A/N: Pepipanda I haven't forgotten about you. I'm working those suggestions in there.
Also, just to let you guys know I'll probably go ahead and raise the rating of this story to M, not because there's anything too risqué (well at least not in my opinion) in these next couple of chapters but because as we move closer to the wedding there probably will be some more suggestive themes and I'd really rather not have the site mods getting pissed at me or anything. Thus I'd rather be safe than sorry so probably when I post Chapter 19, I'll also change the rating.

Chapter 18

Passing the Time

The next morning, Zuko sat at the breakfast table trying his hardest to look completely unthreatened. Why the hell couldn't Katara and her lazy friends get up in the morning if no one was pounding on their doors. It was a Saturday morning, which meant no training for Katara today, which usually meant Zuko enjoying breakfast alone unless Mai or Ty Lee decided to join him. There was no such luck today. Mai and Ty Lee had taken their breakfast in the garden and Zuko had discovered a water tribe member who did not mind rising with the sun.

Gran-gran.

She gave him a hard look as she sipped her tea. She'd been scrutinizing him all morning and had yet to say anything. If Zuko was perfectly the honest the old woman scared the day lights out of him. She was old but she had a fierce look about her. He was sure that's where Katara got it from.

He had offered her a polite hello when he'd found her there and she'd given him a tight smile. They'd been sitting there awkwardly for what he felt was a lifetime but was in reality only a few minutes. He was conscious of every moment he made as it was for some reason imperative to him that Katara's grandmother like him. He tried not to let his spoon clatter as he stirred sugar into his tea. He was careful not to flake crumbs everywhere as he buttered his toast. He was conscious of keeping any juice from dripping onto the table from the fruit he was slicing. It was breakfast but he felt like he was being tested.

Gran-gran said nothing as she began to stir her tea again, eyeing the boy in his nervous state. He was certainly different from the angry young man who had grabbed her by the hood of her coat some years ago. Instead of a fierce killer she saw a shaking boy and her fears for her granddaughter lessened some.

"So, Fire Lord Zuko," She finally said slowly. "What exactly are your intentions for my granddaughter?"

"Er, intentions?" He swallowed.

"Mmhmm. As your wife, she must have some duties you wish her to perform." Gran-gran continued.

Zuko tried desperately to stop himself from squirming in his seat. "Urm, no…not really. I don't actually have much of those. I, uh, I suppose she'll help me with running the nation, I guess. She'll give me advice and stuff."

"Mmhmm. And what exactly do you expect to accomplish with this whole arranged marriage business?"

"Well, our hope, is that the other nations will see this as a sign of change in the fire nation, our acceptance of other nations and respect for them. People will see that the fire nation, uh, modeled by me can live peacefully with other nations, um, simulated by your granddaughter." Zuko struggled through the explanation.

"And this can be accomplished in no other way?"

"Uh, that's what they're telling me…"

"Have you tried to find other ways?"

"Of course."

"So you don't find my granddaughter attractive?"

"What? I didn't say that."

"You answered rather quickly."

"Yeah…but I didn't mean it like that."

"Didn't you?"

"No, I didn't."

"So you do find her attractive?"

"Well…I mean, she's pretty…I guess."

"You guess?"

"Not, I guess. I mean…I don't really think about it."

"You're marrying her, don't you think you should think about it."

"I don't know."

"It would be rather difficult to spend the rest of your life with someone you're not interested in."

"I'm not, not interested in her. I just haven't really thought about my interest in her. Does that make sense?"

"Very little."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Gran-gran said, sitting back with a small smile. "I only ask the things I ask because I care about my granddaughter and her happiness."

"I understand."

"Good. Then you also understand that if you hurt her I will see to it that by some means every bone in your body is broken. It'd be breaking the peace treaty to kill you but there's nothing in there that says her family can't rough you up a bit."

"Uh…"

"I've been doing my research on you Fire Lord Zuko. I know you're capable of breaking a heart."

"Huh."

"Your ex girlfriend, Mai."

"Mai's not really a part of this. We didn't break up by choice."

"Not the second time around…but you did leave her before."

"There was something I had to do, I couldn't drag her into it."

"Fair enough, but you can't do that in the future. Marriage is a different thing. There are two people involved, you can't just make the decisions for the both of you because you can't just walk away from it like a relationship gone wrong, you're bound together by law and before the spirits. You can't just walk away because you're afraid of what might happen to the other person, you have to communicate."

"I know."

"Do you? Your customs are different here. I left my home because of the laws there. I felt so caged by the male dominance in my world and when not just my daughter but my granddaughter as well were born I swore they would be free to pave their own path. Clearly, I was wrong, but Katara was raised to be a strong and independent young woman. You'll never break her of that so don't bother trying. You respect her and she'll respect you and together you can find peace and happiness." Gran-gran said.

"I have the greatest respect for your granddaughter." Zuko replied.

"Good, I'll be watching for it." Gran-gran smirked. "Now stop being so skittish and just eat your breakfast."

