"She's completely insane!" Katara said.

"Nah, she's normal. ish." Zuko had kind of tuned out of the conversation at this point. Katara had been complaining for a while. They were currently taking a walk through the palace garden.

"She threatened to kill us, that's not crazy to you?"

"Now that I can believe. May I ask why she threatened you?"

"I told Sokka he needed to spend some time away from her. Then I..."

Zuko stopped here. "Yea, I don't need to hear the rest. Bad idea."

"You sound just like Sokka. You're just going to accept that she threatened the Avatar's life?"

The fact that she failed to see the parallels was comical. "Katara, you threatened to end my life if I so much as looked at Aang the wrong way when I first joined the group."

Katara blushed in embarrassment, her feelings for Aang were obvious even then. "That was different."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." He ignored Katara's scowling face. "Moving on, it's a bad idea because they love each other. Deeply. He loves her more than Suki and Yue."

"How can he love…..that."

"Sokka took the time to look past her as just a major antagonist in his life and viewed her as a actual person. I'm sure he explained that fact the second you said anything wretched about Azula."

"Has this happened a few times or something?"

"Possibly. Anyway my point is nothing on this planet is going to break them apart. I honestly believe Sokka is the first person Azula loved outside of minor familial obligation."

"Sokka feels the same way?"

"He strongly implied that if I went behind his back and locked Azula back up without a very good reason they would both go into hiding to never be found."

She really didn't think he felt that strongly about Suki. That's an entirely new level of dedication. "So you suggest I sit here and do nothing?"

Zuko placed a hand on her shoulder. "No, I'm suggesting you be supportive since he's truly happy for the first time in a long time, and it looks like it could last. He also has a friend that is glad his sister is doing better mentally."

Katara once again felt guilty. She never asked about how Sokka was feeling or his radar on Azula, she jumped to the worst case scenario. Sokka has never been a fool. Azula was also right, he provides her no benefit. "Are you sure there's no possible angle Azula could have by being in a relationship with him?"

"Are you suggesting the Azula I told you stories about would bed a water tribesman just to get out of an asylum slightly faster than she could have by acting sane?"

"I get it." There was a rather large lull in the conversation. Katara came to terms with what was happening and tried her best to understand. "What have they been like together?"

Zuko pondered her question for a few seconds before his reply. "I would sum the up as affectionate and efficient. They are both driven tacticians so any assignment I give them both is done quickly and well. Some of the ideas they come up with are also revolutionary."

"And how do you know their level of affection? They don't try to hide it from you?"

"They don't bother hiding it from anyone. She's crown princess and he's adviser to the firelord. No one would dare comment on it. They are a very powerful couple."

"I still don't get why that means they have to do everything in front of her older brother."

"Azula said something about Sokka giving his word about loving her as much as he wants. I thought she misspoke at the time since she isn't exactly astounding socially, I was wrong."

Katara flashed back to how much he fawned over Suki. "Does he give her as much attention as he gave Suki? I'm surprised she puts up with that."

"He actually gives Azula more attention. She does not simply put up with his attention, she adores it. If she is feeling weak he lifts her up, if she hates herself at that moment he loves her until she loves herself, he makes sure she never feels alone or hurt for any extended period of time."

"They actually sound like a really cute couple, if Azula wasn't evil."

Zuko shook his head and laughed. "The evilness creeps up now and again, you'll see his routine for that. You'll either find it cute or funny. I find it amusing personally."

"He controls her evil?"

"I would say so, although I don't think he's doing it on purpose. He just thinks it's so cute that he has to shower her in affection, she kind of loses track of things after that. She's probably realized it by now and accepted her fate."

"So you're really okay with one of your best friends dating your evil sister?"

"It doesn't matter if I'm okay with it. I can be okay with it and have my sister back in the best condition of her life along with a best friend and adviser, or I can have neither. I weighed my options. I also could have stopped him before he ever went to the asylum to help her but on some level buried deep down I wanted her to become healthy again. For the record, I am okay with it. If they're happy I'm happy. That's all that matters."

