Don't cry for me tonight
Chapter 4
"I'm home my son! I'm home!" Ursa repeated to her beloved son.
"Mom—mom I thought you were dead! I thought you were dead!" Zuko cried.
Bato looked around feeling rather awkward. "Ok, we should leave these two alone." He said dragging everyone again around the hall. All but Katara came along.
"Katara, come on." Hakota called out.
"Wait! I need to talk to Ursa." She objected watching them all leave.
Bato, Hakota, Aang and Iroh left back to Gran-Gran who was waiting in her bedroom.
Katara felt slightly uncomfortable just sitting on a chair, which looks more conformable than it is, and sometimes peaked at Ursa and Zuko.
"Dad said you where alive but didn't think I'd see you again! What happened?" Zuko asked, remembering that there was someone watching them then remembering that he was the soon-to-be Firelord and crying for his mother.
"He couldn't kill me, but he did hurt me. He told me to leave and hide on an island for refugees and never return." Ursa clarified.
"Then why did you? Why did you come back?" Zuko asked feeling real pain in his heart for the first time in so long.
"I came back for you. I couldn't have a wedding without my baby boy." Ursa chucked.
"A wedding?" Zuko asked was more disturbed from hearing 'wedding' than hearing his mother calling him her baby boy. "For who?"
"Um, I'm sorry for interrupting Ursa but I just needed to apologize. I'm sorry about the things I said about Zuko before. I didn't know he was your son. I mean he's really nice now—I'm just sorry I said it." Katara said cutting in.
"It's fine Katara. I don't blame you. By the way Zuko we need to talk." Ursa said pinching his shoulder.
"For what? And what about this wedding!?" Zuko asked.
"Katara told me you tied her to a tree. Why would you do something like that?" Ursa scolded.
"Mom I don't tell you how to do your job. And what about this wedding?!" Zuko began to get impatient.
"I'm remarrying. I'll give you the details later at dinner. For now enjoy your time with the Katara and the others. She is a lovely girl, don't you think?" Ursa rubbed his hair then left to Hakota.
Zuko with wide eyes watched her go. 'What the hell just happened?' he thought to himself. He turned around to find Katara then noticed she opened her door to her room.
"Hey! Hey wait!" Zuko called out.
"What is it?" Katara asked stepping into her room.
"Please tell me what's going on. What's my mom getting her self into?" Zuko asked gently and slowly.
"Come in." Katara said walking into her room sitting on her bed then pointing to a chair offering him a seat. "You might want to sit."
Zuko mumbled to himself as he closed her door.
"Ursa, your mother, is marrying my dad, Hakota. They found each other at a refugee camp months ago." Katara informed him acting as natural as she could.
"So, she is starting a new family without me?" Zuko looked disappointed and his eyes were aloof.
"Didn't you hear her out there? She came for you." Katara raised her voice.
Zuko looked down then chuckled. He decided to wait to speak to his mother later. Even though Katara was his friend—she was the last person he wanted to hear the wedding arrangements from. "So? How did she know about the tree thing by the way? Even I didn't remember that at first."
"I told her! What do you think?" Katara smirked.
"Why? I mean why were you talking about me?" Zuko still had a little smirk of his own.
"She asked obviously! I just got carried away with stories." Katara said with her face feeling hot.
"She asked about me? Or did you just feel like thinking about me?" He smiled and shook his head. "Why didn't you tell her better things? Like when I helped you find the guy who killed your mom?"
"Too many questions Zuko! Relax. She asked, because in case if you hadn't noticed, she still loves you! A lot too." Katara said feeling that she was going to normal temperature again. How could he get the wrong impression?
"Hm. Something is going to have to happen to this marriage. This can't happen. No offence." He mumbled looking down then he looked back to his future relative. "Well, Little Sister thanks for telling me."
"Don't call me that." Katara rolled her eyes.
Zuko leaned back on the chair and chuckled. "That's not a nice thing to say to me."
