A/N:

Yes, yes I do realize that it's been awhile. Reasons as to why coming in the author's note after this chapter.

Dear Zuko,

Man, you're going back to the Fire Nation for a bit (you better be, 'cause I sent this letter to the palace)? I'm admittedly a little jealous. It's always cold here. Not that I mind, of course I don't. But crazy warm summers in the Fire Nation were something that I always looked forward to. Anyway, tell your mom (miss her!), Lu Ten, his wife and their daughter that I said hello. You all call their daughter "Ke Ke" right? That is literally the cutest damn thing ever. Hopefully I'll be able to meet her one day soon.

I know you'll see Azula while you're there and her letter should have arrived along with this one. While you're visiting your family make sure to spend some time with her. She misses you. I mean, she would never say so since she's Azula, but she does. And don't mention Sokka if you don't have to. I mean, from what I know of they still talk all the time, but still. Just don't do it.

Speaking of Sokka, does he seem to be acting weird to you? I actually haven't seen him in awhile, but his letters are worrying me. Tell me I'm not crazy and that you've picked up on something too, okay?

Alright, so big news regarding here. You know that ice sculpture that you totally threw up on the last time you were here? (Okay, maybe it was me. Whatever.) Well, the sculpture was technically of Master Pakku (which I think I already told you) but anyway, this year they're going to be melting that one and erecting a new one and I may be in the process of convincing the council to have the new statue be of Hama. That would be amazing, wouldn't it? Thing is, if the council does agree to let the sculpture be of Hama then I'm going to have to be the one to sculpt it. Tell me, have I ever struck you as an artist? I hope my waterbending can help me out with this.

I hope you're doing well. Tell Avatar Aang that he's certainly missed here in the North Pole. And so are you, Zuko.

Miss you,

Katara

"Uncle Zukey!"

A four year old little girl grabs a hold of Zuko's leg and proceeds to tug on the fabric of his pants.

Zuko accidentally splotches ink onto the parchment he was about to write on and sighs. He leans to his side and looks down at Lu Ten's daughter, Kě Aì, or "Ke Ke" as they all called her.

"What's up?"

Ke Ke pulls her small fists up to her chest and wiggles her entire body in barely contained excitement. Then she lets out a squeal and runs around Zuko's desk, giggling the entire time. Then she stops by Zuko's side again and grins up at him. "Hi."

Zuko ruffles her straight black hair affectionately. "Ke Ke, does your dad know you're in here?"

Ke Ke grins and shakes her head. "No."

Zuko attempts to turn back to his letter, but a four year old with a pleading face keeps distracting him. Finally he places his ink brush down. "What do you want, Squirt?"

Ke Ke's eyes go wide. "Uncle Zukey, can I play with your dolls? Pwease?"

Zuko opens a draw to his desk and Ke Ke starts to hop up and down with glee. Zuko pulls out the dolls, a little worn now but still in good shape (especially the one Katara made), and holds them out in front of the little girl.

"Now, what did Uncle Zukey say last time about playing with his dolls?"

Ke Ke frowns, obviously thinking very hard, and plays with her fingers. "That…that I couldn't pull on, um, the girl doll's hair. 'Cause these are, um, these are Uncle Zukey's special dolls."

Zuko smiles and hands her the dolls. "That's right, Squirt."

Ke Ke flops onto the floor, grinning. She sets doll Zuko to the side and starts to carefully finger comb doll Katara's yarn hair.

Then she starts singing. "Winter, spring, sum-mer, an' fall." She sways back and forth. "Winter, spring, sum-mer, an' fall." Then she abruptly stops and looks up at Zuko expectantly.

Zuko begrudgingly starts to sing as well. "Four seasons, four loves."

Ke Ke grins and then throws her arms out, belting. "FOUR SEASONS, FOUR LOVES. FOUR SEASONS, FOUR LOVES."

Zuko claps politely and Ke Ke giggles.

Under the impression that his four year old kind-of-niece can entertain herself for the next couple of minutes, Zuko picks his ink brush back up.

"Uncle Zukey?" Ke Ke draws out his name (or what he allows her to call him because it's kind of adorable, if annoying) in an almost whine.

"Yeah, Squirt?"

"I want the dolls to play kissy face. Why can't they play kissy face?"

Zuko turns and faces Ke Ke. "Do you remember what I said last time?"

