"They think that I have it all. I've nothing without you,
All my dreams and all the lights mean nothing without you." - Without You, Lana Del Rey

Retired General Iroh learned quickly that Zuko had cleaned out his office before taking his leave to Fire Fountain City. He was used to seeing the Fire Lord's desk being scattered with reports, proposals, and personal letters. He had a large hunch that his nephew cleared out his desk for one sole purpose: no snooping. As much as he liked respecting his almost-son's privacy, he would admit he was sad to see that it was nearly impossible to even try. He knew the Water Tribe warrior, Sokka, and Zuko were very much guilty of being in-the-closet gossips.

So he was happy when Hau, the Fire Lord's personal secretary, brought him a letter that barred the Water Tribe insignia.

He mentally noted that it could be debated whether or not his actions seemed overly eager as he reached for the letter in Hau's hands. The secretariat seemed hesitant at first, but with a resigned sigh, handed the letter over upon seeing the gleam in Iroh's amber eyes. The old man watched as Hau took a silent seat at his desk across the room from the stand-in Fire Lord. Anticipation ate at him, but he set the letter down in front of him and took a refreshing sip of tea. It was publically known that The Dragon of the West was somewhat of a gossip himself. But today, Iroh decided he wanted to save face in front of his nephew's right-hand man. So he took his time picking up the letter, sliding a finger underneath the seal, and watched as the parchment uncurled before him.

"Let's see what you have to report," Iroh murmured, his eyes landing on Lady Katara's name amongst the writing.

Hey Zuke,

I apologize for my lack of letters. Suki and I have been traveling. Just want to give you a heads up that I'm coming your way. We are headed home but Suki is pregnant and seasick so we're stopping by for a small visit. Now before I tell you what I have to, because I don't want to be there to experience your rage firsthand, I need you to promise you won't burn your palace down. I need Yana to make me some homemade komodo chicken when we arrive.

Katara has a boyfriend. They're engaged (I just found out) but he has a girlfriend back home in the Northern Tribe. That's where we're coming from. We went to surprise her and tell her about the baby, but saw him making out with some floozy instead. I'm sorry I kept that from you, bro; I didn't think it would last long. Suki punched him. He's lucky I didn't slice and dice him with my space sword.

See you soon.

P.S. Please have some Sizzle Crips.

As Iroh finished reading over the turgid handwriting of the Water Tribe warrior, he felt himself frown. Hau, who was evidently watching the old man read over the letter, cleared his throat as he laced his hands together on top of his desk. Iroh felt his frown turn into a small smile at the keen look on Hau's features.

"It seems that the future is grim for Lady Katara and her husband-to-be. Apparently he has not been very faithful to his lovely young lady." The old man explained, setting the letter down before him. He took another sip of tea; feeling the need to relax for the young Waterbender.

Hau's eyebrows rose in surprise. "What do you plan on doing with this newly acquired information, Mister Iroh?"

"I will be sending it off to Fire Fountain City! This information is much too important to wait for it to be made known. Lord Zuko would not be pleased, and it would be unfair to Lady Katara."

"Perhaps this information will allow the lady to enjoy our Lord's presence freely." Hau mused, a knowing smile passing over his lips. Iroh chuckled at his old friend.

"Yes, that is very likely, isn't it?" Iroh asked rhetorically. Picking up the letter, he stood up from the desk.

"How long does His Grace plan on being away?" Hau asked with looking up from his paperwork. "We have some very important guests coming within the first week of the New Year."

"He is due to arrive sometime in the afternoon of New Year's Day. I hope he has enjoyed his vacation because he will be very busy." Iroh chuckled to himself as he opened to door to the office to begin his search for Zuko's messenger hawk.

As he walked through the hallways of the abbey, Zuko mentally prepared himself for his meeting with his mother. Katara had been whisked away to the healing section by a sister—whose name he did not catch—and Ursa asked him to stop by while he had alone time. This would be the first time in ten years that he was alone with his mother. So much had happened in his life, in her life that he did not know about. Would they be able to find solace in each other's company like they could when he was a young boy?

