Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA... yada... yada... yada...

Chapter 29

After they picked up the rest of the family, the gaang headed to the Fire Nation and traveled throughout the night. Only stopping a few times for a quick potty break. Sokka, Suki, and Kya planned to go home after Zuko and Mai's engagement party, so they brought all of their luggage with them. Plus everything that they purchased while they were in Ba Sing Se. The extra load slowed Appa down somewhat, but they would still make it to the Fire Nation much sooner than if they would have traveled by boat. Aang spent most of his time at the reins, but did let Sokka take over for a couple of hours during the night to get a little bit of sleep.

They arrived in the Fire Nation by mid-afternoon the following day, and landed in the courtyard behind the palace. Happy to be on solid ground once again. Then everyone unloaded Appa, while Tenzin looked around the Fire Nations elaborate palace and surrounding grounds with awe.

" Maybe we should have let Zuko know that we were coming." Aang said as he unloaded the last of the luggage, concerned that their arrival might be an inconvenience for Zuko and Mai.

" Don't worry, I've already taken care of it." Sokka replied. " I sent Hawky out a couple of days ago and told them that we should arrive some time today." He added. Then they all started walking toward the palace.

A few minutes later they heard a familiar voice bellow from across the courtyard. " Great! You guys finally made it!" Zuko shouted with a huge grin on his face as he jogged toward them. Mai was following slowly behind him with much less enthusiasm.

" Unca Zuko!" Tenzin shouted with glee as he ran to meet Zuko half-way, then jumped into his arms.

" Hey, Tenzin!" Zuko exclaimed, happily spinning around in a circle as he hugged the boy fiercely.

Aang stopped and cocked his head looking a bit puzzled, then pointed at Zuko and Tenzin. " You mean they knew about Tenzin, too?" He asked Katara, raising an eyebrow.

" Yeah." Katara said sheepishly, then smiled innocently and shrugged her shoulders.

Aang just shook his head in disbelief then started walking toward Tenzin and Zuko, with Katara following closely behind him. He was slightly irritated to find out that Zuko knew about Tenzin all of these years and never told him. But Katara probably made him promise not to, so he couldn't blame him. 'Zuko must have thought I was such an asshole.' He thought as he approached them.

How've you been, Aang? I'm glad to see that you've finally come to your senses." Zuko said sardonically as he placed Tenzin on the ground, then stood back up smirking and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

" I'm fine, Zuko. And You?" Aang replied condescendingly, peering haughtily down his nose at him.

The two of them stood there for a minute silently staring each other down. Then erupted with laughter and gave each other a big 'manly' hug.

" I'm glad you could come, buddy." Zuko said smiling, then clasped Aang's forearm in a 'warriors handshake'.

" I'm glad to be here, Zuko." Aang replied grinning, as he clasped Zuko's forearm. Then Katara walked up and stood beside him.

" Katara." Zuko said softly as he released Aang's arm and turned toward her, then kissed her on the cheek and embraced her tenderly. " Thanks for coming." He added as he pulled out of the embrace.

" I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world. Congratulations, Zuko." Katara said with a smile.

" Thank you." Zuko replied smiling. Then bowed his head respectfully and walked over to greet Sokka, Suki, and Kya.

Aang rolled his eyes at Zuko, annoyed by his sickening 'sweetness' with Katara. As much as he hated to admit it he was still a little bit jealous of him.

Everyone congratulated Mai and gave her a big hug when she finally reached them. Then Zuko took her hand and led everyone to the Royal Gallery inside the palace. The walls of the Royal Gallery were decorated with huge portraits of previous Fire Lords going back many centuries, some of them with their families. Except for one portrait that had just recently been added. Adorning the center spot of the gallery that Ozai's portrait once occupied, was a spectacular painting of Fire Lord Zuko and future Fire Lady Mai. Their soft smiles gave the place a warm, welcoming feeling.

" Unfortunately Mai and I have an important meeting to attend, so we'll have to resume our reunion at dinner later this evening. My valet will show you to your rooms." Zuko said apologetically.

" That's okay Zuko, we completely understand." Aang replied sincerely.

" Has Toph made it here yet?" Katara asked.

" No, she hasn't. However, she did send word that she will arrive some time tomorrow." Zuko replied.

