hi! i'm so very, very, very, very, very sorry about the wait. i started school back up and have had to get used to my AP classes, so that's been a bit time consuming. but, luckily i was able to get this chapter up, even if it's a bit short. so, i hope you enjoy

Chapter Twelve: The Newest Book

"Ughh. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" Katara screeched. "How could you be so…so…"

"Stupid?" Sokka suggested. Zuko shot him a glare as Katara nodded.

"Yes!" She was angry. And it was taking a lot of effort for Zuko not to smile. Katara always looked so beautiful when she was angry.

So, instead of sweeping her off her feet like he wanted, Zuko put his hands out in front of her. "Listen, I was only trying to find you. And Aang was really willing to help."

"Oooh…but to get him to promise not to tell me? Toph I could understand, but how? How could you get Aang to promise to not tell me? What did you do?" This last word ended on a wail and Katara stamped her foot. "Tell me!"

Zuko laughed, knowing what would happen if he did. "No."

Katara screamed and launched herself at Zuko. He only laughed again and pulled her close. Sokka, not wanting to see anything that might happen afterwards, wisely left the room.

"Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me!"

Another laugh and Zuko leaned down to capture Katara's mouth. After a moment, he pulled back and smiled at Katara's stunned face. "No," he whispered.

"No what?" Katara asked breathily. Zuko shook his head and leaned down for another kiss.

Just as their lips touched, a knock sounded on the door. Zuko frowned and spun away from Katara to open the door. "If that's Sokka again, I'll kill him," he growled.

But it wasn't Sokka. Instead, Iroh stood there. The silly grin on his face made it seem as if he had just been granted a lifetime supply of his favorite tea.

"We've arrived," he told the two. "Perhaps you should…prepare for the welcome."

Katara blushed and Zuko nodded. "Thank you, Uncle," he said.

Iroh smiled again and then left. As Zuko closed the door, the old general could be heard saying, "Appearances are everything, especially when bringing back a foreign bride. One always expects the splendor and beauty of the bride's home."

Zuko chuckled. "That's his subtle way of telling me I need to give you something."

Katara was surprised. "What is it?" she asked him.

He smiled and shook his head. Without saying a word, he took her hand and led her to the chest at the foot of his bed. He knelt down and opened it, still silent. After rummaging through it a bit, he took out a package.

"Here," he whispered, holding it out to her.

Katara frowned a bit--she hadn't gotten Zuko anything--but reluctantly took the package. She found it was wrapped in blue silk, tied with a deep red ribbon. Carefully, she opened the package and when the silk slid back to reveal the gift, Katara gasped.

Zuko had given her a beautiful blue dress made of the most exquisite silk.

"Oh, Zuko…"

"Will you wear it?" he asked, looking suddenly shy.

Katara nodded and immediately rose from where she sat on the floor beside the Fire Lord. Without hesitation, she pulled off her clothes and replaced them with the dress. It was wonderful! The bodice hugged her close and the skirt fell loose from her hips. But underneath the skirt, red silk peeked daringly out of two carefully-made slits on either side. It was made so that every time Katara moved, it seemed a bit of fire peeked from between the folds of her skirt. And there, about her neck, shone the necklace Zuko had given her years before.

"Beautiful," he whispered. Zuko stood and took her hand. But there's more. Come see." From the depths of his trunk, he pulled out two more packages. "The red is for Mitsuko and the blue is for Sunil." Zuko smiled sheepishly. "Uncle told me they were in here."

Katara nodded and changed her clothes once more. After she was dressed again, she took the gifts. "I'll get the twins ready." She kissed his cheek. "I'll see you in a little while."

She ran out of the room, leaving Zuko to get ready for his homecoming alone. As he dressed in his royal garb, Zuko couldn't help but think how odd everything was. Though he had been Fire Lord for a few years, there were times when it seemed like a dream. It seemed like he couldn't possibly be the Fire Lord.

But there was something else bothering him. While he and Katara had been acting perfectly happy, he couldn't help but notice that there was still something Katara wasn't telling him. And even Iroh was being secretive.

"Well, I don't know what's going on, but I'm going to find out."

Katara sighed. She was standing on deck, hidden from the view of the crowd gathered to see a glimpse of Fire Lord Zuko and his bride. Beside her, Mitsuko and Sunil clutched at her hands, faces buried in the skirt of her beautiful new dress. They, too, wore new clothes. Mitsuko's dress was red and looked oddly familiar to what Azula used to wear. Sunil, however, was in blue clothes which resembled what Sokka always used to wear. They looked cute.

She hated all this pomp and circumstance. But, while she was impatient to leave the ship, Katara knew she needed to make an entrance. She was, after all, a princess of the Water Tribe, and was about to marry the Fire Lord. Katara really needed to make a good impression.

Zuko departed the ship amongst a round of cheers and Katara knew it was almost time for her to disembark. Ahead of her, Iroh turned back and smiled.

"I'm so nervous," Katara whispered.

Iroh grinned and held up a thermos. "Don't worry, Miss Katara," he whispered back. "Where there's tea, there's hope."

Katara couldn't help but laugh at Iroh's tea antics. And her laughter helped to calm her fears. As Iroh began to lead the way off the ship, Katara straightened her shoulders and regally followed, a warm smile on her face. Thankfully, Mitsuko and Sunil were able to imitate her, their faces brightening at the attention centered on them.

For a moment, the crowd was silent. And then, a cheer rose up. Suddenly, Katara found herself surrounded by the people of the Fire Nation, smiling and chattering. A small child even offered her a sprig of flowers. Katara smiled and thanked everyone, laughing softly.

She saw Zuko turn, golden eyes full of warmth, though his face was serious. He gave her a small smile before disappearing into a palanquin.

Just as Katara, Iroh, and the twins were getting into a carriage, an old woman stopped Katara.

"Pardon me, my lady, but are those your children?" she asked.

Katara nodded.

"And our Fire Lord…you love him?"

Again, Katara nodded.

This time, the old woman turned to Iroh. "And what of the Fire Lord? It was said that he chose her himself. Is this true?"

Iroh smiled. "My Nephew has always been headstrong and stubborn. But when there is something he wants and feels he cannot give up, he chases after it with purpose." Iroh winked at the old woman. "And my Nephew has had a long chase."

The old woman blushed a bit as Iroh flashed another smile at her and she drew back. "Then all is well," she said. After a moment, she slipped a small book to Katara. "I believe this will help you, my lady," she whispered. "Please, read it carefully." And with that, the old woman was gone and the carriage began to move.

For a while, Katara searched the crowd for the old woman but when she couldn't find the crone, Katara sat back against the cushions and looked down at the book in her hands.

"I wonder what's inside," she said softly.

She moved to open the book but Iroh stopped her. "It was a gift, Miss Katara. Perhaps you should wait for a bit of privacy?"

Katara nodded. "That would probably be best."

As the carriage disappeared from the streets, a hooded figure turned down into a hidden alley. "So ZuZu is here," Azula whispered with a sneer. "it won't be long now until he leads me straight to the stone."

sooooo...how did you like it? short, i know...i apologize again. Well, please review!!!!!!!

"Where there's tea there's hope." --a nice little quote by Arthur W. Pinero