He thought about what this moment would be like thousands of times growing up. Whenever they were chasing the Avatar, he would think about restoring his honor and his mother would be there to welcome him home. That was mostly in his dreams, though. But he still thought about all the possibly ways they would be reunited. Granted, he never thought he would become Fire Lord at such a young age (and it really did setback his search for is mother), and now he had found her—accidentally, but nonetheless, he had finally be reunited with his mother.

Of course, there was Azula. Watching her walk off the sanity plank during their fight, and the days that came after, he soon realized that his mother was partially to blame. That had changed him, too. The way he thought about her. All the love and admiration he had somehow held onto all those years had disappeared before his eyes. Watching her cry for their mother in the hospital, asking him to sing to her like Ursa did for him (and never her as a child) broke his heart. He had been wary of her whenever he first saw her, and she apologized, but that did not make things perfect. There was still Azula to deal with.

Things would not be perfect to him until all three of them were happily reunited.

"Excuse me, Lord Zuko, do you have a moment?" An unfamiliar sister popped her head out of an office as he passed by. Pulled from his reverie, he turned toward the elder woman.

"I am supposed to meet my mother, but if it's important?" He explained, but offered to hear her out at the same time.

"We received a letter from the royal palace. It is addressed to you, My Lord." She smiled meekly, holding out a rolled up parchment for him to take. Right away, his eyes landed upon the broken Water Tribe seal that was now wrapped in black ribbon. He took the letter as he thanked the sister.

Although he knew who the letter was from that didn't stop his mind from reeling from the possibilities. Whatever his uncle had read, he found important enough to have sent to the abbey. Tugging at the ribbon, he bunched it up in a fist, unscrolling the parchment. Feeling rather unnerved, he held his breath as he started to read the letter.

His eyes scanned the whole letter once, twice, and a third time. He had to be reading this wrong somehow. The bottom corners of the parchment caught fire as his anger surged through him. He waved the paper around in his free hand, willing the fire away as the familiar smoke smell filled the air. The sister who had brought him the letter appeared at her doorway.

"Is everything all right, My Lord?" She asked, eyeing the smoky piece of paper in his hand. Zuko closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose with his curled fist that held the ribbon.

"Where can one…exert energy around here?" He asked, looking up at the startled sister.

"We have a private garden out back, Sir. There should be enough room to bend out there. There's also a nice waterfall if you need to cool off." She eyed him once more with concern.

"Thank you," he said. "Could you also possibly tell my mother that I need to reschedule our…time together?" He asked as he folded the letter up and tucked it away in his vest pocket. The sister nodded, complying, and he thanked her.

The Fire Lord concentrated on his breathing as he walked toward the back garden. The last thing he needed was setting a rehabilitating center on fire and taking from the nation's income to rebuild. He discovered this was an easy thing to do—for the time being—as he realized he would be getting to see his friends soon. It had been far too long since he had seen his best friend. Or that Yana had cooked homemade komodo chicken. Anticipating food now…, his mind scolded, you're spent way too much time with water boy.

Zuko chuckled to himself; momentarily forgetting his anger. Sokka had that effect on him.

Katara hummed a water tribe tune to herself as she descended the stairs that led to the main floor of the abbey. She had just come from the healing sector and was happy to say she was able to help people. She had healed a few minor burns—nobody was seriously injured—but she was glad to have helped out in any way that she could. Since the death of her mother, Katara had been the one to take up the responsibility in her wake. It was in her nature to help, to heal, to fix in any way that she could. Sometimes she thought about becoming a full-time medic.

As she passed by an open arch way that seemed to lead into a garden, she stopped midstride when she saw someone at the far end of the open space. She felt the blood rush to her face as she realized they were shirtless, but couldn't help the creeping feeling that she knew who that person was. She inched her way toward the arch, the sunlight beaming up in the afternoon sky. She shielded her eyes as looked up at the breathtaking cherry blossom trees that surrounded the perimeters of the garden. Momentarily forgotten about the other presence, she took the time to appreciate how beautiful the scenery before her was. As her eyes scanned the backyard of the abbey, she gasped when she saw a rapid river flowing over the edge of a cavern into a large pool of rock and white, foamy water.

