AN ok for all my fanfiction readers Zutara week is a week long event on Deviant where each day you are given a subject… Family… Change… pain… date… ext. you can go to www(dot)zutara-week(dot)deviantart(dot)com replace the (Dot) with a . the journals there will give you some description. Most people draw pictures but I'm a writer so I write stories :).
I also made a change to the previous 3 chapters, I removed Suki, though I like her as a character I am also a Tokka fan and when writing this chapter decided that I want to make the sub relationship Tokka so I looked back and found only 3 mentions of Suki so it was easy to just delete her for now, might add her back in later not to sure. I am also a Taang fan but I already set Aang up for a harem of girls to repopulate the Air nomads and it wouldn't be fare to Toph to have to share the love of her life. So if you want go back and read the slightly revised previous chapters… or just think back and realize… no Suki… nothing else changed… ok :) Alright time for an update.
An Unknown Hearts Desire
Date Chapter 4
Zuko and Katara went to the announcement of their betrothal reluctantly. The crowds were quiet for a long moment before cheering began. The Fire Nation Citizens were happy because the union would hopefully take away some of the hate the other nations held for them and hopefully help with trade, the earth kingdom citizens were cheering because as they saw it the Avatar's water bending instructor would have control over the fire nation. The water tribe citizens were mixed the males that were after Katara's hand didn't cheer but everyone else did because they knew how strong Katara was and knew she would keep the fire nation at bay. All nations were happy for the announcement.
The night before Aang had taken it amazingly well when it was announced to the Gaang. He actually walked up to Katara hugging her and congratulating her. He knew she had been scared that she would be stuck in a loveless marriage. At least this way she was marrying a friend and someone he could trust. He then turned to Zuko and glared for a moment "Be good to her Zuko or I'll take your bending away like I did your father"
Zuko gulped, he didn't think he would ever hurt Katara but he remembered how many times he had unintentionally made Mai upset before they broke it off. Sokka wasn't too happy about it but Toph stepped on his foot then looked back at the couple. She just smirked and said "About time you two get your heads on strait"
It hadn't turned out as bad as Katara had anticipated. No one was screaming or yelling about the arrangement for now at least. She was amazed when she went to dinner Zuko met her at the door "Katara, would you mind joining me for diner. I thought it would be nice to not be surrounded by questions all through diner and perhaps we could have our first date."
Katara smiled and quickly accepted. He offered his arm and he lead them out to the garden where his mother use to sit with him and feed turtle ducks. There was a large picnic blanket set up, per his request earlier in the day, near the pond with a large picnic basket and a dozen Fire Lilies. Katara was speechless as Zuko presented her with the beautiful Fire Lilies. She took in their spicy scent, she felt something wrapped around the stems and she pulled the flowers away from her nose looking at what felt strange. On the stem of a few of the flowers was a beautiful silver ring, it had a beautiful red ruby in the center with two sapphires on either side of it.
Katara looked up at Zuko with a puzzled look, he gave her a smile then took the ring from her hand slipping it onto the ring finger of her left hand "In the fire nation we don't give betrothal necklaces, we give rings. This is your engagement ring on our wedding day you will get a second band and I will get a band of my own."
She seemed a bit upset but pasted on a smile. "Thank you Zuko it is very sweet of you and the ring is absolutely beautiful"
Zuko smiled and reached up brushing some hair away from her face. "You're welcome Katara."
They sat by the turtle duck pond eating and laughing for hours. They talked about everything ranging from their pasts, favorite foods and to some of their hopes for the future. They ended up touching on the subject of children and everything got quiet. "I never even thought about kids, I mean as the future Fire Lord I always knew I needed to have an heir but beyond that thought I never went into more detail. I don't know if I want any more than one, I keep thinking back onto how my sister turned out and how much she teased me"
Katara sighed and frowned "I always had thought of having lots of children, at least two if not more. I loved having an older brother. I mean he was way over protective but it is kind of nice to have someone you can depend on no matter what."
Zuko frowned and shook his head "We have a little time before we really need to worry about that. But it is good to know that you love kids. I mean I kind of already knew that but its nice to know what your hopes and dreams are."
