Chapter 31
Differences in Opinion

Snider sat on hilltop, eyeing a small farming settlement of the fire nation. A few earth kingdom members were scattered among the members of the fire national helping with the harvest.

"I'n't that sweet? Cooperation among nati'ns." Snider spat as he turned to his few companions. "We'll eat good tonight for causin' a li'l ruckus during 'is majesties grand tournament. Let's go stir up some trouble boys."

- -

"So this tournament is to do what, exactly?" Sokka frowned, as he practiced his sword technique.

"Apparently it's to choose the Fire Lady's champion. This person will defend Katara's honor and make sure no harm comes to her and stuff like that." Suki shrugged.

"But Katara can take care of herself." Sokka replied.

"Yes, but I'm sure it's just one of their traditions. Who's it going to hurt?" Suki grinned.

"No one, I guess. I was just wondering."

"Good, then let's get ready. We'll show 'em what none benders can do." Suki winked.

- -

Katara shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She was feeling rather impatient about seeing Zuko today. It was the first day not being the center of his attention and she'd been able to distract herself for a while but with her friends busy getting ready for the tournament she was already beginning to feel alone and obsolete. Zuko was supposed to meet her for lunch but a messenger had arrived instead and told her something had come up. Since Suki's visit this morning she had passed her time staring out of windows and exploring the palace wondering if this was to be her life now.

She wasn't sure she liked the idea of feeling like this every day or waiting around for Zuko so that she wasn't completely alone. He was supposed to meet her here in the standby room so that they could make their entrance to the tournament together. Outside the open windows, she could hear the festivity in the streets below. Music was being played, voices shouted to the passing crowds to come see what they had for sale, the smell of fresh baked bread and sweet meats wafted up to her, and children's laughter rung in her ears.

She frowned. Children. She wanted children but she also wanted time alone with Zuko first, time for them to better stabilize their relationship as it was still very new. However, when would that time be available, how long should she wait? How long did he want to wait or did he even want to wait anymore? She placed a hand over her stomach wonderingly. Could she be pregnant right now? She and Zuko still hadn't talked about it.

She was still pondering these things when Zuko finally burst in with a flurry of servants following behind him. Some were straightening his collar; others sweeping invisible dust off of his shoulders. Two advisors bickered between themselves on either side of him and he looked tired and annoyed.

"Thank you for your opinions. I will think on it during the match now please give me some peace." Zuko finally snapped instantly silencing the advisors.

"Of course my lord. My apologies, sire." The two men spoke in unison as they bowed out of the room.

"You as well." Zuko growled, waving away the servants who were still tugging at his clothes.

"Majesty." They murmured bowing and leaving as well.

She watched him, feeling guilty for being so impatient with him. He had a lot to do especially after being gone for a week. Life wouldn't be like this forever, he just needed to get caught up. Smiling at the haggard smile he gave her, she went to him and he folded her instantly into his arms.

"This is going to sound horribly pathetic and needy but I missed you today." Katara sighed, as she relaxed into his embrace.

"I'm sure it's nothing compared to how much I have missed you during these dull meetings. It's a bunch of grown men squabbling over silly things." Zuko chuckled leaning down to kiss her.

She grinned as he rained kisses over her face and then finally captured her lips. She smooth her hands up his chest and then around his neck, letting her finger curl up into his hair. He hugged her close and pressed a kiss just below her ear before attacking her neck.

"And what have you been doing all day?" He murmured against her skin.

"Not much actually. I've been rather bored most of the day." Katara started. She was about to ask if there was anything he needed help with when he kissed her again and then pulled back to gaze at her. She was struck silent again by the beauty of his eyes. He leaned his forehead down against her own and grinned.

"We'll have to fix that won't we?" He smiled.

She smiled and nodded basking in the stolen moment of his affection. The soft nuzzling and sweet kisses left her in no way prepared for what he would say next.

"So Katara, do you think we have made you pregnant yet?" He grinned.

Katara completely froze. Her mind which had a moment ago been going to mush was now working, at such a fast pace it made her head hurt, to try to comprehend the shift in tone of the situation.

"Sorry…what?" She asked, trying to buy herself time to come up with a good response.

"I was wondering if even now my son is growing inside of you." He murmured, pressing a kiss against her left temple.

She had to first control her breathing and then focus on what exactly it was that he was saying.

"You, uh, you wouldn't want me to be pregnant right now, would you? I mean we only just got married and we haven't really talked about it. And why a son?" She exclaimed.

"Of course now. Now that I know I'm capable of being a parent, there's no reason to wait." He said frowning at her. "Marriage is essentially about children anyway. That's its primary function, particularly in my case, Katara. And a son is just preferable. A male heir is a stronger sign than a female heir. Yes, my father was planning to put Azula on the throne but she was a prodigy and while I don't mind, I guess, putting a daughter on the throne I'd still rather not be seen as weak so I'll hope for a son."

