Hey everyone!~ I'm sorry for such a long absence I just got wayyyy too busy and then I got sick which made it hard to really concentrate on anything. I went through the worst yesterday so hopefully I'm making a quick recovery.

This chapter was once again Beta'd by the wonderful InfinityFistTheMonarchOfMen and hopefully you guys like this chapter! Things are going to start rolling as we get more into their relationship!~

Enjoy!~

Facing the Past, Embracing the Future

Katara's POV

"I'm home!" My father's voice rang down the halls.

"Welcome home Hun, we're all in the dining room." My mother replied.

Suddenly butterflies fluttered deep in my stomach. Zuko must have sensed my nerves because he had made his way toward me, placing a his hand in mine for comfort. I gave him a weak smile, knowing that tonight could go well, or horribly wrong.

"It smells great in here, Kya," My father said. He walked into the dining room taking his jacket off and placing his keys on the counter. "Good evening everyone. Ah Katara, Sokka it's been too long."

I ran to my father embracing him in a tight hug, it really had been far too long. "Dad, how have you been?"

"I'm good, but doing better know that I see you're still healthy and well. I worry about you. But I know that I have to leave you on your own so you can grow up." He chuckled. My mum joined his side in and he wrapped an arm around her waist lovingly.

"Hun you're doing a great job, Katara is fine." She gave me a wink and I blushed known that she was talking about Zuko. "Sokka you still haven't said hello to your father."

"Oh, I know I just thought daddy's little girl should get the first hug." He teased me then walked over and gave our dad a manly hug, then my father slapped him on his back. "Hey!"

"Well, it seems you finally made the call then. Suki must be a happy girl right now."

Sokka and Suki blushed. I looked to Zuko who was stood almost awkwardly by my side, obviously not sure what to do with himself.

My dad smiled at the blushing couple before turning to Zuko, "So you must be Zuko."

"Yes sir." Zuko said confidently trying not to show any weakness.

"And you're currently dating my daughter."

"Yes sir." Zuko said again just as confident.

I smiled leaning on his shoulder. "Dad…" I warned him with my eyes not to try and scare my new boyfriend too much.

My father looked at Zuko sternly, glancing up and down once causing Zuko to hold his breath. He stood his ground staring back at my father with the same intensity. I rolled my eyes at this ridiculous display of manpower. Or so I like to call it.

"Geeze boy, calm down I'm not going to eat you!" My father randomly bust out into a boisterous laughter, holding his stomach. Zuko looked around not quite sure what to do or say. I looked to my brother who was equally as confused as we were.

"D-dad?"

My mother smiled pulling Zuko into a hug. "Don't worry, we approve of your relationship. We have for awhile now."

"MOM? Wh-what are you talking about?"

My father wiped a tear from his eyes and breathed in a steady breath. "Oh we know Zuko, actually we knew your parents."

Zuko looked between the two curiously. "You knew my parents?"

They both nodded, "Besides seeing you in the newspapers we are actually quite close with your parents. When they came for dinner a few nights ago to our restaurant we didn't notice that they were, in fact, some of our classmates from highschool! It had been so long and they had both changed so much. Actually, I would never have expected Ursa to marry your father. She was obsessed with this other young lad the last time I had known her."

I looked at her with my eyes wide. "Wait… you went to school with Ursa?"

She nodded and looked over to my father. "Your Dad was actually on the football team with Ozai. Sadly, after highschool graduation we lost contact with them and never spoke again. Which is probably why we had no idea you were the Azulon's that everyone kept talking about."

Sokka rolled his eyes, shifting his weight onto his left leg. "No, I'm pretty sure you guys didn't know because you never watch the news."

"Never?" Zuko asked.

My parents shrugged, "What can I say? We're always busy with our kids and the restaurant. We don't have the time for the city's gossip." My dad said.

"Okay enough we can finish talking once we've started eating dinner. Come on the foods getting cold!" My mother explained.

Zuko's POV

"Thank you for dinner Mrs. South it was amazing." I said.

"Your welcome, Dear. Do you have work in the morning?" She asked.

"Yes, sadly I'm needed for a major meeting about the expansion of our company at eight." I leaned back into the chair feeling extremely exhausted. The time had dragged on to eight P.M. and I knew Katara would want to stay a bit longer.

"So, Ozai has pretty much handed the company over to you then?" Hakoda asked.

"Yeah, I've been the director since a few years ago. I really enjoy what I do, but it can be a bit demanding. Katara's made it much easier for me."

Hakoda smiled at Katara, "I was worried about you pursuing an office job. I wanted you to stay at the restaurant with us, but I knew that I couldn't really force that upon you. I'm happy that you have found something that you enjoy."

Katara smiled brightly at her father, running from her seat to where he was and hugging him. Sokka made a face and Suki squealed about how cute it was. Kya stood up and began picking up the dishes from dinner. Being the polite person I was, I stood up and began helping her.

I reached over to the plates, ready to take them into the kitchen. A hand smacked mine quite roughly and I looked up to Kya's angry face. "No no, Zuko you and the boys go watch some TV or something. We can clean up."

"Please Mrs. South, you made dinner the least I can do is clean." She huffed looking to Hakoda who was shaking his head.

"He's right dear let us clean up, you girls talk about the wedding and we will sort this out." Hakoda said.

"Aw dad!" Sokka cried. I chuckled grabbing the dishes from Kya's hands and making my way to the kitchen. Hakoda and Sokka joined me as we began cleaning the dishes and kitchen quickly. Sokka was grumbling, but helping nonetheless.

I looked into the living room where Katara, Kya, and Suki had sat down. Probably chatting about Suki's wedding ideas and planning what they could. I nudged Sokka in the shoulder, "Hey have you guys figured out a date yet for the wedding?"

