"We should stop and get some supplies here, in Gangju, before we move out into the desert," Katara said. She pointed to a small village on the border of the Si Wong Desert at the base of the mountains on their map.

They were eating breakfast at a table in the inn before they departed. Through the windows the first golden rays of the sun were peeking through the light fog coming in from the sea. Zuko had woken Katara up just before dawn so they could leave when the sun rose. She hadn't been pleased to be awake that early but Zuko promised her breakfast in order to pacify her, and she had been happy enough with that. After they had cleaned up in the washroom and donned fresh travelling clothes, they had descended to the dining room.

When Zuko saw where she had indicated on the map, his blood ran cold.

He had been to that village in the past, when he had been a fugitive. He had separated from his uncle and stopped there for supplies, only to find the small village under the brutal thumb of a group of Earth Kingdom soldiers who were more bullies than they were fighters. The soldiers had terrorized the people of the town with oppression not unlike the rule of the Fire Nation.

Zuko remembered how he befriended a young boy who lived there. A boy named Lee, who's older brother had been sent to fight in the war. Zuko had ended up fighting the bully soldiers to free Lee after the headstrong boy had pulled a knife—the knife he had given him—on their leader.

He had nearly lost. Zuko had to resort to firebending in the middle of that Earth Kingdom village. Suddenly the people who had been cheering for his victory were now calling for his head on a pike. As if that wasn't bad enough, Lee had also told him he hated him. Zuko had left, feeling ashamed and alone. He had thought of Lee over the years, had wondered if his brother had come home. But he wasn't sure he was ready to face Lee again, assuming the boy was still there.

He eyed the route from Gaoling to Gangju. There were no other villages along the route they needed to take. His stomach felt leaden. "Okay."

Katara didn't notice his distress. "If we make good time, we should be there in about four days, don't you think?"

Zuko nodded. His mouth was dry so he took a sip of his tea. "We should get going. I want to be at the mountains by dark."

He stood up and went to the innkeeper to pay for breakfast. She smiled warmly at him as he handed her the money.

"Your wife is absolutely beautiful. Is she Water Tribe?" The innkeeper asked.

Zuko blinked stupidly for a moment, forgetting they had used that cover story again. He didn't think he'd ever get used to hearing someone call Katara his wife. "Ah...yes. Southern Water Tribe. Thank you."

The innkeeper sized him up with an appreciative look. "The two of you will have beautiful babies someday."

His face grew hot. "Um...thanks."

Zuko went back to their table, trying not to think about what the innkeeper had just said. Katara had put the map away and stood with her rucksack on one shoulder. The way the day's first light framed her made her look ethereal. He swallowed.

"Ready?" She asked him with a bright smile. All of her anger from the night before seemed to be gone. He couldn't believe it.

"Yeah. Let's get out of here."

They walked outside and went to Beast, whom Zuko had fed and watered before he had even woken Katara. Zuko strapped their packs down on the saddle before he unhitched the Beast and mounted it. He pulled Katara up with ease, the two of them accustomed to their routine. The heat of the sun could already be felt as Zuko guided the animal to the east.

"What do you think is waiting for us in the desert?" Katara asked after they had been riding for a couple of hours.

Zuko frowned. "I'm not sure. My uncle has been there, and he told me a little bit about it. He said it's kind of like the Spirit Oasis in the North Pole. That it's a very spiritual place."

"And the Conduit thinks we'll find a way to stop the prophecy from happening there?" She craned her neck to look back at him. "So why wouldn't she go there herself?"

"I get the feeling that the Conduit wants to be left alone. She doesn't want to be involved in the prophecy at all."

Katara frowned thoughtfully. "But I thought the Conduit was supposed to be evil if she's the opposite of the Avatar. Why wouldn't she want to throw off the balance of the world and gain power?"

Zuko thought about his encounter with the Conduit. To him, she had seemed to be genuine. Even though she could have made up anything she said to him, Zuko felt like she had been telling the truth. He had gotten good at reading people during his years of politics. But he still would have felt better, had he known for sure. I wish Toph had been there, he thought.

"Things aren't always so black and white," Zuko answered. He sounded like his uncle. "I don't think anyone is fully good or bad. I think everyone is capable of both."

Katara mulled that over. "If people can make their own choices, then how is the prophecy supposed to come true? If she can choose to just not be evil, then how would the prophecy happen? It doesn't make sense." She sighed.

