Last Serenade

by AnumOfTheMoon

Sequel to Second Chances ...When not even death can separate them, Ozai and Katara try focusing on their children's needs but does that mean they'll be together. Or will Ozai decide his happiness lies elsewhere? Can they defeat Atsou with their hearts so heavy? And will they find peace at the end of this foreboding endgame? Only time will tell.

28. Chapter 28

A/N:

I'm back!

Chapter 24:

"I mean it, I truly do." Tarlok chuckled as he dined with his fellow councilmember.

Katara giggled at the flattery of Councilman Tarlok. "I'd be careful what you say around me, Tarlok. My husband has a habit of checking in on me."

Smirking, "I wouldn't dare compete with such a man. Though, I would like to meet him. I've only ever seen him at a distance."

"I assure you, that's as close as you want to get to him." Katara told him how her husband put on a good show for everyone but he was still not very friendly in private. A few people learned that very quickly when meeting him more formally.

Tarlok noted that and after paying for their lunch, he offered to take her home. She was just about to accept the offer when a black portal opened up on the side of the road beside them. She watched her fellow councilmember jump back in fear as her husband stepped through it. Katara watched his scowl go from her to the man behind her.

"Who's the Northern roach behind you?" Ozai asked.

Folding her arms, "Ozai, stop it. You know the Northern Tribe is a lot different than it used to be."

Ozai sucked his teeth, "As far I know they're all just spineless men that hide behind their walls and torture women for being better than them."

Tarlok could definitely see what Lady Mizuki meant when she said her husband was not actually friendly but put on an act for the public. This man just radiated dark energy and despite him being a firebender with gold eyes, his gaze was as cold as ice. Raising a brow as he noticed the man's eyes change colors.

"Did your eyes just change colors?" Tarlok spoke up from his frightened state due to his overwhelming curiosity.

Ozai narrowed his eyes at him about to say something until his wife cut him off.

"It happens sometimes." Katara stated. "He's a little weird."

"I'm only weird because everyone as is such a drag." Ozai rolled his eyes. "Introduce us, dear."

Having to biting back her annoyance with her husband, "Ozai, this is Councilman Tarlok, Representative of the Northern Water Tribe. Tarlok, this is my husband, Chairman of Future Industries."

Tarlok held his hand out to formly greet the chairman, "It is good to formally meet, Chairman Yong."

Ozai looked at the man's hand and then back to the man to raise a brow.

Sighing, "Forgive him, Tarlok, but my husband doesn't bow, shake, or anything that requires him to physically greet someone he doesn't know or want to know. He feels above everyone."

Chuckling at this as he retracted his hand, "Well, I can't blame him. The man is practically a god living amongst mortals. I feel many would have the same approach."

Ozai scoffed, "You're just a kiss ass, aren't you? That buttering up shit is my wife's thing. It doesn't work on me."

Katara punched him in the gut as she looked to Tarlok and apologized for her husband's rudeness. Tarlok chuckled and expressed finding him refreshing from the fake persona of many others in the city. The two councilmembers agreed that they'd see each other at the next council meeting in a week's time before parting ways. As she waved goodbye to him, Katara was pulled through a black portal with her husband and found herself back at their mansion in his cigar room.

"Ozai! What is your problem?! Why are you trying so hard to embarrass me with your rudeness?!" Katara shouted as her husband opened his case of cigars and selected one before cutting and lighting it up.

Smoking the cigar as it rested between his fingers, "I told you I don't approve of your decision to be a councilwoman and meddle in the affairs of the humans."

"Humans?! Ozai, why do you talk of them like we weren't once just like them?! Why do you insist on looking down on them?! Hiroshi and Asami are humans! Do you look down on them?!" Katara snapped at him.

Staring coldly at his wife, "I love my son and granddaughter, that is not to say they are on equal grounds with me or the rest of this family. Hiroshi has the option to be like us but he has chosen to be mortal. So, he will eventually whither into dust like all those we knew over the years that weren't like us. I will offer it to Asami at her next birthday party as she will be nineteen and I feel that's the perfect age to stop aging. If she refuses, well…she'll be just like her father. Lost to time as dust."

Katara lost it and stormed up to him, slapping him dead in his face. So hard that his cigar hit the floor and he stumbled to the side. He lifted his head and looked at her before a vicious look came upon his features. She was grabbed by her throat as her husband's eyes turned red. Katara, unphased, had her eyes glow in return but beknowsted to her, her eyes were no longer blue but purple. Ozai saw this and calmed down a little as he was more thrilled than angry. He put her down and backed away from her.

"You win, dear. That was very cold of me. I'll work on it." Ozai said in that tone he used when he was just being agreeable for the sake of not fighting.

Scowling at him as she shook her head, "You might be immortal, Ozai, but you're no god. Remember that."

"Oh I know, sweetheart." Ozai smirked at her. "I'm a little more of a devil."

"No," Katara's hard gaze didn't let up. "You are the devil and you always have been, Ozai. Since the day I met you. Only difference is you learned how to put on an act and everyone's fooled, but not me. I've never been fooled by you, Ozai. I've always known what you are. I just chose to love you in spite of that."

Ozai rolled his eyes as he reached down to get his cigar and relight it, smoking it a little before he replied. "Whatever, Katara. Do what you want and how you like. Just know that to the humans, you're no different than I am. You're no saint, darling."

…

A few weeks went by and Katara was very happy with how much she was able to do as a councilwoman. She started campaigns for charities towards communities that were poverty stricken as well as help with orphans. It was her goal to improve the quality of life those that lived in the city that she and her friends and family built together. She felt more fulfilled than she had in a long time.

As she was in her office reviewing some paperwork, she saw Councilman Tenzin, former co-instructor of the Avatar, had entered with an urgency. He was a lot more anxious and weary than his father, Aang, but she felt that was how he developed with having such a carefree father.

"What can I do for you, Tenzin?" Katara asked.

Tenzin approached her desk, "I must speak with you about something that no one quite yet knows but will once a press conference is held in two days."

"What is it?" Katara tilted her head in concern.

Tenzin sighed, "Korra, she's left the compound and the South Pole."

Katara rose from her seat and looked anxiously at him, "Where is she?!"

"She's here in the city." Tenzin informed her. "She's been staying at my home on the island for the last few days but I think she plans to publicly announce herself as the Avatar here."

Furrowing her brows as she sat back down, "What is the White Lotus planning to do about her and this announcement?"

Tenzin told her that they decided since she was seventeen that she should begin her duties as Avatar but it was his worry that Korra had spent so much of her life behind the walls of the compound and comfinded to the South Pole that she was not prepared for what life was really like, even on the most basic level. Katara agreed and asked him if it was alright that she came to his island with him to meet with Korra. Tenzin encouraged her to as he knew she would be able to easily get through to Korra.

After their work for the day wrapped up, Katara traveled with Tenzin to his island outside the city and was immediately greeted by his three airbending children. She could tell right away that these were the grandkids of Aang, especially the Milo kid. Meeting Tenzin's wife, Pema, Katara saw Korra poke her head out of one of the rooms and beamed at the sight of her. Korra rushed to Katara and hugged her, lifting her off the ground.

"Sifu Katara!" Korra said with glee.

Chuckling as she was sat back on her feet, "Korra, I'm glad to see you again."

"Oh, I've missed you alot." Korra said. "I was going to go find you as soon as I got in the city but I didn't know which mansion was yours or if it might be your husband that greets me. So, I just came to Tenzin's island since I could tell that he lived here."

Katara nodded, "Yes, well, it's probably best that you stay here since Tenzin's home is less hostile than my home."

Korra raised a brow.

"My husband and I are not on the same page about some things right now, so it's best we don't have any guests since even our children that lived with us have left." Katara explained with as little details as possible. "But that's besides the point. I'm here to make sure you're alright and to try and talk you into easing into living outside the compound before coming out as Avatar. That's a great responsibility for anyone but for someone who has never lived outside of confinement, you should time yourself more time to understand the world a little better."

Korra could see her former teacher and mintor looked truly concerned. "Is it that bad out here?" She asked.

Katara sighed and placed her on Korra, "Let's sit and talk, okay?"

Korra nodded.

