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An Unknown Hearts Desire

Change

Katara was amazed when she saw Toph, the girl had grown and was almost as tall as she was, her long hair was down in an elegant style and she was actually wearing a dress. The only thing unchanged in the girl… no young woman was that she was barefoot, though she did have some intricate fabric wrapped around her ankles to make it appear like she could be wearing shoes if you weren't looking to closely.

"Toph, you look beautiful!" Katara exclaimed as she reached out embracing the ever changing woman. "You look great too sugar queen"

Katara went to thank her than realized what she had said "Toph!"

Katara heard a familiar voice and looked up just in time to get swept up in the arms of a rather tall Aang, he had shot up almost a foot in the past year and now stood about an inch taller than Katara. She was amazed and laughed at his now deepening voice. "Aang you're HUGE! When did you shoot up so much?"

Aang smiled and shrugged "Been growing a lot but I've heard that is normal, you've grow up a lot as well Katara!"

Zuko stood back watching the reunion and was hit in the gut by a strange new emotion, it was similar to what he use to feel when Ozai would give all his attention to Azula. It was pure jealousy and this shocked him, why would he be jealous of Katara and Aang? He did his best to ignore the emotion but it seemed to be like a dark shadow looming just in the background.

Katara had always heard that absence made the heart grow fonder but with Aang absence had just made her old emotions even more diluted, now she couldn't imagine herself with the ever growing Avatar, he was sweet and lovable but without his constant presence she found that her feelings had fully changed for him. She was now glad that her tribe had kept her from waiting on Aang, though part of her wished that she could have had the four years that waiting on Aang would have given her.

Toph smirked and poked Aang in the stomach "So I heard from Bumi that the White Lotus was already looking into your harem of eligible women to help you repopulate the Air Nomads"

Aang blushed and sputtered for a few minutes before lowering his head "Yeah, the White Lotus says that it will be easier to repopulate the Air Nomads if the girls aren't benders. They say that as the Avatar it is my duty to keep balance among all four elements, and that means doing the most I can to bring the Air Nomads back. They also think it will also be easier if all the girls aren't from the same nation so they are going to find girls from all the nations to give the Airbenders a larger gene pool. They say it will be difficult enough with me being the only airbender, if I would have found a single girl then it would have taken ten generations or so before the air nomads would not be at risk any more. This way it should only take two or three. I might still be alive when the Air Nomads are a great nation again."

Part of his voice sounded disappointed that he was going to be the resident stud, but another part of him seemed excited that he might see his people a great nation again. Sokka walked over wrapping his arm around Aang's neck "Don't worry so much Aang, just think about all the little yous ridding around on air scooters and getting into mischief."

Aang gave him a half smile then looked over to Zuko "I heard that you turned down a harem of your own, the Fire Sages didn't seem too happy about that, are you holding out for that overly serious girl, what was her name again… Mai?"

Zuko growled and looked away "NO! Mai and I had a falling out, she was still really upset that I left only a note when I went to join Aang, she also met someone who fit her personality better, he's a earth kingdom noble. And besides harems aren't an obligation, only a few Fire Lords had them and I would rather have a wife and Fire Lady."

Sokka snorted "What is up with the Air Nomads and the Fire Nation, one woman is a handful… I can't imagine having to deal with multiple wives."

Katara and Toph growled glaring at Sokka and quickly pounced on him beating him up. When they walked away he was twitching and both girls were straitening their dresses out and smirking at each other. The rest of the group made their way towards the dining hall where Iroh had set up as a welcoming party for the Gaang. When they reached the dining hall they noticed how closely Iroh, Ursa, Hakoda and Kanna were sitting together.

Sokka yelped when he caught up and saw Suki sitting at the end of the table and ran up to her. "Suki! I didn't think you would be here!"

She laughed and shook her head "Plans changed I got everything organized with the Kyoshi warriors, my replacement Tsumae finished her tests early so I thought I would meet up with everyone here."

Everyone was excited to see her so Sokka, Aang and Toph all sat as close to her as they could. The only seats available were at the head of the table for Zuko and the seat right next to his between him and Ursa so Katara sat there. Zuko looked at the food spread and was amazed to find that there were dishes from all four nations on the table, it must have been Iroh's idea.

