Before Hahn had left for the Fire Nation he had sat down with Umerk, the Grand Vizier in secret. Umerk had advised Arnook and he had already begun advising Hahn on how to be a powerful ruler.
"Katara is in love with Zuko. I'd even bet they're intimate. If you expose them it will break the Avatar's heart and his hold on the other royal families," Umerk said in a whisper as he stroked his long beard, though he knew no one else was around to over hear them.
"How?" Hahn asked softly, he wanted more power, and would be satisfied with the Northern Tribe, but Umerk kept telling him he could have more than he imagined if he wanted.
"With Aang's champion, best man and friend shown to be his greatest betrayer, we'll take the Fire Nation."
"And your price?"
"I want you on Zuko's throne." Umerk smiled and continued. "With Zuko in disgrace the Fire Nation will be weak. Zuko may even die in Avatar rage, I've seen it. And Zuko has no heirs. That leaves you as the only one left to inherit the throne without launching the nation into civil war. When the throne falls apart we'll go and pick up the pieces."
"But how could I claim the throne? Zuko has a wife and sister who could claim the throne before I could. And what if his wife gets pregnant? Besides I am already set to inherit the Northern Water Tribe."
"The Water Tribe is remote and doesn't have the amount of power and influence as the Fire Nation, you know that. No one would accept an infant as their ruler, besides woman miscarry and babies die all the time. Who knows that may happen." Umerk said, nothing deterring him the slightest. "There is still one step that must be made before we can even begin the rest, and this one will need time, perhaps years, to be believable and not arouse suspicion."
"And what might that be?" Hahn asked, liking the sound of this plan very much.
"Be Azula's husband. With you married to the Fire Lord's sister, married before our plan is set to take place, no one would suspect if you became Fire Lord through Azula because it wasn't sudden. At the moment she holds no power so no one could accuse you of marrying her for that sole purpose. Marry and try to have heirs as soon as possible so the Fire Nation will see that you are far better suited to rule than Mai."
"And if the plan fails? What then?" Hahn asked, Azula was an attractive woman so the thought of marrying her wasn't absolutely horrible.
"It won't fail." Umerk smiled and nodded.
"Zuko? Can I talk to you?" Aang asked steering his friend away from the others as they packed Appa. Zuko nodded and walked with him. "Do you think it's possible that I might be so blinded by love that I might not see deception right in front of me?" Aang reached into his tunic and pulled out a pressed flower, Zuko recognized it as one of the flowers that grew in their oasis. "I found this, hidden in Katara's bags. Do you think she is seeing someone else? Has she mentioned anything to you?" Zuko thought about how she acted around him, it was clear that she loved her husband the same way he himself loved his wife.
"No," Zuko said shaking his head.
"I'll be leaving for a visit to the other Nations after Katara gives birth." Aang said dropping the flower like it burned his skin. "I hate to leave her and the baby so soon, but I can't put off my Avatar duties. Could you check in on her? I can't ask anyone else. It will be a good opportunity for you to visit your uncle as well, take a break." Aang watched Katara play with Momo and talk with the others. "I know, I'm acting like a child. Usually I can read people, but with Katara I feel like I can't be neutral to make an accurate reading."
"You really love her," Zuko stated watching the woman a well. His heart felt heavy and he was filled with a guilt he hadn't felt since he had betrayed his uncle.
"I do, so much. I didn't know how empty I was before her. I've loved her since the moment I first saw her. And when I see this flower it's like fire, burning my skin."
"The flower doesn't mean anything. Katara loves you, I'm sure of it," Zuko argued.
"If you say so," Aang replied before giving his friend a hug. "I won't see you again until our next meeting with treaty members. I'll only be gone from Katara's side for a month or so, Toph and Iroh said they'd look in on Katara when they could so you'll only need to check on her the first week. Until the next time."
A few days after most of the guests had left Azula stopped to speak with Zuko.
"I'm going to the North Pole," she told him as they sat at the turtle duck pond together. "Hahn of the Northern Tribe has asked me to marry him."
"Hahn? And you said yes?" Zuko asked in shock. "You barely know each other."
"We've met a few times at dinners. I don't love him," she added looking at her brother. "But I don't have many options. He's offering me a life far from the Fire Nation, far away from all my mistakes. I know I probably won't get the chance to be married and have anything resembling a normal life otherwise. Do I have your blessing?" Zuko sighed, he couldn't imagine his sister living with Hahn, but she had a point. Being in her old home was hard on her, she needed time away from it, and perhaps the North Pole would give her the peace she needed.
"You have my blessing," he told her with a small one armed hug.