Sokka hummed, "We were thinking sometime next year, but Suki doesn't know if she wants to have it early in the year or later. I told her I was okay with whatever would make her happy. She's already made me happy by agreeing to marry me."

"What about you Zuko?" Hakoda asked.

I dropped a dish into the sink causing the girls to look over. I waved them off with my hand and they continued their conversation. I looked over to Hakoda who had stopped what he was doing and Sokka was trying to whistle away the awkwardness. "S-sorry?"

"How serious is this relationship you have with my daughter?" He growled.

"Sir, if you are asking if I want to marry her, then the answer is that I don't know. Not because I can't see us in the future together, because I can. It's just we still have a lot to learn about one another. I'd rather not rush the one good thing that's happened to me in my life and risk messing it up."

Neither of us said a thing after, Sokka had even managed to stop whistling and finish his task. "Zuko, I don't hate you. But after Jet…"

"That's her Ex right?"

Sokka's fist met the counter harshly. "I swear if I ever meet him again I'll do more than just threaten to kill him. I'll actually do it."

"Sokka calm down. I understand, but there's no use in ruining a night like this now. I'm just warning you Zuko. I won't have Katara go through that again. I'll be watching you, but I have faith that you will treat my princess like a good man would." Hakoda threatened his features darkening considerably with the topic at hand.

"Of course I will Mr. South, I wouldn't like to just treat her like a princess, but the queen she is meant to be."

That seemed to please him since he hit him harshly on the back. "Great! I like the way you think!"

Sokka chuckled and punched me in the arm. "Welcome to the family bro."

"Owwww…do you guys always hit each other like this?"

"Yes." They answered simultaneously. I groaned feeling the heavy weight of exhaustion finally come tumbling down on me. The rest of the clean up was done quickly and Hakoda made some tea for everyone while we sat around in the living room to watch a game that just came on. Hakoda and Sokka's team were playing against their number one rival and winning. Katara was laid against me, her head and soft curls resting on my shoulder in the crook of my neck.

Their team had just scored a touchdown resulting in a very loud cry from everyone. We were so loud that we almost missed the doorbell ring.

"Oh, I'll get it, everyone can watch the game." Katara got up out of her spot and headed towards the door. I watched her walk and sway her hips, something that I thought she was doing purposefully. I took a deep breath trying to reign in my wild hormones. Not now, think about Uncle naked, think about Uncle naked.

Yup, that did the trick. I relaxed back down into the seat and continued watching the game with the little knowledge I actually had on it.

"O!" There was a loud crash coming from the front door. Without a moment's hesitation, I leapt out of my seat to where I had heard the noise.

"NO, LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The man was holding onto her arm asking her to just listen to him and to be quiet. Everything about the situation screamed danger and I acted on impulse. Grabbing her arm an

d pushing the man off of her. When she landed softly against my chest I put an arm around her protectively so that he didn't have a chance to grab her again. I looked at the man with anger filled eyes. "Who do you think you are!?"

The man came forward snarling, "Why don't you stay out of this. I need to speak with her. Actually, Katara who is this?"

"He's my boyfriend, now get out!" Her hands clutched my shirt tightly, shaking with fear.

"Really…Katara we need to talk please, just come with me."

"NO! I have a restraining order on you! You shouldn't even be here!"

"Hey, Jerk-face what the hell are you doing here!" Sokka came rushing through the hallway, the rest of the family close behind. Hakoda's eyes went red with anger and Kya gasped pushing Suki behind her.

"What is he doing here…?" Kya whispered.

"Hey Zuko, remember what I just said in the kitchen about my sisters asshole of an ex?"

Everything clicked. This wasn't just some random guy trying to pull Katara into danger. He was the danger. He was the ex everyone kept talking about. Jet. "Yeah, I remember."

"Good because I was going to live up to that promise and kill this fucker."

I cracked my knuckles, "Mind if I join?"

HEHEHHE AND JET THE ASS APPEARS!~ Next chapter will start all that drama I was telling you all about so stay tuned and keep checking for updates. What do you think Jet did when him and Katara were a thing? Anyone have any ideas or want to throw some stuff out there?

Much more Zutara and issues to come their way, so far most of it has been smooth sailing but for how long?

Stay tuned for the next update!~

Please read and review!~ Reviews keep me happy!

Ciao everyone~

Rae

***UPDATE 11/7 ***

So I forgot to thank and reply to the reviews and such...silly me...smh

PrincesaDeFuego: I should just call you by your new pen name hahahah, but thank you so much for being my beta!~~ You make this fic so much better so thank you thank you thank you thank you! 3

FanGirling: AHHH IM SO HAPPY YOU LIKED IT!~ 3 it's my duty to give you wonderful chapters and make you happy!~ Thank you for the lovely review as always!~ This one really put a smile to my face!~ I hope you enjoyed this one too!

Ladyjane025: Wow that literally made me speechless, I'm so happy that I've peeked your interest into modern versions of this and that you are actually enjoying it! I hope you continue to and that you finish this fic happy that you took the chance to read it! 3 thank you so much for reviewing and telling me that because it seriously boosted my confidence!

Big thanks to Sbmintz13, CutiePieMackenzi, and Ladyjane025 for the sotry fav, follow, or author follow and fav, they really help me out!~ 3

Okay that's it for reviews and such!~ You guys literally gave me so much advice and really helped with my slight paranoia, I bet that was irritating to read about so I'm sorry, I'm just going to keep going and try and enjoy this journey as much as I can :D You guys have been such a huge help literally you will never know but I cant thank you enough for it!~

Ciao again everyone~

Rae