Katara was relieved to have been right about the invite-only dinners. They had stopped as abruptly as Ozai's dinners for four in his bedroom had started. He had them at least twice a week.

He quickly made them all his Official Mistress. She saw it for the display of power it was. It asserted to everyone he had three women in his bed, and it also knocked her down in the hierarchy of the harem. She was now the fourth most powerful woman.

She didn't care for two reasons; one, she didn't need the harem to recognize her power in the end; he just didn't know that. Two, his three mistresses never went back to the harem once. He didn't learn that fact; he didn't care to ask them about how they spent their days. They spent time having new dresses made, eating rich exotic foods, and lounging about in the Fire Lord's suite of rooms. And they didn't have to go to the harem to soak in the hot spring there either. He had his own that they used a lot and often with him.

The few times Katara did run into them, they always showed her immense respect and appreciation. They were proud to be with the Fire Lord. They had all grown up incredibly poor in a remote village where everyone was struggling, and growing crops was hard work in the bad rocky soil. Now they lived with the ruler of the Fire Nation and had anything they wanted. They saw Katara as the one who gave them everything.

So Ozai got to be spiteful, and she maintained her power. And he was none the wiser for it. And now she had the wives coming on board with accepting her too.

They liked the abrupt end to those horrible dinner parties. And Katara soon found out they meant the end of trouble for that sweet young girl who admitted her heartache at that luncheon she crashed. Katara found out from the woman herself. Her husband had confessed what was happening when she confronted him and that he only used the harem for those dinners. His family expected him to rise to power, and he was working to do just that. He was true to his word. When the dinners stopped, so did he.

Katara had winked at the woman and asked, "want me to send the Madam to you? She's very knowledgeable about sex. You can ensure he isn't ever tempted to use the harem again." That got an enthusiastic yes from her.

As Katara walked away after asking the Madam to help the young wife, she was laughing. She was getting the whole palace laid. This one she was proud of though. She was helping a husband and wife.

Since she was already at the harem, she stayed and relaxed there and ate grapes. She looked around and smiled again. The drop in the number of bruises on the women there had been dramatic. Some men were still into that, but it was obvious to her that not many of them were.

She saw one woman hovering just at the corner of her line of sight. She turned and asked, "would you like to sit with me?"

The woman smiled hugely and moved quickly to join her. "Thank you for the honor!"

"I'm happy to get to know you," Katara replied.

"Still, it's so neat to get to talk to you. You made everything so much better for us. It matters a lot."

"I was pleased to be able to help everyone."

The woman darted her eyes around and lowered her voice. "I was hoping you would help me. I'm a mistress too…. Well, you don't know him. He's the younger brother to one of the councilmen. And he has this habit of making bets with his brother." Her voice got even quieter when she asked, "would you know who Zuko is going to challenge next to a sparring contest? They like to bet on that too."

Despite still wanting to put her in her place, Ozai was pleased with Katara. Zuko had explained to him that she had come up with the idea of the sparring contests against the council members. Well, actually, at first, Ozai was skeptical and annoyed, and then once Zuko won, he was delighted. Zuko hadn't lost yet; twice he was incredibly close to losing, but he succeeded in the end.

Katara smiled at her and whispered the name of the man he would spar with tomorrow. The morning of the Ball. She had told him he needed to make it good, so everyone was talking about it at the party. By the woman's gasp of shock, she knew he had succeeded. It would be his most interesting contest yet.

The woman whispered, "Bujing? The one Zuko thought he would be battling in Angi Kai until the Fire Lord came out?"

"Yes, which means his brother will think he's crazy for guessing him. Have him make a large wager."

"Me," the woman says, blushing. "I know you like this sort of thing, so I'll tell you. He wants to be allowed to keep me. He's going home soon." Katara knew that if you paid the harem monthly, you could take a woman with you. "He… he's good to me, and I love him. I would do anything for him."

Katara smiled, "and he loves you too, doesn't he?"

She nodded, "yes, he does. He's explained to his brother that he has no desire to marry. And his brother was severely displeased."

"Have him point out to his brother how easy it is here to have your family members take power from one another. And that while he has no desire to do that, he would be gambling with any potential nephews."

The woman burst out laughing. "You mean precisely what his brother did? His uncle was so shocked, and then he was dead."

"Exactly, have him remind his brother that he doesn't want to have started a new family tradition."

And while it was taking a long time for her to make friends with the current wives, Katara had a feeling she was already becoming friends with a future one.

