Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Yes, another challenge. This one is from Dragon Jadefire. Here is what it was,
Start with: "So you had a crush on this Haru character, huh?"
Middle: "Remember the time you got drunk, Zuko?"
End: "Zuko have you smelled your dirty socks?! They smell worse than Sokka's dirty socks! And I have smelled his dirty socks, and let me tell you, not pleasant!"
This POST-WAR. Katara and Zuko are married. (No children, yet...) xD Wow, this is LONG.
"So, you had a crush on this Haru character, huh?"
It was a random question from the Fire Lord, as he glanced at his new wife.
Katara looked up from her reading, as she and her husband were laying on the giant royal bed. Raising an eyebrow she shut her book, staring at her husband as if he had grown another head. He gave her an expectant look as he placed aside a pile of important documents.
"What gave you that idea?" She answered his question with a question, folding her arms across her chest.
"Oh it's just before we got married...Sokka and I had a talk about all the...erm...previous men in your life." Fire Lord Zuko pulled the silk sheets a tiny bit higher, slightly afraid of the glare his wife was sending him.
"What? You asked my brother about my previous love life, because you couldn't trust me!?"
"No, no, no! It's not that! It's that...wait a second. Did you say l-love?"
Katara wiped away a stray hair from her face, shrugging at her husband. "Maybe." Zuko widened his eyes sitting up instantly as he pushed away the sheets from his body. Which was now rising in temperature way to fast.
"So you were in love with this boy?! That's it, I'm going to have a talk with hi-"
"Zuko! Your over-reacting. I never said love, dear. It was a crush. A silly crush for a silly day."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, honey. I'm married to you right now, aren't I?"
Nodding he laid back down, resting his hands on his chest. Staring at the ceiling he tried to ignore all the stupid questions in his head. Katara had already grabbed her book and began to pick up where she left off. Sitting back up quickly, Zuko asked her rapidly,
"Wait. Why did you have a crush on him?"
Katara rolled her eyes and shut the book, moving her glare over to him. With an exasperated sigh she answered him.
"Because he was nice and kind. Okay? Besides, he was the firs guy my age that I met outside the South Pole. Excluding Aang and Sokka." Holding out her hands to make a point she opened back her book and began to find the last word she read. After a minute or so, he asked once again,
"Wait? What about me? I was the first guy you saw."
Katara rolled her eyes again, shutting her book for the last time and placing it on the table beside her. Rolling to her side she looked him in the eyes and plainly said to him with sarcasm,
"Right honey, you were. Like I would really have a crush on the guy from the Fire Nation who grabs my elderly grandmother and threatens my whole village?"
"What about now? Your married to that guy."
"You changed, Zuko. We all did. You changed for the better and I found out what an amazing and wonderful man you are. Okay? Stop worrying about the past. Besides, you wouldn't grab my grandmother today, now would you?"
"Actually, I'm quite afraid of her, dear."
"Good."
Katara rolled back, laying on her back. After a moment of silence she narrowed her brow. With a serious face, she spoke to him without looking at his face.
"Remember the time you got drunk, Zuko?"
The Fire Lord sat back up, holding out his hands as if he were begging. Which he was. How could she keep bringing that up? When would she ever let that go? So this was what Sokka warned him about girls never, EVER forgetting the bad things you do instead of the good things...
"I'm sorry Katara! I really am! Can't we forget about that?! Please!"
The Fire Lady crossed her arms and pouted, "I still don't forgive you for that!"
Zuko sighed and scooted closer, placing an arm around her small body.
"Honey, I was drunk! I saw a woman with a long braid and thought it was you! So then I went and decided to..you know...kiss her...and well...that didn't end well. Especially when you found me."
Silence was his answer, as she turned her head the other way and ignored him.
"Katara, I love you. You know I never meant that. I'm sorry, I truly am...please...forgive me."
Finally Katara nodded, letting her husband hug her as she kissed him on the cheek. They leaned back, his arm on her shoulder as she leaned her head on his chest. Sitting in the peaceful silence, Katara decided it was her turn to ask a question.
"Zuko, I want a big family."
He glanced down at her, as if she was crazy. The Fire Lord nearly choked, as he removed his arm and stared at her for what seemed eternity. She kept a smile on her face, and her eyes never even moved away from his. Finally, he spoke.
"Your very random. Do you know that? And crazy. Yes, you are my very crazy water wife."
Lady Katara nodded happily, still smiling like the very crazy water wife she was.
"I'm serious, Zuko. I want a big family." She said it again, this time her voice was a bit firmer. Zuko shook his head, clearly confused by his wife. Stammering her words, he nodding his head as he spoke.
"Oh you mean like two kids? Right? Yeah, I can handle that..."
"No. I was thinking more along the lines of...five...maybe six..."
"WHAT!?"
"Calm down! It's just...where I grew up family was everything...all my relatives are in the South Pole and well...I just want a big family..."
"But, six!? SIX, KATARA?!"
Katara gave a happy nod, and Zuko only groaned. Rolling her eyes and pouting once more she said a bit to loudly, and purposely,
"Fine. Maybe Haru will birth my children."
"WHAT!? You did not just say what I think you said."
Katara stared at him and Zuko did the same, and they said nothing for several minutes.
Until finally, Zuko said what was on both of their minds. There was no need to explain it, for they were both thinking the same thing.
"Three." Three kids, that was what he was offering.
"Five."
"Three."
"FIVE!"
"THREE!"
"Four or I'll get married to an earth bender and Haru will birth my children."
"Oh you sneaky little...fine. Deal."
Happily, Katara snuggled close to Zuko, nuzzling her head on his chest. He simply grumbled, "Yeah, yeah...your lucky that your cute when you do that."
Shutting her eyes, she began to show her appreciation by hugging her husband and to continue snuggling. Finally Zuko asked one last question...
"How long have you planned on having that many children?"
Katara's eyes widened and she stopped her love.
The fact was, Katara had been thinking about how many children since she first realized she liked Zuko. Which was...a long time ago. She even imagined the hair color, skin, bending, personalties, names...and so on. And if she told Zuko...why he'd never EVER forget it and tease her till her dying day. And somehow Sokka would find out and then she'd be dead.
So instead of answering her husband she decided to change the subject. Immediately.
"Zuko have you smelled your dirty socks?! They smell worse than Sokka's dirty socks! And I have smelled his dirty socks, and let me tell you, not pleasant!"