Katara laughed and leaned back looking up into the now stary sky "Yeah but it is going to be hard to realize some of my dreams here. I had wanted to be like Master Pakku and train young water benders until I was to old to do so. Now I'll be surrounded by Fire Benders instead of Water Benders"
Zuko reached out cupping her cheek and sighing "I am sorry, who knows, with how legendary of a Water Bender you are you might just have young water benders coming from far and wide to get you to train them."
She laughed and leaned into his overly warm hand enjoying the comforting gesture. They looked into each others eyes silently for a while before Zuko pulled back and reached into one of the pockets of his robe. Once he found what he was looking for he looked back up to Katara. "Katara, I know we were not given much of a choice in this arrangement but I hope you know that even if the White Lotus wouldn't have suggested this I was looking for a way to help you. I don't know if I would have come to the idea of marrying you until after the three days but I do know I would have most likely eventually got to that idea. What I am trying to say is Katara, will you marry me?"
He pulled the object out of his pocket and opened his hand holding it out towards her. There was a beautiful Pendant sitting on his palm that was the same size of her mother's. It was made out of a swirl of gold and silver metal in the Yin Yang Shape. There etched into the beautiful metals were the fire nation symbol and the water tribe symbol on their opposite metallic representative, where the dot usually is in a traditional yin yang. The band was actually comprised of two ribbons one red and one blue twisted around each other.
"I am sorry I couldn't carve it myself but I did design the look, pick out the metals and I was there the whole time that the jeweler made it. The silver represents the water tribe and the gold the fire nation. The yin yang shows the balance that we give each other."
Katara teared up and before he knew it she had pounced on him knocking him over onto the blanket. He heard her chanting Yes I'll marry you over and over again as she cried tears of joy into his shoulder. He was smiling and held her tightly until she stopped crying and sat back up. He smiled at her and held up the necklace, she quickly got the idea and pulled her hair out of the way as she turned around. Just like he had when the pirates had captured her he reached up carefully untying Katara's grandmother's necklace. "I'll save you"
True he had left out the 'from the pirates' line but it got a laugh out of her as he carefully replaced Kanna's necklace with his own. She reached up letting her fingers fall on the warm metal than turned to Zuko leaning up and kissing him softly "You already saved me, but this time from Water Benders instead of Pirates"
They laughed and Katara leaned back against his chest enjoying the warmth that radiated from him. For a while they sat there quietly looking up at the stars but soon a loud yawn escaped Katara and Zuko got up insisting it was time for them to go to sleep. He walked her to her room and leaned down giving her a lingering kiss, when he pulled away Katara was breathless. She blinked a few times and he gave her a goofy grin before turning to make his way back to his room.
When Katara entered she found Sokka sitting on her bed waiting on her. He looked her over once and his eyes grew dark, he could see that she had been crying and jumped to the conclusion that Zuko had made her upset. She quickly darted over to Sokka and grabbed his wrist. "It isn't what you think Sokka"
He went to question her when he then realized that she wasn't wearing their mother's necklace. "He gave you a betrothal necklace?"
She nodded and reached up touching it "Yes, he gave me a ring following the fire nation traditions but also gave me the betrothal necklace. He didn't make it but designed it and watched as they made it."
His harsh look eased and he reached out taking her hand "Are you truly happy Katara? If not I will find a way to get you out of this"
She smiled and nodded "I think I love him Sokka, I think I have for a long time and he loves me"
Sokka watched her as she spoke then started to smile "If you are sure than I am all for it. You will make a wonderful Fire Lady, you've always watched out for everyone and you are a good decision maker."
She blushed and reached into her pocket pulling out Kanna's betrothal necklace. "Sokka, I have no use for this any more. It is great for memories but I would rather see someone wearing it than for it to sit in a jewelry box for the rest of our lives. Why don't you give it to the one you want to marry. Besides she wasn't just my mom, she was your mom as well."
Sokka watched her for a moment then smiled "Alright Katara, though it will be strange seeing it on someone other than you and mom."
Katara smiled and reached out hugging her brother, her clueless brother. She knew that Toph was head over heals for Sokka but he seemed oblivious. After he and Suki had a falling out because she refused to leave the Kioshii warriors and he needed to stay in the South Pole and become the next chief he closed himself off from any relationships. There were many females who were after him but he didn't seem to notice, too caught up in learning how to be chief from Hakoda.