"Since when has anything that has ever happened to us, made any good sense?"

Katara considered that before she nodded in resignation. He had her there. "I suppose you're right."

Katara looked toward the mountain. Somewhere beyond in the vast desert was a spiritual place with a pond, a location given to them by the powerful and perhaps not-so-evil Conduit, that would hopefully give them the answers they needed. She didn't want to think about what might happen if it didn't work.

On the third night of riding they made camp in a small cave on the side of the mountain. The heat during the day was scorching and at night it was still hot and dry. Inside of the cave was cool, and they jumped at the opportunity for relief. It was small, with just enough room for the two of them and the komodo rhino.

Zuko built a small fire for light and for Katara to cook, and then he leaned back against Beast's rough hide to wait for dinner.

By the next afternoon, they would be in Gangju. Zuko wasn't looking forward to it. Small prickles of anxiety ate at his stomach. He hoped that he wouldn't be recognized, or that enough time had passed for the villagers to forget about the mysterious stranger who had claimed to be the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. Maybe with his older appearance and longer hair, he wouldn't be noticed. But his scar was pretty unmistakable.

He absently took the bowl of food that Katara offered him and picked at the rice and vegetables she had made. His stomach was twisted into knots and he couldn't bring himself to eat. He felt her hand on his shoulder and he looked down into worried blue eyes.

"Zuko, what's the matter?" Katara asked.

"Nothing. I'm fine." He continued to push rice around in his bowl.

"You've been quiet all day. Quieter than normal, at least," she attempted to joke. When he didn't respond, Katara frowned. "What's going on? Are you worried about this spirit place?"

"No, it's not that." Zuko shook his head. His cheeks were burning and he felt too hot and restless. He set the bowl down and got to his feet.

Katara looked up at him, concerned. "You can talk to me, Zuko. I feel like I can talk to you about anything. Don't you feel the same way toward me?"

He turned his back to her, closing his eyes to the wave of shame he felt washing over him, threatening to drown him. Zuko wanted to tell her. He wanted her to understand. But he had a hard time putting his feelings into words. He had never been that good at it.

"Of course I do," he finally rasped.

"Then talk to me." Her voice was close.

Zuko turned around. Katara had gotten to her feet and now stood just a few feet away. Her expression was soft and kind.

"Please talk to me," she said again, her voice quiet, pleading. "What's going on with you?"

He hung his head, unable to look her in the eye. "I've been to Gangju before. I...didn't say anything before, when you said we should stop for supplies because…" He huffed out a breath. "Well, let's just say my last visit was not a very good one."

"What happened?" The small line had appeared between her eyebrows again. The warmth and worry in her eyes was palpable.

"It wasn't long before Azula attacked Aang in the ghost town. Do you remember that?"

Katara would never forget. They had been pursued relentlessly by Azula through the night until Aang decided they should split up, and he had laid a trap for Azula. When Katara and Sokka arrived, he had been fighting both of the siblings, and yet Zuko and Azula had been fighting each other as well. Then Toph and Iroh had shown up unexpectedly, and together they all faced Azula. She had sensed her defeat, and in a cowardly move she had shot Iroh with her strange blue fire.

The old man had collapsed as Zuko, overcome with emotion, had dropped beside him. Katara and her friends had stayed back, exhausted and in shock. Katara had never seen Zuko like that before. She could tell he was scared. She had offered her help to heal Iroh, and Zuko had yelled at them to leave. They did, but Katara kept looking back at them, only wishing she could help.

"Yes," Katara said softly.

"Before that I was on my own. I'd gotten it in my head that I didn't need Uncle anymore." He snorted derisively. "I was wrong, of course. I had been traveling for days with no food and only a little bit of water. I had some money so I stopped to get some supplies. I wasn't expecting to get accosted by a group of Earth Kingdom thugs claiming to be soldiers, all because of some dumb little kid who threw an egg at one of them. But I wasn't about to rat the kid out."

Zuko stopped talking as he remembered that day. It had been so hot, like it was now. His empty stomach was twisting into painful knots and he was on the verge of passing out from heat exhaustion and hunger. He had been too tired to fight the men—and really, he hadn't wanted to make a scene—and he was also too tired to tell the young boy to leave him alone. And maybe, a small part of him had craved that human contact he had been missing in the days since he had parted from his uncle.

"What happened after that?" Katara prompted gently.