With the help of Tenzin, Katara was able to explain the current state of the world as well as the state of the city. For the most part, the world was at peace and life was thriving in a way that it hadn't ever before thrived. There was more unity and overall respect for others regardless of difference in background. However, life still had its everyday complications, things that might not be understood by Korra as she had only ever known the walls of the compound and life in the South Pole. Katara explained that life outside the South Pole was incredibly different and had always been different from the rest of the world. She expressed her worries that jumping into her Avatar duties before she could understand the common person would not bode well for many. It was why Katara always advocated that Korra not be restricted to the compound when all the Avatars before her always explored the world in order to learn, not only bending but the differen cultures.

"I remember when I first left the South Pole. It was exciting but also very scary." Katara explained. "Even the North Pole was so much different from here. The Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom were even more different. It took adjusting and adapting to everything."

"Yes but you were only three years younger than me when you left the South Pole, so I think it won't be that difficult for me. Plus, I'm Southern Water Tribe, its our nature to adapt."

Katara sighed, "But Korra, you were raised against that nature. You were never taught to adapt. Even if you didn't live in the compound mostly and just lived amongst the Southern Water Tribe, you still wouldn't understand adapting. Life has become a lot less difficult for the South Pole. There's not much for you to adapt to nowadays."

Korra furrowed her brows, "Okay but I can't learn unless I try."

"And I agree." Katara stated. "That's why you should hold off on announcing yourself as Avatar. I say you let Tenzin and I help you learn more about your new environment and how to adapt. The city is a great place to start since it is far less traditional than other parts of the world, much like how the South Pole has become."

Korra felt her instructors were genuinely worried about her and at least, they weren't saying for her to go home. They just wanted her to take her time and she could do that. It honestly soundly like fun and Korra was so excited.

Tenzin decided to speak up, "I think the first order of business is teaching you the true history of the world that I'm sure the White Lotus censored." He suggested. "Lady Katara, I'm sure would be willing to give a full history lesson for you on all the things that have taken place in the last hundred years."

Raising her brow, "I'm not even a hundred yet, Tenzin." Katara eyed him before looking to Korra. "We're not doing a boring history lesson. I'll fill you in on everything while we go exploring the city and living life!"

"YEAH!" Korra threw one fist in the air in a cheerful spirit.

"I'll get my husband's best car, we can drive it around town, see some things, have some fun, and I can show you all about living life in the city." Katara smirked. "A lot of people forget that I lived most of my life in luxury despite being of low political birth unlike my husband. I lost touch with society and it took me time and effort re-adjusting. So, I know exactly how to help."

Tenzin sighed as he palmed his face, "Maybe this was a bad idea."

Shooting him a stare, "You can join us too, Tenzin. She is a guest in your home."

The following day, Katara opened a portal into the pond of Tenzin's island and saw his children all jump back upon seeing her. She chuckled as they flew away in fear. Tenzin scolded her for frightening his children. She told him to grab Korra and follow her into the portal. Tenzin was very hesitant as Korra excitedly jumped through and Katara had to drag the man into the portal with her. On the other side, Katara bended the water off of them and showed them to the car she stole from her husband's garage.

"Okay, guys. I'm just going to give you both a brief warning." Katara said as they all put in their seatbelts. "My husband is very sensitive about his cars and will likely show up if he realizes his car is missing."

Korra raised a brow, "How will he be able to know it was us and know where we are?"

Katara chuckled nervously, "I haven't yet figured that part out. My husband likes to keep some of his tricks to himself to even the playing field between us."

"Even the playing field?" Tenzin asked. "Why would he need to do that?"

Katara started driving down the busy streets of the city, "My husband and I have disputes sometimes and they get out of hand from time to time."

"How so?" Korra asked.

"Well, last dispute, I sent him to the bottom of the ocean to drown repeatedly since he just dies and comes back. And since he's underwater, he couldn't use his phoenix flames to escape." Katara said as she laughed a little at the remembrance. "Some sailors found him on the surface and floating around while he was in his dead state. They didn't know it was him until they pulled him out and his eyes turned red after hitting the oxygen in the air to wake up. Fortunately, he didn't attack them but he did find me somehow despite me not being near a flame and fought me and our son, Zhiar, until I yielded because while I could deliver heavier hits than him, he could just keep regenerating to continue fighting endlessly and I was exhausted."

Both Tenzin and Korra eyed the inhuman woman like she was crazy.

Sighing as she smiled while she drove, "But that was twenty-three years ago."

While Katara was out exploring the city with Korra and Tenzin, Ozai was about to head to the factory to take a look at his shipment of the automobiles he was about to have shipped to the Fire Nation. When he got there, he saw Hiroshi was speaking to an unfamiliar man and the two of them spotted him. Ozai didn't seem concerned with the fact that the strange man his son was speaking to was eyeing him funny before leaving. He didn't care. People had always eyed him funny and he hated it at first but overtime as many of those that looked at him with disgust died, he realized that they were a sadder bunch than he knew. They were pitiful and beneath him. Why should he care what they thought of him? As a human man, he had been at their mercy and suffered because of it. But as an immortal with inhuman abilities, Ozai didn't give a damn. What was an ant's feelings to a boot? It was of no consequence to the boot what happened to the ants it stepped over or on. Therefore, he didn't give a damn.

"Today is Wednesday, father. It is my day to be here at the factory. You know this. Why are you here?" Hiroshi asked in some annoyance.

Sighing, "Son, I don't know why you think because you've aged beyond me that I'm suddenly supposed to obey you. I'm still your elder and father." Ozai reminded him.

Scoffing as he didn't have time for this, Hiroshi looked at his clipboard and did his rounds on all the mechanics and stats of the factory. "Just tell me why you're here?"

Following behind his son with his hands clasped behind his back. "I'm just checking on the shipment of sato-mobiles that should be ready to send out tomorrow morning. This is a huge deal for Future Industries, son."

"That shipment has been canceled." Hiroshi said nonchalantly as he notated the work of his mechanics.

"Canceled? By whom? I never received wor-"

"By me." Hiroshi turned around and looked to his father. "You want this company to do business with a company that has ties to Fire Nation elitist that still uphold their discriminatory views of non-firebenders. I will not let Future Industries look like we are in favor of such ideologies. That doesn't look good to our loyal partners and customers." Hiroshi explained. "I don't know how you can overlook such a detail when your wife is not a firebender and some of your children aren't, either."

Ozai narrowed his eyes at Hiroshi, "My wife is a water siren that is even more powerful than me. The only children that aren't firebenders, are you and Yukino. Yukino is a proud waterbender and siren. You are just a human. It doesn't sound like you have an issue with this company doing business with Fire Nation elitist because they don't favor non-firebenders. I feel like you have an issue with them being primarily against non-benders as a whole."

Hiroshi glared back at his father. "No one asked to be born without the gift of bending."

"No but you refuse to acquire the gift that can be unlocked inside of you." Ozai pointed out.

"I don't want to be inhuman like you!" Hiroshi shouted catching the attention of everyone in the factory's workshop. "Benders already have an unfair advantage! But you and all the inhumans are much worse! You walk around looking down on those of that are human and you bully those of us that can't bend! You've been bullying me ever since I was a kid to become like you and all my other siblings! I don't want that! I don't want to become jaded and uncaring of life like all of you! The only one of you that holds to any humanity is Katara and even she can't fully understand how she can no longer relate to the plights of humanity!"

Ozai only stood there and stared impassively at his son.

"I watch you all live your lives not caring about anything more than your own self-satisfaction because there is no longer a need to suffer for the sake of progression. Not only has time stop flowing for all of you but your drives to move onward and become better people has diminished. I hate what I grew up seeing! Zuko lives leisurely on an island with siren whores catering to him while the rise in nonbender assault cases in the Fire Nation rises higher than ever before. Kya, while she isolated most of her life from the family to try and do good for the less fortunate, she has abused her power as an inhuman and has taken over a village that historically was run by non benders that wanted to live away from the accidental combustions of firebenders. Zhiar, he only deals with human women to sleep with and discard when they grow old as is natural for a human being. Azula refused to hire any non benders for the electric company you had her run because she said they were useless. Ryu, he and Uncle don't have a care in the world about anything. Izumi only promotes firebenders in her personal guard, Yumi got angry with some nonbendering acolyte at the northern air temple that confronted her about her hunting the animals and she used her dual-bending to intimidate them. Yukino doesn't even bother working on patients that don't have health insurance or can't pay their bills, many of them are non benders that have been struggling to find work due to their 'uselessness' in society." Hiroshi broke it down. "You, you're far worse, you don't even care whether a person is a bender or not. They're beneath you if they're not inhuman and even then, if they're not powerful like you, you still view them as insignificant. And Katara, she cares, truly cares about all people but she's done nothing to cull your way of thinking, even after decades of being by your side!"

