Amethyst

A/N: We're back! And just in time for some extra fluffiness! ;D Struggled with the start of this chapter, but I eventually figured it out. Thank you to the lovely people on the irosami tiny chat for helping me past my writers block!

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Diamond

Today was a great day for the Fire Nation. The thrill of festivities danced in the air and slowed the hands of production in favor of celebration. People lined the streets of the capitol city and hung decorations from the awnings of their shops, eager for the events to come not long from then. It was a special day, one filled with joyous excitement and happiness all around that touched the lives of nearly everyone in the Nation's capitol city. For that day, third Prince Iroh II was to wed Future Industries' famous young owner, Asami Sato.

In the few months that followed the official announcement of their engagement, the world was abuzz with the story of how they fell in love. All kinds of previously unknown details about their relationship suddenly started showing up in various newspaper publications, but whether they were legitimate details or not remained subjective. In the end, all the people cared about was that there was a royal wedding in their midst and the bride wasn't from the Fire Nation. A lot of people saw it as a step towards progress, especially paired with their non-bending crown prince, while some still wanted their traditions to stay in place. Luckily, the overall appeal was good and there was a lot of support for their union.

Unfortunately, that didn't change anything about Asami's nerves.

Through the walls that separated her from the elaborately decorated courtyard, she could hear the dull roar of the people crowded in to observe the ceremony and those lingering by the gates on the city's streets, hoping to catch a glimpse. Asami closed her eyes and tried to focus on her breathing. She wore a beautiful dress unlike any other she had worn before: a traditional red gown with a few modern modifications that accented the shapely curve of her waistline and gently ebbed out into the skirt. Her hair was pinned back and lifted from her neck in a bed of soft curls, glittering beads threaded elegantly into the tresses. Yet despite how beautiful she felt, she couldn't stop her heart from racing in her chest.

Nerves unlike anything she had ever felt before had her frozen in front of the elegantly carved doors that opened to the courtyard. Her mouth felt dry and her head light, immaculately manicured fingers anxiously worrying the delicate hem of her sleeve. Through those doors, in front of all those people, her whole life was about to change. Absentmindedly, she bit her red painted lip and cast a wary glance backwards. From behind her, the Royal family all gave her encouraging smiles. Honora stepped up to her and gently touched her cheek.

"Worry not, my dear," she said softly. "Getting there is the only hard part."

Asami breathed softly and gave her a small smile. "Thank you, Honora."

The older woman smiled. "You're welcome dear."

She handed Asami a beautiful bouquet of tigerlilies and Zuko extended his arm for her to take. He was dressed in full traditional clothing, worthy of his past Fire Lord status. "Ready?" he asked.

She smiled at him and looped her free arm around his. "As much as I'll ever be."

He returned her smile and signaled for the attendants to open the doors. Asami tightened her hold on Zuko's arm as the light flooded in and the music began to play.

It was tradition for the Fire Lord to walk the bride to the alter while the Royal family followed, but in this case Zuko took up her arm instead of his daughter. The parade of the Royals was a tradition in Royal weddings for centuries in the Fire Nation. It was a show of power and prestige; a reminder to all who watched that the Royals were always in control. In the past century, though, Zuko had made an effort to make it less about power and more about acceptance. The Fire Lord walked the bride as a symbol of trust, and the Royal family followed.

In this parade, Zuko was a pillar of support for Asami as she tried to smother her building panic and smile at all the cheering faces. He remained true and firm beside her, occasionally touching the hand she had in the crook of his arm as a comfort. From behind them, Kuzon walked with his mother, both of them waving to the crowd while Ta Min clung to Shu's arm beside them. They were more used to the attention than Asami was, but even in the case of a private wedding, Asami didn't think she would be any less anxious. For in the distance, at the top of the stairs that led to the palace, she could see Iroh.

She kept her eyes on him as soon as she saw him, and the closer they walked, the less nervous she became. The roar of the crowd and the nondescript faces began to fade away. All she saw was the smiling face of her love standing at the front of the palace waiting for her. He had forgone the uniform that she loved to see on him in favor of wearing the traditional wedding robes of his ancestors, the sharp shoulders and deep color only accentuating the deep lines of his cheekbones. His hair, not quite long enough for the customary topknot, was parted neatly, a glittering circlet of gold resting upon his head. But it wasn't the beautiful princely garb that had her heart flipping. It was the unbridled joy reflecting in his eyes and the wide smile across his face. Unconsciously, she began to walk faster.

Near the front of the crowd, Asami saw her friends smiling and waving at her. Her cheeks hurt from the wide smile that formed on her face and she gave a small wave to Korra's double handed one. Tenzin and Pema stood beside the Avatar with all four air babies, giving her proud smiles. Bolin and Mako waved as well and Asami was touched to see Lin amongst them. It warmed her heart to have familiar faces among the many, and as they approached the stairs leading up to the where the ceremony would take place, she didn't feel nervous anymore.