Ke Ke nods and heaves a deep sigh. "That they don't want to play kissy face. That they're just friends."

Zuko nods. Ke Ke frowns and crosses her arms over her little chest, huffing. "But that's no fun. Big kids always want to play kissy face!"

"Tell me about it."

The door to Zuko's office bangs open and Lu Ten's face appears, somewhat frantic. When he spots his daughter his shoulders sag with relief.

"There you are." He walks over to his daughter and glares down at her. "Princess Kě Aì, what did daddy say about running off where he can't find you? What did daddy say?"

Ke Ke puts her arms behind her back and peers up at Lu Ten with wide, guilt-free eyes. "That I shouldn't do it."

Lu Ten keeps up his glare for all of ten seconds before his face softens. "That's right. So let's not do that again, okay? Because scaring daddy is not nice."

"Scarin' daddy is not nice," Ke Ke repeats.

Lu Ten smiles before looking up at Zuko. "Did she interrupt anything?"

Zuko shrugs. "Not really. I was just writing a letter to Katara."

Lu Ten presses his lips together to keep from smirking before looking back down at his daughter. "Ke Ke, did you know that your Uncle Zuko loves you so much that he would let you pull his attention away from a letter to his lady—"

"Lu Ten," Zuko interrupts, irritated. "Must you?"

His cousin openly smirks before reaching down and scooping Ke Ke up into his arms. "Come on, Princess. We have afternoon tea."

"With Grandpappy Iroh?" Ke Ke asks, clapping her hands together in excitement.

"Yep."

There's a squeal of mirth and then Lu Ten and Ke Ke are leaving Zuko's office, Lu Ten making sure to close the door behind him.

With a sigh Zuko picks the dolls up off the floor and puts them back inside the desk drawer before finally returning to his letter.

Katara—

Yes, I'm in the Fire Nation. Yes, I got your letter (obviously). I also sent along your message to the rest of the family. Mom hopes you're doing alright. I think she's secretly scared you're going to be eaten by a polar dog or something (mom hasn't traveled outside of the Fire Nation much). Yep, we call her "Ke Ke" and it is obnoxious how adorable she is. Remember those dolls we made a few years ago? I let her play with those. She combs your doll's hair and sings. I kind of melt. A little.

Why would I not mention Sokka to Azula? As far as I know they're still good friends. Is this some feminine thing that I won't understand? You know what, don't answer that. Of course it is. All of my major life problems stem from feminine things that I don't understand.

You do realize that asking if Sokka seems weird is like asking the sun if it's feeling warm. Dude's special. But anyway, I think what you're reading as weirdness is just Sokka's stress. I don't think he was quite prepared for the massive undertaking that training to become Chief would be. He's just got a lot on his mind, so cut him some slack.

Katara, that sounds amazing. I think this is less about how artistic you are and more about how accurately you want to represent a person who happened to mean a great deal to you. I know you'll be fine. And yes, I would imagine that your master waterbending would come in handy. We're talking about an ice sculpture. You can manipulate ice. I'm pretty sure this situation is tilted in your favor. You didn't tell me how your waterbending classes were coming along. Hope nothing bad has happened that you're not telling me about.

I'll tell Avatar Aang your message. I'll be here in the Fire Nation for the next couple of months and I think he's coming around at the end of the second month. Then we're supposed to head to an air temple and then back into the Earth Kingdom. But I'm not entirely sure. The interesting thing about Avatar Aang is he just sort of goes wherever he feels he's most needed. It's weird. Most be some mumbo-jumbo spiritual air monk thing. Miss you too.

Zuko

Zuko's bedroom looks the same as it did four years ago when he abruptly left it. Obviously servants have kept it clean throughout the years, and at one point in time someone has cleaned out the small desk that sits in the corner of his room.

He places one of his leather traveling bags on top of his bed. He's been back "home" for a couple of weeks now, but he has yet to do this.

This particular leather bag is almost always worn slung across his shoulders, hanging right beside his hip. He upturns the bag and watches the contents fall out and roll across the silk bedspread.

Then he quietly gathers all of Katara's letters (some are scrolls and some are folded pieces of parchment) and brings them over to his desk. He spends the next couple of minutes tucking them into compartments and making sure that they are kept out of sight.