"Get out now please. I want to unpack." Katara said pointing to the door. That was when she wondered 'where's Sokka?'
He laughed again pretending he wasn't upset or disturbed at all by the news. He needed to stop the wedding at all costs. "I'll see you at dinner then. I'm going to visit Mai."
"Tell her I say hi." Katara said.
"Sure thing. And I should let you know ahead of time. I'm sorry and please don't get offended by what may happen later. There are things I just have to do when I feel I have something to protect." Zuko left closing the door behind him and heard a low "Ok?" from Katara.
At dinner
The group sat together on the right side of the large wooden table. Ursa sat across from Zuko who she rarely looked away from.
"So Zuko? Did you have something to talk about with Katara?" Ursa asked.
"Of course, mother. It was very interesting." Zuko said looking at Katara who was stuffing her face.
"That's good. I knew you too will get along. Tomorrow, Zuko, will you please give Katara and Sokka company? I want you all to get used to each other while we go visit my family." Ursa asked sweetly. "Sokka? Katara? Will you spend time with your future brother?"
"Sure Ursa." Katara said. She began to grow to Ursa. She loved Ursa's smile and loved to make her happy because at the same time she made her father happy—that's what matters, right?
"That would be great. It will be fun to walk around without hiding" Sokka pointed out.
"It must be!" Hakota chuckled. "Avatar Aang you will be with them too, right? We consider you as family, as Katara had told you before."
"Okay. There are a lot of things we need to catch up on anyways." Aang smiled at the waterbender and boomerang boy.
Dinner was pleasant with roasted chicken and imported wine. Of course, Katara, Aang, and Sokka weren't allowed to drink it except for a small slip however Zuko was. He had about 4 cups of it and was on to his fifth until Katara scolded him.
"Don't you think that's enough? You look drunk anyways." Katara suggested looking into his eyes. He was completely out of it.
"How many was that? Zuko how many have you drank?" Ursa complained taking his cup away.
"I don't know. My fourth?" Zuko said dizzily. He had never drank anything like this before—let alone anything besides tea for the most part—and everyone could tell he couldn't take it. Katara, although, knew why he continued to drink more and more. Just to ruin the dinner. 'How selfish' she thought.
"That's it! That's enough for you Zuko! I never knew you drank anyways." Ursa said.
"Well at least Katara is looking out for him. Isn't that sisterly?" Bato complimented but she didn't want to hear it.
"That's a good sign that they are getting along so quickly." Hakota smiled.
Katara just wanted him to stop looking ridiculous every time he took a sip. Anyone would have said something eventually. But the thing was that no one had, and it had been her with her 'sisterly' compassion towards others. The adults didn't seem to remember that they were already friends and important to each other in that way.
She stood up from her seat. "Dinner was delicious. Thank you but I'm going to bed."
"Yeah me too. Good night everyone." Sokka joined in.
Zuko sat there looking down. He was drunk! And off wine! He looked almost passed out.
"Oh Zuko! Sokka, do you think you can help me take Zuko to his room?" Ursa asked trying to lift her drunken son.
"No, no Ursa. Let Sokka do it and Katara. You sit here so we can talk about the wedding." Kana suggested.
"I'll help you guys too." Aang said grabbing Zuko's arm and putting it around his neck. Sokka did the same. The three left and went upstairs.
"Why did it have to be Zuko that we would be siblings with?" Sokka whined.
"Just come on Sokka. Let's get the prince to bed." Katara said leading the way.
"Yeah that's easy for you to say! You're not the one carrying prince-drunk-breath!" Sokka shouted.
"Mm" Zuko moaned. "Shut up!" he was beginning to have a headache.
Once they got to his room, Katara pushed the door open then turned on the gas lamp on.
"So should we change him?" Katara asked concern once they laid him on the bed.
"If we have to, that's your job." Sokka said. "Wait! No! Don't you dare!"
"Maybe she can take off his shirt?" Aang suggested. Zuko did look uncomfortable.