She really was trying to see things from their perspective but..."All I can see when I look at her is the crazy girl that killed Aang in cold blood. I don't know how to change that."

"I have an idea."

The next evening

"You cannot be serious."

"Hey Azula said the same thing the first time we fought in here!." Sokka said to Katara.

Azula, Sokka, Katara, Zuko, and Aang were within the agni kai chamber preparing for a spar. Zuko thought it would be a good bonding opportunity for some reason. The teams were Katara and Zuko vs Azula and Sokka. Katara scoffed at the notion that Azula even needed a teammate.

"You want to give the most dangerous girl on the face of the planet the chance to kill us?"

Zuko was stretching out his arms, he hadn't had a good spar in over a week. "Well, if she doesn't kill you then you'll trust her more."

Katara was trying as hard as possible to not slap him. "Zuko, that is literally the bare minimum to being a human being."

"I will try my best to not kill you and reduce your corpse to ashes." Azula said flatly. Katara's face contorted into one of disgust.

Sokka kissed her on top of her head. "She's joking. Her jokes are just terrible. You'll adjust."

"Zuko what even happens if she kills you?"

"Well she's crown princess so short of some kind of civil war stirred up by my uncle she would become firelord I guess."

Katara was dumbfounded, did he really have no issue with this? Apparently Aang didn't. He was talking like an announcer at one of Toph's matches with a giant dumb smile on his face. "I want a good clean fight, but I want action." He animated some explosions and what Katara thought was smoke. He pointed to a small water trough that was brought in for her since they didn't think it would be fair for her to only have a bottle or two of water to use. Aang provided them with two minutes to form battle strategies.

Zuko gave Katara a serious look. "Come at them like you're trying to kill them."

Katara frowned. "I'm not going to hurt my brother."

"You haven't seen him fight over the past year and a half so you likely don't now, but he's on another level now. Azula is also back in her old form, maybe better. If you aren't serious we will lose. I'm stronger than Azula or Sokka individually but..."

"You can't handle both of them."

"This planning time is also mostly meaningless to us, but Sokka and Azula are some rather skilled tacticians so it could be bad."

"You just said you were stronger than Azula." Katara inquired.

"Strength isn't the only deciding factor in a fight Katara. Otherwise your brother wouldn't have had the biggest rap sheet out of the entire Gaang as you all like to call it."

"You all can start now." Aang said with a dumb grin.

Sokka and Zuko both held back their partners for a few seconds. "You know what Katara being here means right?" Zuko smirked.

Sokka cracked his knuckles and smirked as well. "Yeah, we have a healer on deck, so I don't have to hold back while kicking your ass."

Katara found Zuko's smile almost unsettling given his usual demeanor. After their short conversation Zuko pulled his hand from in front of Katara while grabbing his swords, he then shot a giant wall of fire. Sokka stood in place but Azula pushed forward and created a rather impressive wall herself. Katara took one second to think about what she could do with her water to help but then someone came crashing through the wall of fire from the air and a foot was planted in Zuko's chest.

"Zuko!" Katara looked from Zuko trying to pick himself up to her brother standing over him. Don't underestimate her brother in combat now, got it. She didn't have much time to admire him before she had to dance away from a fireball being shot at her feet.

"You should be worrying about yourself misses avatar." Azula said before racing towards Katara.

Katara knew she couldn't keep up with either of them in close combat so she grabbed a large amount of water from the trough to help maintain some distance. "Sokka and Azula are both smiling, how many of my moves do they have planned out?" Katara and Azula entered their usual dance of differing elements.

Sokka lent Zuko a playful hand back up. "You need some help man? Seems like you're having some trouble breathing."

Zuko spurned his help. "I'm not done yet water boy." Zuko lifted his swords to show he was ready but posed a question as they began their swordfight. "How did you get through the fire? You're barely sweating."

After a parry Sokka replied. "As we both know Azula's fire is a little hotter than yours. Made some improvements to my armor. "

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Not like it matters anymore."