Aya approached after the woman left. "That looked interesting," she commented, sitting next to Katara.

"What do you know about her?" Katara asked.

"Nothing of any substance. She's not here much; she has a bed to sleep in with a man that never bit her or struck her, which means he has no power. I'm guessing he's second born in a powerful family since he has use of the harem."

"Got it in one," Katara replied. "We'll learn more about what kind of woman she is. I told her who Zuko is challenging next. We'll soon know if she's going to use that information like she said she would or if it will be all over the palace by tonight."

"What did she want that for?"

"A bet. One her lover can make against his brother to get to keep something important."

"What is it?"

"Her."

Aya laughed. They both were fully aware that that meant that he would be happy to welcome Zuko as Fire Lord if he wanted to marry her in the end.

Aya then asked, "so how are the fuck-triplets?"

Katara laughed at her characterization of them. "They are still as happy as can be. They had a paddle made for Ozai to use on them, and apparently, he's thrilled. I think it's all disgusting, but it's changed this place," she said, indicating the harem.

"Fewer bruises," Aya replied. She then switched topics, "Azula still being a pain?"

"Yes." And this conversation has been planned out. They made sure they had the attention of everyone in the busy harem, and they weren't quiet. They knew that reports on Ozai's sex life were an interest to them all since it had such a profound effect on the harem. So that conversation had been to draw attention.

Aya nudged Katara, acting like she had to draw information out of her. "So, what is it?"

"Zuko just got a note from her. All it said was, 'come and try to take it from me. And don't bring your whore.' She won't leave Ba Sing Se even to come for her father's praise."

"What's he going to do?" Aya asked, faking shock.

Katara smiled, "Take it from her and bring his whore. He got permission to do just that from the Fire Lord last night –he was pleased."

"And," Katara said dramatically. "He is bringing Haru and you too. The Fire Lord agrees that he has a need for another powerful bender. Two against three sounds fair to me."

Aya didn't have to fake her shock at that. "Really?"

"Yeah, and Zuko asks that you appropriately reward Haru for being willing to help him defeat the trio." Laughing, Aya said, "I know just the thing."

Katara moved from the harem to the cave below the palace. Uncle had found books on waterbending, and she loved reading them whenever she had time. They were a huge help. They helped her discover three nights ago, with the full moon, that she was a Bloodbender.

She had read, fascinated that since her body had always cycled with the moon, like all Waterbenders, she could bloodbend herself when she would be ovulating during the full moon. She read it was even possible to keep yourself from ovulating subconsciously if you were a strong enough bender. And while she was worried over her fertility, she knew she really didn't want to get pregnant yet. It had been an enormous relief for her. She loved Zuko, even more when he shrugged and said that it was handy. He didn't even show the slightest sign of relief. He did remind her he was going to "suckle from her tits," though.

She read more about waterbending, and an hour later, Sokka walked up to her. They only ever spoke in the cave. They didn't want to be seen together. They didn't want people to figure out they were siblings.

"Uncle got me on the ship you all are taking."

As he sat down next to her, she replied, "that could be dangerous."

"Naw, I'm working in the engine room. You won't ever see me. He's telling Zuko that when we dock to pick me to go too, saying he needs someone to carry your things. No, one will want to carry a woman's bags around, so they will be relieved and move on."

"Tell me he's coming too."

"Of course. He's already packing his tea."

She laughed. "That would be his first priority."

"He claims drinking tea is the only thing that distinguishes us from the animals. It was part of a long speech that involved how it gave men aspirations and knowledge, and I eventually faked a choking fit and left."

Katara rolled her eyes. "You do realize he rambles on with you until you can't take it anymore. He makes it all up to get a reaction out of you. He finds your antics entertaining."

"Well, in that case, watch out. I'm going to put on such a good show for him! Think I can teach myself to puke without having to stick my finger down my throat?"

"You're an idiot," she said, chuckling.

That night Katara pampered Zuko. The man he was going up against was old, but he was a symbol, so the next day's challenge was significant. It was the closest he could get to threatening his father and showing that he could defeat the man had his father not replaced him.

She had reserved one of the royal hot springs all for them that night. There was food and cushions and oils too ready for them.

When he walked through the door to the private hot spring, she was in the water, waiting for him, wearing nothing but a smile. His cock was rock hard and he was stripping before he got two steps in.

He joined her in the water and caressed her body. "I love you in your element. It looks sexy on you," he said, ranking his eyes over her body.

