Disclaimer: Neither Avatar: the Last Airbender nor its characters belong to me, nor will they ever

With the harvest season over, Zuko was right: he had fewer meetings, and the palace was quiet again as nobles returned to their homes outside the city; only a few lingered in the common courtyards. But fewer meetings seemed to equate to more work as Zuko had spent the last few weeks analyzing every proposal his councilmen had submitted for review.

"How do you decide which ones to make law?" Katara asked one night.

"They're not all new laws; some are just amendments," Zuko answered. She had accompanied him to his office after dinner and was helping him organize the proposals by subject. "But I try to took at what's already in place; how the proposals would change things, or how they would benefit people; how much it would cost; what it would require to enforce. If it's something I decide to consider, I'll bring it to a councilmember or two who are knowledgeable on the subject, whether it's taxes or crime prevention or public programs, and we'll work on it some more. These usually end up as the first of many drafts…or in the fireplace," he added, a scowl on his face as he stared at the large pile of scrolls.

"Wouldn't it be more efficient if you had…maybe small groups of councilmen who specialized in these subjects who could review and weed out submissions, maybe even rework them before they were brought to you?"

"In theory, yes. But it comes back to the issue we talked about before: most of my current council are self-serving. I don't trust them enough. I fear they would weed out proposals that would affect their pockets negatively. Another reason why I think a council of elected men and women would be better."

"Women, too? Really?"

"Why not? Some of the smartest people I know are women. Most of the conniving and cruel people I know are men."

Katara couldn't help but think of the women of court, and she winced. Though she was relieved they were gone for the next few weeks, their hurtful words still sat in the pit of her stomach. "Women can be conniving and cruel, too."

He looked up at her, brow furrowed. He stood and circled his desk, holding his hand out to her. "I think that's enough for tonight."

She didn't argue with him. She took his hand and let him lead her from the office, a new feeling developing in her stomach as he laced their fingers together. Though Zuko had been working hard, and often late, they had been spending more time together, doing as they had tonight. Or taking rides into the country—he'd been right; learning to ride her tigerillo had been easy and provided a nice escape. Or training. Or taking incognito trips into the city. Even on days where he left early in the morning to meet with generals, he made it a point to find her when he returned, if only to say hello and kiss her fingers or brush his across her jaw, an extraordinary change from when he was seemingly avoiding her in the weeks before the Earth Kingdom visit.

A few days ago, when this had happened, and Zuko had bowed and kissed her knuckles in the hall outside their rooms, she caught Jien with a big smile on her face.

"What?" She'd asked, looking from her lady-in-waiting's face to her husband's retreating form.

"Haven't you heard the rumors, my lady?" Jien asked quietly.

Her stomach had clenched thinking of the women of court. "What rumors?"

Jien leaned close. "That the Fire Lord is very much in love with his new bride."

Katara had felt her face flush immediately but had been struck speechless.

Zuko in love? With her? No. Did he care for her? Yes, she believed that easily. Was he attracted to her? Maybe. But love? She decided that could not be true.

But as he led her down the quiet halls, and as her stomach clenched and flipped, she couldn't help but wonder at the changes that had occurred since the kisses they'd shared a few weeks ago. Yes, they'd kissed since, but Zuko seemed to reign himself in, never kissing her too long or too hard before pulling away. She bit her lip, wishing he would stop pulling away, but she was also still unsure of her own feelings. She knew the passion and excitement she was feeling was infatuation, but was it the beginnings of love? Or was it something else, something fleeting and temporary?

"It drives me crazy when you do that."

She was startled from her reverie and looked up to find them already in their rooms. "What?"

"When you bite your lip like that."

He leaned close, pressing her back against the door. Her heart began to beat furiously; she thought it might explode as his mouth found hers. He kissed her fervently at first, pressing his body to hers, but then he slowed down, his kiss becoming more deliberate and less heated. Then he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her temple.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his fingers at her throat.

Her face burned and she hoped her pulse wasn't giving her away.

He tilted her face up towards his.

She searched his face but it was unreadable. She reached to stroke his cheek, her fingertips grazing the edge of his scar. "I'm fine, Zuko."

Holding her gaze, he tapped his fingers on her pulse gently. His eyes narrowed and his lips twitched…smugly? Was he feeling smug?

She pushed away from him, her chest aching.

"Oh, Katara, I'm sorry. I didn't—" He took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up towards him. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, kissing her again.

This time when he pulled away, she mustered the courage to ask, "Zuko…do you want me?"

His whole body went rigid in her arms. "What?"

"I mean, do you want to be with me? In that way?"

