Welcome back for Zutara Week day 4. I can't believe we are more than half way done. Thanks to everyone who is following and favorited this story. Thanks to Teddy Bear Moony and LovetoRead613 for reviewing. I'm glad your enjoying. I think the next few prompts will have some more of that comedy you both like.
Once again I wrote most of these prompt to follow each other, but they definitely can be separate stories
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The day was finally here. The end of the war anniversary celebration. The palace ballroom was packed with people from all nations enjoying one another's company. When Katara first walked into the room she was met with an ocean of color. Different shades of reds, blues, and greens danced around each other.
Katara spotted a large group of blue and headed over to her fellow tribesman. She was dressed in her traditional Water Tribe colors, but her dress was in the Fire Nation style. No way is she crazy enough to wear furs here.
Approaching her family Katara was greeted with hugs.
"Oh Katara, you look beautiful. You remind me so much of your mother." Her father, Chief Hakoda, responded when he pull out of their hug.
"Aw, she's okay," Sokka announced with a smile.
"How does Suki put up with you?"
"She can't resist my charming good looks."
"Yeah, that's it exactly," Suki says rolling her eyes as she joins the conversation.
"Ignore him. You really do look nice Katara."
"Thanks Suki. I have to say you look beautiful in blue."
"Hey where's Toph?" Sokka shouts over the music.
"I'm not sure I haven't seen Aang yet either." Or Zuko, she thinks.
"I think Zuko asked him to say something when he gives his speech," he replied.
"Speech? What speech?" Before any of them could answer the room quieted. Wondering what was happening Katara looked around and saw Zuko and Aang enter through the large double doors and walk to a slightly raised platform in one corner of the room.
He looked amazing. All put together in his Fire Lord robes Zuko looked regal and caught everyone's eye. It was easy to see that he was the most powerful person in the room (well besides Aang). His presence demanded respect and he was recieving. It surprised Katara how someone only eighteen could command an entire room as easily as he did.
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The party took off in full swing after the Fire Lord and Avatar's welcoming speech. People were eating, drinking, dancing, and celebrating. But Katara was thinking about the last few days. Zuko had been acting so strange around her lately. Not that she had seen him too much, he was a busy man after all. Those few times he appeared though it was as if he was not even listening to her, giving her strange looks, or not even looking at her. What was his problem?
"Man, the food here is great," Toph practically yelled as she sat down next to her.
"You sound like Sokka."
"Gross. So why are you sitting alone over here?"
"Just thinking."
Toph nodded. "About Zuko?"
"What! No why would you say that?"
"Well these past few days every time Zuko joins us for breakfast, or lunch, or dinner, your heartbeat goes crazy."
"It does?"
"Yep. What's up with that anyway?"
Katara sighed, "We kissed last year. Before Zuko's coronation."
"I knew it."
She ignored her. "Ever since I got here though he either ignores me or acts so weird when we're together. I don't know if he forgot about it or if he wants to forget it ever happened."
"I don't think it's either of those."
"What makes you say that?"
"His heart goes crazy too, Katara."
Katara blushed. "You should talk to him," Toph said in a quiet voice. "In the meantime, Twinkletoes owes me a dance."
Katara did not even notice Toph walking away.
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Sitting in the garden in front of the turtleduck pond Katara had found a few days ago when she had been bored and decided to wander the palace, she thought of what she might say to Zuko.
"These last couple of months at home I haven't been able to get you out of my head. I don't know when it happened, before the kiss or after, but something changed someplace down the line and it made me realize how important you are to me. Maybe it started during the final battle or maybe after we found my mother's killer or maybe even under Ba Sing Se. I'm not sure, but you mean a lot to me and I want to know if I mean something to you."
"You do."
Katara jumped, startled and turned and saw Zuko leaning against a tree.
"You heard all of that?"
Zuko nodded as he pushed off the tree and sat next to her in front of the pond.
"Umm…" She had no idea what to say.
"Everything you said I feel the exact same way. I don't know how it happened, but it did and I'm so glad. I just didn't know how or what to say so I didn't say anything. That was a mistake I should have told you sooner, because now that you know it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
Katara smiled at him. "So, do you want to…"
"Yeah," Zuko said smiling back.
As he leaned in to kiss her everything faded away. The party, the distant music, the sound water moving in the pond, the faint quacking of turtleducks. All she heard was him breathing.
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Author's note: So yeah this really had nothing to do with turtleducks. Sorry. :)
