Azula Pov

Nearly a day had passed and although my little stunt had gotten most of the suitors off my back I was still dealing with the more stubborn ones. In reality they knew better than to openly object to my choice knowing full well I'd kill them if they did, instead they chose to point out that if I did marry Katara I wouldn't have an heir and that they came from nobel houses should I change my decesion. But that wasn't my only concern, although many people accepted my choice my council was outraged which would explain why they wanted to speak with me imediatly.

"My queen I just want to commend you on your new bride... however I thougt the plan was to use Ozai to scare away all other suitors." Sozin states with a small smile but the arrgivation was clear in his voice.

"Yes that was the plan, But after considering it I realized that Ozai was to inept to fufill the job as my suitor. And during a little trip to the human world I found someone that has a fire to match my own and the rest is history." Although he didn't show it I could tell he was angry that his little plan for his son had been destroyed.

The old fool probably thought his son could actually win my heart. But I know Sozin, he won't let this defeat stand.

"I for one am glad to see our queen has found someone. From what I've seen Katara will make an excellent bride." As ususal Iroh was playing the peacemaker. But despite his intentions Sozin refused to let the issue go.

"Yes I'm sure she'd be a fine bride, but unless I'm mistaken two girls cannot produce an heir."

And let me guess you have someone in mind? Wait for it...

"A task my son would be more than happy to help you with when the time came." I had to hand it to him he always seemed to have mulptiple plans in case one goes bad.

"Yes well I'm sure he would, but I don't think my bride would welcome another person into our bed even if it was to start a family." He said nothing but I could feel his mind was still at work trying some way to get his family on the throne.

"Now gentelmen is there any other matter that needs dissucing or was this the only thing you wanted to speak about?" When no one spoke up I took it as a no and with a wave of my hand dissimed them. As they left I took a much needed breather before my mind started wondering about Katara for some reason.

I should probably check on her haven't really seen how she's doing since the party. Although I guess she might still be mad about the kiss but really she should be honored that I let her be my first kiss. That reminds me I really don't know a thing about her. I probably should at least try seeing as she'll be here for the next year."

With that decided I walked down the short hall to my room and to the door that seperated us but stopped when I heard... crying?.

Just to be sure I pressed my ear to the door and tried to listen.

"Stupied Azula and that kiss, didn't even ask me before hand. Since coming here all she's done is deamand and use me." The rest of her words were drowned out by her sobs.

Damn, I didn't think about how it would affect her. Wait why do I care? If it was Ty lee crying I'd do whatever it took to make her stop, so why do I feel the same way now?

After what seemed like forever of pondering this I decided that I could at least apolgize and maybe do something to cheer her up. If only to make this unease go away. With that decided I knocked on the door.

"Katara I'm comming in so I hope your decent." After a moment of waiting I opened the door and found her on the bed trying her best to bend the teara away but that didn't help with her already red eyes.

"What do you want?" the scorn was clear in her voice which for some reason made me fell worse about all this.

"I wanted to apolgize for last night."

"Oh you mean when you forcibly kissed me in front of everyone? Or how about when you threw me back in here as soon as it was over without evean an I'm sorry."

The more she spoke the more I felt bad about what I've done which really confused me.

"Yes well I'm sorry on both accounts. As you can probably guess I'm not that good with dealing with people."

"Oh please you order people around and threaten them when they don't comply."

"Look I didn't come here to fight, I just wanted to say that I was sorry and to offer to show you around the palace... that is if you want."

For a long time she jus glared at me and I actually expected her to scream at me so I was actually surprised when she said yes. As we walked I realized that so far she's only seen her and Ty lee's room along with the grand hall during her stay. Our first stop was the hot springs where only I had access. When the doors opened I saw her eyes widen at it's splendur, but with her being a water bender I wasn't surprsied. The spring itself was four massive pools of water heaed by a series of thermal vents for different tempatures along with marble dragons pouring water from every side.

"Thought you might want to relax after what happaned." Although she didn't say anything I still saw apprication in her eyes and after an akward moment of undressing I hoped in and waited for her to join me.

I actually found it adorable the way she stood at the edge holding her towel with a blush on her face as she stared at me.