"Katara, I said we'd wait 'til you're ready."

"I know. But I want to know if it's what you want, too."

He stepped away, turning his back to her and rubbing the back of his neck.

She wanted to say something, explain herself further, but she bit her tongue, giving him time to think.

"Why?" he asked suddenly.

She pursed her lips, not ready to tell him why yet. "Do…do you love me?"

He took another step back, and she took that as her answer, moving to brush past him. He grabbed her arm. "Katara, wait."

She tried to pull away, but he pulled her into his arms, pressing his chest to her back and pinning her arms to her sides.

"Why do you ask, Katara?"

She sighed, accepting one of them was going to have to give in and say something. She felt like she was going to be sick, and she was grateful she couldn't see his face as she whispered, "Because I think I might love you, but I'm scared that I don't, that this is all just physical and nothing more. But when you kiss me like that…."

For a moment, she wondered if he'd heard her. He didn't move or release her or respond. But then he pressed his lips to her neck. "It's not just physical. Not to me."

That was acceptable, she decided. She couldn't force his feeling out of him; she couldn't force him to say something he wasn't ready to say, especially if she wasn't ready to say it either. So she turned in his arms, kissed him, and went to change for bed.

"What else is bothering you?"

"Nothing."

He crawled into bed beside her and pulled back against him. "Tell me."

"I just…it's just…they—" Her mouth snapped shut suddenly.

"What? Who's 'they'?"

"Never mind, forget it."

"Katara, you mean that Earth Kingdom ass—"

"Your court, Zuko. I'm referring to your court. There are…a lot of people who share the same opinion as that ass. You don't have to listen to the gossip that circulates rampantly, but I do. It's terrible, what they say, and I tried to ignore it, but I just can't do it anymore—"

"What gossip?"

She sniffed. "They say that…that because I haven't…conceived yet…that I must not be that good…in bed, and that you're probably much happier with another woman—"

"Katara, I'm not—"

"No, I know. But it still gets to me, Zuko. I can't help it."

"We have time," he said. He took a deep breath and decided to risk speaking his mind. He reached for her, turning her over to face him. As he wiped the water from her cheeks, he said, "Katara…I don't want to just have sex with you. And I don't want you to just…lie there because it's your duty and…. I want to make love to you, Katara. I want you to experience it the way it's supposed to be experienced. And I don't think we're ready for that just yet."

She nodded, and he wiped her tears back into her hair and kissed her forehead. She knew he was right, but that didn't soothe the inexplicable ache in her heart.

"I was thinking," she said suddenly. "What if I reviewed the proposals on, say, education? It would lighten your load, give me something to focus on and be involved in, and I could come to you with—"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"I mean, only if that's what you want, but I would…appreciate that."

She nodded. "I've been wanting to become more…active."

"Katara, I think that's a great idea. If something were to happen, you'd be in charge anyway, so—" He froze suddenly.

"What?"

He sighed.

"I'll be in charge? In charge of what?"

His face was impassive as he just stared at her before finally admitting, "On our wedding day, I signed documents that, if something were to happen to me, would leave you as the reigning monarch."

"What? But…I'm not of royal blood. I—I'm not Fire Nation."

"You are now. You're married to me."

"But—"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell you like this." He took a deep breath and stroked her cheek. "Traditionally, if a Fire Lord dies without leaving an heir, the crown is passed to his nearest blood relative. That would be Uncle; but he's getting old. He can't, and he doesn't want the job. There's no precedent for the Fire Lord having no relatives. If…if we do have a—have an heir and something happens to me, you will serve as regent until he or she is of age. That's standard. But if we don't, you'll be the reigning Fire Lord, and I've left a plan for you to convert the government from an absolute monarchy to a republic. That way, there's no fighting over the crown."

She swallowed. "Why…why didn't you tell me?"

"You've had enough to worry about these past couple of months. I just wanted to wait till you were more…settled."

"That's…you're putting a lot of faith in me."

"I know. And I'm sorry. But I do trust you, more than anyone, and I have people in place to help you if it comes to that."

"You do?"

He nodded. "Of course. I wouldn't leave you without some guidance—"

"No, I meant…you…you trust me more than anyone?"

He looked down. "Yes." After a moment, he added, "I sleep beside you, don't I?"

She kissed him gently, overwhelmed with everything they'd discussed. Yet the ache in her heart throbbed steadily, and she wasn't any surer of her own feelings.