- -

Katara stretched and yawned as she padded through the hallways. She'd slept quite comfortably last night after talking to Suki. She liked Suki's idea that Zuko hadn't withdrawn from her because he didn't like her but because he didn't want to overwhelm her and she had clearly been in no state to draw the line. She hummed to herself as she swept into the kitchen briefly and grabbed a peach to munch on as she looked for her friends.

"Good morning." She called happily to Iroh who happened to be strolling the hall ahead of her.

"Good morning, Katara. How did you sleep?" Iroh smiled.

"Quite well thank you, and yourself?"

"Wonderfully."

"And where are you heading off to this fine morning?" Katara beamed, enjoying their sophisticated banter. It usually seemed ridiculous to talk like this but Iroh made it feel like a game.

"It's almost afternoon, Katara." Iroh laughed.

"Is it really?" She gasped, dropping her wordy phrases.

"Indeed it is. As for where I'm going, I thought I might watch my nephew practice for a while. He's in the training yard with three of his best guards. Would you care to join me?"

"That sounds lovely, I guess." Katara said, taking the arm Iroh offered her.

"In the future you will probably want to remember to attend moments like these. It isn't a big thing but in our nation it is a show of love and companionship for a wife to honor her husband with her presence when he is fighting. It is also nice to know you have a supporter in the crowd no matter what."

"In the crowd?" Katara asked.

"Yes, the training yard is open to all of the security staff and often times the public is allowed in to watch the Fire Lord fight. It is a comfort to see the strength of your leaders." Iroh explained to her as they walked.

"Oh, that's good to know, thank you uncle Iroh. Er, I suppose I should start calling you that now, right?" Katara blushed.

"If you like, it doesn't bother me but if you are uncomfortable, you don't have to."

"No, it's fine. I've always liked you."

"Well, that's good to know." Iroh grinned.

- -

Toph was stomping her feet, cheering wildly for the three guards that were facing Zuko in the training ring before her. She didn't particularly care who won, she was sure the three men would lose, but it was fun just to be the opposite of the crowd. Aang was cheering them on right along with her and Suki was shaking her head at the two. Sokka was looking around the filled stone stands that circled the entire training ring, well in all honesty it was more of an arena. It was magnificent. There were fire nation soldiers everywhere, laughing and jostling as they all wanted to get a good look at the new Fire Lord's skills. They'd all seen Zuko as a child and had thought little of him in his time of banishment but after hearing he defeated Azula it was the show of the year. All the commotion had caught Sokka's attention and had proceeded to drag everyone out of bed and to the arena to watch with him. He gave Teo an odd look, as the other boy was somehow still half asleep in his wheelchair even sitting next to Toph who wasn't holding back anything in her cheers. Haru was sitting next to Teo, scanning the crowds of people around him.

- -

Zuko had little time to entertain his men when shows of strength as he was busy with the peace summit but now it was time to blow off some steam. He'd been dealing with a lot lately that he felt was somewhat over his head at times but he struggled through it with his uncle's help. Today, however, was his day off. Katara wasn't mad at him so he didn't need to be fixing things with her, the council was satisfied for the moment so he didn't have to deal with them, and the nobles were busy setting up their ball so he could do what he wanted to do. Currently, his main goal was to relieve the frustrations of his life by beating a couple of his men senseless. They had volunteered themselves and they'd told him he didn't need to hold back because they were honored to be thought so highly of that they might spar with him. He'd shrugged his shoulders and certainly hadn't complained. Now he stood with two men before him and the third waiting on the side to be tagged in when one of the other two needed to catch his breath.

Zuko stood in a tense stance. Open palms up and facing between the two men. His eyes moved from one to the other, waiting for the fight to begin. He flexed and then relaxed his fingers causing one of the two to jerk into action. A blast of fire swept past the side of his head and Zuko smiled. This is what he'd been waiting for. In an instantaneous pivot he had both men lined up in his path and shot a burst of flames at them from his hands. They dove out of the way in separate directions and charged at him building up flames in their hands. Zuko smirked, 'I've been missing this.'

- -

There was a shift in the crowd and Sokka wondered why everyone was suddenly standing up. He glanced around and then back down to the ring where even the fighting had stopped and Zuko and his men were looking up at something. Following their eyes, Sokka tracked their gaze up to a regal looking balcony with a fire nation banner hanging from it. What had caused everyone to stop, was apparently his sister and Iroh walking onto the balcony. He glanced around trying to figure out just what the heck was going on.

- -

"You'll want to curtsey to Zuko now, Katara." Iroh said to her in a low voice, as he inclined his head and allowed a slight bend in his knees to show his nephew respect as the Fire Lord.

Katara nodded, trying to ignore all the eyes that were suddenly on her. She hadn't realized there was a royal viewing area or she certainly wouldn't have walked on to it. She saw Mai and Ty Lee already in the box had risen and were curtseying to her.

"Don't mess up." Mai ground out.

Katara swallowed a lump of fear as she looked down at Zuko from her place up in the box. Trying desperately to remember the motions Mai had taught her, Katara began to sink as gracefully as possible into a curtsey. Once she was down, she counted slowly to three then lifted her eyes from the ground back up to Zuko.

