Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.
Katara sat in the doorway of her Grandma's pretty little chateau. She hadn't had a proper letter from any of her friends in the last two weeks. The last word she'd have from them was a short note from Zuko saying they were going back to the fire nation and he was busy with work. He had promised to send her some encouraging news soon, but he hadn't sent anything.
People all around her started moving towards the dock and Katara watched curiously. There weren't any important arrivals expected, but there was quite spectacle going on down by the gate. The flags were flying and someone had started playing the horns. This must have been someone really important. Katara got up from the doorstep and started walking towards the bay.
Zuko followed Toph out of the ship. He shook hands with Chief Arnook and started greeting the people who had gathered at the dock. He looked up and saw Katara standing at the very back of the crowd. She was trying to make out the sigils on the ships flag and had raised her arms to shield her eyes from the sun.
Sukki and Aang ran up to give her huge hugs and Toph stumbled off the ship grumbling about how much ice there was all around her. (She had to work extra hard to see, because all the earth was buried deep under the ice.) Zuko didn't move. He was too busy, staring.
He knew what Katara looked like. He knew that she had gorgeous blue eyes and wavy dark brown hair. He knew how her lips curved when she smiled and how long and graceful her fingers were. He had always known she was beautiful, but he had never seen this Katara.
He had known the warrior Katara. She was always sleep-deprived or stressed and her eyes were sunken and surrounded in dark circles. She had been just a little bit skinnier and her clothes were worn and patched. Her hair was always hastily done and practical instead of beautiful. That Katara had been lovely and Zuko had always appreciated the strength that all those little flaws represented, but a completely different Zutara stood before him. She was wearing a gorgeous trailing gown that was lined with fur. Her hair fell down her back in neat waves and was simply swept back with two carved-ivory combs. He felt loss when she pulled the hair into her deep hood, but with her face framed in the crisp white fur he was able to see how deeply she had changed. When she smiled at him there was no shadow of fear or stress in her eyes. Her cheeks had rounded out and she just glowed with contentment and health.
"Aren't you going to say hello?" she teased and he was convinced that even her voice had benefited from her time in the North. He dumbly reached his arms out and she jumped into them to envelope him and warm hug.
"It's a good thing that you and your friends decided to join us, Fire Lord Zuko. I just wish you had let us tell her you were coming. I think this is the first time in a few weeks that I have seen the Lady Katara smile, but of course all our benders get a little down around this time of year. So, we've prepared rooms for you in the palace. Let's get you to your rooms.
"This was your surprise, your encouragement? It's perfect!" Katara was practically bouncing and her grin still hadn't budged. Zuko's eyes still hadn't moved away from her and Suki was smirking at both of them.
Katara kept chattering around them and hugging all of them. They were lead up to the palace and into a gorgeous suite of rooms. She scolded them all for how little they were wearing, especially Toph and her bare feet. As soon as they found their room, Katara went running out of the suite without any explanation. She returned, a few minutes later, dragging her brother behind her. Sokka saw Suki and ran to her and the both of them were tied together for the next few hours. Katara dragged heavy furs out of the closet and threw them at her friends. She also threw a few pairs of woolly socks at Toph.
"Zuko, you haven't said anything, yet."
"I guess I'm just tired from the trip and a bit shocked by the cold," he mumbled.
"Alright, well then. You guys have perfect timing! Tomorrow is our Goodbye to the Moon. You get to attend the festival!"
"Chief mentioned it," Toph grumbled. "He told us all to bring costumes."
"Ya. Today is the last time we will see the moon for the next month. Our ancestors thought the moon gave us our powers and that the sun try to steal it away. Every year we try to appease the sun, so that it won't take all our bending away. We wear costumes to hide our sorrow and try to please the sun. We have a huge feast and the whole capital dances the day away.
"Now, all of you take a rest. I want you guys to be awake for the party. I've missed all of you so much" She bent down to bent down to brush her fingers against Zuko's cheeks. "Thank you so much for the surprise," she whispered, before sweeping out of the big room. Sokka and Suki started talking in loud and excited tones and Aang tried to console Toph who was grumbling on the cold marble ground about the lack of rock and the need for socks.
Zuko fell back onto one of the beds and let their voices wash over him. She was so happy to see us. She looked beautiful. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Her fingers were so soft.
Katara looked over the crowd and saw that everyone was having an amazing time. The sun beat down on them and air was only barely cold. She was sitting with at the head table with Chief Arnook and Master Pabu. Her gran sat on her left and on her right - right next to the chief - there was an empty chair, for Yue.
She was shaken from her tragic thoughts when the music stopped and the entire party stopped to watch the Fire Lord and his retinue enter the large courtyard. Toph hasn't really bothered to dress up. She was wearing her old Earth bending belt and a mask with an angry face painted on it. Suki in full warrior get up and was nervously playing with her bronze fans. Aang had chosen a fairly silly costume. He was dressed as a penguin, but Katara only spared a small smile on him. Her gaze instantly focused on the central figure. He was dressed as the Blue Spirit. He dressed like a water spirit. He's becoming quite the diplomat.
She watched the crowd give the guests some space and the small group wandered up to the head table. They bowed to the Chief and he bowed back to them. Sokka leapt of the crowd wearing his wolf costume and bowed low to Zuko before whisking Suki off for a dance.
Katara wandered out from behind the table and curtseyed to Zuko and gave a small smile before turning to bandstand.
"Well? What kind of festival is this, without any music?" They all fumbled with their instruments and then started playing a fast jig. "Aang? Won't you dance with me?" Aang nodded his head slowly and pulled away from Toph. She settled into one of the chairs and curled into her cloak. Aang grabbed Katara's hand and they both pushed into the fray. Katara hadn't danced with Aang since they were in that little fire nation cave, but it was just as natural to dance with him as it had been all those months ago. It wasn't the same though. Last time her hands had felt warm when he held them and her heart had beat just a bit faster. This time they laughed as they whirled around the floor and when she hugged him, she didn't feel any different. She didn't have a crush on him anymore and from the look in his eyes he was over her too.
"I'm going to find Toph," he murmured. "The North Pole really doesn't agree with her." Katara was surprised, but nodded at him. He had never been the one to walk away. She felt like everything had suddenly changed.
Celestial events are a bit different in this fic's little world. I really wanted to have it a certain way and I'm not really sure how this ties with what really happens in the real Arctic or the one in ATLA
I really wanted to get further with this one, but its been so long since I updated and this just hasn't been coming out right. It's kind of an awkward transition chapter. I'll try to get the next one out faster.