Four years after the Great War.
I walked down the halls, searching. Where was Katara? She said to meet her fifteen minutes ago! As I rounded the corner a blur of brown hair and blue eyes collided with me sending us both on the ground. My search ended and the object lying on top of me in a deserted hallway of the Fire Nation palace.
"Zuko! There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere!" She said, smiling and lightly kissing him before struggling to get up.
"I could say the same." I said pulling both of us up. She laughed grabbing my hand and tugging me down the hall she came from.
"Come on I want to show you something." I nodded following her eagerly. We walked down hallways I knew led to court yards and some of the palace gardens. Curiosity pulled at my mind while a smile tugged at my lips just looking at my fiancé. It had taken four years but finally I had the women I loved by my side. She was strong, intelligent, gentle, but Agni did she have a temper. I laughed quietly to myself. She turned, confused. "What is so funny?" she asked.
"You." I said and laughed again as her face scrunched up in mock anger. "Now where are you taking me waterbender?" She smiled shaking her head.
"Can't tell you. It will ruin the surprise." So I followed her. Honestly I would follow her anywhere. We came up to a small doorway. I knew this door; it led to what once was my mother's garden. I had showed it to Katara when she first came her three years ago. No one had touched since she left but I still went here and sat in the too tall grass and the once tame fire lily and rose bushed now overflowing the garden. I had placed a small plaque in the ground when I was crowned, in honor of her. It read:
In Honor
Of a mother, friend, wife
And devoted Fire lady
One day she will be found
It was my solemn promise to her and no one knew about it except for Katara. She stopped just before opening the door.
"Okay we're here. Now close your eyes. I want this to be a proper surprise." I did as she asked and felt her smooth hands slide into mine and start to lead me through the door. The night was quite, the air warm with a summer's breeze. She led me in a then stopped, her lips gently brushing my ear, "This is my wedding present to you; no one will know should wish it. Open your eyes Zuko." I did as I was told. Beautiful. My mouth fell open. My mother's garden had come back to life. Tears welled in my eyes. Small faerie lights hung in the trees, the bushes and grass had been cut to a normal size. Ivy covered the low walls, the trees full of cherry blossoms. And the small pool where my mother and I had come to feed the turtle ducks, it was full and already occupied by a small family. The tears spilled but my wide eyes wouldn't stop taking in the magnificence of this miracle. I couldn't believe that Katara had healed the garden. It was broken when my mother disappeared but now with Katara's loving hands it was alive, thriving, and teeming with life alive, thriving, and filled with life and love. This was the best present I had ever received. I looked at her, her eyes on me, slightly apprehensive.
"Do… do you like it?" She asked. I took her face in my hands and kissed her, smiling, as we pulled apart.
"I love it! It's… I can't believe… how did you?" I couldn't find words. She smiled and kissed me again.
"I'm glad. I wanted to do something special for you." She looked down at her feet. "Are you nervous? I mean about tomorrow and all?"
"Yes, but I'm more excited than anything else." I said looking her in the eye. She beamed and I knew just like I had always known that I wanted to be with her forever. I really could not wait for tomorrow to come, to be officially bound the Katara for the rest of my life.