Katara smiled and after putting the necklace in his had smirked "I'm sure it would look lovely with a green band on it"
Sokka raised an eyebrow "Why would I change the band to green? Suki and I broke up months ago and besides the Kioshii's weren't even really a full part of the earth bending nation"
She rolled her eyes and poked him in the forehead "Are you really that dense? I wasn't talking about Suki, but to give you a hint she was part of the Gaang"
With that she got up shoving him out the door. "I'm tired! Get out of here and let me get some sleep!"
Sokka stood outside Katara's door blinking, Toph liked him? As he walked towards his room he thought back to all his interaction with Toph over the years and some things started falling into place. He was always so distracted by Yue or Suki to realize it but now that he actually thought about it Katara was right. She always seemed so upset about his relationships and she was always sticking up for him, though she teased him a lot she always found subtle ways to complement him and agree with him.
Toph was a year younger than Katara, they had the same gap in age that Zuko and Katara had. He had grown close to the tomboy earthbender but as he quickly realized she wasn't such a tomboy any more. She was slowly coming into her noble heritage. She even wore a dress without complaining. But part of him feared even trying to start a new relationship. He had no luck first Yue died then Suki couldn't leave her own obligations. He knew Toph didn't like ice and couldn't see through shoes, she would never be willing to move down to the south pole.
He let out a depressed sigh and changed directions, instead of heading towards his bedroom he went out to one of the beautiful gardens. He was amazed to find Toph walking outside and enjoying the warm grass under her feet. He stood watching her for a few minutes before she growled and turned to face him. "Snoozles either come out here and walk with me or stop staring and go away"
Sokka fingered the necklace now in his pocket and then decides the hell with it, he walks out smiling at Toph before joining her. "Hey Toph, how are you doing?"
Toph shrugged her shoulders picking at the dress a bit "Could be better, everyone is going on and on about Katara and Zuko it is getting a bit annoying. I mean what's the big deal, in the earth kingdom I'm almost old enough to get married but you don't hear me whining about suitors or people pressuring me to get married. My parents have been trying to find me a husband for months, luckily most of them are scared off because I'm the first metal bender and they don't like the idea that I'm better than them."
Sokka was shocked "You are old enough to get married!"
She laughed "yeah I am not that much younger than Sugar Queen just a few months. I was born at the beginning of the year, she was born at the end. In about 4 months my parents will still be looking and I'll still be running them all off. Your sister just needed to learn how to threaten them into leaving her alone!"
Sokka laughed and shook his head "It isn't so easy in the water tribe, but if you say so."
Toph snorted and they continued to walk and talk for most of the night, when it was only a few short hours from dawn Toph yawned and Sokka shook his head "We really should head to bed, tomorrow is Katara's birthday and knowing Iroh he'll want to throw a big party or something"
She laughed and nodded giving him a sweet smile. "Yeah, well good night Sokka"
Sokka shook his head and reached out taking her arm "Oh come on Toph, I will walk you to your door, and don't complain I'm just trying to be a gentleman"
Toph laughed and nodded "Alright Sokka you can play pretend for a while if you want"
They walked to Toph's door and she turned back nodded at Sokka "Alright, well thank you for spending some time with me Sokka, I really enjoyed it."
Sokka debated for a moment then reached up brushing his hand against her jaw line "I enjoyed it as well, um Toph, would you like to go to town with me tomorrow after what ever party they have planed for Katara?"
Toph stood there for a moment puzzled then looked almost directly into Sokka's eyes "Are you asking me on a date?"
Sokka blushed and looked directly into her eyes before nodding "Yes, I believe I am"
Toph blushed and looked down with a large smile gracing her maturing face "I would love to Sokka"
With that she dashed into her room shutting the door. Sokka stood outside smiling, perhaps things wouldn't work out with Toph but he had to at least give it a chance. He walked to his room playing with the betrothal necklace the whole way. He hoped that one day everything would work out… part of him was really hoping that it would work out with Toph.
AN hope you liked it! Read and review!
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PermanentlyFrozen thank you for the inquiry and for the review!
Sasha/IceBlossom22 thank you for the review, I'm writing this story for Zutara week unlike most of my stories I don't with hold updates for reviews, but thanks for telling me about your mistake. LOL no worries love just as long as you are reading and enjoying this story I am happy!
AnnaAza thanks for the second review!