He remembers being younger, when he and Katara would write casual letters to each other when they weren't hanging out over the summer. He usually didn't keep her letters then. Sometimes he'd simply throw them away, or burn them when he was bored. He only kept the ones where she talked about her secrets, or when she said something that made him laugh or smile. He had never felt compelled to keep them all. Not like this.

Once all the letters are put away he sits the leather bag atop the desk. In a few weeks, when the Avatar returns and Zuko will have to leave again, he'll open up the leather bag, replace all of the letters and take them with him.

Zuko thinks that this is the way that things must be. Sometimes just knowing that her words are close make Katara seem closer to him then she did the day before.

Zuko's firebending is interesting.

Watching the Avatar constantly use all four methods of bending means that Zuko was able to soak up a couple new techniques and apply them to firebending. Having the Avatar has a part time instructor didn't hurt either.

It's probably while Zuko is thoroughly kicking Lu Ten's ass in the sparring arena this afternoon.

Lu Ten, whose chest is heaving with exhaustion and is covered in sweat, moves his arms in a complicated arc and sends a wave of fire in Zuko's direction. Zuko disperses it, zips in towards Lu Ten and attacks. It's an airbending move that the Avatar applied to firebending some seventy five years ago. It works.

Lu Ten throws his hands up in the air and admits defeat. "What was that?"

Zuko shrugs, smirking. "Traveling with the Avatar has its benefits."

The sound of applause comes from the side of the arena and both men turn their heads to see Azula standing off on the sidelines.

Zuko's sister straightens up and makes her way towards them, wearing armor.

"That was impressive," she says, giving a half smile to both of them. "I mean, considering it was you two it was impressive."

Lu Ten rolls his eyes. "It's nice to see you too, Azula." He turns back to Zuko. "Thanks for the spar." Then he's rolling his shoulders and walking away, obviously not happy that he actually lost for once.

Zuko and Azula size each other up for a moment.

Azula inclines her head. "Brother."

"Sister."

She snorts and shakes her head. "I'd hug you, but you look like you smell."

"That's because I probably do."

"Right. Come find me in the dining room when you've cleaned up." She walks around him and disappears from the arena.

Fifteen minutes later Zuko walks into the dining hall to find his sister sitting by herself at the head of the table, reading over some papers and munching on an apple. Zuko pulls out the chair to her left and sits down, grabbing his own apple.

There is silence for some time, but this bothers neither of them.

When Azula finishes her apple she says, "How's the Avatar?"

"Irritatingly jolly yet wise. How's the military?"

Azula's expression sours. "Majority of them are idiots or have no fighting prowess. Or both."

"I bet the other soldiers tremble in their boots whenever you walk by." Zuko bites into his apple.

Azula props her elbows up on the table top. "The ones that know me probably do. The ones that don't usually have a disgustingly flattering comment or two about my royal status or looks."

"Are they all dead?"

"Please Zuko. I'm quite professional about it. I only set their sleeves on fire."

At this Zuko breaks out in a grin. "You'll scare off all your potential romantic interests that way, Azula."

Her lips twitch at that. "I don't have time for that sort of thing." The line of her mouth hardens in determination. "I have an army I want to shape up. Relationship nonsense isn't in the picture, especially if I want to be General one day." She eyes him sharply. "Not all of us can gallivant about with the Avatar for the rest of our lives."

Zuko stiffens in his chair. "I'm doing what's best for me."

"You're wasting time and you know it. You're a leader. You could be doing something more productive."

Zuko resists the urge to bang his fist against the table. "Being the Avatar's apprentice is productive."

Azula curls her upper lip at him. "The Avatar doesn't need an apprentice, Zuko. Why don't you quit being immature and just own up to the fact that you can't face real life problems?"

"Like what?" Zuko growls.

Azula opens her mouth to speak but the door to the dining room opens and a messenger steps in. Zuko spots a scroll with a blue seal clutched in the messenger's hand. In his peripheral vision he sees Azula lean forward as if she's hopeful.

"Prince Zuko, there is a letter for you from the Northern Water Tribe," the messenger announces.

Azula slumps back down in her seat. Zuko would almost swear that she's disappointed.

Zuko stands and takes the letter and thanks the messenger. He rolls the scroll between his fingers as he sits back down and glances at Azula.

His sister keeps talking. "You two still writing?"

Zuko's eyes cut over to her for a brief moment. "You know we are. You and Katara write all the time."

Azula nods and starts to talk more about her military experiences. And as relieved as Zuko is that she's stopped accusing him of being immature, he can't quite concentrate on her words.