"What are you..." Before he could finish his question Sokka was jumping over his head. He had pushed the swordfight rather close to Katara. What could he possibly do with such a small advantage though? Zuko's eyes widened in realization. "Katara look out!"

She tried to peer behind her but she was too slow, soon she felt something grip her shoulder for a split second, then her bending failed. This was not good. Sokka landed in a crouched position next to Azula and they nodded at each other. Zuko had no time to think of a countermeasure before they hit enough pressure points to disable most of her bending. they turned with evil smirks to Zuko after he created a wall of fire to separate them from Katara which caused him to take a step back.

"You taught my sister Chi blocking!?" He slashed at Azula with a downward strike from both swords but she blocked them with her armguards, he knew the fight was finished when he felt Sokka's presence behind him. Soon his pressure points were also pressed. His swords dramatically dropped and clanged to the ground.

"Hey, give her some credit. She's been looking at Ty Lee's combat style for years. I just made some minor corrections."

Leaving Zuko in a fallen heap they turned to Katara who was struggling to stand. They knew for a fact she should be incapable of fighting back for a while so they simply walked up to her and with two simultaneous blows caused her to crumple. Katara was left spread eagle non the floor able to see but unable to move. Azula and Sokka stood over her. A sword was plunged to the right of her head and a fireball landed to the left of it. They turned to Aang.

"Uh, team Blue fire wins." He said nervously.

Azula smiled brightly while lighting every torch in the room with her trademark color. "Yes! We have defeated you for all time! You will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation!"

That was the EXACT Azula Aang remembered and he felt a strong urge to run for his life, however he stopped himself. She hadn't done anything yet. He had to stay calm.

Sokka came behind Azula and hugged her midsection while kissing her cheek. "How are you so cute?"

"Will you stop? I am basking in the glory of their ignominious defeat."

Sokka turned her around and gripped both sides of her waist. "No can do princess, Especially when you have cute moments like that." He came down a little to plant a peck kiss on her lips. Azula sighed, she had once again been defeated by the sweetness of the fool. She tiptoed up and gave a much more passionate kiss back.

Aang was enjoying viewing their tender embrace. Katara, not so much. Katara did not find it as amusing as Zuko apparently did. "If you're going to torture me then please, just kill me."

Dinner

Dinner was an awkward experience for Katara and Aang. Zuko, Sokka, and Azula were cracking jokes as if that sparring match was a common occurrence. Really it was hard for Katara and even Aang to believe that she willingly submitted to just being a princess, and that she enjoyed being part of one happy family with Zuko and Sokka.

Katara needed answers, even if they lead to more questions. "Azula…."

"Unless you plan to take Sokka you need not fear me, speak your mind."

Katara noticed that she made sure to accentuate the don't take Sokka point and decided to refrain from anything even approaching that subject. She didn't say she couldn't ask crude questions though. "Why are you not trying to kill Zuko? When you weren't chasing us you were chasing him last year."

"Why am I not attempting to kill the most powerful current firebender, my brother, who happens to be in a position that would allow him to throw me into a cell so deep underground that no one would ever find me again?"

Katara's eye's shied away at her answer. It really was a stupid question if you put any thought into it.

"I will provide you the answer you are actually looking for. I was ordered by my father to chase you and Zuko. He banished his firstborn son simply for being weak emotionally. What would he do to a daughter that had no direct line to the throne for clear disobedience?" Katara looked at Zuko's scar as the mood within the room grew more somber and quiet. Azula did not allow anyone else to interrupt her. "My brother allowed Sokka to enter my life with open arms and he has never tried to wrong me. If I wished to kill family there are others in much more deserving positions I could start with."

Azula's eyes glazed over at her last words and Sokka pulled her into his lap. It was clear from her tone she was not simply talking about Ozai.

"Azula you know our mother was banished…."

"And yet she chose not to return when our father was imprisoned and her favorite child took the throne."

"Azula she loved us both..."

Azula smirked but her eyes clearly showed pain. "Loved us enough to not return. Likely after starting a new family and realizing neither of her old children were worth the trouble."