"The kid offered to take me to his house and feed my ostrich horse." Zuko swallowed against the lump rising in his throat. "His mom offered for me to stay for dinner, but I didn't want to accept it. Then she said if I helped her husband repair the roof of the barn that I could eat and stay the night in the barn. I was so hungry and tired, so I accepted.

"I'd never really worked with a hammer and nails, let alone worked on a roof before, but Lee's dad didn't say anything." A small smile curved his lips. "I'm sure he had to reroof that barn after I left. And he kept Lee from bugging me too much. The kid was talkative and he asked a lot of questions."

"He liked you," Katara told him with a smile.

"He had an older brother, who was sent to fight on the war front." His face fell. "I was like a pseudo-brother for him, I guess. The kid stole my swords when I was sleeping and I caught him playing with them out in the field. I think he thought I'd get mad at him, but I showed him a few moves instead. The next day the soldiers came by. Those guys were jerks, Katara. They rubbed it in their faces that their son was probably going to die in the war."

Katara gasped. "That's awful!"

Zuko nodded in agreement. "I sent them on their way, and then I left. It wasn't my problem, you know? I had my own stuff going on. I couldn't get involved." He sighed again. "Before I left I gave Lee my pearl dagger. But then a few hours later his mother, Sela, found me and told me that the soldiers had taken Lee. His dad had gone to find his brother, and Lee had confronted the soldiers and pulled my knife on them." His face contorted into an angry scowl. "They threatened to send him to the war front. This kid couldn't have been older than ten or eleven."

Katara's hands clenched into fists. "How awful! Those men were horrible. How could they do something like that?" She shook her head. "What did you do?"

"I went back. I confronted them. They weren't really soldiers. They were bullies and thugs who spent their days shaking down poor farmers and picking on women and children while the real men fought in the war. And I felt responsible. I'd given the knife to him." Zuko shrugged. "I had to fix it."

Zuko looked away from her and gazed down into the fire. He could picture it in his head so clearly, like it had only happened yesterday. Only when it had happened, he didn't feel the shame and anger. That had come later, when he lay in some dusty field by his stolen ostrich horse and he cursed his father and Agni and anyone else he could think of for the rotten lot he'd gotten in life.

"They weren't hard to defeat." He chuckled humorlessly. "But the leader, he was an earthbender. He wasn't half bad either. And I was half-starved and sun-baked while he'd been living nicely off the suffering of the villagers." His jaw clenched. "The whole town was watching. They were cheering for me. I was just some stranger, but I was a hero to them." Zuko shook his head. He still couldn't believe it himself. "I held my own against him with nothing but my swords for a while. But he managed to knock me down. I don't know if he would've killed me, but I couldn't let him win. The village was counting on me." He took a deep breath.

"You used your firebending, didn't you? Right there in front of the whole village." Her voice was soft and filled with wonder and admiration.

Zuko closed his eyes and nodded. "The soldier wasn't expecting it at all. I could see the fear in his eyes...and I won. He asked me who I was, so I told him. I was tired of pretending to be someone I wasn't. I wasn't some Earth Kingdom refugee. I was the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation."

Zuko paused. He looked at Katara. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears and she was looking at him with an expression of deep sorrow. He didn't want her pity. He didn't need it.

"Don't look at me like that," Zuko snapped. "I know who I am and what I've done. I know where and who I come from. I don't need your pity, Katara."

Katara recoiled from his sharp words. "Zuko, I don't pity you," she managed to say. She wrung her hands, lips pressed together as she struggled to find words. "What you did was really brave. It took a lot of courage to expose yourself like that."

"No, it was foolish and stupid. After that they didn't care what I'd done, only who I was. It didn't matter that I had just saved the boy's life and stood up to those thugs. They hated me." Hot tears stung his eyes. "I tried to give the knife back to Lee...but he said he hated me too." He released a breath. "But I know...it wasn't really me they hated. It was my kind." He spat the word like a curse. "It was the Fire Nation that they feared."

Katara closed the distance between them. She cupped one side of his face in her hand and forced him to look at her. "People change, Zuko," she murmured. "You have changed. You're not the same man who walked into that village five years ago."

"I know that. But it still doesn't change what happened then." His face screwed up as the maelstrom of emotions coursed through him. "Or what the Fire Nation did."

