Katara

Two days, that's how long Azula was unconscious for after the duel with Ozai. The damage she received was near fatal and it took three hours just to heal. I demanded to heal her myself much to the dismay of the royal physician who felt insulted about someone else doing his job.

Actually since healing her I haven't left her side or even left the room. Mai and the old man Iroh had come to check on me and her a few times but other than that I'd ordered the guards outside to not allow anyone else in. They were reluctant to obey my orders at first but when they saw how serious I was they couldn't agree fast enough.

But as for right now all I could do was watch Azula's chest rise and fall as she slept. I'd done my best but she still had a scar just above her heart where the lighting had struck her. When it happened I couldn't believe why she had done it. To me it looked like she just jumped in front of his shot but when I saw Ozai's look of anger as Azula fell I realized that he'd aimed for me.

At least she's alive and he's nothing more than a burnt corpse. Now if she would just wake up I'd feel a whole lot better.

Then a thought occurred to me, it was stupid and childish but in all reality I just wanted to see if it got any kind of reaction. So before I could think my way out of it I leaned over and kissed her. As I pulled away I expected to see her still sleeping face, what I actually got were her golden eyes staring back at me with both surprise and joy.

"Couldn't resist huh?" At that moment it took everything I had not to die of embarrassment at being caught. She let out a small laugh before sitting up instantly clutching her side.

"Careful! You're not fully healed yet, if his aim had been any better it would have hit your heart."

"Then it's a good thing he was a fool." It was then she looked at the room and then at the state I was in.

"Did you stay by me side this entire time?"

"For some reason I couldn't bring myself to leave, not even when Mai tried to drag me out so I could get some fresh air. But Azula now that you're awake there's something I have to tell you."

"And that is?"

"Don't ever scare me like that again! Do you have any idea how worried I was?! You nearly died three times as I was healing you." My rant was cut short by the feeling of her arms pulling me into a deep hug. For the longest time all I could do was stare ahead as I let myself calm down in her embrace.

"I love you" the words were out before I knew it. Azula pulled back in surprise and stared at me.

"What did you say?" I'd finally said the words I'd been thinking in the two days I'd been alone with her.

"I said I love you Azula." Her eyes became watery as tears of happiness came forth

"I love you too Katara. But does this mean...?" Her eyes went to her mark on my arm and as I stared at it I knew I never wanted it off.

"Yes, I'll marry you Azula." in her excitement she pulled me into a kiss that I eagerly returned.

For the next few hours all we could do was plan our futures together. Now that I had officially accepted being her bride we had to plan the wedding as well as inform my family. Although I really wasn't looking forward to doing that but Azula wanted to at least ask my father for permission to marry me even though she'd marry me regardless of his answer. Which meant we'd have to wait at least six more months for the portal to open so we can tell them.

When I mentioned my family it reminded Azula of Ty Lee a person I'd nearly forgotten about since Azula's injury.

"I'm going to go check on her, you coming?"

"I'd like to but I used a lot of energy to heal you so I'll stay here and rest for a while."

"Alright I'll be back soon." I heard her say as I jumped into her now vacant bed intending to get some well-deserved rest. What I didn't expect was for the door to open two minutes later.

She can't be back already, Ty lee's wing is clear on the other side of the palace.

But as the door opened I saw it wasn't Azula at the door but two soldiers. Before I could as why they were here one pulled out a blowgun and hit me square in the neck. I tried to let out some kind of scream but only managed to knock over a nearby vase before the blackness engulfed me completely.

I don't know how long I was out but when I came to I saw I was no longer in the palace but instead I was at the now closed portal.

"Lord Sozin she's waking up."

"Good but keep her docile for now. This takes a lot of focus to pull off." I tried to struggle but my hands and feet were bound in rope and with now nearby sources of water I was unable to bend.

The sounds of my struggles must have amused Sozin for he turned from whatever he was doing to the portal and said.

"I'd stop struggling if I were you human."

"Why are you doing this?" I quickly realized I couldn't escape so instead sought to gather some kind of idea of what was going on.

"That unworthy queen took away something of mine so I'll take away something of hers. I've made a deal that will keep you from her grasp." I started to understand what he was saying but I couldn't believe it. The portal could only be opened one a year and only by the avatar.

"But only the avatar can open the portal."

"It may be true that only the avatar can keep the portal open a full day but an extremely powerful spirit can create a tear in the portal just long enough to slip through. It was far too easy to convince that poor fool of an avatar that I'd rescued you from your kidnapper and that I was sending you home. He'll make sure that you never set foot here again." If what he said was true than not only had Aang not gotten over me but the moment I cross over he'll never let me out of his sight again.

Sozin turned back to the portal and after chanting in some weird language for a minute the portal turned yellow and a small tear no bigger than a person appeared in the portal. And on the other side were Aang and Sokka. Before I could stop them one of Sozin's men had grabbed me by my wrists and thrown me through the portal. When looked back I managed to see five figures drop from the sky behind Sozin's men.

Four of them were ominous looking men in green robes but in front was Azula, her eyes filled with desperation and anger. Sozin followed my gaze and saw Azula and her men charging him so with a sneer he turned back to the portal and started to close it. Just as it was half closed Azula crossed the distance and blew Sozin out of the way but by then the portal was far too small for anyone to get through. Right before the portal closed I saw her mouth the three words we'd told each other hours earlier. A single tear slipped from my eye when it closed knowing I'd never see her again. Aang and Sokka rushed to my side and undid my ropes before hugging me.

"Katara you're back" Aang said pulling back

"Yes... I'm back" But I'd give anything not to be.

, but the next chapter will be the final one.