Iroh returned to the Capitol, and though it was now winter, the oppressive heat remained. It became too hot to ride during midday; even trips to the market were unbearable. Most afternoons she lounged in one of the courtyards designated for swimming; she found it incredibly fulfilling teaching Jien and a few other ladies-in-waiting how to swim. Iroh tried to convince her drinking hot tea would actually cool her down, but she did not believe him. Her office was now piled high with scrolls about education reform, and she found she loved the research involved in reviewing every submission.

Katara was in her office one morning, looking over the paperwork for a new all-nations school Zuko had commissioned, a place for all children, no matter their station or nationality. The proposal was actually a request for more money, but the numbers weren't adding up. There should have been funds for an additional ten teachers, which would mean more students, but they were missing. She was looking over the invoices again when a knock at the door startled her.

"Come in."

"Katara, will you please join me for lunch in my tearoom tomorrow afternoon?"

"Of course, Uncle. Is everything alright?"

The older man smiled. "Of course. Can I not just desire the company of my beautiful niece?"

Katara narrowed her eyes. "You can, but I know you, Uncle."

He just laughed. "See you soon, my dear."

When she walked into Iroh's tearoom the next day, she found Zuko was there but Iroh was not.

"He asked you to lunch, too?" he asked her, suspicion evident on his face.

She nodded.

A servant came and served tea and a light lunch, and Iroh still did not come. Zuko had brought work with him and seated himself at Iroh's desk.

"Should we leave?" she asked.

"No, he asked us here for a reason. He'll be upset with me if we are not here when he decides to arrive."

"Just you?"

He looked up at her, a slight smirk on her face. "Just me."

"He wasn't at breakfast this morning, either," she pointed out.

"Probably working on his scheme."

She found a scroll on one of Iroh's shelves and curled up on the window seat to await Uncle's arrival.

"Okay, you two. I have it all arranged. Time for you to go."

Katara looked up from her reading at Uncle's announcement. He had strolled into the room in a flurry, a lopsided grin on his face.

She noticed Zuko had torn his gaze from his work at the intrusion as well. "What are you going on about, Uncle?"

"I have planned a trip for you. It is time you get out of the palace."

Zuko scoffed and his focus returned to his work. "That's not funny. I don't have time for a vacation. You know that better than anyone."

Katara returned to her own scroll, only slightly disappointed.

"I'm not joking, Nephew. You haven't had a break in years, and Katara has barely left the palace these few months. You two are going to Ember Island."

They both looked up again.

"What?" Zuko asked.

Iroh began to speak slowly, as if Zuko were a dunce. "Next week, you and Katara will have been married for six months. That is a milestone to be celebrated…in most marriages, anyway. So I think it will be good for you two to get away from the palace and the bustle of the city and, especially, your bothersome council. Some time away will be good for you."

"I can't. We can't. I'm sorry, Uncle. My council returns in two weeks, and I—"

"You leave in two days," Iroh stated, sitting down at the tea table.

"Uncle, I said no."

"And I said, you are going. Katara, wouldn't you like to go on vacation?"

She did, and normally she would have no problem voicing her opinion, but the prospect of vacationing with a fowl-mood Zuko wasn't necessarily appealing, nor was it worth her honesty. "If Zuko's busy—"

"I did not ask you to consider Zuko's desires, I asked if you would like to get out of the city for a week." Iroh pinned her with his steely gold eyes. "Please answer honestly."

Katara looked at Zuko helplessly.

"Do not look at Zuko for guidance. Answer for yourself."

She scowled at Iroh. "Don't be so pushy," she snapped suddenly, standing. "Yes, okay. Of course I want to get out of this city, but I do not want to go on vacation if the Fire Lord is going to be grumpy and complain about how much work he has to do back home and just be totally miserable the entire time—which he will. If that is the case, then I would rather be locked up in here for an entire week than be stuck with him…on an island…alone. Thank you, Uncle, for the consideration and the generous offer, but Zuko's too much of a stick in the mud for us to deter from our schedules even the slightest—the spirits forbid we be gone a week! The Fire Nation would burn down completely, I think. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do."

Having stated her piece on the matter, she left the living room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Iroh turned around to frown at his nephew. "Yes, because she's a happy bride," he stated sarcastically.

"What do you want from me, Uncle? I can't help it if I have—"

"Are you saying taking a week off will bring the Fire Nation crumbling down?"

Zuko's expression darkened. "It might."

"Have you ever thought all this 'work' might be taking a toll on Katara, the same toll it takes on you? She has been at this job far less time than you; she is not as used to the workload and the pressure. And she has the added pressure of conceiving an heir by the New Year—"

"Uncle—"

"I'm just saying, it is not only about you any longer. You have a wife to think about now."

"You think I don't know that?"

"Sometimes, I don't think you do."