ARC 4: They Built A Path To Be Together

DAY 26: Flash (Back)

Katara finally concedes, on the bright and sunny morning of his coronation, that Aikka looks adorable in red (she tells Zuko this in a rather disgruntled manner and he can't help laughing at her). She even goes as far as admitting that she prefers her husband in it as well. She helps him dress, tugging robes through weak arms, tying sashes neatly.

They encounter his former fiancée as they leave for the turtle-duck pond (it's the only bit of family time they'll get till late tonight). Unexpectedly, Katara thanks her for saving Zuko's life at the Boiling Rock (the tall dark-haired woman seems taken back by the sincerity in her words, offers a reluctant smile). She leaves the two to talk, though she reminds Zuko that he has ten minutes to follow or his life will be forfeit (the other woman smiles a little wider this time, amused, and Katara is struck with the sudden intuition that they will become good friends).

Zuko finds Katara in the process of renaming each turtle-duck. Aikka leans against her mother, chewing on her hand. Her eyes follow him as he sits beside them, fixes a bow in her hair (Aang got you, didn't he? Katara accuses through narrowed eyes). Zuko smiles innocently and pulls out a loaf of bread.

They feed the turtle-ducks and Zuko considers how…right this feels. For the first time in his life, he is at peace. Sure, he's about to become Fire lord, take up the task of transforming the most hated nation in the entire world, but this, this right here is what will give him the strength to do it.

Once upon a time, he'd wanted Katara in the Fire Nation. In his musings, she sat beside him in the gauzy red and gold of a concubine cradling a son in her lap. Zuko's father would have loved him, Katara would have adored him in spite of her imprisonment, and everything would have perfect. The memory is so flawed and so misguided that he waves it away, replaces it with what is right now.

Katara, in red and blue, their daughter babbling happily in her lap. They are both safe from Ozai and happy and free. This scene, this one right here, is not perfect. It's right. He can feel it in his bones.

Destiny, he thinks, can be a funny thing.

But there is only one way to keep all of this perfectly right.

"Katara," he says, "Will you be the Fire Lady?"

She blinks (they have this terrible habit of stewing over crucial things for days before dumping it on the other abruptly). They haven't talked much about this marriage. They were in love and with weeks before a potential and bloody death, they were rash. Getting married was a way to live a little before they died.

But they've survived and he hopes she will stay beside him.

"I know it's sudden," he continues, "But as my wife…you will rule the Fire Nation beside me and we can rebuild the world. It won't be easy, but if you'll have me…I want you by my side. Always."

She searches his eyes for a long time.

"I married you, didn't I?" she murmurs, almost to herself.

Aikka seems to find this funny and giggles. Katara smiles weakly, staring at the water.

"I knew that if we won, things would change," she says, "I knew that you'd be here…in the Fire Nation and I would want to be beside you."

She shoots him an embarrassed look, "I faced down you sister, but being Fire Lady makes me a little scared."

"I'm terrified." Zuko admits.

He finds her hand, squeezes it tightly.

"But we can do this together." He tells her.

They smile at each other and Zuko knows it's right.

"You're not that goofy little boy in the iceberg anymore." Katara says.

She holds Aang at arms length, smiling as though the Avatar is her child.

"What I'm trying to say, Aang," she continues, "Is that I'm so, so proud of you."

She embraces him and Zuko considers that he might as well be her child (their own daughter has been kidnapped by two possessive grandfathers).

"Aw, isn't this just sweet." Toph drawls, wiping away an imaginary tear.

"Shut up." Katara mutters and pulls her in.

It has a rippling effect, Sokka and Zuko are quickly pulled in as well. There is much shoulder rubbing, bone crushing pulling, and well-intentioned back thumping (from Toph, of course). Zuko can't quite believe he managed to find this, these people who he loved like they were his family.

"A year ago," Aang sniffles, "I was still frozen in an iceberg and now—

"Now we're friends." Zuko finishes.

"No," Katara says, "We're family."

For once, there are no protests (not even a crack from Toph). Zuko thinks back. A year ago, a year so vivid that he can flash back and feel the grief in the air, he was a banished prince doomed to serve in the Earth Kingdom till his men were lost and his life followed (whichever came first).

And now?

A gong rings outside. They all hastily pull apart, eyes wipes and nervous smiles pasted on (they've finally ended the war; all there is left is to declare it).

"We'd better go." Someone says gruffly (it's probably Sokka).

Zuko follows his friends out the door, looking toward the pavilion where he fought Azula and where he will declare peace. People will finally have a chance to rebuild; life free from fear of war. He just has to say the words and make it happen.

Katara takes his hand and they find bravery in each other's eyes.

Now, Zuko thinks as they appear before the crowd, everything will be right.

[a/n]: I always was always a little disgruntled that only Zuko and Aang were the ones declaring the war over. I get the point, Fire Lord and Avatar, etc, but I think it would have been perfect if they had all been standing up there together.