"It looks good on you, too," she replied, her eyes locked on his cock.

She then said, "tonight, please let me pamper you. I want you loosened up and ready for your challenge tomorrow." She moved behind him and started rubbing his shoulders. "I want to make you feel so good. It feels fantastic to know I please you –you, the man that means the most to me in the world. You're my everything."

He closed his eyes, moaning at her touch. "You did it, you know. You healed the scars on my heart."

She wrapped her arms around him from behind and held him, and kissed his neck. "I'm so glad, my love."

He turned in her embrace and kissed her. "I'm going to give you a nation, but not the world. I'm giving that up and ending the war. Anything else in my power is yours."

She smiled and pulled him from the spring and had him lay face down on a soft flat table. She grabbed up a bottle of oil and poured some on him, and began rubbing it into his well-toned back. "Your love and your faithfulness. Those are the two things I want the most, and they are already mine. Next, I want to be the one to stand beside you, no matter where that is. I don't love a prince. I love a man who happens to be a prince. I would love you as a pauper too." She rubbed deep into his muscles, and he moaned.

She worked the oil into his skin, rubbing him down from neck to toes with trained hands. She had asked Kei for instructions and knew how it felt from experience. She then has him roll over. His erection was full and straining. "Well, hello to you too," she said teasingly. "Be patient. I'll get to you."

"He says he's excited," Zuko replied.

"I know. I can tell. He should be since he likes being in my mouth so much. Tell him he's my treat for giving you a good massage."

"Fuck Katara, I love the way you talk dirty to me."

Once she rubbed his front down with oil, all but his weeping impatient cock, she took it in her mouth, and he moaned out, cursing. His words changed to praises quickly. He had long given up trying to hold out long when she sucked him. He gave himself over to the blinding pleasure, and he was coming in hot spurts down her throat.

He laid there painting and said, "if my body were any more relaxed, I'd be dead."

"And the night has barely begun. May I feed you dinner as we lounge on cushions?"

"It would be my pleasure."

She winked at him, "good. Pleasure is the point, after all." She then fed them both dinner, and then she had him licking his dessert off her breasts.

They then went back into the hot spring to soak. And he held her body lovingly in his arms, and he was feeling truly at rest.

"It's weird," he said after they had been silent for about fifteen minutes. His hands were resting on her stomach as he held her from behind. "I should be relieved that you can get pregnant. I'm not. I don't know how to be a father. I have a horrible example in that area."

"My mother was killed when I was eight. My grandmother took on her role. Everything I know I learned from her, just like you learned from Uncle. You're not doing this all on your own. You still have a family to help you, Uncle, Sokka, and me." She leaned her head back on his shoulder. "You have zero references for being a good husband. And you are. We're married in everything but pledge and law. You are a loving, good man. You will be a great father. Plus, I wouldn't tolerate anything less. I just worry you will spoil the children."

"I could have that General executed. I know who killed your mom."

She sighed, knowing he was changing the subject because he struggled to believe her. "There was a time in my life I would have said yes. Now… now, with so much love in my life, hate can't live in my heart. And his death wouldn't bring her back. No. I don't want him killed." He loved that she didn't even question his ability to do that for her.

"So, tomorrow, you kick an old man's ass in a symbolic gesture. And I'll be waiting by waiting to give you your victory kiss as always."

His hands started roaming her body and teasing her nipples. "And then I get my victory rut. The one you always enjoy so very much."

"I loved being bent over your desk and getting rough fucked."

"I know. The councilman, two offices down, gave me a high five after the last time and asked me for pointers. He later assured me they were enthusiastically received by his wife."

He pulled her from the spring and laid her down on the cushions. He then grabbed the bottle of oil and poured some on her breasts. "My massage will be less inclusive but pleasurable." He then rubbed the oil into her breasts. "I love your big boobs. And oiled up, they are even better."

She rolled him to his back and sheathed his cock. "How's this then?" She asked, dangling them in his face. He nipped at her tit and sucked it in his mouth.

As she rode him, he moaned and said, "never. I never even wished to be even a fraction this happy. Ride me and never grow tired of me."

"Never," she vowed.

That night when they made it back to their room, he pulled out her mother's necklace, joined their right hands, and wrapped it around their wrists. "When I was traveling, I found out about this thing called handfasting. It's a way to marry in remote areas without an official. Please say you'll be mine."

That night they pledged themselves in marriage to each other.