Her thumb brushed his cheek as her eyes bore into his. "I meant what I said. A lot of things have changed. People don't view the Fire Nation like that anymore. They know what you've done to make reparations. You know that, right?"

Zuko nodded slowly, closing his eyes. Her hand was cool and reassuring against his skin. He pressed his forehead to hers for a moment. She surprised him by pulling him into a warm embrace.

Zuko wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "Thank you, Katara."

"For what?"

He released a breath. "For always knowing what to say. For always caring about me."

As he held her, he wished they could stay like that forever.

The small village of Gangju came into sight in the late afternoon, when the sun was at its hottest overhead. The air was dry with very little breeze to stir it, and Katara found herself wishing night would fall to offer some relief. She had forgotten how treacherous the Earth Kingdom desert could be. It was hard to believe that people actually chose to live there, though she supposed the same could be said for the cold desolation of her homeland too.

She and Zuko dismounted Beast and tied him to a tree outside of the town limits. Being a komodo rhino dressed in Fire Nation armor was a bit too conspicuous for their taste. Up north it wasn't as much of an issue, but there was very little Fire Nation presence in the desert. They didn't want to call any attention to themselves if they could help it.

Together they walked into Gangju. The village was small, a little more than a cluster of dusty wooden houses on dirt streets surrounded by farms. As far as Katara could tell the only businesses were a tavern and a small market stall. The streets were, thankfully, empty at this time of day, likely due to the heat. One older gentleman sat beneath the shade of the canopy of the market.

Katara approached him with a friendly smile while Zuko hung back, eyes roving over the empty street. He carries a lot of guilt about what happened here, Katara mused as she set her hands on the sun-warmed wood of the market stall.

"You're not from around here, are you?" The man squinted up at her. "Nah, you're definitely Water Tribe. What are you doing way out here?"

Katara kept her smile in place as she gestured to Zuko over her shoulder. "My husband and I are on our honeymoon, as a matter of fact. We're going to the Misty Palms Oasis."

"That's nice. It's been a while since I've been there myself. It's one of the wonders of the world, you know." The old man eyed Zuko, whose back was to them. "Not much of a talker, is he?"

"Oh, no." Katara leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "He's got a bit of a stutter. He doesn't like to talk about it."

The shopkeeper nodded sagely. "I can respect that. What can I get for you today?"

While Katara shopped, Zuko looked around. Not much had changed in Gangju since his last visit. He looked down the road that led out of town. Lee's family's farm was out there, with its myriad collection of cow-pigs, sheep-pigs, and chicken-pigs. He could almost smell it on the air.

He wondered how Lee was doing, and if his brother had come back from the war. Zuko hoped he had. Lee and his family were good people who didn't deserve to lose their son to the war. He wondered why he had never thought to check up on them before. As the Fire Lord, that would have been easy enough. He frowned. He supposed, given everything that had happened, it must have simply slipped his mind. Guilt gnawed at him.

He thought of the young boy he had met. He had a spark in his eye that reminded him of himself. He had been brave and maybe a little naive, but he had good intentions. Five years had passed. The kid had to be what, sixteen or seventeen now?

He didn't see the young man approaching his left side. His voice startled Zuko as it cut through the still air. "I know you."

Katara looked over her shoulder at the new voice and saw a teenage boy with no shoes and a messy mop of brown hair standing before Zuko in the street. Zuko's eyes were wide and he had stepped back, uncertain.

"Lee." Zuko's voice was filled with wonder and disbelief.

The boy stepped closer. "I thought it was you, when I saw you and her—" He nodded toward Katara. "—walk into town. What are you doing back here?" There was no hostility in his voice, only genuine curiosity.

Zuko glanced over at Katara, who could only shrug. He looked back at Lee. "Uh…"

"Why don't you come have dinner with my family? You can finally meet my brother, Sensu." Lee grinned broadly and gave a wink only Zuko could see.

Katara, her arms weighed down with supplies, walked over to them. She offered the young man a friendly smile. "That sounds like a great idea. What's your name?" She ignored the wide-eyed look Zuko gave her.

"I'm Lee," the boy said with a white-toothed smile. He looked at Zuko. "Me and your friend go way back…"

Katara gave Zuko an assuring look. "So I've heard. Here honey, will you take some of this? It's so heavy." She nodded subtly toward the shopkeeper, who was very clearly eavesdropping on the conversation.

