unclenched. "I know," he said quietly.

She laid back down as she realized that was all he was going to say on the matter. She could see healthy communication was going to be a problem.

Katara closed her eyes and when she opened them again, she realized she'd fallen asleep and some time had passed. She sat up and spotted Zuko sitting a distance away. He was meditating. She got up and walked to the river. After she removed her sandals, she stepped into the water and her feet sank into the dark mud. She smiled. Mud always—without a doubt—reminded her of Toph. It also reminded her of instances in nature where elements worked together. Water and Earth created mud. Air and Water worked together to erode and renew the Earth. She looked over her shoulder, back at Zuko, and tried to think of when Water and Fire worked together. No instances came to mind. Water put out Fire or Fire consumed Water. She sighed. This arrangement was a mistake in more ways than one; even nature told her so.

Katara was standing in the middle of the river practicing her bending forms when Zuko approached the riverbank.

"Come on," he said. "Let's spar."

She looked at him. "What?"

"I'm sure we could both use the practice. Well, maybe just you. When's the last time you fought?"

"It's…been awhile," she admitted. Then she remembered she hadn't really gotten any real practice in since arriving in the Fire Nation.

She blinked and suddenly a fire disc was flying towards her head. Instinctively, she ducked and shot up a water wall. She could hear the hissing of steam as the fire and water met and with a flick of her wrists, she brought the water crashing down. "Zuko!" she shouted. "I wasn't ready."

He stared at her, a victorious gleam in his eyes. "When has an enemy ever asked if you were ready?"

She straightened. "I see. Well, if that's how you want to play…."

The sparring match began. The release felt good. Zuko was a good fighter so there was no need to hold back. She began to work up a sweat but it didn't bother her. At one point, she had Zuko pinned to a tree with some ice daggers and she had to laugh at the irony of it; even Zuko almost smiled, relaying he saw the irony, too. But he quickly broke free and she was back on the defense. She barely missed getting hit by a fire stream, but the heat sent her flying into the river. The cold shocked her system and she broke through the surface gasping for air. Zuko was already knee-deep in water, a concerned expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, Katara! Are you alright?"

She pushed her wet hair out of her face, perturbed. "I'm fine," she said.

"Katara—"

She sighed. "I said I'm fine, Zuko." With a swipe of her hand, she tugged at the current of the water and Zuko's feet went out from underneath him; he went sprawling into the water.

She began to laugh at his expression, a mix of shock and outrage. He quickly stood, trying to regain his composure, but she couldn't stop laughing.

"Real nice, Katara," he grumbled as he climbed out of the river.

"Oh, lighten up," she said. "Just having a little fun."

He stood looking down at her and he shook water from his hair and began to wring his clothes out. Her laughter started anew as he removed his boots and poured a stream of water out. The look on his face told her he was not amused.

Finally, she stood and made her way out of the water. "It's just a little water."

"Easy for you to say, Waterbender. I do not enjoy being wet."

She smirked. "Well then…good thing you don't have to be."

She dried them both simultaneously, pulling the water from their hair and clothes and from the depths of his other boot, depositing it all back into the river.

He looked up at her and she hoped he could see the triumph she was feeling. He merely nodded in gratitude.

"What was it you were saying?" she probed.

"Never mind."

She smiled.

They made their way back to the picnic blanket and Zuko removed a piece of fruit to feed to the rhino-rhino. The beast ate greedily before returning to its nap. Zuko pat its neck affectionately before returning and sitting beside her.

"Is it hard to ride?" she asked.

"No. I could teach you, if you'd like."

She shook her head quickly. "No, that's alright."

"They're intimidating at first, but it's much better than a palanquin."

"I'd much rather walk, anyway." She picked up one of the scrolls he had packed and was pleased to see a Waterbending scroll amongst political mandates and proposals. "Will anyone be looking for us?" she asked suddenly.

"I told Uncle of my plans, and I'm sure he will inform your family."