Unable to say much to any of that, Ozai simply drew his own conclusions of where his son was coming from and figured he might be in agreement with that equalist group that Katara claimed was a bigger threat than they were. Furrowing his brows at his son, "I don't know what kind of people you've been surrounding yourself with, Hiroshi. But those equalist people are all talk because like you said, benders and inhumans have an advantage. What do the rest of you have?" With that, Ozai decided to leave as he had nothing more to say to his son.

Returning home, Ozai figured sitting around would only cause him to sulk at how his son had basically condemned him and the entire family. So, he decided he'd go for a ride into town. However, when he looked in the garage for his convertible that he loved above all his other cars, he couldn't seem to find it. He checked outside to see if it was parked there and then looked at the massive garage on the other side of the acres of land that had by the race track where they tested many of the faster automobiles. However, he couldn't seem to find it and then it dawned on him.

"Katara!" He hissed.

….

"This has been such a fun day, Sifu Katara!" Korra said as she felt the breeze flow through her hair as Katara had put the top down on the convertible.

Tenzin nodded his head, "I will admit that not only was this venture around the city fun but very educational. I didn't know you had a hand in the construction of the city."

Katara sighed and nodded, "Yup but no streets or bays are named after me. No statues are erected in my honor. Hell, no one even mentions me as one of the founders. Nope, just my husband, his eldest son, Avatar Aang, my late brother's ex-wife, and my brother. Even though I did all the heavy work."

Korra leaned forward from her seat behind Katara, "Wow, Sifu Katara, I didn't realize your life was so tough."

"It was tough. This half of my life is a lot easier than the first half." Katara said with an assuring smile.

"Yeah but don't you hate that out of everyone, it was you that lost the most and did the most work but you're never given credit?"

Sighing as she steered with one hand and tilted her head to the side. "Well, most of history was forged by people who are never mentioned. I don't need to be acknowledged as I know my role in how history was shaped."

Korra figured her former teacher was used to being in the shadow of everyone else because it didn't even seem to phase her that she helped create most of the peace in the world but they only ever looked at her husband and others as responsible.

"But on a lighter note, how about we go see a game of good sportsmanship tomorrow?" Katara offered. "There is this sport called-"

"Pro-bending!" Korra shrieked. "Let's go see a match!"

Both Katara and Tenzin made unpleasant expressions.

"Actually I was going to say football." Katara finished her original statement.

Korra pouted and explained how she would sneak into the guards' security room and hear them listening to the pro-bending matches on the radio. Katara let Korra know that she doesn't even let her husband listen to pro-bending in the house. Tenzin also stated that he doesn't even tell his kids that pro-bending is a thing for fear they'd take interest.

"What's so bad about pro-bending?" Korra asked.

"It goes against the traditional constructs of bending that takes time and patience to master. Most of these benders have no true appreciation for the elements they wield." Tenzin explained.

Katara nodded, "Absolutely no appreciation."

"Yeah but it must still be cool to watch. Maybe you two should go see a match and- WHOA! What is that?!" Korra shouted as a black portal opened up a few feet in front of them.

Katara quickly swerved off to the side of the road as she slammed on brakes, spinning the car around.

"Oh shit!" Korra shouted in utter fear as she saw her instructor's husband step out of the black portal.

Katara sighed and looked over her shoulder to see her husband angrily storming over to them causing cars to honk and swerve out of the way. "Damn it, I was just about to return the car."

"You've got a lot of nerve, waterbender!" Ozai shouted as he got to the side of the car that his wife was seating on and yanked the door open. "Step out. All of you."

No one said anything and simply did so.

Ozai climbed in the car and glared at his wife, "I was just about to let you return to sleeping in our rooms but you can stay in the guest room for another month. Don't touch my cars again, Katara. I mean it."

Katara rolled her eyes, "Sure thing, dad." She scoffed sarcastically.

As he sped off down the city highway, Katara sighed and noticed that the two in her company were eyeing her funny.

"What?"

"Is it normal for your husband to treat you like you're a child?" Tenzin asked.

Korra had her brow raised at Katara, "Yeah cause it definitely sounds like he extended your punishment that he has previously put you on."

Rubbing her neck awkwardly, "Well, he is twenty-two years my senior. He's one of few living people that are older than me, so I guess even after all these years, he still sees me as a child. Plus, I still look the same as I did when I first met him, so I think he forgets I'm 91 years old." Katara chuckled.

Tenzin and Korra knew Katara was actually an old woman that never aged but it was still amazed them to know her actual age.

Managing to get Korra and Tenzin back to the island in one piece, Katara apologized for how things ended. Korra hugged her and told her she couldn't wait to get more acclimated to life in the city. As she hurried off to the rooms that Tenzin let her stay in, Tenzin had a few words with Katara and asked her if everything was really okay with her marriage. He stated that things seem fine between them when all of them were living in the South Pole teaching Korra as it was often on holidays that Ozai would show up to spend time with her. However, now that they were done with that chapter of their lives and back in the city, Tenzin got the sense that something was wrong.

"I might just be reading too much into it and maybe that is just what's normal for the two of you but it's concerning nonetheless." Tenzin expressed.

Katara offered him a soft smile, "I appreciate the concern but everything is fine. I've known Ozai for seventy-three years. All the good and bad things about him, I'm well aware of. A lot of times it's the other way around and I'm not so nice to him. Right now, we just aren't seeing eye to eye which is normal."

Tenzin sighed and told her he believed her, wishing her safe travels home.

Despite the distance between her and her husband due to not seeing eye to eye, Katara continued with her council duties. For several weeks, she helped Korra settle into the swing of things and was happy that Korra had made some friends, though Katara didn't approve of her joining the pro-benders' team. Korra's reveal as Avatar was made public and it made the papers real quick all around the city. There were some that were thrilled and some that weren't. Katara worked close with Tenzin and Tarlok on the rise of the equalist. Tenzin felt there was a peaceful way to settle the growth of equalist and so did Katara but Tarlok felt there needed to be curfews and a task-force in place to handle the rise of this anti-bending group. His suggestion to have Korra spearhead the opportations would be a great first task of the new Avatar. Katara and Tenzin were against it. This disagreement caused a lot of discord to break out within the city council. Katara tried not to take sides as she didn't necessarily agree with anyone. Tenzin wanted to take the passive approach and Katara was annoyed at how much like his father he was, remarking that he was useless. While Tarlok wanted to go too far and use force, causing Katara to look at him in a similar light to her husband when he refuses to be diplomatic about things.

All in all, Katara had come up with her own solution to the issue but no one wanted to hear her out. Instead, they criticized her for wanting to crack down on benders that use their bending to abuse others and give longer sentences to criminal activity caused by benders. Tarlok told her that would make them look as if they were on the side of the equalist or were conforming to the demands of the equalist, therefore causing even more tension between benders and non-benders. She felt that while that might be the case, that something along those lines needed to happen. However, her thoughts were dismissed as the rest of the council went onto to bicker with one another.

Returning home, Katara sighed as she tossed her outdoor coat to the butler that greeted her and thanked him as she decided that she was going to bed. She didn't notice her husband standing by the stairs as she ascended them to go to their bedroom she had only recently been allowed back into. When she got to her rooms, she undressed and jumped into bed, snuggling herself under the sheets just as the double doors of their bedroom opened.

"I take it this council job is draining." Ozai said as he made his way up to the side of the bed she was laying on and sat on the edge of it.

Katara groaned, "They all just want to fight about everything."

"Of course." Ozai said as he placed his hand on her back and rubbed it. "That's what humans do."

She hated to agree with him on that topic but it felt true. She wasn't human anymore and all she wanted was peace. Their family wasn't human either and they just wanted to live life, refusing to fight amongst each other anymore because they hated conflict. All the inhumans that had come across just wanted normal lives and to be happy. But humans, since she was a girl…they always wanted to fight over things that never mattered to begin with.

