Izumi laughed as she chased Kya around the turtleduck pond.

"I must capture the Avatar!"

Zuko grunted as he looked up from his papers. For some reason, all of the kids seemed to enjoy playing this game. A few months ago when Toph stopped by, even her daughters knew how to play with Izumi. At least his daughter didn't mind being the moody Fire Prince.

"Airbending slice, hiya!"

Kya giggled as she threw a stream of water back at her companion, but Izumi was practically an expert at this, and she dodged the water, tackling Kya to the ground, both girls dissolving into giggles.

"I caught the Avatar!" she declared. "Daddy did you see me?"

"I did, sweetheart. Good job."

"Did you see me waterbend, Uncle Zuko?" Kya called, wanting praise as well.

"I did. And you're getting better every time I see you."

The girls beamed and came over to join him under the moon peach tree. They dug into their little picnic basket for snacks, and settled down to gossip about all the things they'd been doing since they last saw each other. Zuko settled back against the tree, feeling at peace. He closed his eyes as Katara and Luli came into the gardens, talking about the development of Republic City. Katara was openly excited as she accepted a few new schematics.

"This will truly be our legacy," she said as she struggled to the ground next to the girls. "Can you believe it?"

"Not in the slightest."

Zuko smled at his best friend as his wife settled in next to him. He placed a hand on Katara's stomach, a slight pang still hitting him in the heart after all these years. But she was happy. She and Aku had a good life, and even pregnant with her second child, she hadn't slowed down. But she absolutely glowed. She was happy.

"Did you feel the baby move, Uncle Zuko?" Kya asked excitedly. "I hope it's a girl. Uncle Sokka can have all the boys."

"Are you and mommy going to have a baby, too?" Izumi asked, suddenly incredibly excited. "I want a baby sister, too."

Zuko sputtered, feeling his cheeks redden as he turned to Luli. She laughed, caressing his unscarred cheek.

"Perhaps. But not at the moment, darling."

It was oddly domestic, the five of them. The only one who was missing was Aku, who'd been stuck in meetings all day on Katara's behalf. They'd all be together for dinner in a few hours, though.

"Come on, girls," Luli said, standing. "Why don't we let Zuko and Katara talk for a bit? I'm sure they have a lot to catch up on."

Zuko watched them leave, and as Luli got to the edge of the gardens, she turned to him and bowed, the same deep curtsey she'd always given him. A smile came unbidden, and it grew even more when Izumi noticed and tried to mimic her mother, pushing her glasses further up her nose.

When they were gone, Zuko leaned back against the tree again, breathing the scent of ripe moon peaches.

"I always forget how beautiful the Fire Nation can be," Katara said.

Zuko opened one eye to watch her. Sometimes he was still taken aback by how beautiful she was.

"Look at us," he said with a chuckle. "Look at us."

Katara smiled back. "Hard to imagine, huh? When we were still teenagers, I don't think I'd ever imagined we would be here."

Zuko nodded and found that he really didn't have much of anything to add. It had been that way for years between them. There was never the burden of words, and often, they just sat. It was like those early days of their friendship during the war. It was like being back in the cave after not killing Yon Rha.

"I'm glad you're happy," Katara whispered. "Do you think we made the right decision?"

He watched her gently rubbed her baby bump as he tried to truly consider her question.

"I…I don't really know how to answer that," he finally said. "Maybe it's best that we don't answer it. You will always be part of me."

Absently, Zuko touched the scar on his stomach.

"Maybe you're right." Katara sighed. "Why poke a sleeping dragon. We're happy, right?"

When she smiled, it was bright and genuine. Zuko was struck with a feeling of completeness.

"You're right. We are happy. And we're still friends."

He stood and helped Katara to her feet, and they made their way back to the palace in silence. No matter what they could have been for each other, they at least remained friends. Maybe he would always wonder 'what if.' Maybe, from time to time, he might long to go back and make a different decision, but when he looked at Luli and Izumi, it was getting harder and harder to say, for certain, that he would change the course of his life.

"We are happy, aren't we?"

A/N: Sorry, I've been sucking at updating this -_-. Well, here you go! It's the end, and it's not full of angst! I think, in this kind of scenario, once they got over wondering what could have been, Zuko and Katara would be able to remain friends. That's too important of a relationship to let go. And I dare someone to tell me that the Gaang's kids don't play "Capture the Avatar." I imagine Sokka making up the game, and one of his kids asking "Do I have to wear the stupid ponytail to be the Fire Prince?" Zuko, of course, is not the most pleased about this game.