"There's also an advantage for you. With me living in the North and marrying the next Chief you'll have great political connections."
A few days later Azula left on the airship bound for the North Pole with Hahn. They were going to have a wedding in Water Tribe culture, Zuko wouldn't be able to go, but his mother and Uncle would go for him. As he watched the ship fade out of sight he hoped Azula was making the right choice.
Months passed and in mid wǔ yuè Mai went into labour, a month earlier than the healers had told them. After several anxious hours of Zuko pacing outside her room the healers finally allowed him in. Mai looked up at him with a tired smile on her face as Zuko reached out to hold his tiny son, Sheng Li, in his arms for the first time.
"He's our only one," Mai said as Zuko sat down on the bed next to his wife. "There were so many complications, they say it's a miracle he's alive at all. We won't be able to have any more." Her eyes filled with tears, she loved her son and wished she could provide him with siblings and a big family full of love.
"It's alright," Zuko whispered as he hugged Mai, minding the small sleeping bundle in his arms. "And baby makes three. We'll be fine."
Mai and Zuko watched their little one grow and get healthier each passing week, in late bā yuè they received a letter from Aang and Katara. They had a son as well, Tenzin. As Zuko read the words aloud while Mai fed Sheng Li he felt his heart sink just a little when he read that he already showed the beginnings of Airbending, his little baby sneezes had a tendency to ruffle hair and clothes. The letter also said that Aang would be leaving for his journey the beginning of shí yuè.
"Will you be coming with me when I go to the Earth Kingdom" Zuko asked putting the letter down. Mai shook her head and picked up the son.
"No, I don't think Sheng Li will be old enough to travel. As much as I'd love to see your mother and uncle again I don't feel comfortable bringing him on such a long trip. Besides, someone needs to stay and watch the home front. We'll be fine."
And so, when the time came Zuko set out alone. He arrived at his uncle's home in good time and decided he would go check on Katara the next morning. Toph now had her own home with her fiancé Teo so it was just Zuko, Iroh and his mother. They talked about Azula's wedding and he was happy to hear that she was doing well and she liked Northern life.
When he went to sleep that night Zuko wondered if he would do the right thing tomorrow. His resolve was usually so strong, but Katara seemed to be able to weaken him in a way no one else could.
He woke the next morning so nervous he couldn't eat and instead went straight to Aang and Katara's home. Taking a deep breath knocked on the door and soon was being let in by the woman he loved so much.
"Zuko!" She cried giving him a hug as she pulled him into the living room. Zuko looked around curious, he hadn't seen her home before. It was simply decorated reminding him a lot of the temples he had gone to. "It's so good to see you, Aang said you'd be coming for a few days to help with Tenzin."
"Yeah, I can't stay long, I'll have to be on a ship back home at the end of the week. But I spoke to my mother and Uncle. Both would be more than happy to help out, Uncle offered you the guest room if you like." Zuko said as Katara went into the next room and brought out the small boy.
"I'd love to, your uncle's tea is the best and a few nights of sleep would be nice. This is Tenzin," she said gently putting the boy in Zuko's arms. Zuko looked down at him, he had slightly tanned skin like Katara, but Aang's big grey eyes.
"He's a wonderful child. Perhaps he Sheng Li will be friends when they are older." Katara nodded with a small smile and the two passed the day talking about the challenges of parenthood and small talk. Both clearly trying not to cave into their temptations and be the good spouses they pretended to be.
But late at night, both tired from taking turns getting up to tend to the baby, their façade was over. They had spent half the night in the roles of husband and wife together like they had only dreamed. Even though Zuko had started the night sleeping lightly on cushions in the living room when morning came Zuko lay on his back with Katara's tanned arm across his chest.
Aang's hurt filled words floated around in his mind and he sat up suddenly waking Katara.
"This is wrong, Katara." Zuko stated as he hurriedly got dressed. Katara sat up and watched Zuko, her eyes downcast.
"I know. I don't want to hurt Aang anymore, if he were to find out it would kill him. And Tenzin, if we keep doing this it will hurt both our children." Zuko looked at Katara and sighed.
"I think it would be best if I left, I'll tell my uncle I received a messenger hawk and needed to go home. We won't do this again. Goodbye," Zuko went back to the tea shop and did as he said, the next morning Katara brought Tenzin and a few necessities to the tea shop and Zuko took an airship back home.
"What can I say? I missed my wife and son," Zuko said when Mai was surprised to see him home so soon. Zuko wrote to Aang telling him because of his duty he had been unable to stay with Katara the full week and she was staying with his family. Aang replied a few weeks later saying he understood and he was thankful for him going to check in on her even if it was for a short time.