"You can't save everyone, Katara. You never could but you can at least focus on protecting those you care about." Ozai told her as he decidedly climbed into bed with her to cuddle her to his chest, brushing her hair from her face as he gazed into her blue sapphire eyes. "Retire from the council, find some other calling in life like looking after orphans or traveling or anything but trying to take on saving the world from itself."

Sighing as she shut her eyes and wiggled herself up against her husband, "Give me a few more weeks. I'll resign but I need to take care of a few things."

Ozai nodded, "Once you do, I say we take a vacation somewhere, you can decide where you want to go."

Katara smiled as she opened her eyes and looked up to him with a smile before kissing him.

Just like Katara said, she decided to handle a few things before she put in her resignation. At the moment, she was in her office handling some paperwork when Tarlok entered her office and asked her if she was planning to attend the city hall banquet the following evening. She admitted to forgetting all about it but stated she would attend.

"Will your husband be there in attendance?" Tarlok asked.

Katara shrugged, "I doubt it."

"Then would he have a problem with me picking you up to go together?" Tarlok asked.

Raising a brow at Tarlok, "I think it would be me that would have the problem."

"Why's that?"

Furrowing her brows, "Tarlok, I'm a siren inhuman, it doesn't take a lot for me to notice something off about other people. Not only are you not who you say you are, you're trying to entice me into aiding you in your plans."

Tarlok smirked as he shut her office door before walking up to her desk to gaze down at her scowling face, "How'd you figure me out?"

Katara stood to her feet, "I've dealt with evil men all my life, Tarlok. I'm married to one. I was onto you the moment I met you."

"Ah, so you've been playing nice."

"I always play nice." Katara started walking around her desk to stand in front of him. "Especially when dealing with family."

Tarlok grinned even wider as he looked the water siren over, "I always wondered what my father's cousin was like? My grandfather talked a lot about his precious niece and how beautiful she was, you were the last thing he thought of before he died, you know?"

"Your grandfather raped me!" Katara hissed.

"And so did the grandfathers of plenty Northern men before you killed most of them on one of your siren tyraids decades ago." Tarlok pointed out in amusement. "But I guess Grandpa Shin was the first so you hold a lot more resentment towards him."

Katara formed an ice dagger in her hands and was about to stab him when her hand suddenly released it and she was twisted down to her knees, forced to kneel.

"Surely, you didn't forget my grandfather was a bloodbender or did you think he wouldn't teach his son how to bloodbend, passing it on down to me?" Tarlok chuckled. "Don't worry, I don't want to hurt you. I just want to have your word that you'll stay out of the affairs of this city unless you're planning to back me."

Growling as she was having a hard time fighting off his bloodbending technique, "I was already planning to resign in a few weeks. I just wanted to oversee some of the charities before I leave."

"I should have guessed as much seeing as you're with a child. What is this? You're hundredth?" Tarlok laughed haughtily as he saw her eyes were wide. "Why don't you wrap things up here and go get yourself checked out or something? I expect to see you at the banquet tomorrow night. Don't be late."

Katara was released shortly after Tarlok left the office. She quickly got up and went to the fountain in her office, diving into it.

…

Yukino sighed as she looked over her mother's vitals and examined her. "You're at least five-six weeks pregnant."

Katara felt like she had been hit with a brick. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.

"I don't know how you talked dad into having another kid." Yukino said. "I don't know why you'd want to have more with him after all he's done."

Shaking her head, "This wasn't planned, Yukino."

Yukino's eyes widened.

"He-"

"I'm not doing it." Yukino quickly said in a firm tone. "I refuse!"

"Yukino, no, I-"

"Mom, I won't do it. You get dad to accept the baby or just leave him but I won't do another abortion." Yukino looked at her mother with a heartbroken stare. "I've already done it twice. I won't do it a third time. Whatever you have to do in order to allow this child to be born, I will help but I won't be a part of killing another sibling of mine. I don't care what dad says."

Katara teared up and shook her head, "He'll just do it himself, Yukino. He'll jus-"

"Then divorce him!"

"No." Katara cried as she looked at her hands. "I've been with your father my entire life. I won't leave him. Ever. Just help me conceal this from him and once I have the baby I can find a family-"

Yukino shook her head, "No, this baby is an inhuman, mom. It will survive best with our family."

"But your father, he'll know…he always knows."

Yukino sighed and rubbed her brow, telling her mother that Zuko could raise the baby since he can both fight off their father to protect the child. Katara had given it thought but she'd need to distance herself from Ozai for several months until the baby was born. He would be able to easily tell, even before she started showing. Maybe she just needed to come forward to him and let him know that she'd keep the child but allow Zuko to raise it. Surely, he couldn't be mad at her for that. If he wanted nothing to do with the child, he didn't have to have anything to do with them.

Sighing, Yukino hugged her mother tight and told her to be careful. Katara decided that before she returned home that she'd visit Zuko to get an idea on his thoughts.

Furrowing his brows at her, "I don't have a problem with adopting the child, Kat. It just pisses me off that he's made you do this twice before. All while knowing how the rest of us would have appreciated having children of our own. Other than Kya,me, and Azula, the rest of us can't have children."

"I know, Zuko, but your father says it would be an imbalance." Katara stated.

Zuko sucked his teeth as he sat in his lounge chair staring out the window at the beach, "My father's entire existence is an imbalance. His issue has little to do with the sake of the world and more to do with his control over everything. His control on the world, society, his children, and you. There was always a debate after Atsou revealed himself about whether he or my father was the evil twin. Everyone wanted to point Atsou out to be evil but it was and still is my father, Kat. You know it as well as I do. You know my father has never cared about anyone but himself and his 'belongings'. He's put on a good show for decades and I know you only bought into it because you loved him regardless. I know you can read intentions just like Kya. Everytime you touch him, you know what his motives are, so tell me, when he's doing 'charity' work for the humans, what are his intentions?"

Katara shifted her gaze as she furrowed her brows at the thought, "Your father is always seeking validation and admiration from others. He likes the feeling of being desired and envied. It thrills him."

"Then you know that in all this time he's only been doing this to obtain what he wants."

"I don't see how it's evil, Zuko." Katara quickly stated. "He still does good things and can be selfless at times."

Zuko narrowed his eyes at her as he reached over for his cigarettes and lit one up to smoke. He took a few puffs before taking his eyes off of her to check out the Water Sirens that were in his care playing on the sandy beach. "No, it's not evil but it's not good either because if its something he wants, he doesn't care about right or wrong. His desire and will all come before anything else, anyone else. You aren't even an exception and you're the love of his life."

Katara hated that Zuko was right but it didn't change the fact that she loved Ozai and had for most of her life. He wasn't a perfect man. He wasn't even close. But to her, he was her perfect love and she would not speak ill of him just because he was less than kind.

"I'll adopt the kid, Kat." Zuko said as he put his ashes out in the ash tray before smoking some more, "But you need to tell him about this baby or you and I are going to have a problem for making it look like we were conspiring behind his back."

The waterbender sighed and agreed to tell Ozai. However, she wanted to wait till after the gala in Republic City to tell him. She needed him on his best behavior until the night was over.

Returning home, Katara saw her husband was already asleep and decided to sleep somewhere else for the night. She evaded him most of the following morning in order to prevent him from discovering too soon about the pregnancy. By the time they got ready for the gala, Katara had no choice but to do her best to mask the growing fetus in her womb so that way he couldn't pick up on a shift in her scent or hear a second heartbeat. If he picked up on her masking technique in use, she'd tell him that she sensed a hostile threat and was protecting herself. Ozai useless never questioned her beyond that unless he got suspicious and she prayed his keen nature didn't kick in until after they were done with the night.

On the car ride to the gala, Katara didn't say much and fortunately for her, Ozai didn't have much to say either. Which was not odd behavior on either of their parts. They had been together for so long that something didn't always have to be said when they were alone together. Sometimes silently being around one another was enough.

