Chapter 16
3 Weeks Later
"Well, I think we've done a wonderful job here, Toph," Katara smiled, looking at the scenery in front of her. The barren rock that made the northeastern shoreline of Shuhon Island such an unappealing sight had been completely transformed into a cascade of rolling vistas by Toph's earthbending. At Azula's request, Katara had then added a few waterbending touches of her own, changing the course of several streams and creating some impressive waterfalls to further enhance their amazing work of landscaping.
"I guess I'll trust you and Azula on that," Toph shrugged, standing next to her. "At least you didn't say something stupid like how I wish you could see it, I'm so sorry you can't."
"Don't be mean," Katara frowned. "When was the last time I said something insensitive to you, even by accident."
"It's been a while, but it's fun not letting you forget those old comments," Toph chuckled in reply. "Anyway, I'm just giving you a hard time now. Obviously, I can still sense and picture how the transformed scenery looks. I just have no opinion on whether to consider it pretty or not, so I'm going to leave that for you and Azula to decide."
"Fair enough," Katara nodded. "So, are you ready to head back?" she asked.
"Well, I'm not in any hurry, but I guess you must be worried about Azula and Iroh jumping at each other's throats while we're gone," Toph said.
"Why would I be worried about that?" Katara asked. "They've been perfectly civil all the way throughout Uncle Iroh's stay with us."
"Sure, but you still make sure to always be nearby and you don't like to leave them alone for too long," Toph pointed out. "Tell me I'm wrong about that." Katara muttered something in response. "What was that? I couldn't quite hear," Toph smirked.
"It's not important," Katara said hastily. "I definitely was not expressing my annoyance at your ability to detect falsehoods."
"I knew it," Toph laughed. "Anyway, let's get back to the estate so you can see with your own eyes that Azula and Iroh aren't about to kill each other."
"Thanks, Toph," Katara said, smiling. "I don't say it nearly enough, but you're a good friend."
"Well, you're pretty solid yourself, Sweetness," Toph said, giving Katara a playful punch that left her side feeling rather sore.
"Even if you don't make it very easy at times," Katara sighed as they began to make their way back to the governor's estate on Shuhon Island.
Having made it back less than half an hour later, Katara left Toph enjoying a snack in the estate kitchen and went on to find her wife. She was relieved to come across Azula and Iroh in one of the studies, engaged in a game of Pai Sho, an activity that seemed to have helped them forge a closer bond. Azula certainly seemed to enjoy Pai Sho with her uncle far more than Iroh's tea rituals combined with lengthy proverb-laden conversations.
Apparently, Katara had entered the study at the exact very moment when Azula was admitting her defeat in the most recent contest. "Thank you for the game, uncle," Azula said politely, bowing her head. "Well played."
"No, thank you, Azula," Iroh smiled at her. "I have truly missed having an opponent who is not only very skilled, but also respectful. If I had defeated Zuko, the game board and all the tiles would have been flung across the room by now," Iroh added with guttural laughter.
"It's true," Azula laughed. "It's not only that Zuzu is a terrible loser, he's also so dramatic about it. Although, I guess he's improved lately."
"Oh, trust me, you have both become the best versions of yourselves," Iroh nodded. "My heart swells with pride and emotion, thinking about all the wonderful things you will achieve working together long after I'm gone, unable to witness them."
"You'll be with us for many happy years still, Uncle Iroh," Katara walked up to them, announcing her presence.
"I certainly hope so, Katara," Iroh smiled at her. "And happy years they will be. I was just telling Azula about my plans to sell the teahouse in Ba Sing Se and open a new one in Caldera City. With everything that has happened lately, there are no good reasons for me to be so far removed from the rest of the family."
"And I'm trying to convince uncle that he should open another teahouse in the Fire Fountain City, even if he won't run it himself," Azula said. "The Jasmine Dragon needs to branch out, uncle. And lure even more people into visiting Shuhon Island."
"Always working an angle, aren't you?" Iroh laughed. "It will never stop being impressive, especially now, when you're using your incredible potential to be a force for good."
"Oh please, don't make me into some kind of a hero of the people," Azula rolled her eyes. "I'm still inherently self-serving. It's just that I'm now including Katara, my family and my friends into the circle of people I'm being self-serving towards."
"Well, you might think of yourself like that, Azula, but the people of Shuhon Island clearly admire you," Iroh smiled. "And I think you have discovered for yourself that fear isn't the only reliable way."