A new letter from Katara is right in front of him. He's just a couple of motions away from breaking the seal and seeing her writing, seeing the way she writes his name. His hands are under the table, out of sight, but his fingers twitch around his knees. He can feel himself growing anxious.

He realizes, too late, that Azula has stopped talking. He turns her head and finds her watching him with an unreadable expression.

"How are you, Zuko?" she asks very quietly.

He forces himself to sit still in his seat. "I'm doing just fine, Azula."

She knows he's lying. She always knows when he's lying, and despite that she prods him further. "Any new women in your life? You travel all the time and you're such a catch, Zuko, I'm sure you've gathered plenty of admirers."

Quite frankly just the idea of other women makes Zuko feel…void. Nothing.

"I just don't have the time for that sort of thing." He leans back, trying to look casual, trying not to stare at Katara's unopened letter. "I don't think I'm that sort of guy anyway."

Azula stares, unblinkingly at him for a moment. "Should I leave so that you can open Katara's letter? That'd make you happy, wouldn't it?"

Zuko heaves a sigh, caught.

Azula looks at the table and flicks at her apple core. "Mother worries about you, you know. I just think you're being stupid about the whole situation, which is something that you're good at, but mother worries."

"What am I being stupid about?"

"Don't be daft Zuzu. But mother worries, like I said."

"Mom doesn't have anything to worry about. I get to see the world all the time. I work with the Avatar. I'm happy."

Azula's eyes flick to the ceiling in irritation. "This delusion that you've worked up for yourself is fascinating, brother. Self destructive, but fascinating."

Zuko crosses his arms across his chest. He can feel all sorts of negative emotions building up inside him.

"Can we please not—"

"She wonders why you've only visited once," Azula interrupts. "Katara thinks that you only said you wanted to be friends so that you didn't hurt her feelings."

"That's not true," Zuko says instantly.

"She'd understand if you didn't want to."

"I do." Zuko leans forward and puts his face in his hands.

When he looks back up at his sister she's frowning. "I don't understand why you still do. What's left? You just can't move on, can you."

Zuko is silent for a long time.

"Sometimes I have days where I don't think about her all that much. Like, when the Avatar and I are busy, or when a lot is going on and I just don't have time to think about her. But she's always there in the back of my mind. It never fades, it never goes away. And it's not like I haven't tried to make it go away because I have. I didn't talk to her for years. I traveled all the time so that I wouldn't be here, surrounded by things that remind me of her. But then things like this happen." He taps the letter. "It's like, all the sudden nothing else really matters until I find out what she has to say. And I can't even concentrate on anything until I read it. Even after all this time what she does, what she says, she's always more important. And I can never really escape that. Sometimes I don't think I even want to."

After he stops speaking he picks at a spot on the wall and stares at it until he builds up the nerve to look over at his sister.

It has always amazed Zuko how Azula will look like she's about to cry, yet there will be no tears in her eyes. She watches him, golden gaze meeting golden gaze.

"I understand. Completely."

Dear Zuko,

I hope you're enjoying your time in the Fire Nation! And tell your mom that polar dogs are just big, fluffy, harmless creatures. They've never been known to attack humans. In fact, Princess Yue has one, I think. I'm not one hundred percent sure, she doesn't really make a lot of public appearances. KE KE PLAYS WITH OUR DOLLS? Awwww! I wish I was there to see that! I'm actually surprised your doll is still holding up, since it isn't like you could really sew when we made them. (How does mine look, by the way? Still good, right? The stitching is still intact?)

Oh, stop it. You act like you don't understand women at all, but you do. Quit playing clueless. And I'm pretty sure that the majority of your life problems do not extend from feminine things you don't understand. You obviously can't see me right now (which is good, because I'm feeling slightly under the weather and I'm sure I look awful), but I'm totally shaking my head as I write this. Don't mention Sokka to Azula!

Okay, I guess you have a point about Sokka. But still. I'm his sister; it's practically my job to worry about him. It's just, sometimes I get the feeling that he isn't completely happy and that makes me sad. He's always known that he's going to be Chief one day, and I was always under the impression that that's what he really wanted, you know? I don't know what to do. I always ask him in my letters how he feels and in his replies he never actually answers me. It's frustrating.