" Yeah... She said she had a few last minute details to take care of at the academy." Mai said dryly.

" Yeah... We know all about her details." Sokka said snickering with a wicked grin on his face. Suki looked at him annoyed and jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. " Ow!" He shouted, then looked at his wife with a 'What did I do?' look on his face.

Zuko wasn't sure what their little display was all about, but was pretty sure it would be best if he didn't ask. " Um... Okay... I guess we'll see you at dinner... then." He said awkwardly with a strained smile on his face. Then he and Mai turned and left them and entered the room at the far end of the gallery. It was the room where Fire Lord Ozai used to conduct his war meetings, only now it was used it for less destructive and more productive things.

As soon as their hosts disappeared, a polite, older gentleman approached them and bowed respectfully. " Welcome honourable guests. I am Huojin, Fire Lord Zuko's personal valet. Please, allow me to show you to your rooms." He said smiling, then led them to the guest quarters in the East Wing of the palace.

When they arrived in the East Wing they found out that their 'rooms' were more like suites and each family would have their own. With a common room, a guest bathroom, and two bedrooms. And each of the bedrooms had it's own bathroom and a huge terrace overlooking the Fire Nation. Sokka, Suki and Kya disappeared into one suite, and Aang, Katara and Tenzin entered the one directly across the hall from them. Aang and Katara chose which room would be theirs, then Katara took Tenzin in to his and tucked him in for a nap before dinner. With little protest, since he was absolutely exhausted from the trip. Once Tenzin was asleep, Katara quietly left his room and closed the door behind her. Then went looking for Aang, and found him in their room laying on the bed still fully clothed and sound asleep. She smiled softly, thinking about how adorable he looked when he was sleeping. Knowing that he had to be exhausted since he was up half of the night steering Appa. Then she walked over to the bed and removed his shoes without waking him, and snuggled up next to him on the bed. Then laid her head on his chest and slid her arm around his waist, and fell asleep listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Aang and Katara were startled awake by someone knocking on their bedroom door, and both of them bolted upright in the bed simutaneously. Causing Aang's chin to collide with the top of Katara's head.

" Oh, sorry." Aang said rubbing his chin, while Katara rubbed her head. Then he got out of bed and went to answer the door.

" Please, forgive me Master Avatar. I knocked on the door to the common room, but no one responded." Huojin explained when Aang opened the door, then he bowed deeply. " Fire Lord Zuko asked me to inform you that dinner will be served in the main dining room in one hour." He added when he stood back up.

" Thank you, Huojin." Aang replied. " And please, call me Aang." He added smiling.

" Of course, Master Avatar Aang." Huojin replied obediently, bowing again. Then he turned around and hurried out of their suite.

"No, just Aa - ... Oh, nevermind." Aang said irritated, dismissing the valet with a wave of his hand. Then he walked back over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, while Katara checked out their room a bit.

" It looks like they brought our stuff in while we were asleep, it's sitting in the common room. I guess we should wash up and change for dinner." He said. " I'll get our stuff and put it away, if you want to go wake Tenzin up." He added, watching Katara as she inspected the bathroom. Then opened all of the drawers of each of the bureaus, then opened the door to the huge walk in closet and entered.

" Wow, Aang!" She exclaimed from inside the closet. " This closet is loaded with all kinds of stuff!" She added excitedly.

" What kind of stuff?" He asked curiously as he got up and walked over to the closet to join her.

" Look! There are dresses, and stockings, and undergarments, and shoes... " She said. " And there are men's clothes and things on the other side." She added enthusiastically, gesturing to the opposite side of the closet.

" You don't think they put all of this stuff in here for us, do you?" He proposed as he inspected the closet's contents.

" They must have." She replied. " How many men do you know that wear monk's robes?" She asked.

" Huh? What do you mean?" He asked looking at her confused.

" Look." She said walking over to the men's clothing. Then she pulled out a set of formal robes, obviously Air Nomad attire, and held them out for him to inspect.

" You're right." He replied. " Those were obviously intended for me." He added.

" I know I'm right." She replied smirking, then hung the robes back up. Eliciting a soft chuckle from Aang. " Some of these gowns are obviously Water Tribe designs." She added, pulling out an elegant lazuline blue dress and inspecting it thoroughly.

