It's been awhile but has the next chapter the story is still a work in-progress let me know what you think.

I don't ATLA or it's characters *wish I did*

First Steps

She watched as he entered the tea shop and immediately lit up. She still couldn't believe it's been two year since that kiss outside this very tea shop. Their relationship had not progressed beyond his innocent kisses and holding hands, after all, he was still pretty young and new to the idea of dating. She was quite comfortable in waiting for him to mature because she wasn't ready to advance their relationship either. She smiled as he approached the table where she sat waiting.

"Hi Katara, where's Sokka and Suki, I thought they would be here by now."

"Hi Aang, Sokka went to get something at the market and Suki is talking with Iroh. Did you find what you where looking for?"

At her statement he paused forgetting that he had told her he was going to go look for something for Appa. He still didn't know why he had lied about wanting to speak to Avatar Roku but he had done it and now felt guilty for lying. Still he was not ready to explain his journey into the Spirit World so he came up with yet another lie.

"No, they were all out of Appa's favorite so I…ah…decided to fly over to the palace to see the King."

"I thought we were all going to go see the King together?"

At that moment Aang was eternally grateful that Toph was in the Fire Nation as one of the Fire Lord's advisors. Her ability to detect lies came in handy when Zuko had to question criminals and wanted to make sure his advisors were telling the true.

Thinking fast, Aang decides on another way to distract Katara.

"So Katara, what's Suki talking to Iroh about? Did he get word from Zuko about the up coming summit?"

"I don't know. He did tell us he was expecting word any day now from him maybe he did send something."

"What do you think Zuko wants to discuss at the summit. You don't suppose something's going on that he's not telling us about? Do you? "

The Summit of Nations was two months away and Aang had decided to approach the other nations about helping him rebuilding the Air Temples. He thought maybe a few people could occupy them as well. In the time since the war ended, he had spent his time travelling to the different nation helping to maintain a tentative peace among them. When he did take a break he would go to the South Pole and stay for a while so that Katara and Sokka could be with their family.

"Hey Aang, you're back." Suki said breaking Aang from his musing. "Iroh was just showing some of the new teas he has invented."

It was at that moment Sokka busted into the shop hold a scroll in his hand. "Guys I just got a message from the Fire Nation. It seems that Zuko is on his way to see the Earth King and wants us to meet him at the palace."

Katara took the scroll and read the message:

Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you still in Ba Sing Sa. I am on my way to see King Kuei and I would like for you to join me. I have spoken to the other leaders of a plan I have in mind and would like your opinion as well. I will be at the palace in two days hope to see you there.

Zuko

P.S Tell Uncle thanks for the tea although I don't get way he sent that Ginning Monkey Statue, that thing creeps me out. It's like those eye follow you everywhere.

Iroh walks out from the back of the shop to stand by Katara read Zuko's message as well.

"I see he got the package I sent him. I'm happy he likes the tea it was one of my new blends. Don't tell my nephew this but, that statue creeps my out too I don't know what I was thinking when I bought it from those pirates."

"I wonder what plan Zuko has in mind." Sokka asked while scanning the letter again. "I hope he's finally gonna build that statue of me beating all those firebenders." Sokka brags while he flexes his muscles.

"Now why would Zuko want a statue of you?" Katara says skeptically.

"I'm just saying."

"I doubt that Zuko wants to build you a statue of you but I do like the idea you would look so cute." Suki commented as she walks over to give Sokka a kiss on the cheek.

"Cute is not manly, my statue wont be cute." Sokka said incensed by his girlfriend's comment.

"When did Zuko send this message?" Aang asked

"It looks like two days ago which means we have to meet him today." Katara replies.

"Give my nephew my best and tell him I'll see him at the Summit."

"You're not coming?" Katara asked

"Sorry but I got deliveries coming in all day so I won't be able to but if he's not in a rush to head back to the Fire Nation he's welcome to stop by."

"We'll tell him you say that." Katara answered.

"Thank you. Now you should be off you don't wanna be late."

He sat at the table waiting for the king to arrive. It had taken some time but he had gotten word from both Water Tribe Chiefs that they would consider his offer. King Bumi promised his support on the plan as well which only left King Kuei to convince. He should have thought about this from the start. I would have help to put an end to the radicals who still posed a problem to his goal of peace amount the nations. If only he could figure out away to make his girlfriend forgive him. He hated leaving with her still mad at him but he had hope that she would have cooled down while he was gone. To be honest, it was his fault they were arguing over such a small matter. Their relationship had reached a crossroad but he wasn't ready to get married he knew he needed to eventually, but that was a responsibility he wasn't prepared for just now. The Fire Nation just stared to recover from the war and that was his main focus right now. Maybe he could just get her a gift and try to make up with her. Zuko sighed yet again thinking about Mai he really wished she had come with him on his trip. He was brought out of his musing by the sound of someone entering the room.

"Fire Lord Zuko, it's great to see you again it's been too long. How are things in the Fire Nation, good I hope?"

Zuko stood to greet the Earth King. "It's nice to see you again King Kuei. Things are quiet for the time been." Before they could both exchange farther pleasantries the page announced the arrival of the Avatar and his friends. What follow was and barrage of hellos and questions passed around to everyone in the room.

After a moment Zuko realized someone was missing. "Where's Uncle? Is he coming to the meeting?"

"Sorry Zuko, he gonna miss the meeting today but he did send his love and ask that you stop by the shop if you're not in a rush to get back to the Fire Nation." Katara replied.

"What's this new plan of yours you want to discuss? Sokka ask.

"Well, I was thinking, since the war ended we all have tried to unite our nations. The trading is going well and there is more communication amount the leaders but still our nations remain separate. I mean, there aren't many people from the other nations living in the Fire Nation and I would like to change that. I kinda got the idea after having Toph as one of my advisors." Zuko took a deep breath before he continued not sure who his plan would de received. "This is me idea, I would like a number of persons from each nation to reside in the Fire Nation in an exchange program for a period of time. In this time they would function as they would in their own nation, share their culture and learn ours as well. After which if they choose, they would be allowed to remind in the Fire Nation. I'm also willing to send a number of Fire Nation citizens to the different nations in a similar capacity if the leads would have them. The final part of my plan is to have ambassadors from each nation."

There was silence for a mount before the king spoke. "That's… a… interesting idea I'm somewhat curious as to the resulting effect it will have on all the nations."

Aang was the next to speak up. "That's great. Do you think that this will work? I mean, there are still these who might fight this."

"Aang's right, it's a good idea but what are you gonna do about the reminding insurgents, their bound to cause trouble with this." Sokka commented with a somber note.

"I'm not sure yet. I was hoping at the Summit when all the others Nations meet we could better discuss my idea. That's why I informed each leader in advance in hopes of get some help with this plan." Zuko responded to Sokka's concerns, he was relieved that they took his idea well but the insurgent problem was one he had hoped to solve by now. A hundred years of war could not be erased in two years and he didn't expect many to welcome his idea with open arms. The initial optimism by his most trusted friends has given him hope that he had a possible step towards uniting the Nations.

They continued to discuss the upcoming summit as well as other matters. Aang even shares some of his ideas for the Air Temples with Zuko while the others talked of the places they would like to visit on their way to the Fire Nation.

This would be the first of many steps towards their goal of peace amongst the Nations.