Zuko felt like he could barely breathe. His face was too hot and he was dizzy. "Uh, s-s-sure, honey," he stammered back at Katara. He took some of the supplies. "L-let's go."

Katara stifled a chuckle behind her hand. She wasn't sure if he had heard her comment to the shopkeeper or if he was just that nervous, but it was working in their favor.

They went back to give Beast some food and water before they followed Lee down the road toward the pig farm. Once they were safely out of town limits, Lee looked at Zuko.

"Sorry for putting you on the spot like that, but I just couldn't believe it was really you." Lee's eyes widened and his voice dropped to a reverent whisper. "Are you really the Fire Lord now?"

Zuko seemed to be unable to speak, so Katara answered for him. She winked at Lee in a knowing way. "He is, but we're trying not to throw that around, if you get what I'm saying."

The boy bobbed his head. "Your secret is safe with me."

Zuko finally found his voice. "But...why?" He swallowed hard as his brow furrowed. "I...thought you hated me."

Lee never took his eyes off of Zuko. "I did...for a long time. You were a firebender. I was raised to hate you, and be afraid of you. My brother was off fighting you guys in a war. He could have died. But he came home." Lee paused, his happy grin spreading across his face. "Thanks to the Avatar...and to you."

Katara caught his eye and gave him an encouraging smile. Zuko felt relief flood through him. He still had so much to atone for, and he would make amends to Lee and his family, but he was glad that the boy had forgiven him.

With a lighter step, Zuko followed Lee and Katara to the pig farm, suddenly feeling much better about himself.

Lee's father and older brother were outside mending fences when Zuko, Katara, and Lee walked up. They stopped swinging their hammers when they saw the newcomers. Gansu approached first, his face stoic, followed by his eldest son, who mirrored his father's placid expression.

Zuko hesitated. He didn't know if Lee's parents felt the same way about him as their son did. Would they be as quick to forgive him, or would they still hold a grudge? And what about Sensu, who had been fighting on the war front? How did he feel about the Fire Nation?

To Zuko's surprise, Gansu bowed before him.

"Fire Lord Zuko," Gansu said reverently. "It is an honor."

Zuko looked at Katara uncomfortably. "Thank you," he said. "But please, just Zuko is fine."

"They're here on a secret mission!" Lee enthused. He looked at Zuko and chuckled sheepishly. "Well, he doesn't want people to know he's here, at least."

Gansu nodded understandingly. "Of course. I...must say I'm surprised to see you. Lee told me what happened with the soldiers...and who you were after I brought my son Sensu back from the war front."

Lee's brother stepped forward and gave a short Earth Kingdom bow. "I am Sensu." His soft brown eyes blazed with gratitude. "Thank you for what you did for my brother. That was very brave."

"It wasn't a big deal," Zuko muttered, embarrassed. He glanced at Katara. "This is my good friend, Katara. She and I are traveling together."

"Why don't you have any guards with you? Where are you going? Is it far away?" Lee wanted to know. "Can you stay for dinner?"

"We really should be going—" Zuko began.

"Of course we can stay for dinner," Katara interrupted with a bright smile. She bowed to the family. "Thank you."

Lee's grin was so wide it looked like it hurt. "Alright!"

They ate dinner outside on the porch that evening once the sun had set and the heat had cooled off a bit. The conversation was light and amiable as they discussed the reparations from the Fire Nation as well as Zuko's plan for the Great Route. Gansu and Sensu talked about their successful crops, and that they expected to turn a good profit at market in the spring.

The adults hadn't asked where Zuko and Katara were going, and they didn't say. It was better that way.

Lee had turned his probing questions onto Katara, and when he found out Katara could waterbend, his eyebrows shot to his hairline and his eyes went wide. "Wow, you're a waterbender? I've never met a waterbender before! Can you show us some moves?"

"Lee, they've been on the road all day. Leave her be," Sela scolded her son. She gave Katara an apologetic smile. "She doesn't have to if she doesn't want to."

But it had been days since Katara had waterbended and she was more than willing to put on a show. "It's alright, Sela. I'd be happy to show Lee a thing or two." She winked at him and jumped to her feet. She stepped off the porch and into the dirt in front of the house. "Let's see here..."

She closed her eyes and reached out with her senses for the nearest source of water. She found a water trough nearby and with a cocky smile, Katara raised her arms up. The family watched in awed silence as Katara brought the water to her. She began to weave it around her torso in a circular motion. Her muscles relaxed and she could feel the stress of travel leave her as she embraced her element. She let the water slink out in a long line away from her that writhed like a living thing before bringing it back around and moving it through the air in a figure-eight motion.

