CHAPTER 25

KATARAS POV

There wasn't much left for Katara to pack. May, Leila, and Haru were over helping her pack away the last of her things. She had already sent a letter out to her father notifying him of her impending arrival. She had not mentioned Salai in her message. She thought it best to leave that small detail out…

Of course there was a chance that her father, Gran Gran, and Paku already knew of her pregnancy from Sokka, but there was no telling if they had all spoken sense the end of the war. She was eager to see them and tell them all about her journeys. Katara was sure that they had been worried sick about her. Hopefully they didn't think she had perished in the same Earth palace explosion that she had thought claimed Zuko's life.

"Haru is out front getting the horses ready" May said bustling about packing away the last remaining trinkets to Leila's chagrin.

"I really appreciate everyone's help" Katara smiled genuinely "I'm going to miss you guys so much." The water bender's eyes welled as she clutched Salai tighter to her chest.

"Oh Tara" Leila sighed coming around the counter to embrace her.

ZUKO'S POV

He had been flying for two days and two nights straight with no sleep. Zuko did not dare lose consciousness for fear that he'd fall from the sheer speed they were moving at. He had no idea that Druk could fly this fast, but it was clear that whatever was fueling Zuko's spirit was also fueling his dragon's. He looked behind him for the hundredth time surveying the padded sofa harness that had been created to fit his wife. It was designed to absorb the movement from Druk's sharp turns and remain sturdy during turbulence. He was actually quite impressed with the piece of technology. He gave himself a mental note to give the royal welder a raise when he got back.

Looking forward he could finally see Chao coming into view. His heart raced rapidly in his chest, vibrating throughout his entire ribcage. He could not contain his excitement, nervousness, or fear. What if this was all just a delusion of his?

It sure felt like it.

His sister, after all, was mad and could have made the entire thing up.

All the hard evidence pointed towards Katara being dead.

But the life blood pumping through his veins right then told him otherwise.

When the farm came into view he nearly fell from Druk in his anticipation.

He landed right in front of the cottage, Druk's clawed feet weighing softly on the green grass. Zuko jumped off, softening his touchdown with a little fire bending.

Just then he heard someone whistling a slow tune. He turned to see Haru coming up the side of the house from the back pulling two horses along behind him. When the earth bender's emerald eyes finally looked up from the ground he gasped aloud as he caught Zuko's eye.

"Holy shi-…shit man!" he yelled dropping the horse's reins and jogging over to him. Zuko met him halfway embracing his friend in a bear hug full of hard slaps on the back.

"It is good to see you too my brother" said the Fire Lord.

"We thought you were dead for so long" Haru said.

Druk's thoughts came into his mind unbidden.

'I smell them' he said

'Who?'

'Your mate and your offspring…they are inside that house'

"Well…here I am…not dead" he laughed, clapping his friend's shoulder one last time for good measure.

KATARA'S POV

Katara stood over her kitchen table sifting through the art she wanted to take with her. She had made so many paintings and drawings while living there that she couldn't possibly take them all. Salai sat on her hip contently as she flipped through each canvas and page.

Suddenly she heard the door open behind her, and she felt a warm breeze enter the doorway. The smell of the late summer air hit her gently picking up the earthy aroma of green leaves and flowers.

The scent of cinnamon and sandalwood tickled her senses and made all the hairs on her body stand at attention. It was a familiar scent. One she thought she'd never experience again.

She heard May gasp loudly before dropping a ceramic vase on the ground. Surprisingly Salai did not cry from the loud noise. Katara took a sharp intake of breath as she whipped around towards the door. Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach when she locked eyes with two beautiful golden orbs.

Eyes just like her sweet boy's.

Eyes like the sun.

She couldn't control the small sob that left her lips. Within seconds he had crossed the room to pull her into a secure embrace; Salai sandwiched in between them. Katara cried releasing all that she had kept bottled up. Zuko pulled away slightly cupping her entire face in both his large hands.