Pulling up to the valet, Ozai opened the door and took his wife on his arm. He commented on her slender long dark blue gown she wore with matching elbow length gloves. Katara thanked him as she had put time into buying a dress last minute and getting herself prepared. She wore her hair in an elegant bun with two neatly curled locs of hair out in the front. Her makeup was heavy on her eyes as they normally were when she attended large events like this. And to pair it all off her husband was dressed in a tux that was a widely used formal attire of high class men in the city. The fashion was spreading outside the city as well but traditional clothes were still more commonly used outside the city. His hair was combed over and styled with a slight part. A very modern look for Fire Nation men in and outside the city. Truthfully, Katara had only ever seen Zuko maintain his long hair as all the other Fire Nation men she had seen and known had already cut their hair. All her husband, sons, brother-in-law, the Fire Nation men she saw around the city or in the Fire Nation when she visited. All were wearing their hair pretty short these days. Aside from his eyes that periodically shifted back their gold hue, Ozai wore a dark red vest under his tux along with a matching tuxedo scarf on the outside. He looked very sharp and Katara noticed many of the high class women eyeing him.

"You needn't worry about the women, darling." Ozai told her as he patted her hand that rested on his arm. "I have eyes for only you."

Katara sucked her teeth, "Then refrain from your own jealousy." she told him.

Ozai made no promises as she had her cleavage out for all to see. It was rather enticing and even he, who had seen her many times over the decades of marriage between them, was easily aroused by the sight of her. Katara never once stopped being a temptress and it was a wonder no man had foolishly made any advances on her. Though, he was sure everyone knew who she was and who her husband was. A man had to be an idiot to try anything with her.

"Councilwoman Katara, I'm surprised to see you here. Councilman Tarlok says you are planning to turn in your resignation from the council." Tenzin said as he approached the inhuman couple.

Katara chuckled a little, "He told you that, huh?"

"Yes, well, he seemed very disappointed by your resignation but it's understandable since you're expecti-"

"Expecting to go on vacation with my husband!" Katara quickly cut the man off. "Yes, we want to have more flexibility in our schedule and me working as a councilwoman kind of gets in the way."

Tenzin raised a brow in confusion and decided to just go along with whatever she was saying because it seemed she was nervous about discussing what was really the issue. He let her know that he hoped she changed her mind and that Korra would appreciate her stopping by when she had the time.

Katara nodded and led her husband away so they could grab drinks. She grabbed a champagne glass along with Ozai and pretended to drink it. Drinking a non-alcoholic beverage would cause suspicion and she didn't need Ozai catching onto her yet. She'd eventually tell him by the end of the night but they had to get through this gala without any incidents.

Sipping his wine as he eyes his wife to the left, "I've already set an appointment for you to see this healer that performs abortions, dear. So you can stop pretending like I don't already know."

Katara's blue eyes slowly lifted up to his gold ones that shifted grey, "Y-you know?"

Ozai sighed and reached down to cup her face, running his thumb over her lips. "I've known for two weeks now."

"Wh-what? How? I just found out yesterday?!"

Averting his eyes, "We're a little more interconnected now, Katara."

"What does that even mean?"

Ozai wasn't about to explain all of that here, especially seeing as it was something he had kept secret from her for thirteen years. He doubted she would want to hear how he used his blood to make her more like him in order to make sure she never died like him. However, that wasn't the only thing giving her his blood did. He could feel everything she felt, physically and emotionally. Of course, he could turn this on and off because quite frankly, Ozai found his wife's inner being absolutely agonizing as she just seemed to be in a constant state of misery. But it was a lot harder to stop himself from feeling what she felt when the distance between them was smaller. The closer he was to her the more he felt and the harder it was to turn the connection off. So, he knew she was pregnant from the day her body chemistry shifted. He doubted that she could feel the changes in her body. Not once had he seen her wake with morning sickness but he was constantly running to the bathroom to vomit. He could barely eat and when he did, he only wanted certain items. Ozai realized that she wasn't able to feel these things because he was experiencing it for her. That literally meant when it came time for her to give birth, he'd suffer the pains of labor. He would explain this all later but right now, he'd settle for a short answer.

"We've been together for a majority of both our lives. How would I not know something being off?" Ozai said as he finished the rest of his glass. "But no worries. I'm not angry with you. These things happen and I take responsibility for not being more careful."

Katara looked at him with a disheartened expression, "But I talked to Zuko and he said he'd adopt the baby. So another abortion is not necessary, Ozai."

Furrowing his brows, "Zuko wants to adopt it?"

Nodding her head, "I asked him if he could. Yukino told me it would be a much better idea as she didn't want to have to perform another abortion. Besides, Zuko has wanted another child to raise and the water sirens aren't exactly able to have children. I'm one of the only elderly sirens able to still give birth. So, let's keep the baby and when it comes, Zuko will raise them. You don't have to raise another child again. I can't force that on you."

Ozai tried his best not to scowl at her but it was very hard. She thought this was about him raising another child? No, this was about her having another disrespectful runt that he had to eventually put up with. Out of all their children, only two of the children were respectful to him and neither of them were children he fathered. Mailan and Ryu were the only children with any respect for him as their father. Even if Zuko raised them, it would not solve the issue he had with children that came of his wife that he fathered. If Zuko wanted another kid that damn bad, Ozai was tempted to send Katara to him for a year to make that happen. He really didn't give a fuck but she was not having another child by him. He wouldn't allow it.

"Ozai, please." Katara saw the objection to her plan in his eyes. "I'll do anything. I mean anything."

But he didn't care. Ozai snatched her arm and began pulling her along with him out from the crowded room to the balcony. There, he threw her up against the wall and torn open her dress. Katara gasped and was about to run from him until her grabbed her neck with one hand, placing his other on her stomach. Her eyes widened as she saw his black nail extend into claws.

"Ozai, n-" Katara's mouth was covered with his hand that he moved from her neck as a scream tore from her throat. Her eyes dropped from him as she looked down to see his hand had gone through her abdomen.

Ozai retracted his hand from her and saw her eyes roll to the back of her head as she went limp.

"What the hell?!"

Ozai turned his head to see one of Katara's fellow councilmembers gaping at the sight. It was that damned Northern Tribesman, Tarlok, the corrupt bastard that he didn't need Katara's memories in order to figure out who this man really was. The phoenix man's eyes turned red but as he dropped Katara's body and was about to attack the bastard that witnessed what he had done, Ozai felt himself be halted and forced down to his knees. Knowing the feeling of what was happening to him, he growled viciously as he tried to break the hold but was surprised at how strong it was.

"I'm not exactly sure what you are on the family tree as I'm related to both you and your wife somehow." Tarlok smirked. "But no matter, I see you're clearly not in favor of having another kid. I don't blame you."

Growling at the man, "What do you want?"

"Nothing much. I just want for you and your wife to stay out of political affairs in this city. Just live your immortal lives doing whatever it is you immortals do and we'll be just fine." Tarlok stated. "And before you start thinking there is no way a mortal like me can combat and subdue an immortal like you, I'd be very careful trying to test that theory out. 'We' have means of dealing with your kind in particular. Maybe you should have a word with your son."

Ozai was about to say something to the bastard when a hand from behind touched his neck and sent him through a portal. He found himself falling onto the roof of his mansion and soon saw Katara's body fall into the pool in their backyard. Wincing as he got up to try and get off the roof, Ozai was caught off guard by it all and didn't realize his body had linked up with Katara's again and now he was drowning despite not being in the pool. Crashing back onto the rooftop as he tried focusing on unlinking his senses form his wife, Ozai could feel her re-animating from her injuries and he gasped as she came up for air.

Climbing down from the roof of their mansion, Ozai made his way over to the edge of the pool to offer Katara a hand to climb out but she scowled at him with a hurt expression.

"Get away from me, Ozai." Katara spit the pool water in his face as she climbed out without his assistance.

"It had to be done." Ozai told her as he tried to reach to touch her.

Slapping his hand away from her, Katara threw her finger in his face and shouted at him. "Don't touch me! Don't talk to me! Don't come near me! You stay the hell away from me! You had no right! No right, Ozai! This wasn't your decision to make alone again!"

