A/N: Revised on 4/15/18

2 years later

Katara is packing up her and Aang's stuff for their move to Republic City. Construction has finally been completed and the ribbon cutting ceremony is in the next few days. Although she's sure Aang will take them on many more adventures, Katara is happy to finally have a steady place to live. For the most part of her life she lived in a small tribe at the South Pole, but for the past 5 years she has been living out of her travel bag, unsure of where they'll end up next. Needless to say, it's taken its toll.

Aang has already taken the liberty of traveling ahead to their new home to transport one load of their things. He will be coming back later tonight for the remaining things, as well as Katara.

This is finally it, Katara thinks. A home.

During the time they had been traveling, Katara had been writing to Zuko. She would spill all of her thoughts into each letter to keep her occupied during the time she spent alone while Aang would be out conducting business. Zuko wouldn't be able to write back immediately, since they were constantly hopping around, but whenever they stopped back in Ba Sing Se there would always be a response waiting for her, one for each letter she had sent him. Despite their distance and the time gap between letters, their bond had grown incredibly strong. She looked forward to the annual assembly meetings, because it meant she was grounded for at least a week and actually able to spend time with whom she considered her best friend. Aang had no idea she was talking with Zuko so much. She wasn't necessarily hiding it, but Aang never took an interest in Katara's letters or what she did while he was away to hear about it. He would spill the stresses of his day onto her lap and revel in her comfort when she praised his hard work. Now, he was incredibly busy and doing an extraordinary amount of work, so it wasn't a lie when she'd praise him. Some days, it just felt like she was his therapist, where he could check in to complain and check out when he was done speaking about himself. But now, they're going to be in one place and can grow roots, and they can really establish themselves into a community. She hopes that this can be the glue that unifies them, helps them build their relationship as partners, as equals.

Katara opens the last drawer of clothes when she sees a small box in the back corner, behind some of Aang's things. Curious, she grabs the box and lifts the lid.

Inside is a water tribe betrothal necklace, instead with the airbending symbol carved into the stone.

The necklace falls from Katara's hands and lands in the drawer. Her hand covers her mouth as she takes in what she's just found. It shouldn't come as a surprise to her that after 5 years together Aang would expect them to marry.

What came as a shock was that, the instant Katara realized what it was, she knew she didn't want it.

Katara is still as a rock. It wouldn't be fair to Aang, who loves her so much, to simply break things off without warning. She did care for him, after all, enough to stay with him for this long, but not enough to commit to the rest of their lives. But then again, would it be so bad to marry him? He could take care of her, and maybe she could grow to truly love him.

It would be easier if she didn't already love another.

Katara walks to the stationary desk and pulls out a piece of parchment.

Zuko,

Aang will be proposing soon. Give me a reason to say no, and I will.

Love, Katara

1 month later

The national garden in Republic City is bustling with music and decorations as the citizens celebrate the Avatar's engagement. All of the food trucks within city limits have gathered along the paths surrounding the grounds, offering a wide variety of tastes to suit the wide variety of people. The trees have been filled with miniature lanterns of the entire spectrum of colors to illuminate the sky around them with a rainbow of lights. Laughing can be heard from all around as games are played at booths stationed throughout the greenery.

Aang and Katara are seated at a table in the middle of the gardens, meeting with anyone who would like to wish them good fortune or offer any gifts. Both of them are dressed in outfits traditional to their nation, a decision made to emphasize how their marriage will be interracial, the first of its kind in the new era, and to set a precedent on marriages moving onward.

Aang is in the middle of accepting a hand-woven wicker basket from an elderly citizen when he sees an entourage of Red Guards enter the gardens.

"Ladies and gentlemen, his majesty Fire Lord Zuko!"

The crowd applauds as Zuko approaches the couple. Aang smiles and greets him with an enthusiastic hug, thanking him for joining them. Zuko nods to Katara, who faintly nods in return. He turns back to Aang.

"Avatar Aang, congratulations on your recent engagement. On behalf of the fire nation, I would like to present you with a gift."

A massive carriage rolls to where they are standing, where it is then parked and two guards begin to unshackle the door.

"Wow, Zuko, this looks like it's going to be quite a large gift. You didn't have to go to such lengths."

"You'll be taking back those words in a second. On my recent adventure to Hira'a, I found something I thought you would thoroughly enjoy."

As the doors open, a herd of 5 sky bison calves fly out and around the trees, embracing the open air. The crowd gasps and cheers in awe. Katara turns to Aang, whose mouth is gaped open.

"You… but how did you…"

"You helped me rediscover the dragons, who were thought long gone by our generation. Now I repay the favor, in honor of the air nomads lost during my family's oppressive reign."

Aang begins to cry as the calves gather around Appa, who is just as excited to see the babies as the rest of the citizens in the audience. The calves bombard Appa with nuzzles and Appa responds with an animated roar. Aang joins in, petting and hugging the calves. He faces Zuko, still surrounded by the small creatures.

"I don't know how I could ever repay you. Thank you, Zuko."

Aang goes back to socializing with the animals. Zuko bows and then begins to exit the garden.

Now's my chance, thinks Katara. She follows Zuko out of the gates and, as his guards are about to round a corner ahead of them, she grabs his arm and yanks him into an alley between two shops.

"What are you doing?" Zuko asks and he pulls his arm out of Katara's grasp.

"You need to explain yourself."

"What, about the gift? I thought it was-"

"No, you idiot, about my letter!"

Zuko's face drops. "Ah, yes."

"You didn't write back," Katara says as her eyes begin to well up. "Why didn't you write back?"

Zuko sighs. "You… asked for a reason to say no."

"Exactly, and you couldn't think of one?"

"Katara, it's not that simple…"

"What's not simple? You've always responded to my letters, every single one of them! You just stopped caring about me, is that it?"

"No, that's not-"

"Well I have to assume that's the case since you didn't bother to respond!"

"If you would just listen-"

"No!" Katara yells at him. "You know, I gave you a wide open door for us to be together, and you made it very obvious that you don't want anything to do with me. What am I supposed to do with that? How am I supposed to see you and not-"

"Damn it, Katara, I love you!"

Katara's words stop in her throat. Her expression softens from that of anger to confusion. "You…"

"I love you." Zuko repeats as he stares down at his feet. "I've said it, alright? Now you know."

Katara looks at him in shock before speaking. "If that's true, then why didn't you write me back?"

"Because," says Zuko, "My feelings are not worth complicating your life."

"Zuko, you're not complicating my life," Katara walks closer to Zuko. "If anything, you've been part of the reason my life hasn't completely fallen apart at the seams. I realized that, now. I want this, I want us, because you are one of the best things in my life."

Zuko shakes his head. "It's too late, You've already announced your engagement to Aang. Ending things with him to be with me-"

"I'm not happy with him. Please…"

Katara grabs Zuko's hands with her face inches away from his. Zuko's mouth opens as though he's about to say something, but no words come out. Everything that needs to be said has already come out somehow as an unspoken truth between them. Sighing, Zuko drops his head down to meet hers. Their foreheads rest on one another as they stand in a silence that speaks volumes. Their moment is only interrupted by the sound of the red guards voicing orders to each other in the distance, trying to figure out where their Fire Lord went off.

"You go back to the Fire Nation Palace. I'll work things out here."

Katara can feel Zuko's body stiffen under her words. She opens her eyes to face him.

"Do you trust me?"

"With my life," Zuko responds honestly.

"Then wait for me."