a/n Well, this is it. It's the epilogue, the last post for this story. I can't believe how far we've come together. I have had an amazing time writing this story and reading your feedback. In a way, this was the hardest chapter to write because it's the end, the final note. But I knew it must be done and I am very sorry for making you wait so long to read it!

The time line does switch back and forth between "present" (10 years after the last chapter) and stuff that happened during the in between years. The flashbacks to the in between years are italicized. I hope that's not confusing… (it only happens twice I think). Anyways…here's the epilogue.

~Epilogue~

-10 Years Later-

The Summer Palace

-Katara-

The warm rays of the sun roused her from her peaceful sleep. His arms were around her just as they always were. She sighed contentedly and snuggled back in.
"Mhmm…" he murmured deep in his throat. "Good morning."
"Hmm, good morning to you too," she replied, smiling and reaching back to run her fingers in his hair. He had been keeping it just long enough to tie up because he knew she liked it shaggy.
"This is so nice," he said and pulled her closer.
"We better take advantage of it while we can."
"What are you suggesting?" he asked innocently as she turned to face him. Before she could reply, there were shrieks outside in the hallway and the door burst open. She didn't have to look to know who was there.
"Mom! Dad!" the twins called as they jumped onto the bed.
"Don't worry, my love," Zuko announced as he covered her body with his, "I'll protect you!"
"Nooooo!" the twins cried in protest as they tried to roll their father back over. All the while, she stared into Zuko's eyes and smiled broadly. It was hard to believe their two babies turned nine last season.

A little over 9 years earlier

"Have you picked names for the twins yet?" Suki asked as she lounged by a very pregnant Katara.
"Sort of…" Katara admitted with a shrug.
"Well you better decide soon," Toph said, "you're likely to pop any day now."
"We know, we know," Katara said dismissively. In truth, she had already found two names she really liked, but she hadn't talked them over with Zuko yet. They had both been so busy, he with spreading peace and restoring the Fire Nation's honor and she with being pregnant with twins. Up until she started to show, she had kept herself busy, helping Zuko, learning as much as she could from Yugoda, and trying to learn how to be Fire Lady from Lo and Li. (Out of all her tasks, the last one was the hardest.) "I'll talk to him…" the two girls gave her a doubtful glance, "I will!" Even Katara could admit her memory was not what it used to be. Yugoda promised her it was just the pregnancy.

That night as she tucked herself into Zuko's arms she remembered.
"Zuko?" she asked.
"Hmm?" he said sleepily and tried to put his arm around her swollen body.
"I've been thinking about baby names…" She felt him perk up.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah… Yugoda thinks there'll be one girl and one boy… So I thought Kysa for a girl and Akoh for a boy… What do you think? Are they dumb?"
"No, no, no," he assured her, "I like them a lot. They're unique. Are they… did you?" he paused to collect himself "Is Kysa…Kya and Ursa?"
"Yes," she whispered as she let him think through the names she'd presented.
"And…Akoh is Hakoda and…Iroh." His voice was filled with such awe and reverence her eyes started to mist.
"Yes," she choked out.
"Ka-katara…" He said, voice cracking as he buried his head in her hair. "Thank you," he whispered into her ear.

-present-

"Get up! Get up! Get up!" Akoh insisted, pouncing on them and Katara was brought back to the present. She laughed at her determined boy.
"Why Brother?" she asked, knowing perfectly well what day it was.
"Because!" He explained impatiently, "They're going to be here soon!"
"But who son?" Zuko asked, giving her a wink.
"Everyone!" Kysa squealed. "We gotta get ready to meet them!"
"I don't know Kysa…" Zuko said with fake reluctance, "Maybe I want to stay in bed with Mama?" He leaned closer to rub noses with Katara.
"Eww!" the twins cried together and scurried off the bed.
"Just promise to be up soon!" Akoh shouted over his shoulder as they fled. Katara and Zuko laughed as their children tore out of the room.
"Our son is very bossy," Katara said once the twins were gone.
"I wonder where he gets it from," Zuko remarked and earned a light smack on the arm. "Kidding!"
"No you weren't," she whispered as she smiled up at him.
"I was almost kidding," he whispered back now nose to nose with her. She was ridiculously in love with the man.
"Are you guys getting ready?" their son called from down the hallway, interrupting them. Zuko sighed and rested his forehead against hers.
"Be right out, Love," she called back. Zuko pretended to be disappointed, but she knew he was just as excited as his son for this day. Today the entire Gaang would be getting back together. With everyone spread throughout the world, they tried their best to keep in touch, but the pact they made to all visit the Summer Palace for the Summer Solstice was sometimes the only time she saw a few of them. Not only was it their annual reunion, but it was their 10th reunion. This also meant that in a few months it would be Zuko's and her 10th anniversary. Where had the time gone?