Zuko watched as well. It was impossible to miss the satisfied smile on her face. He loved watching her bend, the way her body flowed like her element. The water was truly an extension of herself. It reminded him of dancing, and he realized he would never get tired of watching her dance with her element.

Katara brought the water down to the ground and formed a water pentapus, its water tentacles wavering back and forth, before she brought the water together. The family gasped and clapped for her as Katara threw her arms to the sky and the water jetted upward. She spread her arms wide and turned the water into fine vapor. As she exhaled, the liquid turned to snow. The soft white flakes began to fall, sticking to her hair and the ground around her.

"Oh wow!" Lee bolted off the porch and ran over to her. "I've never seen snow before! It's incredible!" He stuck his tongue out and captured a snowflake.

Sensu was the next to join them under the snowfall. He caught one in his hand and watched it melt. He grinned at Katara. "That's a pretty cool trick," he said.

Katara blushed. "Thank you. It's not really that hard to do."

Zuko, Sela, and Gansu joined the others. Zuko wrapped an arm around Katara's waist. He smiled down at her as he squeezed her in a half smile. She smiled back up at him and leaned into his side. Together they watched the snow fall around them. As the flakes landed in his hair and on his shoulders, he warmed his inner fire until they melted away in little puffs of steam. Katara watched him with an amused smile, shaking her head. He could practically hear her thoughts: show-off.

She turned to watch the family marvel over the snow. "If you guys think this is impressive, you ought to visit the South Pole. This stuff is everywhere." But she was grinning, elated that she could make them happy.

Sensu nodded to the sword hilts on Zuko's back. "So my brother says you're pretty good with the broadswords." There was a challenge in his voice, but his eyes were friendly. "Is that true?

"I told you, he's the best!" Lee proclaimed, planting his hands on his waist. "He took out all of those bully soldiers by himself. I'd like to see you do that, Sensu!"

Zuko smirked crookedly. "I wouldn't say I'm the best, but I know what I'm doing." He slid his arm away from Katara and sized Sensu up and down, already feeling the pulse in his blood.

"Care to spar, then?" Sensu inquired, a mischievous light glinting in his good-natured eyes. "I haven't had the chance to spar with someone in a while."

Lee rolled his eyes and scoffed. "I keep offering, but you always tell me no."

"That's because you're still learning and you aren't ready yet. I'd really like to keep my head attached to my shoulders." Sensu elbowed his younger brother playfully. He looked back up at Zuko. "What do you say?"

Zuko glanced towards Katara, who gave him an encouraging smile. If she can show off, why can't I? "I'm game," Zuko told him with a roguish smirk.

Sensu grinned wickedly. "Let me get my swords." He disappeared into the house.

"Sensu, you cannot challenge the Fire Lord to a duel!" Sela called after her son in a disapproving tone, hands on her hips. But he had already gone inside and didn't hear her.

Zuko rolled his shoulders to limber up, offering her a half-smirk. "Don't worry about it, ma'am. I'm not the Fire Lord right now. I'm just Zuko."

She pursed her lips for a moment. "If you say so." Sela looked at Katara with a slight shake of her head. "Why is it that boys must always play with knives?" she joked.

Katara melted the snow once it had finished falling and wicked the remaining water back into the trough. The dry dirt had absorbed most of it, and in moments, the ground was as dry as it had been before she had brought the water out.

Sensu came out of the house brandishing two swords. They weren't broadswords like Zuko's, but they looked just as sharp and deadly as the dao blades. Katara, Lee, Sela, and Gansu sat back down on the porch steps to watch the sword fight.

Sensu stripped off his tunic and draped it over the porch rail, flexing his broad shoulders and chiseled chest. The night was cooling off, but it was still dry and hot. He met Zuko out in the dirt in front of the house.

Zuko removed his sheath before pulling off his own shirt to expose his lean muscles. Katara tried and failed miserably to look anywhere but at his shirtless form, grateful that in the dim light, no one could see the blush in her cheeks.

Zuko withdrew his swords and set the sheath down beside his discarded tunic before he faced Sensu. He and Sensu bowed to each other, and then each man raised their swords into an offensive position. Katara watched with rapt attention. She noticed that Lee and his parents were doing the same.