"I suppose so," Azula shrugged. Katara was struggling not to say anything to embarrass her wife, but inside she was dying from laughter. Azula's first term as the governor of Shuhon Island would be up at the end of the year, and Zuko had all but reassured her that he was going to extend her for as many terms as she wanted. Still, a couple of weeks ago, Azula had created a false rumor that Zuko was planning to replace her. Two days later, the streets of the Fire Fountain City were full with people throwing a support rally and carrying banners demanding the Fire Lord to extend Azula as their governor. Back at the capital, Zuko had actually freaked out by the news, thinking that Azula's province was in uprising and about to declare her the Fire Lord. Azula's ego had been sufficiently stroked and she had then been running around like mad, trying to quash the rumor that she herself had started. Katara was not going to let her wife forget this episode anytime soon.
"Anyway, Katara, I can see that you wish to whisk your wife away. Go on, I have been keeping her for far too long," Iroh smiled at her. "I'll go find something else to do."
"I left Toph in the kitchen, she might appreciate some company," Katara replied. Iroh nodded before rising and leaving the study, leaving Katara alone with her wife. "So, are you going to firebend at me if I make a remark about how you're warming up to your uncle?" Katara said, smiling at Azula.
"He's made it hard for me to stay angry at him," Azula admitted. "He must have spoken with mom before coming here. She has clearly given him pointers on the dos and don'ts of what to say to me. He hasn't been singing Zuko's praises at the first opportunity, for example."
"He has made this visit about you, Azula, and that's how it should always be," Katara smiled. "It's about time Iroh came around and realized what he needed to give you."
"I suppose," Azula shrugged. "He's supposed to be the wisest old man of his generation, isn't he? It would be embarrassing if he couldn't figure out how to handle a snarky young woman with a whole baggage of complicated issues that only the most patient and loving partner would be willing to put up with."
"Oh?" Katara winked at her wife. "And do you know anyone like that?"
"Oh, do shut up," Azula growled playfully, pulling Katara into her lap and running her hands up and down her wife's body as their kisses quickly grew heated. It took a great amount of willpower to eventually pull away, leaving both of them panting. "I want to take it further, but someone is liable to walk in on us," Azula confessed, shaking slightly as she also found it very hard to stop.
"A nice preview for later tonight," Katara smirked. "But perhaps we should step outside for a moment. I could really use a cold drink and a cool breeze on the terrace."
"That sounds like an excellent idea," Azula agreed. The two of them quickly made their way outside, running into Mai and Ty Lee, sitting down on the terrace and talking while enjoying some refreshing mango juice. "Catching up, are we?" Azula asked as she poured drinks for herself and Katara.
"Yes, there's a lot to catch up with," Ty Lee nodded. "We haven't really been on the same side like this since… ugh, since that horrible day on the Boiling Rock."
"Well, that's a mood killer," Azula frowned. Katara had heard enough about that day to understand why her wife was reluctant to revisit those memories. "Maybe we shouldn't talk about that. Anyway, where's my niece, is Zuko looking after her?" Azula asked instead.
"No, for once Izzy is sleeping peacefully," Ty Lee smiled. "Zuko is actually speaking with your dad, Katara. It sounded important."
"I suppose I should go check in with them," Katara said. Her father was scheduled to return to the South Pole tomorrow, and there were still a few things that Katara wanted to discuss with him, even if by now she had gotten over most of the ill feelings she had felt towards her father. "Since the three of you haven't had this opportunity to sit down like this, maybe I should just leave you to it," she offered.
"Don't be ridiculous, Katara," Mai shook her head. "You may not be one of the original dangerous ladies as your brother so correctly called us, but you definitely have done enough to be considered one of us by now. An honorary dangerous lady, if you will."
"Thank you, Mai," Katara smiled, deciding to sit down with the other three after all, convinced to do so by the nicest thing Mai had ever told her. "Does that mean June is also one of the dangerous ladies by now?" she asked.
"I think our partners should all be considered dangerous ladies," Ty Lee nodded. "Even Zuko," she added, grinning wickedly.
"Yes!" Azula exclaimed, sharing Ty Lee's devious grin. "This needs to become a thing. Especially because Zuzu will hate it so much!"
"I don't know, he might decide to embrace it," Mai shrugged, also looking amused. Katara noticed how her eyes were constantly drifting over to the estate garden where June was playing fetch with Nyla. "It's funny how relationships work out, isn't it? Even when I was with Zuko, I always thought that he would end up dating some boy. And I definitely thought that you two would end up with girls. Most likely one another."
"Really?" Katara gasped, her eyes widening. "I had no idea there was ever any interest!"