She was pulled from her trance as she heard a guttural grunt from in front of her.

"Zuko, is that you? What's wrong?" She furrowed her eyebrows as she quickened her pace toward the shirtless Fire Lord. He stopped at the sound of his name but did not turn around.

"Aren't you supposed to be helping people?" He asked, only mildly glancing over his shoulder. The unmarked side of his face met her, and she could tell his brow was pulled down in frustration. Anger rolled off of him in waves of heat.

"I was dismissed," she replied. "Why aren't you with your mother?"

"You're asking a lot of questions." He snapped, turning around to fully face her. His face, neck, and chest were shinning in the sun from the sweat gleaming off of his well-toned body. Katara felt her ears turn red from embarrassment.

"I want to know why you're out here. Did something happen with your mom?" Her voice was full of concern. She took a small step forward, stopping by his disposed of red and golden vest. She didn't want to risk coming too close and get snapped at. An out-of-place color caught her attention out of her peripheral vision and she looked down at Zuko's vest. A letter—seemingly burnt at the ends—with a familiar Water Tribe seal caught her eye. Before she could stop herself, she was leaning down and picking it up.

"Katara—"

Her felt her eyes widened in shock as she read over Sokka's scribbly handwriting.

"Spirits," she breathed, placing a hand over heart. Her stomach dropped as she looked up at the enraged firebender before her.

"Katara, that's my own personal mail! You can't just reach down and read it because you recognize the seal!" Zuko shouted, stepping forward and snatched the letter out of her hands. He set the paper ablaze and she watched as the ash fell into the plush grass between them.

"What does it matter? That letter included information about my betrothed."

Katara crossed her arms over her chest. Her blue eyes darkened in anger and he recognized this as her stance that asked if he was going to dare challenge her.

He was.

"I didn't want you to find out this way!" he shouted back. "I wanted to think of a different way to tell you."

"There is no easy way to tell someone that they are being cheated on!"

He groaned in frustration. "You think I don't know that? I just wanted to be the one to tell you. I didn't want you to be upset."

"I'm not upset," she said. "I'm hurt, yes, but I'm more upset over the fact that I am actually the last one to know about Sokka's baby! How does Toph know before I do?"

"She's the one who confirmed it for them in the first place."

"What?" Her brows furrowed as she was washed over with confusion. Zuko's shoulders slumped as he sighed; rubbing the back of his neck.

"A few months ago, I was in the Earth Kingdom to meet with King Kuei. Sokka and Suki traveled to watch Toph's metalbending students compete in a tournament. We all met up for a meal, and Toph pointed out the extra heartbeat in Suki's stomach. They had their suspicions, but it was confirmed while we were all together."

Katara couldn't help but feel left out. A frown appeared on her face as she looked down at her feet.

"Why…why wasn't I invited?" She whispered.

"You…were kind of taboo subject. Sokka knew how much I still…felt for you. Apparently he was also keeping the fact you had a boyfriend from me. I'm sorry, Katara." His words sounded sincere enough, and Katara looked up and gave him a small smile.

"It's all right," she replied. "Let's spar."

"What?"

"I'm angry. Let's spar."

"So you want to hurt me?" He asked, subconsciously scratching at the heart shaped mark on his chest. She winced just looking at it.

"No, I don't want to hurt you. But I am frustrated so I want to work it out. Isn't that what you're doing?" She didn't wait for an answer as she brushed passed the firebender. She stripped down to her white breast band and tights, tossing her clothes into a pile next to the pool of water.

"Fine," he said after a moment. "But the winner gets to choose dinner."

Katara rolled her eyes. "You sound like Sokka."

The Fire Lord shrugged. "Your brother has made it his personal agenda for the past two years to make sure I'm not wound so tightly. He might have also widened my appetite in the process."

After a moment, Katara surprised Zuko by erupting in a fit of laughter.