From up here, she was surprised she could see the cross between a smirk and a smile on his face. He tilted his head down and offered her a short bow of his own. When he had risen so did she and Iroh and only after they had, did Mai and Ty Lee. Zuko turned back to his fight and Iroh gave Katara's hand a congratulatory squeeze.

"You have just passed your first test." He beamed. "You've successfully made a good impression on his army and he smiled at you which will bolster their approval of you."

Katara gave him a relieved smile as they both sank down into their plush chairs. Mai and Ty Lee followed suit shortly after.

- -

"Well that was weird." Sokka commented.

"What was weird about it?" Suki asked.

"I don't know. I guess I didn't really consider the fact that I might have to start bowing to my sister now." Sokka shrugged.

"Well she is going to be royalty now. I knew the nickname sugar queen suited her well." Toph smiled to herself.

- -

Katara watched in awe trying to keep the dazzled sparkle from her eyes and her mouth from gaping open. It was official Zuko was amazing. He moved with such speed and grace, and elegance she wished desperately that she had. He mad the fight look like a dance and Katara was enchanted by him. She'd watched him training Aang but it was nothing compared to this. His face was a picture of calm and yet it held a fierce determination and he seemed to glow, basking in the glory of bending his element. She watched the muscled tense and contract then relax and soften as his shirtless form moved around the ring.

She loved the way his arms moved and the way the fire seemed to flow from him like water. He twisted and arched rhythmically and she felt her mouth go dry and her face heat up. What was he doing to her? She was far too young to be having hot flashes and she shut her mind off to the other option. There was no way she could want him like that, she barely even liked him half the time. However, watching him now did make her want to reach out and touch him. His skin must be burning up from the exertion and the flames. She found she wanted to sooth him with her cool touch. She wondered briefly if she covered her hands with water and touched him just now if it would turn into steam. 'That was stupid.' She scolded herself. He couldn't be that hot, could he? She wondered licking her lips and leaning closer to the banister of the balcony.

- -

"Wow, would you look at him move? He's amazing." Suki cried, cheering Zuko on.

"He's alright." Sokka shrugged.

"Don't be jealous, Sokka." Suki laughed.

"I'm not. I'm completely unthreatened by that hot head. He's not your type anyway, is he Suki?"

"I don't know, he is kind of hot." Suki grinned, at her choice of words.

Sokka made a strangled sound as he stared at her wide eyed. "Wha-What? Suki!"

"I'm only kidding, Sokka. You know I love you." Suki laughed, kissing his cheek.

Aang just sulked beside her. He didn't think it was very funny at all as he stole a glance up at Katara wondering what she was thinking. A part of him hoped she was thinking about all the times Zuko had attacked them and that she was getting any at him. He knew he should just accept their impending nuptials but it was so hard. There had to be something else. He felt so guilty because a part of him wanted Katara to be either happy with him or completely miserable with Zuko. He knew it was against what the monks had taught him but he just couldn't bear the thought of her being happy with Zuko of all people.

- -

"I think I want out. I think I want to be good now. I don't have to be bad any more. I don't want to be a monster. I have no friends when I'm a monster. But how do I no be a monster. My own mother called me a monster. And I don't know how to be good. Are there masters of goodness which can teach me the art of being good? Perhaps uncle Iroh. He made Zuko good but then was Zuko ever bad? No, Zuko was just weak. Am I weak too now? I have no bending, I have nothing. I think that means I can be good now. Do you think I can be good now?" Azula was talking to her distorted reflection in the mirror.

While she had recovered more and more of her sanity in the last few days she refused to talk to the guards for fear they would mock her and she had no desire to be made fun of. Her brother was the only one she talked to and he could only come see her for short periods throughout the day. Everyday before he left, Zuko always asked her if she wanted his help and she always refused him or simply didn't answer. The more she'd thought it over the more she had realized he couldn't actually have any other intention but to help because she had humiliated herself enough and if he wanted her dead she wouldn't be breathing now. She wasn't sure she liked the idea of being good or nice but what choice did she have if she wanted out. She weighed her options, rotting here or playing kiss up to her brother who had been nothing but kind to her since her breakdown. If she turned on him once free she'd never see the light of day but if she tried to be good…well maybe she could have friends and she could do fun things and she could be happy.

'I do want to be happy don't I?' Azula questioned herself. Well of course she wanted to be happy, didn't everyone. She'd just gone about finding it the wrong way in the past. She thought power could make her happy and in some ways it did but it also drove her insane so perhaps power was the true key to happiness but love and family. Zuko certainly seemed to be happy. She could give it a try and at the very least if it didn't work out he'd probably kill her so she wouldn't have to worry about rotting here It would be hard because she was fairly certain everyone hated her but she had dug that ditch for herself. If suffering had made Zuko stronger perhaps she could find enlightenment too.

"Yes, yes I'll come out now and Zuzu will take care of me. He'll help me find me. I can be good too, can't I? It can't be that hard. I've always been better at everything Zuzu does. So I can be good, in fact, I can be the best. I will be the most superior form of good the world has ever seen." Azula declared, laughing maniacally with her own reflection. She wasn't exactly the picture of mental clarity yet but she would be. She was determined to be.