"Oh," Azula managed, exchanging a slightly awkward look with Ty Lee. "I mean, maybe there was, but I never really admitted it to myself."
"Oh, there was a bit of interest," Ty Lee confessed, laughing into her glass. "Anyway, that's ancient history," she said, looking at Mai. "You didn't tell us who you saw yourself with, Mai."
"Eh, I saw myself bitter and lonely, honestly," Mai shrugged.
"Well, I'm glad you were wrong," Ty Lee smiled. "I can see that June makes you happy."
Mai didn't reply for a good while, but when she did, her voice was heavy with emotion. "She does that, yes," Mai admitted. Katara could feel that everyone around the table was happy to hear that admission. Mai had done some things that were frankly hard to excuse, especially during the council coup, and Katara knew that Suki in particular was struggling to forgive some of things done to her Kyoshi sisters. Katara wasn't even sure that Suki would ever quite forgive Mai for it, especially because Mai was not someone to show regret even if she might have felt it inwardly. But Mai and June were on their side now, using their talents for good. They were helping to make the Fire Nation a safer place to live in for everyone, just like the Kyoshi Warriors did, and Katara was sure that even with this personal grudge, Suki was fair-minded enough to appreciate it.
"I think it's funny how all three of us ended up with partners that seven years ago we could have never predicted," Ty Lee said. "But look at us now. Our auras have never been brighter and happier."
"You mean to say that mine isn't dull and dingy anymore?" Mai asked, her words making Katara feel like she was missing an in-joke.
"Not at all," Ty Lee shook her head. "Your aura tells me that you're happy, and I don't even need you to admit it." Mai remained silent, but her expression still spoke volumes.
"It's true that it has been quite the turnaround," Azula admitted. "Seven years ago, Mai didn't even know June and Zuko often acted like you didn't even exist, Ty Lee. As for me, well, I hadn't even bothered to learn Katara's name until for some reason she decided to oppose Aang's decision to remove my bending, and then took me on that road trip that changed everything."
"That must have been a fun journey," Mai remarked, looking at Katara. "What were you thinking, agreeing to that?"
"I couldn't really tell you," Katara shrugged. "I just felt like everyone had given up on Azula, considering her an impossible cause. And that just felt so wrong when I looked at her and saw a girl my own age. Perhaps a little arrogantly, I saw someone who needed my help, even if Azula would have never admitted it. And I had sworn to never turn my back on anyone who needed me."
"You are so insanely lucky that she came along," Mai said simply, looking at Azula. "You know that, right?"
Azula shuddered lightly at Mai's words. "Believe me, not a day passes when I don't remind myself to be grateful about that," Azula said quietly. "There are days when I still struggle to accept that I deserved Katara's help."
"Of course, you did," Ty Lee smiled broadly. She put her arms around Mai and Azula's shoulders, pulling her old friends closer for a tight hug. "We all deserve to be happy. That includes you as well, Mai."
"Well, obviously," Mai replied. "I should hope that this act of pretending to be a force for good should earn me the right to be happy." Ty Lee glared at her, with Azula joining in with a skeptical frown. "I can't believe I have to clarify that, but it was a joke," Mai sighed, making the others laugh.
"You three make quite the team," Katara remarked, still grinning. "It's no wonder you gave us such a hard time during the war."
"Were we your most feared opponents?" Mai asked curiously.
"Oh, by far," Katara admitted. "Honestly, I had nightmares about being chi-blocked by Ty Lee."
"Awesome!" Ty Lee exclaimed before catching herself and laughing awkwardly. "I mean… sorry about giving you nightmares, Katara."
"You don't need to apologize," Katara smiled. "Anyway, I'll give you some time to catch up between just the three of you. So, make use of this time to grill Azula about all the things you wouldn't want to ask with me being present," Katara winked at Mai.
"Oh, I absolutely intend to," Mai smirked.
"I'll just go and have a quick word with my dad," Katara said, leaning in and giving her wife a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll be back before you know it, and on the way, I'll grab a few bottles of the plum wine we all love so much."
"Thank you, Katara," Azula replied softly, cupping her cheek and forcing Katara to face her and accept a tender kiss on the lips. "I love it when you spoil us."
"You're becoming so good at making me want to spoil you," Katara said, blushing lightly as she made her retreat, leaving Azula talking with her old friends, the three of them laughing and looking genuinely happy.
