After the argument in the throne room Zuko had got a nap. Katara roamed the palace hallways. She found a bench and sat down to think. She thought about her situation and if Yukio was coming for her, or if Sokka was upset. Katara then looked up and saw Zuko walking in the halls. She watched him as he walked towards her.
"Hi." He said and sat down beside her.
"Hi." Katara said, and she rested her hands in her lap. He looked at the floor.
"I wanted to apologize about earlier." He told her sincerely.
"It's okay." She said quietly. Zuko looked at her and slightly smiled. She saw his smile and quickly looked back at her hands. "Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?" She asked.
"I wanted to tell you…" He began to say.
"Tell me what?" Katara asked him. Zuko coughed to clear his throat.
"I think you are beautiful, and I would be honored if you would…" He said but then stopped due to embarrassment. Katara blushed and looked at him.
"Continue…" She said.
"I would be honored if you would accompany me on a walk through the gardens this evening." He finally said. Katara thought for a moment.
"Sure." She said. Zuko smiled. Zuko stood in front of her leaned down and grabbed her hand from her lap.
"Thank you." He said, trying not to burst with happiness. He then gently raised her hand and lightly kissed it. Katara blushed when his lip touched her skin.
"You're welcome." She said, while she still blushed. Zuko let go of her hand and politely bowed. Then he smiled and walked away. Katara waited till he was gone then rushed to her bedroom to get ready for their walk.
When she reached her bedroom she found a flowing dark blue dress and her mothers' necklace. Katara quickly dressed and wore her hair in the fashion her mother wore hers'.
Meanwhile Zuko was in his room, he wore a dark red suit and places the diadem on his head. He then rushed off to the gardens.
Katara left for the gardens after she fixed her hair loops. When she reached the gardens she sees many posts with candles on top. The pond is full of floating candles and small turtle ducks.
Zuko walked down a path and saw Katara he gasped when he saw her beauty. He then walked towards her.
Katara saw Zuko walking towards her and noticed the diadem; she then realized that she was with the fire lord. She always forgot that detail of Zukos' life.
"Hello." Zuko said, and politely bowed.
"Hello." Katara said and she curtsied. Iroh was spying neither of them knew.
Zuko then walked to her right side, he then offered his arm to her; she smiled and looped her arms around his. He returned the smile and began to walk. Iroh continued spying and waited for something interesting to happen. After a few paces, Katara felt awkward and began to speak.
"So…" She began, Zuko thought of something to say.
"Nice dress." He complimented. She looked at him then her dress.
"Thanks…" She said. Iroh slapped his forehead. "Nice suit." She returned the compliment. Zuko looked at his clothes then her.
"Thank you." He said. Then he looked around, he sensed someone's presents.
"What?" Katara asked. Zuko looked at her.
"Nothing…" He said even though he knew somebody watched them. Iroh tucked farther behind the bushes.
They came to a small pond, Zuko sat beside the water and Katara lifted her dress and sat down beside him.
"It's so calming here." She said as she looked around.
"Yeah it is." Zuko agreed. Iroh thought it was so sweet he almost let out a big 'awww'. After a few moments of silence Katara spoke.
"Did you want to talk to me about something?" Katara asked him. Zuko thought for a moment.
"Yeah." He said.
"About what?" She asked again.
"Well you know I like you…" Zuko began.
"…Yeah…" Katara said, she knew what he was saying. After a few moments Zuko reaches into the front of his shirt he pulls out his hand to reveal a dark red betroval necklace.
"Katara will you marry me?" He asked her and smiled. Iroh crossed his fingers. Katara was shocked and thought for a while she then smiled back.
"Yes, I will marry you." She told him, Zuko smiled. He offered to put on the new necklace. She allowed him to.
Zuko walked behind her and pulled back her long brown hair, he untied the blue necklace that he remembered from their past. He put old necklace in her palm and tied the new necklace around her neck. She put her fingers to it. Zuko placed her hair back and walked back in front of her. He smiled.
"I love it." She told him, and she put her mothers' necklace around her wrist. Zuko smiled and looked at his new fiancé. Iroh smiled.
"You look beautiful." He told her. She blushed.
"Thank you." Katara said, she then leaned into his chest. Zuko was surprised, but put his arm around her. She leaned against him and closed her eyes.
She knew at that moment that she could trust him and she felt safe for the first time in a long time. Zuko felt happy, he knew that she was comfortable with him. After a while he closed his eyes and sighed.
"Is anything wrong?" She asked after hearing his sigh.
"No, this is perfect." He said with his eyes closed.
"Yeah it is." Katara said, and closed her eyes again. She leaned farther into him. He held her tighter. After a few minutes of pure silence, Katara opened her eyes and spoke.
"It's getting late." She told Zuko. Zuko realized she was right, but he didn't want to leave this moment. He opened his eyes.
"Yeah." He said sadly. She got off his chest and sat up. Zuko stood up and helped her to her feet. She then looked at him.
"I'm not going to leave, or anything." She said.
"I trust you." Zuko told her.
"Okay." She said.
"Do you trust me?" He asked.
"Yes I trust you." She said and smiled, he smiled back.
"Goodnight." He said and turned to leave.
"Wait." She said. Zuko turned to her, she leaned towards him and put her arms on his shoulders, she closed her eyes. Katara lightly kissed his lips. Zuko smiled at her, she smiled back. "Goodnight." She said, and took her hands from his shoulders.
Zuko smiled again, and then turned and walked away.
Katara smiled and watched him leave, on the way back to her room she looked at her mothers' necklace and touched her Zukos' betroval necklace.
Once she reached her room she opened the door. She walked to the mirror and looked into it to see a dark shadow form behind her.
"How was your night?" Asked Yukio. Katara gasped and quickly turns around to look for a source of water; however Yukio had taken all the water from the room.