"My love…" he whispered brokenly, tears flowing freely from his eyes as well. Neither of them bothered to wipe them away.

He bent down to kiss her, stealing all the wind from her lungs. She had believed that she would never feel his lips in this life again. The way that she savored the feeling of them on hers should have been sinful.

Her heart threatened implosion.

She could not believe that this was real.

They pulled away after a while staring into each other's eyes, neither one of them believing that the other was really there. Both of them speechless.

"Eh!" Salai cooed, trying to get their attention. Katara broke their eye contact looking down at their baby. He hadn't made a peep throughout that entire exchange, even when he had been crushed between them. Maybe he could sense that this was just right.

She looked back up at Zuko catching him shift his gaze towards his son. The two locked eyes, Salai surveying his father curiously. It was astonishing seeing them look at each other for the first time. They mirrored each other with the same expressions and features.

"My son" Zuko smiled toothily. He removed his black riding gloves, setting them down on the table next to them. He reached forward lifting Salai into his arms for the first time.

ZUKOS POV

Zuko hated that he had leather armor on and his cumbersome Lord's robes. He hadn't wanted to waste time changing before he hopped on Druk, eager to get to his family. It wasn't the most comfortable garment to wear for holding children but his son seemed content being held by him. Akuzo looked up at him with such innocence and wonder. He was quite possibly the cutest baby Zuko had ever seen.

"Crowned Prince Akuzo Ryuijin of the Fire Nation, second of his name…it's about time I met you" he smiled lending him his finger to grasp onto.

"You named him?" Katara asked wiping her tears hastily.

"I had to for the funeral. They told me you were dead Kat…that my father had burned you at the stake before you even had a chance to give birth. The same day he was crowned he was cremated. Or at least I thought" he explained.

"I thought you were dead too" she whispered, still not believing he was right in front of her "the guards told me that you were in the palace…then I saw it blow up…right in front of me…"

He shushed her as she began to cry, bringing her back into his chest and cradling the back of her head.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to find you…I hate myself for not being there to save you…"

"You had no idea where we were, it would've been impossible for you to find us. It's not your fault" she tried to assure him. He only held her tighter.

"I-is it true? About Yue?" he asked, terrified of her answer. She only nodded her head, pressing her lips together tightly.

This would be something he would never forgive himself for. The trauma she had to endure was unprecedented, all because he was hellbent on winning the war. And worst of all his brother in law's wife and child had been killed in the process. Most people might say that world peace was worth any price, but Zuko disagreed. His family's, most of all Katara and Akuzo's, wellness would and should always come first.

Zuko kissed her forehead once again, pulling away slightly to evaluate his son once more.

"After all this time you must have given him a name as well" he said after a while.

She nodded her head brushing the baby's unruly hair back tenderly.

"Salai…it means-"

"sunlight" he interrupted, finishing her thought for her. She chuckled.

"Sometimes I forget that you are fluent in my tongue"

"It only took ten years" he said, returning her smile.

Just then they heard a throat clear on the other side of the room.

They both turned their heads, suddenly remembering that they weren't at all alone.

"We're going to head out and give you both some time alone…it's so good to see you again Zuko-or should I say Fire Lord Zuko" May smiled.

"Thanks guys" he returned "it feels good coming home."

He meant it in every sense of the word. This was his home, and it always would be.

KATARAS POV

They were finally alone, and Katara had no idea what to do or how to behave. She had assumed for so long that she would never see him again. After finding out that he was still alive, despite her friend's encouragement to do so, she could not bring herself to confront him. He had already begun the journey of finding a new wife. Salai was only six months old. She could not imagine lugging him halfway across the Earth Kingdom and Mo Ce Sea to the Fire Nation just to be embarrassed and shamed if Zuko did not claim them.

Katara looked up at him again, the reality of their situation settling in the silence. Now that she had gotten past the shock of seeing him she had to ask some hard questions.