Katara then made her way through the vast governor's mansion to arrive at the quarters occupied by her father. She could hear voices inside, belonging to Zuko and her father, but Katara still knocked on the doors before proceeding inside. "Is everything alright?" Katara asked, entering to find Zuko standing in the middle of the room with her father sitting on the bed, listening to Zuko making a speech.
"Everything is fine, poppet," Hakoda smiled at her. "Zuko is merely giving me some political advice."
"Oh," Katara said, sucking in breath through her teeth. "Be very careful with that, dad."
"Ouch," Zuko winced. "I'm used to taking the sass from my sister, but now you're getting in on it as well, Katara? It hurts."
"I guess Azula is really rubbing off on me," Katara laughed, walking up to Zuko and embracing him. "Love you, Zuko, you know that," she smiled.
"That's better," Zuko happily accepted the hug. "Hakoda and I were done talking, anyway. I'll leave you two alone. I'm sure you have plenty to talk about before it's time for your father to depart."
"Thank you, Zuko," Katara nodded as she watched the young Fire Lord leave the room. She then turned towards her father, with hands placed on her hips. "Don't tell me that Zuko has been advising you how to reclaim the title of the chieftain."
Hakoda raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Nothing of the sort-… wait, you are joking," he then realized. Katara broke into laughter. "I see Zuko wasn't wrong, your wife truly has left her mark on you. But yes, as I have said before, I have no intentions of challenging Gilak's legitimate rule."
"I'm glad to hear that, dad, but also, if our people were to ever ask you to lead again, I hope you will consider it," Katara said earnestly. "Azula has told me a lot how times of war and times of peace all require different ways of governing, and I think you were an amazing chieftain during the war, dad. But I think your recent experiences have taught you a lot and you would now also make for a very effective chieftain during a time of peace."
"Thank you, sweetheart, you're very kind to say so," Hakoda smiled at her. "I have surrendered my ambitions of being the chieftain, but as you said, I would consider it if such was the will of our people. Whether that will happen, I suppose we'll see, but for now, I will do my best to advise Gilak. And I will do my utmost to tell our people about the importance of looking outward, and not so much inward."
"I just hope that our people will not hold grudges over the way you and your followers left the tribe," Katara sighed. "I'm still a little worried about that."
"Don't worry about it, honey. I'm sure these will help a great deal," Hakoda said, pointing at the three letters resting on the nearby dresser. These had been penned by Zuko, Azula and Katara herself, all addressed to Chieftain Gilak. Katara's letter was a mixture of reminders of her father's heroism during the war, interspersed with some glowing compliments towards the new chieftain, laced with hints that Gilak really ought to strongly consider accepting her father as one of his advisors and listening very carefully to what Hakoda had to say.
Katara hadn't asked Azula what her letter contained, but she had a pretty good idea that it was filled with plenty of veiled threats for Gilak to treat her father-in-law well, or else. As for Zuko, there was no great mystery about the contents of his letter. Zuko was once again extending a helping hand towards the Southern Water Tribe, offering to renew and strengthen their economic and cultural ties, as well as making sure that the very important and necessary Fire Nation investments resumed flowing to the South Pole, making sure that the ravaged tribe had the resources to continue its recovery.
"I'm going to miss you dad," Katara sighed, sitting down next to her father on the bed and resting her head against his shoulder. "It was… really good to have you here these past few weeks. I was pleasantly surprised that you got on so well with Azula."
"I will confess that the real Princess Azula turned out to be a very different person than the one I had built up in my imagination," Hakoda sighed. "And that made me feel even more foolish. I had always known that my children were the smartest and wisest to ever come out of the Southern Tribe. I should have known that you and Sokka would never settle for someone who wouldn't be worthy of yourselves. Suki and Azula are both amazing and worthy partners for the two of you."
"They really are," Katara smiled happily. "I know it took you longer than it should have, but I'm glad you got there in the end, dad."
"Me too, honey," Hakoda replied, embracing her. "Me too."
"And don't forget to write as soon as things settle back at the South Pole," Katara reminded her father. "I can't wait to bring Azula for a visit, but only if we'll both feel welcomed."
"I'll make sure of that, sweetheart, I promise," Hakoda smiled.
"Good," Katara nodded simply. She continued to rest against her father's shoulder before eventually pulling away. "Let's talk more tomorrow before you leave, dad," she said, getting up from the bed. "Right now, I need to fetch some wine for the desperate ladies. Or… was it maybe the dangerous ladies? Anyway, I have a feeling the dangerous ladies will become desperate if I don't bring them their plum wine," she laughed, turning to leave the room.