She hadn't even thought of telling anyone she was leaving. She had just gotten up and left with him. As long as Uncle knew where they were, she supposed it was all right, but she wondered how often Zuko could simply pick up and leave without informing someone or even asking permission. She knew he more or less reported to some of his council members, but he was still the Fire Lord. Ultimately, he could do as he pleased…right?

"Are you allowed to leave the palace whenever you wish?"

He looked up at her. "Yes."

"You don't have to tell anyone you're leaving…or ask permission?"

He snorted. "No, I don't. If I decide to leave the palace unescorted, usually I inform someone—usually the captain of the guard—but I don't have to. I certainly don't ask for anyone's permission."

"And if you wish to leave the Fire Nation?"

He paused. "That's a little more complicated. It's not so much that I need permission, but I do need to leave the Fire Nation in a state where it'd be okay should something happen either in my absence or should something happen to me. It's about preparation. It's a lot harder to just pick up and leave the nation than it is for me to just walk out of the palace."

She nodded. "And me?"

He frowned. "What about you?"

"Will I just be able to leave the palace?

He paused again and sighed.

She sighed, too. "Is that a 'no'?"

"No, it's not…but it won't be as simple as walking out for you. The Fire Nation still has some archaic traditions regarding women…especially women of nobility. Common women are free to roam the streets unescorted and for the most part they go about their business unbothered, but there are different expectations for noble women. They're expected to be escorted and to only venture into certain parts of the city."

"So if I wanted to leave the palace, I'd have to be escorted? By whom?"

"Well, traditionally, your husband. So I guess by me. But palace guards could escort you, as well."

She nodded, acknowledging his answer, but she didn't say anything in response. She figured she'd be under heavy supervision, but not to this extent, not to the extent where she feared suffocation.

"And if I wanted to leave the Fire Nation? After I've given birth to a male heir, of course."

Her flippant tone threw him off for a moment, but finally he said coolly, "The Fire Lady isn't allowed to leave the Fire Nation without the Fire Lord, the exception being a national state of emergency."

"Did you set these rules?"

"No, I didn't."

She was trying, and failing, to control her emotions, but she managed to ask in a quiet voice, "Could you change them?"

He studied her face for a moment, his expression softening. Then he reached over and took her clenched fist into his hand, pressing his thumb into her palm, forcing her to relax. "I can't," he said quietly, "but maybe together we can. I promise you to try."

She swallowed and nodded. It was a start, at least. "Zuko, can I ask you one more thing?"

"Of course."

"Honestly…do you think I'm the…right choice?"

He studied her face silently for a moment. "What are you talking about?"

"It's just…I'm totally wrong for this. First of all, I'm Water Tribe, I'm a Waterbender. I'm not of noble birth, I know nothing of Fire Nation culture or tradition…."

"There's more to it than that—"

"And I hated the Fire Nation. For so long, I hated the Fire Nation. I hated everything and…everyone associated with it." She looked at him, her expression pained but sincere. "I hated you," she whispered. "And the anger and bitterness and hatred that I clung to nearly consumed me. I just don't think I'm really the best choice. Don't get me wrong, I'm not backing out or anything, but you need the best for your country. I just…I worry…."

She looked up at Zuko and could have sworn there was a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"What?"

"Katara," he interrupted. "I'm not quite sure how the council picked you. I'm not sure how the decision was made, what they took into consideration, what their criterion was. But do you know how I know you are the best choice?"

She held her breath. "How?"

"Because here we are, days before you're to be married to a man you do not love and who—you said so yourself—you used to hate, but instead of worrying about yourself, instead of wallowing in self pity, your concern is for the Fire Nation, a nation you hated, a nation that is not your own. You want the best for it before you have any duty to it. That's how I know you are the best choice."

"But…am I the best choice for you?"

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is…I know we get along now, I know we're friends now, but we weren't always. Will…will you be happy with me?"

He frowned and after a minute said, "I…I think so. I can't see myself being unhappy with you."

She bit her lip. "Okay, just…just one more question, if that's alright."

He nodded.

"Why…why didn't you marry Mai?"