Feeling disgusted with himself Zuko slipped away to the small oasis he and Katara shared. He felt so tempted to burn the whole thing to the ground, but didn't want to destroy the garden his father had made for his mother all those years ago. Instead he took off the golden bracelet he wore and dropped it into the water and watched it sink out of sight. He stayed up late into the night and changed the lock on the door himself so that only a Firebender could enter and turned his back on their place.
Soon enough it was the winter solstice again and time for the meeting of the nations. The Fire Nation played hosts again as they were still after all this time the richest of the nations. The ships arrived in greater number than before and the dinner and conference afterwards are filled with business talk, the various ideas each guest had for way to continue improvement. Once the official business was over the fun began. Music played and there was laughter and dancing and the nations mingled.
"Zuko!" Aang called, the Fire Lord turned and went over to where Aang stood with Katara. "Seems I worried for nothing," the monk said glancing quickly at Katara. Zuko smiled and nodded, he wished things could've been different between him and Katara, but he was glad they could finally put the lying behind them.
"May I dance with Lady Avatar, or does Fire Lord Zuko have the next one?" Hahn asked as he approached the small group, Azula and Mai following him.
"That's right," Aang said looking between his friend and wife. "You've never danced with Katara before!" Zuko glanced at his wife and shook his head.
"No, I can't. Really, let Hahn go, I'd like to catch up with my sister."
"Come one Zuko, it's just a dance. Azula will still be here after it's finished" Mai said rolling her eyes as Hahn pushed him forwards to dance.
"A new song for the Fire Lord," Hahn called to the orchestra. "Something slow." Awkwardly Zuko took Katara's hand and they went to floor to dance.
"Why did you lock it?" Katara asked softly, looking back at the others.
"You know why." He replied equally quiet, trying to watch his feet. Dancing was not his strong point, he and Mai preferred to sit and talk with friends at functions like this.
"Meet me there in an hour or I'll die," Katara said as the song ended and she returned to Aang's side.
"Looks like we still have a few things we could teach each other, dancing being one of them," Aang laughed. Zuko smiled and went to sit down with his wife and sister, asking how she was liking it up at the North.
"Accuse him now," Hahn whispered to Umerk as they watched, unbeknownst to the others.
"No, no, no. Have patience," Umerk replied. "We'll have more than accusations."
Zuko got up and left, saying was going to check on Sheng Li and get some fresh air. Mai nodded and went back to admiring Azula's betrothal necklace.
"Is something wrong?" Aang asked noticing how quiet Katara was being. He touched her forehead checking to see if she had a temperature.
"I'm just feeling a little tired, that's all," she said getting up. "Tenzin didn't sleep well last night. I might just go and have a small nap."
"Of course," Aang nodded kissing her on the cheek. "I'll come and get you before the night's over." Katara nodded and headed towards her room before turning and going to the turtle duck pond where Zuko was already waiting for her.
Back in the celebration Umerk caught Hahn's eye and gave him a small nod. Now was the time to act.
"Friends, friends hear me! We've forgotten the lunar eclipse tonight!" Umerk called moving to the centre of the room. "We should be out there watching it." A few of the water people nodded in agreement, the lunar eclipse was as important a day for them as the solar eclipse was for the Fire Nation.
"No. Tonight is reason for an exception," Sokka said getting up. "It's not fair to honour our culture and leave out the rest of the nations."
"But the treaty signed is meant to have cultural unity, surely it is not neglected already?" Umerk argued. "Any can come and join us, regardless of their nation. What do you say Avatar Aang?"
"We shall honour it, but only for a few hours. Where's Zuko?" Aang asked looking around, he knew the eclipse was something his friend would like to see.
"I miss the South Pole," Katara said quietly looking at the water.
"Katara, I thought we ended this," Zuko whispered, he couldn't do it anymore. He couldn't hurt his family and friend.
"We did, I didn't ask you to come here for that, regardless of how much I love you." Katara said with a sigh. She didn't want to hurt Aang anymore, she felt such horrible guilt for deceiving him after all these years and she knew she was about to make it worse. "Zuko, I'm pregnant. And I think it's yours."
"You can't be, we were only together once since you had Tenzin. All those other times before you never got pregnant by me. Are you sure it's not Aang's?" He asked panicking. He could end things with Katara as they stood now, but letting another man raise his child? He wanted to be a great father, be there for his children. He couldn't do that if someone else believed they were the father.
"It has to be, for me to be pregnant now and know it, it could only be yours. Aang wasn't home in time for it to have been his." Katara told him gently taking his hand and placing it on her stomach. "What we do? I want my baby to know their father."
