Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender, it's owned by its creators Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko and Nickelodeon.

They arrived in the Fire Nation Capital.

Iroh settled himself in the room he had before.

Zuko escorted Katara to the room she stayed in before. Zuko was about to leave when Katara grabbed his wrist.

"What is it Katara?" Zuko asked. He was caught off guard.

"I-I want to talk to you alone, in private," said Katara.

Zuko waved the guards away. He waited until he heard them leave completely. "Go on."

"I feel terrible," said Katara grumpily. "I don't think your mother really approves. I like her, but I think she'll hate me when she finds out the truth."

Zuko sighed, "I think she's just worried about what we will have face. I'll take responsibility if she finds out the truth. There's something else on your mind, isn't there?"

"To get my bending back, I let go of my attachment to the world. I let go of Aang," said Katara.

"You did?" Zuko replied shocked by Katara's confession.

"I did. I found peace and freedom for a while, but now I just feel empty and alone," said Katara.

"Well, you know, you're not alone," said Zuko as he placed his hand over her's.

Katara looked at Zuko, in a way she'd never really seen him before. She hugged Zuko, and instead of being his awkward usual self, he hugged her back.

Then there was a knock at the door, and they broke apart as though they were doing something bad.

"What is it?" Katara asked.

"Er, there is a message for Fire Lord Zuko," said the servant.

"I guess I better go see what it's about," said Zuko as he headed to the door.

He opened the door. The servant gave him the message, bowed, and left.

He opened the scroll.

"What does it say?" Katara asked.

"It's from Aang. He's on his way here now," said Zuko.

"Really?" Katara asked.

"Yes, he wants to announce his engagement to the Fire Nation," said Zuko. "He's bringing her."

"So, what do we do now?" Katara asked.

"I guess we tell him," said Zuko.

Zuko and Katara waited outside and after a few minutes, Appa flew in and landed.

Aang and Xing Ying got off Appa.

"Sifu Hotman," Aang greeted Zuko and bowed in Fire Nation form.

"I wish you wouldn't call me that," said Zuko.

"Sorry," said Aang. "The reason I came is I wanted to formally introduce you to my fiance, Xing Ying. Xing Ying this is Zuko. He's my firebending teacher, the Fire Lord, and my friend."

"It's nice to meet you," said Xing Ying.

"It's nice to meet you too," Zuko said politely.

"Katara," said Aang, surprised to see Katara there.

"Hi, Aang," said Katara. "Xing Ying."

"Katara," said Xing Ying.

"Why don't we go inside? I'm sure my uncle would love to make you guys some tea," said Zuko.

"Sounds great," said Aang.

They went inside. Zuko told a servant to let his uncle know that they'd join him for some tea. They went into a tea room.

Iroh prepared the tea.

"What brings you here? I'm sure it's not my tea," Iroh said to Aang.

"Actually, we did stop by the Jasmine Dragon," said Aang.

"After we announced our engagement to the Earth Kingdom," said Xing Ying.

"I see," said Iroh. "And now you want to announce it to the Fire Nation."

"That's right," said Aang. He looked at his fiance then Iroh, Zuko, and finally Katara.

"Congratulations," said Katara in a detached voice.

"Actually, we have some news we'd like to tell you," said Zuko.

"What's that?"

"Katara and I are in a relationship," said Zuko as he took Katara's hand.

Aang widened his eyes in surprise and said nothing.

"That's great. Isn't that great?" Xing Ying asked Aang.

"Uh, yeah. I'm just surprised," Aang replied. "Do you think we will be able to make the announcement soon?"

"Yeah, I don't see why not," said Zuko.

One week later, most of the Fire Nation Capital citizens turned out to hear the Fire Lord speak.

"Thank you all for coming. I know how busy your lives are. The Avatar has an important announcement he wants to make," said Fire Lord Zuko.

"My girlfriend Xing Ying and I have decided to get married," said Aang.

There was some applause and cheering.

"When's the Fire Lord getting married?" Someone from the crowd shouted.

Zuko looked down and blushed.

Later there was a party, much to Zuko's discomfort.

People would come over and congratulate Aang while simultaneously asking Zuko when he would marry and if he'd be interested in their daughter.

Katara pulled Zuko away from the table and offered him a dance. Zuko accepted so he could get away from the people.

"Thanks for rescuing me back there," said Zuko.

"It looked like you needed it Fire Lord," Katara teased.

Zuko laughed. "I'll keep that in mind, Master Waterbender Katara."

"I see that people have been mentioning their daughters to you," said Katara.

"Yeah, sorry about that," said Zuko.

"It's alright," said Katara.

"Can I cut in?" Aang asked.

"What about Xing Ying?" Zuko asked.

"Actually, she wants to talk to you," said Aang.

Zuko walked back to the table.

Xing Ying offered to go outside with Zuko.

"Aang said you wanted to talk to me," said Zuko.

"Yes. Aang and I are together and we've announced our engagement, but I sort of feel like this is too soon," said Xing Ying.

"Why are you telling me?" Zuko asked Xing Ying.

"I don't know," said Xing Ying confused. "I guess I thought we could be friends."

Zuko smiled. "You sound like Aang."

"I do?"

"It's one of the things he said to me before we became friends. Why don't you talk to him about how you're feeling?"

"I've tried, but it doesn't work out well," said Xing Ying. "Do you think Aang and Katara are really over?"

"I think if Aang asked you to marry him, he's serious about you," said Zuko.

"I guess I'm being paranoid, but I don't really know Katara that well," Xing Ying confessed.

"Maybe you should talk to her," Zuko suggested.

Meanwhile, Aang and Katara danced.

"So you and Zuko?" Aang asked after the dance ended.

"What about me and Zuko?" Katara asked defensively. "Is there a problem? You may be the Avatar, but you broke up with me, so you have no right to say anything about who I am involved with."

"Look, I'm sorry about what happened. I'm just worried about you," said Aang as he looked down.

"You don't have anything to worry about. I can take care of myself," said Katara.

"I know, I just-" Aang started to say something when Katara put her hand up.

"I know you mean well. You always mean well," said Katara. "But I let you go. I wish you'd do the same."

Aang was shocked. He said, "I thought we'd be friends again."

"Being friends? You are about to marry someone else! I don't think she would appreciate you being friends with your ex-girlfriend," said Katara. Katara started to walk away.

Aang followed her. "Katara, wait. I'm sorry. You're right. I shouldn't meddle. I'm sorry."

Zuko and Xing Ying returned. Zuko approached Katara and Aang.

"I'm not interrupting anything am I?" Zuko asked cautiously.

"No," said Katara. "Can we go for a walk?"

"Sure," said Zuko.

Zuko and Katara went to the garden, where Zuko would feed the turtle ducks.

"Is everything okay?" Zuko asked Katara concerned.

"Yes, I just," Katara sighed, "Aang wants to be friends."

Zuko's eyebrow quirked up. He didn't know what to say.

"I told him I want him to let it go, and I reminded him that he is about to marry someone else," said Katara. Katara held her hand and Zuko took it.

"Let's go end the party," said Zuko.

The party ended.

Stay tuned...