He looked up at her sharply, his eyes guarded and hard. He was very silent, and he clenched his jaw in a way that relayed he would not be answering her. But, to her surprise, he swallowed and said, "You'll hate me even more when I tell you."

She held her breath. "I don't hate you, Zuko."

"You will." He sighed. "I didn't—I decided not to marry Mai because…I didn't love her."

Her eyes grew wide. "But you don't love me!" she blurted before she could stop herself.

He couldn't meet her gaze. "This is where that 'hate' will come in. I decided since I didn't love Mai, an arranged political marriage would be the best and…easiest solution. I thought—through marriage—I could do something good by uniting two peoples. My life—my personal life—has always been like…sacrificial pai-sho tiles: unimportant, yet still vital to the game. My political life is what people care about. So marriage to a foreign noble woman…it would have been just another aspect of the game. I didn't care…until I found out you had been chosen." He looked up at her, his eyes revealing his earnest. "I would never have allowed you to get dragged into this had I known. My personal life may mean nothing, but yours…yours does. But by the time I found out, it was done. There was nothing I could do without causing…an international incident."

She hesitated, still trying to process this news. "Does…it matter to you that it's me?"

"You matter to me, Katara," he stated simply. "It's just…I didn't want you to be a pawn, too. They—my council—compiled a list of names of eligible young women and you…you were on it, and with your involvement in the war and everything, they picked you."

She nodded silently.

He stared at her for a moment before speaking. "Would it be too bold of me to say that, selfishly, I'm glad they chose you."

Her eyes snapped up, searching his face questioningly. "Why?"

"I know you. And I trust you. I wouldn't want to rule beside a woman I did not know and trust, let alone sleep beside one."

She felt color rise in her cheeks, but she nodded in understanding.

"Now can I ask you something?"

She looked at him and nodded.

"Why didn't you marry Aang?"

"W-what?"

He repeated his question.

"Aang and I…we broke up years ago," she said as way of explanation.

"I know, but why?"

She sighed. She had been dreading this conversation, but it was inevitable. Finally, she said, "I didn't want to get married."

"What?" He sounded incredulous.

"Although I was with Aang—we were dating, and I liked him—I didn't want to marry him, or anyone else for that matter."

"At all?"

She shook her head. "At least not for a while."

He paused, his brow furrowed. "Can I ask why?"

She was quiet a moment before she answered. "I've never been on my own," she said.

"I…I'm not sure I follow."

"Growing up, I had my parents, my grandmother, Sokka…and then there was the war, and I lived with my friends…and then after the war, I was back with Sokka and my father and I had…Aang." She sighed. "And I know everyone joked that I was the mom of the group, but, really, I was. And in retrospect that wasn't fair. I mean, I always knew I'd have to get married and have children—it's something I wanted for myself, don't get me wrong—but I thought I'd be able to do it in my own time."

"And Aang…?"

She smiled sadly. "Aang probably would have married me when we were still children. I don't think he understood what it would mean—what it would really mean—especially for me. Men…you don't lose your freedom in the way a woman does when you marry; it's more severe for us. He just…he didn't understand. He was eager to jump right in and I…wasn't."

She squirmed, a bit uncomfortable. "I mean, that was the main reason, at least."

He nodded, noting to himself that "main reason" meant that there were others, as well, but he did not push it. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"I thought we agreed—"

"Not for that. I'm sorry that you wanted a few years of independence and here you are, marrying me."

A corner of her mouth twisted. "Quite ironic."

"I guess it is. Can I tell you something amusing?"

"What?"

"You know one of the other women on that list."

"I do? Who was it?"

A corner of his mouth turned up. "Toph."

Katara started. "Toph? As in…Toph?"

He nodded.

Katara burst into laughter. "Spirits help the man that thought to put her name down if she finds out."

"Obviously he hadn't done his research," he said bluntly, and though the thought of marrying Toph scared him half to death, he saw the humor in the situation as well.

"Katara?" he asked after a while.

"Yes?"

He hesitated a moment before echoing her question, "Will you be happy with me?"

She looked at him, her heart aching but hopeful. She answered honestly, "I can't see myself being unhappy with you."