AHH. I'm currently in the middle of Hama's ice sculpture. Right now she kind of looks ridiculous, but that's only because I'm barely half way finished. There's been…a little bit of an uproar about it. No waterbending woman has even been honored like this before, at least not for fighting. Especially since she was killed here. I think it's ruffling a lot of feathers and you know what? I don't care. Hama was an incredible bender and she taught me everything I know about my element. She deserves this honor. Not Pakku, not Chief Arnook. Her, Hama. A lot of the girls from my waterbending class (and their mothers!) are cheering me on and it feels good. It feels really good. I feel like I have a support system here. I just can't wait until this sculpture is completed. When it's finished you should come and see it. Also, speaking of my waterbending class you should stop being paranoid. It's doing fine, better than fine actually. Some of the girls are really close to mastering. I'm really proud. I think that after they master I'm going to try to hold a little ceremony for them. They'd really love that, I think.

Okay, just because Avatar Aang is an air monk and has certain ideals that you find strange doesn't mean that his spirituality is "mumbo jumbo". Maybe you should ask him to tell you about it? Ha, maybe you'll be "enlightened". An enlightened Zuko, how fun. You and the Avatar should come back here! If anyone would appreciate Hama's sculpture it's the Avatar. He'd probably make the unveiling of it go a little smoother as well.

Tell me you're coming to see me soon! Please?

Miss you more than words can say,

Katara

"Sang! No!"

Ke Ke runs giggling around the gardens, Sang trotting passively along behind her. Suddenly the little girl whirls around and flings herself at the wolf. Sang sits down on his haunches and lets the girl tug at his ears, pull on his tail, and attempt to climb on his back.

After a few moments Sang licks Ke Ke's face and the little girl squeals, "Ew!" but throws her arms around the wolf's neck anyway.

Zuko, leaning against a tree a little ways off, smiles to himself.

"That wolf is very good with her."

Zuko turns his head to the side, slightly startled, to see his mother standing next to him. There are a few wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, and there are some streaks of gray in her hair, but Zuko still thinks she's lovely.

"He is."

"Aunt Ursa!" Ke Ke is waving enthusiastically, but before she can make her way over to them Sang gently takes the edge of her tunic and gives a gentle tug. There's an explosion of laughter from the little girl and her attention is immediately back on the wolf.

Ursa grins in Ke Ke's direction before turning back to her son. "I haven't seen much of you since you've been back home. It's like you're trying to be a stranger." She gives him a knowing smile and gently pushes against his shoulder.

Zuko sighs, slightly guilty. "Sorry, mom. I've just had a lot on my mind." He remembers what Azula said. "There's nothing to worry about."

Ursa reaches up and attempts to make some of his hair lay flat, an impossible feat. "Oh Zuko, I'm your mother. I always worry." She pulls her hand back and gives him a questioning look. "How's Katara? Azula told me you got another letter from her."

Zuko looks down at the grass. "She's doing fine. She'd probably love to hear from you, you know."

Ursa looks pleasantly surprised. "Really?"

"Sure. You were sort of a mother figure to her after…"

Ursa nods, understanding, before placing her hands behind her back. She gazes at Ke Ke fondly. "It's so nice to have children around the palace again. I had missed it." She peeks at Zuko out of the corner of her eye. "Speaking of small children, do you think you'll ever—"

"Mom," Zuko huffs. "I don't really see that sort of thing in my future."

Ursa nearly pouts, reminding him almost of his Uncle Iroh when he's run out of tea. "Well, I sincerely hope you change your mind. I want grand babies."

"Ask Azula."

Ursa barks out a laugh before she sighs. "Azula would make an…interesting mother."

Zuko smiles. He and his mother stand at the tree for quite some time, just watching Ke Ke play with Sang.

Finally Zuko asks something that was in the back of his mind. "Mom?"

Ursa tilts her head in his direction. "Hmm?"

Zuko furrows his eyebrows, unsure how to phrase his question. "Do you think Ozai was the way he was because he loved all of the wrong things?"

For a moment Ursa looks completely taken aback, then she's shaking her head sadly.

"Your father put emphasize on things that in the long run were not important. Why are you asking me this?"

Zuko frowns, turns his head away and shifts his weight from one foot to the other. "Sometimes…sometimes I think I love the wrong things too. Or put emphasis on the wrong things."