Zuko and Sensu circled each other slowly. The light of the nearly-full moon shone down on them and glittered off the blades of their swords. Sensu was the first to attack. He moved deftly to the right and when Zuko made to block him, Sensu drug one sword out to the left. In a serious fight the blade would have cut down the length of Zuko's forearm, but Sensu held back. Zuko jumped backward and brought his swords forward. Sensu blocked, and Zuko pulled back.

Sensu grinned at him. "Not bad."

"You haven't seen anything yet," Zuko replied, flashing a smirk. The heat in his blood was rising.

Zuko thrust his left sword toward Sensu. He parried the blow with his right sword before he jabbed at Zuko with his left sword. Their blades locked and a metallic ring rang out around them.

"Who do you think is going to win?" Sela wondered. Her eyes were glued to the mock-fight.

"Zuko!" Lee proclaimed confidently. "Sensu's good, but Zuko is obviously holding back."

"I think they're pretty evenly matched," Gansu mused, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "The only thing it looks like Sensu has on Zuko is his weight."

Katara smiled knowingly. Zuko's physique might have looked smaller, but he had wiry muscles that hid his strength. She knew he would be able to hold his own against Sensu. He'll probably win, she thought proudly.

The mock sword fight went on. Gansu's observation was correct. Zuko and Sensu circled each other, chests heaving from the exertion, a sheen of sweat on their backs and chests shimmering in the moonlight. Sensu feinted at Zuko several times, never intending to strike, only hoping to draw him out. But Zuko was onto him, and he waited patiently for Sensu to grow bored.

Suddenly Sensu launched an earnest attack. Zuko brought his swords up in an X and blocked it. Sensu used his weight to his advantage and pressed down on his smaller opponent with all his might. Katara could see the strain in Zuko's arms and shoulders. His feet started to slip in the dry dust and Katara gnashed her teeth as her hands balled into fists on her thighs, willing him to stay upright. She knew it was just a mock fight, but she still wanted him to win.

Zuko fell back and withdrew his swords. Sensu pursued him, trying to wear Zuko out. Zuko was forced to be defensive rather than offensive. He tried to dodge more and block less to save his energy, but the larger opponent was nearly as fast as he was and was clearly just as skilled.

The two locked blades once more, this time coming body-to-body. Both swordsmen knew what this meant, and Sensu grinned victoriously down at Zuko. "Looks like this is the end, huh?" Sensu said through gritted teeth as he forced his smaller opponent toward the ground.

Zuko knew that Sensu had the upper hand here. He could feel himself being forced to his knees as Sensu applied his weight. But Zuko was used to being the underdog. He had a few tricks still.

With a speed akin to lightning Zuko swept his leg out and caught Sensu's ankle. His root was broken and as his balance wavered Zuko pushed against him. Sensu reeled backwards. Zuko took advantage of the opportunity to give one final push against Sensu's swords.

Sensu fell onto his back in the dirt. He looked up to see the tip of Zuko's blade at his throat.

Lee applauded and cheered. "Whoo-hoo! Go, Zuko, go!" He thumped his father's arm. "See, Dad, I told you he was holding back!"

Gansu looked down at his son. "I guess you were right, Lee."

Zuko switched his swords to his left hand and held out his free hand to Sensu. He took his hand and let Zuko help him to his feet.

Sensu smirked at Zuko. "I'm a little hurt. It seems like my little brother likes you more than he likes me." He narrowed his eyes at him. "You weren't really holding back, were you?"

"No, definitely not," Zuko said with a shake of his head. "That was a well-met fight."

"I agree. I definitely wasn't holding back on you." Sensu looked down at the swords in Zuko's hands. "I'd hate to be your enemy, though. You're ruthless."

Zuko couldn't help but gloat a little. "I try." He grinned genuinely, the corners of his eyes crinkling with mirth. Katara was glad to see it. Hadn't she been telling him he needed to relax and have more fun just a few weeks ago? Maybe he was finally taking her advice. She loved to see him enjoying himself for a change. "Hey, if you're ever looking for a job, the royal guard could always use a swordsman like you."

Sensu's eyebrows lifted. "Wow, I'm honored." He looped his arm around Lee's neck and drug his brother in for a rough hug. "But I'm going to have to decline. Someone's gotta make sure Lee here stays out of trouble."

"Oh, come on!" Lee whined as he ducked out of his brother's grasp.