"I had a feeling that he was going to be completely ridiculous about this," Suki groaned, watching Sokka running towards her, carrying yet another pillow in his hands, despite Suki already sitting on four pillows, like she was made from glass.
"Here, this one is to support your back," Sokka said excitedly, stuffing the extra pillow behind Suki.
"Thanks a lot," Suki ground out through clenched teeth, rolling her eyes.
Azula exchanged stares with Katara, both of them nearly losing it and starting to laugh. Sokka and Suki had arrived at Shuhon Island late the previous evening, accompanying Ursa, Ikem and Kiyi. Lately, the roster of friends constantly visiting them never seemed to slow down, and Azula was surprised that she did not feel annoyed by the interruptions to her and Katara's domestic bliss. Hakoda and Toph had returned to their respective homes, and Iroh had gone back to Ba Sing Se to sort out his affairs before returning to the Fire Nation on permanent basis. As for Zuko and Ty Lee, they hadn't even bothered to leave, instead deciding to make their Shuhon vacation a longer one. Azula suspected that Ty Lee was the driving force behind that idea because she was very keen on spending more and more time together with her and Mai in an attempt to catch up on their shared past. Despite this shared past being complicated and often very painful, Azula found reconnecting with her oldest friends deeply cathartic, although she was very mindful in making sure that her beloved wife didn't feel sidelined.
"If pregnancy makes people act like this, I'm happy we won't have to deal with it," Azula snorted, giving Katara a meaningful stare. They had recently had some earnest late-night talks on the topic of children and motherhood, as a result of so many couples around them having children, Zuko and Ty Lee having Izumi and already planning for more, On Ji about to give birth in a couple of months, and now Suki being pregnant as well. Azula had already made the decision some time ago that she was not interested in bearing a child, but she still wanted to make sure that she wasn't denying Katara something she dearly craved.
Katara had admitted being a little torn on the issue. As someone who had assisted as a midwife to her grandmother, Katara had helped deliver plenty of children back at the South Pole, and she had harbored dreams of one day herself bringing a new life into the world. But now, it appeared that she no longer felt as strongly about it. With so many children on the way in their circle of friends and family, and them becoming either honorary or actual real aunts, it seemed as if they were destined to be surrounded by small children whether they wanted it or not. Katara reckoned that it actually didn't matter that much whether those children were theirs or not, and Azula vehemently agreed with that sentiment.
"So, is Aang just as ridiculous towards On Ji?" Katara asked, struggling not to laugh as Sokka stood there protectively over Suki, glaring at a mosquito circling in the air somewhere above his precious wife.
"Surprisingly, not at all," Suki sighed, shaking her head. On their way to Shuhon Island, their boat had made a little side trip to the outer archipelago to visit with the Avatar, his newly married wife and her family. Apparently, despite all the stress endured during her kidnapping, On Ji's pregnancy was progressing well and she was set to deliver a healthy baby in a couple of months.
"Why am I not surprised," Azula snorted. She had come to appreciate Katara's brother over the years as someone who could be relied upon, but he certainly was full of strange quirks and obsessions. Then again, perhaps she wasn't the one to talk about odd quirks and obsessions.
"No, I fully expected Sokka to go on one of his insane overprotective streaks," Katara laughed. She was about to say more, only to be interrupted by the arrival of someone small, bouncy and named Kiyi, planting herself on the cushions between Azula and Katara, earning herself a glare from Azula. Azula looked up to see Zuko and Ursa also walking towards them. "Where are the others?" Katara asked, waving at the new arrivals.
"Ty Lee is putting Izzy to bed," Zuko replied, letting their mother take her seat in the cushions before he settled in next to Ursa. "She'll join us whenever the Crown Princess is done throwing a tantrum."
"And Ikem is once again waylaid by his sea sickness," Ursa snorted. "I'm trying not to find it funny how for some odd reason it only hits him after getting off the boat…"
"I could try healing him," Katara offered. "Although, I'm not sure if waterbending would help with that."
"Don't worry about it, Katara," Ursa smiled. "He'll be right as rain in a few hours."
"I'm glad to hear that," Katara nodded. "We don't want anyone to miss out on the family fun. Even if considering how large our shared family has become, it's going to get harder and harder to have all of you here at the same time."
"True, but isn't it a lovely challenge to have?" Ursa smiled at her daughter in law.
"It certainly is," Katara nodded, reaching out to affectionately tousle Kiyi's hair, Azula's half-sister still interposing herself between Azula and her wife, which was not something that Azula fully appreciated.