"Having another child is an inbalan-"

"You're an imbalance, Ozai! You are the worlds most powerful, most wealthiest, most influential, most dangerous man! Your life and your existence is a disproportionate advantage over everyone on this fucking earth! The only thing, only person that kept you in check, EVER, was Atsou! He was the balance breaker that you needed! And while he took my daughter from me, I wish he were here to shrink this damn ego of yours!" Katara viciously spat. "Fuck! You weren't even this bad as Phoenix King or Fire Lord! You still had some humanity! I know this because I used to be able to look you in the eyes and still see a man! Now all I see is a shell of that man as a monster, the real monster, consumes him! You are a horrible person, Ozai. You truly are and I've been kidding myself for years believing that you aren't but you are." She cried. "There is no one on this planet that you love more than yourself! I don't even compare in your love for yourself. Me and the kids never stood a chance in competing with you always catering to yourself!"

"That is not true, Katara. I have always done for this family and for you. You forget every good thing I've done just because of the few things I do wrong."

"Because I know your intentions, Ozai! Everytime I touch you I see your mind and I see your way of thinking! You never do anything for one reason alone! Everything has to somehow benefit you in order for you to agree! It has to be in alignment with what you want!"

Ozai expression became impassive as he became annoyed, "And that's evil somehow?"

"What makes you evil, Ozai, is that you do good things with bad intentions." Katara looked at him pitifully as she eased away from him. "Any act of kindness or charity you have for someone other than yourself is always for the benefit of yourself. You are a wolf in sheep's clothing and you pretend to be benevolent when your motives would say otherwise. I could want for the smallest thing in this life and you'd keep that out of my reach if it weren't something you wanted too. The only thing in this world that you can't take from me or get in the way of is me dying one day and knowing this, I plan to relish in your inability to control that one thing. The one thing I have that you can't interfere with is me dying."

Oh, he wanted to bust her bubble on that one. She didn't know that he already interfered with that back when she had just started out with training the Avatar. He saw to it that not even death could get in the way of what he wanted. So what if he was selfish and believed the only reason he should give into anyone's whims was if it was beneficial to him? He was as she said the most powerful, most wealthiest, most influential, most dangerous man on earth. Others should seek his goodwill and favor if they wanted him to do anything for him. As for his family and her, he had done plenty he was not in favor of for their sake. So she could shut the hell up on that one. He had been merciful to all of them despite how they so casually disrespect him and are ungrateful towards his good deeds. Even his most loathed child, Zuko, had him to thank for his luxurious life of leisure. So all the other children had no reason to ever complain and Katara, he constantly did things he didn't want for her sake. So, if he wasn't a completely selfless person when being charitable, oh fucking well, what person in his position would be?

Deciding this argument was over, Ozai rolled his neck as he rubbed it. "This whole conversation is pointless, dear. You're right, I'm selfish but I've always been. You knew that way before you remarried me. So I don't know why you suddenly think that's all supposed to change. I'm true to my nature same as you are true to your nature."

"But you get in the way of my nature! Always!"

Rolling his eyes, "Because I am your husband and the head of our family. I have always been. So I get final say. That simple. If you don't like it, you can leave." Ozai spat as he turned to head inside their home. "When you're done moping over a damn fetus and all your pint up anger at me for not being a goodie goodie like you, I'll be in our rooms listening to your 'favorite' broadcasting of probending."

Katara watched in utter despair and frustration as he just casually went on about his evening like he didn't just tear their unborn child from her womb. Tui and La help her. Give her strength. Give her peace of mind because she felt she was about to snap. Her grip was loosening up and the pool water froze over as snow started settling out of the sky in the dead of summer. You demented bastard!

…

"How is she?" Yukino asked her oldest brother.

Zuko sighed as he walked his youngest sister to the pool area of his beach house, "Other than turning herself into half of a fish and occupying my pool nonstop, she's been peachy."

Yukino sighed. She feared this would happen. Her mother always got bent out of shape after an abortion but this time it seemed much worse as her father conducted it himself. Finding her mother floating on her back in the pool with her fishtail lightly splashing around, the water siren crouched down by the pool.

"Mom," She called out to her. "Do you want to come back home with me, to the South Pole?"

Katara shook her head as she gazed up at the sky, "I like it here in the heat much better."

Zuko pinched his brows, "Yes but you've hogged the pool, Kat, and my ladies aren't able to enjoy the pool."

"Then they can go jump in the ocean." Katara replied in a monotone voice. "Or maybe I should jump in the ocean."

Yukino sighed, "Come on, mom. Let's go some place else. Anywhere else."

"I want to go home." Katara told her.

"I know, mom, but right now you and dad need some space." Yukino tried telling her mother. "Let's go to the South Pole and spend sometime with our grandmothers. They're worried about you and want make sure you're alright, okay?"

Katara finally looked away from the sky to her daughter, "I'm not alright, Yukino. You tell your grandmothers that." She said as she stopped floating on her back and swam up to the edge of the pool, reverting her tail back into legs before climbing out of the pool.

Zuko and Yukino averted their eyes as she was ass naked until she wrapped herself in a towel.

"I wish there was somewhere I could go that would soothe me but no such place exists." Katara sighed in a dreadfully depressed way. "I think I should just go home and try to make things work with your father. I always get uneasy when he's upset with me."

Zuko furrowed his brows, "You did nothing wrong, Kat."

Shrugging, "Doesn't matter. I don't like when we're at odds. I knew he didn't want another baby but I still got pregnant and tried to keep it."

Sighing, "Yukino, let her stay here for a little while. You can come get her after she and I work through some things. Clearly, father has her fucked in the head again."

Yukino raised a brow, "What do you mean?"

Zuko explained that their father had Katara trained that whenever he did something wrong, she would default to blaming herself rather than placing the blame on him even in situations she did nothing wrong in. "Our father is a master at brainwashing. Ask Azula, she was his first victim."

Yukino knew her father had issues and wasn't really a good man despite him having been a good father to her, Yumi, Izumi, and Hiroshi. She knew her other siblings saw a far worse of a man than she ever witnessed because often she'd be left shocked when they told her things about him. She and her triplet sisters grew up infatuated with their handsome and powerful father. They adored him. But as they got older and learned more about him and noticed the things he did, they realized who he really was. Izumi and Yumi fled as soon as they had a chance. But she stayed close by to watch out for her mother, only finally fleeing when she discovered their father had placed charms on all of them without their knowledge to keep them in line. It was honestly heartbreaking if you asked Yukino. That their father couldn't change for the life of him and all his children saw him for the monster he was.

"I'll check back on her." Yukino said before kissing her mother's forehead and letting Zuko know she'd inform her grandmothers.

When Yukino left, Zuko picked up Katara in a bridal style to carry her to the room she was supposed to stay in before she hogged his pool.

"My father is not a good man, Kat. A lot of what he does and has done is wrong. Especially when it comes to you." Zuko laid her in bed and gazed down at her. "Because you're the closest person to him and the only one who continues to stay beside him, you'll always be the one that gets hurt the most. Do you understand?"

Katara averted her eyes from him, "I understand, Zuko. But who's going to love that man if I don't?"

"Not your problem." Zuko told her as he brushed her hair with his hand.

"It is if I made vows to never forsake him." Katara turned to look up at Zuko.

Sighing, "What about the vows you make to yourself? The vows you made to never let yourself be abused and mistreated. Why do you give him a pass?"

Furrowing her brows at him, "I owe Ozai my life."

"Why? When has he ever saved you?" Zuko stared her firm in her eyes.

"He made me stronger."

"But weak against him, though we all know you're much stronger than he is." Zuko reminded her. "His only strength is he can't die but you, Kat, you're the actual god between the two of you. You moved the moon to eclipse the sun all those years ago, slaughtered governing men left and right at that gala, you were feared by everyone, you were feared by my father and rightfully so. He still fears you. He always will because there is no one that can put him down like you can. You were and are his greatest match. Only he's made you subservient to him so he can more easily control you."

Katara looked up at Zuko and shook her head. She didn't believe Ozai was like that. She had known him for years. The good, the bad, and the ugly. He was many things but he was not threatened by her and definitely not to the extent that Zuko was talking about.

Zuko sighed when his water friend went on to say she wanted to return home so she could make things up with Ozai. He was about to tell her no when suddenly a black portal opened up and they watched his father walk through it. He was wearing his casual city clothes, a white button up shirt tucked into a pair of black slacks with red suspenders holding his pants up. He had what looked like a fish bowl in his hands with a fish swimming around in it.

"What do you want?" Zuko asked disdainfully.