He began filling his plate with his favorite Fire Nation foods and then looked around the table to see that this was typical, everyone was filling their plates with their own nations food accept for Iroh. He began eating slowly but when Katara sighed at something that tasted really good he began searching the table for what ever it was she ate. The plate was empty now, Sokka had it piled high on his plate so with an evil smirk he reached his chopsticks over and stole a bite of the slice of meat. He quickly popped it in his mouth and savored the different flavor, it was rather good and part of him glared at Sokka for taking the rest of it.

Katara was shocked when she saw a pair of chopsticks invading her plate and for a second she about yelled at Sokka till she followed the Chopsticks to see Zuko savoring the spiced ChickenFish. She sputtered for a minute before glaring and reaching over to take something off his place in revenge. She didn't even see what it was but popped it into her mouth glaring at him. The moment it hit her tongue she nearly melted. It was spicier than she was use to but the flavor was magnificent!

She looked over the table and found the plate empty and sitting in between Iroh and Ursa. She then let her eyes drift back to Zuko's plate that held some more of the great food and then up at him. He chuckled and pushed his plate towards her, she returned the favor and they continued eating off their own plates but stealing bits from the other's plate. Neither of them noticed Hakoda, Ursa and Iroh watching them closely. The rest of the Gaang seemed oblivious except for Suki who was smirking to herself and purposely keeping Sokka's attention far away from the dynamic duo.

Zuko and Katara didn't seem to notice the change in their behavior but the others did and seemed intrigued. Dinner finished quickly and soon Iroh left to make some tea. Everyone was excited because no one made tea quite like Iroh and when he returned everyone seemed to perk up. Katara smiled and sipped at the tea anticipating Jasmine, Iroh and Zuko's favorite flavor but instead she tasted a strange kind of mint flavor. It was really good just unexpected she looked over to Iroh cocking her head slightly "This is a different flavor of tea Iroh, what is it?"

Iroh smiled and nodded "Yes I thought a change would be a good idea, this tea was given to me by Bumi. It is a special Earth Kingdom tea that is supposed to Promote Peace and relaxation. I figured that after your long journey you could all use some relaxation."

Katara beamed at Iroh and everyone commented on how good the tea tasted. Before they knew it the sun was well beyond the horizon and Aang, and Toph had started to nod off sitting up. The two youngest members of the gathering left the room to get some rest. Iroh, Kanna and Pakku soon followed. Sokka and Suki got up after a while and made their way to bed. Only Hadoka, Ursa, Zuko and Katara were left. Katara loved watching Zuko and his mother interact. It hurt a bit to see that Zuko had found his mother but she was also happy for him.

Ursa finally tried to hide a yawn of her own and Hakoda slowly got up "Perhaps we should make our way to bed Katara, tomorrow will be here before we know it and then we have to go through the opening ceremony for the celebration."

Katara nodded and got up smiling at Zuko "Good night Fire Lord Zuko, sweet dreams" she then turned to Ursa about to do the same but the woman reached up pulling her into a hug "Good night Katara, sleep well and sweet dreams"

Katara was shocked but quickly sank into the embrace. She hugged her Gran Gran all the time but to have Ursa hugging her made her feel like she was being embraced by her own mother again. She let out a sigh and wrapped her arms around Ursa "Thank you Lady Ursa, I hope you sleep well and have sweet dreams"

Ursa released Katara and Hakoda gave Katara a happy smile then looked at Ursa bowing silently thanking her with his eyes. He looked at Zuko and reached out clasping his arm again. "Thank you for dinner Fire Lord Zuko, sleep well"

Zuko smiled and nodded. As he watched Katara leave he glanced over at his mother. Was it strange that when his mother hugged Katara that his heart leapt with excitement? That he was excited that Hakoda seemed to accept him and that Ursa accepted Katara. He wasn't sure what in him was changing but he wasn't too sure that he disliked it.

Unknown to him Katara was having similar thoughts as she made her way down the winding halls to find her room.

AN

I hope you guys like this update. I know that the true Zutara fluff hasn't started yet but it will. I tried to show as much Change as I could. Tomorrow we should have more Zutara going on. Enjoy and please review :)