"I don't know," Zuko sighed.
"We'll think of something," Katara whispered before leaning in to give him a kiss. Suddenly people from the party started flowing into the courtyard. He looked up at the sky and noticed the moon slowly begin to turn red. A lunar eclipse, they had come to see it. All his thoughts and observations came within seconds and he pulled away from Katara, hoping no one saw how close they had been.
"Katara?" Aang's voice was heard among the crowd. "Is someone with..."He stopped dead and stared at the pair, the crowd with them silent. "No."
Few had chosen to go, even some of the Water Tribesmen had opted to remain leaving a group of little over a dozen. Aang was thankful for this now, fewer people to see his shame. On the outside Aang looked only shocked, but on the inside he felt as though he were dying. He had never felt pain like this, it was worse than when he found out he was the last of his people or when Appa was taken.
"I see how it is here. Our money is good enough, our alliance is good enough, but our women you pass among your friends like a whore!" Umerk cried breaking through to the front.
"It's not like that," Katara pleaded, but Umerk cut her off.
"I see no tribeswoman of mine here! I will see this peace end," Umerk declared turning and leaving, the Water Tribesmen following him.
"You have brought the allegiance to shame. Who would fight for this?" Hahn asked bitterly turning to follow Umerk. Azula looked back on her brother and shook her head sadly before following her husband, there was nothing she could do for them.
Aang's calm demeanor snapped and he shook with fury, turning on Zuko.
"How could you? I trusted you!" He screamed as he hit him with a strong air current. Zuko grunted in pain as the air hit him and threw him against the stone wall, ten feet behind him, knocking the wind out of him.
"Zuko!" Katara cried, trying to fight back with her Waterbending, but the moon was fully eclipsed, she was powerless. Sokka ran forward and grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the two men she loved. Aang ignored everything, but Zuko.
"Fight back!" He ordered slamming another blast of air at his old friend. Zuko shook his head and let Aang continue to blast air at him, half hoping he'd kill him. He deserved it. Finally, Aang Earthbended the stone wall behind Zuko, making arm and leg shackles, preventing him from moving. Aang cast Zuko one last look before turning and going inside, Earthbending the entrance to the courtyard shut. After he was gone, Zuko hung his head and let a few tears fall.
Hours later it seemed Aang came back. "I came to apologize," he said walking towards Zuko. "I've been selfish, arrogantly thinking that perhaps I'd given enough. At least enough to deserve, if not your friendship then at least your respect. You have a home. A kingdom. Why was it not enough? Tell me." Aang demanded, pacing back and forth in front of him. "Tell me! You do not know what you have done! Everything is destroyed, everything! All because you didn't have enough," he yelled, enforcing each word. "'She loves you I am sure of it'," Aang mocked, imitating Zuko's voice. "You elbow leech. How I wish that I hadn't saved your pathetic life from the Yuyan archers all those years ago. I curse that day. So here's your punishment, as we speak the Water Tribes are talking of abandoning the treaty, some of the Earth Kingdom as well. Sokka is trying to keep the south together, but for what?"
Zuko watched Aang, his heart filled with pain and guilt he didn't know he could experience, but he remained quiet. He deserved this. Aang shook his head angrily and stormed off again.
Heading down the corridor Sokka caught up with Aang and put himself in front of the door blocking it with his arms.
"I won't let you harm her," he said forcefully, Aang rolled his eyes and moved him out of the way.
"How long?" Aang asked once he was inside the room. Katara sat on the bed, her hands in her lap and her head down.
"Since the caves in Ba Sing Se," She admitted. "We both tried to deny it, we didn't want I to be like this. But when he came to the tournament instead of you I thought it was a sign from the spirits. I didn't know that you had asked him to fight in your stead. And he didn't realize it was me he was fighting for. No one told us. All this time my heart has been his just as much as it has been yours, and I am sorry. He tried harder than you can possibly imagine to stop this, because he cares about you."
Aang entered Zuko's makeshift prison with Katara in tow, he released the bindings around Zuko's wrists and legs.
"I will forgive you," he said in his calm, monk like manner. "But you will never see each other again."
Second last chapter! Only one more chapter and then a short epilogue and then After There Was Oma and Shu will be finished. Thanks to everyone who as stuck with me so far and fr the great reviewers who give me constructive criticism. You've really helped me become a better writer. A little of the time line for you in English, Sheng Li was born in May, Tenzin was born in August and Aang let for his trip in October. It isn't stated, but Azula and Hahn were married a few weeks after they got to the North. At the time of the celebration she wasn't pregnant. Keep reading, we're almost at the end ^-^