Summary: "I'll always come back."
Words: 590
A/N: Continuation of Day 5: Distnace.
Retrouvaille — the joy of meeting or finding someone again after a long separation; rediscovery.
"I'll always come back."
Katara would repeat the last thing Zuko had said to her before he left in her head. It was what motivated her to get through the day, to continue her daily life. She could never get used to waking up without him or not having him their to comfort her. Letters just weren't enough — she wanted to hear his voice, needed to hear it.
She sighed. The last five months had been hard without him. They seemed to have moved slowly on purpose, as if time was teasing her. Katara tried not to pay attention to what day it was or count down how many days until he returned — those things only made time go by slower. But it was so hard not to. There was still a whole month left before he came back home and Katara didn't know if she had enough patience to last another month. But what could she do? It wasn't as if she could tell him to come home.
Whenever Zuko had proposed to her, she had said yes without any hesitation and on their wedding day, she had devoted her life to him — even though he had already devoted his life to his duty as a soldier. Katara thought she knew what she was getting herself into, but the first time he had to leave after their marriage was the biggest eye opener. The more and more time she had to be without him, the more and more she questioned her decision to marry him.
But there was something strong that kept her waiting for him — her love for him, her devotion to him. Had she not loved him, she would've left a long time ago. Instead of sending him a letter, she would've sent him divorce papers.
Katara loved him way too much to ever let him go, and she knew he loved her. His love for her was proven every time she saw him walking towards her, a grin on his face as he stepped off the plane.
He always came back.
A knock on the door roused her from her thoughts. Katara looked at the door quizzically. She hadn't been expecting any guests. Normally, she would ignore random knocks at the door, but something within her told her she needed to open it. She rose from the couch and made her way to the door way, hesitating before turning the doorknob. She didn't know who to expect to be standing at the other side of the door, but she certainly didn't expect him.
Zuko stood at the doorway, clad in his military attire, with the biggest smile Katara had ever seen. At the sight of her, he had lost everything he was supposed to say. All that came out was a "surprise."
Katara, after the wave of shock left her, jumped into his arms, Zuko catching her and spinning her body around. "Zuko!" She couldn't believe it! So much excitement, relief, and wonder surged through her. She felt hot tears stain her cheeks as she looked up at her husband; her soldier. "You're home," she whispered through her tears. She didn't bother to ask him why or how, all that mattered at that moment was the he was home.
Zuko kissed, reveling in the taste of her lips. Oh how he had missed her. He broke the kiss only to rest his forehead against hers, smiling.
"I'll always come back."