Ozai rolled his eyes, "I'm checking on my wife, you moron. I got her a gift." He said as he shoved Zuko away from his wife's bedside and sat on the edge, holding the fish bowl out to her. "Look, I got you a pet. You can name him whatever and since he's a fish, you can talk to him, right? He'll be your new buddy."

Katara looked from Ozai to the fish bowl he was presenting to her.

"We don't need anymore kids but you can have as many pet fish as you like." Ozai told her. "I'll have the pool converted into a fish tank for you so you can swim with your fish friends."

Zuko wanted to claw the back of his father's head off with how much of an asshole he was being. What kind of apology gift was it to give your wife a fish in place of the child you tore from her womb? This bastard just got worse and worse with the passing years and Katara refused to keep him in line.

Tearing up as she looked at him and shook her head, "Ozai, you hurt me. You really hurt me this time." Katara cried into her hands.

"I know and I'm sorry for that but I've been very vocal about not having more children for years, Katara. I made that very clear after we had the triplets." Ozai sighed as he took a seat on the edge of the bed. "I didn't want to do that to you but you wouldn't listen to me. You weren't obeying your husband."

Averting her eyes from him, "You don't listen to me either."

"Because I typically have good reason not to." Ozai told her. "Despite us being quite old, I'm still older than you by twenty plus years. I will always know better. Besides, all my experience with different endeavors makes me far more knowledgeable than you. Again, I know best. When you know more than me then I'll start listening to you more. Okay."

Zuko wanted to laugh at how his father thought talking to Katara like this would work. However, he was shocked to see Katara nodded her head and then apologize for making him do what he had done to her. It was unbelievable how easily his father manipulated her into thinking she was the one that messed up. When she stood up from the bed, ready to return home with his father, Zuko couldn't help but wedge himself between them.

"Whoa! Hold up!" Zuko interjected and turned himself to look down at Katara. "You're not leaving with him, are you? He punched a hole through your gut and tore the baby from you, but he makes you apologize?! Katara, that's crazy!"

Katara looked from her husband to Zuko, "I mean-"

"It's crazy, Kat! What's wrong with you?! Why are you letting him get away with this?!" Zuko grabbed her arms and shook her. "This isn't like you!"

Casting her gaze down, "I don't know, Zuko. I just know I have to go with him."

"Why?!"

Ozai knocked Zuko away from his wife and grabbed her around her middle to toss over his shoulder before opening a portal, "You stay away from my wife, Zuko. Or I will kill you." He said before leaving.

Zuko raged as his father left. Something wasn't right with Katara and he knew his father was behind it.

…..

"Come on, man!" Zhiar groaned as he flopped dramatically on the sofa after his eldest brother called forth a meeting with all their siblings. "You've got to get over my mom, fucking Tui and La!"

Most of their siblings all nodded in agreement as Zuko pinched his brows together. He had invited every last one of their siblings here to discuss the issue of Katara and their father. He even had his mother and Iroh join along with both Katara's grandmothers as the four of them were able to handle the couple a lot better than his ridiculous younger siblings. Sometimes he really hated being the oldest because he was really never treated as a sibling and seen more as one of the parenting figures, second to his father in a lot of cases.

Yukino was huddled up with Yumi and Izumi on one sofa while Ryu sat by himself since he was pretty much a loner out of all the siblings after Mailan's death. Zhiar ignored his twin sister as she scowled at him for commenting earlier about how she wasn't a part of the family anymore due to her absence over the last couple of decades. Azula sat with her mother as the two of them had reconnected and now had a better relationship. Hiroshi, expressing how he clearly didn't want to be present at all, remained standing near the exit so he could be the first to leave. Iroh sat beside Katara's grandmothers who had a tendency to flirt with him whenever they got around him, the two quietly suggesting he come visit them in the South Pole. Zuko honestly had to say his family was strange and weird but he had Katara and his father to thank for that because this lovely bunch wouldn't be in the room with him like this if not for their contributions.

"This is not about my unrequited feelings for your mother, Zhiar. This is about my best friend for damn near a century being gaslighted and mistreated by our father. We can't let this continue!"

Zhiar rolled his eyes, "Zuko, she's like your only friend in damn near a hundred years."

"Oh shut the fuck up, you simple-minded fuck." Kya spat as she was absolutely annoyed by Zhiar. "You have nothing to contribute to this conversation just like you have nothing to contribute to this family but your obnoxious banter. How about you be productive for once, Zhiar? Why is it so hard for you to be functional?"

Zhiar dug his finger in his ear, "Sorry, it sounded like someone who isn't family was trying to talk to me. Must be my imagination."

Kya was about to get up and slap him when Zuko pulled her back while Ryu sighed.

"Mom has always loved grandfather. I don't know what you expect to happen, dad. Just leave them be. It has nothing to do with us." Ryu said in the melancholy tone he had adopted over the years as all the happiness he had in youth died with his best friend, Mailan. "Best any of us can do is just try to be there for mom."

Azula scoffed and flipped her hair, "We'd all just be a burden to her without her ever realizing it. I've watched her for the time I was in Republic City living with them. She doesn't know how to worry about herself. It's always about everyone else."

"Agreed." Ursa said as she rested her chin on her folded arms on the armrest. "Truthfully, the only way you're going to be able to split them up is to turn Ozai on her. He's the one that calls all the shots. If it's just her that leaves, he'll find a way to reel her back in but if he's the one that backs off, she's easy to remove from him at that point."

They all recalled how this played out during Ozai being with Ami, whenever he wanted nothing to do with Katara, she stayed away but it was only when he opened the door for her, that she waltzed back in.

Hiroshi scoffed, "Father isn't going to back off of her. Not so easily."

Zhiar snorted, "Not true. Mom just needs to get caught cheating. I'm sure our father will back off then."

Hama snorted a laugh as Kanna played in her hair while the woman laid her head in her lap. "Your mother would jump into a volcano before she cheated on your father. Good luck trying to find a man crazy enough to cuck your father."

Everyone's eyes shifted to Zuko.

"Kat, wouldn't go for that." Zuko stated.

Laughing, Azula pointed at her brother to poke fun at him. "So you don't deny you're crazy enough to cuck father."

Zuko gave her a flat expression, "I'd cuck him in a heartbeat if Katara was willing."

"Oh, we know, Zuko. We know." Zhiar snickered to himself.

Rubbing his temple, "Are we done here?" Hiroshi asked in annoyance.

"You can leave older younger brother." Zhiar smirked. "Funny how you're the only human present. Not like your input really matters. You'll be gone in a few years anyways."

Hiroshi sucked his teeth, "At least when I die I can be rid of this shitty family."

"And we can be rid of you." Zhiar flashed a grin at him.

Hiroshi decided to leave, slamming the door behind him as everyone scowled at Zhiar.

Shrugging his shoulders, "He's a bastard and if we learned anything about bastards in this family, they don't live very long. Ryu as an exception."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ryu narrowed his eyes on his older brother/uncle.

Zhiar sighed, "Mom had a bastard kid. As much as I loved Mailan, she-"

No one stopped Ryu as he jumped on Zhiar and started beating him. Zuko turned his gaze away as his son beat up one of his father's sons, clawing him with his dragon claws to leave lasting scars on him. Eventually, Iroh took it upon himself to intervene in order to stop Ryu from seriously damaging Zhiar's body. As Iroh held Ryu back from Zhiar, Yukino went over to the beaten up phoenix to look over his injuries.

"You watch your fucking mouth when you talk about her! I was the only one that loved her truly and whole-heartedly! Mailan was my sister! More than she was anyone else's! You all moved on but I didn't! Even mom and grandfather moved on! But I can't! So I loved her more!" Ryu shouted angrily as Iroh saw Zuko gesture for him to take Ryu out of the room.

Yukino did the same with Zhiar as she needed to treat him for all his injuries.

Zuko sighed, "This is not how this was supposed to turn out."

"What did you expect, Zuko?" Izumi asked as she stood up from her seat. "Our family is a hot mess and from the stories I've heard from before me and my sisters were born, we have always been a hot mess. As far as I'm concerned, mother is a good person as much as she can be but her greatest flaw is her love for our father. She will always suffer as she has always done because of him. Father was a different man to us than he was to the rest of you but we still saw things that have let us know that he's not a good person. You want us to split them up in order to save our mother who clearly doesn't want to be saved, I think you're out of your mind."

