Change:

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," Oyaji said. He turned to the groom. "You may now kiss the bride."

A grin crossed the male's face and he took a step towards his new wife. She threw her veil back and grabbed her now husband. She pressed her lips against his and there was a cheer from the attending guests. They walked down the aisle and soon their guest followed. There they'd go to the reception, to eat dance, maybe have a couple of cookies in Sokka's case, and enjoy the night away.

Katara pushed her braid over her shoulder. It was as a favor to her brother and Suki that she had worn the braid to begin with. Her blue eyes followed her friends and family. When the place was completely cleared out, she finally rose to her feet. Wrapping her arms around herself, she walked down the aisle, slowly.

In her head, she could hear the wedding march, see her friends and family, and hear the whispers on how beautiful she looked. Standing up by her father, she was able to see him. And for the longest time, she thought it was going to be Aang's face she saw. But now she saw the scarred face of her boyfriend. She let out a loud sigh.

"Something on your mind?"

Jumping a bit, she looked up into the golden eyes of Zuko. "You waited?"

"I'd always wait for you."

"If I knew that the big tough firebender, I fell in love with was just a big softy, I'd request my money back," she joked.

He laughed as he grabbed her hand. "Well, it better be good money that you paid for me then."

She leaned up and kissed her boyfriend. It was just as sweet as the first kiss nearly three years ago. She felt his hands move up to her neck, and a sigh released her mouth. Katara learned that he liked to feel her necklace when he was thinking about something deep. A warm feeling filled her, radiating from her neck.

She loved this man before her.

"Shall we join the rest? I believe that you have to give a toast to the man of the hour?"

"Only for my brother."

The night went on in full swing. People kept congratulations the newly wedded couple and they kept laughing it off like it was nothing. Sokka danced with Suki, and then with Katara, and even once with Toph. It was his family that he was able to dance with, and he was welcoming this change.

But his sister wasn't so welcoming to this change. That meant that Sokka was going to move to Kyoshi Island. Even though she was dating Zuko, she still spent a lot of time down at the South Pole, and now it was going to be very lonely without Sokka cracking jokes.

"Katara," Aang said, grabbing her attention. "I like your necklace."

"Uh. Thanks Aang," she answered, feeling the smooth stone of her mother's necklace.

Zuko smirked. He led Katara over to the drink table and grabbed her some punch. "You look beautiful," he kissed her.

"Well, thank you Fire Lord," she teased. "I feel absolutely beautiful."

Zuko chuckled and led her to the table to sit down. Katara rested her feet on an empty chair, and greeted people as they passed by. Haru, Pakku, Bato, Smellerbee, and Ty Lee all complemented her about her necklace.

"Zuko, is there something wrong with my mother's necklace—maybe a chip or something?"

"No," he shook his head. "It looks fine to me."

"Seriously?"

A random Fire Nation citizen—one that Suki had probably met while in the Boiling Rock—bowed at Zuko, before moving on. "Katara, would I lie to you?"

"Well," she started.

"Katara."

"No."

Sokka finally walked up, as Suki was dancing with Hakoda. He looked over at Zuko, who nodded at the man. "Zuko, when are you getting hitched?" he asked.

"Not until Katara says the word," replied Zuko. His golden eyes never once left Katara's blue ones.

"Katara, when are you going to actually going to get used to change?" Sokka asked.

"Just because I don't want you to move to Kyoshi Island, doesn't mean I don't accept change," she snapped.

"And Aang's wedding that was last month? You cried."

"Girls cry at weddings! It's our family, moving on, creating more families. Change can be good, I like change!" she said, her voice slowly getting higher and higher.

"And how do you feel about becoming Fire Nation, instead of Water Tribe?" Sokka asked.

Zuko smacked his forehead. "Sokka," he warned.

"No, I'm serious."

Katara placed her hand on the necklace. "I don't know."

"How do you not know, Katara?" Sokka continued. "Aren't you wearing Zuko's engagement necklace?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't you know?"

Katara slipped the necklace off and saw it. It was no wonder that people were complementing her about her necklace. It was beautiful. The round circle was made from a blue stone. In the middle of it was a Fire Nation symbol. As she pushed the stone around, she was able to see the Water Tribe symbol as well.