"Ugh! Do whatever!" Sokka left the air and water bender alone with Zuko.
"I'll just take his shirt off. He's going to be my brother anyways so it's not something terrible." Katara said.
"I guess not." Aang agreed but at that moment he felt a bit concerned.
He helped Katara strip the shirt off of Zuko. In many ways Aang wish they hadn't because compared to Zuko's six-pack, he felt like a little weak boy for anyone to fall for him.
Katara on the other hand was just happy Sokka wasn't there. She liked Zuko's chest. She thought if it was hard or soft and once she realized she was thinking about the wonderful chest of her soon to be brother she mentally slapped herself across the face. 'Gross! He's my future brother. Ew! Gross.' She thought to her self.
She left to her own room after making Zuko sleep on his side. She had told Aang that since he's drunk, he could throw up and if he did he would need to be on his side or else it would get clogged up in his mouth and he would suffocate.
Aang went to bed in a different bedroom in another hallway. He promised he would be there with her the next morning to spend time with Zuko.
Katara had a different dream that night. She was already walking into the path in the forest. It was dark and the end wasn't visible. She turned to go back to the meadow but the beginning wasn't visible either. She continued forward. It was a clear path, somewhat. There was a soft dirt trail under her feet, and little grass pieces. There where large trees to the sides showing no way to escape through them. The bird cries flying around her sounded like her family but she couldn't understand what they were saying. Then it got darker and darker. She woke up.
A loud bang on the door caused her to fall of the bed.
"Whoa!" Katara said falling off. "I was sleeping on a queen sized bed and I fall off. How did that happen?" she thought out loud to herself.
"Hey! Open up!" Zuko's voice rang out.
"What?" Katara yelled opening the door to see still shirtless Zuko. "What do you want?"
"Why did you keep me waiting? What happened last night?" Zuko asked impatiently coming in.
"What are you talking about? Get out of my room!" Katara yelled at him.
Zuko picked her up by the elbows and threw her on the bed. He closed the door then looked back at her. "Tell me now what happened?"
"When? You need to be more specific. Before or after you passed out on the table? Are you just going to be hurting yourself to get what you want? I know your trying to look bad in front of my father on purpose and let me tell you, it's not going to work with him! He doesn't judge that quickly and he already knows that you are kind and--" Katara shouted at him.
"Calm down little sister. And after I passed out would be nice, so start talking!"
"You're so full of it! Well you passed out and actually you just made things better! My father and everyone else thought we are bonding in a family way because I wanted you to stop drinking. Like a brotherly sisterly bond! Then Sokka, Aang and I had to take you to your room!" Katara was not happy that Zuko was treating her like he did months—almost a year ago and then expected her to tell him everything that happened like his own personal spy.
"Damn." Zuko said standing and went to the window. "I guess I should try harder."
"Listen up! I don't care what you are going to do next just promise me you won't make it so obvious! Your making everyone feel bad! Ursa was so embarrassed by you last night! And don't pass out again! Cause we have to carry you! And I don't want you to be coming in here making me tell you what happened!" Katara warned him.
"We'll see. But from you and your brother I think you'll be easier to get the truth out of." Zuko smirked.
"You're impossible!" Katara said now sitting on the chair.
"So? So tell me who took off my shirt. If it was one of the boys I swear I'll—"
"Stop it Zuko! They wouldn't do it! I had too." Katara said looking away from him. 'So annoying! She thought.
She felt the pair of amber eyes watching her. "You did? Well that's a bit better I suppose. I'll see you at breakfast, little sister." Zuko left still smirking.
"Please run into Sokka! Please!" she prayed out loud. If Sokka saw him leaving his sisters room shirtless that would light him up—even if they were on good terms. But sadly he didn't.
Katara dressed in a tank-top robe that was the normal length to the bottom as the others that was cut a little to the side from the knee down. She wasn't looking forward to seeing Zuko again after their argument. That was the last thing she wanted to do was hang out with him now. At least Aang and Sokka would be there. There was a plus.