"Has our marriage been annulled?" she inquired, uncertainty lacing her tone.

He looked down, furrowing his brows in distress.

"Yes…after your funeral" he confirmed gravely.

"Did you remarry?"

He sighed deeply.

"There is a Queen Consort, but she has not been crowned yet."

Katara felt pin pricks in the back of her throat. She reached for Salai taking him from Zuko's arms.

"Why did you come here?" she asked. If he was going to play the back and forth game with her and Salai she wanted no parts of it. She would rather have none of him than share him with another woman and family. She understood that he had a duty to his country but she didn't want her heart broken even more than it already was. And what about their son? Only seeing his father on occasion, if at all? Knowing he had more duty to his royal family than he could ever afford their son? There was no point in even forming the relationship.

"Katara I-"

"No! I can't bare it Zuko…I understand that you were likely forced into this marriage but I can't stand by and watch you build a life with another woman…I won't" she cried.

"You won't have to! I'm planning to absolve the annulment. It was based on you being deceased and you clearly are not" he explained gesturing to her.

"What of your consort then?"

"She will be sent away at once" he breathed closing the distance she had created. He tucked a stray curl behind her ear before bending to place a chaste kiss to her lips. It burned her inside like a soft candle flame.

"I have been against re-marrying since I was crowned. I held my advisors at bay for months after news of your death spread. With such an unstable regime after one hundred years of war my people were itching for a secured heir. I just…I couldn't. My heart wouldn't let me."

"Zuko…"

"I'm bringing you back with me Katara…you and Akuzo"

"How do you think your council will take this? I have no doubt they'd rather a pure Fire Nation woman as your wife" she whispered nervously. She didn't want to get her hopes too high.

"Fuck what they think Katara you are my wife. Before any of this Fire Lord bullshit you were mine. I'm not letting them take that away" he growled. His hands were now cupping her jaw, their foreheads touching lightly.

She let out a relieved sigh.

"I can't believe this" she smiled finally. Salai began to fuss in her arms immediately snatching her attention from Zuko.

"Lunch time" she chuckled before turning and walking to the couch. She heard Zuko follow close behind her, sitting right next to her on the small sofa.

"I just have to feed him" she said nervously, waiting for him to walk out of the room before she pulled her shirt down.

"I know, I want to stay. I've missed so much already" he said almost in embarrassment. She felt her cheeks heat up as she watched his face turn a bright crimson. Zuko scooted closer to them, settling behind her, acting as back support. His arms engulfed her…almost cradling her. She had not felt this safe sense he left her almost a year ago.

She pulled one half of her bodice down revealing a breast. She heard his sharp intake of breath and him clear his throat slightly. Katara bit her lip before taking a deep breath and focusing on her son instead of her husband's burning stare.

Salai began to quiet down once he realized what was happening and latched onto her quickly. Katara relaxed into Zuko's chest as she fed their son.

"How often do you feed him?" he asked curiously.

"A lot less lately. He's been eating more solid foods recently…his favorite right now is sweet potato" she explained as she rubbed Salai's wild curls.

"My mom told me that was my favorite as a baby too" he smiled before kissing her temple.

Katara realized that in this moment she finally felt whole again.

ZUKIOS POV

The sun was beginning to set when Akuzo finally got to sleep after being fed, burped, and rocked. Zuko watched Katara intently as she attended to their son, itching to step in himself and pitch in. But he sat and observed instead, knowing he had a lot still to learn about being a dad. He had not been there for his son's first six months of life. He intended to make up for the lost time intentionally.

Katara got up carefully from the couch with the prince in her arms.

Zuko got up as well following close behind her to their room. Right beside the bed was a wooden crib, dressed with light green linen.

He stood in the doorway as he watched her bend to place their son ever so gently into his bed.

Zuko couldn't help but think that motherhood looked so good on her. She had this glow about her that had always been there but was more intensified now. Her aura was so warm, inviting….captivating even. Not to mention that she had filled out in all the right places.