-Zuko-

As they stood on the dock waiting for their friends and family to arrive, he couldn't help but beam down at his little family. He loved them all so much. Akoh was the older twin, a waterbender, and usually tried to act serious, but he was the same smiling baby boy that had captured Zuko's heart. Kysa sometimes bounced off the walls in her excitement. She was a firebender and kept her emotions close to the surface, meaning she was always the first to cry and the first to laugh. Zuko knew from the moment he saw her he was wrapped around her little finger. Both of his children were so smart, compassionate, and loving. For those qualities, he knew he had Katara to thank. She was the best mother in the world to their two children. It had been hard at first, two hungry babies with opposite sleeping schedules. There were many sleepless nights with Akoh and sleepless mornings with Kysa. Yet, she insisted: no servants. After the first 4 days of no sleep and he finally convinced her to allow the family to help. Everyone had returned to the Fire Nation for the birth and were more than happy to pitch in. They managed to get through it as they'd done everything else, together. Reuniting at the Summer Palace was always a highlight of the year.

He felt Katara's arm snake around his waist.
"Hey you," she said softly, smiling. "What are you thinking about so hard?"
"Nothing," he replied with a shrug. Her eyebrow arched in disbelief, "I was just thinking about the two amazing kids you've raised." She grinned and hugged him fully.
"We," she corrected, "We are responsible for these kiddos."
"Yeah, I guess, but what about when they-," she elbowed him playfully in the side. "Okay, okay," he sighed and ruffled Akoh's hair, "They're pretty something." Akoh glanced up to give his father a slightly annoyed expression and went to straighten his hair when something caught his eye.
"I see them!" announced Akoh, pointing to a growing dot in the distance.
"And there's Uncle Sokka's ship!" cried Kysa a moment later.
"Which leaves…" he murmured as he scanned the skies.
"There," Katara said quietly and nudged his shoulder. He saw them, the outline of a sky bison all too familiar to Katara and him. Soon they'd all be together again.

When the air ship docked, the twins were bouncing with excitement. As the ramp lowered the outline of his sister and her husband grew. The pair waved awkwardly as they waited to disembark. When the ramp came fully down they stepped off onto the dock and the twins shot towards them.
"Auntie Azula!" they cried as they ran to meet her, nearly tackling her in the process.
"Hello munchkins!" she smiled and hugged them tightly, "Did you miss me?"
"Yes! Yes!"
"I missed you too! And I have someone who wants to meet you."
"Ooh!" Kysa squealed, turning and standing on tiptoe to see the small bundle in her uncle's arms. "Is that our new cousin Uncle Lee?"
"Uh-huh," he replied and got down on his knee. "Kysa and Akoh, meet your new cousin Izumi."