"Come on in I promise not to make this akward." She nodded and moved into the pool that was next to me. We were close enough to talk but just far enough for her to not be embarassed. As I layed back and relaxed I actually wondered why I felt the need to do this, which also got me wondering if I'd have to deal with anymore of Sozin's plans in the future. He'd tried in the past to defeat the former leader and failed and when I took the throne when I was younger he'd of course offered to help guide me along the way. But instaed of saying yes like he wanted I blasted him with lighting until he begged for mercy. Since then he's been more cunning about his plans but I always came out on top.

"Thanks for this Azula I really had to get out of my room" As she spoke it brought me back to the present and my current situation.

"Just my way of saying I was sorry. I've been under a lot of stress lately and I guess I forgot about how you must feel. I promise to be nicer to you in the future and to get your approval first if I have to do anything intimate in public."

"Thanks it's just that was my first kiss and I'd hoped it would be kind of special." My hand imediatly went to my lips as I remembered the kiss and how soft her lips had been. I was thankful that she was facing away from me otherwise she no doubt would have seen my cheeks go red.

"Just for the record you were my first kiss as well."

"Really? I just thought that..." We both turned around to talk face to face

"Let me guess you thought Ty lee had been my first." She doesn't say anything but simply nods. I could only smile and roll my eyes.

"Despite what people might think we're just friends, besides I've never really felt the need to be that way with anyone."

"Really? they way you talk about her I thought she was your girlfriend or something." I didn't blame her for thinking that way most people did.

"No if anything she's like the sister I never had but that's about it. Speaking of which you got anyone special in the human world waiting for you?" She got silent after I'd asked and for a moment I thought I'd ruined whatever connection I'd mananged to make.

"Yes...and no."

"What do you mean?"

"There's a guy back in in the human world that wants to marry me and my father alreadly agreaed, but I just don't see him that way. On the night you came for me I was actually hiding from him because I didn't want to be with him during the festival." I didn't understand why I felt relived when she said she didn't feel the same about him.

"Well at least you won't have to deal with him for a while."

"You're right and who knows maybe he'll find some else while I'm gone."

We stayed there for a while talking about different things until we finally decided to leave. As we walked down the halls we had the bad luck to run into Ozai who was clearly not pleased to see me with Katara.

"My queen I hope you and your bride are doing well tonight." With ought thinking about I moved in front of Katara and looked Ozai in the eye.

"Yes now if you'll excuse us we have someplace to be." We started to move only to have him step in front of us.

"Before you go I want to speak with you about my father's offer about your heir." he said eyeing me with a smug expression

"Now is neither the time nor place for this discussion now move out of our way or you'll be dealt with like all other obstacles that stand in my way." He held up his hands in surrender and stepped aside but I still caught the way he looked at Katara and that worried me. As soon as we were out of ear shot I pulled Katara aside.

"Katara I know you're not going to like this idea but I think it would be better if you stayed with me tonight."

"What why?"

"My instincts tell me that he has something planned and from the direction he came from I can only guess it inloves your room so please I know it's asking a lot but just trust me on this."

"Fine but I don't like it" As we continued down the hall and as we got closer to our rooms my instincts were going crazy and screaming about danger nearby. I'd learned long ago to trust what I was feeling and as I reaced for and grabbed the handle for my door I moved Katara back a few feet just to be safe. As it turns out that was the smart thing to do because a few moments after I turned the knob of my door I heard the sound of gears being turned followed by the smell of gas. Using all the strength in my legs I pushed back from the door grabbing Katara in the process and pushed us both back several feet just as the explosion happened, but instead of my room bursting into flames and debris It was Kataras that became engulfed. I knew instantly that this must be what Ozai was returning from doing and that thought filled me with rage.

"Azula are you okay?" I looked down to see Katara staring back at me and realized I'd landed on top of her and just how close I was to her face.

"Yeah but that trap wasn't meant for me."

"You mean..."

"Yeah so from now one whenever you're not with me you'll have somebody protecting you alright? She could only nod as she stared at the burning room that could have been her end and as she stared at it with those blue eyes of hers a thought occurred to me.

My first thought was to protect her.