Zuko extended his hand. "Well, if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."

Sensu grasped Zuko's outstretched hand. "I'll keep that in mind."

They slept in the barn that night. After the mock-fight, Sensu and Zuko had gone and retrieved Beast from where he and Katara had left him on the village's outskirts and brought him back to the farm. Lee had found the komodo rhino fascinating and had been happy to feed and water the animal for them before depositing the rhino in the barn with Katara and Zuko.

Lee had been hesitant to leave them, but at last Sela had come and taken him away after bringing them some blankets as well as more suitable travelling clothes, leaving Katara and Zuko alone.

He could hardly believe he was back in that barn, sleeping on another pile of hay, staring up at the roof he had once helped patch. Only this time, he wasn't alone.

"I'm happy that everything worked out just fine. Are you glad we came now?" Katara asked him as she spread one of the blankets over the hay. She lay down, curling onto her side so she could see him, silhouetted against the soft glow of the lantern Lee had left them as he removed his shirt and folded it into his rucksack..

"They forgave me." He still couldn't believe it. He sat down beside her and looked at her. "Just like that. I didn't even have to do anything."

Katara sat upright, her brows knitting together. "Of course they did, Zuko. Why is that so hard to believe?"

He looked down at his hands as he pursed his lips. "Because...I didn't do anything to deserve it."

"Yes, you did. You ended the war. And you've been making headway in repairing the damage the Fire Nation did during the war." Katara rested her hand on his arm. "You've done everything to deserve their forgiveness."

Zuko shook his head in disbelief. He was not used to being forgiven so easily. It was new to him, and he wasn't quite sure how to accept it. "I am glad they did though," he said quietly. "I've felt horrible about what happened here for years."

Katara slid her arm around his back and leaned against him. "I think you've spent entirely too much time stuck in your palace, Fire Lord. You still think that people hold this terrible grudge against the Fire Nation. And sure, some people do. But most people, at least the ones I've met, are ready to put the past behind them. They're willing to give the Fire Nation, and you, another chance."

He nuzzled his head against her hair. "You always know just what to say, you know that?"

"So you keep telling me. I suppose it's just one of my many talents." Katara turned her face to smile up at him. He returned it, then she nudged him with her shoulder. "Let's get some sleep. The real journey begins tomorrow."

She closed her hand around his and pulled him back until they both lay on the blanket. Katara settled herself against his chest, her hand now resting over his scarred abdomen. Zuko looped one arm around her shoulder and tucked the other one behind his head. A hay bed wasn't as comfortable as a real bed, but it wasn't as bad as dirt either.

He lay awake for a long while after she had dozed off. It was a weight off of his shoulders to have Lee's and his family's forgiveness. It was one more dark moment in his life he had turned into something positive. It was one more mistake he had atoned for.

Zuko looked down at Katara. They hadn't talked about what had almost happened between them that night on the beach. She was going to kiss me, Zuko thought. And I was going to kiss her back. And he didn't feel the slightest bit guilty about it, even though Aang was still his friend. In fact, he was more disappointed that it hadn't happened.

He wanted to kiss her. He had been wanting to kiss her ever since the beach. If he were being honest with himself, he had probably wanted to kiss her ever since he saw her enter the dining hall all those weeks ago. But he was biding his time, waiting for the right moment. Or maybe Katara would decide she wanted to kiss him. He had no objections to that either.

As he looked down at her, her skin glowing in the soft moonlight that poured in through the cracks in the walls, Zuko realized he didn't know where this was going. He wasn't sure that he cared. All he knew was that he was happy when he was with her. Katara understood him. She never made him feel like he wasn't enough, or that his choices were wrong. She believed in him.

He thought of possibilities that seemed to be just out of his grasp. Was she the woman he had been looking for? Could they have a life of love, happiness, and companionship? With Katara, everything just felt so easy. There was no political pomp, no double-meanings. Together, they were open books. But would she be willing to accept the responsibilities that would be required of her as the Fire Lady? Would she be able to accept his duties as the Fire Lord?

He was getting ahead of himself again. You haven't even kissed her yet, and you're already thinking of marriage? Get a grip. Zuko sighed.

But the thought of her as the Fire Lady, as his wife, the mother of his children, wouldn't leave him. It just felt so...right. He could see the future laid out before him like a map. It could be. In fact, he realized now that he wanted it to be. But did she?