Not wanting to overwhelm his sister and her husband completely, Katara and he hung back for a moment; however, as soon as he caught a glimpse of his new niece he started towards them.
"Hi Zuzu," Azula greeted affectionately and threw her arms around his neck. He smiled and hugged her. As soon as he let go, Katara took his place.
"Motherhood suits you Azula," he heard Katara whisper. Azula's shy smile told him just how flattered she felt.
"I have no idea what I'm doing half the time," she admitted with a laugh as they let go.
"Neither do I," Katara replied conspiratorially before turning to Lee and Izumi. "Hi there," Katara cooed. The little girl had her mother's nose and a dark matte of hair on her head.
"You can hold her, if you'd like to," Lee said. Katara smiled.
"I'd love to," she replied and gently folded Izumi into her arms. "She has your chin," Katara remarked.
"Can I see? Can I see?" begged Kysa. Katara smiled and wearily crouched down. "She has Auntie's nose though," Kysa decided after close observation.
"Hmm…I suppose you're right." She replied absentmindedly. Zuko couldn't help but think how natural Katara looked with a baby in her arms. By her distracted tone, he guessed she was thinking along the same lines. It was a sad thought and one he quickly pushed away when he felt a tap on his hand.
"Dad?" Akoh asked.
"Yeah Son?" He replied.
"Can I show them my birthday present from you and mom?" Katara and he had given their son Katara's old waterbending scroll, the one she had stolen so long ago.
"Why don't you wait until after everyone gets here? It won't be long now."
"Okay," Akoh agreed, "Then I can show Uncle Aang too!"
"That reminds me Munchkins," Azula said and she instantly had both twins' attention. "Happy Belated Birthday you two!" she cried and pulled two hand-sized boxes from her robes, "I'm sorry we didn't make it to your birthday party."
"That's okay!" they replied with a smile and quickly took the presents, "Thank you!" Zuko leaned over to see inside the small packages.
"They're called 'Pop Rocks,'" Azula explained, "Try one, they're candy." The twins each put a few pieces of the small candy into their mouths. Their curious expressions suddenly broke into smiles and giggles when the candy started snapping in their mouths. They squealed and quickly ate some more.

Katara handed Izumi to Azula and the two became wrapped in conversation. Sans baby, Lee came up to Zuko and they shook hands.
"Congrats on the baby, again Lee," Zuko said, clapping the man on the back. It had taken four years of marriage for Lee to convince Azula they were ready for a baby. "Or should I say 'Admiral Huynh?'"
"Ha!" Lee smiled, "I'm only admiral thanks to you."
"We both know that's not true," Zuko replied, "You have always been a very capable man; rising to corporal under the previous Fire Lord couldn't have been easy."
"Hmm," Lee said in mock thoughtfulness, "Well it was easier than getting Azula to agree to marry me."
"Oh don't start with that again," Azula groaned, obviously hearing what her husband had said over her conversation with Katara.
"Hey! You're the one who made me wait five years before you decided to say 'yes.'"
"But was it worth the wait?" Azula asked with a twinkle in her amber eyes.
"Absolutely," Lee whispered and wrapped his arms around her and their little girl. The two of them had come along ways as a couple in ten years. Lee had been the corporal who helped escort Ozai to prison long ago. Lee had been bold, persistent, and thoughtful, but not at first openly affectionate; like any man (especially one in the army) he had troubles articulating his feelings. After he began falling in love with Azula, things changed and Zuko couldn't help but think they changed for the better.

-Katara-

"Uncle Sokka! Auntie Suki!" her twins suddenly cried and the four adults turned to see the traditional Water Tribe boat being tied to the dock by a familiar man with a ponytail. Katara smiled and sighed contentedly. She had missed her brother and sister-in-law.

As she approached, she watched Sokka pick up the twins in turn and spin them around. Suki laughed from her spot still aboard the ship.
"Oh!" Sokka said and quickly sat Kysa down, "Here, let me help you dear." Despite Suki's protests, instead of helping her onto the dock, he picked her up and swung her around.
"Ah! Sokka!" Suki laughed and lightly smacked his chest once he put her down. Then she turned her attention to the twins. "Hey kiddos!" Suki was so good with the twins, it was very sad she and Sokka were unable to have one of their own yet.