Ursa surprises him. She rolls her eyes. "Zuko, you love a person. She is not a wrong thing to love." She gently takes Zuko's chin in her hand. "Look at me. You're young. You've been through a lot, and I think right now you don't really know where you're going. And you know what? That's okay. It's okay to be confused, and Zuko you have the luxury of having the time to sort out your problems. Other people can't afford that. Like Katara. She was thrown into her duties before she was old enough to really know what she wanted out of life. Appreciate what you have."

She lets go of his chin and takes a step back. "Well, I'm going to go lie down for the afternoon. Tell Katara that I miss her and hope she's doing well. She should come visit us soon!"

Zuko watches his mother walk away before an excited bark and a rush of giggling redirects his attention.

Zuko knows the Avatar has arrived by the sheer amount of servants scurrying about the palace. Zuko then makes it a point to disappear into the market place for the rest of the day.

There are hanging crystals for sale along the archway of the stall and Zuko delicately fingers a blue one. It looks like something Katara would like. He pulls it off the hook its on, fishes in his pocket for coins and quietly pays the vendor.

"Prince Zuko!"

He cringes, not because he recognizes the voice (which he does), but because the owner of the voice has used his title when he had been wanting to remain anonymous.

He turns around and forces a smile on his face. "Avatar Aang," he greets.

The old man moves forward and sweeps Zuko into a happy hug before he can protest.

"And how is my favorite apprentice?"

Zuko can't help but smile at this. "Fine."

"Wonderful!" The Avatar gestures to the crystal trinket Zuko has clutched in his hand. "Something lovely to bring with you on your travels?"

"Uh, actually, it's…um—"

The Avatar beams up at him knowingly, his wispy little chin-beard moving in the wind. "Ah, I see. I know a certain young woman currently residing in the North Pole who would love something like that!" Then the Avatar is walking forward, nodding and waving to citizens who notice him.

Zuko follows, blushing slightly. The Avatar always knows.

Zuko and Avatar Aang spend the next couple of hours mingling amongst the common people, something that Zuko had never understood the benefits of doing until just recently. Sometimes the Avatar will give a bending demonstration, or get on an air scooter and zoom around a gathering of children, making them laugh. Occasionally people who are clearly upset will walk up to him, seeking advice or comfort. He always pulls them aside and talks to them one-on-one before they smile and walk away.

Sometimes Zuko wonders why a man like the Avatar lets a boy like Zuko follow him all over the world.

Eventually the throngs of people that have constantly surrounded the Avatar die down as evening sets in. Zuko and Avatar Aang walk side by side.

"Katara is building a statue in honor of Hama, her old waterbending master."

The Avatar visibly brightens. "Oh, what a wonderful idea! Do you know how it's coming along?"

"In her latest letter she said she was nearing the halfway mark." Zuko pauses. "She was hoping we'd come to the North Pole when she completes it, for the unveiling."

The Avatar beams. "That would most certainly be an event I would be interested in going to. It's about time for another visit to the North Pole, don't you think?"

Zuko shrugs. "I suppose."

The Avatar casts him a knowing look but doesn't say anything else.

"Avatar," Zuko begins. "I have a question…"

The Avatar smiles. "I'm quite fond of those."

"I was just curious if you ever… I mean, when you were young did you ever…love someone?"

"Love someone? Yes, I did." Avatar Aang's eyes take on a faraway look and his smile fades slightly. "A long time ago."

"Did you marry them?"

The Avatar looks over at Zuko and grins. "Prince Zuko, I am a monk."

"Oh. Right."

Avatar Aang chuckles. "There have been plenty of Avatars in the past who have found significant others and married, but I wanted to honor my culture and our traditions. Besides, being the Avatar meant that I had to make sacrifices. Making sure the four nations co-resided in peace was more imperative than any earthly treasure that I might have deemed important."

Zuko glances up at the setting sun. "But doesn't it upset you? That you have to constantly put others before yourself?"

"Upset me? My boy, if anything it elates me. I've found in my many years on this earth that I quite like helping others. Being the Avatar is not an easy feat, but I seem to have a knack for it, if I do say so myself."

Zuko frowns. "But you never get to be selfish."

"I don't mind. Putting others before myself is what is most important to me. Tell me, Prince Zuko, what is most important to you?"

A face pops into his mind. Zuko shakes his head. "It's too selfish."