Katara missed the majority of his explanation about his gender preference as she was still stuck on My Case. Not our case. She cast her eyes down, frowning and biting her lip attempting to resume her calm. Obviously they did need to talk. While there was no stopping it if she was already pregnant, she wasn't exactly keen on rushing things either.

"Actually, I was sort of hoping that we might have some time together first to get to know each other better."

"The decision isn't really ours to make. We must have a child and I see no reason to procrastinate." He gave her a devilish grin before capturing her lips again.

Her eyes closed slowly but her heart just wasn't in the kiss. It was all rather scary to think about. In some aspects it changed everything. She thought over her honeymoon and how little they had talked or actually spent time getting to know one another. It had been all about sex all day, every day. What if he hadn't meant it at all? What if it wasn't about showing her how much he loved her and really about getting a son as soon as possible? What if he just wanted them to have the baby now that way if it was a girl he wouldn't have lost time on getting his son? What if he hadn't meant anything he said the night before their wedding and even on their wedding night but was just trying to lure her into a false sense of security?

She clutched tighter at the fabric of his robe as each new fear washed over her. She needed some reassurance from him. Pulling back she searched his face for some sign that he could read her distress and knew exactly what to say. He looked at her slightly puzzled but said nothing. Instead he leaned in close again as if to kiss her but she turned her face away.

"It would be nice to have some time on our own first, though, wouldn't it?" She asked.

"Katara, that is what honeymoons are for." Zuko said lightly.

"But we didn't even talk." She protested.

"We didn't need to. I know all that I need to know about you and there is anything left you need to know about me, you have only to ask me, okay. My life is a very busy one now, Katara."

"And I want to share it with you."

"You will be as my wife and mother to my children. You will want for nothing."

Her frown deepened. He ought to know how she felt about such male dominated ideas. He didn't treat her as an inferior and she hadn't felt like one until this point but now she suddenly felt like some sort of pet for the purposes of breeding. In fact, she was starting to fear that he was sounding more and more like his old arrogant self when he still wanted his father's approval. When he still believed in such silly things as fire nation supremacy. Where was the awkward caring teen she loved in that last statement.

"Just that?" She snapped.

"Don't get angry Katara. Of course not, there will be much more to your life than just being kept." He replied silkily.

"Oh really?"

"Of course, you won't be tied down by children there are plenty of staff to look after them."

"Zuko, that's not what I mean. I want to be hands on with them what I meant was what else will I do with my time. I'm not the sort to just sit around watching the grass grow, you know that. I want to help people. I want to explore the world further. I want to develop my skills as a healer."

"We'll work on that." He shrugged.

Her eyes narrowed. Work on it. It sounded like she had to be written into his schedule. It was infuriating how he seemed to bounce between the man she loved and the stuck up prince of the fire nation.

"Of course we will." Katara seethed.

Zuko frowned at her, he could hear the faint note of annoyance in her voice. He'd always known her to be a demanding girl but surely she must realize that some things would change. She couldn't just go running off with the avatar to save the world any more. She had to be here with their people. He'd see to it that she be allowed an escort to visit a local hospital to keep up with her healing but he couldn't promise much traveling as of yet.

"Relax Katara, there's plenty for you to do. I'll speak with the guards and make sure you have an escort for going out and I'll have an advisor come see you about the different charities that might interest you. There are tons of thing with the rebuilding that you could organize."

"I don't want to organize them. I want to help do the rebuilding."

"Fine then, you may go and help, once again let me set you up with an escort first but as soon as you become pregnant the helping will have to stop. I don't want you to endanger yourself."

"Zuko…" Katara started.

"Please, Katara, let's not talk about this right now. It's been a long day and I had hoped to leave politics behind for a while." He sighed, kissing her.

She wanted to shout at him that this wasn't politics it was their marriage but her disbelief of his current behavior, held her in a shocked silence. Did he think they were negotiating? Because this was nowhere near acceptable. He knew what kind lifestyle she liked to lead and if he thought a couple of visits to see the displaced peoples were going to satisfy her, he was out of his mind. Just earlier today she had felt as though she were useless and once she became pregnant it seemed she would just fade further into the background of his life.

She knew he needed an heir and he was right that the arranged part of their marriage was mostly about an heir but was that truly they only thing between them? It scared her that in the course of so few days she already felt so strongly about him and now she wondered if he really did feel the same about her. Had he mixed up love and desire?