"I'm sorry."

Ursa watched in amusement as her son turned to face Katara at the sound of her breaking out in laughter. She could imagine her son turning bright red at the scantily clad waterbender before his eyes. She could not hear what they were saying, but after a moment, they took defensive positions a few feet away from each other. She was pleased to see Katara join her son in training.

After hearing her son needed to postpone their meeting time, Ursa rushed to find her son. It didn't take long, as she had heard his frustrated grunts as he went through different firebending sets. From the second-story balcony in which she stood, she could see the steam coming from his nostrils every time he exhaled. He had been visibly shaken by anger and her heart broke at the sight. She knew why her son was such a temperamental young man, but it still did not stop her from feeling pity for her eldest.

She had taken an automatic liking to Katara. She looked at her son the way she did—without the scar. The young waterbender saw past the mark, and that is what mattered to her.

Katara's shrieks filled the garden as she narrowly dodged a fireball. Ursa watched as they danced around each other. Water and fire; swimming together as one. They were well-matched, and although she knew Katara could not recall how her son fought, she did an extraordinary job guessing. She caught on quickly to the way Zuko moved. It tugged at her heartstrings how happy she made her son.

Ursa gasped.

"I saw this coming," a voice said beside her. "I knew the surroundings looked familiar."

"Hello Fate," Ursa greeted.

"Ursa," Fate continued, "I urge you to give Katara her memories back. I have told them what they came to found out, but that does not tell them when it will happen. Our sisters respect Lady Katara for all she had done to bring our world to its new era of peace. It should be up to her when she chooses to pursue her life with him. She has a right to know."

"I have told her of my ability," Ursa said. "If she comes to me, I will not deny her the right. But I will not force it upon her. We all know what will happen, and that is my son. I do not want him to be hurt."

"Pain is inevitable for the both of them."

"I know."

"She will come to you," Fate confessed.

"How do you know?" Ursa asked, taking her gaze off of the sparring pair.

"I might not be able to tell when an event will happen, but I know when this one will," Fate explained with the slightest hint of a smirk on her lips. "It was not hard to tell where she was coming from."

"I understand," Ursa chuckled. "I will perform on her."

Katara let out a small grunt as Zuko pinned her to the ground. She had attempted to freeze his feet but he jumped and took her down in a tackle. She was grateful for the plush grass beneath her that cushioned her fall. Zuko had his knees beside her hips; locking her in place. They were both breathing heavily. He stared down at her with a smile. She realized she liked it when Zuko smiled.

"I guess this means that I win?" He asked, not trying to conceal the smugness in his voice.

Without thinking, Katara reached up and tickled his bare sides. He shook above her—his grip on her shoulders faltering—and she switched their positions. As they rolled, the most adorable laugh erupted from his throat as he tried to breathe at the bothering sensation. She pinned his narrow hips between her legs and sat back on his upper thighs. His gulp did not go unnoticed as she ceased to tickle him.

"Your move," he breathed, his chest rising and falling quickly as his heart beat fast. She stared at him intently for a moment, silently.

She barely had time to register her actions as her lips went crashing down onto his. His lips were soft – softer than she imagined. Warmth crept through her entire body as she snaked her hands behind his head, gripping his damp hair, and pulled him closer to her. An electric shock erupted in the pit of her stomach as she felt herself being pulled up into his lap—she failed to notice that he had sat up. One of his strong hands knotted the back of hair as he deepened the kiss. A soft moan escaped her lips—met with a chuckle from his—and she bit down on his bottom lip as punishment for being laughed at.

Her eyes fluttered open in a standstill moment as she pulled away from him slightly. His hand on the back of her head kept her from going too far. A small sigh passed through his closed lips as liquid gold stared back at her.

"It has been way too long since I have done that." He announced with his voice barely above a whisper. She brought her hands around to cup his cheeks, and she stroked his smooth skin with her thumbs.

Smiling, she said, "There is nothing to stop us from doing that anymore."

A/N: Yay! The last scene was fun to write. But what first kiss isn't? Thanks for reading!