"Ahh! But you can be selfish! You are not the Avatar." Avatar Aang ponders for a moment before continuing. "I have served my purpose as the Avatar all of my life and will continue to do so until I am called back to the Spirit World. You, Prince Zuko, can do many things. It is up to you to determine whether or not they will be great, whether or not they will fulfill you."

"I thought I was doing a great thing."

The Avatar smiles. "Do not get me wrong, Prince Zuko. I quite appreciate your service. Your insistent self deprecation, sarcasm, and angst balance well with my overall cheerful demeanor."

Zuko blinks. "I'm not sure if you're joking."

"Prince Zuko, while we were walking I saw a stall that was selling Water Tribe cuisine! I do not know about you but I am in the mood for some delicious smoked seaweed and ice pops. And you can continue to avoid your least favorite food, the sea prune!"

"What does that have to do with what we were talking about?"

The Avatar is already turning back around. "It has nothing to do with what we were talking about. But since we'll be going to the North Pole for the unveiling of Katara's sculpture, I've found myself in the mood for the Water Tribe's trademark salty cuisine!"

"You go ahead."

The Avatar looks back at Zuko over his shoulder. "Oh?"

Zuko smiles and tucks the crystal trinket into his pocket. "I have a letter I need to reply to."

Katara—

You really can't blame mom. Going off of the illustrations of polar dogs that are in the library, they do look pretty intimidating. Speaking of mom, you should write a letter to her and let her know how you are (if she hasn't written to you already). I think she'd really love that. She misses you and mentions you a lot. And yes, the dolls are holding up just fine. Yours looks basically the same as it did when you first made it. You're good at sewing. Congratulations.

I'll have you know that women are crazy. Your entire gender dedicates itself to consistently confusing innocent men like me on a constant basis. You all get a sick enjoyment out of it as well. And yes, all of my major life problems do stem from feminine things that I do not understand. Just try and prove me wrong. Just try.

I hope by the time this letter reaches you that you're not still sick. If you are then get lots of sleep, drink lots of water, and tell the rest of the tribe to leave you be while you get better. I know you won't actually do any of this, since you're Katara, but still. And no, I never mentioned Sokka to Azula. If she told you that I did then she's lying.

Speaking of Sokka, constantly asking him about his feelings isn't going to make him tell you about them any faster. Like I said, he's probably just feeling the pressure. And Katara, there is the chance that he's not one hundred percent happy. As long as he's doing something that he has deemed important then it's really none of our business to pester him about it. My advice right now is to leave it be. If he wants to tell you about what's going on then he'll tell you. I'd ask you not to worry about it, but I know you will no matter what I say.

I think this whole sculpture thing is really awesome, and so does the Avatar. I told him about what you're doing and he's pretty dead set on coming up there for the unveiling. He can't wait to see it. Personally, neither can I, but I hope people in the tribe aren't giving you too hard of a time. I don't ever want to see you get hurt over something like a sculpture. I don't know what I'd do, so be careful. And if anyone threatens you, you have all the permission in the world to kick their ass.

What's the time frame for this sculpture? Do you have any idea when you'll be done with it? We're heading out soon, so send your reply to the Western Air Temple.

I know you miss me. I miss you.

Zuko

P.S. The Avatar told me to be selfish and to go after the thing that's most important to me. I think I might. Your thoughts?

A/N #2:

Reasons Why This Update Was Late:

-I moved.

-I wrote an installment for audreyii-fic's The Sparrowkeet Series, which you all should be reading by the way.

-Multiple friends came into town.

-I wrote a little ficlet for The Vampire Diaries called "Color". It's Jeremy/Anna. If you like TVD I hope you check it out.

-I found out that I'm going to be an aunt! (Okay, not really a reason as to why this chapter took forever, but I'm excited and wanted to share.) :D

-Did I mention that I moved? 'Cause yeah.

Those of you who have ever followed any of my other multi-chaptered stories knows that it never takes this long for me to update. I feel really bad about this delay, and I promise you won't have to wait three weeks for the next update. :(

Lots of thought provoking yet not so fun stuff in this chapter. And it's sort of necessarily slow. And yeah, no actual Katara D: I'm horrible. The next chapter is crazy and chock full of actual events though JUST SO YOU KNOW. So stick around!

I'm not expecting a whole lot of reviews, simply because it's been so long since the last update, but I really hope you guys let me know your thoughts, even if you didn't think it was that great. I love you guys. And thanks for all the birthday wishes! I did have fun :D

Review please!