Epilogue

They returned to the capital city the next day, acting as if nothing had ever happened while they where away. Which they thought best to do so no panic or ill-boding rumors would spread or start. Overall they decided that anything that had to do with Ozaian should be kept secret and away from the public's ears.

By the time they made it back to the palace Zuko was well enough to stand on his own and resume his duties as Fire Lord, but that was what he was limited to with his exhausted body. He immediately began rooting out Ozaian's subordinates and cohorts, which was rather easy to do since he kept very good records of his doings and dealings. After wards he had to right all the wrongs that Ozaian had committed while he was passing himself off as Fire Lord, which was not an easy task. Then on top on all of that he had his basic duties as the Lord of a Nation to catch up on. Katara had told him that he shouldn't push himself so hard, especially in his condition but he refused. He saw that he had a duty and he wouldn't let his own physical state stop him from doing so.

In order for Zuko to accomplish all this he had to push the wedding back a few days. He expected Katara to be angry or annoyed by this decision and was rather surprised when she kissed him and said that it was okay as long as the wedding was before the end of the month. Zuko couldn't help but ask himself why his fiancé was acting so cheerful about their wedding being pushed back. But he didn't have the time to give it another thought since he had to continue with his work. But when he did think about it at a later time he realized she had been happy quite a lot actually. He figured it was because of the dreadful situation they had just gotten out of. Then one night when he asked her, her only reply was that he'll find out soon enough, with a bright smile on her face of course.

Elsa recovered well, despite the severity of her head injury. Once she was fully healed she immediately started making plans to come back to work and serve the Fire Lord and future Lady. But Zuko saw fit that she had done enough for more then one person in her lifetime and allowed her to retire with a more then decent compensation for someone of her status to live off of.

On the day she left she stopped in Zuko's office to say goodbye and to thank him for everything, as well as tell the truth about his mother that he had waited so long to hear. She had said,

"Fire Lady Ursa was banished for treason and the murder of Fire Lord Azulon. The night that she left Fire Lord Ozai feared that she would go after Ozaian and raise him to bring down his sire as an act of vengeance. Of course he forgot that Ursa would do no such thing no matter how much hate was in her heart; after all she was always a kind and generous spirit. The very night that she was cast out of the palace he sent mercenaries after her to catch and kill her. Sadly they did just that and succeeded. No one deserves to be murdered in cold blood, especially someone like your mother."

Zuko was surprised and sad to hear of his mother's fate; then again he didn't really expect any less of his father. The only comfort he got from Elsa's tale was that he knew the truth after all these years and that his beloved mother was at peace.

The Fire Lord and Lady entered their bed chamber dressed in their wedding finery, for they had just retired from their wedding ceremony and now wished to spend the night together. They entered the room in a rather bright mood, happy that they where finally husband and wife.

Zuko thought Katara couldn't look anymore beautiful, he didn't know what it was but something about her just seemed to glow and radiate whatever room she was in. Not too mention that she couldn't stop smiling. "Okay now you must tell me why you've been so happy lately," he said walking up to her and putting his arms around her, pulling her body close to his.

"Of course, I was saving it for tonight anyway," she said as Zuko let out a lustful growl and begin to kiss the tender flesh of her neck. Through his kisses he said, "Start talking."

Katara leaned into his kisses relishing in them and in the process and almost lost her train of thought. In between kisses she said, "Well to start…Your alive…Ozaian is gone…Everything is back to the way it was before…"

Zuko nodded in agreement, fingering the ties that held her dress in place while still kissing her. "Anything else," he said not being impatient but wanting to get on with the night.

"Actually yes," she said butterflies blossoming in her stomach. It was then that his lips met hers and his tongue began to tease the farthest corners of her mouth. After their lips parted and their foreheads rested against one anothers, their breaths thick and heavy with longing for one another. Zuko had begun to slide her dress off her shoulders when she said, "I'm pregnant."

Zuko paused in his ministration and their eyes met. Katara couldn't read his face and for a moment thought he was upset about her being pregnant. She knew it was soon but when they where in prison together they where desperate and in need of comfort and simple stuff could be missed, thus resulting in her pregnancy.

Before she could say anything he swept her off her feet, making her squeal in surprise. "You just made me the happiest man in the world," she heard him say, then feeling his lips on her skin, kissing every area they could reach. Then he placed her on the bed where he soon joined her. After all this time they had finally arrived at their happy ending or more appropriately the beginning of a happy life together.

A/N: sorry if that last line seemed kinda cheesy. seemed good when i originally wrote it and i can't think of a better one. since i suck at closing lines. Anyway i loved working on this story yada yada yada see chapter 17 author's note for my thank yous and such. Please review i will love you forever if you share any thoughts of yours with me.

this story was originally inspired by 'man in the iron mask' which is one of my fav movies of all time. except i twisted it too make it zutara and make it not be a crossover and added some of my own stuff in it as well. was i successful? Yes? No? I ran into trouble in the middle of it and at the end of it, which is why it took me so long to finish it. Which i apologize for. And i would like to thank those that still continued to read even through the long hiatuses. I love you all!

I will soon continue with my other fics, for those who read them. They are in the works and will be posted once the chapters are finished and edited to perfection...or close to perfection at least.

thanks for reading, thanks a bunch for reviewing!

-Till next ti...story!XD