Azula was pulled even further back and he began to whisper in her ear. "My princess. I will always be here for you. I love you." She began to calm down as more sweet nothings were whispered in her ear.

Zuko turned his attention to Katara. "Me and Iroh are the only family she has, and she only tolerates him due to some massively differing philosophies. I forgave her for chasing me already. We both thought we had no choice back then. I only realized I had one because I had someone helping me the entire time. Azula only got someone to help her a few months ago. I wont say she doesn't still act like Azula since I'm doubting that will ever change, but I will say if you give her a chance you might realize you don't need to fear for your life around her or scheme to get your brother away from her clutches."

"It's not like she'd succeed." Azula said with a smirk.

"Done getting pampered over there princess." Katara said with a hint of disdain.

"My Sokka is never finished pampering me," Azula turned and gave Sokka the most sensual and slow peck possible. "something I am eternally grateful for."

Katara rolled her eyes. Aang loved giver her affection but these two were just too much.

Aang noticing the mood lightened a bit started complimenting them on their strategy. "You two were amazing during the fight by the way. I can't believe you planned all of that out in two minutes."

"Well, we did get the brains in our respective families. It wasn't too hard to analyze their obvious strategies and provide countermeasures."

Sokka chuckled for a few seconds before his butt felt a little hot and he had to pat the flames off. "Dude why do you always go for me when she insults you!"

"You enable her, and hurting you hurts her."

"And Katara calls Azula evil."

"Actually that's not a terrible idea Zuko. I just need enough water to freeze him."

Sokka's eye twitched but surprisingly Azula comforted him. "Don't worry, I can kiss your burn mark later and make it better." Azula admired her handiwork as both of their siblings had looks of pure disgust. It grew as they saw Sokka reaching under her.

"Sokka, I know you gave your word and all but you don't have to grope her in public like this. She is still of royal blood. Come on." Zuko simply wanted whatever they were doing to end.

"Brother, he is simply showing the bond of two nations." Azula's smirk didn't just border on evil, it significantly passed the line.

Sokka rolled his eyes. "I'm just searching my pocket for something. Ah, here it is."

Everyone figured it was something stupid and resumed eating besides Azula as he would not let her move from his lap. She didn't seem to mind. After a few quiet moments Azula questioned Sokka as she was confused.

"What are you putting on me? It's not like Ty Lee's."

The other three looked up and dropped their utensils. He could not be serious, he was not doing this now. He was clasping the back of a black leather choker style necklace to her, it had a gold circular pendant dangling from the center with a fire nation insignia.

Sokka finally let her down, only to hold her hands as soon as she turned to him. He ignored the wide open mouths of the others. "You can probably tell it's a necklace but it's not like anything the fire nation has. It bears a special meaning in the south."

Azula cocked her head while maintaining their gaze, she had only studied their combat and culture at large, she never went into things of this level.

"So earlier in the meal I was reminded of why I wanted to give it to you. Most of your family, friends, and associates used or left you. You've never known unconditional unwavering love. I know it's only been half a year but I've never been more sure of anything in my life. "

Azula grew even more confused. "You already gave your word that you would not leave my side at the asylum."

Sokka knew he was going to have to blurt it out for her to understand but he was scared. "Well, this is an extension of that promise. It's a betrothal necklace." Sokka saw she had no reaction and continued to explain out of nervousness. "If you don't agree that you wish to be my wife you can shove it back into my hands and it's nothing personal. I'll just ask again in a few months or years. If you do accept them just leave it on to let others know you are spoken for."

Sokka closed his eyes and held a palm up, prepared for her to gently place it in his hand. He took a peek when he heard movement and as soon as his eyes were open she joined her lips with his. "I accept your proposal, we will dominate the earth." Katara groaned as Sokka pulled Azula into a more loving embrace due to her cute evil moment,

Writing this always gives me butterflies. I hope you all enjoy the chapter. Check my profile for links to follow and/or support me. Sokkla4life