Only a few moments into their reunion, the final members arrived on the beach with a thump.
"Uncle Aang! Aunt Toph!" the twins screeched. With all this yelling it's a wonder they can still talk she thought, but smiled anyways and everyone quickly followed the twins onto the sand. What followed next was quick hugs and peals of laughter.
"It's good to see you again Toph," Katara said as she hugged the woman.
"It's nice to see you too Sugar Queen," replied Toph with a smile. "You too Fan Girl," Toph paused for a moment and smiled, "or should I say-."
"Uh-uh-uh! No," Suki quickly interrupted. "You don't get to ruin our big news."
"What news?" Aang asked, looking up from Izumi. Suki smiled and laced her fingers with Sokka's. Katara guessed it before the words left Sokka's mouth.
"We're pregnant!" he announced, grinning from ear to ear. Everyone cheered and went to hug the couple once more.
"I think I can speak for all of us," Toph said, "When I say, 'it's about time!'" Everybody laughed.
"Does this mean we'll have another cousin?" asked Kysa excitedly. Suki nodded happily. "Hurrah! We went from having no cousins to two just like that!"
"Well…it probably won't be until early spring…, but yes," Sokka agreed. Her brother was finally going to be a father. She knew he and Suki always wanted children and they were going to be excellent parents. It had really upset her when Suki told her they'd been unable to conceive. Especially since it appeared Katara's own baby-making days were behind her. She caught Zuko's cloudy stare and knew they were both thinking about the same thing.

Four years after the twins were born they decided to start trying for another baby. Until then, Katara had been drinking a special tea she and Yugoda had discovered to prevent pregnancy. Not long after they started trying, Katara became pregnant. They were so excited. Both Zuko and she glowed with pride. Then half way through her first trimester, she hadn't felt very well and went to go lie down… All she remembered next was the blood. It was everywhere. She didn't remember staggering around or collapsing to the floor. All she could think was No! Why? Why? Why?

-Zuko-

He was truly happy for Suki and Sokka, but it came with a painful reminder. He watched Katara's eyes gloss over and he could tell she was thinking about the same day. It had been almost exactly 5 years since she had a miscarriage and they lost their baby. He remembered hearing her scream and found her on the floor wailing and covered in blood.

It had been the most difficult time of their entire marriage. The days after the miscarriage she became deeply depressed. She pushed him away. He hadn't known what to do. At first, he gave her the space she needed to grieve. Uncle watched the twins with Azula while Katara and he tried to work through their loss. He was devastated and heartbroken too, but it had to have been nothing compared to her. After the third day, she had hardly eaten or come out of the room and he knew leaving her alone wasn't going to be an option.

6 years earlier

He knocked out of habit, not expecting a reply he went in anyways. The maids had quickly washed away all physical traces of their loss, but the heavy feeling in the room was still there. She lay on their bed curled into a tight ball on top of the covers. He closed the door and moved slowly to the bedside.
"Hi," he said softly, but she didn't respond. He crawled onto the bed and tentatively put a hand on her shoulder. She froze and he fought the urge to withdraw. "Shhh… it's okay." He said soothingly as he ran his hand the length of her arm, "It's just me. You're okay. It's okay." He was surprised when she spoke.
"No," she croaked, her voice dry, "It's not."
"It will be okay Katara. I promise." She didn't seem to hear him as she continued to talk.
"I'm so sorry Zuko. I'm so sorry. So sorry," her voice became muffled with tears. He wished he could see her face, banish the anguish that must be on it.
"It wasn't your fault Katara."
"How do you know?" she asked with a slight accusatory note, "I must have done something wrong. Maybe I mixed up my morning tea. Maybe I should have…" He couldn't listen to her go on. It was tearing at his heart. He pulled her into his arms.
"Shhh…" he soothed as she tried to wriggle out of his grasp.
"No… no… Zu-ko… no," with each syllable she fought less and her voice broke.
"Shhh… I've got you. It'll be okay." She shook her head slightly.
"Why Zuko?" she whispered, wrecked, defeated. He didn't know why it had happened. He only hoped they could get through it.
"I don't know," he said honestly, "I guess it wasn't meant to be. I'm so sorry though. You would have been an excellent mother to him or her. Shhh…it's going to be okay," Her breathing slowly began to normalize and he sighed with relief. "I missed you," he whispered into her hair. "The twins missed you too."
"What did you tell them?" she asked quickly, flipping around to look at him, "They must hate me." She added quietly.
"No, never. They just miss seeing you."
"What about you?"
"Did I miss seeing you? Of course, you're-"
"No, I mean… Do you hate me?"
"Katara," he said sternly making sure he had her complete attention, "It wasn't your fault and I could never hate you. I. Love. You. and I always will."
"I love you too," she whispered and put her soft lips on his.