He stepped up behind her, eager to feel her skin against his.

He heard her gasp, her body practically vibrating in his arms when he held her close.

"I've missed you" he hissed against the back of her neck, his fingers finding purchase around her waist. She turned around in his arms, locking her oceanic eyes on his. He cupped her jaw leaning into a fervent kiss that stole his breath.

"So beautiful…so perfect" he whispered absently before stealing her lips again.

"Zuko…" she whined. He could feel the warmth radiating off of her, rivaling his own body heat. Maybe carrying a fire bender's seed had made Katara half fire herself.

He pulled her away from the crib pressing her against the edge of the bed.

She had no idea how much of a reck he had become without her. He prayed to every god he could think of that this was not a dream. If it were he feared he may just perish from the heartache. He laid his body on top of hers pressing her slender frame into the mattress. He pulled away from her soft lips quickly to watch the path his hands took down the front of her bodice.

He unlaced her slowly revealing her heaving chest. Zuko was no longer forming rational thoughts. His brain had completely shut off and he was running on pure adrenalin. His palms found themselves surrounding her pillowy mounds. They filled his hands more than they ever had before, overflowing from his fists. He traced the tip of his nose along her collarbone before kissing down the side of her breast. He opened his mouth to engulf a nipple.

"Zuko-you shouldn't" she squeaked.

"Why?" he rasped, his voice husky with need. He licked and kissed around her sweet flesh teasingly.

"You will make my milk flow…" she whispered embarrassed. He looked up at her reddened face in surprise.

He hadn't thought about that…

Suddenly the idea of it became tantalizing. His son seemed to like it well enough. Why couldn't he enjoy some?

He brought her large breast into his mouth anyway, suckling gently. She cried out, her hips snapping up to meet his. Her back arched off of the bed as a sweet liquid spilled into his mouth. Zuko moaned around her sucking harder.

Her hands flew to his top knot pulling his strands in desperation. He released her once he'd had his fill moving to the other breast.

There was something quite sinful about stealing food from his son, yet Zuko could not bring himself to care in that moment.

"Zu…Zu please" she breathed out.

"You do not understand how much I've missed you" he bit out painfully. He pulled away just enough to look down at her.

His water bender's face was the perfect marriage of demure and lustful, her brown skin tinged pink with want. He had missed those eyes the most. The one's that looked up at him with such adoration and trust. He could never violate her trust again. He had to keep her and Akuzo safe no matter what, even if the rest of the world had to pay for it. He wouldn't dare make the same mistake twice. Feeling the pain of losing her had destroyed him. It had turned him into a different person.

He felt his soul return to himself as he entered his wife slowly.

Listening to her gasping cries felt like rain washing over him, taking away the grief of the past.

"Katara" he grit out as he held her tighter. She held onto him just as desperately as he sank into her further. He became lost in the feeling of her love surrounding him. Her cries, her touch, her squeezing herself around him. It was all too much.

To his surprise he felt wetness begin to pour from his eyes. He buried his face in her neck, desperate to hide this moment of sheer weakness. When she wrapped her arms around his shoulders he could not hide the cry that escaped him.

She grabbed his face quickly, forcing his eyes to meet hers before he could wipe his tears.

"I'm here" she assured him before kissing his lips fervently and hugging him closer.

"I'll never leave you again" he rasped in her ear. He felt her release around him, her core becoming impossibly tight and triggering his own finish.

"I love you" she whispered. He pulled out of her before wrapping her quickly beneath the blankets and into his arms. He rested his mouth against her forehead as he held her close.

"I love you more than you know kitten"

Zuko's eyes traveled forward resting on the crib beside the bed. The candle light illuminated his son's tan cheeks as he rested peacefully beneath his knitted blanket.

The Fire Lord could not help the grin that split across his face. He snuffed the candles out with a wave of his hand as he felt Katara's breathing go even.

And for the first time ever, Zuko felt content.

END CHAPTER 25