"Zuko?" she questioned.

He rose from his seat, and took the necklace out of her hand. Leaning down, he whispered, "Even though you'd be part of the Fire Nation, you'll always remain part of the Water Tribe. And at any time you wished to return, I will be right there next to you," he started. His fingers tied it around her neck, and immediately her hand rushed up to the stone, that she now noticed was warmer than her pervious ones.

Her vision had gone a little bit blurry, as for tears began to form in her eyes. She noticed that Sokka was sitting there, crossed legged and looking very smug. When she got over this whole emotional mess, she was going to get him back somehow. He didn't need to be here, acting—even though she knew it wasn't an act—like he knew the whole time.

Now Zuko moved to the front, and was getting down on one knee. This grabbed the attention of a few of the Fire Nation people in attendance, since the Fire Lord never knelt before anyone.

He took her left hand into his hand, running his fingers over her knuckles. "That was made by my hands, something I had been working hard on for the last few months," he paused, reaching into his pocket. "I want us to be the couple to change how the world looks at intermix marriages."

The tears began to roll down her face now. He had pulled out a diamond ring that sparkled like a star. It wasn't big, but it wasn't small either. It was if he knew the perfect size to get her. It fit perfectly on her hand.

"Zuko," she finally was able to get out. "Please, no more."

Despite those small words, he continued on. "But it's more than change. It's because I love you more than anything. I…" he paused taking in a deep breath. "I would die if you were to say no. Katara, you are the girl who changed me permanently. And I want you to be my wife, my equal, and the mother of my cute steam benders. Katara, will you marry me?"

In the background, someone heard Toph let out a snort. She pushed people out of the way to get up to the front. "Hey, Sugar Queen," she started. "Are you just going to let this guy sit there all day? Everything has stopped waiting for your answer."

Katara stood up, and helped the Fire Lord to his feet. For a second he looked embarrassed and hurt that she had done such a thing. A moment passed, and not a word was said. The musicians had been silent; you could drop a pin and hear it. She wasn't used to the attention being completely on her.

"Zuko, I love you more than anything in the world," she started once her courage returned. "And I can't even begin to compare to your speech."

"Then don't make one!" someone yelled from the crowd. "Just say yes! I want cute steam babies!"

The two benders chuckled and she stepped closer to her love. Wrapping her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the lips. She then pulled away and whispered, "Come and chase me." And she ran off.

Zuko finally found her hidden among the rocks. She had allowed her eyes to drift shut, and her hair to fall out of the braid. She looked nothing short than angelic. He walked up and sat down next to her. Tilting his head, he studied her. There was so much about her that he loved. Her nose, her eyes, her smile, her frown, her scowl, her hair, and the way she'd wake up all cranky, hell. It was just safe to say that Zuko was completely head over heels in love with this girl.

"I was wondering when you'd find me," she said, not even opening her eyes.

"It was a change, I'm not used to having to chase down anyone but the Avatar," he joked. "But I'm glad I found you. The party is back in full swing again."

"I've decided something, Zuko," Katara said, now rolling over on her side. Her blue eyes opened.

"Oh?"

"I decided that change is good."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"So."

"Are you reduced to one word sentences?" she asked, sitting up. Absentmindedly, she took his hand into her own and began to make small circles on it. "Or are you just too stunned by my beauty?"

"A little bit of both actually, he answered. He brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "Are you ever going to answer me?"

Zuko barely held his ground as Katara dived towards him. She held him like that for a few minutes, and the suspense started to kill him. There was no possible way that she could draw it out any longer.

"I told you, I like change. And maybe it's time I started my own family," she said. "But this time, with you."

He smiled and captured her lips. He opened his mouth to answer her, but in the distance he heard Sokka yell: "She said yes! Dad I think it's time you gave Zuko 'the talk'!"

K15: Sorry it's late—but better late then never right?

Sokka: Yup!

Me: I hope you guys are enjoying Zutara week. Don't forget to review, I'll try to update two more times today. Until next time. Later. K15