-present-

In the end, they became stronger as a couple and as a family. Every moment was cherished and every day a blessing.
"Well, if we're sharing news…" Toph said, snapping Zuko back to the present. "I have some too…" Everyone looked at her and Aang, eyes wide. Really? Had they? The two of them had been on again off again for years, each claiming to need time to focus on 'work.' No matter their differences, they always showed up at the reunion together and the twins had always called them Aunt and Uncle. "My Metal Bedding School just graduated its seventh class." Toph said proudly. Although the news was exciting, everyone groaned. She laughed. "Oh and I may or may not be engaged." This time everyone gasped.
"We thought you were already married to Uncle Aang." Akoh said and Kysa nodded, the two clearly confused. Everyone laughed, Toph loudest of all.
"So does half the world," she joked through her laughter, "but good ol' Twinkle Toes here likes to take things slow."
"Hey!" Aang objected, "I got there in the end."
"Yes," Toph smiled, "I suppose we were both reluctant to listen to old spirit no-name, but in the end it seems like everything worked out." Toph's words wrung true of the near decade since the end of the war. Despite the ups and downs, everyone seemed to have found their place in the world. Sokka was a councilman for the Southern Tribe. Suki was teaching self-defense and was soon to be a mother. Azula had adjusted to life as a married woman and mother. Her husband Lee was rising through military ranks, yet intent on peace. Toph had her metalbending school and was soon to be married. As for Aang, he had kept busy spreading peace and working with all the nations to build a city tentatively named Republic City. Yes, Zuko thought, things are definitely working out.

-Katara-

It had been an amazing day catching up with everyone. She didn't see any of them nearly enough, but that just made their reunions so much sweeter. Together they filled the Summer Palace with talking and laughter, just like old times. Tomorrow they'd go into town to watch the Ember Island Players butcher another play. It was part of their tradition along with playing on the beach and making sand sculptures. It was the small things she loved sharing with her twins the most.

The sun was just about to set when Azula and Suki convinced Zuko and her to take a walk.
"Go on, get out of here," Azula said with a one-handed shooing motion, Izumi asleep in her other arm.
"We've got the twins," Suki added, "I'm sure Uncle Sokka won't mind playing hide-and-seek some more."
"It really isn't fair!" Sokka complained exaggeratedly, "They're twins! Of course they know where the other is hiding!"
"Come on Sokka," Lee grinned, "I'm sure you and I can come up with a tactic to beat them."
"See," Suki said, "Taken care of. Now go." With that, Zuko and Katara were practically shoved out the door.
"She's going to make a great Mom," Katara said once the door closed behind them.
"Yeah, I'm happy for them," he agreed, "You make a pretty great mom too by the way." She smiled dopily and nudged his shoulder.
"Come on, let's go watch the sunset from our dock." She put her hand in his and they headed down the trail to the beach, the place where they first fought and first fell in love.

Legs dangling off the edge of the pier, they watched the sun sink lower into the ocean together.
"It's so beautiful here," she said as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Hmm, I have to agree, I love the view," he replied. She twisted her head up to see him looking at her instead of the waters. She wanted to retort and call him a sap, but her heart turned to goo.
"Well," she sighed, staring into his lovely face, "this view is pretty great too." He smiled and kissed the top of her hair.
"I love you Katara," he whispered. He had said it countless times, but each time her heart skipped a beat.
"I love you too Zuko," she replied and snuggled into his side to watch the sunset.

In that moment, she was perfectly happy. She had a great husband, kids, family, and friends. She always loved returning to the Summer Palace and felt so lucky to be able to share this place with her twins. After everything that happened through the years, they always had this special place. Of course, it held extra meaning for Zuko and Katara. It was a symbol of their love. After all, it started at the summer palace.

a/n
This concludes It Started at the Summer Palace. Thank you so much for reading and supporting me along the way. I hoped you all enjoyed a peek into Katara's and Zuko's later lives (and the lives of their family and friends). This epilogue held some Zutara heartache, but the events just made them stronger. The two of them have survived so much together and their love is eternal (now if only it was cannon).

Again, thank you for reading and I hope to hear what you thought of the epilogue (and this story) in a review.

-ohmyyyfanfiction

P.S. You'll be hearing from me again in a month or so with a new story