Disclaimer: Don't own.

Zuko remembered being taught how to play Pai Sho by Uncle Iroh one summer on Ember Island. He learned through out the years there was much more strategy involved in the game than he thought that summer. He'd improved and realized some of the ideas about strategy could be applied to dealing with his councilors.

Currently he had everyone set up for him to win exactly what he wanted, now came the negotiating to make what he wanted happen. He'd planned this meeting perfectly; he was in his full Fire Lord regalia at the head of the table he has specifically placed in the throne room. ("Shouldn't I just sit on my throne?" "No," Katara said, "they'll be able to see you better and your physical closeness will intimidate them." "Really?" "Trust me on this.")

He could look every council men in the eyes and could see a few of them shifting in their seats, clearly not wanting to bring up anything other than the matters the Fire Lord had recently expressed interest in. Needless to say the talks about what to do with decommissioned warships, how to keep the outer islands in check, and what to do to improve relations with the Earth Kingdom towns that surrounded the few colonies the Fire Nation had kept after the War were over.

Finally a brave (or foolish) man spoke. "My Lord I fear I must bring up a topic that we have discussed before and you have always seen best to dismiss, " Taiki began. "You have been Fire Lord for four years and helped guide our great Nation through one of our toughest periods. We're finally beginning to have decent harvests and lower taxes. I believe it is also time, if you agree, for you to consider taking a wife." The man braced himself. Zuko wanted to laugh. When his council had previously brought up the subject of marriage Zuko had told them they all had more important thing to worry about: the harvests weren't producing what they needed to, taxes where high, there were former soldiers who had taken to being bandits, the list went on. Surely making the Fire Nation great again, without war, was what they should be focused on not who should be Fire Lady. The council had, wisely, agreed with the Fire Lord but continued to bring it up at random intervals.

Zuko was ready now. He and Katara had been seeing each other in secret for months now. ("Why do we have to sneak around?" "If the council knew they would be pressuring us to get married and frankly I don't want to deal with that. I want to just spend time with you." "That's sweet and I really hope that's the truth because the second your engagement to some Fire Nation girl is announced I'll make sure your wedding night will be a let down for your wife.") They'd discussed what a public relationship would mean. Not just in terms of dating but also in terms of the future. He'd even made her a necklace. In response she helped him plan this meeting with his council. They had to think it was their idea and that she was a perfectly suitable wife to the Fire Lord. Spreading the rumor that she had been the Painted Lady and that she had healed Zuko from taking lightning for her from Azula helped so that the people accept her. Now it was just getting other approval.

"I believe it is time I consider this," was Zuko's only response. He could see all their faces light up. Clearly they had been waiting for this.

"If I could be so bold," Shiro began, "but I believe you know Lady Ty Lee. I know she is currently a member of the Kyoshi warriors but she has two unmarried sisters. Surely one of them would make a good wife."

"I know you and Lady Mai are no longer together but-" Nori began before Zuko cut him off with a firm "No."

"Perhaps the Fire Lord should seek a wife outside of the Fire Nation. It would show how committed we are to keeping peace will also gaining much needed allies." Zuko was going to make sure Kuro received something special for that comment.

"That is a valid point, I believe a wife from either the Earth Kingdom or one of the Water Tribes would be an excellent example of how the nations can coexist." He was also going to get Katara something special for coming up with that reasoning. He looked up to see a fluttering of the wall hanging. He watched closely as his council buzzed around him trying to come up with a legitimate candidate for Zuko on such short notice. There the hanging moved again. He also noticed a shoe sticking out. He was certain Katara had snuck in to spy on him (she had become rather friendly with the guards as well, clearly they had let her in).

"I believe King Bumi's sister has no husband," Goru said.

"She also just celebrated her 83rd birthday," Zuko remarked.

"The Earth King has a female second cousin who has no previous claims," Taiki added.

"She's also seven. I'd have to wait at least nine years until I could marry her."

"The Northern Water Tribe has a princess," Shiro remembered.

"She became the Moon Spirit."

"I know this many not be traditional but Toph Bei Fong could be a good wife for you. Though she is not from a noble family, they are very well connected and-"

Finally Zuko had to cut Riku off. "You would not want Toph Bei Fong as Fire Lady. Trust me, she would hate it, I would hate it, and she would take it all out on you."

There was silence again. Think Zuko urged his council. Think of Katara, think of how perfectly she is placed, think of the rumors!

"What about Master Katara? She is the daughter of the Southern chief, I believe, and she's already proven her allegiance to the Fire Nation, if the rumors are true." Kuro was officially Zuko's favorite council member.

"She seems like the best choice. She even has ties with the Northern Tribe from learning to bend there," Zuko could conveniently leave out that her waterbending teacher was now her step-grandfather and no longer living in the North. "I'll write to Chief Hakoda and speak personally with Master Katara about this. Now that this is settled, I would like that thank you all for your help in this delicate matter." Each member inclined their heads to Zuko and stood after he did.

Zuko's eyes barely left the spot where he was sure Katara was hiding as each councilmen left. He waited until they were all gone before shouting "I know you're there Katara." She emerged from her hiding place looking not in the least bit sorry at what she had done.

"I'm 'the best choice' huh? You could at least have sounded a little more excited at the prospect of marrying me," she huffed.

"I'm plenty excited about marrying you. They just can't know it yet," he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. He kissed the top of her head before adding "I can't wait for you to be my wife and lover."

"Is that all you think about? Sex?"

"No. Not all the time at least. Like now I'm thinking about the letter I have to write to your father and negotiating with him about your living her before the wedding."

"Don't worry, I'll help you through that as well."

"You're already taking to the role of Fire Lady, aren't you?" Katara just smiled before she leaned up to kiss him.

A/N: I tried something different with a few the parentheses being conversations that happened in the past. I hope they turned out ok!