AN: Hope this Chapter isn't confusing...It's the middle point of this story. Dashes indicate POV change...Yeah...
As she's turned away from me, I take this moment to finally present to her what I've been wanting to for days since I finished it, even though my hands shake as I reach into my pocket to retrieve the small black box. We're in the small garden by the Royal Quarters like we usually find ourselves; nothing out of the ordinary, but now is as good a time as any. I open it to check and make sure it's still in there then turn the box around to face her just as her head turns towards me.
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"What's this?" I ask, my voice unable to hide the sudden excitement I feel as I look at the box in his hands. Zuko has never gotten me anything as a gift! Not even on my birthday. He opens it slowly, I try not to laugh at the serious look on his face, he seems nervous, but then I look at the open box in his hands and smile; I can't believe my eyes!
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When her face lights up as she looks to me with surprise, I can't help but smile happily, all the nervousness melting away.
"Zuko, I…" She begins, trailing off as her delicate fingers reach out to touch the red stone. "It's beautiful." She says in a whisper, slight tears forming, hopefully happy ones.
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I stare at the beautifully carved Fire Stone laying on the black velvet, a gold ribbon thread through it. The carving is of the Water and Fire Nation symbols intertwining. Simplicity had never meant so much. As I smile brighter, a tear rolls down my cheek. This is the most endearing gesture Zuko's ever shown me.
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"Katara," I begin, pulling the necklace out from the box and unlatching it, "I want you to stay here, with me, for as long as you want." I see her features falter for a moment; she was hoping this was an engagement, and, perhaps in our own way, it would mean that, at least for now. Maybe someday it could actually be announced.
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I try to control my features, but surely he understands how conflicted my feelings are in this moment. You give a Water Nation symbol of betrothal to a Water Nation woman, but it's not an engagement…I feel let down. I understand his meaning behind it, and it's still sweet, but my heart seems slightly heavier. I want more.
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I hold it up as she nods, lifting her hair up so I can place it around her slender neck.
"So, this is why you wanted my mother's necklace." She said, holding the red medallion in her hand, feeling the carved surface beneath her thumb.
"I needed to see how to do it." I say with a nod, reaching into the same pocket to produce her beloved heirloom. She takes it back and holds onto it, looking upon it sadly.
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I hold the cold blue stone in my hand and the memory of my mother floods back. What would she think of such a pair? Afterall, it was Zuko's father who commanded the very army that killed her. I suddenly cannot imagine she would be very happy with me, and in that moment, I feel such shame.
But this isn't Ozai, this is Zuko, the man who is changing the world that killed my mother.
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"You can still wear it if you prefer." I say quietly, though inside I wished she would only wear mine; it was my little way of proclaiming her for my own. I smile as she tucks the blue stone away in her dress, returning a sweet smile.
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"I think she would understand."