Katara's enthusiasm must have been contagious, because Aang was now eagerly sifting through the various garments of men's attire with increased interest. " What do you think about this one?" He asked curiously. Holding the garment up in front of him, then turning to face her so she could get an idea of how it might look if he were wearing it.

" Nice." She replied smiling, nodding her head with approval. " That would look amazing on you." She added as she hung the dress up, then chose another one and inspected it.

" Really?" He asked. " You think so?" He added, turning to inspect himself in the full length mirror.

" Definitely." She replied grinning. " Way better than monk's robes." She added, then returned the second dress and started looking for a different one.

" What's wrong with my robes?" He asked, turning toward her and frowning.

" Nothing... If you're a monk." She replied over her shoulder, as she continued to browse through the different dresses. " But I think you dropped out of that category a long time ago." She added. " When you decided to play hide the sausage with me." She said giggling, then pulled out another dress and held it in front of her as she looked in the mirror.

" Say what?" He asked looking at her puzzled, obviously confused by her euphemism for sex.

" You know... when you decided to dip the wick." She said casually, turning to look at him. But, Aang still had a confused look on his face. " Oh, come on, Aang. Seriously? When you did the lust and thrust... on the beach, the night before the comet." She explained exasperated, hoping he would finally catch on.

" Ohhhhhhhh... I get it. You mean I gave up being a monk when we had sex. All of that 'giving in to carnal desires' and 'induging in sins of the flesh' stuff." He replied. " I doubt that I would have been able to live the 'chaste' life of a monk, anyway." He added casually, then looked curiously at Katara. " Did the lust and thrust?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow.

" Oh, sorry. It's something I heard Sokka say once." She explained shrugging her shoulders.

" Of course. Now it makes perfect sense." He said, then chuckled lightly. " So basically, you're saying I need to dress more... appropriately." He added as a mischievous grin spread across his face.

" Well... I guess so." She replied. " I'm not sure that I would have put it that way." She added.

" I think I understand, now." He said. " I should wear clothes befitting my 'amazingly-awesome', 'hypnotically-handsome', 'captivatingly-charismatic', 'sizzling-sexy' self." He added pretentiously, puffing out his chest and desperately trying to keep a straight face.

Katara stared at him incredulously for a few seconds. " I think you left out 'mildly-modest'." She said raising an eyebrow and snickering, then burst into uncontrollable laughter.

" What's so funny?" He asked drolly. But he couldn't keep a straight face and burst into laughter, too. And they both laughed so hard that they cried.

" Okay, all joking aside." He said when the laughter subsided. " I think maybe you're right, it's time for a new wardrobe. People probably think I'm a hypocrite." He added seriously. " A lecherous sixteen year old, that has a three year old son with a woman that he's not even married to. In the traditional sense, anyway. Wearing the ceremonial robes of a pious monk." He said reprehensibly.

" I'm sure people don't really think you're a hypocrite, Aang." She replied. " It was only one night of impropriety, due to extenuating circumstances. That the general public knows nothing about... don't be so hard on yourself." She added. " And, you're not lecherous. You're just extremely... sensuous." She said earnestly.

" The general public is unaware right now. But, it will all be common knowledge in a few days." He replied.

" Why do you say that?" She inquired.

" We are going to one of the biggest, most publicized events in the Fire Nation. That some of the most influential people in the world will be attending." He explained. " Everyone will know about our 'family' by the time it's over." He added matter-of-factly.

" Does that bother you, Aang?" She asked concerned.

" No... Not at all." He replied. " Our family is my greatest accomplishment, I couldn't be more proud." He added with a soft smile on his face.

Katara was so moved by his admission, that tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Relieved that he wasn't ashamed of their slightly 'unconventional' family.

Aang wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs, then kissed her tenderly. " Come on, we'd better get ready for dinner." He said softly. " I'll grab our bags." He added smiling, then headed into the common room to get their bags.

" I'll go wake Tenzin up." She replied, then headed toward Tenzin's room.

Everyone met for dinner as planned and enjoyed a fabulous meal. Chatting about the engagement celebration, and reminiscing about their travels together during the war. Aang wore the outfit that Katara said would look amazing on him, and she was right. He did look absolutely amazing in it. She was definately going to like this wardrobe change. After dinner everyone said their goodnights, and retired for the evening. Completely exhausted from their day of traveling.