Consequences

After Zuko had decided that he would try just one more time for Toph, another problem arrived.

"Fire Lord." One of the Fire Sages said to Zuko. "You have put this issue too far. It is now time that you must marry. You are already 18 years old; already in the marrying age, sir." Zuko groaned. 'Not this again.'

He was getting pretty tired of them and their worries. It wasn't like right after he turned 19 or 20 he would instantly die and not have children.

"Why are you even telling me this? You know that I will always give you the same answer: No." As He said this he turned and walked the opposite direction of the older man. Zuko walked out into the garden and sat by the turtle-duck pond, throwing bread crumbs for them to eat.

"Hey Zuko." Zuko turned around and found the Avatar and the Water Tribe siblings walk over to them. He turned his attention back to the pond.

"Hey." The sound of his voice made Katara frown. The gaang sat down around him before Katara spoke to him.

"Your sister..." This caused Zuko to flinch and looked at her. She and her brother sat on the right side of him as Aang sat on the left. "She's doing a lot better now." Zuko smiled at her in a thankful way.

Aang put a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "You should know that we will always be here for you. What's gotten you so sad?" Zuko sighed as he put a hand through his hair.

"It's-it... it's just about the whole marriage thing. I don't think I'm ready for it yet." Sokka's eyes widen at that point before falling into half lidded eyes as he hung his head low.

"We're in the same boat buddy." He turned his head and saw Zuko staring at him with eyes that used to be as wide as his. He furrowed his brows.

"Wait... you don't want to marry Suki? I thought you love her?" Zuko meant to say this in the nicest way possible but apparently Sokka still got hurt by this subject.

"No... I mean I do but she..."

"Oh."

"Yeah..." Sokka looked at the pond and smiled sadly. "She said that she wasn't ready for it. She still wanted to be able to run free, to help out people when they needed it and she didn't want to go back with me to the South Pole. I don't blame her. She probably has a lot on her mind and to tell you the truth, I don't even think we have a home. The South Pole is wrecked and... well, here I am: telling you this."

Zuko's has never seen him this sad since the time they left for the Boiling Rock. He offered Sokka a gentle smile as Sokka looked his way. "So Zuko, you think you're gonna get married? Just to shut them up?" Sokka waited for him to answer.

"I don't know, really. It's just too sudden I think."

"We all think so too Zuko. But I don't think they will settle down unless something is done about it." Zuko pondered on Aang's words.

"Katara, you said that my sister has been getting better right?" Zuko questioned her.

She nodded her head. "Um yeah. Why?"

Sokka's eyes widen. "Oh no. You aren't doing what I'm thinking you are doing are you?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "It depends on what you were thinking." He stood up and dusted off his clothes and walked away from the pond, heading towards the palace.

"You aren't asking Azula to rule the Fire Nation with you are you?" Sokka ran after Zuko leaving behind confused Aang and shocked Katara. Zuko stopped short making Sokka and the two bump into him.

"Ow! What is wrong with you-" Sokka was interrupted by Zuko.

"There's nothing else that I can do now. The only thing that I can do now is to let my sister rule the Fire Nation with me." He was facing them, anger apparent on his face.

Katara was in disbelief. "And you think that this is the right path?"

His face softened. "Honestly, I don't even know what to do. I just thought this was better than getting married. I'm not ready for that... I'm not ready to let her go yet." Katara let out a gasp. Aang decided that it was time for him to step in.

"Katara," Aang placed a hand on her shoulder as she looked up at him, tears in her eyes with hands over her mouth. "It's not that easy to let go of the one you love. Remember," He embraced her as she sobbed into his chest. "I had to let you go in order to open my seventh chakra, but I would choose you over anything. And when I got shot by lightning from Azula, you healed me. As much as we need each other, Zuko needs time for Toph too." She nodded against his chest.

Sokka and Zuko stood there awkwardly looking at the couple. "Well, this is pretty awkward." Sokka received a frown from Zuko at his lack for better words to say at the moment. "What? I don't know what else to say."

"Then don't say anything." This comment made Sokka frown. As they continued to stare at each other they heard a sniffle from Katara.

"He's right Zuko. You don't have to go with the marriage if you don't want to. It's your choice, not ours. And hopefully you will stay strong for Toph." She wiped her eyes. Zuko gave her a smile before pulling her into a hug.

"Thank you." She smiled as she felt Aang and Sokka sneak up behind them and joined in the hug.

I am so sorry for the long up date! but please, read and review because as much as you know you hate me, you want to read more so... REVIEW!

Also, I changed my writing style a little. I'd like to think that my writing skills improved. XD