Zuko lightly touched her hand as they ascended the stairs. "I've given this some thought," he said. "And I've come to realize that out of all the prospective suitors we have considered for our grandsons, you have been like a breath of fresh air." She gave a small delighted laugh at his relieved expression. "I just want you to know that we are happy, and honored, to officially welcome you into our family."

Family. An overwhelming warm feeling settled in Asami's chest and her eyes misted over a bit as they reached the top of the stairs. Boldly, she ducked in to hug the previous Fire Lord. "Thank you," she sniffled. "Thank you so much."

He smiled and returned the hug warmly, as a father figure should. It touched her heart. "Don't thank me yet, Miss Sato," he said as he pulled away. "Only you can choose to make yourself happy. And I believe you have chosen wisely. Treat him well." He squeezed her shoulders and went to take his spot off to the side. Honora quickly moved in to hug the girl as well.

"We're so happy to have you, Asami," she said softly.

"Thank you, Honora," Asami responded, hugging the woman close. They smiled at each other as they pulled away, and the Fire Lord gently took the bouquet from her fingers as Iroh took her place. He smiled at her and her heart fluttered lightly in her chest.

"Hello, Miss Sato," he said.

She smiled. "Hello, General."

He extended his hand for her to take. "Are you ready?"

She slipped her fingers into his. "Yes."

He lifted her hand to place a chaste kiss on the back before leading her four steps forward to kneel before the alter. The head Fire Sage began the ceremony with the traditional speech and Asami squeezed Iroh's fingers. The Royal wedding ceremony was a long one filled with tedious talking and historical references. Asami's knees started to hurt after the first hour, but it was a discomfort that was easily forgotten as the moment she had been anticipating for months grew closer. Eventually, the Sage asked them to rise and she turned to face the man who held her heart.

"This breaks tradition a bit," Iroh said quietly. "But I wanted to give you this." He held out a glittering silver ring with a deep purple gem settled in the middle. Asami couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful stone. "It's a gem of rare beauty called an amethyst. It's said to ease stress and bring protection to the one who wears it." He slipped the beautiful ring on her finger. "Nearly two years ago, I fell in love with a woman of rare beauty who was more than determined to rise above the challenges that threatened to break her down. She was stubborn about proving her worth to the world in one of the most difficult ways and eventually found her footing despite all the hardship, all the while teaching a stiff man how to love." She laughed and tried not to let her overwhelming emotions flood her as he spoke his words. "You are by far the most beautiful woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, Asami Sato, and I will love you for all of time. I am honored to call you my wife."

She gave a small, delighted laugh and dabbed the tears from her eyes. "How lucky was I to have you come into my life right when I needed it most?" she said quietly. "You have given me so much. I have so much to thank you for, I don't even know where to start."

"Then start by saying yes," he whispered. "You have the rest of your life to think of a way to thank me, but right now, I want a promise. A promise that you will live your life to the fullest and find something everyday that makes you happy. Can you promise me that, Asami?"

"I already do that because of you," she said. "I love you, Iroh."

"And I love you, Asami."

They smiled at each other and squeezed their hands, the Fire Sage clearing his throat beside them. "Shall we commence with the exchanging of vows?" he asked. They nodded. "Very well. Asami Sato, you may begin."

Asami swallowed her nerves and stared up at Iroh's warm gold eyes. "Iroh, I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life." She squeezed his hands. "I love you."

He returned the squeeze. "Asami Sato, I take you to be my beloved wife, to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life." He smiled and Asami's heart fluttered.

"Please kneel," the Fire Sage requested. They carefully returned to kneeling before the alter. "I now hold in my hands the rite of passage of one Asami Sato into the hall of the Royals, to rule alongside the wisdom and power of Prince Iroh II." He gently placed a golden circlet atop Asami's head and passed a flame above her head. "Now rise, as husband and wife." They began to stand as the Fire Sage addressed the audience. "Peoples of the world, with the blessing of the Fire Lord, I now present to you, Third Prince Iroh II and Princess Asami." The crowd cheered loudly and Asami laughed lightly, giddy with joy. "You may now kiss the bride."

The happiness between them was obvious to everyone in attendance that day, and the kiss that followed their union was one that had the people talking for months. But the gossip wasn't something that Asami and Iroh cared about. They were married, and from then on they had each other no matter what, and that was enough to bring a smile to both their faces.

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A/N: The amethyst ring I mentioned in here is meant to be a Deep Russian Amethyst, which is the rarest amethyst with one of the richest purple hues. Google it if you have the time. Thanks for reading you guys. I'll be back tomorrow for more. ;)