At breakfast everyone had already began eating.
"About time sleepy head." Hakota said to Katara as she entered the room. She walked over and kissed Gran-Gran's cheek then Bato followed by Hakota.
"Good morning to you too, dad."
When she reached to Aang she one armed hugged him and said "Morning Aang."
"Morning Katara. You seem happy." Aang replied.
"Do I?"
She walked pass Sokka but sat next to him. "Hey what about me?" He complained.
She smacked his head. "There. That's for not waking me up!" Katara said as he pouted.
She instantly looked across from her to see Zuko smirking. "What?" She asked causally.
"Nothing. So, Hakota? Where is my mom?" Zuko asked starting a conversation.
Hakota looked up from his plate to Zuko. "Oh she just said that she would be looking up her parents and sisters. She wanted to visit them today for us to discuss the wedding."
"Ah. Alright." Zuko seemed to be feeling discomfited with Katara's family but hid it with a normal attitude.
"Zuko, your fine with the wedding are you?" Hakota asked.
"Why do you ask?" Zuko asked without emotion.
"No reason. Its just—well last night with the wine you seemed—"
Zuko interrupted. "Hakota I would like to apologize about that. This rather hit me like a surprise, after all she is my mother and I hadn't seen her on so many years. It came to me in shock because once I found out she wasn't dead after all these years and then with her to be wedded I felt upset but if it is you who is making her happy now, that's all that matters to me. She is my mother and I love her." Zuko's answer shocked everyone. Even to Katara, he seemed like a different person.
"Well it's fine. Katara and Sokka must have felt the same once I returned. You poor kids. Everything must be moving so fast. I should be the one apologizing." Hakota admitted.
"Dad you don't have to." Katara said.
"Yeah dad. Beside's we like Ursa. And like what Zuko said. We love you too dad, and if this is what is making you happy go for it!" Sokka said.
Hakota was so happy they were fine with all the change but Bato and Kana who could see the suffering, pain and sacrifice hiding behind the eyes.
"Thank you, kids." Hakota smiled.
"See Hakota! Everything is working out fine." Bato said.
Gran-Gran nodded in agreement. Ursa came in crashing through the door.
"I found them! They still live in the same place!" Ursa's excitement filled in the empty awkwardness. "Can we leave now?" Ursa's request made her seem like a child.
Katara chuckled.
"Sure, sure. Ready Bato? Mom?" Hakota asked.
And with another moment they were gone leaving Aang, Katara, Sokka and Zuko alone. They all sat quietly later in a den filled with book shelves and comfortable furniture. Sokka browsed the books and Zuko stared mindlessly in space. Katara and Aang sat on the floor playing the corners of the rug. The atmosphere felt weird and almost like they barely met Zuko.
"Well, this is boring." Zuko said ready to just leave.
"Hey you can't go! We promised Ursa we would—" Katara began when Zuko interrupted.
"Who cares? No one is talking anyway. We already know each other so I'm outta here unless you come up with something fast that would make me stay." Zuko challenged.
"Katara don't bother. We'll just tell dad that we're much better friends now and just put up another act like at breakfast. No problem." Sokka suggested.
Zuko seemed to agree and Aang but Katara didn't want to lie to her father again.
"I can't do that! Do you want to live the rest of our lives in a lie? That's horrible!" Katara complained.
"Then what do you want to do?" Zuko asked annoyed.
"I want to go on a tour around the palace." Katara suggested. It was the first thing she could think of doing.
Zuko took a deep breath. "Fine."
Ok so in the next chapter more stuff will happen. I love writing this story so I will be getting a lot of chaps up in one day maybe! So keep checking up! Review! ^_^ And sorry if there are any mistakes. Review!
Edited:
Here's the fourth edited chapter. I needed a bit of tension between Katara and Zuko so here it is! Anyone have any ideas about getting rid of Mai? I might have to have an entire chapter about her…