It was easy to fall into desire; even now she felt her body responding to him, to his kisses, and the hand loosening the sash around her waist. She needed to focus, they needed to talk, but sharp edges of irritation and panic clouding her mind were already being smooth away by the tongue dancing over the pulse point where her neck and shoulder met. She couldn't form a good argument when he was distracting her like this. All the sensations were still so new to her that she couldn't stop herself from melting against him.

She closed her eyes and balled her fists trying to get a handle on her senses but closing her eyes had only focused her attention more on what he was doing to her neck and the fact that her sash just hit the floor. She shuddered feeling the warmth of his hand tracing a lazy pattern down the newly exposed skin of her side to rest on her hip.

Zuko felt triumphant and proud of himself for calming the situation before it escalated any further. He didn't want to fight with Katara but he had been hoping to escape all of the demands of his people by coming to her. He needed an escape. She was supposed to be helping him relax and get away from all the stress of being the Fire Lord and he'd see to it that her needs were met as well.

-

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Content Warning

(A/N: Once again if this is not the section for you, this chapter is over, there's no author's note below so no reason to continue reading. See you next chapter)

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He grinned, hearing her gasp as his mouth moved from her neck to her breast.

"Zuko?" Katara murmured partly from excitement and partly from worry about the unlocked door. A servant could come in at any moment.

"They won't come in." He mumbled before allowing his tongue to flicker out and tease a hardening nipple. Katara let out a cross between a whimper and a gasp as she dug her fingers into his hair, trying to steady herself.

He raised his head and flashed her a wicked grin which had a habit of making her forget everything. She knew they really needed to talk but it would be impossible to form a single thought now.

Zuko pulled her closer to him and slipped her dress from her shoulders with a practice ease. His lips found hers again as he lifted her and carried her to the nearest couch in the room. He lay her back with a gentle ease. He stroked a finger gently over her lips and she reached out for him, only to have him pull slightly away. She frowned at him confused until he slipped in between her arms and attacked her breasts once again. Her giggles turned to a moan as he removed her breast band and she felt his tongue fully against her skin.

Her fingers tugged gently at his hair until he allowed her to sit up some. She balanced herself on one hand and let the other begin working on removing his robes. Katara slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle the shriek that escaped her as she was suddenly flipped over and found herself straddling her husband.

"Thanks for the warning." She growled, glancing at the doorway, hoping that the servants hadn't heard her.

"I was trying to help you." He smirked; bring her hands back down to his chest to finish working on his shirt.

"Are you sure you weren't helping yourself?" She asked, shifting her hips and smirking when he groaned. "I'd say you placed me rather conveniently, almost as if that was your plan."

"Nope…just worked out that way." He panted, as she continued her squirming.

She pulled his shirt over his head and trailed a gentle path of kisses from his Adam's apple to his navel.

"Katara." He growled in a warning tone, placing a hand on her hip.

"Hmm? Yes? Did you want something?" She teased.

She couldn't stop the squeal this time as she was flipped again. He's somehow managed to loosen and kick off his pants and boxers in the process. He wasted no time in slipping off her underwear and tossing the silk onto the floor.

Her back arched up off of the couch as he entered her and her blunt names trailed roughly down his back. Her eyes closed as he rocked against her and her mouth opened in a silent plea when his mouth found the sensitive joint between her neck and shoulder again.

She grabbed the throw pillow from under her head and covered her face with it to muffle her screams. Zuko had to laugh as he wrestled the pillow away from her.

"Are you really thinking about servants right now?" He chuckled.

She couldn't even give him a response as he tensed and bore into her faster. She whimpered, begging him to end it. Leaning forward he brushed a soft kiss against her lips, then her cheek, and finally the upper curve of her ear.

It was so low that she almost didn't hear his request, whispered hotly against her ear.

"Scream for me."

She wasn't sure if it was his words or the brush of his thumb against her clit that did it for her and at the moment it really didn't matter as she screamed his name once, and then even louder drowning out his own groan as she contracted around him. Her fingers raked angry lines over his pale skin and he shuddered releasing into her before collapsing on top of her.

He lay there for a moment, catching his breath. Upon regaining a more steady heartbeat, he flipped them once more so that he wasn't crushing her. His hand stroked careless sweeps over her back and she pressed his ear against his chest allowing herself to be lulled to sleep by the rhythmic patter.

They lay in silence for a while until Zuko yawned and sat upward, massaging Katara's shoulder to rouse her from her drowsy state.

"We should probably redress for the tournament." He murmured.

"I don't want to go." She sighed, snuggling against him. "I want to lay here with you."

"And I would love to lay here with you but our people await." He said, reaching for his clothes.

She made a face but slid off the couch and began attempting to make herself presentable for public. She'd really like a bath before going out into public but there definitely wasn't any time now.