Zuko tried to explain that Katara was a different person than she was when she met their father. He described her in all instances where she was distanced from his father. How much she glowed and shined. How happy she was and carefree. He knew his father had something to do with why she wasn't herself around him. Why she suppressed her fighting and strong-will around him. Zuko felt his father had done something to her to make her docile towards him.

Kanna eyed Zuko impassively, "Zuko, have any of your siren ladies changed from the day they came to live with you to now?"

"I guess." Zuko was a bit confused by the question but answered nonetheless.

Raking her nails through Hama's hair as the woman purred like a kitten, "There's something you have to understand about Sirens, dear boy. We are similar to dragons in the sense that we love strong and that love is a bond that is not so easily broken. However, because sirens are always born as female and we are almost always drawn to powerful people in one way or another, we develop a docile personality when in the presence of the person we are in love with. That means, we are more submissive, willing to do whatever it takes to prove ourselves, easier to forgive them of their actions even when those actions are against us, and we suppress any parts of ourselves that we know are displeasing to the person we are in love with. It is our nature as sirens. It's our weakness as powerful inhumans. Your father knows this well and in recent years, he's begun to return to his old habits because he knows my granddaughter is tied to him and will not leave unless he commands it. The only issue here is that your father is a phoenix with the ability to use charms. Something that is rare amongst his inhuman type, which means, he has far more control of Katara than he normally would."

"Then what can be done?" Zuko asked Kanna in desperation.

Kanna sighed, "Like your mother suggested, your father has to be the one to let Katara go or she'll never be away from him. You find a way to get your father to back off of her and she will be free."

Izumi looked from her great-grandmother to Zuko, "As much as I'd like to see you successfully remove mother from our father, I have an entire nation to run, Zuko. I can't involve myself in our family's discord."

"I understand, Izumi."

Bowing to her older brother, Izumi left.

Yumi, who had been silent all the meeting, expressed how it was horrible that everyone wanted to split her parents up and that she wanted no part. Her great-grandmothers warned her not to say a word to either of them and she knew not to cross them, agreeing as she left.

"What about you, Kya? You have a family and -"

"My children are both adults." Kya stated as she looked to Zuko. "They handle most of the business of the Totomi family while me and Uhara live more leisurely. I have plenty of time to offer my aid."

Relieved, "Great cause I thought I'd be doing this by myself."

Azula and his mother offered to help as well but his Uncle stated that he hadn't fought with his brother in many many years and he wasn't about to start that up again. Kanna and Hama said they'd be on the sidelines if they were needed, only offering to help if absolutely necessary.

Looking between his two younger sisters and his mother, Zuko let them know that he'd make the first move by visiting Republic City with a few of his siren ladies. He would let them know what they could do to assist but for the most part, they need to be a support and comfort to Katara. That way, she'd know she had others to lean on. Kya stated that she would move to Republic City with Uhara since her children were handling the issues of their clan. When everything was agreed upon, Zuko dismissed them and went to let a few of his siren ladies know that they'd be coming with him to Republic City while the others remained here to look after their home.

"But Zuko, we'll be lonely without you." One of the sirens named Mela whined as she clung to his arm. She was one of the sirens that was closest to him along with Nina and Mira. He let her know that she along with the other two would accompany him and she cheerfully threw her arms around his neck as she jumped up on him, kissing him over and over again.

Zuko chuckled as he held her up in his arms and instructed the other two to pack their things while he sated the horny water siren's appetite before they left.

…..

Ozai was standing on the balcony of his bedroom watching his wife play with her new fishy friends in the water. She had spent the last few days acquiring them. A few pet shops sold them and she dived into Yue Bay to find others. But for the most part, she had a new Hobbie and it kept her from involving herself in endeavors he didn't want her meddling in. Like having more children, being on the council, further concerning herself with that Avatar girl, and being an overall nuisance to him. They both agreed to a peaceful life without conflict with the outside world. So that need to save the world and everyone shit had to go. She was a wife and a mother of adult children as well as a grandmother to adult grandchildren. Her role in life right now was primarily to be a wife and to aid the family in family related issues. That was it. He stressed that to her when they returned home and he hoped he didn't have to repeat himself again.

Besides, there was a politically crazed bloodbender trying to take power in the city. The freak was related to him and Katara through Shin. Shin being his cousin and also being Katara's direct uncle. He honestly forgot about the made but it would see he settled down with a Northern woman, likely due to his obsession with Water Tribe women after assaulting his niece. Ozai sighed. He didn't want to have to deal with any chaos like he had when Atsou was around. That was not happening again. So he'd honor the wishes of the bloodbender and keep Katara from meddling in his take over. At the end of the day, the laws and the societies of the human world were beneath them.

"Mr. Yong, there's a phone call for your wife in the lounge. Did you want to listen to the call while she spoke with them?" A maid asked him while serving him whiskey on the rocks.

Taking his glass from the tray, Ozai eyed his wife as a servant approached her to inform her of the phone call. "Who's calling?"

"A councilman by the name of Tenzin." The servant stated.

"Have the other phone brought to me. I want to hear what he has to say." Ozai would pay the man a visit if he was trying to involve his wife into the issues of the Avatar girl.

Katara wiped off her hands with the towel that a maid handed her, "Hello?"

*Councilwoman Yong, I'm glad I could reach you. Something urgent has come up and -*

"I'm sorry, Tenzin, I can't get involved. My husband wouldn't appreciate it." Katara stated.

*But Korra is-*

"Korra is the Avatar, Tenzin. The whole point of us training her was so she would be capable. If we all just rush to her aid all the time then she will never become who she is meant to be." Katara expressed.

*But-*

"I have things to get back to, Tenzin. I'll talk with you another time. Bye."

Hanging up the phone, Katara sighed and went back out to the pool to continue tending to her fish friends. She sighed to herself as she put her hand in the water to telepathically talk with the fish. They let her know that her husband was watching her from the balcony. Something she was not unaware of. Ozai had been watching her closely since she returned home and honestly, Katara didn't give a damn. She'd just play the role of his pitiful and pathetic wife that no longer had a say in anything. If that's what it took to keep him happy she'd do it but not at the cost of her own happiness.

Opening a small water mirror in the pool, Katara managed to reach out to Tenzin and told him that she'd find a way to his island by tonight to further talk but she had to be mindful of her husband. Understanding, Tenzin thanked her and let her know he'd see her tonight.

"Liking your little pets?" Ozai asked as he finally came downstairs to speak.

Swiftly getting rid of the mirror in time, Katara continued playing around with the little fish and sighed. "They all find me to be weird. None of them have spoken to a land creature."

"Well, they'd be right to think you're weird, Katara." Ozai chuckled as he walked along the side of the pool to look at the many fish his wife kept. "You're unique and one of a kind. Everywhere you go you'll be weird to people that don't understand you. That's fine. Fortunately for you, you have an understanding husband that loves you for your unique qualities."

Katara saw him flash a smile at her to which she continued on the facade of a melancholy wife that was subservient to her husband. "You've always loved me for the things others feared me for. You've been merciful to me, Ozai. Always."

Smirking, "Of course. You've been my one and only queen. I will always show mercy to you."

Sighing, "I think I'm going to lay down in our room. Wake me if anything eventful happens." Katara stood to her feet.

"I was actually going into the city tonight to meet with some business acquaintances for dinner. Did you want to come with?" Ozai asked her.

Shaking her head, "You know I don't like being involved in your business ventures, Ozai."

"Yes but it always feels odd when everyone else's wives are beside them and my wife would prefer not to be present." Ozai pointed out.

Katara sighed and told him she'd attend with him if it meant that much but she really didn't feel good. Ozai relented and told her to rest until she was better as she could always come another time. While she knew her husband would keep an eye on her even while he was gone, Katara knew how to remedy her situation.

Walking up to her, Ozai kissed her forehead and told her if she didn't get better he'd bring her grandmothers here to check on her. When she walked off to head upstairs, Ozai narrowed his eyes. If she even thought about leaving the mansion for any reason, the two of them were going to have serious issues and she was not going to like it.

…..

A/N: trouble in paradise. I wonder why Ozai is being this way towards Katara.