"All I care about is that hiking trip I was promised tomorrow," Kiyi insisted. "You're not going to try and wriggle out of that one, are you, Azula?"
"Ugh," Azula groaned. "Well, I suppose I did promise," she admitted, trying to hide how excited she was about the hiking trip. Some of their guests, including Kiyi and her mother, hadn't yet seen the way Toph and Katara had transformed parts of the shoreline with their bending, and Azula was eager to show off the way her imagination had been brought to life so perfectly.
"That's awesome," Kiyi cheered excitedly. "And I can also show you the new firebending moves Uncle Iroh taught me!"
"I'm prepared to be impressed," Azula said, knowing that she'd be impressed by Kiyi's dedication, if not the firebending itself.
"Suki and I will stay behind at the estate," Sokka announced. "I've seen some of those walkways, they're way too dangerous for someone pregnant. What if you slip and fall, Suki?"
"Sokka, I love you, but I'm a lot less likely to slip and fall than you getting punched in the groin," Suki growled.
"Well, I don't see how that could hap-" Sokka cut his sentence short after Suki had moved her elbow at a lightning speed. Sokka collapsed into the cushions, moaning. "Point… taken," he groaned.
"We are all definitely going," Ursa said, smiling at Azula. "It will be a wonderful family outing. We're all eager to see what you have in store for us, sweetheart."
"Oh, you are definitely going to be impressed," Azula said.
"But for now, allow us to simply impress you all with a wonderful family dinner," Katara took over, pointing towards the dinner hall where the servants had just finished setting up the evening meal for the entire family, ringing a little bell to announce that everything was ready. As everyone got up and headed towards the dining room, Azula was about to follow, only to be pulled back down onto the cushions by her wife.
"What is it?" Azula asked, eyeing Katara curiously.
"Oh, nothing much," Katara smiled, a little enigmatically. "I've just been watching you and… thinking, I suppose."
"Thinking about what?" Azula asked, her attention fully focused on her wife.
"About these past few weeks ever since we came back from Republic City," Katara said. "I was thinking how for the first few months after we got together… years, even, we barely had anyone supporting us. Except from Zuko and some of our closest friends, it really was an us against the world feeling, wasn't it?"
"Yes, I remember," Azula nodded. "I honestly thought it was going to be like that forever. And I felt defiant enough to make it work despite the disapproval of others."
"Oh, me too," Katara agreed, smiling. "But this… this really is so much better, isn't it?" she asked, pointing towards the dining room, with sounds of chatter and arguing among the members of their extended family. "A big family that supports each other through thick and thin."
"It still feels odd to me," Azula confessed. "You know that I've never had anything even remotely like that."
"True," Katara nodded. "But I think that on some level, we're all compelled to want that in our lives. Or would you disagree with that?"
Azula paused for a moment, but she didn't really have to think very hard about it. "No, obviously now that I know what it's like, I want to have that in my life," she admitted. "And I wouldn't have it without you, Katara."
"Don't sell yourself short, love, it hasn't been all me," Katara smiled softly. "But I won't deny that making sure that you have a big and loving family that embraces you has been my most treasured dream. And to know that I have helped making it come true for you, well… that just makes me the happiest woman in the whole world. You make me the happiest woman in the world, Azula."
"It is the rarest and most treasured privilege to make you happy, Katara," Azula replied, taking her wife's hand. "To know that I somehow manage to do so, despite my bungling efforts, well… that also makes me the happiest woman in the world." She leaned in and pressed her lips against Katara's in the softest of kisses. "I don't think I can ever appreciate you enough for everything you've done for me."
"I don't know about that, Zula," Katara's smile turned a little wicked. "I've never had an issue of feeling unappreciated by you. Especially when it's just the two of us in our bedroom and you reach into our cupboard of certain toys…"
"You just had to bring that up," Azula sighed, blushing heatedly. "Kat, you do realize that now this is going to feel like the longest family dinner ever, right?"
"Yes, but just think of how hot and bothered we both will be by the time we get back to our bedroom later in the evening," Katara teased wickedly. "There's so much to look forward to Azula," she added, her expression becoming more serious. "And not just for tonight, my love, but for the rest of our lives."
"Couldn't agree more," Azula breathed out heatedly, cupping her wife's cheek before guiding her closer for a kiss full of passion and yearning. Azula refused to break the kiss until she got what she wanted, the soft sound of Katara's strangled moan. "That is indeed something to look forward to," she smiled at her breathless and slightly dazed wife. "For the rest of our lives…"
THE END
